Sora watched as Netsu incinerated the Thunder Dragon with a single attack, showing overwhelming dominance. He hadn’t anticipated his familiar to be so powerful compared to other familiars, not giving the opponent a chance.
[You have won the familiar duel: 1000 points][Your team won the first match: 2000 points]
In an instant, Sora and his teammates found themselves dissolving and reappearing in the familiar waiting room. Without wasting any ti, they resud their intense training, pushing their familiars to the limit in preparation for the next group battle.
"Your phoenix is in a league of its own... How high was your rank in the last trial?" Klunor asked, unable to hide his amazent at Netsu’s massive power despite his strange behavior.
Sora hesitated briefly, considering whether to share the information, before replying, "I was ranked 6th on the third floor."
Belinda, the Dragonborn, opened her mouth wide, in shock, showing a terrifying row of teeth. "You’re at the very top! No wonder your phoenix crushed that poor Thunder Dragon..."
As they returned to training before the second match, Klunor surprised everyone by gifting an [Elental Fruit] to Sora. The fruit promised to drastically enhance Netsu’s affinity for any chosen elent. Sora accepted it, recognizing its potential to elevate Netsu’s elental control to a new level.
Envious of the [Elental Fruit], Belinda took out two dragon scales, distributing them to Sora and Klunor who gave her an [Elental Fruit] in return. The mont their familiars absorbed the scales, their body-forging reached new heights, toughening their physical forms and defense.
Watching this exchange, Brodus was speechless. He glanced down at his own familiar and realized he had nothing to offer his team for their familiars’ improvent. Regret crept in— should he have brought treasures as well?
The demon, Sollmunn, the player from the Demon Race, stood aside, watching the exchange with a mix of envy and irritation. He could see how the [Elental Fruit] and the upgraded intelligence would boost the others’ familiars, allowing their dragons to wield their elents with greater power. In his mind, except for the abnormal phoenix, all of them would waste these resources that were exclusive to so regions.
His eyes lingered on the [Elental Fruit], yearning for his Balrog to possess the enhanced fire control and power it could bring. His mind raced with ideas on how he could steal their treasures without punishnt.
Sora noticed Sollmunn’s envious gaze and called out, "Sollmunn, if you want to join us in training, you’re welco. But if you need sothing valuable, you’ll have to offer sothing valuable in return."
Sollmunn hesitated, considering the idea of benefiting from such a trade. His expression shifted as he scanned the items in his inventory, unwilling to trade anything of value.
After a mont, Sollmunn sighed, his face settling into a hardened look, and turned his back on Sora, choosing to ignore the offer entirely. He had no intention to help his enemies grow stronger, thinking, ’If those stupid players want to feed a human genius more power, it is their problem, not his.’
In the second match, Brodus was the only one to lose, while the other four won their fights, adding [4500 points] to Sora’s score. By the ti the third and fourth matches ca around, their familiars had transford into true powerhouses through consistent training and maxed intelligence. With flawless victories in both rounds, they earned [6000 points] each instead of the usual [5000 points].
Before the sixth match, Brodus, visibly frustrated by having the weakest familiar, decided to act.
"You guys leave no choice," he declared, a determined gleam in his eye. "There’s no way I’m going to rank last on the team and risk dragging everyone down with ."
His teammates, satisfied with their progress so far, turned to him in surprise. Sora, curious, watched Brodus closely, sensing the Dwarf’s newfound resolve. Belinda, Sollmunn, and Klunor also turned their attention to him.
Brodus began by removing his armor—first his chest armor, his greaves and boots—leaving his teammates puzzled. But when he started taking off the clothes he wore beneath the armor, one piece at a ti, until he was fully undressed in the waiting room, their jaws dropped in shock.
"Brodus... what are you doing?" Sora asked, his confusion evident.
Belinda turned away, displeased with the display. Klunor burst out laughing, clearly entertained by the Dwarf’s actions. Even Sollmunn allowed himself a smirk.
Brodus shrugged, unfazed, and grinned. "Laugh all you want now; we’ll see who’s laughing soon."
Brodus’s back was to them as he floated just above the ground, channeling an energy, unknown to Sora, that pulsed in a slow but powerful rhythm. The smiles and laughter from earlier faded quickly as the others felt the force gathering within him.
Sora observed, his [Mana Eyes] focusing as Brodus thodically pushed this energy, that he could not decipher, to a small distance outside his body before slamming it back onto his skin repeatedly, each impact seeming to increase the pressure.
With each cycle, Brodus’s skin grew redder, the process intensifying as his muscles visibly strained against the energy coursing through him.
Gradually, his skin tone changed from a clear color, to red before becoming an alarming blue, his face twisted in clear agony. Despite the pain, he continued, driving blood and energy to a single focal point—his right fingertip.
Brodus’s determination was almost as intimidating as the limitless energy he was holding inside his body. A single drop of blood began to take form at Brodus’s fingertip, suspended in the air and radiating imnse, concentrated power.
The aura it emitted made the familiars notice it, their heads turning toward the Dwarf, their instincts recognizing the drop as a treasure that held limitless potential for their future.
Sollmunn’s earlier amusent was long gone, replaced by a sour expression as he muttered, "Another Dwarf who’s managed to push this far in bloodline refinent… Damn it." His mood was evident as he realized Brodus’s potential.
Brodus moved from his spot, positioning himself near the [Black Tortoise], and extended his hand, allowing the powerful blood drop to float slowly toward his familiar.
Just as it was floating towards the excited Tortoise, the Balrog disappeared from its spot, reappearing between the [Black Tortoise] and Brodus with alarming speed. Brodus reacted instantly, recalling the blood drop back to him, narrowly avoiding Sollmunn’s attempt to intercept it.
Turning to the demon with a furious glare, Brodus demanded, "What in the hell do you think you’re doing?"
Sollmunn shrugged, a sly grin playing on his face as he laughed it off. "Just figured it was worth a try," he said, his voice dripping with unapologetic amusent.
Brodus clenched his jaw, his anger barely held in check. He should have known that Sollmunn might pull sothing like this, yet he was still caught off-guard.
Resolute, he moved closer to his familiar, his eyes never leaving the demon as he brought the blood drop forward once more, carefully guiding it into the [Black Tortoise] while keeping a sharp watch on the demon.
Sora, observing these events, couldn’t shake his curiosity. ’Bloodline refinent,’ he thought, recalling the demon’s muttered words.
’This energy feels dense… so different from anything I’ve encountered. And my [Mana Eyes] can’t see through it…’ The thought sparked a deep desire within him to uncover the secrets of this new power.
Watching closely, he saw the words above the turtle familiar begin to change:
[Black Tortoise - Level 146]
[Black Tortoise - Level 147]
...
The levels climbed steadily, each increase deepening the familiar’s aura and density.
[Black Tortoise - Level 150]
[Black Tortoise - Level 151]
The familiar’s shell glowed, its form now more imposing and resilient. Even from where he stood, Sora could feel the transformation. The [Black Tortoise] had ascended to a level that had allowed for sothing extraordinary.
’It feels like his familiar grew stronger, as if his talent level was multiplied by 10. And now, it seems that he’s even going to [Evolve]…’ Sora thought, awe and realization showing on his face. He sighed, suddenly understanding why Brodus had been so confident about changing the team’s dynamics.
As the [Black Tortoise] continued its transformation, the process stretched on for an entire hour, ultimately costing the turtle a match due to forfeit in the sixth round.
The whole team watched as Brodus chuckled in embarrassnt, scratching his head. "Sorry, everyone. I’ll make it up to you," he offered sheepishly.
Klunor, the Dark Elf raised an eyebrow, clearly envious. "If you’re truly sorry, maybe you could share so of that blood essence as a sign of goodwill."
Brodus shook his head, sighing. "It’s not like I can just refine Blood Essence anyti I want. The cost… It’s steep."
Sora, curious, asked, "Why didn’t you do this during the week on the third floor? You’d have ended up in the first tier for sure."
Brodus sighed, glancing at his familiar. "Don’t you see I dropped from level 155 to 153 doing this? I had no idea the fourth floor would be a PvP format using familiars. I didn’t want to lose levels when I needed to be at my peak. After all, I wasn’t counting on Shelly to carry in battles. Maybe your phoenix is powerful enough to defend you from others, but I’m still stronger than Shelly."
Sora chuckled at his response, thinking, ’People are really underestimating because of my level.’
The team carried on, battling match after match, securing victory in twenty straight rounds.
Through all these rounds, Sora encountered no familiar faces; out of the 400 teams, they had only clashed with twenty so far.
As they prepared for the twenty-first battle, training in the waiting room, a notification suddenly appeared.
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