Cybernetic Evolution System-Chapter 134: Taming The Mantle Golden Crown Beast
After the recent dungeon crisis, the higher-ups had granted the Dungeon Service Nurses authority to initiate a temporary lockdown in cases like this, so Vandel didn't hesitate to exercise that authority now.
Ezekiel nodded. He quickly turned and dashed toward the teleportation platform.
Once Ezekiel was out of sight, Vandel looked at his Selina. "I'll follow the lingering trail of the other Mantle Golden Crown Beast. You search the surrounding area and see if you can locate the Second Rank Lesser Flaming River Deer Beast. It's a tricky beast to deal with, so don't hesitate to contact me if you find anything."
Selina nodded firmly.
They strapped their shields to their backs, then split up, vanishing in opposite directions within moments.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel quickly returned to the Dungeon Hall.
Upon arrival, he discovered that the Dungeon Service Nurses hadn't yet returned from the hospital, so he passed on the news to several students to deliver at the hospital for him.
Ezekiel also activated the emergency alarm on the Robotic Receptionist, used to alert Dungeon Service Nurses about ongoing issues in the dungeon if none of them were present. He left a message for them there.
Even if they didn't receive an alert on their smart devices, the Robotic Receptionist would surely inform them upon their arrival.
Now, regardless of whatever happened, the message would get passed on to them. After that, he sneaked into the dungeon without anyone noticing.
Ezekiel went to where he had buried the Mantle Golden Crown Beast. Fortunately, he was able to send a command to Felix, who then relayed a series of commands to the CR teams to dig a burrow from beneath the ground leading to their current location.
Because he wasn't too far from the site, they completed it in under an hour.
Ezekiel nodded at Squad One, who had burrowed from below him. He leapt into the hole and waited for them to cover it before following them back to the location so he wouldn't get lost.
Ezekiel soon arrived and sat down before the still-unconscious Mantle Golden Crown Beast.
Ezekiel pondered what to do.
Although he had already made plans to transform the beast into a Cybernetic Beast, he no longer had the luxury to do so, unless he wanted to be trapped within the dungeon.
Even though he had already made an explanation, he would rather not put himself in a position where he'd attract others' suspicions.
The only other way was to form a contract with the beast, which would only last for several seconds before automatically transforming it into a Cybernetic Beast.
If only he knew the potential of this Mantle Golden Crown Beast, then he would've been able to decide without hesitation.
"What am I even thinking about? Where else am I going to find the opportunity to capture a Second Rank Lesser Beast? Regardless of whatever its potential is, as long as it can transform into a Cybernetic Beast, then it'll be far more powerful than others of the same level. Even challenging higher Ranks would be possible through further enhancements," Ezekiel muttered to himself.
"What do you think, guys?" Ezekiel turned to his Cybernetic Beasts and asked.
He had never thought there would come a day when he'd seek the opinions of his tamed beasts about taming another beast, but here he was.
Nonetheless, with their high computing power, he hoped to gain a different perspective.
Felix, Victory, and the four CR squads present understood Ezekiel's thoughts through their shared mental space, so they quickly gave their inputs.
"If you're pressed for time, then I suggest you forge a contract with it. Even if its potential is average like mine or lower, it would still be powerful in its Cybernetic form. Each Rank One Beastmaster has three spots to contract magical beasts, correct?" Felix replied.
"Since that's the case, if we encounter any magical beast with powerful innate talent in the future that you wish to contract, I'll willingly lay down my life to open that spot for them. And I'm certain it would do the same once it comes to recognise you as its Master. However, if you're still unsure about what to do, I can try my best to determine its innate talent."
"You can do that?" Ezekiel's eyes widened in surprise.
Felix nodded. "Yes. By sampling its blood or bone marrow, I can determine the type of talent it possesses. However, it won't be completely accurate, since I don't yet have the necessary capabilities to be a hundred per cent certain."
The amazement in Ezekiel's eyes deepened.
He didn't know Felix had this kind of ability. It seemed there were other functions not listed on the status sheet due to uncertainty, ones he wasn't aware of.
"What other things can you do right now?" Ezekiel asked curiously.
"I can interact with the internet when wired. That's the only discovery I've made so far," Felix responded. "It isn't only me; the others can do so as well."
Ezekiel nodded in understanding.
He already knew about that fact, so it wasn't new to him. He hoped Felix would uncover more of his hidden capabilities not listed on his status sheet.
Ezekiel turned to his other Cybernetic beasts.
"I agree with Commander Felix," Victory said.
"We also agree with the Commander," the four CRs Squads responded.
Ezekiel nodded. "That settles it. I'll make it my official tamed beast." He didn't need to wait for Felix to check its innate talent, as he had time to do that later.
Ezekiel stood up from the earth and walked toward the unconscious Mantle Golden Crown Beast.
He stretched his right hand forward and placed it at the centre of his head.
He channelled his mana and awakened one of his Path Traits, Beastmaster Contract.
Suddenly, the Beastmaster Path Rune shone with a neon blue and silver glow on the back of Ezekiel's outstretched hand.
A vast magic circle emerged from the centre of his palm, revolving around the Mantle Golden Crown Beast below and above, spinning rapidly.
Dense mana accumulated around the magical beast as though trying to subdue it.
Fortunately, activating Path Traits didn't consume one's mana; otherwise, Ezekiel knew he would have had no chance of taming a Second Rank Lesser Beast.
Suddenly, a subtle black miasma seeped out from the belly of the Mantle Golden Crown Beast.
"Master!" Felix, Victory, and the four CRs squads quickly took their positions before him in a protective circle.
At that same instant, the magic circle shattered and disappeared into nothingness.
Then, the black miasma vanished.
Ezekiel's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the unconscious Mantle Golden Crown Beast.
What was that black miasma just now?
Beastmasters could form contracts with magical beasts one rank higher than themselves. Although Ezekiel knew that contracting one, one rank higher than his own rank, was difficult and could lead to multiple failed attempts before success, he hadn't expected to fail in such a manner.
Ezekiel narrowed his eyes at the unconscious beast.
"Let's try again." Ezekiel gestured for Felix and the others to move out of the way, then walked forward and placed his hand on the head of the unconscious Mantle Golden Crown Beast.
The Beastmaster Path Rune lit up again, and the magic circles emerged from his hand, enveloping the beast.
After a few seconds, the black miasma emerged again, and the magic circles shattered, cancelling the process.
This time, Ezekiel took out an empty vial from his storage ring and threw it toward the disappearing black miasma.
The container was special; it was used in alchemy to trap gases or mysterious wisps of energy and seal them in.
The container swept past the body of the unconscious beast, gathering a small portion of the black miasma. The cap, which had been dangling by the side, swiftly sprang to the top, spun around, and sealed it within.
The container landed on the ground.
CR1 quickly raced toward the vial, picked it up, and returned it to Ezekiel.
"Be careful, Master," he said.
Ezekiel nodded, collected the vial, and looked at it suspiciously.
Ezekiel heard an eerie voice emerging from within it.
Instantly, he flung the vial to the other side of the room.
The vial flew across the underground cavern and crashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces. The black miasma emerged from the broken shards, tilted in the direction of the dungeon's boundary, and then disappeared into thin air.
Ezekiel stared blankly at the broken vial from the other side of the cavern. He had been taken by surprise by the voices he had heard and had reacted almost instinctively.
He feared he might have been cast into a trance, so he hadn't fully listened to it.
After all, it had only said two words:
"Free me! Free me!!"
"Master, what should we do now?" Felix asked.
From what had transpired, he was certain that Ezekiel was having second thoughts about making the Mantle Golden Crown his tamed beast after the obstacle they had just encountered.
