Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner-Chapter 278: Beast and man Bond
"Are you sure this is safe?" Sophie whispered, her grip tight on her sidearm as they approached the mountain cave entrance. Glacial formations decorated the opening like crystalline fangs, and a persistent chill emanated from within.
"No," Noah admitted, checking the energy signature on Kelvin's tracker one more time. This was the same one that had detected Storm's energy signature back on Cannadah along with his system but more fine tuned now. "But Storm's not hunting anymore. The signal's been stationary for hours."
Kelvin adjusted his own scanning equipment, eyes gleaming with barely contained enthusiasm. "The energy readings are off the charts, but stable now. Whatever he was doing before, he's settled down."
Noah already knew this for a fact since the system confirmed what kelvin just said.
The three of them had tracked Storm through the night, following the trail of atmospheric anomalies and energy fluctuations across prime hunting grounds in the Eastern sector. After the confrontation with Darius Mercer and their narrow escape from the military, Noah had insisted they not lose Storm's trail.
"He came out because he needed energy," Noah explained as they carefully picked their way through the ice-slick cave entrance. "I should have been more attentive after his evolution. But I was depleted from the fight with that Purge operative."
"You talk about it like it's a pet that needed feeding," Sophie said, though her tone had softened slightly. "This is a category-defying apex predator that just terrorized three settlements."
"He's not just a predator," Noah insisted. "He's—"
Noah stopped mid-sentence as they rounded a corner and the cave opened into a vast chamber. Stalactites of ice hung from the ceiling, catching the pale light filtering through cracks in the stone above and refracting it into prismatic patterns across the walls.
And there, curled in the center of the chamber like some ancient dragon from legend, was Storm.
The wyvern's massive body rose and fell with slow, steady breaths. Ice crystals formed and dissipated around his nostrils with each exhalation. The blue energy channels visible beneath his scales pulsed with a gentle rhythm, like heartbeats of lightning.
"Incredible," Kelvin breathed, immediately taking readings. "His body temperature is simultaneously superheated and supercooled in different regions. It should be thermodynamically impossible."
Storm's head lifted at the sound of their approach, star-bright eyes focusing immediately on Noah. There was no sign of the ferocious predator that had torn through military installations just hours before. Instead, the massive wyvern's posture relaxed, recognition evident in its gaze.
Noah took a careful step forward, hand outstretched. "Hey, big guy. Feeling better?"
Sophie reached for Noah's arm. "What are you—"
But Storm was already moving, uncoiling his massive form with surprising grace for a creature of his size. He approached Noah with cautious steps that nonetheless shook the ground beneath them.
"Holy shit," Sophie whispered, weapon half-raised.
Noah stood his ground as Storm lowered his enormous head, bringing it level with Noah's body. Cold air swirled around them, but Noah felt no fear—only connection.
"I'm sorry," Noah said softly, placing his hand on Storm's snout. The scales were smooth and cool to the touch, vibrating slightly with the energy contained within. "I should have made sure you had enough energy after your evolution. You shouldn't have had to hunt on your own."
Storm made a rumbling sound deep in his chest, something between a purr and a growl. His eyes—intelligent beyond what any mere animal should possess—studied Noah for a long moment before he nudged forward, nearly bowling Noah over with the gentle headbutt.
"I think he's... forgiving you?" Kelvin suggested, cautiously approaching with his scanner still running. "Look at the neural activity! The frontal structures are lighting up in patterns consistent with higher cognition. And these electrical impulses..." He trailed off, lost in the data. "Noah, this isn't basal instinct. There's genuine comprehension here."
Storm's attention shifted to Kelvin, massive head turning to study the curious genius with his own curious eyes. Kelvin froze, scanner still held aloft.
"Uh... nice dragon?" he offered weakly.
Storm snorted, ice crystals briefly forming in the air before dissolving.
"He won't hurt you," Noah said with certainty. "He recognizes you're with me."
Kelvin's scientific curiosity quickly overcame his momentary fear. "The physical structure is even more remarkable up close. See these scale formations?" He pointed excitedly, careful not to touch. "They're arranged in perfect Fibonacci sequences, but with adaptive patterning that allows for both insulation and energy conduction simultaneously."
Storm seemed to preen slightly under the examination, extending one wing and allowing Kelvin a better view of the membranes with their intricate network of energy channels.
"And look at the anatomical efficiency! The wing-to-body ratio should make flight impossible for a creature this size, but the energy channels must provide some kind of gravitational compensation. It's revolutionary biomechanics!"
Sophie remained at a distance, her weapon now lowered but still ready. "I'll take your word for it," she called. "I'm good right here."
Noah smiled and gestured for her to come closer. "He won't hurt you. I promise."
"That's what everyone says right before the monster eats their girlfriend," Sophie muttered, but she took a hesitant step forward nonetheless.
Storm's attention immediately shifted to her, head tilting slightly as he studied this new human. A low rumble vibrated in his chest—not threatening, but cautious.
"It's okay," Noah assured both of them. "Sophie's with me. She's family."
He took Sophie's hand, feeling her tension as he guided her closer to Storm's massive head. The wyvern remained perfectly still, only the swirl of cold air around him indicating his active abilities.
"Just let him smell you," Noah encouraged.
"What if I don't want to be smelled by a creature that can freeze me solid with a sneeze?" Sophie asked dryly, but she extended her hand anyway, trembling slightly.
Storm leaned forward, nostrils flaring as he took in her scent. For a moment, the temperature dropped sharply around them before returning to normal. Then, to everyone's surprise, Storm nudged Sophie's hand gently with his snout, the way a cat might seek affection.
Sophie let out a startled laugh. "Okay, that's... not what I expected."
Suddenly, Noah felt a familiar tingling sensation—the system activating. Ice-blue text appeared in his vision:
[Experience gained: 12,600]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 26!]
[Kill count attributed: 156]
[Creature categories absorbed: 23]
[Cat 5 creatures absorbed: 1]
[Cat 4 Rank creatures absorbed: 7]
[Cat 3 Rank creatures absorbed: 22]
[Remainder: Various ranks]
[Health Points restored to full: 700/700 → 1000/1000]
[Void Energy restored to full: 1050/1100 → 1450/1450]
[Attributes increased:]
[Strength: 60 → 82]
[Agility: 74 → 95]
[Vitality: 60 → 84]
[Intelligence: 79 → 92]
[Wisdom: 74 → 89]
Noah gasped, steadying himself against Storm's massive form as the rush of power swept through him. The wyvern rumbled, almost as if sensing the change in his bonded human.
"Noah?" Sophie asked, noticing his sudden disorientation. "What's wrong?"
"Storm's hunt," Noah whispered, understanding dawning. "All the creatures he killed... the system is attributing them to me. The energy he consumed—it's being shared."
"That's... convenient," Sophie said with raised eyebrows.
Kelvin glanced up from his scanner. "Symbiotic relationship maybe? Your void energy sustains him through the bond, and his kills provide you with experience and power?"
"Maybe," Noah murmured, still processing the massive jump in his capabilities. His body felt lighter, stronger—the void energy within him flowing more smoothly through expanded pathways.
As if responding to Noah's thoughts, another system notification appeared:
[Companion Bond: Storm (Hollow Blizzard Monarch)]
[Storm Call Word Required]
[Current Nyx Call Word: "Awaken"]
[Assign new Call Word for Storm?: Y/N]
Noah stared at the notification, considering. Storm and Nyx were fundamentally different beings, despite both being draconic in form. Where Nyx was raw power and destruction—the Red Death Dragon—Storm was elemental fury and precision. The Hollow Blizzard Monarch operated on a different principle entirely.
[Companion Bond: Storm (Hollow Blizzard Monarch)]
[Storm Call Word Required]
[Current Nyx Call Word: "Awaken"]
[Assign new Call Word for Storm?: Y/N]
"I need to choose a call word for him," Noah said thoughtfully.
"Ooh! Call word time!" Kelvin perked up instantly, abandoning his scans to bound over like an excited puppy. "What about 'Descend'? No wait—'Materialize'! Too generic? How about 'Crystallize'?" He snapped his fingers repeatedly with each new idea. "'Manifest'? 'Emerge'? 'Converge'?"
Sophie crossed her arms with a smile. "Does he always do this?"
"Always," Noah confirmed with a small smile.
"'Materialize' is boring," Kelvin continued, pacing now. "Storm deserves something with *style*. What about—" he made a dramatic gesture with both hands, "'—Typhoon'? No, too weather channel." He tapped his chin. "Oh! What if you did something in Latin or Old Norse? Those always sound cool!"
Storm watched Kelvin's animated performance with what looked suspiciously like amusement in his otherworldly eyes.
"Kelvin," Noah finally interrupted. "I think I've got it."
"You're not going with 'Blizzaga,' are you? Because I was saving that one."
Noah placed his hand on Storm's head, feeling the cool pulse of energy beneath the scales. Two dragons—no, two companions. Nyx, the embodiment of destruction, and Storm, the master of elemental fury.
What word would capture what Storm truly was?
Noah smiled as the perfect command came to him.
