Cybernetic Beast Taming In A Game-like World

The utterance of the word by Professor Uriel sent a vibration of enthusiasm and interest through the walls of the class.

Or maybe it was Jethro and his own excitement.

He already knew all there was to know about evolution. In fact, he knew even more than most. More than all.

However, his liking for this teacher gave him a sliver of a hope that Uriel might harbor a different perspective of what it meant or required for a mechbeast to evolve. Something beyond the common knowledge.

"We all know why evolution occurs. What triggers it," Professor Uriel began, his voice thrumming in the expectant silence.

"It's a rare trait found in some mechbeasts that have a high resonance with aether. Undeniably, few of you here will witness your mechbeast evolve because they presently have this trait. It will most likely happen at the Apex Stage, and if you are exceptionally fortunate, perhaps earlier."

He proceeded to explain resonance, and the lesson completely mimicked what Jethro had learnt from the glyph back at home, not the crimson screen.

High Resonance, to Professor Uriel and the rest of the world, was fixed. And not all mechbeasts could evolve.

Jethro grimaced. He was disappointed, but he couldn't blame Professor Uriel.

The man had been brought up with the same framework of knowledge that had existed years ago. In fact, if it wasn't for the library of knowledge in his mind, Jethro would've believed the same thing.

"Perhaps you can answer this question, young Merrick."

The professor's voice snapped Jethro's focus back to the class.

Jethro's brows shot up. He realized every eye in the room was fixed on him. It seemed the professor had asked a question, and when there were no willing responders, he had chosen Jethro to answer.

The only problem was that Jethro had no idea what the question was.

Jethro was irritated by this. He had been listening intently to the professor all this while, and just when his thoughts drifted for a second, a question is asked. His eyes caught Uriel's gaze before awkwardly drifting away.

"Why Grey-Ranks can never evolve."

Jethro's eyes lit up. At first he thought it was his mind that had just reminded him what the question was. But it was Padva. She had leaned in and quietly whispered the question to him.

Jethro let out a sigh of relief before immediately replying; "Grey-Ranks have a shallow magical capability. Their cores do not have aether to sustain a transformation, and their spiritual patterns are fundamentally incomplete. This makes it impossible for evolution to occur, even if they had high resonance to aether."

Professor Uriel hesitated, the class joining in his waiting silence. "That's an impressive answer, young Merrick," he said. Jethro nodded and sank back into his seat.

He glanced at Padva's direction and said "Thanks." She merely nodded in response.

"Although I am surprised…" Jethro stiffened as he realized that Professor Uriel was still speaking to him. "I expected you to challenge that definition. Argue against it because you believe something different?"

Uriel was raising a brow at him.

Jethro frowned suspiciously. What was going on here? Did Uriel know about the screen? Did he also possess the knowledge that all mechbeasts could evolve if pathways for adaptation and forceful growth were followed to increase resonance?

Had Jethro been wrong about him earlier?

"From what I heard," Uriel continued, "you possess a certain… proclivity for challenging established tenets of mechbeast taming. I confess surprise you opted for the orthodox explanation this time."

Jethro's frown changed. So that was what he was talking about? He expected Jethro to contend with 'factual truths' like he had in Professor Aris's class.

"Is that truly your answer, young Merrick? Or are you choosing discretion over sharing your more… absurd theories?"

Jethro hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's my answer, Professor."

Uriel gazed at him for a while, studying him with utmost curiosity before looking away. "Very well. We'll carry on with the lesson."

Jethro watched him turn, picking his data-slate as he continued teaching.

There was no way he was revealing Scorch's potential evolution plan here. They wouldn't believe him anyway, and even if some did, it could ruin what made him and Scorch special.

He realized, with a pang of relief, that he was glad Uriel didn't possess the hidden knowledge. The last thing Jethro wanted was others discovering what he knew or replicating his methods. Besides, the screen's claims remained untested theory. He hadn't even begun Scorch's evolution yet.

The lesson swiftly transited into cultivation in mechbeasts; one of the most important parts of training and raising a mechbeast.

It was done using cultivation modules. They were mechanical chip-like devices implanted into a mechbeast, containing a cultivation program or a cultivation technique. The mechbeast had to completely learn the program, unlocking the available abilities in its pathway to master the technique within the program.

"Without a cultivation module installed," Professor Uriel explained, "a mechbeast cannot access or grow in that category of power.

"Take an Arctic Howler for example. To unlock some of its magical ice abilities, a tamer would purchase a module like the Vein of Hollow Ice, the Whisper in the Snow or the Blizzard Soul Path. Each of these cultivation programs have personalized pathways for the mechbeast to follow in order to unlock the abilities."

"With that foundation laid," Professor Uriel stepped down from the podium. "It's time for a project."

A collective, almost imperceptible tension tightened in the room. Students wanted to, but they didn't dare sigh or hiss.

"You are going to pair with the person sitting next to you—"

Jethro and Padva glanced at each other at the same time before quickly looking back at the professor.

" —and three weeks from today, I want you to present a well done cultivation program you have put your mechbeasts into. You will demonstrate the results to the class and detail the cultivation process."

Someone threw up their hand.

"You have a question?"

"But Professor, some of our mechbeasts are still in the Hatchling Phase. They can't cultivate yet." the student complained.

Uriel didn't seem to care about that. "All the more reason you should get your mechbeast to Juvenile as fast as possible."

The murmurs intensified as students began to discuss with their seatmates, confused and anxious of what to do. Jethro turned to Padva as the noise continued. She was reserved and impassive as usual, keeping her gaze low.

"Guess we're partners now, huh?" he said to her.

Padva's cheeks immediately turned pink. "I already have Shadow on a program. If you need any help with your lizard…" she looked at him, and froze, forgetting what she was going to say.

"I think I'll need help finding a mechshop that sells cultivation modules for a Red Lizard," he muttered playfully, a wry note in his voice. "Can't imagine there's high demand."

Padva's brows raised in realization, her gaze dropping. "That is true."

"Did you all assume I was finished?"

Silence suddenly reigned in the class hall once again as everyone's gaze snapped to the central dais where Professor Uriel was standing calmly.

"There's more," he whispered, commanding attention. "You will not be the one presenting the report on your own mechbeast.."

He paused, letting the implication hang heavy in the air.

"Your partner will."