Vorax

Cracks began appearing on the surface of the egg, one becoming two, two becoming four, until the entire surface was covered in a spiderweb of fissures. Soon, the cracks widened as pieces of the eggshell began to flake off and fall to the ground. Slowly, piece by piece, the shell chipped away, revealing the creature within.

When the process was complete, Magnus was taken aback by what he saw. A three-foot-long, worm-like creature with snow-white fur lay before him. It didn't look particularly impressive; even its aura seemed weak.

A system notification appeared:

-[Would you like to initiate a blood contract with the Great Devourer beast?]

Magnus stared at the notification, then back at the table where the furry worm lay within its cracked shell, its eyes fixed on him.

"Who the heck named this thing the 'Great Devourer'?" Magnus frowned. The creature's small frame could barely contain anything; how could it possibly be a great devourer?

The creature continued to stare at Magnus, its innocent gaze conveying no understanding of his words. It just looked cute and harmless.

Magnus sighed and accepted the blood contract. Even though the creature appeared weak, Magnus believed that as a Celestial beast, there had to be more to it. Perhaps its true form would be revealed after it evolved.

The moment he accepted, a powerful force surged through him. The surroundings shifted, and before he knew it, Magnus found himself in his soul space. A single drop of blood, radiating intense energy, floated before him.

He reached out and touched the drop. Immediately, a torrent of information flooded his mind as the blood absorbed into him.

-Ding

-[You have initiated the blood contract. Please proceed to name your pet to complete the process.]

Magnus glanced at the notification, then back at the worm, still nestled in its cracked shell, looking at him with a confused expression. It was already feeling the effects of the binding contract, a sensation entirely alien to it.

Having been hatched by Magnus, the creature already felt a connection to him. Now, that connection was deepening, leaving it bewildered.

Magnus stared at the creature, pondering a suitable name. After a moment, an idea struck him.

"Vorax," he murmured.

-[Are you sure you want to name your pet Vorax?]

"Yes," Magnus replied.

-Ding!

-[Congratulations on completing the blood contract. You can now view your pet's status.]

Magnus, eager to discover the creature's capabilities, immediately summoned its status:

---[Vorax - Status]---

Name: Vorax

STATUS: ACTIVE - EARLY STAGE

THREAT LEVEL: LOW (POTENTIAL: APOCALYPTIC)

CLASSIFICATION: VOID ENTITY/WORLD DEVOURER

ATTRIBUTES:

> SIZE: VARIABLE (Base: Small, Berserk: Mountainous)

> MASS: IMMENSE (Rapidly increasing)

> APPETITE: INFINITE

> DURABILITY: HIGH (Adapting and strengthening with consumption)

> ENERGY CAPACITY: VAST (Expanding rapidly)

ABILITIES:

> DEVOURER:

- DESCRIPTION: Consumes any matter or energy, converting it into fuel for growth and power.

> BERSERK:

- DESCRIPTION: A combat state triggered by heightened hunger or perceived threat.

- EFFECTS:

* Significant size increase.

* Enhanced Devourer range and effectiveness.

* Accelerated energy absorption.

* Increased aggression and destructive potential.

> VOID:

- DESCRIPTION: An extra-dimensional space controlled by Vorax.

- FUNCTION:

* Storage for unwanted consumed material.

* Temporary or permanent imprisonment of living beings.

* Personal sanctuary/tactical retreat.

- SIZE: LARGE (Expanding with Vorax's growth)

- ACCESS: Instantaneous via willed translocation.

-----

Magnus stared at the screen, his jaw agape. This seemed incredibly overpowered. He couldn't help but wonder if this was simply extraordinary luck or if some outside force was at play. Receiving three unique and powerful items from the welcome package seemed too good to be true.

He turned back to Vorax, who was still nestled in its cracked shell, staring at him. Now that they were bound, Magnus could sense the creature's emotions and feelings, and he recognized its confusion.

"Come here," Magnus instructed Vorax.

Vorax stared at him for a moment, then leaped from its shell and landed in Magnus's lap, coiling its furry body around him. Magnus reached out and stroked Vorax's soft fur. The warm, gentle sensation reminded him of petting his deceased cat back on Earth, stirring a bittersweet nostalgia.

Magnus sat there, stroking Vorax, lost in thought as he tried to process everything that had happened.

About an hour later, Magnus finally stopped petting Vorax and instructed him to return to his personal space. The temptation to follow, to witness Vorax's combat form and the true extent of his power, was strong, but Magnus held back. He could explore that later.

After Vorax returned to his space, Magnus rose from his bed and rummaged through his room until he located a cloak. Wrapping it around himself, he ventured out into the late evening air. The sky was already darkening.

A deep breath of the cool, fresh air filled Magnus's lungs. The feeling was invigorating after the extended confinement of his room. He exhaled slowly, feeling a sense of renewal. His injuries, miraculously, seemed to have completely vanished, leaving him feeling healthy and pain-free.

After a few moments spent enjoying the refreshing air, Magnus began his exploration of the territory, walking down the cobbled streets. Despite having received a briefing on the current situation, he felt compelled to see it for himself.

The combination of the cloak and the increasing darkness provided effective cover, allowing him to move unnoticed. His expression was grim as he surveyed the territory, moving from one area to another. The dire circumstances were immediately apparent.

At this time of evening, the streets should have been alive with the sounds of children at play, women chatting after a long day, and the boisterous laughter of men gathered at the tavern. Instead, an unnerving silence hung in the air.

The streets were practically deserted. Only the faint flickering of candlelight from within the houses suggested that the territory was still inhabited; otherwise, it would have resembled a ghost town.

Magnus's expression grew darker with each passing observation. Hearing about the situation was one thing; witnessing it firsthand was quite another. A knot of sadness and resolve tightened in his chest.

The weight of responsibility pressed down on him. As the lord of this territory, he knew it was his duty to address this crisis and restore normalcy to his people's lives.

He sighed and continued his walk, stopping only when he reached the territory's central square. This large open area usually served as a gathering place for celebrations and important meetings. A fountain, adorned with a large statue of Magnus's father, Arthur, stood in the center. But now, the fountain was dry, a stark symbol of the territory's current struggles.

The Lancaster Territory was located near a major river. To secure a reliable source of water, Magnus's father had constructed a channel to divert water from the river into the territory. However, due to the ongoing conflict with Gaylord, the goblin lord had blocked the channel, cutting off the essential water supply in a strategic move to weaken the territory.

Magnus sighed sadly. This was a major problem, and he knew he couldn't resolve it easily. Gaylord had stationed guards at the blockage, making a direct assault a risky proposition, especially with his current shortage of manpower. He needed a different approach.

Turning back, Magnus made his way back to his room. Night had almost completely fallen as he walked along the cobbled streets. Upon his return, he found Seraphina waiting for him with dinner.

The room was lit by a lantern, which Seraphina had presumably lit. As he entered, he met her questioning gaze. She was clearly curious about where he had been.

Magnus offered no explanation. He simply thanked her for the meal and dismissed her. He ate quickly, appreciating Seraphina's excellent cooking. Once finished, he placed the plate on a side table, and Seraphina returned shortly after to clear it away.

Magnus lay down on his bed and soon drifted off to sleep.