[Dusk had long surrendered to night when Azael finally closed the last page of Imperial Lineage Records.
One week.
Seven days of training, studying and planning occupied his time.
And the results showed.
---
One Week Later
Morning sunlight filtered through drifting mist as Azael stood in the open training field behind the estate. The earth still smelled damp from the previous night's dew.
His team stood before him.
No longer hatchlings.
They were ready to sharpen themselves.
"Take your positions," Azael said. He was calm. On day one he was giddy to be able to train.
Grave Bug skittered forward, its dark exoskeleton gleaming with a faint violet undertone. Holycub padded to the side, golden-white tail flicking with curiosity. Mantisword stood upright, blades lowered but ready and silent as always.
Azael rolled the sleeves on upto his shoulders.
"Today we will train as usual. Be ready since —"
"Cliiick."
"Rahh…"
Only Mantisword remained still.
Azael smirked faintly. "—it won't change the schedule anyime soon."
He pointed.
"Grave Bug. Give Turn."
A faint, ghostly aura leaked from Grave Bug's body and flowed toward Mantisword like a thin thread of dark mist. It wavered unevenly.
"Too abrupt," Azael thought about the causes and replied.," The connection between you and Mantisword needs to be solidified first."
Grave Bug steadied itself. The second attempt flowed smoother—like ink dispersing in water.
"Better."
"Summon Beetle."
The soil cracked. Dark energy seeped downward and rose again in the shape of a spectral beetle—its body translucent, phantom-like.
The summon flickered.
"Again! You don't just summon it," Azael reminded." Feed it energy for sustainance."
In the game, the move was instant. Here, it demanded control.
By the fourth attempt, the phantom beetle remained stable, charging forward alongside Mantisword in a coordinated strike. Until it disappeared after one move.
Azael nodded once. It will stay longer after evolutions. No problem.
"Now—Bloodthirsty."
A red aura flared around Grave Bug and surged violently around him.
The creature staggered.
"Not all at once," Azael warned. "power needs to be slowly climbing. If you make it explode you lose control."
Grave Bug trembled, then emitted a thin aura of anger.
"Good."
He turned.
"Holycub."
The small cub's ears perked instantly.
"Nova."
Radiant light gathered into a brilliant orb before exploding outward in a flash of gold. The air rippled.
"Again. Retribution."
Holycub absorbed the residual energy of impact, golden veins glowing beneath its fur before releasing it in a focused counterblast.
The moves weren't clean like the game interface.
They were messy.
Breathing mattered. Timing mattered. Mental state mattered.
But they were improving.
After an hour—
"Mantisword."
The insect warrior stepped forward.
Azael threw 10 wooden discs in the air.
Mantisword propelled himself upwards and swiftly cut them down with superstone.
The name was deceptive. It wasn't an actual stone—just enhanced physical force layered over technique.
Azael tossed more wooden discs into the air.
"Cut."
Flash—
One clean split.
"Again."
Smaller discs.
Faster throws.
Moving angles.
Blind spots.
"Your base stat attack is high—for a common monster," Azael commented while throwing more discs." There are tens and hundreds of monsters out there stronger than you. So your techniques will require refinement all the time."
Mantisword adjusted its stance, lowering its center of gravity.
"Precision. Accuracy. Awareness. Those can be trained to overcome a minor distance in strength."
Three discs flew at once.
A blur.
Three perfect halves dropped to the ground.
Azael exhaled softly.
He looked at all of them with visible pride.
"One week ago you couldn't execute a single move properly."
"But now.."
They were disciplined.
"Enough for today. Lets go in the ranch."
---
Feeding Time
Back at the ranch, bowls were placed neatly.
Holycub received an assortment of fresh fish. It chirped happily, tail wagging as it devoured them.
Grave Bug approached more hesitantly.
Azael wondered.
In the game, diet details were conveniently absent.
Here?
Reality required solutions.
He had panicked earlier in the week at the thought of gathering corpses.
Fortunately, berries proved to be sufficient for now sufficient.
Grave Bug clicked in fulfillment as it munched through dark purple fruit. Mantisword joined quietly, consuming the same.
Azael leaned against the wall, watching them eat.
The sight was simple.
Peaceful.
It struck him suddenly.
He was no longer on Earth.
This world was a cheerfull game of monster catching and training and fighting.
The dangers were not really that concerning in game. But now, death can happen.
He left them to finish and headed toward the house.
Books awaited him.
Half a stack his height.
And he stood at 5'11. .
He grimaced.
"Why does knowledge require this much effort…"
Still, the subjects intrigued him.
Monster Behavior or Geography tonight?
He dusted his sleeves as he stepped inside
—and stopped.
Voices.
One calm and familiar.
His mother.
The other mature, composed, edged with quiet authority.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Aunty Kasha.
He stepped into the living room.
---
The Living Room
Warm lamplight illuminated three figures.
His mother, Lina, sat gracefully in her flowing blue gown—poised yet gentle. The soft fabric draped over her generous curves, hinting at the full, heavy breasts beneath. She was the picture of composed maternal warmth, though her eyes held a secret shared only with him.
Across from her sat Kasha Komalion in a sleek black dress. The fabric was sharp and tailored, clinging to a figure that commanded attention. Her own breasts were just as impressive as Lina's, straining slightly against the formal cut of her dress, but it was the way she sat that truly drew the eye. The dress hugged her hips before flaring just enough, accentuating an ass so perfectly shaped it was almost criminal. She sat like a business empress evaluating an acquisition, and her gaze was just as penetrating.
And beside her—
Karina Komalion.
Dark hair tied in a neat ponytail. Back straight. Hands folded. Expression reserved. She was wearing a leather jacket and pants with Boots. Coming back from monster training probably.
The air shifted when he entered.
Kasha's eyes flickered with interest, a spark that went beyond mere curiosity. She was assessing him, yes, but there was a new, deeper layer to her appraisal, one she kept carefully hidden.
Karina's gaze lifted—
—and lingered.
Not shy.
Assessing.
Azael walked in calmly, catching his mother's eye for a fleeting second. A silent, shared acknowledgment passed between them.
"I didn't expect guests."
Kasha leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. The motion was captivating.
"Well," she said smoothly, scanning him from head to toe, "you look perfectly healthy."
A pause.
"Not like someone who ran away."
Lina smiled softly, a knowing, private smile. "He has matured."
Karina's eyes shifted again—studying the way he stood, shoulders squared but relaxed.
He's steadier and doesn't avoid eye contact with me.
Azael inclined his head.
"My greetings to you Aunty Kasha and Karina."
Kasha arched a brow. "You sound considerebly polite now."
"I've always been polite," he shook his head and replied lazily. "People misinterpret silence with arrogance. Not my fault."
"Is that your new confidence?" Kasha asked dryly, her gaze lingering on his jawline a fraction too long.
"I read a few books," he shrugged. "Thinking helps. Complaining less also helps."
Karina's lips twitched faintly.
Lina gestured. "Sit, Azael."
He dropped into the opposite seat, feeling the weight of Kasha's stare.
"So," he began casually, "to what do I owe this formal visit? The leagues are close. I doubt this is social."
Kasha's gaze met Azael's eyes, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.
" You are still Direct. The change was not that big now, was it?"
Karina finally spoke, her voice soft but clear.
" We came because of your tantrums."
The word hung heavier than accusation.
"That was not tantrum," Azael answered honestly.," I simply was trying to get myself together."
Kasha stared at him with narrowed eyes.she said, her tone firm. "That was childish. You had all of us worried."
Lina gently warned, "Kasha."
Kasha didn't retract, her attention fixed on Azael.
" the engagement was not nulled but simply postponed. What you did was childish."
Azael met her gaze evenly.
"I didn't run because I was dissatisfied" he said. "I ran from my inability to accept such a situation. But I am calm now."
Karina's eyes lifted again.
"And how?"
He exhaled.
"I will wait for the time being," he admitted. "But I've decided to go on a adventure of my own."
Silence.
Not tense.
Thoughtful.
Kasha studied him like a contract under review, but her mind was elsewhere, cataloging the changes in him, the way he carried himself, the confident set of his shoulders. He was becoming a man, and she found herself intrigued in a more confident Azael. Although she did not show it on her face.
"Your changes are rather bold. Not like the kept-to-himself behavior before."
"Training helped me grow," he said lightly. " And enlightenment helped me understand."
Karina leaned forward slightly.
"You're more confident now and unfortunately more direct.," she said quietly.
Azael scratched the back of his head.
"I complain with thoughtfully approach now and think about the consequences of my actions," he confessed. "Marginal improvement."
Lina shook her head softly, a fond exasperation in her eyes.
Kasha leaned in, voice firm, though her eyes held a glint of something more.
" do you wish to what we came to discuss earlier?"
He didn't hesitate.
" I would like to know what good things were said about me."he replied shamelessly.
Karina's gaze locked onto his.
Not shy like a naive kid.
Not uncertain like a lost man in a forest.
Azael had changed his fundamentals from a shy and blunt kid to a man of thoughtfull confidence.
For the first time, she realized that she hadn't truly uncovered him.
"You sound more tiresome to deal with now.," she murmured.
Kasha's expression shifted. A low, throaty laugh escaped her lips, a rare, genuine sound.
" Would you look at that even Kari thinks you are a pot filled with trouble." she said laughing.
The air felt different now.
More lighter as if it was a family gathering.
Azael found himself at the loss of words.
"Little Az, how about we discuss about your monster training. It will be important when we explain our reason to visit."
Kasha wanted to know the recent improvement in her future son in law.
Azael did not refuse. Well more like could not. He was a noble kid and her friend's son but she was still Direct in her approach in disciplining a bad child.
He recalled memory of his 3 year old self being spanked. Not a good memory.
"I have trained my Mantisword to be proficient in combat and continuing his training in the direction of Speed and Precision."
"Holycub and Gravebug are still learning the ropes."
Azael replied.
Kasha nodded, her expression shifting back to that of the shrewd matriarch. "Precision and speed is a sound approach for Mantisword. The foundation of your other monsters is also important."
"However," Kasha paused." Are you going to keep Mantisword as active monster?"
"Yes, its my first companion. Why wouldn't I?" Azael responded with a tilt of his head.
Then he realized a crucial fact.
The evolution form of Mantisword is not known in this world.
Not just Mantisword but several others. Even holycub was termed as a super rare monster of a single evolution.
She paused, digesting my response then changed the subject. "Which brings us to our reason for being here."
Lina's posture straightened slightly, her hand resting on the arm of her chair. Kasha's gaze became focused.
"Karina and her team are going to participate in the leagues to fight for the Champion's trophy."Kasha let her words hang in the air.
"So Lina and I discussed if you are willing to go with her. Seeing your recent interest in monster training, I thought about asking."
Karina remained silent, her eyes fixed on Azael, her expression unreadable but intense. She was waiting for his answer.
Azael was deep in thought, speculating the about the pros and cons.
On one hand he will have a beautiful woman accompany him.
On the other hand he couldn't actively and secretively influence the story.
He did asked a important question concerning Karina.
"What about Karina, does she need a helper in her adventure."
The question caught both women off guard. Kasha's lips pressed into a thin line, impressed despite herself. Lina watched her son with quiet pride.
Karina met his gaze. " No need to fret over that matter.," she stated, her voice even. "I had reminded mother to ask you again if you want to join me for the leagues."
Azael gave a slow nod. "Fair enough." He looked from Karina to Kasha, then to his mother. "Then I suppose both Karina and I will need to train ourselves for the Champion's League."
Kasha allowed a small, satisfied smile to touch her lips. "Your presence now will keep me less worried about my daughter's safety."
As the Komalions took their leave, Kasha gave Azael a long, searching look, one that promised future conversations and assessments far more probing than this one. Karina gave him a simple, firm nod, an acknowledgment of a new understanding.
Both Lina and Azael accompanied them until they departed.
--In Azael's room--
He had taken his position of studious adventure by sitting on the chair of his study table.
The bond between my mons had increased, Azael thought. But still, a long path was ahead.
Azael glanced at the information of his monster and started his studies.
---
Name->Holycub
Element->Holy
Type->Beast
Active Moves---> 1. Assisted Nova
2.Retribution
Passive move-->Insomnia
Bond->60%
Name->Gravebug
Element->Earth
Type->Bug
Active Moves-->1.Bloodthirsty
2.Beetle Summon
Passive move->Stun Absorber
Bond->50%
Name->Mantisword
Element->Earth
Type->Bug
Active Moves-->1.Superstone
2.Reckless Attack
3.One-on-one
4.Superquake
Bond->80%
---