After resting for a while, still seated on the floor, Alex felt his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation, excitement, and awe. He looked at his weary hands, then at the void before him, as if seeing something that no one else could perceive. He knew that the coming moment would be decisive—the moment to manifest his first spiritual creature.
He exhaled slowly, trying to calm his breath, then closed his eyes and dove his awareness deep into his inner world. There, within the dark spiritual lake that had changed since before, floated the hexagonal crystal he had shaped earlier. It now glowed with a calm, pulsing light, like a heart beating at the center of his existence. Alex approached it with clear awareness, accompanied by the feeling that everything he had done so far had been mere preparation for this very moment.
He whispered to himself inwardly:
"Now… it's time to manifest my first spiritual being."
A surge of energy flowed through the crystal, as if responding to his call. Alex felt the crystal's awareness interact with his will, and the circle of light within it expanded, forming a transparent void ready to be filled. He smiled faintly as he thought of the creature he would create first.
He needed a versatile weapon, something capable of adapting to any situation. In this strange place, surrounded by the unknown, he required a creature able to fight, defend, and scout—all at once. After a brief pause, a memory surfaced—one that had fascinated him since childhood: the octopus.
As a child, he had visited the aquarium with his father, standing in front of the glass tanks, mesmerized by these strange sea creatures. They moved with grace and fluidity, with eight arms wrapping around anything, releasing ink to vanish, changing color at will, healing from injuries. The octopus symbolized intelligence, flexibility, and survival—all qualities he needed now more than ever.
Alex focused his awareness on the crystal and began to shape in his mind the image of this marvelous creature. At first, the image was vague, a mass of blue energy swirling slowly. Then the details emerged: a rounded head, large luminous eyes like shards of glass, and eight arms extending in all directions, moving with astonishing fluidity.
With each passing second, the octopus became clearer within the crystal, woven from glowing threads of mana resembling tiny sparks of consciousness. It was mesmerizing—a creature sculpted from celestial blue light, drifting gently in the inner realm of his soul, serene in appearance yet brimming with hidden strength and potential.
Yet Alex, despite his awe, did not forget a crucial weakness: defense. He knew from his studies and observations that the octopus, though intelligent and skillful, lacked protective armor. Its soft body was a deadly vulnerability.
He opened his eyes briefly in thought, then remembered another sea creature he had seen in one of his beloved books—a fish with metallic scales that glimmered like iron, capable of fending off predators and even a hunter's blades.
"This is what I need…" Alex whispered. "An armored octopus."
He returned his awareness to the crystal and poured his will into the forming creature. He began weaving new threads of mana, denser and more solid, wrapping them around the octopus's body. The process was mentally grueling; each thread seemed to drain some of his vitality. Yet his excitement outweighed the fatigue.
Gradually, small metallic scales formed over the octopus's body, each gleaming like polished steel. The scales interlocked tightly, covering the head and arms while remaining flexible. Over time, the creature became a hybrid of organic life and a marine war machine.
Alex worked in silence for hours, hearing nothing but his ragged breath and the echo of energy flowing between body and soul. Time seemed to fade, as if the outside world had paused for him to complete his creation.
Finally, after immense effort and sweat, the light subsided. Before him, within his inner world, stood a spiritual masterpiece.
The octopus floated in the spiritual lake, its glossy body reflecting blue and silver lights, its arms moving gracefully as if displaying its strength. The metallic scales emitted a faint sound when they touched, warning any who dared approach.
Alex smiled with admiration and wonder, filled with a sense of indescribable pride. He had successfully manifested his first spiritual being—the armored octopus. He knew that what lay before him was not merely a creature, but a direct extension of his will, part of his soul transformed into a weapon he could summon at will.
He studied it long, then whispered softly within his inner world:
"You will be the first to stand with me against this world… my living shield."
The creature disappeared into a swirl of light, returning to the crystal, where it rested at its center as a dormant shadow, waiting for the call.
When Alex opened his eyes in the real world, he felt exhausted, yet filled with energy. His body was tired, but his soul soared with the thrill of accomplishment. He slowly rose, still sensing the connection between himself and the creature he had created.
Before he could delve deeper into this new sensation, he heard a sound from outside—the faint steps of someone approaching his door. At first, soft, then growing clearer. The wooden floor creaked with each step, a deliberate rhythm that could not be ignored.
Alex froze. His heart raced violently. He could not tell whether the steps belonged to a human or something else. He looked toward the locked door, wondering if the moment had come to test his new weapon.
He whispered, barely audible:
"It seems… the first test begins now."
Under that tense silence, the crystal within him pulsed faintly, preparing to summon the armored octopus—the first being of his spiritual realm, the first weapon to bear his name in the coming battle.