"Mhm." Lin Guang nodded readily. "That's the Crybaby Scarecrow's trait, [Loud Wailing]. When attacked, it lets out a rather frightening cry, so some people also call it the 'Mandrake Scarecrow.' Some timid spirit beasts will lose their will to fight because of it, and their attack power drops. If you get caught by it, only those with strong resistance in that area—or beasts with traits like 'Unaffected'—can ignore it."
"The rules of this world are completely different from W's. Some things that look harmless can actually hide great danger. You need to discard the common sense you learned in your old world and adapt to these rules. I told you its name was Crybaby Scarecrow before you picked up your weapon, but you didn't pay attention to what that name implied."
"..."
W clicked her tongue but didn't argue. This time, she really had been careless.
If she had known the target possessed something like "Originium Arts," she definitely wouldn't have been so reckless.
"Actually, even if I had told you in advance and you were mentally prepared, your performance wouldn't have been much better. 'Traits' and 'skills' aren't something to underestimate. Rather than just explaining, try it again yourself."
That remark stirred W's rebellious streak. She pulled the dagger out from the scarecrow's back and, with lightning speed, slashed toward its neck.
The blade had only cut a few centimeters in when that soul-piercing wail erupted again. The strength gathered in her right arm instantly dissipated, and the dagger froze halfway through the cut.
"This Crybaby Scarecrow is level 5—two levels higher than you. After hearing it a few more times, you'll probably manage to resist it somewhat. But until you surpass its level, you'll still be affected by at least half. That's because what's influencing you isn't just sound or psychology—it's aether."
"Aether is the unique supernatural energy of this world. It's similar to the power system you once had, but skills that carry aether are stronger, more versatile, and much harder to guard against."
After a pause, Lin Guang continued, "Next, try using a skill. I saw you use Fear Face on that fish earlier—it shouldn't be difficult for you."
"..."
This time, W didn't retort at all. Her slender black-and-red tail flicked slightly. As the aether within her body—and the surrounding environment—was stirred, faint blue particles began to glow along her tail, quickly attaching themselves to the scarecrow and seeping into it.
"Very good."
Lin Guang revealed a look of genuine admiration.
"That's Tail Whip—it mobilizes aether to envelop a nearby target, reducing its defense and resistance. Now try attacking it again."
W opened her amber eyes and gripped the dagger. Only then did she realize that the wounds she had just inflicted had already healed—there wasn't even a visible mark left.
Taking a deep breath, she aimed slightly above the previous cut on its neck and slashed again.
Slash—
Amid the scarecrow's wailing, its head cleanly fell to the ground.
[Your partner W has defeated a gray-grade level 5 enemy. The stardust progress bar has increased.]
Her body stiffened slightly. Looking down at the comical straw head at her feet, a strange glint flickered in her eyes.
"That's it?"
"Don't worry, it won't die."
Shaking his head, Lin Guang picked up the straw head and hat, placing them back onto the broken neck. A faint green glow flashed, and the straw wriggled like worms, reconnecting seamlessly—leaving no trace of damage.
"This is the skill of Self-Recovery. Judging by the speed, its proficiency is probably already at the 'Proficient' level."
"A punching-bag scarecrow like this doesn't have a true weak point. If you only use pure physical attacks, unless the force is overwhelming, you'll just scatter it into straw. As long as you bundle it back into shape within a day and let it dry in the sun, it'll recover naturally. Only high-powered aether skills that completely destroy every piece of straw can truly kill it."
"Because of this trait, it's perfect as a training dummy for beginner spirit beasts."
"And one more thing—Crybaby Scarecrows don't feel pain. The crying is just a survival mechanism to scare off enemies."
Once I build up enough starting capital, maybe I could go into the Crybaby Scarecrow business… Lin Guang thought to himself. At present, people still hadn't realized that this constantly beaten-up scarecrow was actually a Ghost-type spirit beast, not a Plant-type. Possession-type Ghost beasts like this were the easiest to evolve—and had many evolution paths.
"I didn't ask for all that."
W snorted, turning her head away. Then she suddenly glared fiercely at the scarecrow—
Nothing happened. Although Fear Face activated, the scarecrow had no offensive capability, so it had no effect.
"I have to say, your skill casting speed is very fast. Tail Whip takes about three seconds, and Fear Face even less—around two seconds. In terms of skill execution and comprehension, you far surpass beast-type spirit beasts and those bound by enslavement contracts."
"Now comes the main event."
Lin Guang walked over and met her gaze directly. "Get ready."
Seeing his serious expression, W straightened up and looked into his eyes.
Talent: [Heart of W]—activated.
In the next instant, incomparably complex three-dimensional runic patterns appeared in both of their pupils, dyeing their eyes with a dim yet profound golden hue—like quietly burning flames.
W suddenly felt a power different from aether surge within her body.
Her body felt sturdier. Her limbs are stronger. Her mind is sharper. Her reactions and perception are more acute. Even the stamina and aether she had just expended were recovering faster.
She lowered her head in disbelief, quickly testing her movements. The dagger spun between her fingers in a clean flourish—though each individual improvement was small, every aspect had been enhanced. It even gave her the illusion that some of her former strength had returned.
If quantified, her overall combat ability had increased by at least 30%.
"What is this—?!!"
Lin Guang took a deep breath, sensing the steady drain of mental energy from his sea of consciousness as the Heart of W operated.
"This… is my power as a Spirit Master."
"In essence, it's an extremely complex spirit-inscription array that's nearly impossible to replicate. Its effect is to comprehensively enhance 'W lifeforms.'"