The thought of Draven's smug, arrogant face was a stone in Jonah's gut. The cocky Warrior had called him weak, a boy hiding behind his pets. It was an insult, but there was a grain of truth to it. Nyx was fast, Shard was clever, but neither could stand up to a direct, brutal assault from someone like Draven and his ridiculous flaming sword.

Jonah knew he needed an answer. He needed a fist. A heavy-hitter. A Progeny that wasn't designed for scouting or trickery, but for one thing and one thing only: overwhelming force.

He sat on the floor of his dorm room, Vanessa across from him, looking more serious than he'd ever seen her. The Vivarium was quiet, its usual chirps and rustles hushed, as if the creatures could sense the tension in the air.

"This is your most ambitious project yet," Vanessa said, her voice low. "A Grade-3 synthesis. The energy calculations are seriously alarming."

Jonah nodded grimly. "I know. But this is a must. I have to do this."

He laid out the plan for her. The foundation would be his oldest, most reliable Progeny. Rook. Its tough, stone-feathered form was the sturdiest canvas he had. To that, he would add the raw, explosive power of the Raging Boar essence, the strongest ingredient in his library. And to top it off, he would add another mote of Ant soldier essence to build it's toughness, like adding a second coat of armor.

Power, toughness, and pure rage – All well stacked. It was a recipe for a monster.

He closed his eyes, sinking into his Beast Space. He brought forth Rook's blueprint, then the churning, angry red orb of the Boar, and finally the dull, brown mote of the Ant. The moment they combined, it felt like a fight was breaking out between them.

The message that flashed in his mind was the most terrifying one he'd ever seen. The warning text was practically screaming at him.

`[Begin Grade-3 Synthesis?]`

`[Genesis Core: Stone-Feather Hatchling (Grade 1)]`

`[Essences: Raging Boar (Fury, Strength) + Ant Soldier (Fortitude)]`

`[WARNING: Extreme mana consumption and psychic strain detected. High probability of Synthesis Failure.]`

`[Proceed?]`

High probability of failure. The words echoed in the void. A failure wouldn't just mean wasted essence. It could mean permanent damage to Rook's blueprint, or even a psychic backlash strong enough to leave him mentally scarred.

He took a deep breath. He glanced at Vanessa. She gave him a firm, confident nod. "I'm ready," she said. "If your energy signature starts to spike erratically, I'll cast a Mana Calming Ward. It should help stabilize you. Just focus on the synthesis."

He had support. He had a plan. It was time to take the risk.

Proceed.

The world exploded into a war.

It wasn't a clean process like his previous creations. It was a brutal, mental battle. The three essences fought against each other, refusing to merge. The Boar's essence was the main problem. It was pure rage, a psychic storm that crashed against his mind, trying to overwhelm him with feelings of blind, red fury. It was all in his head – tusks tearing through enemies, tasting blood and mud that weren't really there.

No!!!

He pushed back with his own will, trying to force the psychic echo down.

This was where his brutal morning runs with Seraph paid off. His body was a reservoir of stamina, and his mind, sharpened by a hundred hours of study, was a fortress. He focused, weaving the energies together one thread at a time. He poured his own mana into the mix, using it to smooth things out and keep the wild energies from ripping each other apart.

He could feel his own energy draining away at an alarming rate. It was like trying to hold three wild beasts at bay while simultaneously trying to braid their tails together. The mental pressure was immense. Black spots danced in his vision. The Boar's psychic rage was starting to slip through his defenses, making his thoughts jagged and angry.

He was failing. The threads of connection were fraying. The entire construct was about to fly apart in a burst of chaotic energy.

Just as he felt his consciousness start to slip, a new sensation entered the battlefield. It was a cool, soothing wave of blue energy, washing over his mind. It was Vanessa's spell. The Mana Calming Ward. It didn't give him more strength, but it quieted the noise. It pushed back the Boar's rage just enough for him to get a grip.

That single moment of clarity was all he needed.

With a final, desperate surge of will, he connected the last thread. He locked the three essences together into a single, unified blueprint. The chaotic storm of energy was suddenly contained, forced into a new shape.

A massive, throbbing cocoon of violent crimson light formed in the center of his Beast Space. It pulsed with a heavy, angry rhythm, like a caged heart.

`[Synthesis Complete. Incubation Time: 12 Hours]`

Jonah's eyes snapped open. The room was spinning. He gasped for air, his body slumping forward. He was completely and utterly drained. Every drop of his mana was gone, and his mind felt like a stretched, raw nerve.

Vanessa was instantly at his side, helping him sit up. "You did it," she said, her voice a mixture of awe and concern. "Your mana levels dropped to almost zero, but you held it together. You actually did it."

Jonah could only nod weakly. He leaned back against the wall, exhausted but triumphant. He had faced his most difficult challenge yet and won. He had pushed his power to its absolute limit and created something new, something powerful.

But as he felt the angry, violent pulse of the crimson cocoon in the back of his mind, he had a chilling thought.

He had locked the beast in a cage. Now he had to wait twelve hours to see what would happen when he opens the door.