Chapter 2: Embarking on the Journey

Watching Kross, who was about to complete the fusion and assimilation, Sarikat couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Yet he understood even more clearly that the power of a Sacred Beast would now be fully unleashed.

"Kross, brave warrior! To show my respect for your desperate fight, I, Xiuka Deqina, will battle you at my full power!" After declaring his intent to battle to Kross, who had not yet fully assimilated, Sarikat turned and shouted loudly to his surrounding subordinates, "Everyone, leave this place immediately! Those who disobey will be executed!" Without waiting for a response from his men, Sarikat raised his hands and crossed them over his chest, forming the same seal as Kross, and softly chanted the assimilation incantation: "Power slumbering within my heart, forbidden seal placed by the gods, under the gaze of the Creator God Mafa, I beseech thee to break the seal..."

As Sarikat chanted, the Flame Tiger leaped in front of him. After raising its head to the sky and letting out a long roar, the Flame Tiger ceased all movement. A fiery red light instantly connected the auras of Sarikat and the Flame Tiger.

"My most loyal servant, my most powerful strength, guided by my spirit, proven by my blood pact, you and I—assimilate!" The moment Sarikat completed the assimilation incantation, a soul-like white mist shot from the top of his head into the Flame Tiger's head. At the same time, Kross's body underwent the exact same transformation as Sarikat's. As the two souls entered their respective Summoned Beasts, the Flame Tiger and the Thunder Snake opened their eyes almost simultaneously!

Roar! With a furious cry, the Flame Tiger leaped into the air and pounced toward the Thunder Snake not far ahead. Whether due to its physical condition or Kross's incomplete mastery of assimilating with a Sacred Beast, the Thunder Snake remained motionless as the Flame Tiger lunged at it.

Without hesitation or mercy, the Flame Tiger, having soared high into the air, raised its tiger claws and struck fiercely at the Thunder Snake the moment it drew near. After assimilation, the Flame Tiger possessed a physical form. Originally a Summoned Beast with low physical attack power, its claw strike now not only accurately hit the Thunder Snake but also sent it flying scores of meters through the air with immense force. Boom! The Thunder Snake's massive body, combined with the powerful impact from the Flame Tiger's attack, caused the ground to crack and kick up clouds of dust upon landing. Even though the Thunder Snake had been knocked down, the Flame Tiger did not hesitate to follow up with a forward leap, covering an astonishing fifty meters in a single bound. It seemed the Flame Tiger, pouncing on the Thunder Snake again, intended to deliver a fatal blow before its enemy could recover!

However, this time it was the massive Flame Tiger that was sent flying!

As the Flame Tiger leaped toward the Thunder Snake lying motionless on the ground, the seemingly unconscious Thunder Snake suddenly sprang up, its thick black tail sweeping like a powerful horsewhip toward the Flame Tiger's abdomen in mid-air. With only two or three meters between them, the Thunder Snake's sudden attack caught the Flame Tiger off guard. The Flame Tiger had no time to react. Struck in the vital chest and abdomen, the mighty Flame Tiger let out a miserable howl and crashed into the distance like a kite with its string cut.

Roar! Though severely wounded, the Flame Tiger did not switch to defense. Instead, it roared and opened its mouth wide. A red glow, like a bubble blown from the Flame Tiger's mouth, appeared within. Half a second later, a red beam resembling a laser shot from the glowing mass, flying straight toward the Thunder Snake, which had now raised its head high. Although the red beam did not hit the Thunder Snake, its power was evident to all. Whether it was hard rock, soft ground, or surrounding trees and weeds, everything in the path of the red beam vanished into nothing.

Tiger's Roar Shattering Heaven! Mels in the distance stared dumbfounded at the attack unleashed by the Flame Tiger.

He remembered a great battle years ago when Sarikat had used this move to send a hundred enemies to hell. The power of the Flame Tiger's attack shocked not only Mels but even Kross, who also possessed a Sacred Beast.

However, Kross had no intention of retreating. He knew that in today's battle, whether in human martial arts or Summoned Beast control, he was inferior to Sarikat. If he retreated now, he would forever lose the chance to defeat Sarikat! And so...

Facing the red beam, the Thunder Snake did not move a step, but a black bubble appeared at the tip of its tail. When the red beam shot to within thirty meters of the Thunder Snake, it swung its tail, and an identical beam shot from the bubble, meeting the incoming red beam.

Flash Strike Heaven Wave! This was a super move that could only be used when the synchronization rate exceeded eighty-five percent. Had Kross's control over the Thunder Snake truly reached such a high level? Or...

The black beam and the red beam converged between Sarikat and Kross like two giant dragons. In a few seconds, the collision of forces would unfold. Yet Mels seemed captivated by the awe-inspiring spectacle before him, still standing dumbfounded in place. At this moment, Mels was less than a hundred meters from the center of the intense collision!

"Mels, run!" Just as Mels was lost in the dreamlike super battle, a heart-wrenching cry suddenly came from behind him.

Skete and Kerjes, having broken free from their own bitter struggles, were rushing toward Mels at full speed. These two elders, possessing high-level Summoned Beasts, understood all too well the magnitude of the impact when two Sacred Beasts clashed with their full power; and how much damage such an impact would inflict on Mels!

Mels heard their shouts. He snapped out of his trance and realized his current predicament, but time did not allow him to react! The Tiger's Roar Shattering Heaven unleashed by the Flame Tiger and the Flash Strike Heaven Wave used by the Thunder Snake collided the instant Mels regained his senses. Red and black, like colors covering heaven and earth, erupted before Mels's eyes in an instant.

Before Mels could even marvel at the power or the splendor of the colors, a massive shockwave surged toward him like a hurricane!

"Ah..." In the face of death, his most primal fear took over. Mels let out a cry and instinctively raised his hands to shield his head. He knew his chances of survival were slim!

The collision of the two beams lasted for a full five minutes. Only when both Summoned Beasts exhausted their power and simultaneously stopped outputting energy did the earth-shattering impact gradually subside.

"Am I still alive?" Though the storm had ceased, Mels kept his eyes tightly shut, as if trying to feel if any pain would come. After a long while, feeling no abnormalities, Mels slowly opened his eyes to confirm if his body remained unscathed.

However, the scene now unfolding before him would be etched in his memory forever! Little One's short stature stood blocking his path. The aura emanating from Little One's body formed a protective green light net around him. Inside this light net, not a single trace of damage could be seen; even the grass on the ground still swayed gently in the wind. Outside the light net, not only had the earth been stripped away as if skinned, but the ground itself had sunk by over ten centimeters. At this moment, Mels stood as if on a protruding rock, watching the battle of the two super Summoned Beasts!

"Little One, were you protecting me?" Mels still seemed unable to believe that such a small Summoned Beast could withstand such a powerful impact.

"Pitadada!" The green humanoid slime, with distinct limbs and a vaguely outlined face, proudly raised its head and let out a strange cry, as if seeking praise from its master.

"Alright, I know you're amazing. My Little One is the most powerful in the whole world!" Mels seemed to understand Little One's words. Upon receiving this clear affirmation, a joyful expression immediately appeared on Little One's face.

Long ago, when Sarikat explained the importance of Summoned Beasts to Mels, Mels believed they were merely auxiliary tools to enhance combat ability. He was convinced that through relentless martial arts training, even with the weakest Summoned Beast, one could rise to prominence by one's own strength.

However, after witnessing the battle between Sarikat and Kross, his perspective finally changed. Summoned Beasts were not just auxiliary tools for enhancing combat ability; they were the most important manifestation of a warrior's strength! Leaving aside whether humans could use powerful destructive moves like Tiger's Roar Shattering Heaven, even if they could, the cumbersome incantations and time-consuming techniques would inevitably delay the attack—a potentially fatal flaw in a high-stakes duel where every second counted! Understanding this, Mels felt even more overjoyed watching his own Summoned Beast successfully enhance its abilities. Deep in his heart, he secretly resolved to become stronger himself and to make Little One stronger as well!

Regardless of Mels's feelings, the battle between Sarikat and Kross did not change because of this. The tiger and the snake, having fought to a standstill with their exchanged moves, now stared at each other, panting.

For both Sarikat and Kross, their previous moves had nearly exhausted their strength. Although both Summoned Beasts were magical creatures, recovering magical power faster than other types of Summoned Beasts, the immense consumption of magical energy still left them unsteady on their feet. Comparatively, Kross had paid a greater price, not only because his Thunder Snake had evolved too recently but, more importantly, he could not control it as freely as Sarikat controlled his Flame Tiger. This affected the synchronization rate, which was critically important for controlling a Summoned Beast's power.

The earlier Flash Strike Heaven Wave was merely a superhuman performance driven by sheer will. Now, the aftereffects of forcibly using such power were gradually unfolding...

Hiss... After a long standoff, the Thunder Snake suddenly let out a low cry. Just as everyone watched intently, white specks of light began to appear on the Thunder Snake's black body. As these specks spread, the Thunder Snake's thick, long torso began to turn transparent, and its once proudly raised head slowly drooped. Although a snake's expression could not convey its feelings, Mels seemed to sense the Thunder Snake's agony at this moment. Roar! The Flame Tiger was unwilling to let this opportunity slip. Seeing the Thunder Snake's defensive formation gradually loosen, the Flame Tiger roared furiously and charged toward its mortal enemy once more. Fifty meters, thirty meters, ten meters! As the distance closed, the Flame Tiger leaped into the air, its sharp claws flashing with a cold light as it swung directly toward the Thunder Snake's head!

"Father, stop!" Just as the tiger claws were about to strike the Thunder Snake, Mels seemed to suddenly realize something. He rushed forward a few steps and shouted loudly at the Flame Tiger leaping into the air. Although Mels's voice reached the Flame Tiger's ears, and although Sarikat realized in that instant that the enemy had lost its fighting ability, it was already too late.

Five sharp tiger claws capable of shattering steel, driven by the swinging paw, deeply pierced the Thunder Snake's throat. With its combat power fully unleashed, it was impossible to pull back!

The impact of the Flame Tiger's massive body landing, combined with the force of its swinging claws, severed the Thunder Snake's black head from its body, as it had lost the protective power to withstand the blow. Watching the lifeless snake head roll to the ground and seeing a black mist surge from the Thunder Snake's severed body, the Flame Tiger froze, Sarikat froze, and Mels froze as well.

A black light shot into the sky. Within that light, the black assimilation barrier around Kross's body vanished.

"Ah!" As consciousness returned to his human body, Kross let out a loud cry. With that sound of agony, a mouthful of crimson blood gushed from his lips, instantly staining the ground red. The Flame Tiger still stood dumbfounded, staring at the snake head that had rolled to its feet.

The battle was over, decided with a victor, just as Kross had wished. Sarikat seemed to have forgotten he was the winner and also forgot to release the assimilation state with the Flame Tiger. Only when Kross's voice reached Sarikat's ears did he react.

"Xiuka... you... come here." The fragmented words acted like a wake-up call for Sarikat. As a red light flashed over the Flame Tiger's entire body, the white mist returned to Sarikat's form. Sarikat raised his left hand and recalled the Flame Tiger into the Summoning Gem. The battle-hardened victor rushed frantically toward the defeated man whose life force was fading, and one man cradled another in his arms.

"Cough, cough, Xiuka, do... do you remember how we first met in the imperial capital all those years ago?" Kross, lying in Sarikat's arms, asked softly. His eyes no longer held hatred, only deep nostalgia for the past. "I remember, how could I forget! We participated in the legion martial arts tournament together, assigned to the same group. In the preliminaries, you lost to me but claimed you deliberately spared my life; in the finals, you lost to me again, saying you just slipped and I got lucky." Sarikat said, forcing a smile.

"Haha, cough, cough..." More red blood welled from the corners of Kross's mouth with his laughter.

"Yeah. Counting this, it's the third time I've lost to you. But this time, I truly lost to you, and it's an ugly defeat." Everyone knew Kross's life was nearing its end.

"N-no, that's not true! This time, I was just lucky. You still have chances to fight me, you still have opportunities..." Tears, like a silent declaration, laid bare Sarikat's emotions.

"I also wish I had another chance to fight you again. But I think once I close my eyes, I'll lose that chance forever." Kross's eyes seemed unable to focus anymore, his vacant gaze fixed blankly on the sky.

"Xiuka, you are my best friend, the person I trust most. I just want to know one thing from you. Even if you lie to me, tell me, you didn't kill my family!" Kross suddenly grabbed Sarikat's sleeve tightly, questioning him loudly.

"I..." A simple question with only a yes or no answer, but Sarikat's throat seemed to catch, unable to utter the response.

"Cough, cough... Can't you even grant my final request? Xiuka, tell me, you are not my enemy, you are not!" Kross's tears mixed with his blood; no one could distinguish which were tears of emotion and which were the blood of life.

"I..." Silence again. Though Mels didn't understand why Sarikat couldn't tell Kross the truth, from his tightly clenched fists, the nails digging deep into his flesh, and the blood seeping from between them, Mels knew Sarikat would never speak the answer.

Time seemed to freeze. Sarikat's distant gaze and Kross's earnest eyes formed a peculiar picture. Although Sarikat did not utter another word until Kross closed his eyes, the last sentence Kross spoke gave Mels a feeling he had never experienced before.

"Xiuka, actually, you don't need to say anything more. I understand. Thank you. If there is a next life, I hope we can be brothers again!" Clear words were Kross's final sentiment left in this world. In his closed eyes, the intense hatred was gone. The black Summoning Gem shattered the instant Kross closed his eyes!

Sarikat still knelt dumbly before Kross. From his desolate expression, Mels sensed not sorrow or regret, but a deep sense of self-blame and helplessness.

What exactly happened twenty years ago? What made his foster father so distressed, so hesitant to move forward? Questions swirled in Mels's mind, but he knew that no one, no matter who, could learn the truth from Sarikat's lips. Perhaps the truth was simply too heavy to bear.

A bloody battle ended with Kross's death and the setting sun. Watching Sarikat, cradling Kross's body, slowly walk back toward the mountain stronghold, Mels suddenly realized this powerful warrior had aged many years in an instant. Ever since Mels could remember, every time Blue Whirlwind achieved victory in battle, they would hold grand feasts to celebrate. But this night was quieter than ever before.

Returning to the stronghold, the three fortress leaders unanimously went to a secret chamber for discussion. What were they discussing? No one knew except them. Meanwhile, Mels, Sol, and Rek went to their favorite spot again: the highest large rock on the mountain peak.

The gentle evening breeze brushed against the three youths' faces, like a tender maiden caressing them. Mels lay sprawled on the rock, eyes wide open, staring at the starry sky without a word. Sol and Rek knew Mels was in low spirits. Instead of bickering as usual, they quietly sat beside Mels, watching their leader.

"War is truly cruel!" Mels suddenly uttered this seemingly random statement.

Sol remained seated quietly, giving Rek a meaningful look.

Rek looked at Sol with difficulty, as if saying: I don't know what to say either. But after a light punch from Sol, Rek finally spoke up, "Boss, actually, we don't like war either! Although we are bandits, we never prey on weak civilians. Instead, we often help those in need. As bandits, we inevitably offend so-called 'authorities.' When enemies invade, we have no choice but to take up arms and fight back. It's a matter of necessity."

"I know all that. I still don't want to see scenes of bloodshed happen again. Whether it's our own people or enemies. Why must people kill each other? Can't they just sit down, have some buns, drink some tea, and talk things over slowly?" Mels continued without moving.

Hearing Mels's words, Sol and Rek couldn't help but find it both funny and exasperating. Just imagine, what bandit would sit at a table with their enemies, eating buns and drinking tea to resolve things peacefully?

"Boss, you really should be happy about this. Not only did we achieve a great victory under your command this time, but your [Summoned Beast] also underwent its first evolution—that's something worth celebrating! You used to go with the flow, laughing off whatever happened. Why are you always frowning and looking troubled now? That's just not like you!" Sol suddenly cut in.

No sooner had he spoken than, before Mels could react, Rek immediately shot Sol a glare. "What do you know!" Rek loudly retorted. "This is the boss maturing! This isn't frowning and looking troubled; it's being sentimental! Do you think the boss is like you, who only knows how to eat and sleep all day, dumb as a pig?"

"Huh? I'm like a pig? Then aren't you like a bear? Mages blend strength and wisdom. Have you ever heard of an idiot becoming a mage? Only those who are all brawn and no brain become warriors!" Hearing Rek insult him, Sol immediately forgot about Mels's low spirits and loudly shot back!

"Are warriors necessarily all brawn and no brain? The boss is a warrior too. Are you saying the boss is also simple-minded? Even if you're not as dumb as a pig, you're at least as timid as a mouse!" Rek waved his fist, shouting back defiantly at Sol.

"You..."

Just as Sol was about to speak, Rek cut him off. "You what? Want to fight?"

"All right! I know you two are trying to cheer me up by making a fuss. Don't worry, your boss isn't that fragile. It's just that today I suddenly saw too many scenes of parting in death, and seeing my foster father in low spirits, I got a bit emotional. Actually, Rek is right—what bandit's blade doesn't get stained with blood? Since we're bandits, as long as we don't violate the bandit code, that's enough! But speaking of which, the battle between my foster father and that general today was really spectacular. It was the first time I realized summoned beasts could be that powerful. I really envy my foster father for having the [Flame Tiger]." Mels sat up, turning over.

Seeing the smile return to Mels's face, the weight lifted from Sol and Rek's hearts.

"That's right, that General Kel-something was really amazing, actually fighting the Great Chieftain to a draw! If his synchronization rate with his summoned beast hadn't been too low, and if he hadn't forced himself to use a move requiring high synchronization, the outcome would have been hard to predict!" Sol said with emotion.

"Sigh, I really don't know how they trained. Who knows when we'll be able to have such powerful summoned beasts? Compared to them, my [Steel Ape] is like a child's toy!" Though Rek's words were sincere, there was a hint of dejection in his tone.

After hearing Rek's words, the three fell into silence. After a while, Mels suddenly stood up, spread his arms, and shouted into the evening wind.

"Boss, have you gone crazy?" Seeing Mels's sudden outburst, Sol joked half-seriously.

"You're the crazy one!" Mels's iron fist shot out with Sol's words. As Sol cried out in pain, Mels turned to face Rek. "Rek, listen to me carefully! My foster father is indeed strong, so strong that we can hardly hope to catch up. But we have our own advantage—we're younger than him! As long as we work hard enough, even if it takes ten, twenty, or thirty years, one day we'll be stronger than him! One day, the summoned beasts we possess will be celebrated by the world, just like the continent's strongest [Eight-part Dragon King]!" Watching Mels, his black hair gently lifted by the evening wind, his eyes shining brightly, Rek suddenly felt that every word he spoke now would one day become reality.

"Boss, I so admire you! You're practically my idol, I love you to death..." Before Rek could finish, Sol beside him was already glaring at Mels with teary eyes, hands clasped under his chin, wearing a deeply moved expression as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Mels and Rek both looked at Sol's expression, speechless.

"Boss, I really love you to death! Come here, let me give you a kiss!" Sol suddenly leaped up, lunging toward Mels. However, what greeted him wasn't an enthusiastic embrace, but Mels's flying iron fist!

"Get away from me! You freak, rabbit, idiot, fool..." Mels showered Sol with every "excellent term" he knew. But Sol was relentless. Rubbing his sore cheek, he stood up and said, "Boss, don't be shy! Come on, let me give you a kiss!" With that, he lunged at Mels again.

A joyful chase unfolded on the rock. Watching Mels and Sol playfully tussle, Rek smiled slightly and muttered to himself, "Sol, you bastard, you ruined the mood! Hah, but that's just like you, and that's just like the boss!" With that, Rek stood up and shouted at the two, "Wait for me, I'm coming too!"

"Ah, Rek, help me beat this guy up!"

"Rek, come 'admire' the boss too!"

"I'm not into any admiration; I'm just here to roughhouse!"

"No way..."

The laughter and chatter of the three youths echoed over Skull Ridge. Little did they know that this would be the last time they played so freely on this land. No one could have imagined that years later, when they returned here, all that would remain was...

The next morning, Mels, still deep in sleep, was awakened by a frantic knocking at the door. Groggily forcing his eyes open, Mels said, "Who is it? Don't bother me so early in the morning!"

"Boss, it's me, Rek. The three chieftains told me to wake you up and get you to the main hall right away!" Knowing that Mels wouldn't recognize his own mother when sleeping, Rek at the door quickly used the three chieftains as an excuse.

"Those three [Old Fellow]s again! They won't even let me sleep in peace." Mels muttered in annoyance, then shouted at Rek outside the door, "Tell them to wait! I'll go after I wake up!"

"Boss, I think you'd better go now. The three chieftains are in a bad mood today!" Rek made one last effort.

This time, the room fell silent for a long while. Just as Rek was unsure whether to advance or retreat, the door finally opened. Mels, still in his pajamas, rubbed his eyes and grumbled, "You guys really got me. Wait for me a bit longer."

A short while later, Mels, now changed into proper clothes, followed Rek toward the stronghold's main hall. Though there was still some sleepiness on his face, Mels was already refreshed. Along the short journey, Mels kept asking Rek why the three chieftains were so urgently summoning him early in the morning, but Rek had no answers—clearly, he was just following orders. Left with no choice, Mels could only resign himself to fate and wait until he saw Sarikat and the others to figure things out.

In the solemn atmosphere of the stronghold's assembly hall, Sarikat and the other two sat stiffly, as if they were about to make the most difficult decision in the world. Upon entering the hall, Mels had initially wanted to throw a tantrum, but seeing such a serious setup, the words he intended to say were immediately swallowed back. Bowing respectfully to the three chieftains, Mels asked, "Foster Father, why did you call me here so early in the morning?"

"Kid, you've been with us for seventeen years. It's about time we explained many things to you," Sarikat said seriously to Mels.

"Foster Father, what exactly is this about?" Mels sensed that whatever Sarikat was about to say must be closely related to him.

"Kid, you don't need to ask too much. First, let me ask you: do you still not want a powerful summoned beast like before?" Sarikat inquired.

Though unsure why Sarikat was asking this, Mels didn't hesitate. He raised his head high and said to Sarikat, "Before, I thought that as long as I worked hard enough, I could become a fearsome, powerful warrior on my own. But now I understand that summoned beasts are irreplaceable, powerful assistants to warriors! Without a powerful summoned beast, true strength will always remain a dream! So I hope [Little One] can keep evolving, keep growing, until it becomes my most powerful assistant!"

Listening to Mels's words and seeing his determined expression, Sarikat nodded slightly. Though he had already known that yesterday's battle with Keluos would affect Mels, he hadn't expected Mels to express his resolve with such certainty.

Regardless of why Mels had undergone such a big change, Sarikat was pleased to see it. "Good! Since you've already come to this realization, it's time I told you everything about yourself. Mels, you're not an orphan we picked up on the roadside. You are..." Sarikat slowly recounted how they had met Mels seventeen years ago.

An old story might not mean much to Sarikat and the others, but for Mels, hearing about his origins for the first time—what kind of impact would that bring?

After the lengthy narration ended, Sarikat took out a green gemstone set in a gold necklace from his chest. "This is your mother's [Summoning Gem]. Back then, I don't know why your mother dug it out from the back of her hand and gave it to me before she left. Though she didn't say anything, I believe this green gemstone will be useful to you. I've fulfilled my promise to raise you to adulthood, and now it's time to return it to you!"

Listening to Sarikat's account and seeing the soft glow emanating from the green gemstone, Mels suddenly felt his nose sting and his eyes grow warm. Ever since he could remember, he had known he was an orphan. Though Sarikat and the others treated him better than their own sons, deep down, the boy harbored an indescribable emotion.

The first time he fought with a child his age, he finally understood what "wild child" meant. The first time he ate at Sol's house, he finally understood what maternal love was. The first time he spent a full moon night alone, he felt loneliness. Too many firsts, too much loneliness had filled his seventeen years. But from this moment on, he finally had his own family. Though they were no longer in this world, he finally had his own family.

Mels's mind went blank; too many emotions washed away the feelings. Dazedly accepting the glowing green gemstone, quietly feeling the warmth emanating from it, Mels's tears finally fell.

A man's tears are not shed lightly; it's only when true sorrow strikes. Familial love, one of humanity's greatest emotions—under its impact, even the most iron-willed man can grow weak, let alone a youth.

Everyone watched Mels quietly, all understanding that now was the time to let Mels process and calm his emotions on his own.

After a while, Mels finally wiped away his tears, looked up at Sarikat, and asked, "Foster Father, why did you wait until now to tell me?"

After hearing Mels's question, Sarikat slowly stood up and said to the child he cherished, "Because we were afraid it would affect you!

Though your mother didn't explain her identity back then, judging from her noble demeanor and elegant clothing, she certainly wasn't from an ordinary family. But if she were the wife or concubine of a high official or noble, she wouldn't have been traveling alone, especially while holding an infant less than a month old.

Therefore, we believed something unexpected must have happened, forcing your mother to wander alone while physically weak—perhaps she was being pursued by enemies, or there were other hidden circumstances. If we had told you all this when you were very young, we feared your young mind wouldn't be able to handle it, so we kept the truth hidden."

After quietly listening to Sarikat's words, Mels understood that his foster father had hidden the truth for his sake. "Foster Father, I understand your intentions. But why are you telling me all this now?" Though still young, Mels had strong judgment. From Sarikat's words, he sensed there was more to come.

"Sigh, you're leaving today. If I don't tell you now, who knows when you'll learn about your origins," Sarikat said with a low sigh.

"Leaving? Why do I have to leave?" Mels exclaimed in shock.

"Child, you were always meant to leave here! Though bandits live freely, they are forever lowly, inferior people. We don't want you to grow old and die on this tainted land. Now that you've grown up, it's time for you to leave." Sarikat calmly stated his decision.

"Wh-why? Leave here? Then where should I go? Did... did I do something wrong? Are you driving me away?" Mels looked at Sarikat, then at Skete and Kerjes, but the two averted their eyes.

"No! You'll always be our child. No one wants to drive you away. We just want you to see the real world, to venture into the vast outside, to decide your own path!" Sarikat said loudly and passionately.

Seeing the earnest and sincere look in his foster father's eyes, Mels fell silent. After a while, he finally spoke. "I understand. So where exactly should I go?"

"Frans Island! To see the Summoned Beast Mentor, Huafer Danos!" Skete stood up and said to Mels.

"Summoned Beast Mentor? Who is that?" Mels looked at Skete, puzzled.

"On the continent, there is a renowned preacher. He is not only a powerful mage but also a scholar who can guide and control summoned beasts. He is the Summoned Beast Mentor.

The summoned beast you possess is not only unique in appearance but also extraordinary in ability. Like yesterday, right after evolving, it could protect you up close with a barrier, withstanding the powerful shockwaves generated by the clash of two [Sacred Beast Summon]s. That's truly impressive. I believe your summoned beast must have even more astonishing potential. Unfortunately, my knowledge can't help you, so we've decided to send you to see Huafer Danos. I believe with his help, [Little One] will become an even more powerful summoned beast!" Skete calmly explained everything.

From his tone, Mels sensed that regardless of whether he agreed or not, his future had already been decided. He was about to embark on a journey!