CHAPTER 65: RANK UP

Rhys nodded, brushing dust from his cloak.

"Yeah, I cleared it."

"Then please hand me your Adventurer ID. I’ll update your rank," she said.

Rhys handed it over. The receptionist placed it into a scanning device. After a few seconds, a soft glow pulsed, and the card ejected. This time, its edges shimmered with a faint golden hue, and a bold I was engraved across it.

"It’s official now. You’re a Rank 1 Adventurer. With this, you can now take on higher-tier quests with better rewards," she said, handing the card back.

Rhys thanked her with a nod, slipping the card into his inventory as he turned and walked out of the Awakening Hall.

"Okay... now that I’ve advanced in Rank , it’s time to bond with the Divine Moon Turtle," Rhys murmured as he stepped into inn room and then summoned out the beast from his Beast Storage Ring.

A small turtle no bigger than his palm suddenly appeared in the room center, its silver shell gleaming faintly under the glow of the runic ceiling. Despite its size, an ancient, almost regal aura surrounded it.

As Rhys approached, the little turtle lifted its head, eyes like pools of still starlight meeting his gaze.

"Pyu~ pyu~," it chirped softly, the sound light and soothing.

"Sorry... I left you in here alone for a long time," Rhys said, crouching down so they were on the same level. "So... will you be mine?"

He extended his hand, palm open. The turtle stepped forward with tiny, deliberate movements before gently tapping his hand with its head.

[ You have set the Bond Ceremony ]

[ The target has accepted you as Master... Bond complete ]

[ Congratulations! You have tamed the Ancient Beast: Divine Moon Turtle ]

[ Rank: Epic – Ancient Beast ]

[ All stats have increased by +150 ]

[ Ancient Affinity and Beast Domination increased by +100 each for taming another Ancient Beast ]

[ Ancient Beast: Divine Moon Turtle’s Status is now ready to view ]

Tamed Beast: ??

Type: Divine Moon Turtle

Level: 139 (Same as Master)

Rarity: Ancient (Epic)

Elemental Affinities: Moon, Holy, Earth

Health: 115,000

Mana: 49,000

Attack Power: 11,200

Defense: 92,500

Speed: 3,000

Innate Skills

[ Lunar Aegis ] (Passive)

Harnesses divine moonlight to form a perpetual protective blessing.

Effects:

+50% Damage Resistance (Physical & Magical)

+30% Healing Received

Automatically restores 3% of max Health every 10 seconds

Immune to Curse and Poison effects

[ Shell Garden ]

After consuming any seed, the same plant will sprout upon the turtle’s shell. Once matured, the plant will be of perfect quality.

And It will also create a Skill realted to the plant Consumed usabel by the Divine Moon Turtle.

Skill mana cost will depend on the Skill formed.

Mana Cost: 1,000 per seed consumption

Cooldown: 1 hour

Current Skill : Moonmist Creation.

Create the Moonminst that increases the power of magic skills by 30% and decreases and nullifies all status ailments.

Mana Cost : 100 Mana every second.

Cooldown : none

[ Size Manipulation ]

Can Change ones size by ten times.

Mana Cost : 2000 and then 100 mana for every minute of activation.

Cooldown : none

Ancient Moon Magic – Level 3

Moonlight Beam

Fires a concentrated beam of moonlight, dealing 350% Light-element magic damage to enemies in a 20m line and restoring 5% of max HP to allies it passes through. Slightly blinds enemies for 2 seconds.

Mana Cost: 1,500

Cooldown: 150 seconds

Lunar Tide

Summons a surge of silver-lit water that sweeps enemies back, dealing 220% Water-element magic damage in a 15m cone and slowing movement by 40% for 8 seconds. Also reduces enemy attack speed by 15% during the slow.

Mana Cost: 2,800

Cooldown: 200 seconds

Moonveil Blessing

Wraps allies in a shimmering lunar barrier, absorbing damage equal to 15% of their max HP for 12 seconds. Barrier also increases allies’ defense by 20% while active.

Mana Cost: 1,000

Cooldown: 250 seconds

Silver Eclipse

Calls down a radiant moon eclipse over a 25m radius, dealing 150% Light + 150% Water magic damage per second for 6 seconds. Reduces enemy accuracy by 25% and magic resistance by 10% while inside the eclipse zone.

Mana Cost: 1,500

Cooldown: 400 seconds

Lunar Restoration

Gradually restores 20% max HP and 10% mana to an ally over 10 seconds. While under this effect, target gains +15% movement speed and +10% damage dealt.

Mana Cost: 1,200

Cooldown: 300 seconds

Moonfall Judgement

Summons a colossal fragment of the divine moon to crash down on a target location within 30m, dealing 600% Light + 400% Earth magic damage in a 10m radius. Enemies hit are stunned for 2 seconds and suffer 20% defense reduction for 8 seconds.

Mana Cost: 2,500

Cooldown: 600 seconds

______

"Damn... I thought you’d have more defensive and auxiliary skills," Rhys mused, still a little stunned as he scrolled through the list, unable to help but be blown away by the raw firepower instead.

"Now... I guess I’m copying your Ancient Moon Magic," Rhys said as he activated the skill Legacy Bond, the unique ability that let him copy any skill of his tamed beasts.

[ You have used Legacy Bond with Ancient Moon Magic ]

[ Ancient Moon Magic is now ready to be used ]

"Good... now, as for your name, hmm, let’s see..." he muttered, turning to the little tide-white creature. It tilted its head and let him watch it cutely, as if waiting for his verdict.

Rhys crouched down, resting his hand under his chin as he studied the little turtle-like creature.

Its shell shimmered faintly under the moonlight—silver and pearl ripples dancing across the surface, like the night sky had been trapped in a tide pool. Its eyes were calm yet curious, the kind that could make even a hardened warrior hesitate before raising a blade.

"You’ve got that... ancient, regal vibe going on," Rhys mused, tapping his chin. "But also... way too adorable for your own good."

The little turtle let out a soft hmmph, as if offended but also secretly pleased.

"You know, I expected you to be all defensive walls and support spells—fortresses, barriers, healing waves—but instead..." Rhys smirked, "you’re more like an artillery cannon hiding in a turtle’s body."

It blinked slowly, then puffed out a faint glow from the crescent-shaped mark on its forehead. The mark pulsed once, sending a ripple of Ancient Moon Magic into the air—a silent reminder that it wasn’t just for show.

"Alright... guess it’s time I give you a name worthy of all that power."

Rhys leaned closer, his voice low and thoughtful. "Something that’ll make enemies tremble... and still make people want to pet you."

The unnamed turtle tilted its head again, almost expectantly.

[ Please enter name for your tamed beast: ??? ]

Rhys tapped his fingers against his knee, staring into those patient moonlit eyes.

"Alright, let’s try this logically," he muttered. "Option one—go for something fearsome. Like Shellbreaker, Tide Tyrant, or... Moonfang. Sounds scary, right?"

The turtle blinked. Once. Slowly. No reaction.

"...Okay, fine. Option two—something elegant. Lunara, Selene, Moondrift. You know, mystical, poetic."

The turtle tilted its head left, unimpressed.

Rhys narrowed his eyes. "You’re a tough critic."

"Option three—" He paused, smirking. "Cute and deceptively dangerous. Pebble, Squish, or... Sir Moonbounce

."

The turtle’s eyes actually lit up at Sir Moonbounce.

"...Oh no," Rhys said, horrified. "You like that one?"

The turtle gave the faintest nod.

A loud sigh escaped him. "Great. I’ve bonded with an ancient, probably world-ending creature... and it wants to be called Sir Moonbounce."

[ Your tamed beast has been named: Sir Moonbounce ][ Loyalty +10 ]

"...Puddle’s never going to let me live this down," Rhys muttered, summoning his sword again. "Fine, Sir Moonbounce, let’s see what that moon magic of yours can do."

The crescent mark on its forehead flared bright, and silvery mana spilled into the air—gentle yet brimming with raw, tidal force.

"Alright, let’s go then," Rhys mumbled, putting Bounce in his heartspace, now they are contracted he no longer have to store him in Beast Storage ring, he can put him inside the heartspace which is many times bettter than the beast storage ring.

"but first let me see my gains after Rank up" he mumbled sitting on bed side opening his own status screen.

Name: Blade

Species: Human being

Gender: Male

Level: 139

Title: Rolling in Money, Monster Baby Hunter, First Breeder

Class: Tamer of Ancients / Akashic Ruler

Health: 4100 / 4100

Mana Essence: 9000 / 9000

Stats

Strength : 770

Defense : 770

Vitality : 770

Agility : 770

Stamina : 770

Intelligence : 2940

Domination : 1330

Ancient Affinity : 1750

Stat Points : 490

Special Stats:

Luck: ???

Charm: ???

Reputation: ???

Wisdom: 2600 (increases Magic Damage and Resistance)

Condition: Healthy

Tamed Beast :

1. Puddle (Ancient Black King of White Rivers)

2. Sir Moonbounce ( Ancient Divine Moon Turtle)

"Haa, who would believe these are the stats of a Rank 1?" Rhys smiled. But that was the benefit of having a Special Class— and he had two of them, not just one.

"Now, let’s see the skills," he mumbled, opening the next page of his skills to see what had changed in them.

After ranking up, all his class skills had leveled up once—and some of them, thanks to him clearing the ultra-hard tier, had even leveled up twice—making him wonder what new effects had been unlocked under them now.