Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-Three – "The Sky Awakens the Beast"
Above the clouds, Crow stood alone on the summit of his floating fortress—wind tearing through his coat, arcane storm barriers shielding the great castle from the fury of the sky. Below him, a soft pulse of blue ether hummed from the core control crystal: 100% energy capacity.
Perfect.
Crow raised his hand. The Divine Contract circle spun into life, spiraling golden and black runes around him as the air twisted. He muttered the summoning chant, one not found in any in-game tome—knowledge carried from his past life.
Lightning cracked. The sky darkened above the flying dome.
From a column of raw Primordial energy, a form stepped forward—tall, lithe, with furred ears, a feline tail swaying behind her. Clawed gauntlets shimmered with starlight. Her eyes were wild, primal, and impossibly intelligent.
Letharia, Primordial God-rank Beast Queen.
"Master," she purred, voice sultry and commanding at once. "You summoned me at last."
Crow narrowed his eyes. The Divine Contract burned on his palm. He nodded once.
Instantly, a surge of energy hit him.
[New Class Acquired: S-Rank Beast Tamer]
[You have earned a unique bond reward: Divine White Tiger – Baihu]
A brilliant roar echoed across the skies as a flash of white lightning crashed down beside Letharia. From the impact emerged a massive white tiger, draped in flowing ribbons of divine energy, its fur glistening with a stormy sheen—Baihu, the mythic tiger of Chinese lore.
Crow stepped forward. The beast lowered its head to him.
Letharia smirked, kneeling beside her beast companion. "I tamed him long ago, but he only bows to a true master now. And it seems… that's you."
Crow placed a hand on Baihu's fur—soft like silk, yet alive with power.
Far behind, in the castle's interior, jealous auras brewed as several of his other female Primordial God units felt the new bond. The ripple of power—and affection—was unmistakable.
Valeria's fire flared unnaturally.
Liana gritted her teeth.
Sylvanna's glare pierced the horizon.
And Rose? She clung tighter to his coat from behind the control platform. "Master has too many pets…" she mumbled.
Crow, meanwhile, simply gave Baihu a calm order: "Fly."
The tiger crouched, let out a divine roar, and leapt—with Crow on his back—into the skies, the flying fortress behind him glowing with light.
The age of the Sky Beast Monarch had begun.