This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain’s gaze lingered on the last line of Vauleth’s profile before moving on. Now that he knew more about Vauleth, he could reasonably work to find a solution. Now his greatest mystery was no longer the red dragon, but rather…

Another profile that had appeared.

One that he had unfortunately been unable to read since he first sensed something ‘off’ or rather ‘living’ in his fifth star after it had nearly collapsed.

Looking at the new icon, he swiped through the air, fingers slightly trembling—thankfully, nobody was with him in his school laboratory that could judge him for his strange behaviour. He got tense, not from fear, but from the same tension that comes from unsealing something long overdue.

The System chimed softly.

[New Profile Detected: Unregistered Lifeform…Decryption Successful.]

Of course. The fifth contract. If it could even be called that…

Kain wasn’t even sure how it even came to be or if it was truly alive.

Back during the first trial of the inheritance relic, things had spiralled out of control. Too much Source energy, too fast. And the System was no. longer around to support him.

He stupidly (or maybe smartly?) tried to shove all of the energy into his fifth star, but it couldn’t handle the influx. The star had begun to rupture. No amount of compression or flow adjustment had worked. It was as if the whole foundation of his being had decided it was tired of keeping itself together.

Until the artifact he had obtained earlier, as if by fate, intervened.

The brace, housing a fragment of his own soul from a version of him that had given in to Source energy completely, came to the rescue.

The moment that fragment fused with the unstable star, it didn’t just stabilize it.

Something had emerged.

A tiny breath of life born from madness.

Unfortunately, its true form remained a mystery.

Until now.

Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, he selected the profile.

The light changed.

A soft purple glow—distinct, almost otherworldly—shimmered into the air. The system projected a full 3D model of the creature.

Kain blinked.

It looked… like a spore. Half-fungal, half-plasmoid. Translucent. Veins of pure violet ran through it like capillaries, and at its core pulsed a faint Source-light, like the rhythm of a heartbeat… Or maybe a ticking bomb.

And then the profile began to scroll.

[System Notice: Contract Registered — Profile Available]

Nickname: —

Species: Source-Eating Spore

A strange lifeform that came into existence during an explosion Source energy and the intervention of a mysterious artifact. It resembles a kind of energy-eating fungus, spreading out in thin threads that can connect to other spiritual systems like wires to a battery. The more energy around it, the stronger and more active it becomes. And it always seeks more—especially the unstable, wild kind of energy that most beings avoid.

Quality: Diamond

Spiritual Power Grade: White (Newly Born)

Type: Fungal

Attributes: Source

Skills:

X – Core Conduit [Passive]: The Source-Eating Spore exists in a constant state of energy metabolism. It draws in ambient spiritual and elemental energy—regardless of type or origin—and converts it into pure Source energy. This energy can be funnelled directly to the Contractor or to any bonded contract, increasing their spiritual power reserves and reducing fatigue. Acts as a living battery, storing excess energy for future use. Cannot self-initiate attack or defense without external triggers.

SS – Radioflare Meltdown: The Spore violently releases a burst of all stored energy in a wide-area blast when badly injured. The power of the blast is proportional to the amount of stored energy and can reach cataclysmic levels far beyond its actual spiritual power grade in strength. Energy discharged is lost entirely unless redirected through Core Conduit beforehand.

S – Saturation Link: Temporarily creates a spiritual tether between the Spore and a chosen target (contract or contractor). While linked, the target continuously receives filtered Source energy, boosting skill strength, spiritual skill release speed, and energy recovery. However, excess input risks instability in both the Spore and the recipient, which can cause wild fluctuations or forced cancellation.

A – Recursive Drain: Latches onto a long-lasting enemy skill (i.e. shields, energy armours, etc.) and drains it of power over time. Stored energy is either kept in reserve or sent to a companion. The more complex or volatile the target, the faster it is digested. Releasing this drain prematurely by the opponent may cause a shock backlash to the target, interrupting their casting or technique channelling.

B – Refract Shell: Due to its quasi-physical structure, the Source-Eating Spore cannot be targeted by standard spiritual detection or scanning skills below orange-grade in spiritual power. Its energy signature mimics background noise, making it hard to distinguish even when active. However, direct attacks or aura-focused detection can still reveal its presence once engaged.

Kain stared at the profile for a long time.

Then, slowly, a smile tugged at his lips.

He hadn’t planned this. Not even a little.

But somehow, without realizing it, he’d assembled a complete team for a gaming nerd like himself (or at least his past-life’s self):

The tank Aegis on the frontline—sturdy, immovable, a living shield to protect Kain and the others.

The healer Queen provided timely medical assistance.

The Vespid Guard were like a combination of scouts, since he often used them as such, and rangers as they bombarded enemies with their projectile stingers.

The red dragon Vauleth was raw fire and destruction. The heavy damage dealer.

Bea was more like a control or mind-mage build. Without involving her physical body in the battle, she confused, controlled, and disoriented—classic crowd control.

And now this…

The classic support build. A living battery of Source energy. Providing buffs on attack speed and strength, refilling energy reserves, and reducing the strength of enemy skills.

“…I built a damn dungeon raiding party” Kain muttered. “Anyways, welcome to the team buddy!”

No one replied, but the faint pulsing of the spore on the screen seemed to glow a little brighter in greeting.

“I guess I should take you for a test run…”

—————–

Kain stood alone in one of the lesser-used specialized training rooms available within the College.

Lesser used, not because it wasn’t good, but because the hourly rate to rent it out was unaffordable for the average student who was not in the Top 5 or religiously farmed school credits by completing missions.

He walked to the center of the room and released all of his contracts…including one that he’d never seen before in person.

A violet mist coalesced from nothing, pulling together into a small, half-spherical shape that floated mid-air. But despite the dramatic visual effects of its entrance…it was only about as big as the tip of a needle.

Kain had to squint his eyes until his vision blurred before he could just barely make out that there was a purple floating dot in front of him.

“…You’ve got the entrance of a final boss,” Kain muttered underwhelmed, “and the body mass of a speck of sand.”

The Spore hovered, pulsing once. Proudly. Or as proudly as a violet dot the size of a flea could manage.

“Alright team,” Kain called, glancing at his other contracts as they took formation around him. “This is our new member. Say ‘hi’ newbie.” The purple speck bobbed up and down on cue. “Group assignment. We’re going to see what this baby can eat. But keep it gentle. You’re all several grades above it.”

He looked at Aegis first.

On command, the golem raised one stone arm. A slow ripple of amber-tinged kinetic pressure waved toward the spore. Since the gap in strength was so big, he didn’t even bother using a skill, just manipulated some earth attribute energy and roughly sent it toward the spore as gently ass possible.

The spore shuddered slightly… and inhaled it. Clearly, it had no issue with traditional elements.

Kain blinked.

“Okay. Queen. Some life-attribute energy.”

The Vespid Queen wiggled her antennae and released a soft pulse of life-attribute energy. The spore twitched and absorbed that too—like it had been starving for it.

“Bea?”

The amoeba, the smallest of the bunch and still invisible to the naked eye, then released the Pale Thought Field. The first contract to actually use a real skill and not just roughly release energy. Bea was gentle, but Kain could tell it was still too much.

The spore wiggled and expressed a sensation of pain.

Kain’s eyes narrowed.

The spore pulsed again. It was larger now—barely—but enough that he could actually see it without squinting. About the size of the end of a Q-tip. Its surface shimmered with swirling color, and its body vibrated and moved erratically like it had just downed three espressos.

Despite expressing pain, it still asked for more.

“All right…,” Kain said slowly. “One more.”

He looked at Vauleth. The dragon arched looked hesitant but still performed.

A thin line of flame spewed from the dragon’s mouth. It was barely more than the flames of a gas stove—but far stronger in strength.

The spore hovered in place as the fire reached it—then expanded in a sudden jolt, swallowing the flame like it was hot chocolate on a winter morning.

And then it wobbled.

Violently—

Toooot

–and emitted a long, drawn-out fart sound.

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