Lymar Village,

Kirkcour Woods, Rosendun.

Crackle!

Lightning flashed across the cloudy sky, accompanied by raging thunder as the heavens bore witness to the madness occurring at the village square. Thick mana, visible to the human eye swirled around the square as if carried by a tornado. The winds were so dense, and no one dared to approach the scene.

The strange thing was that it was impossible to tell who was causing the scene, between the stallion undergoing the ritual, or the daeben who had dozens of paintings revolving around him.

Kashi issued a slight smirk as he placed the final touch on his last painting. He took a step back and admired the image of beautiful waves lapping onto a sandy beach, which beyond which, traces of a prairie field could be seen.

Kashi revealed a smile as he flicked Rosario's brush, sending it into his inventory. It seemed 100 gates was the current limit for his inner world. To increase the border, he would have to increase the size and stability of the inner world. Well, as far as stability went, he knew what he had to do: Find high-class totems representing the elements. As for size, well, he would take his time figuring that out.

Kashi raised his hand, and the paintings fell onto his outstretched palm one after the other, until they formed a neat, thick pile. The daeben barely had time to appreciate the fruits of his labor when Drixali's stern, but a chaotic voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Kashi-dono! It's time for the final step!"

Kashi quickly tucked the paintings in his inner world, then looked at Drixali. Surprisingly, the strange storm did not end even after he finished his painting. It seemed the gods had taken an interest in the cocoon. The daeben's gaze narrowed as a smile curled up his lips. Drixlia's transformation had to be beyond extraordinary for the gods to have taken an interest.

His confidence stoked by the realization, Kashi excitedly called out to Drixali who was outside the storm. "What's the final step!?"

"You have to place an imprint on him," Drixali said, and then elaborated. "It will form a connection with him, which will allow you to know each other's location anywhere in the world, as well as communicate your intentions."

"What? I'll be able to talk with Drix?"

"Not talk in the simplest terms," Drixali refuted with a shake of his head. "It's intent, not words that are communicated. It's so much deeper. Words can create misunderstandings, but intent does not. Because it's the truth of the heart."

"Ah, I understand," Kashi muttered, wondering what that would be like. He had a similar connection with Kira, but they used words, not the so-called intent. However, it was true that they could feel each other's genuine emotions, hence why he never bothered lying to her. There was most likely no one in the world who understood him as well as Kira did. 'How long are you gonna sleep?'

Kashi shook his head and turned to Drixali. "What do I have to do?"

"Feed your blood and mana into the cocoon," Drixali instructed. "Pour as much as you can. It will increase the strength of the imprint."

"Hmm? That's easy," Kashi muttered and then walked towards the cocoon at the center of the ritual. Heavy winds buffeted the daeben, threatening to throw him out, but he walked steadfastly through the gale until he reached the red ball. The daeben dragonified his left arm, and cut his right palm with a claw.

Kashi stared at the dripping blood for a second and then placed his palm on the ball.

Swuuup!

Kashi stumbled forward as a mighty suction force grabbed hold of his palm and began to drain the daeben of both his blood and mana. Kashi paled when he sensed the speed at which he was being consumed. Damn, this ball was greedy! It was sucking faster than his regeneration could keep up! At this rate, he would be drained dry in a few minutes!

Kashi attempted to wrestle his arm free, but the attractive force was far too strong. Two minutes passed, and the daeben's frown deepened when he did not sense a decrease in the ball's greed. At this rate, he would get killed by this damned thing!

However, despite his anger, Kashi was secretly pleased because he could sense a thriving pulse coming from within the cocoon. The lifeform within was getting stronger with each passing second, to the extent that even Kashi had begun to feel cautious.

Still, Kashi knew he had to do something about this indiscriminate sucking, or he would kick the bucket before getting to appreciate Drixlia's transformation. If he could only find a substitute to buy himself enough time to replenish his mana! But that might taint the imprint,

Wait... a substitute? This thing wanted Kashi's mana, right? But who said it had to be mana from his body. It should be fine as long as it was mana which had his imprint.

"Please let this work," Kashi muttered as he opened a small gate to his inner world on his left palm. Mana from his inner world gushed out and flooded his bloodstream, bringing with them the vitality of Yggdrasil mixed with the tyrant violence of his dragon soul, and the strength of the elements present in his world. The aura rapidly replenished Kashi's blood as it flowed through then went out through his right arm, into the cocoon.

Boom!

Kashi gritted his teeth as the air around the cocoon exploded outward, slamming him with dense mana winds as if the chrysalis was expelling ugly mana. Immediately afterward, the cocoon ferociously guzzled the daeben's mana. Luckily, the speed of suction did not surpass the rate at which Kashi received mana.

Crackle! BOOOM!

Moments later, the cocoon had drunk its fill, and its harshly expelled air sent Kashi flying. The daeben hurriedly shut down the portal once he landed. While the extra mana was undoubtedly a boost, he could not control the influx speed, and it was thus a double-edged sword. If he left it open, his body would be bloated with pure mana within seconds, and would then explode.

This time, the suction force was enough to prevent this disaster, but until he learned to control the influx, Kashi could not rely on this move in battle just yet. This realization did not disappoint the daeben as some would expect. Instead, he was pleased that he had found another way to improve. Hard work was the easy part as far as he was concerned.

Creak! Crack!

The sounds of something drew Kashi's attention to the cocoon. Tumultuous winds, lightning, and flames burst out of the cracks as if announcing the presence of the divine being within.

The centaurs gathered outside the square felt a heavy pressure weigh down on their souls as they gazed at the cracks on the cocoon. It felt like the pressure a cat would face when confronted with a lion. The influence of a superior lifeform!

Even the mighty Drixali had caution in his eyes as the cracks grew wider. Although he knew he was much stronger than the being in the cocoon, he too could not help but feel a bit threatened. "The grown zebra cowers before the baby lion," muttered the demon beneath his breath.

Kashi meanwhile, stood amid the lightning, wind, and flames with an excited grin. "...Wake up, Drix!"

BOOOOM!

A mighty explosion rocked the town square, sending dust clouds throughout the village. Kashi stood within the roiling dust clouds with expectation in his eyes. He could feel a familiar, yet unfamiliar presence within the dust, and could not wait to see what the aftermath was.

Neeeigh!

Whooosh!

Kashi grinned as a loud neigh rang out, accompanied by a gust of wind from the center of the square. The gale swept out in all directions, wiping out the dust to reveal the majestic creature.

Stood at the center was a creature like none Kashi had witnessed since he had come into this world. Drixlia had undergone an evolution beyond the daeben's wildest dreams. Obsidian dragon scales covering its entire frame gleamed imposingly in the afternoon sun. Tufts of snow-white hair grew at the back of its hoofs, while a massive, beautiful mane raised along its back fluttered beautifully in the winds.

But most striking of all was the horn composed of condensed lightning extending from Drixlia's forehead. Drixlia softly snorted and then strutted toward Kashi. Lightning sparked beneath its hooves with every step it took, belying its incredible power.

Looking at the scales, the lightning, and its power, Kashi put two and two together. Drixlia was no longer a stallion. It seemed the combination of Yggdrasil, his dragon, the hydras, Drixali, and Kira's mana had given birth to a supernatural creature that should not exist in the mortal realm.

[IMG: Kirin by Cosme (Aeflus) Lucero | DeviantArt.]

Drixlia approached Kashi and then strutted around the daeben as if showing off its new body. In reply, Kashi laughed and patted the stallion's flank. "Congratulations, Drix. You are officially the first Kirin to appear in this realm."

Harrumph!

"Fine, I'll get on," Kashi chuckled as he jumped onto Drixlia's back. Surprisingly, the scales were not as uncomfortable as he thought. A layer of soft white fur cushioned his seat, causing for a much more comfortable ride. Kashi grabbed hold of the Drixlia's mane and had to resist a shout when the newly-born kirin suddenly took off like a bolt of lightning.

The duo quickly disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind a stunned crowd, who could neither process the kirin's existence nor its mind-numbing speed.

"Kirin!" Drixali shouted in shock. "It's a Kirin!" He glanced at Kashi with fear and respect in his eyes. 'I had a hunch his aura would improve the bloodline. But to this extent? The news can't get out, or the entire Netherworld would find a way to hunt him down to improve their bloodline.'

Drixali quickly glanced around. Thankfully, only centaurs and Kashi's people were present. A word from him should be enough to secure the centaurs' silence. Good, all was fine as long as this did not get out.

Unfortunately, Drixali only paid attention to the sentient creatures. He missed an inconspicuous eagle flying above the village. This eagle had seemingly appeared out of nowhere when the commotion began. Currently, it was relaying information to a hidden party.

Mount Plymous

12:20 p.m. 18th Banem 1092.

Mount Plymous was a massive mountain range on a hidden location on the planet. 100 citadels fit for kings lined the mountain range, reducing in number as one rose up in the mountain. The largest and most beautiful building of all rested at the mountain's summit.

Each of the mansions had a torch atop them that would never go out, whether hit by rain, wind, snow, or the strongest force in the world. However, strangely, the torches above two of the mansions were currently extinguished, and one of the mansions had been overtaken by trees, showing it hadn't been used in centuries.

This was the home and headquarters of the Adjudicators. Since no one could access this place, they could safely leave their bodies behind without fear that someone would assassinate or rob them.

Currently, at one of the homes on the second level of the mountain, an Adjudicator suddenly shot to his feet. If one looked closely, they would notice that his right eye resembled an eagle's rather than a human. Playing within that eye was the sight of a creature riding lightning across the plains. Furthermore, it had begun to climb into the sky with a laughing daeben on its back.

"A kirin!" The adjudicator shouted. "Haha, Kashi, you bastard. You refused the toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Kirin's belong in the Netherrealm. Try and get in our way and see how we deal with you."

The adjudicator was so excited. With Kashi's personality, he would definitely fight back when they came for that Kirin. However, that would be grounds to seriously punish, or even exterminate him! Heh, that daeben would soon learn to respect the adjudicators.

Frankly speaking, the confrontation at Ranad had humiliated the adjudicators to no end. Even now, the game community pages were filled with memes about how useless the adjudicators were. To regain their reputation, the adjudicators had kept an eye on Kashi, hoping he slipped up and did something that required their intervention.

However, until now, the daeben had not broken any rules.

But now, a creature that should be in the Netherrealm had appeared in the mortal realm. There was justification. The adjudicators were determined to seize this opportunity to not only regain their reputation but wipe out Kashi.

Unfortunately, the adjudicator's excitement was cut short by a prompt.

The adjudicator punched the wall in rage, "Fuck!" The adjudicator cursed as his excitement instantly deflated. Many people did not know this, but there was an even greater power behind the adjudicators; the A.I that governed the rules of this world and game. Up till now, no one had been able to seize the master control from the A.I, an authority that had been granted by the original creator of this world. "Rumaki you bastard. You should have surrendered the master controls if you were going to die..."