Ethan carefully took the necklace from Charles' trembling hands. His eyes scanned over the detailed description that appeared on his panel.
"Baijin-level Copy Pendant: Spirit +2280. Can store two skills. Skills can either be chosen at random or designated for copying."
The text shifted, displaying the skill slots.
"Skill Bar 1: Space Transfer (Red). You can set 20 coordinates. When activated, you can instantly teleport to any of those points. Range: 1000 kilometers. You can also teleport directly to any location within line of sight. Additionally, you can teleport items or creatures. Cooldown depends on spiritual strength. Reminder: This skill is too powerful, so its copied effect is weakened by 50%."
"Skill Bar 2: Empty."
Ethan's breath caught. He hadn't expected the necklace to retain his old skill. But now, seeing the legendary Space Transfer skill displayed so vividly before him, he felt like fortune had kissed him on the cheek.
Before, the equipment level had limited its power. It was like holding a priceless sword but being unable to lift it. Now, however, the chains were broken. The teleportation points had multiplied tenfold, and what truly changed the game was the ability to teleport not just himself, but also objects and creatures.
This meant infinite possibilities.
If Ethan saw something dangerous—or even useful—he could snatch it away instantly. He could summon his beasts to ferry people to safety. Or, more intriguingly, he could mark each of his summoned creatures as a teleportation point, letting him jump to them anytime.
It also mimicked the short-range blink ability. Anything he could see, he could reach in an instant.
Testing the cooldown, Ethan calculated. Right now, his spiritual strength left him with about a one-minute-thirty-second delay between uses. That was already incredible. In combat, even a few seconds could determine life or death. And as his spiritual attributes grew, the cooldown would shrink further.
Escape, ambush, rescue—this skill was flawless.
Ethan couldn't help but grin. Powerful. That was the only word to describe this skill.
On top of that, there was still one more empty slot. Another skill could be copied. His arsenal was growing terrifyingly versatile.
"Thanks, Charles." Ethan turned to his companion with a rare smile.
But Charles wasn't smiling. His face froze, and then, to Ethan's surprise, the man suddenly bowed deeply.
"I realized something, Ethan," Charles said, his voice trembling with excitement. "You are my savior—like being reborn through your hands."
Ethan blinked. "What are you talking about now?"
Charles' eyes gleamed as he explained, words tumbling out in a rush.
"Do you know why the synthesis succeeded just now? I understand it now. My talent, my true ability—I've finally figured out how to maximize it! The reason the success rate was so high wasn't luck. It's because those three necklaces came from the same source! That means if I develop the right synthesis route, the chances of success will rise exponentially."
His hands clenched into fists, shaking with passion.
"In the future, I'll be able to forge matching equipment, then merge them into stronger forms. Step by step, I could create an entire upgrade path for weapons. Do you see? Someday, I might even create a legendary artifact!"
He looked straight at Ethan. "And it's all because of you."
Ethan scratched the back of his head. Charles' sudden outburst felt a bit much. "Uh-huh. But even if you can create an artifact… can you even hold it?"
Those words hit Charles like a thunderbolt. He froze, his excitement dimming. He was, after all, a lifestyle professional—a craftsman. His combat ability was practically nonexistent. What use were artifacts if he had no strength to defend them? Someone stronger would simply take them.
But then his eyes flicked back to Ethan, and a sly grin returned.
"That's where you come in. Ethan, you cover me. I'll forge the gear, make money, and we split it. Seventy-thirty. You take seventy, I take thirty."
He leaned forward, desperate. "Or even fifty-fifty! Just say the word. Whatever you want, I'll agree!"
Ethan studied him for a long moment. Charles' potential was real. If nurtured, he might truly become a creator of artifacts someday. Investing in him now could pay off handsomely. And besides, Ethan could use a reliable craftsman in his circle.
"Fine," Ethan said at last. "Fifty-fifty. Partners."
"Thank you, Ethan!" Charles' face lit up with pure joy.
And so, their strange partnership—the warrior and the craftsman—was officially formed.
---
When the excitement faded, Ethan asked, "So, what's next for you?"
Charles' expression hardened, his fists tightening. "I'm going back. I'm going to reclaim everything that was taken from me."
Ethan sighed inwardly. Another dramatic one. First Fairwind with his obsession, and now Charles with his vendetta. Maybe he should introduce the two—let them bond over their tragic ambitions. That way, Fairwind wouldn't always cling to him.
He left Charles his contact information and was about to take his leave. But Charles suddenly noticed the pile of strange materials Ethan had set aside.
"Ethan, what are you planning to do with all this?"
"Looking for a suitable summoned beast."
"Summoned beast?" Charles' eyes lit up as he rummaged through his bag. "Wait, I just remembered something. What about this? Do you think it counts?"
He placed a black, spherical object in Ethan's hand.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And this is…?"
"A professional friend gave it to me," Charles explained. "Said if I left it outside, it would produce delicious honey."
Honey? Ethan frowned and examined the thing more closely. Recognition dawned—it was a tiny hive.
But how was that possible? Living creatures usually couldn't be stored inside panel backpacks. Unless… unless it had its own space, like a summoned beast's egg.
"Has anything ever come out of this?" Ethan asked.
Charles shook his head. "Not that I've seen. I only got it recently, and honestly, I forgot it was in there."
Curiosity burning, Ethan stored the hive in his own panel. The words appeared immediately: "Unknown Hive."
It really was a beehive. But were there bees inside? Regular bees would be useless. If this was going to work, what he needed was a queen.
The hive was solid, showing no movement when he shook it. He tried dropping a bit of his blood on it—nothing. Frustration built, until finally he had an idea.
Drawing his staff, Ethan cast "Taming."
A glowing contract circle formed, enveloping the hive. Suddenly, it reacted. A small opening appeared, and from within emerged a tiny queen bee, no larger than Ethan's finger.
Her body was striped yellow and black, resembling a wasp more than a honeybee.
The contract clicked into place effortlessly. With Ethan's overwhelming spiritual power, resistance was futile.
Success.
The panel lit up with her stats.
Summoned Beast: Silver Rank – Leafcutter Queen
Level: Mature, 12 years lifespan remaining
Power: 90 (+90)
Physique: 112 (+112)
Agility: 450 (+450)
Spirit: 90 (+90)
Skills: Companion Hive (Blue), Stinger (Green), Cutting (Green)
Overall Combat Power: 30 Stars
Companion Hive (Blue): The hive is symbiotic and produces 10 worker bee eggs every day.
Poisonous Stinger (Green): Though the venom is weak, the pain it causes is excruciating.
Cutting (Green): While in flight, transforms into a sharp blade, slashing enemies.
Ethan's jaw dropped. "Thirty stars? From something this small?"
Her agility was off the charts, making her a terrifyingly fast unit.
A bold idea took root in Ethan's mind. This queen wasn't just a bee—she was a weapon in her own right.
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