Sean learns a lot from this conversation, it seems that mystique creatures will greatly help their human partners once they reach Silver Rank.
"We need to leave, I only managed to injure that Devil Ape King, once it returns, we wouldn't be able to escape." Steel Plate hurriedly said.
Sean carries Nima and Wuk carries her pet beast, their group then sets off.
A couple of seconds later, the Devil Apes return to find their prey no longer there.
In another location, Sean and his group are now resting, after the battle, Sean's prestige had increased once more.
'Now that I have become a bronze ranker, I need to improve my skills.' Sean was musing his current state.
Charm doesn't need more training because of his overly powerful soul and spiritual energy but he does need to improve the tier of his King Kong Punch.
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Name: Sean
Realm: Muscle Tempering Realm 1st Stage
Vital Force: 23/50
Spirit: Silver Rank
Contracts: 2/6
Innate Abilities: Ironhide Skin, Beast World, Titan Strength
Linked Traits: Vajra Body, Charm
Technique: Monkey Body Tempering Technique (Middle Stage), Beast World Cultivation (Incomplete)
Skill: King Kong Punch, Impenetrable Fortress
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Titan Strength: Tempered muscle capable of withstanding great force and generating immense strength.
Passive: Increases defense, strength, vitality regeneration, vitality absorption, shock absorption, force generation and muscle control.
Active: Strength increases by 10 times and body size manipulation.
Monkey Body Tempering Technique: A synchronized technique connecting the host to his contracted mystique creature
Early Stage: Generates vital force.
Middle Stage: Refines vital force.
He wanted to know just how much he can manipulate his size, is it based on spiritual energy or vital force?
"The situation in the inner core is too unpredictable, I didn't expect to encounter a group of Devil Apes just after arriving at this place." Steel Plate breaks the silence.
Even after sacrificing his body to have his pet beast land an all out blow to the Devil Ape King, they only managed to injure it but not too deeply.
"Devil Apes are very territorial, I think that they're facing against a powerful mystique creature."
After all, based on his understanding towards the Devil Apes, they act like crazy beasts out for blood and wouldn't retreat that easily unless their nest is endangered.
Steel Plate agrees with his words, while his knowledge is based on mystique creature encyclopedia, the former has plenty experience dealing with them.
"By the way, other than mystique creatures that relies on vital force and physical strength, why is our city full of metal-type mystique creatures?" Sean asks, this question has been bothering him after seeing Iron Plated Beast.
Everyone turns to him with a confused expression, Nima chuckles.
"Don't blame him, unlike you guys who at least has some backing, Sean doesn't come from any background, in fact, he's the first person in his family to become a martial artist." Everyone then turns to Wuk who was now being snuggled by the Gold Eating Beast.
"Wuk, that magical Iron Monkey wasn't bought by him but is actually a gift from one of his earlier employer." Nima explains, shocking everyone.
"Yes, Wuk was formerly a mystique creature sold on the Evergreen Shop, the boss- I mean lady Evergreen was the one that gifted me it, I bought Jasmine in there too." Everyone gasps including Nima.
She didn't expect that the two mystique creatures that were clearly different from their normal counterparts.
"I pick mystique creatures not based on their innate potential but if they're fated with me." Sean can only say this.
"Wuk was considered the most mischievous of the Iron Monkeys, at a young age, no one wants to play with him and the older ones even attacks him but he still doesn't stop trying to be friends with their children."
Everyone was happy to listen to his story, all of them chose their mystique creatures based on potential.
"After seeing it's perseverance, I can't help but feel admiration towards it, after starting to work there, I would pay special attention to it and even nourish it back to normal weight."
His stories are true because he learned them from Priscel and watched it with his own eyes.
"No wonder the two of you are quite close." Nima mutters, looking at the annoyed Wuk trying to stop the Gold Eating Beast.
"What about the cute little fox? How did the two of you meet?" Asks Chika, unlike others, she seems to have no reserve in asking Sean.
"Just like Nima had said earlier my family doesn't have any martial artist other than me, I tried to find a mystique creature that can accompany them."
"A Spirit Fox is truly a perfect candidate for that but raising them is quite difficult with their diet consisting of specific fruit trees and avian meats." Nima examined.
"Yes, when I got to their enclosure, every Spirit Fox were wary and afraid, I don't blame them, they're known on being the weakest mystique creature in our city."
Everyone agrees with this, in fact, this knowledge is quite common even by civilians.
"Of all the Spirit Foxes, Jasmine is the only one brave enough to actually face me, it seems to have an ambition to grow stronger."
A Spirit Fox, brave enough to step forward, dreaming to become strong, not unique but not also common.
"It seems that you won't try to sign a contract with just about any mystique creatures, ah." Steel Plate chuckles.
A Iron Monkey and a Spirit Fox, one is a common choice for poor individuals that became a martial artists through sheet grit and will.
A Spirit Fox, a decorative mystique creature that only the rich can afford but not contract with.
"Yes, I'm hoping to encounter my third partner in this journey but if not, I'll go to the Evergreen Shop once again and try my luck, after all, I spent my time there as an apprentice."
Chika looks at him with confusion. "It feels like you're more in tune with the Evergreen Family than the Gold Family."
Nima looks at her, speechless, because what Chika had said is true.
"You're actually right, in fact, if it weren't for this person, I wouldn't have joined the Gold Family and would work under the Evergreen Family, I didn't know that they also have a mercenary group." He can't say that he doesn't regret it, only a tiny bit but he'll see through his decision.
Everyone looks at the girl he's pointing and they sigh in admiration.
"To answer your question earlier, the density of metal element in the city and the area around it is much greater compared to other locations, giving birth to many metal-type mystique creatures."
The others already knows this, Chika raises her hand and asks a different question. "I volunteer to be Sean's teacher once we return to the city, for now, I want to ask, how did the two of you met?"
"I don't know if you guys knows this but Sean's sis- I mean cousin is actually my bestfriend." She raises her head proudly.
Just as they were talking, Wuk and Sean suddenly stands up, both their expressions are ugly.
"Steel Plate, tell your partner to assist both Wuk and I, something has arrived, something dangerous!"
Instantly, Wuk and him charges towards the direction of the danger.
Berserk! Ironhide Skin activate! Titan Strength activate!
Battle Ape Form! Impenetrable Fortress!
Throwing a bottle of basic vitality pill, both him and Wuk downs one bottle in one go.
Everyone was startled by their sudden action but from what happened earlier, they now know just how keen Sean's instinct is.
"Han, go!" Steel Plate commanded while his two other pet beasts went to his side to carry him away.
ROAR! A gray tiger appears in everyone's view, this sight causes everyone except for three individuals to tremble.
Evil Tiger! A Excellent Grade silver rank mystique creature known for its brutality and strength!
King Kong Ironfist!
3rd Tier King Kong Punch!
Iron Rush!
The three attacks simultaneously.
The Evil Tiger charges at them and swipes it's claws, clashing with intense power.
Both Wuk and Sean coughs out blood and were blown backwards.
They were in the frontline, taking the majority of the power of the tiger's strike.
Meanwhile, the Iron Plated Beast was forced to take a couple of steps back.
Sean wipes the blood on his mouth, for the first time, he encounters an opponent that made his blood run cold.
"Wuk, you take the right! I'll take the left!" Both once again charges towards the Evil Tiger.
Trying to confuse it by running towards its opposite sides.
ROAR! With its loud cry, the Iron Plated Beast freezes.
Wuk stops slightly, the only individual that was able to move was Sean.
'A mental type skill capable of attacking the soul!' Sean immediately discovers the crux of the skill.
"Beast, take this!" Pouncing at it, he prepares to strike the vulnerable part of majority of beast-type mystique creatures.
Before his fist can approach its nether rehion, the tiger's tail smacks him away, causing him to crash to tree.
'How!?' Sean was shocked, his Ironhide Skin is active and his Titan Strength should also increase his strength, how can a tail smack him away easily?
Suddenly, his expression turns ugly, the Evil Tiger has a skill that is related to its tail.
Wiping the blood from his nose, he now realizes just that the danger in the outer core is incomparable to inner core.
To think that such a mystique creature would develop a skill to protect its behind and sensitive parts, it was definitely pushed to learn it.
Wuk roars, the Evil Tiger immediately focuses on him much to Sean's surprise.
Suddenly, a light of understanding flashes through his eyes, the Evil Tiger is actually cautious against the third tier of King Kong Punch.
Suddenly, the talk about metal element reappears on his mind, seeing the gray tiger's fur, an idea came to his mind.
"Everyone! Anyone with a fire-type partner, have it attack the Evil Tiger!"
His body suddenly expands and he punches with all his might, he wasn't trying to take it down, only give enough time for fire-type pet beasts to gather.
The Evil Tiger strikes him, causing blood to flow, a large gaping wound appears on his body.
The Iron Plated suddenly charges at the tiger, trying to save Sean
Chika and the others were stunned by his shout, they're already in despair after seeing how the Evil Tiger easily dealt with three.
"Follow his command! He has an idea!" Nima shouts.
Sean drowns another bottle of pills, he throws one to Wuk, this was burdening their body and causing damage to their organs but they can't hold back now.
BOOM! The Iron Plated Beast was blown away after giving Sean and Wuk enough time to recover.
'This can't go on! I don't have infinite amount of pills!' He thought.
All of a sudden, a flaming lizard, a large red turtle and a rock looking beast appears, all three attacks with fire attribute skills.
ROAR! The Evil Tiger let's out a roar once again and it stuns everyone around it.
It posed to pounce on the three fire types.
Charm!
Sean appears on its field of view and it changes its target to him.
Just as it was about to pin him down, he suddenly shrinks and attacks the most vulnerable part.
The tail once again flies towards his direction but his clenched fist suddenly opens and he grabs a hold of the tail.
'Kyu!' Jasmine cries inside Beast World, it might be very weak but it still follows Sean's plan, snapping Wuk out of his daze.
Wuk roars and he charges towards Sean's direction, his eyes burning with fury.
The Evil Tiger's expression changes, just as it was about to land, Sean beneath him suddenly goes big once again, lifting it up while still holding its tail.
Impenetrable Fortress!
He will not let go no matter what.
He hugs the Evil Tiger while biting the title, cracking his teeth.
It became displeased, just as it was about to struggle, a being appears in front of it and locks its head with its two hands.
Iron Plated Beast!