Chapter 8: Gaining Ground: Jared’s Journey of Growth

After finishing the first stage of her quest, Victoria returned to the Otherworldly Realm. The gods and goddesses, their ethereal forma shimmering with divine light, greeted her with warmth and praise for her accomplishments. Victoria though honored, kept her focus and informed them she had to leave, promising, "I will return soon." With a graceful bow, she opened her status page and selected the log out button. A small pang of reluctance tugging at her heart as she left the enchanting realm.

Emerging from the immersive cocoon of the gaming cabinet, she glanced at her master's adjacent station and saw it was empty. Concern etched on her face, she hurried to her master's bedroom. She knocked softly on the door but was met with silence. Slowly, she opened the door and peeked inside, only to find the room vacant, the bed meticulously made, and no sign of Jared's presence.

Heart racing, she descended the stairs, each step quickening as she followed the faint clinking sounds coming from the kitchen. As she entered, she saw her master, Jared, casually seated at the table, twirling pasta on his fork, a serene expression on his face.

Upon noticing her, Jared's eyes lit up, and he beckoned her warmly, "Come and join me!"

Victoria, relieved and slightly breathless, grabbed a plate and served herself a generous portion. She took a seat beside her master, her mind still buzzing with the excitement of her recent adventure. They both ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and the soft hum of the kitchen appliances. After they finished their meal, Jared turned to her, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"How was the game?" he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Did you enjoy it?"

Victoria's face lit up, her enthusiasm spilling over as she gushed, "It was so magical, I loved it! I was brought to a realm called Otherworldly, and I believe that's where the gods and goddesses reside." She couldn't contain her excitement and continued, "My profession is unique— I have to complete tasks to retain ownership of the profession, and so far it's been incredible!"

Just as she was about to reveal more, Jared raised his hand, his expression turning stern. "Do not tell me your profession," he commanded, his voice firm. "You are to play and enjoy the game. You can tell me about your adventures, but do not disclose your game name or profession."

Victoria nodded, a serious expression replacing her earlier exuberance, but curiosity got the better of her. "Why not tell you, master?" she asked, her voice tinged with innocence.

Jared sighed, his gaze softening as he explained, "It is just a precaution. Do not tell anyone your IGN. It's for your safety and to maintain the integrity of your gaming experience."

Understanding dawned on her, and she nodded more solemnly this time, vowing to keep her identity a secret within the game world. The moment was interrupted by the soft purr of the cat brushing against her legs, reminding her of the warmth and safety of the real world.

On Atlas's side, the mood was starkly different. She sat alone in her expensive loft, the dim light casting long shadows as she mechanically ate her dinner. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, replaying the events of the game, analyzing every detail, and planning her next move. She knew she had ten hours until the next part of her quest began, but uncertainty gnawed at her.

What should she do now?

The question hung heavily in the air, unanswered and persistent. She glanced at her gaming setup, the screen dark and dormant, a stark contrast to the vibrant world she had just left. Determination flickered in her eyes as she made a mental checklist of preparations and strategies, her resolve hardening with each passing moment. The quiet of the loft was a stark reminder of the solitude she faced, both in her mission and in her life.

Atlas's thoughts drifted back to the fragmented memories of a world teetering on the brink of destruction, a world she was determined to save. With a sigh, she rose from her seat, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, both in the game and beyond. Her journey was just beginning, and she was prepared to fight for every moment, every life, every thread of time that could alter the course of destiny.

Atlas, Jared and Victoria then went to bed, knowing that they had been gaming for 12 hours in game time, while only 10 hours had passed on Jupiter itself.

In the morning, they woke one after the other. After having breakfast with Victoria, Jared logged back into the game. He did not have to worry about work since he was filthy rich, and he had already completed his high school syllabus.

Victoria decided to do house chores before logging in while, Atlas had her breakfast and logged into game immediately, like Jared.

Upon arriving back in the game world, Jared felt like he was coming home. He descended to the same spot he logged out from, in the meadow where the little baby animals grazed. He checked his status and saw he had an unread notification.

"Congratulations, Maslow's Law, for being the first to complete a unique profession quest."

Jared was flabbergasted by this notification. He thought, 'I just wanted to take advantage of this Easter Egg, and you're telling me I completed the unique profession quest!'

He checked the rewards:

[Spirit Bond Amulet]

A mystical amulet that allows Jared to communicate more deeply with his contracted animal spirits. This amulet not only enhances the strength and duration of his summons but also allows for more complex commands and interactions with the summoned creatures.

[Shapeshifter's Cloak]

A magical cloak that adapts to his shapeshifting form, providing camouflage abilities that adapt to the environment, making Jared nearly invisible when still. It also reduces the mana cost of maintaining shapeshifted forms, allowing him to stay transformed for longer periods without fatigue.

[Summoner's Staff of the Wilds]

A powerful staff crafted from the ancient Tree of the Guardians, entwined with a core of crystalized moonlight. This staff increases the potency of Jared's summoning spells, reducing their cast time and significantly boosting the abilities of summoned creatures.

[Tome of Natural Order]

A magical tome containing knowledge of rare and mystical animal species across various realms, offering Jared the opportunity to expand his repertoire of summons. Studying the tome also provides insights into the natural world, granting him passive bonuses to healing and nature-based magic.

[1000 G]

[5 levels]

He checked his level to see he was now level 10 and that he would require a million EXP to reach the next level. He sighed, wondering how long it will take for him to reach the next level, considering he has thirteen baby companion pets.

He summoned all his companions and introduced them to each other. He then had an active conversation with them to find out what they were seeking in terms of food and any other wishes they had while they were in this plane.

Before he went searching for what his companions needed, he checked the Tome of Natural Order and learned quite a large amount of information about his companions. He then entered his soul sphere.

"Welcome, again master," Nordic spoke, "I have been awaiting your arrival."

"If I may be presumptuous," Nordic continued, "you should allow your companion pets to reside here in the library. It can simulate the perfect living conditions for each of your companions, and they could also learn skills from the library as well."

Hearing that, Jared became excited and asked, "How do I bring them here?"

Nordic waved his hand, and all thirteen of his companions were brought into his soul sphere. Nordic said, "Return to your work. That will be all. You can come again next time."

Jared nodded, then went out to seek what each baby companion required.

The baby panda required fresh and tender bamboo shoots, essential for its diet, which Jared already knew the perfect place to find them.

The baby dragon required charcoal or gems for digestion and to aid in fire-breathing development.

The baby turtle required seaweed and algae, a diet rich in marine vegetation.

The baby dolphin needed a diet comprising of various fish and small squid.

The baby whale required massive amounts of krill or tiny fish.

The baby fox required a diet consisting of small mammals or seasonal berries.

The baby bear needed assorted fruits, nuts, and fish, a varied diet to ensure proper development.

The baby phoenix required aromatic spices and incense to fuel its fiery rebirth.

The baby griffin required raw meat and bones, a diet high in protein and calcium.

The baby wolf needed hearty meals of raw meat and whole game.

The baby kraken required a diet of crustaceans (shellfish) and fish.

The baby unicorn required magical water sources and fresh flowers.

Lastly, the pegasus needed cloudberries and ambrosia.

Jared gained a few skills while gathering the baby companions' food:

[Enhanced Resource Gathering]

Identifying, harvesting, and regenerating natural resources efficiently; improving sustainability and reducing environmental impacts while gathering.

[Elemental control]

Manipulates minor elemental forces—specifically fire.

[Marine Biology Expertise]

Gains a deep understanding of marine ecosystems, enhancing interactions with aquatic environments and creatures.

[Stealth and Tracking]

Improves stealth and tracking abilities, making Jared more adept at moving silently and tracking prey or enemies without detection.

[Nutritional Mastery]

Provides extensive knowledge of nutritional needs across a broad range of species, boosting his ability to heal and sustain his companions and allies through optimized diets.

[Magical Flora Cultivation]

Learning to cultivate and care for magical plants, gaining abilities that enhance their potency and magical properties, useful in potions and healing practices.

[Avian Care Expertise]

Skills in caring for avian and flying creatures, understanding their unique physiology and aerial needs, enhancing his ability to work with flying mounts and creatures in various environments.

[Environmental Adaptation]

Increases the ability to adapt and thrive in diverse environments, allowing him to modify terrains temporarily for tactical advantages or comfort.