This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

"What's with the 'System Rating'? You never used to provide that before. What exactly does it even mean? Is this form strong?" Kain asked VERA in confusion.

[This was a new system function provided after the update to better assist Master in choosing the ideal evolutionary form. However, it does not necessarily reflect the combat abilities of the form after evolution. As Master will later discover, future improvements in quality or strength will not be based on straightforward evolutions but a realization of a Domain. The System Rating is a reflection of the maximum potential the Domain this species may realize—whether it can live up to its full potential will be up to itself and Master.]

"Domain…" Kain thought in puzzlement, he'd heard briefly about this topic before. He also knew that realization of this 'domain' was the key to upgrading from a mid-level blue-grade spiritual creature to a high-level indigo-grade spiritual creature. He also knew that it was probably the greatest hurdle that stopped many geniuses.

Even the Order, practically an incubator for the greatest young talents in the Empire, typically would have its members stalled an average of 7 years at blue-grade before having a contract able to advance to indigo-grade.

Many may not ever have a spiritual creature make that leap.

However, such topics had always felt too far away from him, and were naturally not included in the College curriculum until the senior year, so he knew very little about the specifics.

"Is a rating of 4.5-stars good?"

[The maximum number of stars is 5. A rating of 4.5-stars is close to the highest provided by the System. This represents the possibility of Bea realizing a top Domain if she were to evolve into this form. However, the likelihood of realizing this Domain, while possible, is extremely slim. More often than not, creatures with high potential will still realize an average Domain]

"Top Domain…average Domain…" Kain vowed to do far more extensive research on domains once he went back, only vaguely understanding what was meant by what VERA said.

"Maybe I can ask Zareth, the only remaining 7-star member of our team, for more info later…but that's not the most important task now. Even if the rating is 4.5-stars, I may get something better or it may not necessarily be the most suitable form for Bea. Time to test the others…"

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Kain quickly used up all of his remaining simulations.

After testing a couple of the other objects alone and receiving only 2-3 star ratings. Kain decided to use his remaining attempts in conjunction with the unknown object from the ruins that got him his highest rating so far at 4.5-stars.

Unfortunately, the results seemed to be even worse once other objects were added:

Grey Bloom Amoeba (the relic stone and black orchid): ★★☆ (2.5-stars)

Neurospora Amoeba (the relic stone and transparent moss): ★★ (2-stars)

Mnemory Amoeba (the relic stone and strange silver liquid): ★★★☆ (3.5-stars)

…

Until finally, on his last try, he achieved a rating of ★★★★★ (5-stars).

Strangely enough, this evolutionary form was still called the Pale Sovereign Amoeba, with all of the same skills, but just the addition of one more skill that didn't even seem that significant to Kain increased the rating. A skill that definitely did not seem deserving of such an increase in rating at first glance. But he wasn't going to complain, maybe its true might will show later on:

"S – Empty Throne Effect: A passive skill that allows Bea to always leave a trace of herself in a place where one of her former hosts has died. It is merely a subtle "mark," like a scar in the mental fabric of the area. Weak individuals who come near may experience a feeling of déjà vu, unease, or misplaced grief. Eventually, if enough 'empty thrones' are formed in an area, she can faintly link them together into a web of presence."

Annoyingly, this form required the black stone from the ruins and one of the two evolutionary materials Kain hadn't yet brought back to the lab...

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Thousands of miles away, in the territory of Aurem...

After brushing up his presence in front of his Boss for a few hours, the feeling of uneasiness began to abate slightly from the Mindrhino

It must be because whatever was targeting him was scared off by the presence of the Boss!

The rhino was pleased with its own quick-wittedness in immediately finding backup once it detected a threat.

And it seems like the Boss took notice of his enthusiasm! The Boss had tasked him with a very important duty this morning: guarding a pile of stones that smelled funny. Such an important duty must represent that he was valued and trusted!

He had done his rounds. Trotted proudly in a wide circle, trampled two spiders the size of his toe, and even gave a warning snort to a sharp-fanged cat that looked at the pile too long.

Yes. He was excellent at this.

Then the resting Boss stirred.

The giant shadow—his Boss—lifted its monstrous head, long golden whiskers twitching in annoyance. The rhino froze mid-step and quickly turned, watching as Aurem tilted his face upward. That alone would've been enough to make the rhino nervous.

The Boss never looked up. Not unless something stupid—or suicidal—was daring to fly above him.

The rhino followed his Boss's gaze slowly.

And then he saw it.

A small, pink, hairless creature. Limbs too thin. No claws, no fangs. Its feet dangled beneath it as it floated—no wings, no flapping, no support. Just there. Above them.

It was making eye contact with the Boss.

And worse—

Then it looked at him.

The rhino's heart nearly stopped. The instant that gaze met his, a bone-deep terror gripped him.

He knew. He knew. This was the being that had been watching him before. The one whose attention had felt like many needles were repeatedly stabbing into him. The one that made his instincts scream danger, danger, DANGER.

His legs quivered. His bladder made a valiant effort not to release itself. He pressed himself behind the Boss's hindleg, trying to shrink his massive form into a pebble.

Why was it here? Why was it floating? How dare it hover above the Boss like it was superior?! Was it suicidal? Or was it…was it stronger?

His knees wobbled even more.

Then, the sounds began.

The floating ugly hairless ape and the Boss began exchanging strange noises—soft, clipped sounds that didn't sound like the proper growls or hisses or tail-thumps the spiritual creatures usually used to communicate. Therefore, the rhino, unfortunately couldn't understand any of it.

And then—

They both looked at him.

Trickle trickle…at the shared gazes, the rhino's bladder lost the fight.