The brilliant emerald light gradually faded.
A tiny figure quietly floated within it.
Its long, slender body was covered in shimmering emerald scales, while two small antlers branched out from its head.
Soft emerald clouds drifted beneath it, carrying it effortlessly through the air.
Though it was only a fraction of the Ancient Wind Kirin’s size... there was no mistaking what it had become.
Theo stared at it with wide eyes.
’’It... really evolved.’’
A glint of happiness also passed through the Wind Kirin’s eyes.
The little Kirin slowly opened its eyes.
For a brief moment, it quietly looked around at the massive grasslands.
Then it locked eyes with the Ancient Wind Kirin.
The two simply stared at each other, neither saying a word out loud.
Finally, the little Kirin let out a cheerful cry.
It circled through the air once.
WHOOSH!
Its tiny body erupted into a dazzling emerald light.
Like a shooting star, it shot straight toward the crack in the heavens.
Moments later... it completely disappeared into the brilliant light beyond.
NEIGHHH!!!
The other Galehorn Unicorns immediately moved, galloping toward the same crack.
One after another, they disappeared into the brilliant light beyond the rift.
The enormous crack slowly began closing behind them.
CRACK... CRACK...
The emerald fractures across the sky gradually healed, restoring it to a clear blue once more.
Silence descended upon the grasslands.
Theo continued staring at the sky, unable to look away.
’Amazing,’ he thought.
That was the only word that came to mind.
The Ancient Wind Kirin quietly watched the place where its descendants had vanished.
Its enormous head dipped slightly in quiet approval.
’’Its wish has finally been fulfilled.’’
Only then did it lower its gaze.
Its emerald eyes settled on the resources once more.
’’Now...’’
’’It is our turn.’’
Theo nodded immediately.
There was nothing more he wanted than that.
’’We do have one problem,’’ the Kirin said.
Theo’s expression stiffened slightly.
’’You are far too weak,’’ it continued. ’’Contracting even a fraction of my power would disintegrate your soul.’’
For a moment, silence fell between them.
Standing frozen in place, Theo couldn’t help but imagine the scene.
’’Then wh—’’
’’I will not contract you with this body,’’ it interrupted him.
The Kirin slowly turned toward the wolf skeleton and the Celestial Skylark’s core.
’’These resources shall become a younger body. One that can grow alongside you.’’
Theo’s eyes widened slightly.
’’Then... what will happen to your true body?’’
The Wind Kirin glanced back at him, a satisfied glint flashing through its eyes.
’’Its power shall remain sealed inside me,’’ it said. ’’And when the day comes that your soul can bear it...’’
It paused for a moment.
’’We’ll merge it into the younger body.’’
Theo didn’t even hesitate.
’’Deal!’’
The Wind Kirin nodded once more, its gaze sweeping across the plains.
It let out a deep sigh when suddenly, its entire body began glowing.
Countless emerald motes gathered from its scales, condensing into a tiny emerald sphere high above it.
The sphere slowly drifted downward.
As it descended, the colossal body of the Wind Kirin gradually faded away.
The emerald motes only grew in number, making it seem like a flurry of leaves dancing through the sky.
Theo’s mouth slowly opened.
His eyes were as wide as they could be, absolutely stunned by the beautiful spectacle unfolding before him.
Within moments, the last traces of the Ancient Wind Kirin disappeared.
Only the emerald sphere remained, quietly floating in the sky.
Without making a sound, it slowly descended toward the center of the summoning circle.
The enormous wolf skeleton began trembling, while the Skylark’s core began pulsing with a deep green glow.
’This,’ Theo thought. ’It’s beginning...’
The emerald sphere finally came to a stop a few feet above the skeleton.
For a brief moment, everything became completely still.
Then, the Wind Kirin’s familiar voice echoed through Theo’s mind once more.
’’Child.’’
Theo immediately straightened his back.
’’The vessel needs to be shaped according to the strength of its master. Otherwise, it might collapse the moment our contract is formed.’’
Theo nodded once.
’’What do I need to do?’’
’’We’ll make the contract now,’’ the Kirin answered without hesitation. ’’Slice your thumb and press it against the emerald sphere.’’
Theo moved right away.
A thin blade of water quietly formed around his fingertip.
SHHK!
Blood immediately welled up from the small cut across his thumb.
He stepped forward and raised his hand toward the emerald sphere.
As he pressed his bleeding thumb against the sphere, a strange, unfamiliar sensation ran through his body.
Theo’s pupils shrank as he stumbled back a step.
An ancient emerald inscription suddenly spread across the sphere’s surface.
At the same time, the circle on his heart lit up with a bright white light.
White mana immediately rushed out, meeting the Wind Kirin’s green mana halfway inside his body.
’’Brace yourself, contractor,’’ the Kirin’s voice echoed through his head. ’’For this shall also bring you benefits.’’
Before Theo could even react, the two manas connected with each other.
A violent wave of mana surged through every inch of his body.
’’Kgh!’’
He gritted his teeth, feeling immense pain.
His veins burned, his muscles tightened, and even his bones seemed to tremble.
Countless emerald specks detached themselves from the Kirin’s mana, flowing through his body before merging into his silver core.
Slowly but surely, golden specks appeared all over it.
Despite the pain, Theo clenched his fists with a smile on his face.
’My core...!’
He could clearly feel it.
Every passing second brought him closer and closer to the Gold Core stage.
At the same time, outside his body, the emerald sphere lit up in a dazzling green light.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The enormous wolf skeleton completely broke apart.
Every bone floated up, orbiting around the emerald sphere.
At the same time, the Skylark’s core dissolved into a stream of liquid mana.
Rather than dispersing, the liquid-like mana wrapped itself around the bones before branching out into countless veins.
WHOOSH!
The emerald sphere slowly descended into the center of the swirling bones.
The instant it touched the skeletal frame, every floating bone froze in place.
BOOM!
A blinding emerald pulse exploded outward.
Every bone immediately began shifting.
The wolf skeleton rapidly changed shape, growing longer and more elegant until the unmistakable outline of a Kirin appeared.
At the same time, the liquid mana expanded even further, forming its flesh and veins.
Finally, the emerald sphere slowly descended.
THUMP!
The instant it merged into the creature’s chest, emerald light spread throughout its entire body.
As the emerald light gradually faded...
A much smaller Kirin quietly stood where the wolf skeleton had once been.
Its emerald scales reflected the bright sunlight while a thin emerald cloud drifted beneath its four hooves.
Two elegant antlers rose from its head, and finally... its emerald eyes slowly opened.