"Let's try Micro-Vision first," Draco whispered to Zephyr, who chirped softly in response.
Focusing on the connection he felt with his contracted beast, Draco attempted to access the skill.
The process felt like an instinct, like reaching for something that had always been there but just out of grasp.
[Micro-Vision] Grants the Beast Tamer the vision of the Hummingbird.
The moment the skill activated, Draco's vision transformed dramatically.
The world around him exploded into incredible detail, as if someone had replaced his eyes with a powerful magnifying device.
Every surface in his small room revealed textures and cracks he'd never noticed before.
Dust particles floating in the sunlight became clearly visible, drifting like miniature snowflakes through the air.
Even the weave of his simple blanket revealed individual threads with shocking clarity.
But what caught his attention most was movement on the floor near his bed – something so small that his naked eye would never have detected it.
A tiny insect, no larger than an any, scurried across the floor.
Its movements were quick and erratic, and Draco could make out its delicate legs and antennae that would have been completely invisible without Zephyr's enhanced vision.
The creature was small and ugly.
"Incredible," he breathed, watching the small creature navigate what must have seemed like a vast landscape from its perspective.
Without thinking, Draco lifted his foot and brought it down decisively.
Stamp!
The tiny insect was crushed instantly, its existence snuffed out in a fraction of a second. To anyone else observing, it would have looked like Draco had randomly stepped on empty floor, but he had successfully eliminated a pest so small it bordered on microscopic.
The practical applications of this skill immediately became clear to him.
In combat, he could spot weaknesses in armor or weapons that others would miss entirely.
During academic studies, he could examine materials and texts with unprecedented detail. The skill might seem minor compared to flashy combat abilities, but its utility was undeniable.
"Now let's see what Super-Sonic can do," he said, excitement building in his voice.
Zephyr fluttered his wings enthusiastically, as if eager for its master to try out his other skill.
The tiny hummingbird's wings were already beating so fast they were nearly invisible, creating that humming sound.
Draco focused on the connection again, reaching for the second skill with growing confidence.
[Super Sonic] Increases the Beast Masters agility by 1.5x
The skill activated and immediately Draco felt the change.
Energy coursed through Draco's legs and entire body, making him feel lighter than before.
His reflexes sharpened dramatically, and every movement felt effortless yet incredibly powerful.
It was like being struck by lightning, but instead of pain, there was only pure, exhilarating speed.
Unable to contain his excitement, Draco took a quick step forward to test his new agility.
The step launched him forward far faster than he'd anticipated. His body moved with incredible velocity, but his mind hadn't adjusted to the sudden increase in speed.
What should have been a controlled movement became a chaotic lunge across his small room.
His reflexes kicked in, and he tried to stop himself by grabbing onto something stable.
His hand shot out toward his wooden chair, but the increased speed made his movements clumsy and uncontrolled.
Crash!
Instead of steadying himself, Draco's flailing hand collided with the simple oil lamp that sat on his chair.
The base shattered on impact, sending oil and broken pieces scattering across the stone floor.
The wick fell into the spilled oil, thankfully extinguished and posing no fire hazard.
Draco came to a stop against the far wall, breathing heavily as the skill's effects continued to course through his system.
His heart was pounding, partly from the adrenaline of his new speed and partly from the shock of his lack of control.
"Well, that was educational," he muttered, surveying the damage.
Zephyr chirped what sounded almost like amusement, hovering near the broken lamp pieces as if inspecting the destruction his ability had caused.
The lamp had been a simple but functional piece – nothing fancy, but necessary for reading during the evening hours.
Now it lay in ruins, and Draco mentally calculated the cost of replacement. With his weekly allowance of seventy gold coins, a basic lamp would probably cost around a few silver coins.
Not devastating, but certainly an unwelcome expense when he was already saving for the Beastmaster manual and other plans he had in store.
"I definitely need better control before using that in any serious situation," he said, kneeling to carefully gather the ceramic shards.
"This is a future lesson for me. I should practice this skill in open areas, not confined spaces."
The experience had been enlightening, though. The 1.5x agility increase was large enough to give him a significant advantage in combat or when escaping dangerous situations.
However, the skill clearly required training and familiarity before it could be used effectively.
After cancelling the Super-Sonic skill, Draco felt his body return to its normal state.
His body suddenly felt heavy and sluggish compared to the enhanced state he'd just experienced.
"Alright, Zephyr, skill testing is over for now," he said, placing the broken lamp pieces on his desk.
"Time to get back to the daily mission."
Zephyr settled onto his shoulder, seemingly pleased with their first successful skill-sharing session despite the collateral damage.
Draco reviewed the remaining objectives: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 pull-ups, a 10-kilometer run, and basic communication exercises with Zephyr.
The physical training would be challenging but manageable, and he was curious about what the communication exercises would entail.
…
A few hours had passed since Draco had broken the oil lamp in his room. He could currently be seen outside in the servants' courtyard, huffing desperately for any air he could get into his burning lungs.
Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the cobblestone ground as his chest rose and fell in labored breaths.
Every muscle in his body ached from the grueling physical training he had just completed. His arms trembled from the hundred push-ups and pull-ups, while his core burned from the relentless sit-ups.
The ten-kilometer run had been the most challenging part, pushing his body far beyond its comfort zone.
But despite the exhaustion coursing through every fiber of his being, Draco couldn't help but smile. The completion of each objective had been exhausting and excruciatingly long, requiring him to push through mental barriers he didn't know existed.
Yet the result was worth every moment of suffering.
The familiar blue screen materialized before his eyes, displaying his completed objectives with satisfying checkmarks:
-----
Daily Mission:
100 Press-ups ☑️
100 Sit-ups ☑️
100 Pull-ups ☑️
10 km run ☑️
15 minutes cultivation with a contracted Beast ☑️
Practice basic communication exercises with Zephyr ☑️
[You have received +2 EXP.]
[You have received 1 Stat point.]
-----
The communication exercises with Zephyr had been surprisingly intuitive.
Through their growing bond, Draco had learned to interpret the tiny hummingbird's different chirps and movements.
Zephyr could now indicate directions, and express approval or disapproval.
Draco called up his status screen to review his progress: