"Wow! An Electric Berserk Bear!"
As he was deep in thought about the missions, he hears an exclamation near him. The voice was filled with awe, cutting through the low murmur of the crowded federation building.
He looks over to see a handsome young man walking with a massive yellow bear at his side. The creature's fur crackled with sparks of electricity every few seconds, illuminating the surrounding area with faint blue light. It moved with surprising grace despite its size, its muscles rippling beneath its charged coat.
Sean clicks his tongue seeing this impressive beast but quickly looks away, a determined glint in his eyes. He believes that Wuk's future wouldn't be lesser than it – after all, this is the first time he'd ever heard of a mystique creature practicing martial arts on its own.
Wuk, perched on his shoulder, stares intently at the Electric Berserk Bear. A fierce fighting spirit rises in its dark eyes, its small body tensing with excitement. After practicing martial arts – especially after the Black Ape Fist was incorporated into its training – what was once a weak and small frame had begun to transform. Lean muscle now defined its limbs, and its iron-gray fur had grown thicker and shinier.
"He's one of the ten young emperors – the Roaring Bear of the Gold Family," someone nearby whispered.
"I heard that he trains in their Gold Family secret technique," another added.
"The rumored secret technique that grants practitioners the chance to become a Spiritual Tamer?"
Wait! Training martial arts can grant the opportunity to become a Spiritual Tamer!? This is the first time I've heard of this!
Sean's mind races with the new information. As expected, those who aren't martial artists would never know the hidden truths of this world. He makes a mental note to ask Nima or her father about it later.
Once I can hunt mystique creatures safely, I should take a leave to bring Wuk out to gain some real experience, he thinks, watching the young emperor and his bear disappear into a private corridor.
Looking at the clothes of the people around him, Sean realizes that nearly everyone is wearing garments made from mystique creature materials – durable fabrics woven from beast fibers, armor plates crafted from hardened scales, even accessories carved from rare bones.
I need to earn enough money to bring Aunt Tsu into the inner city and have her train in martial arts!
That woman had given him nothing but warmth ever since he'd arrived in this world. She'd taken him in without hesitation, shared her home and food, and never once made him feel like a burden. He'd always been a grateful person, and he was determined to pay back what he owed – or at least give her the chance to build a better life for herself and her daughters.
The line might have seemed long, but the registration process was surprisingly quick. Federation staff moved with efficiency, processing each martial artist in turn. A couple of minutes later, it was Sean's turn. The woman behind the counter raises an eyebrow when she sees him, clearly surprised by his youth.
"Name and age," she says, her voice professional but not unkind.
These were the only mandatory details, though applicants could choose to provide more comprehensive information if they wished – the more data given, the better the rewards and support from the federation. Sean shares everything except for his transmigration and the full extent of his Spiritual Tamer abilities, providing honest answers to all other questions.
The woman glances at his age on the form and does a double-take. "You're not even eighteen yet?" she asks, clearly impressed. "A variant Iron Monkey? Even though it's one of the most basic mystique creatures a person can contract with, finding a variant is still pretty rare. You have good luck – or good instincts."
She praises him before handing over a polished metal badge and a sleek black device. "This badge identifies you as a registered martial artist. The device is your martial artist phone – it connects you to the federation network, mission boards, and other practitioners."
Next, he's brought to the vitality testing center, where a series of machines measure his physical capabilities and vital force output. The results appear on a screen moments later.
"Early Phase Iron-Skin Warrior," the woman announces, stamping his documents with official approval. "Your status is now officially transferred from normal citizen to martial artist. You can now hunt in designated wilderness areas, but be mindful of the laws – you are strictly forbidden from harming civilians or unprovoked attacks on other martial artists."
Sean nods, though he knows full well that while the rules are clear within city walls, things are very different outside. Robbery and conflict are common in the wild, and the federation simply can't control the greed and ambition of so many powerful individuals. Listening to the woman explain the regulations, he finds himself wondering why the federation seems to have so little control over what happens beyond the city limits – but he holds his tongue when she moves on to assist the next person in line.
The world must be undergoing some great changes, he realizes. I need to plan my future carefully.
His top priority now is to sign a contract with a spirit-type mystique creature to work toward creating the Spirit Nurturing Technique. While rare, such creatures are available in select pet shops – though most carry only one species.
The Evergarden Shop – where he works – is owned by the powerful Evergarden family, of which Flowery is a member. Like all her clan, she has a natural affinity for nature elements. The shop does carry a spirit-type mystique creature, though they aren't popular among martial artists.
Spirit Foxes. They have almost no offensive power, and their main redeeming feature is their delicate beauty and cuteness. Without human intervention and protection, the species would likely have gone extinct long ago.
Returning to the shop with Wuk on his shoulder and his new devices tucked into his pocket, Sean feels like a completely different person. The martial artist phone feels heavy in his hand – a symbol of his new status and responsibilities.
He heads straight for the smallest lair in the shop, where the Spirit Foxes are kept. The guard stationed at the entrance is dozing in his chair, and Sean can't help but smile wryly. The lair rarely gets visitors aside from young children and girls drawn by the foxes' appearance, and no one worries about them escaping – they're widely considered one of the weakest mystique creatures in existence.
"I want to go in," Sean says, gently tapping the guard's shoulder and startling him awake.
"Huh? Oh, it's just you, Sean! Wait – that badge!" The guard's eyes widen as he sees the metal emblem pinned to Sean's shirt. "Did you really become a true martial artist?"
Sean just smiles and nods before stepping inside the lair. The air is cool and quiet, filled with the soft scent of herbs and moss. He's greeted by a skulk of small foxes huddled together in the corner, trembling slightly at his entrance.
He doesn't blame them. While the shop enforces strict feeding rules, many workers see the Spirit Foxes as little more than decorations and don't pay much attention to their needs. But Sean has always taken his duties seriously – he's never missed a feeding time, and he treats every creature in the shop with respect.
Upon catching his scent, the foxes' eyes brighten slightly. One by one, they begin to relax, though they still keep their distance – all except for a small white fox with silver-tipped fur that approaches him carefully, its nose twitching.
"Oh!" Wuk suddenly lets out a loud chattering shout, startling all the foxes. Every one of them scatters and hides – all except the white fox, which faints clean away, collapsing in a small heap on the floor.
Wuk starts laughing and clapping its hands, clearly pleased with its prank.
"It seems that you're still the same troublemaker even after practicing martial arts," Sean says, not the least bit angry. He'd chosen Wuk precisely because of its lively personality – martial artists in this world can live for hundreds of years, and while picking only powerful creatures might bring strength, he knows it would lead to a lonely, boring life.
"To think you'd make her faint with just a shout," he murmurs, lifting the small white fox carefully in his hands. After a few gentle shakes, her eyes flutter open. The first thing she tries to do is scramble away, but she's too weak to escape his grasp.
As expected of one of the weakest mystique creatures – with my current strength, she doesn't stand a chance, he thinks, watching her struggle gently.
"You don't need to be afraid," he says softly, setting her down on the floor and taking a step back. "I'm here to offer you a home, but I need to know – are you willing to follow me?"
The white fox stops her retreat, looking up at him with intelligent amber eyes. For some reason she can't explain, she feels drawn to him and the mischievous monkey on his shoulder – a sense of safety and belonging she's never felt before.
[Willing mystique creature encountered. Start bonding process?]
Sean jumps slightly at the system's announcement. It seems that forced contracts aren't possible – even if he managed to compel a creature to sign, the system wouldn't recognize it unless the bond was mutual.
[Spiritual Tamer update. Contracts: 2/3. Name the new companion to complete recognition.]
"Foxxy? No, that's too basic," he mutters, thinking carefully. Then he remembers a beautiful white flower from his past life. "I know – I'll call you Jasmine."
A flood of warm memories about the delicate jasmine flower fills his mind as the bond solidifies.
[Name: Jasmine
Species: Spirit Fox
Grade: Common
Rank: Vital Realm (Iron)
Innate Trait: Spiritual Charm
Skills: None
Requirements for evolution:
(1) Learn at least 1 Skill;
(2) Increase vital power;
(3) Increase spirit strength.
Picking up Jasmine carefully, Sean heads back outside the lair – and nearly bumps into Priscel, who's standing there looking him up and down with a critical eye.
"So, is it true? Did you really become a true martial artist?" she asks, her voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Yes," he confirms. "I was thinking of celebrating – are you free later? Dorothy's coming too, but don't get your hopes up for anything fancy. I don't have that kind of money yet."
He hurries to add the last part, knowing Priscel's reputation for liking nice things. She puffs out her cheeks and glares at him.
"I'm not that shallow!" she protests. But when he gives her a look that clearly says I know exactly what kind of person you are, she responds with a light smack to the back of his head.
"Hmph! Just because you're a martial artist now doesn't mean you can act all high and mighty!"
Sean looks at her strangely. Since when did I ever treat you that kindly? I was warned about your demanding personality before I even started working here.
"What's with the fox in your hands?" she asks, changing the subject when she notices his expression.
"I want to buy her – think she'd make a good lucky charm for my family," he lies smoothly. He can't exactly tell her he'd just signed a second contract so soon after bonding with Wuk – that kind of ability would draw far too much attention.
"Buy her? You don't need to pay for that little thing," Priscel scoffs, waving a hand dismissively. As the strongest martial artist in the shop, she has the authority to make such decisions. "She's basically just a mascot. You taking her off our hands is more beneficial than letting her sit in that lair doing nothing."
Unable to convince her to accept payment, Sean thanks her and returns to his duties for the rest of the shift. Jasmine hides in the crook of his arm, clearly intimidated by the larger, more powerful mystique creatures in the shop. Wuk, on the other hand, practically vibrates with excitement whenever they pass by the enclosures of bigger beasts, clearly eager to test its strength.
Looks like I'll have to take Wuk out to the wilderness this weekend for some real practice, Sean thinks, making a mental note to check the federation's mission board for safe hunting areas near the city.
Now that he has Jasmine, his next goal is to find a spirit cultivation technique – though he has no idea where to start looking. For now, he decides to focus on the missions he can actually complete.
[Learn a fist technique to create the King Kong Punch.]
[King Kong Punch: An offensive technique that harnesses the full power of the user. Each tier awakens a special trait.
Requirements:
- Learn a fist technique (Achieved)
- Increase muscle strength (Achieved)
- Contract an ape or monkey mystique creature (Achieved).]
His eyes light up with excitement at the notification. While he's eager to create the technique immediately, he decides to wait until he's home and can focus without distractions.
His workload feels much lighter now that he's a registered martial artist. Most of his tasks involve cleaning up after the larger mystique creatures – hard work, but manageable with his enhanced strength. The more prestigious job of introducing creatures to customers is reserved for martial artists, but Sean has no interest in it right now. His mind is set on hunting in the wild, though he feels indebted to the Evergarden family for giving him his start and the steady income that's supported him and his aunt's family.
As his shift comes to an end, Sean stands in front of the shop, lost in thought. He keeps turning over the same question in his mind: if he becomes a successful hunter, should he quit his job here, or continue working while hunting occasionally?
The demand for mystique creatures – alive or dead – is at an all-time high. Breeding them is difficult and expensive, and some shops focus on raising "cattle-type" creatures for meat and materials. But such operations require vast amounts of land, something the Evergarden Shop doesn't have. Instead, they specialize in niche creatures that new martial artists prefer as partners – ensuring a steady stream of customers, but also high costs for feeding and care.
Even the lowest-potential creatures – those that can only reach the peak of the Iron Vital Realm – sell for at least 200 units, roughly the monthly income of a middle-class citizen. Iron Monkeys fall into this category, but their ability to locate rare fruits and their durable, easy-to-care-for bodies make them a popular choice for first-time contractors. Plus, as omnivores, they eat the same food as humans – making them affordable to feed.
As Sean heads home with Wuk on his shoulder and Jasmine curled in his bag, he knows that his life is about to change dramatically. The path ahead is uncertain, but for the first time since arriving in this world, he feels truly ready to face whatever challenges come his way.