Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Mortem had already briefed Canna on his class and provided a brief lesson on how classes essentially worked as "jobs" back on Earth, Unfortunately, Canna hadn't had the chance to put his class into practice yet. Mortem explained that it would only be effective on creatures with limited sentience, ones that retained some level of cognitive ability.

Yet, within the dungeon, every monster encountered seemed singularly fixated on one goal: killing.

Canna had even attempted once to employ his class against a wolflike monster, only to learn the hard way after it almost bit his hand off. After that experience, he refrained from attempting it again.

Tonitrum's voice snapped Canna out of his reverie.

"Absorb the mana cores from the piles," Tonitrum instructed. "I need you to rank up. Get back here once you're done." With that directive, Canna made his way to the stacks of mana cores, remnants of the creatures he had to kill daily on Tonitrum's orders. He took a set and focused on absorbing each mana core.

Another half day slipped by, and once again, Canna felt the searing pain engulfing his body. It was as agonizing as ever. Silently enduring the torment, he drew strength from thoughts of his parents and memories of his sister, using them as motivation to persevere.

When it was done, he was exhausted; he lay on the ground, breathing heavily. Glancing at his stats, he checked the extent of his latest rank-up.

[Name: Canna Yakane]

Level: 57

Rank: B Ranker

Class: Beast Taming

HP: 140/140

MP: 170/170

Strength:80

Speed: 110

Defense: 40

Intelligence: 135

Agility: 50

Stamina: 65

Vitality: 33

Charm: 22

Attribute Points: 0

Titles: None

Closing his stats, he opted to sleep a little. Despite the satisfaction of growing stronger, the memory of the pain, akin to being doused in gasoline and set ablaze, didn't really make a good experience.

Upon reopening his eyes, Canna found Mortem's gaze fixed upon him. Growing accustomed to his subordinate's quirks, he greeted him before asking for help to stand

Once back on his feet, he quickly returned to Tonitrum, who once again summoned the red portal.

__________________

Seated, Canna observed Tonitrum manipulating the portal. After a few minutes, three items emerged: a ring, a scroll, and something that resembled an egg, though much larger — about three times the size of an ostrich egg.

As the items floated towards Canna, they gently settled on the ground before him. Tonitrum's voice sounded in his head once more. "Take these since you're now a "B-Ranker," your soul should be able to handle them. Take the ring and scroll first."

Canna picked up the ring and read its description. He was ecstatic; the things he could do with this ring were endless!

[Spatium Ring]

Rank: Legendary

Item Description: Crafted by a being deeply connected with space affinity, this ring is a token of gratitude bestowed upon the human who rescued it from danger.

This item is soul-bound, cannot be transferred to a different user, and can only be unequipped if the user dies.

Passive Skill: Subspace

- Activating the ring reveals a vast expanse accommodating up to 2,500 square feet of space.

Back on Earth, bags play a crucial role in daily life by offering convenience, organization, and style in the transportation of belongings. With this ring, convenience is taken to a whole new level! Now, Canna can effortlessly store all the items he needs, making life much easier and more convenient.

"I acquired this ring from a human foolish enough to trespass into my treasure hoard while I was away." Tonitrum's voice interrupted Canna's reverie again, prompting him to focus. Canna's attention shifted to the scroll before him. He reached for it, eagerly scanning its description.

[Class Evolve Scroll]

Rank: Legendary

Item Description: A transformative skill that allows users to transcend their current class limitations and unlock new potentials.

Observing Canna's puzzled expression, Tonitrum proceeded to explain. "To achieve greater strength, your class needs to advance. Go on, absorb the scroll,"

Canna sighed heavily, feeling like Tonitrum's words were akin to the devil's temptation. Glancing at Mortem, he expected to see a somber expression but instead found the ghostly figure looking genuinely surprised.

He reluctantly unrolled the scroll with another sigh, bracing himself for the inevitable pain. But to his surprise, however, it never came.

As Canna unraveled the scroll, an unusual calm washed over him, like being cradled in a soothing melody. A gentle voice in his mind urged him to relax, draining his strength gradually. Unable to resist, he surrendered, feeling like he was sinking into a plush bed. Just before slipping into unconsciousness, he saw Mortem approaching him, the final sight before darkness claimed him.

______________

Canna slowly regained consciousness, feeling groggy as he blinked his eyes open. As he sat up, he couldn't shake the sensation that something was different. Rubbing his eyes, he noticed a subtle change—he felt taller somehow.

He quickly summoned a water mirror and couldn't believe his eyes—he now looked about 14 years old, not the 8-year-old he remembered.

Mortem approached Canna and congratulated him on his success. Still adjusting to his newfound height, Canna stood up, finding himself now closer to Mortem's waist instead of just reaching his knees. Shaking his head with an irritated expression, he realized he was hungry.

Canna instructed Mortem to grill the remaining monster meat for a meal. While waiting, he took the opportunity to check his stats and was surprised to find that his "class" had changed.

Instead of "Beast Taming," it now reads "Beast Covenant.", he focuses on it more and reads its new description.

Beast Covenant: Represents the pinnacle of mastery in forging bonds with creatures. It signifies control and a sacred pact between the tamer and the beasts they command. This advanced class goes beyond mere taming, embodying a deep understanding and mutual respect between the tamer and the creatures under their sway.

While Canna hadn't yet witnessed his enhanced class, he could feel its significant improvement over his previous one. This led him to ponder another question: what was the reason behind his sudden growth spurt?

As Canna mulled over his question, Tonitrum's voice resounded with an answer. According to Tonitrum, Canna's growth directly resulted from his evolving soul. He explained that Canna's class was intricately linked to his soul, and as it evolved, so did his body.

Canna listened to Tonitrum's explanation, though it did clash with his understanding of Earth's scientific principles. He shakes his head despite the confusion; he decides not to dwell on it further for the sake of his own peace of mind. Instead, he settled down and allowed himself to be enveloped by the aroma of the monster meat being grilled by Mortem.

With ravenous hunger, Canna devoured the grilled monster meat with gusto. Yet, a nagging feeling tugged at the corners of his mind—a sense that he was forgetting something crucial. Just as he was about to take another bite, it hit him like a lightning bolt: the egg!