Aster Grant's action of selecting a beast from the defective products section left the staff momentarily stunned.
"Pardon me... Are you referring to that Angelic Tamed Beast?"
"Yes, how much is it?"
Aster repeated.
The staff awkwardly rubbed hIs hands, "I'm sorry, sir, I can't make that decision..."
They hurried to contact a supervisor and quickly got a response.
"For just 10,000 Draconian Coins, you can take this beast."
"Though it's a defective product, it is of Epic Quality after all..."
Aster paid swiftly and decisively.
Soon, they arrived at the Contract Chamber.
Lazuli stood at the edge of the Contract Array, her silver hair hanging down, hiding her gently trembling shoulders.
Is there really going to be a contract?
Her fingertips unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothing, the fabric wrinkling in her palm.
A beast like me...
Lazuli bit her lower lip, her amber eyes clouded with tears.
"I'm sorry! I can't form a contract with you; I'm an incomplete beast."
Her voice carried a sobbing tone, like a wronged little creature.
While preparing the Contract Array, Aster looked up in surprise.
Seeing the tear-streaked face of Lazuli, he realized he had overlooked the beast's feelings.
"Don't underestimate yourself; you are a very outstanding beast."
Aster looked at Lazuli with determination, trying to give some encouragement to this despairing girl.
"No, I'm not..."
Lazuli lost control of her emotions, covering her face, "I can't even perform even the most basic upgrade!"
"I know your problem."
Aster stepped forward, holding her trembling shoulders, "But I have a solution."
"Rea... really?"
Lazuli suddenly stopped, looking up with tearful eyes.
"If I wasn't confident, why would I choose you?"
Aster pointed at the calendar on the wall, "Ten days from now is the assessment, no one would gamble their future."
Right after Aster said this, there was a knock on the door.
The staff delivered the materials he had just ordered... almost spending his entire twenty million coins!
"I've got the materials; do you want to give it a try?"
At this, the Little Angel's body trembled slightly, and her heartbeat rapidly accelerated.
Though she knew the chances of recovering from her injuries were extremely slim...
But still...
What if?
Under Aster's encouraging gaze, Lazuli followed the instructions and used the three materials one by one.
The next moment...
A rich purple light burst forth from Lazuli's wound.
The light was deeper than what he had seen when summoning a succubus at the altar, almost tangible, as if aiming to engulf the entire room.
Even more astonishing...
In the roiling purple light, there was a faint streak of dazzling gold!
"This is..."
Aster's pupils contracted slightly. Before he could ponder, that golden hue spread like a raging fire!
Gold... Legendary Talent!
"How is this possible?!"
Aster's breath caught.
The materials provided by the system were clearly only for healing injuries; why did they trigger a talent evolution?
Unless...
Lazuli's injuries were a shackle limiting her potential!
As he quickly mulled over this thought, the golden light had already enveloped the entire room.
From the wound on Lazuli's back, a pure white wing slowly extended—
White as snow, untainted.
The wings gently folded, wrapping Lazuli tenderly, finally transforming into a massive light cocoon.
"Boom—!"
An invisible surge suddenly exploded, penetrating the roof and shooting straight to the sky!
Inside the City Lord's Manor
Lord Sean Sherman of Lythos was leaning on a sandalwood chair, lightly tapping the rim of his cup with his fingertips, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
On days without alternate space invasions, even the tea aroma seemed particularly refreshing.
However, the next second—
"Clang!"
The celadon teacup suddenly slipped from his fingers, shattering on the stone floor!
Sean Sherman barely noticed, as his pupils contracted sharply and he stood up, gazing out the window!
Just now, he felt an immense, abyss-like aura descending from the sky, enveloping the entire Lythos city!
The aura was divine and majestic, like a deity casting a brief glance, yet it disappeared in an instant.
"Come!"
Sean Sherman's voice suddenly turned sharp, "Investigate all surrounding alternate space rifts immediately!"
The guards hurriedly obeyed, but Sean Sherman's frown only deepened.
To cause such a celestial phenomenon, there were only two possibilities—
Either the alternate space barrier weakened, leaking the aura of a terrifying entity;
Or... a Legendary Talent beast has been born!
"As for a Legendary Talent beast, heh, how could that be..."
Sean Sherman self-mockingly shook his head, dismissing the second guess outright.
A small border city like Lythos cherished even Epic Talents in beasts, let alone a Legendary one?
....
Unbeknownst to him, in the Contract Chamber of the Beastbond Trading House...
Aster stood dazed before the screen of light, swallowing hard.
[Divine Angel (Lazuli)]
[Status: Uncontracted]
[Talent: Legendary One Star]
[Level: Tier Zero]
[Skills: Judgment (extra damage to Demon Clan creatures), Divine Protection (immune to one fatal attack), Blazing Angel Form (increases all attributes by 200%), Song of the End (puts the angel into a dormancy period upon use)]
[Cultivation Recommendation: Use Light Crystal, Holy Spirit Marrow Liquid...]
Legendary Level...
It really happened!
Aster took a deep breath, trying to steady his wildly pounding heart.
Legendary and Epic Levels are entirely different concepts!
But if this angel turns out like the previous succubus, then...
A trace of coldness flickered in Aster's eyes.
He could confidently spend 20 million healing this angel's injury, as the Beastbond Trading House had measures to prevent a beast's betrayal.
However...
"Whoosh!"
A silvery figure suddenly knelt on one knee, wings slightly expanded, casting a fine brilliance under the light.
Lazuli lifted her head, her clear amber eyes filled with unswerving determination.
"Holy Angel Lazuli, requests to become your tamed beast!"
When that determined voice rang out, the tension in Aster's nerves finally eased.
He slowly smiled, the delight spreading from his eyes.
Such intense relief!
In this world, not all beasts are as callous and indifferent as that succubus.
The girl knelt on one knee, her head held high, pure white wings flowed with pearl-like luster under the light, her golden eyes brimmed with conviction, yet held a touch of cautious expectation.
Gazing at the girl who nervously awaited his response, he took a deep breath and solemnly extended his hand.
"Lazuli, welcome to being my first tamed beast!"
As Aster's words fell, a crystalline tear quietly slid down the girl's porcelain-white cheek.
This moment, she had waited too long for.
Through countless days and nights, she curled up in the cold corner of the trading house, echoes of "defective product," "unwanted waste," "even the wings are an incomplete failure,"... around her.
But now, she finally waited.
Those pains silently licked, sorrows unbeknownst to anyone...
At this moment, they turned into the most precious gift.
It turns out, a deity really would show mercy to an angel forgotten by the world.
...
...