Before Lucien could ask about his failed attempt, the system's cold reply came again, its tone as indifferent as ever.
▓▒░ [Reason for failure: Compatibility rate below 80%. Dominant Contract requires mutual resonance beyond minimal threshold.] ░▒▓
Lucien frowned. "So that's it? I fail just because it didn't like me enough?"
▓▒░ [Simplified explanation: yes.] ░▒▓
He exhaled quietly, part frustration, part amusement. "You're really helpful, you know that?"
▓▒░ [Statement registered. No updates required.] ░▒▓
Lucien almost laughed. The Riftborn Direwolf had looked perfect, strong, agile, and fire-attuned but the system's numbers didn't lie. With compatibility under eighty percent, the beast would never submit without a fight he couldn't yet win. It stung, but he understood. For now, he'd have to settle for something that actually wanted to bond.
He adjusted his stance, scanning the interface again, this time filtering by compatibility. The system obeyed instantly, lines of faint light dancing across his vision as beasts reappeared with neat, shifting symbols above them. The numbers told a simple truth, the higher the rank, the lower the compatibility.
As he scrolled through the data, a heavy sigh left him. "So that's how it is." The realization settled in. "The weaker they are, the easier they agree."
▓▒░ [Correct. Dominant Contract relies on consent and submission. Higher beings resist control. Unless you overpower them, they will reject you.] ░▒▓
Lucien nodded slightly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "So strength can still bend the rules."
▓▒░ [Eventually.] ░▒▓
He glanced at the lower pens where smaller, weaker creatures hovered or crouched behind energy barriers. Some students avoided that side entirely, their pride unwilling to stoop that low. Lucien didn't care. His gaze hardened with quiet resolve. "Then I'll start from the bottom and climb up. And when I do, even those beasts up there will bow."
The faint pulse of Aether from his body made one of the nearby creatures flinch. It was subtle, but he noticed it. A smirk flickered again across his face, something half amused, half predatory.
He walked toward the section marked for lesser ranked creatures. The lights dimmed slightly there, and the atmosphere was calmer. Students rarely lingered this long; most had already chosen their partners. A few, however, noticed him.
"Hey, look, he finally gave up," someone whispered from the back.
"Guess he knows his place now," another said.
"F-rank suits him perfectly," a boy chuckled. "At least he's not pretending anymore."
Lucien ignored them completely. He wasn't the type to waste energy on words. His attention stayed fixed on the interface. The insults washed over him like rain over stone.
One by one, he scanned the weaker beasts — small gremlins, timid serpents, flickering sparks of elemental wisps. Their compatibility rates climbed steadily: 60%, 75%, 82%.
Finally, his gaze caught on one that made the system pause.
The faint glow of the barrier reflected something inside, a small, floating creature that barely seemed real. It shimmered like a drop of light caught in smoke, its form shifting slowly as if undecided on what it wanted to be. Two crystal-like eyes watched him, soft but aware.
The interface unfolded smoothly before him.
▓▒░ [Base Form: Lesser Spirit Wisp]
Rank: F-Tier (Unclassified)
Element: Undefined / Soul-Aether
Compatibility: 86%
Nature: Fragment of a greater being — a shattered soul core that stabilized after drifting through planar storms.
Traits:
Soul-Link Symbiosis: Shares a mutual soul circuit with summoner. Damage or emotion affects both, but resonance amplifies power when synchronized.
Adaptive Essence: Can echo minor abilities of defeated Rift creatures; strength grows with mastery.
Emotional Evolution: Evolves through shared experiences and emotional growth, not power absorption.
Veil Sensitivity: Detects nearby Rifts or planar anomalies earlier than instruments.
Ethereal Form: Immune to physical attacks in early stage; weak to energy disruption. Gains hybrid form later.] ░▒▓
Lucien stared at the floating creature for a while, his brow lifting slightly. "You're not ordinary, are you?"
The wisp blinked, its faint light pulsing softly as if responding. Its form rippled for a second, almost taking the shape of a small fox before dissolving again into mist.
▓▒░ [Observation: Target's rank is low, but classification irregular. Unknown evolution route detected.] ░▒▓
Lucien tilted his head. "So you're telling me it's special?"
▓▒░ [Possibly. Or defective. Hard to tell at this stage.] ░▒▓
He chuckled quietly. "I'll take those odds."
The more he read through the traits, the more impressed he became. The others around him were drawn to visible strength, claws, fire, armor, size. But this creature held something else. Its traits spoke of depth, growth, connection. It resonated with something deep within him, a quiet persistence.
"No wonder no one noticed you," he muttered. "They're too busy chasing what shines on the surface."
▓▒░ [Would you like to attempt Dominant Contract?] ░▒▓
He smiled faintly. "You already know the answer, Yes."
▓▒░ [Confirming… Initiating Contract Sequence.] ░▒▓
Before he started, he let his eyes linger on the creature one last time. The Lesser Spirit Wisp floated closer, its light flickering gently. He couldn't explain it, but there was something familiar about its presence, like hearing a melody he'd once forgotten.
"Guess it's just you and me now," he said softly. "Let's see if we can understand each other."
As the others finished their rituals, laughter still echoed faintly in the background. Lucien didn't notice anymore. He raised his right hand slowly, focusing his will. The faint pulse of Aether in the room seemed to fade, and the air around him grew still.
The system's tone broke the silence once more.
▓▒░ [Dominant Contract — Commencing.] ░▒▓
Thin threads of silver and blue essence flowed from his palm, wrapping around the space between him and the wisp. The small creature drifted closer, its glow responding to his energy.
Lucien could feel it — a tug deep in his chest, like something inside him was being pulled forward. It wasn't painful, but it was heavy, real. His heartbeat matched the pulse of the wisp's light.
For a brief moment, the system interface flickered.
▓▒░[Resonance forming… 72%... 79%...]░▒▓
Lucien kept his focus steady. The laughter from the nearby students grew quieter, curiosity replacing mockery as they noticed the strange shimmer forming around him.