"Incredible… it's just like before," Yurei thought, stepping back slightly as Hiro began releasing waves of Aether.
The energy rippled outward in visible pulses, warping the air and causing the ground beneath him to shiver.
So this is S-class, Bailey muttered, her voice trembling as the horrifying force of Hiro's Aether pushed her back a step, the residual energy brushing her like a physical gust.
So this is that idiot's power, Daisy thought, her eyes wide as the raw intensity threatened to overwhelm her senses.
The brilliant ball of light slowly dimmed, coalescing into the form of a five-meter-tall white fox with red tints on it. Its nine tails flickered and curled like ethereal ribbons, each shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
Standing upright on two legs, its black claws extended, radiating both regality and latent danger. The fox's presence alone seemed to command the space, a perfect blend of elegance and raw primal power as a pink chain tattoo adorned its neck.
Did that primal force take over? Yurei wondered, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer ready to pull out Longinus at a moment's notice.
The fox's gaze met hers, crimson reflecting crimson—a mirror of intelligence, self-awareness, and restrained ferocity.
Then a voice resounded inside her mind:
"Hey, Captain."
I see you're able to retain control, Yurei thought, staring into Hiro's transformed form, marveling at the harmony of beast and consciousness.
"Feels a bit weird… just like that time," Hiro responded, the mental echo tinged with awe.
He felt as though he had been thrust into a world of spiraling colors, vibrant life, and heightened reality.
His senses, amplified far beyond human limits, initially overwhelmed him, but gradually he began to adjust, breathing in the raw essence of the world as a predator.
"So I was right" Yurei muttered.
"About what?" Hiro asked hearing her mutter with his enhanced senses
"You need an act of affection from me inorder for you to transform" Yurei answered.
Wait but that means—
"Yes I will have to kiss you everytime for you to transform" Yurei said.
So I get a free kiss everytime I transform.. Sweet!! Hiro thought.
"I can hear your thoughts you perverted beast" Yurei said with a slight blush on her face.
"But hey, Captain… why am I smaller this time?" Hiro asked, the question directly resonating in her mind, curiosity tinged with slight irritation.
"This is your [Base Form]," Yurei explained. "It's for handling smaller Abyssals without flattening an entire city in the process."
"So my previous form was my—?"
"[Colossal Form]," Yurei continued. "It's especially for dealing with large Abyssals. And before you ask… you don't control which form you take… yet. Currently, my blessing dictates your transformation."
A sharp interruption cut through the moment.
"Hey, guys! You can't just have an internal conversation and leave us out like we don't exist!" Marian's voice rang, breaking the telepathic flow.
"Yeah, Big Sis! Not cool!" Daisy pouted, stomping slightly in exaggerated indignation.
The way this girl behaves when Yurei is around is… weird, Hiro thought, unable to hide his astonishment.
Zap!
"Oww!" Hiro howled, rubbing his wrist, and glared at Daisy with a mixture of pain and disbelief.
"What was that for?!" His eyes narrowed, glaring daggers at her.
"Just got the feeling you were thinking something disrespectful," Daisy replied, crossing her arms and turning away nonchalantly.
To be fair… she's right, Yurei said silently, her crimson eyes flicking toward him. You did think that.
"So this is the telepathy between a Beast Slave and its Mistress," Bailey whispered, awestruck, observing the spectacle.
Once a bond is established, the first level of the Spirit Chain unlocks a telepathic link, which activates upon transformation.
Though the Lovers Chain reduces direct telepathy when untransformed, it maintains emotional resonance, allowing each party to feel the other's emotions.
"Let's stop standing around—let's do what we came for!" Bailey said sharply, snapping everyone out of their banter.
"She's right," Daisy said, shaking off the distraction. "Let's see what a Spirit Type S-class can do!"
"Okay… now we need the right test subject," Yurei said, her crimson gaze scanning the horizon.
"A few are already incoming, Captain," Bailey said whipping out a scanner, tracking the incoming units.
"In which direction?" Yurei asked, crouched and ready.
"50° North—50 Class One ground types, led by a Class Two."
"Ready for your first beast training, Hiro?" Yurei asked, leaping gracefully onto his back like a mounted warrior as Longinus came out of her spatial ring.
Born ready! Hiro shouted in his mind, letting out a powerful howl.
The sound erupted like a sonic boom, a small explosion of Aether scattering dust and debris as his muscles flexed, and his aura flared to life.
"Let's go!!"
Hiro surged forward, claws digging into the soft earth, as he sprinted toward the approaching cloud of grey soil on the horizon.
The wind whipped past him, the raw energy of his Aether rippling outward, tails flicking behind him like blazing banners of white fire.
The first battle of his beast training had begun.