CHAPTER 17: REBIRTH

"Yes."

I whispered while eyeing the locket as I pulled it out of my pocket.

The system’s response was immediate—

Ding!

~Beginning the Rebirth process~

~Place the Anti-arcane stone into a the hollow of the Canine Blood Locket and then channel your Arcane Energy to bridge the shadow and the light.~

I nodded, my breath steadying as I followed the instructions. Everyone else stepped back a few paces, even though they kept their gaze locked onto me. I held the hexagonal Anti-arcane stone and slid it into the central hole of the locket.

It fit perfectly, clicking into place with a faint, resonant hum. The runes of the locket began to glow brighter, and I felt a pull on my own Arcane reserves, like invisible threads drawing from my core.

I lifted the locket high, my arm steady despite the intense ache from the earlier battle. "From shadows born, in light reborn, let the Anti-arcane yield to dawn," I muttered in unison with the system’s text that was rolling in relentlessly.

A surge of energy erupted from the locket and a swirling vortex of purple mist laced with sparks of pure Arcane energy. The air grew thick and charged with static shock.

"Whoa... Look at that..." Jet whispered in awe and excitement as he continued to fumble with his goggles to get a clearer view. "It’s like a mini fate opening right there!"

Ketara crossed her arms, her eyes wide but her tone was still very much grudging. "This better not blow up in our faces, Levi. If it does, I’m snapping you neck in half... "

I tossed the locket into the vortex, the moment it disappeared, the vortex intensified, pulling strands of the dissipating shadow remains from the Elemental Dogs.

Valeria gasped, her hands clasping together against her mouth. "Levi, be careful... I can feel the energy spiking".

Dasheen remained silent, but his grip tightened on his broadsword, ready for anything.

From within the vortex, fire and icy shards cracked. I shielded my eyes, but through the glare, I saw shapes forming from the arcane storm. Not one, but two forms, two separate, distinct forms.

In a few seconds—

Ding!

~Rebirth is complete~

The light faded, and there they were. To my surprise it was the hulking, two headed monstrosity I’d just fought, but two sleek , ethereal dogs, each embodying one half of the original’s fury. The fire themed one flickered with living flames, as it’s fur danced with molten orange and red, coupled with burning eyes like embers.

The ice themed one shimmered with crystalline frost, with a white-blue coat marked with glacial patterns and eyes glowing like frozen sapphires.

They weren’t as bulky as the shadow creature, they were no bigger than a fully grown snow wolf.

I stared at both mutts, my mouth slightly Shar in confusion. ’Two separate? Not one body?’ it made sense in a twisted way as their clashing elements had split them apart in rebirth, purified and balanced. But I hadn’t expected this and the system hadn’t earned me in advance.

Ding!

~Shadow creature has been reborn as your Arcane pet, made of pure Arcane Energy~

~Level Grade Three (Intermediate)

The squad erupted in a frenzy of murmurs. "No way... Two of them?!" Jet said with wide eyes. "That’s insane..."

Even Ketara looked impressed, though she tried as much as she could to not let it reflect on her facial expression. "Okay fine... That’s kinda cool."

I extended a pam towards them, staring them straight in the eyes. "Your days of wandering in darkness are over, from now on you answer whenever I call your name..."

"... Sit".

The dogs, both of them, didn’t waste a second. They let out a huge howl, one crackling like a bonfire while the other echoing like shattering ice. They lowered their behinds and sat obediently, their eyes staring into mine with an intelligence that sent a shiver down my spine.

’They aren’t some mindless clones... These creatures are real and conscious... They are following my orders willingly...’ I resolved within myself.

Valeria’s hands flew to her mouth. "They... They listened! Just like that?"

Dasheen’s eyes widened slightly, which was a rare crack in his composure. "Fascinating..."

I understood their reaction, it was indeed fascinating. Even though Arcane pets aren’t really uncommon amongst Awakened individuals, the person is usually able to tame one pet as it is the pet that is tied to their abilities.

To see someone be able to tame more than one pet is extremely rare, coupled with the fact that I literally created them by turning Shadow creature bosses into the pure Arcane version of themselves.

A warm pulse surged through my body, starting from my chest and spreading to my limbs and I immediately knew that was the chain of bond forging between me and the dogs.

Ding!

~Give your Arcane pet a name~

~... ~

~... ~

’Arcane pet? Does the system take both of them as one pet.’

"A name..." I murmured, gazing at them. Their elemental abilities mirrored that of pyromancers and cryomancers —Awakened individual that can control fire and ice.

"Elemental Dogs..."

I pointed at the fire dog first. "Pyro."

Ding.

~Pyro~

Then at the ice dog. "Cryo..."

Ding!

~Cryo~

I was about to extend my reach further to see if I could pet them when the system flashed another notification across my face.

~0\1000~

~Due to low Arcane Energy in reserve, Elemental Dogs have been hibernated~

"Ooofff..." I scoffed as both dogs dissolved into purple mist and vanished into thin air.

I looked up at the my colleagues and they were just blatantly staring back at me.

"Oh... That’s what I needed the bosses Anti-arcane stone for... Hehe" I said with a sly smile while nervously rubbing the back of my neck.

"Usually, Awakeners with Arcane pet aren’t able to summon or un-summon their companions... How are you able to do that? Where do they go?" Dasheen asked me with the expression on his face changed to that if inquisitive.

"Well, they don’t go anywhere... Technically. I’m still very new to this Awakened talent of mine, but I’m pretty sure the creatures are converted to pure Arcane energy and live inside of me... Such that when I run out of Arcane energy, they no longer exists."

I looked up at Dasheen who had now walked several steps to stand right in front of me. "If that makes any sense..."

"Well, since the beginning of time these gates have been opening and humans have been trying to fight back with everything we could to survive... I think it’s safe to say that this is the most sense I heard in a while" he said, with a hand dropping gently on my shoulder.

"Looks like you might just make it to the academy after all... You haven’t been officially ranked yet, but I say you have the potential of a high level Awakened. Heck I don’t know what to even classify you as... Pyromancer or Cryomancers or even Necromancer, cause you did technically raise the creature from the dead"

"I don’t know what class it is too... It’s a whole lot at once... But I know it’s definitely not Necromancy, the pets are being reborn not being raised from the dead".

I paused, looking down at the back of my hand in thought.

To put all my abilities into consideration, I didn’t directly fit into any class category. I had Arcane pets so that would qualify me to be classified as a Pet tamer, my Elemental Dogs was sure to grant me some level of elemental control of fire and ice so that would definitely qualify me to be classified as Pyromancer and a Cryomancers.

With increased strength and weaponry perfection that would definitely qualify me as a Hunter, and the ability to summon would qualify me as a Mage.

I could very well fit into these various classes amongst the numerous classes that existed. I didn’t know which one best suited me, and it is really important I do because it would matter when I it’s time for the academy.

The team was too tired to say much as they collected the Anti-arcane stones throughout the whole territory of the dungeon gate. But, I could feel the shift in their attitudes.

Even Ketara who had been the most vocal about her dissatisfaction with me taking the boss stone for myself, gave me some level of respect. As we exited the gate, I checked my new stats:

~Level 14~

~Strength: 27~

~Agility: 23~

~Endurance: 14~

~Intelligence: 47~

~Memory: 45~

~Arcane Energy Reserve is recovering••••~

~Arcane reserve: 299\1000~

We eventually made it out of the gate before it sealed, and started striding our way back to town. Before we departed ways, we stopped at the Constable’s residence to inform him that the job had been completed and he payed us with Urns which was very much appreciated.

We split the revenue equally and also went on to sell the magic stones to dealers at a wholesale price.

The trip back home was delightful as I had bag full of cash that would very much serve good purpose to I and my siblings. And come to think of it...

"If I want to get stronger... I’d have to kill stronger beast and that would require me to get a better weapon."

My sword was chipped in several different places and it had already lost its integrity. A powerful shot at a sturdy object would be sure to break it clean in half.

The money I accumulated was for domestic purposes and even so it wasn’t enough to purchase a high grade weapon.

So, this sword will have to endure one more push as I set my sights to another challenge to kill a boss monster so I could sell it’s Anti-arcane stone and use the money to purchase a new, powerful weapon.