Eclipsed Realms: The Tamer's Path

I sat at the desk in my room, scribbling furiously into my notebook. Each stroke of the pen carried weight—these weren't just ideas or idle thoughts. They were plans, calculated and precise, for the evolution of my partners. Each one was a cornerstone in the foundation of my journey, and I couldn't afford a single misstep.

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Planning Elythia's Evolution

Elythia's evolution demanded the most preparation. Her current form, an impressive two-meter wasp with metallic stingers, was already lethal. But her potential...

I could see her future form clearly in my mind: six meters tall, clad in gleaming yellow metallic armor. Her stingers would transform into laser lances, deadly and precise. Her lower stinger would enlarge, a weapon in its own right, while two new metallic arms with functional hands would give her unparalleled versatility. Six wings, each shimmering like sunlight on gold, would grant her incredible speed and agility.

This was no ordinary evolution—it was a complete metamorphosis into a warrior queen, a towering force of destruction and precision. But it wouldn't come easy.

Her path required three things:

Equipping armor and weapons – a strange but necessary prerequisite for this evolution, one she could never have fulfilled without me.

Solo victories against powerful foes – not just battles, but decisive, brutal wins that would allow her to devour her enemies and absorb their strength.

Timing – all of this had to be completed before she ranked up to Silver, or the opportunity would vanish forever.

Her natural evolution would have been a simple, more humanoid wasp, standing three meters tall. The controller evolution was another option, but both paths were weak compared to what I envisioned for her.

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Sangrelis's Evolution

Then there was Sangrelis, the bitter bat. I couldn't let his complaints distract me from his potential. His evolution into a Vampire was far simpler in comparison:

High-class blood – essential for transforming his nature.

Darkness infusion – which I could provide with ease.

But simplicity wasn't enough. I didn't want him to become just any Vampire; I wanted him to ascend to the rank of Noble Vampire, with the potential to evolve into a Vampire King. To make that happen, I needed to gather additional blood samples from rare and powerful creatures, along with more potent sources of darkness.

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I paused, tapping my pen against the notebook. Asura, Voltis, Lilia, and Nyx weren't being ignored either. Their evolutions were equally important, though not as time-sensitive as Elythia's and Sangrelis's.

Asura: Flames and high-quality metals were his foundation. The most ambitious piece of his evolution would require a nuclear reactor—a tall order, but one I was determined to fulfill.

Voltis: More dragon blood and relentless battles against higher-class foes would awaken his dormant potential.

Lilia: Her path to becoming a Flower Queen depended on absorbing rare plant and flower DNA, along with concentrated nutrients.

Nyxarath: His evolution demanded darkness-infused sources and the souls of powerful creatures.

Time was my enemy here. Nyx and Lilia had to evolve before reaching Gold rank, while Asura and Voltis needed to evolve before hitting Emerald rank. The energy from their rank-ups was a critical trigger for these unnatural evolutions, and any misstep would close the door forever.

---

I set down my pen and leaned back in my chair. The weight of these plans pressed on my shoulders, but I couldn't afford hesitation. I closed my notebook, slipping it into my bag.

The next step was clear.

I needed to meet Atlas. Acquiring the ideal equipment for Elythia's evolution was paramount. Delaying any longer would be a waste of time, and I couldn't risk missing any opportunities.

Standing up, I called for Asura to accompany me. His presence always gave me confidence, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this.

"Let's get this done," I muttered under my breath, stepping out of the room. There was no turning back now.

I asked Atlas for an appointment and he summoned me to his room at the Tamer Association.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This wasn't just another meeting—it was the beginning of my journey within the Silver Horizon guild, an organization that could shape my destiny. But despite the allure of their noble cause, I stayed cautious. This world was too brutal and unpredictable to trust anyone blindly. Humanity might strive for enlightenment here, but treachery would always lurk in the shadows.

I arrived at his room and knocked softly.

"Come in," his voice echoed warmly.

As I stepped inside, I was greeted by a surprising sight. Atlas, the old man with a reputation for brilliance, was deeply immersed in his work. Holographic screens floated before him, each filled with symbols and text, and he was jotting down notes in a meticulous manner. There was no frustration in his demeanor; instead, a genuine smile adorned his face. He looked like someone who truly enjoyed the process of learning.

"Come in, young man. I wasn't expecting such a quick answer," Atlas said, clearing the clutter of holograms with a wave of his hand. He stood up and greeted me with a warm smile, embracing me briefly before gesturing for me to sit.

"What would you like? Tea, coffee, juice?"

"Green tea," I replied.

"Good choice," he said, sitting across from me. Without moving a muscle, the tea began preparing itself—a clear testament to his mastery over magic.

"I'm happy you chose Silver Horizon, Akira," Atlas began. "From the first time we met, I saw curiosity in your eyes. That's exactly what we need in our guild. Humanity is still stumbling in the dark, but with minds like yours, we can light the way forward."

"I understand," I said. "I also wish to contribute."

"That's wonderful. Do you have something specific in mind? Or would you be interested in joining my quest to master the ultimate sealing magic?"

The offer intrigued me. Sealing magic was one of the most versatile and powerful disciplines, capable of stopping or imprisoning nearly anything. But for now, I had my sights set on another path—evolution. I wanted to push my partners and myself toward new heights, and joining Atlas on his journey might complicate that goal.

"I'd love to learn the basics of sealing magic," I said carefully, "but for now, my focus is on researching new paths of evolution."

"Evolution, you say? That is a noble pursuit," Atlas mused. "It's not my specialty, but I can connect you with someone more adept in that field. Regardless, I can guide you through the fundamentals of sealing magic and other disciplines during your initial stay."

He explained that I would be based here for a month before being introduced to the guild's main headquarters. There, I'd have access to a wealth of knowledge and resources, along with instructors specializing in various magical arts.

Equipment and Resources

When we shifted the discussion to equipment, Atlas didn't disappoint.

"Here," he said, handing me a sleek, leather-bound book. "This is your guild magic book. It's soul-bound and will not only make it easier to cast spells but also allow you to store them for later use."

He then showed me the standard guild armor—a sleek, futuristic suit designed to enhance reaction speed, amplify magical skills, and improve energy control. It came equipped with drones for spellcasting assistance, laser attacks, and a barrier strong enough to withstand any attack below Bronze Rank.

"For your weapon, this orb is unique to our guild," he continued, placing a shimmering object in my hand. "It can transform into any weapon you need, boosting energy output while reducing the cost of spells and abilities."

I was impressed but quickly shifted the focus to my partners.

"For Asura, I'll need raw materials," I said. "Specifically, metals of high rank."

Atlas raised an eyebrow but didn't protest as I listed the materials:

Sylvium: A light green, wind-infused metal that enhanced speed and defense.

Ignexium: A fiery red-silver alloy that boosted strength and fire capabilities.

Aurasilver: A rare golden-silver hybrid metal that amplified all stats and granted immunity to damage from lower-ranked foes.

Atlas frowned slightly. "Young man, your requests are ambitious. The golden metal, Aurasilver, is beyond what we currently possess. However, I can provide you with Sylvium and lesser-quality Ignexium if you prove your worth."

"That's good enough," I said, unfazed.

I moved on to my other partners, detailing their needs:

Elythia: High-quality Bronze Rank armor, two laser-enhanced lances.

Sangrelis: Dark armor suited to his body, flying swords, and dark crystals for energy.

Lilia: Floral armor crafted from high-class plant materials, books on medicine and poisons, and an orb similar to mine.

Voltis: Lightning crystals and dragon blood to enhance his electrical abilities.

Nyx: High-quality darkness crystals and the souls of powerful creatures.

Atlas listened intently, occasionally nodding with a faint smile.

"You're the most expensive recruit I've ever seen," he said finally, leaning back in his chair. "But I can see that your requests are calculated. For now, I'll arrange the resources according to your rank. Once you advance to Silver Rank, we'll consider higher-tier materials."

He handed me a book on magical spells to study while he finalized the arrangements. "The items will take about three hours to arrive. Use this time wisely, Akira."

I nodded, taking the book. This meeting had solidified my place in the guild and equipped me with tools for the journey ahead.