Chapter 39: Spiritual Space A/N: Guys, there was a mistake, Elysian Bloom is an Orange quality treasure and not an Epic quality treasure. Natural Treasure ranks mirrored those of the equipment and artefacts: White, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, and up to Black. --- Chapter 39: Spiritual Space Before Leo could read further, the Dryad’s eyes fluttered open—deep wine in hue, glowing with a mesmerizing, almost ethereal sheen. The golden barrier surrounding it rippled once before fading away entirely. The Dryad floated toward him. It tilted its head, examining him with quiet curiosity, circling a few times before its gaze fixed on the wound across his torso. Without hesitation, it reached out and pressed a delicate hand over it. Ding! Blood Bond Formed - 1% Then, almost immediately, his wounds started to heal, sealing themselves shut as if they had never been there to begin with. The next moment, the dryad disappeared in yellow motes of light and shot straight into his chest, disappearing. Did it just form a Blood Bond from the start?... Leo didn’t get enough time to think further as a new system prompt appeared in front of him. [Tamed Beast Information] Beast: Dryad Name:? Bond: Blood Bond (1%) Current Rank: High 2★ Beast Bloodline: Royal Bloodline [Primordial Grove Line] Bloodline Potential: ★★★★★★★★ (8★ Potential) Current Status: Newly born, tired. Traits: Fast Regeneration: Rapidly restores physical and spiritual damage using ambient mana. Even fatal wounds can heal over time when rooted in natural terrain. Tough Body: Bark-textured skin grants exceptional durability and resistance to magic, physical strikes, and elemental erosion. Half-Spirit: Exists between the realms of nature and mana, making it partially immune to toxins, paralysis, and soul-based corruption. [High Mana Regeneration]: Constantly draws mana from the surrounding environment, sustaining both itself and nearby allies. Skills: [Vine Estranglement]: Summons enchanted vines to bind and crush enemies. The vines drain the trapped target’s vitality while feeding the Dryad’s own recovery. [Nature’s Heal]: Channels pure life essence to mend wounds, restore vitality, and cleanse minor ailments for itself or allies. [Spike Pores]: Releases fine, invisible spores into the air. Upon inhalation by living targets, the spores germinate within the body, forming wooden spines that pierce outward—causing immense internal damage before dispersing into dust. --- But that was not all. --- Status Updated! Vitality: 16.5 -> 36.5 Strength: 23.1 -> 43.1 Agility: 22.1 -> 42.1 Stamina: 18.9 -> 38.9 Intelligence: 17.0 -> 47.0 [Half-Spirit Boost] Mana: 850 / 1360 -> 3250 / 3760 Unassigned Attribute Points: 8 --- {10-20 points = Low 2-star} {20-30 points = Intermediate 2-star} {30-40 points = High 2-star} {40-50 points = Peak 2-star} 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶 --- "Such a huge Jump in strength!" Leo exclaimed. He also noticed that his injuries were completely healed, which had to be since, after forming a Blood Bond with Dryad, its trait of [Fast Regeneration] now applied to him as well. "But I wonder why it formed a blood bond with me so quickly" Leo muttered, "Maybe it deemed me as its parent because it was newly born?" Then, suddenly he felt a familiar warmth enveloping him. Lily had hugged him from behind. "Idiot," Lily’s trembling voice came softly. "Don’t run off like that again... I was so scared." She stepped around to face him, her eyes shimmering with tears. Her hand brushed gently over the place where his wound had been. "You’re not hurt anymore... thank goodness." She exhaled in relief. The warmth of her palm lingered against his stomach, sending a faint shiver up his spine. Her hands are so soft... "Kuhhmm!" James cleared his throat loudly, which made Lily quickly withdraw her hand from him in a flustered expression. "Are you fine?" James continued. "Yes, I am fine... sorry for engaging in a fight without saying anything... but if it had been any later, that tiger would have healed himself by consuming the flower, and then it would have been more dangerous for us." He explained. "You are alive, at the end it’s all that matters. But..." James looked at the corpse of the tiger, then at the Elysian Bloom. "This... Even if it was injured, you did a great job. And that natural treasure... By all means, it’s yours. I am sure it will benefit you greatly." He said, not a shred of greed in him. He was more fascinated by the dead tiger. From the looks of it, it must be at least Peak 2-star, maybe even 3 stars... how did he do it? And that Black Beast... I never knew he had such a noble beast within himself. James looked at Shyra, who was busy searching the core of the Mistprowler tiger. He could feel that his bloodline was very pure. So that’s the reason he grew so strong in such a short amount of time. And the beast that he tamed just now... Is it what I think it is? James was lost in his own thoughts while looking at Shyra’s magnificent form when Leo suddenly approached him. "Sir James, here one for you." Leo forward an arm size petal to him. James got startled by Leo’s sudden approach as he pulled himself out of his thoughts. He saw Leo handling him one petal of the strange flower, which by all means looked like a high-level treasure. "Eh? I said it’s yours, didn’t you say the tiger would have eaten it if you didn’t intervene? don’t worry about me." James said as a matter of fact. Leo then proceeded to explain about the benefits of consuming a petal and also the fact that consuming more than once in succession is dangerous. Of course, he made the excuse of learning about it in a book. James’ eyes widened when he heard about it, Soul healing effects! It’s a priceless treasure. "I cannot thank you enough for this, Leo. You have my gratitude." James said with a slight bow. For him, his soul getting healed is a wish come true. It was the fact that his soul was damaged that he was not able to advance. Whenever he tried to form a bond with any other beast, a searing pain assaulted him, and he coughed out blood. "Please take is as a gift in return for the help you have given us till now." Leo also bowed to him. Leo gave one petal to Lily as well, and for the rest 2, he would think after they had consumed the one they had in hand. James brought out his Ironclaw Bear, instructed to protect them while they digested it. Lily did the same with Lunaria; she named her wolf that. And Leo also instructed Shyra on the same thing. They sat in meditation position facing each other in a circle. After nodding, they began. The moment they brought it in front of their mouth, the petal dissolved, which started to merge with their body and and a golden light enveloped them. The effect was immediate. Ding! Elysian Bloom’s petal has been consumed. Your soul is being nourished. Soul has been elevated to the next rank. [Common Soul] ---> [Uncommon Soul] Leo didn’t even get to react when another chime rang. Ding! Due to the host having another soul, and the soul energy overflowing. The Spiritual Space expands. --- A/N: Auxiliary Chapters have been uploaded. They contain world-building facts and descriptions related to skills, talents, and beast information in case you forget.