n

n

nThe elder had given them all one last lecture in their improvements and failings. Ending his talk by praising walker for educating the trainees about an integral part of a hunting party's success. Happy with himself the elder headed back to his tea and fire.

nGil Laurence and walker were all staring at Otis waiting for him to say something, eventually he did.

" the elder seemed in good spirits today, he went easy on us.

"

n

" that was easy! Seriously we got dragged in to all that training and now I've got almost zero mana.

" Exasperated Gil raised and dropped his arms defeated.

n

" yes he often carries a few potions if he really wants to push. Or if someone isn't catching on fast enough. I believe he really liked the lesson walkers magic really forced home the dangers of poor timing.

" Some of the trainees had begun to head away but almost every single one of them kept looking at the shattered stone pillars as they walked away. Even the small crowd that had gathered was constantly taking peaks at the shattered pillars to remind themselves of the exploding fire flowers they had seen. Walker was a hit, the center of gossip for the tribe and if he tried to escape the questions at dinner he'd surely fail.

nTired and in need of cleaning up the three left Otis at the training field to do just that. After getting in to cleaner shape walker found midnight asleep by the fire as expected. It would seem the girls were still out wandering the tribe. Walker couldn't help but think how sad it would be when they needed to leave, this place was quickly becoming a second home.

n

"

"Hungry

"

" this intense feeling started to radiate from onyx. Walker was incredibly tired and had just begun to lay down for a nap before dinner. Without thinking he pulled the crate of all his light crystals from his storage. Onyx left walkers shoulder, slithering in to the crate. Walker didn't even have a chance to remove a few before his eyelids drooped and he was asleep. His fatigue had gotten the best of him.

nThis feeling of energy resounded through him. It was warm and light pushing in to his mind brining him back to the conscious world.

"Hmmhgs

" walker frowned having been awakened by this strange feeling, it was too cold out to feel this kind of warmth. His eyes fluttered open realizing this wasn't physical but a mental energy coming from his bonds to onyx. Becoming more panicked walker began to shake himself away to see broken crystal shards all around him. What happened?

nSmall scratching sounds were coming from the crate which had tipped on to its side leaving even more crystal shards in the ground. Midnight was awake and staring intently at the crate the excitement evident in her eyes. Every time a crack or scratching sound was made midnights energy seemed to build, what's gotten her so excited? Walker was lost he remembered falling asleep needed a nap to get some energy back but what else had he done? Why hadn't he put away the crate with the light crystals...wait...where's onyx?

nJumping up he circled the crate to see the opening only to find something much different than light crystals. Inside the small crate was a ball of moving scales. The dark rounded body covers in scales twisted ion itself searching through the broken shards of light crystals. Some a head appeared with a light crystal held within its mouth, onyx!

" you've eaten all the light crystals! You've grown huge! How did you do this!

" Heating walker onyx quickly finished off the light crystal he had causing it to shatter. Onyx unfurled his balled up coils revealing his length to now be three times walkers height. His body had become thicker and his scales seemed darker than they previously were. Looking past onyx's new large size walker saw that there were no light crystals left, every single one was broken and consumed.

n

"Master, I've done it

" walker spun about in confusion, who the hell just talked to him? He looked everywhere but it was only him, midnight and...onyx.

n

" onyx did you just...speak?

" Walker intently stared at the newly grown serpent in front of him. His hopes rising as the possibilities flooded his mind.

n

" yes master, I've unlocked my system and gained my skills. Thank you for leaving the food for me, it was enough to cause my growth spurt.

" Yes yes yes! Onyx had finally grown and not just a little it was a huge burst. Onyx must have been building up to this. Walker immediately checked onyx's stats to see what onyx had goi my for him.

nOnyx

nAbyssal serpent system

nAbyssal black serpent

nLevel: 1

nExp. 0

/100

nHp-45

nAtk-35

nMatk-65

nDef-35

nMdef-55

nAgi-45

nMana-70

nWalker was incredibly excited to see onyx finally at level one after growing. This was a momentous occasion to celebrate. Walker saw that upon unlocking his system onyx had gained a telepathy skill, this was an great surprise since now onyx could communicate much easier.

" wait onyx I see you have a telepathy skill but how can you already speak so well?

"

nThe serpent raised its head higher seemingly amused,

" master I've been watching and listening. Waiting for the day I can speak at the equal you say I am.

" Walkers brows furrowed, a tinge of anger in his eyes.

n

" then stop this master stuff, like you just said we are equals. I am you big brother walker and that is your big sister midnight!

" Onyx shrank away a bit not expecting that reaction from walker, onyx saw more than just a big brother due to their contract and how walker lead the party.

" listen onyx we are family not some tamed beast and a master, no matter what so let's act like it.

" Onyx rushed forward wrapping himself around walkers neck and shoulders. Relaxing and letting his body drape over like a scarf walker could feel the weight upon him.

" onyx I think we'll need to rethink your favorite sitting spot because if you keep growing like this you'll be brighter than me!

" Not afraid in the least walker only could feel the complacent happy feeling coming from onyx.

nDelving deeper in to onyx's skills walker saw two that he started with that seemed incredibly useful

n' decaying venom-10 mana

nInjected through the fangs this venom eats away at the mana and stamina of the inflicted. Highly taxing to create and keep within the body it is a very potent trump card for some species of monsters.

nBind- 2mana

nUsing the strong coiling muscles the user wraps around a target. Each second the target is wrapped the coil will tighten forcing more and more damage eventually strangling the target.'

nThese skills were fairly impressive starting off skills for onyx, being a monster he was already born strong but would naturally reach the same wall midnight had. Experience, since monsters needed many more points over than other creatures they would often hit a bottle neck where it took years to level up. Being born strong due to their rare species midnight and onyx had an advantage over more common species like the snow imps or giant locusts. However once they hit a tough patch in leveling adventurers would overtake them with skills and gear being able to defeat them. This was how the world worked, a natural way of things. But this didn't take away from how impressive their stats were now and what they could become.

n

" midnight what do you think of your little brothers growth spurt? Pretty amazing isn't it?

" Midnight huffed her eyes gleaming intently while taking in onyx's new appearance.

n

" brother she says she wants to take me out to fight.

" It was walkers turn again to be stunned. He spent all his time causing shock to those around him but was not used to being shocked himself. What in the holy lord did onyx mean that midnight wanted to take onyx out to fight!? Onyx could talk to midnight! Walker could finally hold a conversation with midnight properly instead of hoping that one day she would gain a skill to take human form or communicate like an ancient dragon does. Walker could cry, he's wanted to talk to her since the second they'd met.

n

" midnight! Onyx can tell me anything you want to say to me, we can finally talk!

" Her eyes grew larger and larger while looking directly at walker, the energy seemed almost tangible between the three of them.

nThere was a silence between them asking to be broken as walker waited for onyx to speak. Midnight was struggling with what to say knowing that her words would finally reach walker. No longer would she have to fully rely on the feelings the two sent and the small mental messages they pushed back and forth that could only explain small things.

n

" brother, she says thank you for the newts they tasted good

"

n