It was the next morning.
A day had passed since his true arrival in this world.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains in thin, golden lines, falling across the quiet room. The estate was calm, almost as if nothing unusual had happened.
He wore a simple robe and discarded the previous clothing and went to take a bath.
Exiting the bath came a still wet Azael.
Steam clung to his skin, droplets of water dripped down from the tip of his hair and the body gave off a luster as if shining under the morning light.
He opened his wardrobe and wore a simple blue shirt and a black trouser. The material and the design gave not ordinary but a noble presence.
Azael recalled the content of the previous night. He had found her surprisingly calm about the ordeal.
But Azael knew better.
The previous night had been exhausting.
Physically and emotionally.
Memories restored what was forgotten and truths exposed the fragility of heart. Words spoken that had long been buried beneath guilt and confusion.
Both he and his mother had been drained from the tension and the entire ordeal surrounding his disappearance and their hidden but forbidden feelings. What began as escapism had turned into confrontation—and finally, a taboo union.
But he did not gave a damn about others.
As long as he and his family were happy.
He sat up slowly on his bed.
For the first time since arriving, his mind felt… aligned.
Past and present no longer clashed.
He was Azael Bluestone.
Not just a transmigrated soul.
Not just a confused runaway.
But someone who had chosen to stay.
Outside, he could hear faint movements from the dojo grounds. The rhythmic sound of water splashing. The few monsters of mother were practicing.
Life did not pause for personal turmoil.
Azael stood up and stretched lightly.
Today would not be spent running from emotions.
Today would be spent moving forward.
And this time with clarity.
--At the Dinning Room--
But first he shall fill his empty stomach.
Morning settled gently over the Bluestone estate.
By the time Azael entered the dining room, the table had already been prepared. Warm bread layered with exquisite honey and fresh fruit. A simple but refined breakfast befitting a noble household that valued discipline over extravagance. Except the honey.
Lina was already seated. Dressed in light emerald green dress and a light blue robe draped over her.
She looked lighter than yesterday.
She was glowing as if a boulder has lifted from her heart.
Azael sat across from her.
First things first, he shall feed himself and then he will train.
Training Mantisword.
Gam--cough cough, inspect the Gacha.
Understanding this world properly.
He picked up his utensils.
Before he could take his first bite, a hand took away the fork on his hand.
"Open."
He blinked and stared at the empty hand.
He looked up and met his mother's gaze.
Lina was smiling gently, holding a piece of bread toward him with a fork.
For a brief second, his mind stalled.
"…Mother?"
"Open," she repeated, softer this time.
There was no hurried action, fake warmth or internal panic in her eyes. Just affection for her son.
Azael hesitated—then complied.
She fed him the bread but the way was different. It spoke volumes about the changes she had about him.
He chewed silently.
It felt strange.
But not unpleasant.
Lina seemed content, almost giddy, as a strange feeling of fulfillment shook her heart.
"You've always skipped meals when you were troubled," she said lightly. "At least let your mother confirm you're eating properly."
Azael lowered his gaze slightly.
"I'm will not abandon what I hold dear. And certainly not run away.," he said calmly.
Her hand paused for a fraction of a second before she smiled again.
"I know."
He allowed her to feed him another bite.
Work would begin soon.
But for this moment—
He let himself simply be her son.
--Behind the Dojo, Within a small boundary--
"Okay system. What is the requirements for opening the gacha?"
Azael asked.
His goal was simple. Try his luck and get OP monsters.
But he couldn't go overboard, lest he suffers from bankruptcy.
Ding!
[Condition of Opening: Take the Oath of Bonds]
Oath of bonds?
Suddenly a piece of information appeared in his mind.
This Oath was the pledge where both the trainer and the monster tie a bond which will signify the authenticity of a trainer.
But such thing did not exist in the game.
Shaking his head, Azael summoned Mantisword and took the pledge infront of him.
He placed his hand over his heart and looked into his monster's eyes—steady, unwavering.
"I stand before you not as a master who commands, but as a partner who grows beside you.
I swear to train my mind before I train your strength. I swear to never abandon you in fear, nor blame you in defeat. Your battles will be mine, and my resolve will be yours.
We will rise through discipline. We will endure through trust. And no matter how fierce the Storm.
We will achieve victory.
His voice raged as he spoke the oath with passion.
"This is my oath… as your trainer."
The Mantisword was visibly happy and said some mantis words.
Ding!
[Congratulations! The Oath is complete. Gacha is now accessible]
A strange illusion unfolded before Azael's eyes.
It felt as if an invisible rope bound him and Mantisword together.
He gently patted Mantisword's head—the creature only reaching up to his shoulder—before turning his attention to the system panel and opening the Gacha.
---
Monster Banner <●>
Item Banner <●>
---
Azael selected the Monster Banner.
---
Gem: 20
Gold Egg ~ Rare > Super Rare > Epic > Super Epic (4 Gems)
[Limited Time!] Rainbow Egg (20 Gems)
---
His breath quickened with excitement.
If luck favored him, he might draw a Legendary.
With bated breath, he tapped on the limited Rainbow Egg.
The panel shifted into a more colorful scene, and an egg appeared on the screen.
He tapped it and waited for the rarity to reveal itself.
Crack…
Crack…
Boom…
…It was an Epic Egg.
—Three more eggs later—
Azael sat brooding in a corner, lamenting his terrible luck.
All he had obtained were three Epic Eggs and one Super Epic.
Wriggle…
Wriggle…
There was still one egg left on the screen. But Azael no longer had the will to crack it.
Mantisword tried to console his sulking trainer, who had rapidly shifted from excitement to anticipation, to panic, and finally to disappointment.
Awkwardly, Mantisword grabbed Azael's hand with his claws, but failed to make him budge.
"Go away, Mantisword. Leave me alone."
Azael remained lost in his frustration.
Suddenly, a colorful light dawned across his face.
He looked up.
The egg was hatching.
Mantisword had been waving his claw through the system panel, and the rapid motion had unknowingly triggered the final egg.
Crack…
BOOM—
The faint rainbow glow burst into a brilliant flash, blinding him for a moment.
When the light faded, what appeared on the screen was—
A Legendary Egg.
"..."
"..."
Both the trainer and the monster were silent.
One was filled with joy, ready to unleash it.
The other was wondering if he had made a wrong choice in choosing it's trainer.
"HaHaHahaa.. Mantisword. You truly are my lucky Charm."
Azael grabbed the stupified creature and spined around with him.
While Azael was celebrating his success, Lina Bluestone was observing her son's actions from the study room in the second floor.
"Azael is still Azael. He simply became more responsible. I was worried for nothing."
Lina muttered under her breath with exasperation but blushed shortly after.
"He... did become dependable. His transformation from a child to a man was.. wonderful."
--Back at the backside of the dojo--
While staring at the glowing system panel, Azael noticed a newly unlocked feature beneath the banner results.
[Egg Storage System]
His brows lifted slightly.
So the system had automatically stored the unhatched eggs instead of forcing an immediate reveal.
A list appeared before him—
Epic Egg ×3
Super Epic Egg ×1
Legendary Egg ×1
Below it shimmered a simple option:
[Hatch Selected]
[Hatch All]
Azael crossed his arms, thinking carefully.
"Hatching everything at once would only clutter the field…"
His gaze sharpened.
"I'll hatch only the Super Epic and the Legendary."
He selected the two eggs.
The storage panel dissolved into a radiant summoning circle, layered with intricate symbols that pulsed in gold and violet. The air around him trembled as if space itself acknowledged the rarity of what was about to emerge.
The Super Epic Egg floated forward first.
Crack—
A surge of deep purple light burst outward.
From within emerged a dark, chitinous creature. Its body was sleek yet menacing, with jagged mandibles and faintly glowing markings along its shell.
A notification appeared.
Grave Bug – Super Epic Rank
Azael's lips curved upward.
"A bug-type…"
The creature clicked its mandibles softly, its aura cold and grave-like.
Then—
The Legendary Egg began to shine.
Unlike the previous hatching, this light was warm—radiant gold interwoven with prismatic hues.
The shell shattered in a gentle explosion of brilliance.
From within stepped a small, snow-white cub with soft fur and a faint halo-like shimmer hovering above its head. Its eyes glowed with innocent but powerful light.
Holycub – Legendary Rank
The moment its paws touched the ground, the surrounding air felt purified.
Azael exhaled slowly.
A rare smile appeared.
"A bug-type monster and a holy beast…"
He turned toward Mantisword.
"With Grave Bug paired alongside you, Mantisword's future form, Mantisamurai will be unstoppable."
His mind was already calculating strategies.
"Kinslayer."
A synergy move—one that required two insect-types to execute.
Mantisword tilted its head, then looked toward Grave Bug. The two stared at each other for a brief moment before Grave Bug gave a sharp, clicking acknowledgment.
Azael nodded.
"This is a good pull."
His earlier frustration vanished completely.
Now—
His team was beginning to take shape.
Azael clapped his hands once.
"Alright," he said lightly, softening his approach to that of a father towards its children. "We're going to play till we exhaust ourselves."
Mantisword raised its scythes with a sharp, excited click.
Grave Bug rattled its mandibles in approval.
Holycub let out a small, bright chirp, its tail flickering with faint golden light.
For a brief moment, the courtyard felt lively.
"Line up," Azael ordered casually.
Mantisword stood firm and disciplined.
Grave Bug attempted to step forward—
—and immediately wobbled sideways.
Holycub tried to follow—
—and rolled onto its back.
Azael blinked.
Both newly hatched monsters were swaying unsteadily, their legs trembling beneath them. Grave Bug's limbs clicked awkwardly against the ground, while Holycub's paws slipped as if they had yet to understand balance.
"…I see."
He exhaled, then knelt down.
"both of were just born. You will first need to learn the basics and fundamentals."
Mantisword tilted its head, observing silently.
Grave Bug attempted to stand straighter, only to tip forward.
Holycub wobbled toward Azael and bumped gently against his knee before plopping down again.
Azael's expression softened.
"Alright. First lesson."
He gently lifted Holycub and set it upright, steadying it with both hands. Then he adjusted Grave Bug's posture, positioning its legs evenly.
"Balance your weight. Feel the ground beneath you."
Grave Bug's glowing lines flickered as it focused.
Holycub concentrated, tiny brows furrowing.
Azael stepped back slowly.
"Walk towards me."
Azael gestured towards himself.
Grave Bug took one careful step.
Tap.
Another.
Tap.
Holycub shuffled forward—
—and nearly fell.
Azael rushed to catch the cub --and succeeded, before it hit the ground.
"Try Again."
The training continued.
Step by step.
Failure. Retrial.Repeat.
Soon, he introduced simple hand signals.
He raised one finger.
"Stop."
He pointed left.
"Move."
He clenched his fist.
"Attack."
Mantisword demonstrated flawlessly, serving as an example.
Grave Bug learned quickly, reacting to the gestures with sharp, precise movements.
Holycub was slower—but far more enthusiastic, often responding half a second late yet with full commitment.
Hours passed.
The sun climbed higher.
Sweat formed at Azael's temples, but he didn't stop.
Four hours later—
Grave Bug could walk steadily, its steps were controlled and deliberate.
Holycub, though still slightly clumsy, could now trot without collapsing.
When Azael raised his hand—
Both stopped instantly.
When he signaled forward—
They moved in sync.
Azael nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
Mantisword stood proudly beside him, as if approving the new recruits.
Holycub stumbled forward one last time and pressed against Azael's leg.
Grave Bug clicked softly at his side.
Azael looked down at them.
His team was still fragile.
Still inexperienced.
But—
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He felt like a true trainer.