True Bond

Following Aurora's instructions on how to tame the earthworm, Nyx took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He focused, desiring to form a bond with the creature.

Soon, unbeknownst to Nyx, within his Soul Sea, the transparent Life Bound Soul Core flashed with light. Its surface glowed golden, brightening steadily, until it vanished, only to reappear in the physical world before him.

As soon as the golden light touched the earthworm, it quivered. But it didn't move away, instinctively understanding what was happening.

More than a little surprised, its featureless face tilted in Nyx's direction.

Meanwhile, Nyx finally opened his eyes and stared at the golden orb.

"So… this is my Life Bound Soul Core. If I didn't have night vision, this golden orb would have been the perfect night lamp."

A mysterious flicker appeared in Aurora's eyes before she looked at Nyx and calmly said, [Yep. The orb is your Life Bound Soul Core, and the golden light is your intent. Even the dumbest creatures without sentience have subconscious knowledge about Life Bound Soul Cores.]

She paused, turned to the earthworm, then continued, [And from the looks of it, the earthworm knows what is about to happen. But remember, a true bond is two-way. Tamers can dominate and force a Magical Beast into becoming their tame. However, it has never worked out for the Tamer in the long run. The earthworm must accept you if you want to use its true potential… though a smelly and ugly worm wouldn't have any potential in the first place…]

Nyx couldn't help but chuckle at Aurora's final remark. It seemed she really didn't like his decision to tame an earthworm. But she couldn't be blamed either. Her rude remarks were justified.

Meanwhile, as if the Life Bound Soul Core was waiting for their conversation to end, it finally moved. Slowly, it floated over to the earthworm.

The earthworm, on the other hand, remained still for a moment. It waited for the orb to stop.

It wasn't long before the golden orb hovered an inch above the earthworm. Simultaneously, that was when Nyx began feeling a multitude of emotions. 

Quickly, he realized who… or, what the emotions belonged to.

'It's the earthworm's emotions.'

It wasn't just fear Nyx felt — it was also hesitation. 

Not knowing what to do, Nyx silently waited alongside the beautiful young lady in akimbo style.

Seconds passed, feeling like hours.

Nyx was patient. If there was anything he could boast about, it would be his patience. From birth, all he knew was lying on a bed and staring up at a white ceiling. 

Boredom was not in his dictionary.

… But the same could not be said about Aurora, who stomped her flawless foot in the air. It was obvious she did not possess Nyx's patience. 

'Stupid. Smelly. Ugly. Faceless. Slimy. Just accept already.'

Seconds turned into minutes. 

Finally, a sudden change occurred. The orb hovering above the earthworm descended.

As though to answer the sudden change, The System's voice rang in Nyx's mind:

<{The earthworm has agreed to the taming — beginning process.}>

The moment the orb touched the earthworm's mud-covered body, the radiant glow of the orb intensified.

Aurora covered her eyes with her hands and muttered, [Finally. It accepted.]

On the other hand, Nyx felt something snap into place… not as a sudden jolt. He could feel an invisible chain connecting him to the earthworm. He didn't feel suffocated, afraid, annoyed, or sad, but warm. 

It wasn't a chain forcefully binding him without his permission. Everything that happened was of his volition. 

At the same time, emotions trickled into his mind — simple, but sincere: curiosity and gratitude.

Aurora, still shielding her eyes, peaked through the gap of her fingers and caught Nyx's faint smile.

She asked incredulously, [Are you… happy?] 

Nyx didn't immediately respond. He opened his eyes and looked at the earthworm encased in a golden light.

"It's strange." He admitted, after realizing at some point in time, he began smiling. "But yeah, I am. It trusted me… and I feel like I've done something important."

With a sigh, Aurora remained silent. 

'It's his path. I can't influence him too much. If he wants to tame an earthworm… I should support him. Even if I don't want to.'

The radiant glow had dimmed significantly compared to before, allowing Nyx and Aurora to view the earthworm.

Surrounded in a cocoon of gold, the earthworm lay still.

'Or maybe the light shackled it from moving?' Nyx blinked.

Nyx wasn't sure. But at least from the emotions being transmitted into his mind, the earthworm was feeling secure. It wasn't in pain or distressed about its situation. 

Soon, the light subsided. Simultaneously, the Life Bound Soul Core vanished. Nyx wasn't a hundred percent confident of where it had disappeared, but he felt it must have returned to his Soul Sea. 

Smirking, Aurora said, [Congratulations, Nyx. You've officially tamed the world's first… earthworm.]

Nyx smirked at her sarcasm.

"Don't underestimate Terra."

[Terra?] Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. " Nyx nodded. "Everyone deserves a name. Terra. That's its name from now on."

Just then, The System's voice resounded in his mind.

<{Life Bound Soul Bond complete.}>

Without pausing, The System added:

<{You have obtained the Class Ability: Beastlink Vision.}>

<{You have chosen the path of a Tamer. Congratulations, you obtained Devouring Ascension Cultivation Technique.}>

Without giving him any time to process the shocking revelations, The System continued: 

<{Initializing free one-time Evolution… Please choose.}>

Then, a translucent screen materialized before Nyx, displaying three distinct options.

***

Evolution Path Options For Terra:

<<Earthshaper Worm>>

Description:

A subterranean worm with enhanced burrowing capabilities. This evolution grants Terra the ability to manipulate the earth to create tunnels, defensive structures, and offensive traps with ease. Its physical defense increases exponentially, making it a resilient partner in battles and explorations.

Race Ability: Earth Manipulation.

<<Luminous Earthworm>>

Description:

A mystical worm attuned with light. This evolution grants Terra the ability to manipulate light, providing both offensive and supportive capabilities. It can blind enemies, illuminate paths, heal minor wounds, or even slash its opponents into two.

Race Ability: Light Manipulation