Chapter 373: Rebirth Ritual
Chapter 373: Rebirth Ritual
Kyle let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Three weeks. It wasn’t permanent, but it was more than enough time to find Yua and get off this wretched rock."The first part of the transaction is complete," the deer stated, its glowing forehead now projecting a complex, floating array of golden and crimson runes into the space between them. "Now, seal the contract."
[SYSTEM NOTICE: COMPANION CONTRACT GENERATING...]
[- Clause 1: Both parties are strictly prohibited from inflicting direct or indirect harm upon one another.]
[- Clause 2: Both parties must actively intervene to preserve the other’s existence if threatened by mortal peril.]
[- Clause 3: Shared evolutionary path initiated. Companion growth directly scales with Host progression.]
The floating runic contract suddenly condensed into a single, sharp shard of crystallized blood essence. Without warning, the shard shot forward, slamming directly into Kyle’s chest.
Kyle gasped as a searing, white-hot heat surged through his veins. He could feel a foreign, ancient presence anchoring itself directly into his soul, wrapping around his core like a symbiotic root. The drain was immediate—a steady, heavy pull on his internal life force that made him momentarily drop to one knee.
He gripped his left hand as an agonizing burning sensation flared on his flesh. Right before his eyes, a jet-black and crimson insignia began to etch itself onto the back of his left hand. The lines twisted and turned with flawless precision, forming a stylized, sharp tattoo of a horned deer surrounded by runic chains.
The burning slowly faded, leaving behind a faint, pulsing glow on his skin.
Kyle pushed himself back to his feet, breathing heavily, his eyes locked onto the new mark of his servitude—and his power. He looked back up at the Rootcrystal Deer, expecting the creature to maintain its stoic, robotic demeanor.
Instead, the corners of the deer’s mouth twitched upward into a subtle, chillingly intelligent smile.