[EVOLUTION SYSTEM – PLAYER: LIAM VELMONT]
Main Class: None
Sub-Class:
• Combatant
• Caster
Level: 0.75
Authority: Beast Tamer
HP: 400 | MP: 500 | STA: 600
STATS
• STR: 38 • AGI: 32
• CS: 20 • PRC: 35
Stat Points Available: 0
[SKILLS]:
Regeneration
Contract Summoning
Contract Borrowing: Lv1
INVENTORY: None
Liam stared at the floating screen as he walked home that night. The quest had granted him two new skills and more level ups than anticipated. The term "Caster" first caught his attention, it was a new class he was assigned and so he selected it.
[Caster — able to give shape or form or cause different effects with mana.]
In their modern world, a caster-type visor could manipulate their mana attributes, granting them varying forms and effects. This also meant that Liam's cast speed stats(CS) had to get an increase, especially as it was the lowest on of his stats. He allocated his stat points accordingly: 8 into CS, raising it from 20 to 28, and 1 each into AGI and STR, bringing them to 33 and 39, respectively and as soon as these points were allocated, he felt the changes instantly.
Upon reaching home, he collapsed onto the simple cushion in his living room, eager to explore his new skills. Selecting [Contract Summoning], a description appeared:
User is able to summon contracted beings.
Next, he examined [Contract Borrowing: Lv1]: User is able to borrow items or certain attributes from contracted beings.
"Woah, that's some skill," Liam exclaimed.
And then finally, he checked the new "Authority" information:
[Authority: Beast Tamer]
-80% stats increase when facing mythical beasts
-Able to release a resonating aura with mythical creatures that reduces their will to fight and forces them to succumb.
"Fuck! Was this how I made the goblin submit?"
Overjoyed, Liam decided to test [Contract Summoning]. He called out to the Goblin Emperor; this was the name he'd given the creature and instantly, the goblin appeared before him, staff in hand, fully healed as if nothing had happened and brimming with darkish red aura.
A new screen popped up afterwards:
[This summon can only be maintained for 5 minutes]
[4:59]
The timer had began counting down. Liam noted the significant mana cost:
[MP: 500 → 400]
"100 whole mana points just to summon it?" he exclaimed. He also pondered whether the duration depended on his mana capacity but had no way to confirm.
Realizing the summon would obey his commands, Liam felt empowered. With such abilities of contract summoning at his disposal, he could become a one-man army. However a one-man army in his case will be futile if it was just he and the goblin emperor and so he aspired to contract more mythical beasts.
The next morning, Liam was already dressed in his traditional tracksuit, which was becoming tighter due to his increasing muscle mass. He also left his messy dark hair untouched.
To find more mythical beasts, he needed to seek them out directly and recently, such creatures had been appearing in Michigan due to space breaches; dimensional gaps that allowed them into certain places in the the real world once they were drawn by its high magic energy activity.
Warnings about these breaches appeared on news outlets and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. There were even specialized apps that also alerted users specifically when there was a breach. While these guided regular humans to safety, Liam planned to use them to locate mythical beasts to contract.
He set up alerts and waited and eventually, his phone buzzed with a notification: a mythical beast sighting at Comerica Park in Detroit. Fortunately, it wasn't a baseball match day, and Liam's apartment was in the same part of Detroit. His body surged with silvery-blue lightning, and in a flash, he left his house. Within seconds, he arrived at the stadium.
In the center of the field sat a tiny, young female creature with insect-like wings, pointed ears, green hair, red eyes, fair skin, a short golden sleeveless dress, and no footwear. She was no larger than half a pigeon.
Liam tried to approach cautiously but the creature picked it up, got startled and tried to flee but, upon his beckoning, returned. It looked as if tears were welling up in her eyes.
A system notification appeared:
[New Quest → Make the Threat Submit]
"This doesn't feel like a threat," Liam thought. However, the creature's magic energy was at an A-class threat level so he also doubted he could handle it if she became violent.
He asked if she could speak. In a timid voice, she replied, "Yes."
"Do you have a name?" he inquired.
"Pip," she answered.
"Why did you come to the park?" Liam asked again
"I didn't plan to," she said. "I got separated from my family, and while trying to find my way back, I triggered a breach that pulled me here."
As they conversed, a figure floated above the field It was a man with shabby dark hair, wearing casual shorts, a polo, and dark shades. This was Ray Hooks from the Dallas Grizzlies faction, an S-tier Visor.
Liam sensed his magic power and looked up.
With a condescending tone, Ray said, "Step away from the creature. I'll handle it." He stretched his hand downward, forming a ball of yellow energy.
Pip quickly hid behind Liam but before Liam could react, Ray released the energy blast toward them.
"Wait!" Liam shouted, but it was too late.
BOOM!
An explosion of yellow energy engulfed the area, leaving that part in desolate ruins and when the smoke cleared, Liam stood within a floating ball of wind, his hands crossed over his face as if he was trying to defend from something. Pip hovered in front of him, arms outstretched, having cast the protective spell. Her face was furious—a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.
"Hmm?" Ray mused, lowering his glasses.
Grinning, he lunged forward, energy coursing through him. At that moment, Quinn appeared above Liam and Pip, displaying her USOV operative ID badge which prompt Ray halt in his tracks.
"They're with USOV. We have it handled," Quinn stated.
Frustrated, Ray asked, "Since when does USOV keep high-threat mythical beasts?"
"Take it up with Director Grey," she replied.
Sighing, Ray turned to leave. Quinn asked, "What brings you to Michigan? Dallas Grizzlies is based in Dallas."
He chuckled, "Visiting my girlfriend. I was nearby when the breach occurred." He then took flight and vanished.
Quinn turned to Liam and the fairy-like creature, still maintaining her wind dome However, sensing no threat, Pip lowered the barrier.
"That's one powerful mythical creature," Quinn remarked. "Though Ray didn't use anything close to his full power." Quinn then went on to ask, "What are you doing with this creature? Its threat level is enough to attract an S-tier Visor."
"She's lost. But I can handle it from here," Liam replied. "Have you been following me?"
Quinn scoffed, "Be careful. Don't randomly appear at breaches. You might not be so lucky next time." She then disappeared. When she arrived where she was alone, she contacted Mr. Garene Grey.
"Ray Hooks from Dallas Grizzlies is in Michigan. He nearly killed Velmont," she reported.
"Return to the organization immediately," Grey ordered.
...
Back at his place, Liam lay on his bed with Pip floating nearby. Reflecting on the day's events, he realized he had nearly died on his second day of monster hunting. If not for Pip, it would have been his end.
He sat up. "Do you know how to return home?"
"No," she replied.
"Would you be willing to enter a contract and fight alongside me until we find a way back for you?"
"Okay," she agreed. Well its not like she had a better option. She was stuck here for now.
A darkish red aura engulfed her, just like with the goblin and then a notification appeared:
[You have successfully entered into a contract with the creature]
[Creature Name: Pip]
[You can now send the creature to Private Space]
"Private Space? That's probably where the Goblin Emperor is kept," Liam mused. "Alright, Pip. To avoid future incidents with high-ranked Visors, you'll need to stay hidden for now."
She agreed and was instinctively warped into the Private Space.
"I need to get stronger," Liam resolved.
...
At USOV headquarters, Quinn and Grey conversed.
"I wonder what Ray Hooks is truly doing here," Grey pondered. "I'm not buying the girlfriend story. Ray is one of Dallas Grizzlies' strongest Visors, a faction led by a 'Ranked' Visor."
"Should I investigate his true intentions?" Quinn asked.
"No. Focus on monitoring Liam and report all information." Grey answered.
Quin followed up, "Speaking of which, he has a unique connection with mythical creatures. Beasts that should be threats are becoming his allies."
Grey nodded. "This boy is special. We must bring him into USOV before a faction recruits him."