Ascension of the Primalist [A Tamer Class, LitRPG]

The familiar feeling of dense aether greeted Seth as he stepped into the Epic Training Chamber. At the center of the twenty-yard-wide room, a translucent azure orb pulsed atop the four-legged stand, casting dancing shadows across the gray-stone walls.

Seth drew Colossus and Nightmare from his teardrop necklace; the soft thuds of the direwolf’s paws and the sharp screech of the scorpion’s clawed legs against the stone floor broke the silence of the place.

'Alright, Colossus,' Seth began before pointing to the orb, 'this will summon a beast for us to fight. It’ll also put a protective barrier around each of us. It’s to test ourselves, so don't hold back. The moment the fight starts, I want you to cast Sandstorm Dome.'

'To test it against that beast?' Colossus asked, his large, multi-faceted eyes fixed on the orb.

'Exactly,' Seth answered.

'You’ll see, those orbs don’t summon real beasts,' Nightmare added, circling the large scorpion. 'They’re more like… aether puppets. But that small demon one is still strong. Don't underestimate it.'

Colossus dipped his head for an answer.

Seth took out his sleek combat gauntlets from his Endless Pouch and slid them onto his hands. After securing them with the straps, he took a deep breath and stepped forward to touch the orb, selecting the One-Horned Imp on the list. He and Nightmare had beaten the Rank-50 summon many times in the past, but it was only because of Shadow Step and Phantom Punch. Without those they would have never won.

The swirling aether inside the orb flared. Instantly, luminous particles coalesced around Seth, Nightmare, and Colossus, weaving together to form a shimmering, translucent layer over each of them.

Instead of their usual aggressive charge, Seth and Nightmare braced themselves, taking up positions on either side of the massive scorpion. Ahead, on the large white cross painted on the floor, aether began to gather and solidify with astonishing speed.

A few seconds later, the One-Horned Imp appeared.