Hate me, Miss Witch!
Chapter 45 - 37: Bearing the Name of Shiayar, I Must Not Lose (Two in One)_2

Chapter 45: Chapter 37: Bearing the Name of Shiayar, I Must Not Lose (Two in One)_2

The white-haired elder’s gaze swept across everyone present, and he nodded slightly.

"I believe that since you’ve come here, you should all be very clear... what this coming-of-age ceremony means to you, especially to those members with different surnames."

"The family has no need for the incompetent. Sheltering and nurturing you to adulthood is already our limit."

"Beyond that, status, power, prestige, extraordinary resources—all these you must strive for with your own strength."

"Additionally, I need to remind you of something else."

The old man’s voice was very aged.

"This trial is not only critical for your future prospects within the family but also extremely important for you as Beastmasters."

"Because, for most of you, this may be the only opportunity in your lifetime to form a bond with a high-level Sovereign-type Pet Beast."

His eyes slowly scanned the crowd. The next moment, a silvery-white storm suddenly surged on the barren ground.

An imposing, pure silver figure, twinkling with illusory specks of light, silently appeared behind the elder.

The phantasmal figure, seemingly crafted from flowing mercury, emitted a powerful aura. This signified that even if its rank had not yet reached Sovereign, it was not far off...

Furthermore, a Pet Beast contracted to a Beastmaster receives their assistance. Thus, even when facing a wild 4th Order Sovereign head-on, it wouldn’t flinch, deservedly earning the title of Sovereign-to-be.

As the silver figure materialized, the gazes of nearly everyone in the clearing grew noticeably more fervent.

Silver Spirit.

Elemental.

A genuine high-level Sovereign type.

This meant that by contracting a Silver Spirit, one could cultivate it to a high-level Sovereign rank with virtually no bottlenecks.

Of course, similar to pureblood giant dragons, as an Element lifeform, Silver Spirits had extremely long lifespans, which also meant their growth was extremely slow...

Without sufficient Extraordinary Material to nurture and accelerate their growth, a Beastmaster might die of old age before their contracted Silver Spirit reached full maturity. This was the case for the white-robed elder’s Silver Spirit, which was still some distance from maturing into a full-fledged Sovereign Rank.

But this was enough to illustrate the potential of such a Pet Beast.

Moreover—

For everyone present, the Silver Spirit represented far more than just another Pet Beast.

"The Silver Spirit is also our family’s guardian species and the symbol of Brunestadt."

The white-haired elder’s words took on a more serious tone.

Although other forms of extraordinary power existed in this world, it was undeniable that for Humans, contracting Pet Beasts to become Beastmasters was the most versatile extraordinary pathway with the highest potential.

Hence, nearly all powerful human factions on the Western Continent had their own exclusive Pet Beast species, such as the Fresta Empire’s Crowned Griffons and Black Scales Drakes.

These were the symbols of Beastmaster families and the foundation of their enduring prosperity.

"From the founding Sovereign of the Azure Garden Dukedom to the current Family Head, who has achieved illustrious feats on the border battlefields, all have had a mighty Silver Spirit by their side. These spirits accompanied them in blood-soaked battles, fending off beast tides and foreign enemies, and forged immortal legacies."

"For the Brunestadt family, the Silver Spirit represents far more than just a Pet Beast species."

"It is a legacy..."

"A legacy spanning hundreds of years, known as the glory of Brunestadt."

At the old man’s words, the air throughout the clearing instantly grew agitated. Everyone’s eyes filled not only with longing but also blazed with passion.

Listen, the legacy of family honor, the continuation of history... What invigorating rhetoric!

Seeing such an enthusiastic atmosphere, the elder couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.

He had been in charge of cultivating the Silver Spirit population for decades and had presided over no fewer than ten family coming-of-age ceremonies.

Thus, the white-haired elder naturally knew what rhetoric could best stir the passion of these youngsters.

He slowly stepped out of the vast clearing, leaving the silver figure standing in place.

"The objective of this family’s coming-of-age assessment is to withstand the onslaught of a Peak Commander Rank Silver Spirit for thirty seconds."

"During the assessment, I will not assist or enhance the Silver Spirit. Participants can choose to send their Pet Beasts into the arena alone or enter alongside them. However, once inside, they must not leave the designated area."

"After thirty seconds, if either the Pet Beast or the Beastmaster in the arena still retains the ability to move, the assessment will be considered passed."

"Of course, if your abilities are not suited for defense or evasion, you may choose to launch a full-strength attack against my Silver Spirit. I will then judge your success based on the intensity of your offensive. The same applies to Beastmasters with support-focused abilities."

The old man gently clapped his hands.

"If you pass the assessment, you will gain an opportunity to enter the Silver Spirit species’ habitat and choose a juvenile or maturing Silver Spirit to contract."

"Remember, the Silver Spirit is our guardian species. During selection and bonding, there must be no coercion; Ye Yi, no conflicts may arise. Violators will be permanently expelled from the family."

With the white-haired elder’s announcement officially starting the assessment, the atmosphere at the coming-of-age ceremony reached its zenith.