Chapter 35 – Earthbound Bond
After two relentless months in the Forest of No Return, Jin had grown sharper than he ever thought possible.
Every step, every breath, was laced with caution. He had danced with death more times than he could count. Scarred trees and dried blood marked his trail. His once-pristine robes were now battle-worn and patched with earth and soot.
Yet, in all that time, he hadn't encountered a single late-stage Initiate Realm beast.
But what he did find were lessons—ones not taught in scrolls or sect lectures. Real survival. Instincts honed through the crucible of killing. His killing intent had matured, condensed to a chilling edge that radiated even when he slept.
And now, it was time for the next trial.
The ground trembled beneath his feet.
Jin paused.
It wasn't distant thunder.
Heavy. Deliberate. Powerful.
From the shadows of the dense jungle, a monstrous figure emerged. Broad. Armored in layered, earthen plates that rippled with natural essence. A late-stage Initiate Realm Earth Rhino.
Its snout exhaled steam. Its hooves cracked the soil. Its gaze locked onto Jin with primal authority.
Jin's heart pounded.
This is it.
The strongest opponent he'd encountered in the forest yet.
He didn't hesitate.
This time, he didn't want to kill. He wanted to tame.
And to do that, he needed to endure.
"Let's test my Earth element," Jin whispered, planting both feet firmly into the ground.
The Rhino roared—a sound like grinding boulders—and charged.
Jin didn't dodge.
Instead, he sank into the earth, essence flaring. "Subterra Tempest!"
The ground beneath him erupted, forming a spherical cocoon of solid earth. Spikes of jagged rock jutted out in every direction. The Rhino slammed into it headfirst, and the forest shook from the impact.
Jin winced within the earthen sphere, the force of the collision reverberating through his bones.
Cracks formed across the barrier, but it held.
The Rhino reeled back, snorting in frustration, preparing for another charge.
Inside, Jin steadied his breathing, feeling the rhythm of the earth. His defense wouldn't last forever. I need to move to phase two.
He dispelled Subterra Tempest, leaping to the side just before the beast's second charge shattered the remnants of the spike-shell.
He slid to a halt, hands flashing through earth-elemental seals.
"Return to Origin."
The Rhino's legs sank—its lower body crumbling into dust and soil as the technique activated. Its charge halted mid-step, eyes wide in confusion and panic. The spell wouldn't last long, maybe a few seconds at best, but that's all Jin needed.
He dropped to one knee, pressing his palm into the disintegrated earth-form of the beast. His soul essence surged outward, coiling invisibly around the scattered fragments of the Rhino's physical form.
Then came the tricky part.
He whispered, low and forceful, shaping his intent into a spiritual command.
"You are mine. Obey me."
It wasn't brute force—it was finesse. Precision. A mental thread slipping into the blank slate of a non-sentient beast's instincts.
The Rhino roared.
Jin's veins bulged as his soul strained, pushing a singular thought into the beast's core.
I am your master.
The seconds dragged on. Sweat poured down his face. His vision blurred.
Then the spell collapsed.
The Rhino reformed, its body reshaping out of the soil. It stomped forward with fury.
Jin braced for death.
But then—its wild charge… faltered.
The beast stood still.
Confusion flickered in its molten-gold eyes. Its massive body shuddered.
Then—clarity.
It took a step forward.
Lowered its head.
And stood beside Jin, massive, breathing heavily… but calm.
Jin stared in disbelief.
"…It worked," he breathed. "It actually worked!"
The Rhino grunted softly, as if in acknowledgment. It looked at him with… reverence. Submission.
Jin let out a laugh that echoed through the trees. Victory. Not from destruction, but dominion.
"I'll name you…" He grinned. "Gorr."
Gorr grunted in approval.
With new purpose, Jin spent the next nine months alongside his new companion. They hunted, trained, and studied each other's strengths. Gorr was powerful, but he couldn't evolve further without an Adept Realm core—something Jin didn't have.
Together, they brought down dozens of late-stage Initiate beasts, feeding Gorr's progress. His body pulsed with energy, nearing its limit. But it wasn't enough.
He needs more.
Jin realized time was running out.
Then, one day, standing at the very edge of the inner realm, Jin felt it.
A choking pressure. Like walking into a storm of killing intent.
Even Gorr tensed.
This place… it's not like the rest of the forest.
The trees here were darker, their leaves like blades. The very wind screamed with bloodlust.
And then—movement.
Jin's eyes widened as a familiar silhouette stepped out from the misty underbrush.
It was a leopard again.
But this one was massive, its coat striped with silver, its aura dense and suffocating.
An early-stage Adept Realm beast.
Jin's heart pounded.
"Another leopard," he muttered, smiling despite the pressure on his chest. "What are the odds?"
And then, the beast growled, its fangs bared.
Jin stepped forward, Gorr beside him.
This was the final test.
And the beginning of something even greater.