Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

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Just as Asher was preparing to finalize the decision to make Little Raven forget three skills, a new line of text unexpectedly appeared on the still-open talent skill panel.

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[Do you want to fuse the skills "Flame Bite," "Fire Attack," and "Sleep Repair"?]

[Yes] [No]

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Asher: "?"

'Hmm? Hmm? Hmm?'

'I can do that?'

Subconsciously, Asher stroked his chin, adopting a classic detective-style thinking pose.

After some simple contemplation, he decisively made up his mind.

Fusion.

It had to be fusion.

If the skills were going to be forgotten anyway, why not squeeze out their last bit of value beforehand?

Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Asher became intensely curious about the results of this fusion.

[Yes]

The moment he selected the option, he saw two red-glowing orbs and one multicolored orb rise from Little Raven's body. They floated into the air, then began merging like molten liquid—affecting one another, melting together, radiating brilliant golden light.

Asher's eyes brightened.

Could it be… a new skill?

A gold-red orb, eerily similar in color to Little Raven's evolved eyes, appeared before Asher.

[Solar Blaze: The blazing sun illuminates the entire battlefield. Any area covered by the Solar Blaze becomes your domain, inflicting 500% damage on enemies, with counter-attribute effectiveness doubled. (Exclusive for the three-legged Golden Crow)]

Asher sucked in a cold breath.

'No way... seriously?'

This skill, [Solar Blaze], wasn't unfamiliar to him, but the regular version wasn't nearly this destructive.

'500% damage?'

'Wouldn't that mean any slightly weaker opponent would get obliterated in one strike?'

After a closer inspection, Asher realized something.

He reviewed all the skills Little Raven currently possessed and came to a conclusion: aside from the changes in appearance, another significant change after Little Raven's evolution was the lethality of fire-type skills.

Asher hypothesized: 'it must be due to Little Raven awakening the Golden Crow's bloodline, resulting in an extraordinary damage boost whenever fire-type skills were used.'

This kind of enhancement seemed deeply ingrained, something innate to the three-legged Golden Crow.

And with the refined fire Little Raven had cultivated, the damage of fire-type skills skyrocketed even further.

The combined effects weren't just a simple 1+1=2—this was unquestionably 1+1>2.

Having struck gold with this new skill, Asher didn't hesitate to teach it to Little Raven.

For one, the skill was exclusive to a specific beast, meaning it was tailor-made for Little Raven.

For another, this skill's full potential could only be unleashed by Little Raven.

The success thrilled Asher.

Humans, by nature, often have a gambling streak.

If luck smiled once, why not try a few more times?

Little Raven still had skills that needed forgetting, after all.

The next candidates for fusion were [Prayer Technique] (a special-attribute skill) and [Thermal Energy] (a fire-attribute skill). After a moment of thought, Asher decided to discard both.

Now that [Solar Blaze], a high-burst skill, was available, [Thermal Energy], which required energy overdraft to take effect, became somewhat redundant.

As for [Prayer Technique], it provided a 30% chance to inflict debuffs like confusion, stun, slow, or damage reduction on opponents. It sounded useful, but its low activation rate and the two-turn cooldown after each use rendered it inefficient.

After much hesitation, Asher ultimately decided to let them go.

The fusion process commenced once again.

The red orb and the multicolored orb merged... But this time, instead of a dazzling golden light, a puff of black smoke emerged.

Fusion failed.

Asher: "…"

'Understandable.'

'Acceptable.'

But that didn't make it any less disappointing.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Asher decisively stopped.

Striking gold the first time was pure luck; the second failure was proof of reality. Any further attempts could easily turn into an addictive gamble, something Asher refused to indulge in.

He turned to Little Raven's current skill list:

[Skills: King's Aura, King's Eye, Heart of Protection, Magic Blink, Super Multiply, Psychic Shock, Peck, Fireball, Smoke Screen, Fire Dance, Solar Blaze]

Even with the newly learned [Solar Blaze], the number of skills remained manageable for Little Raven, ensuring smooth usage. Asher nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's keep it this way for now."

Little Raven's round golden-red eyes widened in astonishment.

'Beast Master! Beast Master! Something's wrong!'

Asher: "?"

'The bird just felt a heat wave inside its body! Is the bird sick?'

Little Raven was visibly shocked, confused, and on the verge of tears.

"No, no, not at all. Don't overthink it."

Asher quickly reassured Little Raven, a little startled but calm as he patted Little Raven's head. "I just made some optimizations to your skill set… Uh, do you understand?"

Asher gestured animatedly to explain.

The anxiety on Little Raven's face slowly faded. With fiery eyes glowing with admiration, Little Raven gazed at Asher, its worry for its body replaced by sheer awe.

'My Beast Master is the best! So amazing!'

In high spirits, Little Raven flapped its wings and shook its feathers. Unlike its smaller self, this time, the fluff-shedding stirred up a cloud of dust that landed squarely on Asher's face.

Asher wiped his face.

"Little Raven, let's take a bath!" he said with feigned solemnity.

It had been two days since either of them bathed, and the dust storm Little Raven had just unleashed convinced Asher it was time.

'Hmph!'

'The bird isn't dirty!'

Still, once Asher scooped it up and placed it in comfortably warm water, Little Raven surrendered to the indulgence of its first post-evolution bath.

Satisfied and refreshed, Little Raven shook its feathers again afterward, showering Asher in water droplets like rainfall.

Little Raven: Chirp~

'Love you, Beast Master!'

"…Thanks for the overwhelming love, I guess."

After bathing Little Raven, Asher washed up himself. Then the two enjoyed a hearty meal together.

After bathing the Little Raven, Asher took the opportunity to shower as well, and then the two of them ate together.

"I've been hungry for quite a while, to the point of losing my appetite," he muttered. However, as soon as he began eating, Asher swiftly devoured all the food he had stocked in the dormitory.

The Little Raven wasn't much better.

Once again, Asher realized that after its evolution, not only had the bird grown in size, but its appetite had also increased several-fold.

If it weren't for the food he had drawn as a reward, he wouldn't have been able to feed the bird tonight.

Asher said, "Little Raven, you've turned into a big eater."

The bird swallowed a third of an orange in one gulp, showing an adorably satisfied expression.

Seeing this, Asher found it hard to say no.

"...Fine, fine. Tomorrow, we'll go out and buy more food together," he conceded, resolving to check the market for food suitable for a large bird of prey.

After its evolution, the Little Raven was undoubtedly classified as a bird of prey.

Once they were full, Asher felt drowsy again.

Just then, his phone chimed. The sudden notification startled him awake.

He glanced at the screen—it was a message from Iris asking if he was awake.

Asher immediately remembered: 'So that's what I forgot.'

He had completely overlooked contacting Iris.

Now, how to successfully... convince her would become Asher's next challenge.

Sitting upright, Asher turned on his computer. Staring at the new document, his mind was utterly blank.

A report on the Little Raven's evolution?

What kind of report?

No ideas at all.

Looking at the bird sleeping soundly in his lap after its meal, Asher sighed. Even the gentle typing sounds didn't disturb the bird's sleep.

Envious, Asher murmured a faint complaint but still had to face the blank document in front of him.

After some hesitation, he typed the words "Mutual Affinity."

Since he had already introduced the concept of "Affection Level," adding another metric like "Mutual Affinity" should be easier for people to accept, right?

Asher smirked, inspiration flowing like a spring.

———

The next day.

"It hasn't even been that long. The buzz around your 'Affection Level' concept hasn't died down yet, and now you're proposing something new—'Mutual Affinity,' huh..." Iris pushed her silver-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose. The lenses reflected a sharp glint of light. "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were doing this on purpose to make a name for yourself."

Asher understood her point.

"Affection Level" was inherently a subjective and non-quantifiable term.

Before Asher, no one had thought to isolate it as a variable in evolution research. Without a way to observe it, how could it be measured? It was easier to just dismiss it as non-existent.

Until Asher's proposal, paired with Professor Damien's research, "Affection Level" instantly became a hot topic of discussion earlier this year.

Beast tamers, who previously only discussed their contracted beasts' progress, strength, and new skills, now added a new dimension: "Has your beast's Affection Level improved? Do you feel closer to your beast?"

This was because everyone understood that a higher Affection Level between a tamer and their beast increased the likelihood of evolution, potentially unlocking entirely new evolutionary paths.

And now, Asher had come up with yet another concept—Mutual Affinity?

To outsiders, it might seem like he was desperate for fame and recognition in research.

Iris massaged her temples in mild frustration. "Explain to me the difference between Affection Level and Mutual Affinity."

Asher carefully organized his thoughts. "Affection Level, as the name implies, is the emotional bond between a tamer and their beast. It's based on feelings. Mutual Affinity, on the other hand, is about coordination and understanding. It could manifest in battles or daily life and is rooted in a deep mutual comprehension."

"The two concepts are fundamentally different."

To Asher, this distinction wasn't hard to grasp.

Iris was silent for a moment after listening.

"If I had to put it into words... Affection Level feels more subjective, while Mutual Affinity seems somewhat more objective? I kind of get it," Iris nodded. "I'll hold onto your report for now, but it might take some time before it's published."

"I'm not in a rush," Asher replied nonchalantly.

In truth, replicating the Little Raven's evolution path was incredibly challenging. Even just training a Oriental Peacock to master seven fire-type skills without Asher's cheat-like abilities was an enormous hurdle.

Not to mention the subsequent cultivation of Pure Fire—an almost insurmountable challenge.

"Oh, by the way, I've booked an appointment at a private beast-checkup center. In a few days, take Little Raven there to assess its specific attribute changes," Iris added.

Not everyone had Asher's talent or abilities.

For those unsure of a Beast's attributes, a visit to a checkup center would make everything clear.

Asher didn't refuse. "Alright."

Leaving Iris's office, Asher wandered through the near-empty campus with a slightly dazed expression.

'Hmm... What should I do next?' [T/N: Contract another beast]

Unlike high school seniors, college students typically started their new term much later—sometimes even after some high schools—giving students from out of town more time to enjoy the holiday.

The campus was quiet, with only a few stray cats lazing in the flowerbeds, basking in the sun or nibbling on premium cat food provided by the patrolling security guards.

Since this was a university for beast tamers, even the cat food was superior, infused with traces of stellar energy. While it wouldn't awaken ordinary cats or dogs, it would significantly improve their health and longevity.

Asher was tempted to pet one particularly plump orange tabby.

But as he approached, the tabby seemed to detect some profound aura. Its fur instantly bristled.

"Meow—"

The orange tabby let out a blood-curdling scream, as if Asher had done something terrible to it. In reality, Asher hadn't even touched it; his hand was still a meter away, suspended awkwardly in the air.

He stared silently at the dramatic feline performance.

Tabby: *Hisses furiously* (╬￣皿￣)

"Who's there?" A stern voice called out from a distance, accompanied by brisk footsteps approaching the tabby's location.

Caught between staying or leaving, Asher found himself in an even more awkward position.

When the figure turned the corner, Asher's gaze met a pair of sharp, icy eyes filled with suspicion.

Both froze for a moment.

The orange tabby, however, bolted like a tank toward the approaching young woman.

"Ash... er?"

"Senior Sister Abella?"

It was none other than Abella, the senior he had met at the training ground before.

When Abella saw Asher, a clear look of surprise flashed across her face. However, she quickly calmed down, bent over, and effortlessly picked up the gas tank-sized orange cat.

"Meow~ Mew~" The orange cat, facing Abella, completely abandoned the hostile, snarling attitude it had shown toward Asher earlier. Instead, it let out increasingly sweet, coquettish sounds.

"Good kitty~ Our Mimi is so obedient~" Abella skillfully stroked the orange cat's chin, and the cat purred in satisfaction. Abella then pulled out a pricey cat treat from her pocket—one so extravagant that even most Beast Tamers wouldn't splurge on it for their feline pets.

The orange cat devoured the treat in large gulps.

Asher: "…This cat is such a double standard. I just tried to pet it, and it let out a defiant screech. Now, in your arms, it's acting so docile."

"Hmm?" Abella, hearing this, gave Asher a puzzled look. "That shouldn't be the case. Mimi is the bravest kitten on campus. It doesn't play favorites. Anyone who comes to pet it, as long as they bring cat treats, it'll lie down obediently and let them pet it."

"So, when I heard Mimi's pitiful cries earlier, my first thought was…" Abella's gaze became evasive. She looked at the sky and the ground but avoided meeting Asher's eyes.

Asher: "You weren't thinking I was abusing the cat, were you?"

Asher spoke, exasperated, his gaze unconsciously landing on the big cat nestled in Abella's arms.

Abella coughed awkwardly twice. "It's not… just a misunderstanding."

Asher sighed helplessly. If it weren't for the fact that the person who came was a familiar senior, he was sure he wouldn't have been able to clear up the misunderstanding today.

After finishing its treat, the orange cat nuzzled Abella, then hopped out of her arms on its four stout little legs. It returned to the heated mat the students had prepared for it, lay down in the warm sunlight, tucked its front paws under its body, and closed its eyes, exuding an air of utter contentment.

Abella reluctantly stroked the orange cat a few more times. The cat didn't resist and didn't even flinch.

But when Asher tried to inch closer, the orange cat's eyes snapped open. It stared at him warily, and after a prolonged standoff, its sharp claws emerged from its paw pads.

"Junior… maybe you should just give up?" Abella said helplessly after noticing the orange cat's unprecedented hostility toward Asher. "A forced relationship won't be sweet."

"But it quenches thirst," Asher reflexively replied with a corny joke.

Abella froze, surprised by his quick response.

Asher chuckled and waved his hand. "I was just joking. Forget it. If the orange cat doesn't want me to pet it, I won't push it… It's just a little frustrating."

After all, he'd always gotten along well with ordinary cats and dogs before.

With his innate talent for Affinity, Asher could easily win the favor of Beasts without hostility toward him. Normal animals were even more inclined to snuggle up to him under the influence of this ability.

Being rejected by a cat for the first time made Asher feel slightly deflated.

Unwilling to stay in this depressing place any longer, Asher and Abella decided to move elsewhere.

Perhaps out of a long-standing habit, the two of them subconsciously headed toward the training grounds.

They strolled leisurely, unhurried, occasionally exchanging a few casual remarks.

"I didn't expect you to be so impressive." Without the orange cat adding a furry halo to Abella, she reverted to the stern training enthusiast she usually was, speaking earnestly to Asher.

Asher quickly understood what she meant. "Haha… It's not that great. I mean, I did rely on it to get an early admission offer from Bluewind University," he said, grinning.

Abella nodded. "When I heard Professor Damien's remarks, you were the first person who came to mind. Your image… matches what the professor described: diligent, hardworking, and ambitious. But are you planning to become a professor who researches pet evolution?"

She turned to look at Asher, her gaze tinged with regret and reluctance, though she didn't explicitly try to sway his decision. Instead, she said, "Your combat talent is exceptional. Little Raven also has great potential in this area. I believe you'll soon be able to contract your second pet beast."

Asher: 'Uh… If I said I could contract three pet beasts right now if I wanted, would she believe me?'

It felt a bit absurd.

Normal university students, after four years, usually ended up with the capacity to contract three pet beasts by graduation. Some who slacked off might only manage two and couldn't graduate.

As for someone like Asher, who hadn't even started his freshman year but could contract four Beasts… Such individuals were rare, almost negligible in number, and hardly representative.

Asher smiled and said, "Don't worry, senior. I have no intention of wasting my and Little Raven's combat potential. After all, compared to becoming an outstanding pet evolution researcher, I'd rather be a powerful Beast Tamer."

He paused, then added with a grin, "Of course, if I could achieve both goals at the same time, I wouldn't mind."

Becoming a powerful Beast Tamer while also excelling as a pet evolution researcher? Sounds like a win-win.

Why choose when you can have it all?

Abella was stunned by Asher's ambitious aspirations.

A powerful Beast Tamer and an outstanding pet evolution researcher… Are these two goals even compatible?

It was like someone saying they wanted to excel in both science and literature simultaneously. Could a normal person really handle that workload?

Asher didn't know about others, but for him, it wasn't an impossible feat.

"Uh… I wish you success?" Abella refrained from discouraging words. Instead, she offered to crush his unrealistic dreams with her strength: "How about a match?"

"Sure!" Asher agreed instantly, not hesitating for even a second. He even seemed eager.

Abella: "?"

Was this the same junior she knew?

Although Abella was a battle maniac herself, she understood that most people weren't as enthusiastic about combat as she was. Usually, weaker opponents would show some reluctance to face stronger adversaries.

But this time, Asher's response was refreshingly straightforward.

What Abella didn't realize was that her invitation had come at the perfect time.

Since Little Raven's evolution, Asher had been itching for a sparring match to test its newfound strength.

The opponent couldn't be too weak, or the fight would lose its purpose. Nor could they be too strong.

As a Tier-1 Beast Tamer, Abella fit the bill perfectly.

Abella had three contracted beasts: a Level-5 Advanced Violent Bear, a Level-4 Advanced Violent Bear, and a Level-4 Lower-Rank Power Bear.

In their previous matches, Abella often used the Level-4 Advanced Violent Bear to spar with Little Raven. Whenever it saw Little Raven, the bear would enthusiastically bellow, "Hoo-rah!"

Little Raven had also fought the Power Bear several times. Unlike the crushing defeats against the Violent Bear, Little Raven had a mixed record against the Power Bear, with victories becoming more frequent over time. Eventually, Abella stopped using the Power Bear against Little Raven.

The two chatted as they walked, finally arriving at the training grounds before they broke a serious sweat.

Asher let out a long breath. "I won't lie, that was a bit of a trek."

"It's not too bad. If you really walk it, it's not that difficult," Abella replied, glancing at Asher. Seeing that he didn't look particularly exhausted, she nodded in approval.

Good.

Decent stamina.

Abella often felt helpless about some Beast Tamers.

On the one hand, they pursued ways to make their beasts stronger. On the other, they themselves hardly moved. In her eyes, this approach and mindset were completely wrong.

Even if a beast's growth wasn't directly linked to the physical condition of its tamer, how could a tamer, whose own physique couldn't keep up, expect to lead their beast through high-intensity training?

What, did they think tamers only needed to stand by and do nothing else?

Abella couldn't help but mentally roll her eyes at such notions.

Yet, the reality was that most Beast Tamers weren't in great physical shape, often panting heavily after just a bit of walking.

This made her even more satisfied with Asher's condition.

"Do you work out? Maybe we could train together next time," Abella suggested, extending an invitation for joint training.

Hmm… Asher thought about Abella's three combat-type Violent Bears. Deep down, he felt a slight urge to decline.

Though Vicky, June, and Ivy often called him "Great Demon King," Asher knew he was far from it. He was just an ordinary person who happened to prioritize fitness a little more than others.

However, Senior Abella wasn't like that.

The fact that she contracted three combat-type Violent Bears at once was evidence of her deep passion for martial arts.

"Senior, how about we battle first?" Unsure of whether to decline or how to decline, Asher decided to change the topic.

Abella didn't think much of it. She simply nodded as a senior would, and the two swiped their cards to enter the training grounds.

Since it wasn't a busy time, the campus was sparsely populated. The training grounds, which operated daily, were mostly empty.

Asher and Abella easily found a suitable battle area.

Just as Abella was about to summon her beast, Asher hurriedly said, "Senior, let's use the Level 5 Violent Bear this time."

"Are you sure?" Abella froze mid-action, frowning slightly as she looked at Asher. "I suggest you don't aim too high."

Perhaps realizing her tone was a bit stern, she softened her voice. "Is it because Little Raven improved over the break? Even so, let's start with the Level 4 Advanced Violent Bear."

"Step by step. If Little Raven can handle it, I'll bring out the Level 5 Violent Bear."

Although she said this, Abella didn't truly believe Asher's Little Raven could easily defeat her Level 4 Advanced Violent Bear.

How much improvement could Little Raven have made?

If her memory was correct, the last time she battled Asher, Little Raven's strength was somewhere between Level 3 Advanced and Level 4 Low. Based on her understanding of Asher, Little Raven's strength had probably stabilized at Level 4 or perhaps reached Level 4 Intermediate.

That seemed plausible enough for a match against her Level 5 Violent Bear.

Abella shook her head inwardly.

Even so, Little Raven's progress was undeniably fast.

But the gap between Level 4 Advanced and Level 5 wasn't small.

Many wild beasts spent their entire lives unable to cross that threshold.

Beast Tamers, however, had to surpass this level. Only by doing so could they become true Tier 1 Beast Tamers.

Thus, beasts with Level 5 and above strength weren't so easily dealt with.

Saying this, Abella summoned her Level 4 Advanced Violent Bear.

Standing three meters tall with a hulking, muscular frame, the Violent Bear roared excitedly at the sight of Asher across the field.

"Urah!"

'It's my destined rival.'

'We meet again!'

'Let's have an intense battle, Urah!'

Though Asher couldn't understand what the Violent Bear was saying, he could tell it was hyped.

"…"

"Alright then." Seeing Abella so resolute, Asher decided to let her witness Little Raven's current power firsthand. He'd let the facts prove that today's Little Raven was no longer the same as before.

"Come out, Little Raven."

With a grand gesture, Asher struck an incredibly stylish pose, leaving Abella puzzled and bewildered.

Don't ask.

If you ask, he was just having a random burst of chunibyou and wanted to indulge it.

Besides, with no one else around and Abella not being the talkative type, she wouldn't spread news of his antics. And once she saw Little Raven's transformation, she'd definitely forget all about his pose.

Perfect.

What happened next left Abella utterly stunned.

A giant bird soared across the sky, its golden-red wings glowing like a massive sun radiating endless heat.

Without even moving, its mere presence exuded an overwhelming aura.

The Violent Bear, who had been shouting "Urah, Urah," suddenly froze in place, its hands raised high. Terror filled its eyes as it gazed at Little Raven.

Neither Abella nor the Violent Bear realized this was an innate fear of the sun, an instinctive dread of the untouchable.

"Is this… Little Raven?" Abella stammered, her pupils trembling as she struggled to form a coherent sentence.

Asher wore a faint smile. "Yes, Senior. Just two days ago, Little Raven evolved, and its strength has…" He made a small gesture with his fingers. "Changed a bit."

Abella's earlier assessment wasn't entirely wrong. Little Raven's strength had previously been around Level 4 Intermediate or Advanced.

But who could've predicted that a single evolution would catapult Little Raven straight to Level 5 Intermediate?

Even Asher was shocked, let alone the Violent Bear facing Little Raven.

The Violent Bear: QAQ

'Bear sad.'

'Bear hurt.'

'Bear wants to cry!'

'Where is the cute little bird from a few months ago?'

'This terrifying giant bird? The bear doesn't recognize it!'

The Violent Bear immediately transformed from a fearsome beast to a comical, trembling cub.

"Violent Bear, Hammer Strike!" Sensing something amiss, Abella commanded an attack to seize the initiative.

But something unexpected happened.

Although Abella had given the order, the Violent Bear remained rooted to the spot.

"Violent Bear?" Abella frowned and repeated the command loudly.

Then, she watched in disbelief as the bear's body began to sway, its movements growing increasingly erratic.

Before she could react, the three-meter-tall Violent Bear collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"U… Urah…"

It weakly raised a paw as if to roar but fell silent, fainting entirely.

Abella: "?"

"Wait… What?" Abella looked back and forth between Little Raven, still soaring majestically, and her unconscious Violent Bear.

"What just happened?"

She pointed at Little Raven, then at the bear sprawled on the ground.

"I can accept losing, but can you explain why it lost?"

"Well…" Asher glanced at the bear, its face serene in unconsciousness. After three seconds of deliberation, he hesitantly said, "Could it be… the Violent Bear fainted from Little Raven's sheer aura?"

"?"

"You're joking, right?"

Whether Asher was joking or not, Abella couldn't tell. But she certainly wasn't in a laughing mood.

"I'm not joking," Asher said, shrugging helplessly. "Little Raven naturally possesses a King's Aura skill, and after its evolution, that skill seems even stronger…"

In short, its overwhelming presence was off the charts.

As soon as Little Raven appeared, it completely suppressed the Violent Bear in both strength and aura.

Faced with such domination, the Violent Bear had seemingly found itself in a vacuum, unable to breathe from the tension—until it fainted.

The explanation was logical and scientific, though utterly unacceptable to Abella.

After listening, she massaged her temples, her face showing clear exhaustion. "You…"

She glanced at Asher, then at Little Raven, unable to find the right words.

Her feelings were complicated—very complicated.

"Little Raven's level… has it broken through to Level 5?" she asked hesitantly.

That was the only explanation that made sense.

As Abella had said earlier, Level 4 to Level 5 was a significant threshold.

Crossing it changed everything.

Even a low-Level 5 beast could easily defeat a high-Level 4 opponent, thanks to the crushing advantage of surpassing that threshold.

Her Violent Bear's swift defeat partially stemmed from this.

Asher nodded, confirming her guess.

Abella's pupils trembled again.

She had speculated, but hearing it confirmed still shocked her to the core.

Level 5!

That was Level 5!

How did Asher manage this?

From the first battle with Asher, Abella had already thought highly of him.

According to her estimation, for Asher's Little Raven to cross the threshold of the fourth stage, it would be a breeze—it would only require a bit of effort to achieve.

If Asher spent more time and dedication, by the start of their first year of university, Little Raven could almost certainly reach the level of a fourth-stage advanced beast.

At that point, she could take Asher to seek out an Beast to form a contract. Ideally, before the tournament began, the strength of his second contracted beast could also rise to the fourth stage or at least reach the third-stage advanced level.

Depending on Asher and his second contracted beast's performance, she could then decide whether to help Asher attempt to acquire a third contracted beast. It would be a bit challenging and would depend on both talent and luck.

Abella had planned everything out very well.

However, she never could have imagined this.

In just one short vacation—roughly half a month—Little Raven's strength had skyrocketed as if riding a rocket. It shot straight past the fourth-stage advanced level, formally entering the ranks of the fifth stage.

Abella: "...It feels like I'm dreaming right now."

Taking a few deep breaths, Abella quickly regained her composure. When she looked at Asher and Little Raven again, there was no longer a trace of the demeanor of someone addressing a junior.

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