To Ryuichi's quiet dismay, everyone insisted that he abandon his idea of taking a slime as his familiar.
His dream of unleashing an army of explosive slimes on the battlefield — gone in an instant.
He had already envisioned the perfect plan: send in the slime first to "disarm" his opponents by stripping away their clothing — instant morale drop, battle over.
Even for shameless foes, a few well-placed taunts from his slime would've thrown them off balance, giving him the perfect chance to win… in his own, questionable way.
But… yeah. That kind of tactic would probably earn him a lifelong bounty from every woman in the Underworld.
He sighed. "Fine, fine… forget the slime plan."
Meanwhile, things went surprisingly well on Asia's end.
A small, sapphire-scaled dragon had fluttered down from the treetops and perched itself on her shoulder. The little creature affectionately rubbed its cheek against Asia's, crackling faintly with blue lightning.
"So cute…" Asia's eyes sparkled with joy.
Zaduj, their eccentric beast tamer and guide, nodded in approval. "You're quite lucky, young lady. A Blue Thunder Dragon is an incredibly rare species. That one might even be the only juvenile of its kind in this entire Familiar Forest."
Everyone cheered for Asia — she had managed to bond with something truly special.
"This little guy can unleash powerful lightning attacks," Zaduj continued. "With it by your side, you'll have a solid means of offense."
Asia quickly signed the familiar contract. The silver magic circle faded beneath her feet, and the little dragon chirped happily in her arms.
Ryuichi smiled softly. "Congrats, Asia. You deserve it."
"Ehehe… thank you, Ryuichi-san!" she replied, cheeks glowing.
As they journeyed deeper into the forest, Ryuichi noticed the baby dragon squirming contentedly in Asia's embrace — its tiny claws occasionally shifting in… questionable places.
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"…That little guy's male, isn't he?"
Zaduj, meanwhile, was delighted by Asia's sweetness. "Don't worry, Miss Asia! There are all sorts of powerful familiars in this forest. Some are weak, some are terrifying, and some even mutate. You never know what you'll find!"
He puffed up proudly. "But don't you worry — if there's a rare or strong one around, my expert eye will spot it! You have my word!"
Asia smiled brightly. "Thank you so much, Mr. Zaduj!"
Her happiness was infectious. Even Ryuichi couldn't help but relax, offering a gentle smile. "You're always so thoughtful, Asia. Thank you."
"That's just what friends do, isn't it?" she said warmly.
They continued deeper, encountering numerous potential familiars along the way — all kinds of mystical beasts and spirits.
But none of them caught Ryuichi's interest.
Each one was too ordinary. Too safe.
Even the slime had been more unique in its own way — at least it had potential.
He was starting to think he might leave this forest empty-handed… until Rias suddenly stopped.
Her crimson hair shimmered under the filtered sunlight. "Hmm? What's that…?"
Everyone followed her gaze toward a wide canyon ahead.
Asia gasped softly, covering her mouth.
Hundreds — no, thousands — of glowing, multi-colored shapes floated above the canyon floor, each radiating distinct magical energy.
"Are those… familiars?"
Rias blinked in surprise. Zaduj's expression grew serious.
"These are… elemental spirits," he murmured. "And judging by their behavior…"
Akeno squinted, her violet eyes glimmering mischievously. "Ara, ara~ they seem to be gathering around something. Almost like they're… worshiping it."
Zaduj suddenly clapped his hands together, eyes sparkling. "Of course! This kind of gathering can only mean one thing — a Spirit King has been born!"
Ryuichi raised a brow. "A Spirit King, huh? Don't tell me it's like that water spirit we met before… Wendy, was it?"
He shuddered at the memory. "If it's another one of those, I'm out."
Zaduj clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk! You really are a beginner. Spirits come in all kinds — different elements, forms, and temperaments."
"I see…" Rias brushed a strand of crimson hair behind her ear, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Then let's go see what kind this Spirit King is."
They approached from another path, and soon, the canyon's heart came into view.
At the center of the gathered spirits floated a single sphere of brilliant silver light — metallic and flawless, pulsing faintly with power.
"That's it?" Ryuichi muttered.
Zaduj's jaw dropped. "A metal-type Spirit King!? That's… that's one of the rarest types in existence!"
Ryuichi's instincts flared. He could feel it — the sheer might radiating from that light.
This was it. The kind of familiar he'd been looking for.
"I'll take it," he said calmly.
Zaduj grinned. "Excellent choice. Then follow my lead!"
The moment they moved closer, a surge of power exploded from the Spirit King's body — a shockwave of invisible force that rippled through the canyon.
Everyone gasped as their bodies suddenly felt heavy, their mana flow grinding to a halt.
"W-What's going on!?"
Rias's eyes widened. "A magic seal…!? That's anti-magic! Ryuichi! You have to capture it!"
He didn't need her to tell him twice.
A familiar with anti-magic properties? That was an absolute game-changer.
This thing was like an upgraded slime — only a hundred times stronger.
"Be careful, boy! It's about to attack!" Zaduj warned.
The air around them shimmered. Out of nowhere, countless metallic shards materialized in midair, glinting like razor blades before launching toward them in a storm.
But Ryuichi didn't flinch.
"—God Weep Shield."
A shimmering barrier unfolded before him, deflecting every shard with a series of ringing clangs. The blades bounced harmlessly away, scattering across the ground.
Zaduj gave a low whistle. "Not bad at all."
He grinned, spreading his arms as runes flared around him. "Guess I'll show off a little too."
A wave of power burst from his body, and suddenly, all the elemental spirits froze in place — suspended midair like broken marionettes.
"I can't hold this long!" he shouted. "Its true form is inside that silver sphere — grab it!"
Ryuichi didn't hesitate. He dashed forward through the storm of suspended magic. The Spirit King's core pulsed, forming metallic blades in a last-ditch defense.
None of them could pierce the God Weep Shield.
With a sharp motion, Ryuichi thrust his arm forward — his hand plunging into the light.
"Got you."
When his fist emerged, he held a shimmering, liquid mass of silver metal — alive, swirling like mercury, radiating tremendous energy.
The Spirit King had been captured.