SSS Class Mythic Beast Master

Chapter 406 406: New Skill

Marie and Roana approached the Light Snake bodies with their eyes shining a bit.

Marie knelt beside the nearest corpse. Her hand extended, and she made contact with scales that felt like touching concentrated sunlight.

Golden and orange light exploded from the snake's dissipating form. The soul that shone as pure luminescence flowed from the corpse into Marie's palm.

The light rushed up her arm in waves.

Coating her skin with radiance that made her entire body seem to glow from within.

Beside her, Roana touched a different snake. Blue light erupted, cold and precise, streaming into her body with crystalline clarity.

Her face became almost translucent as the soul integrated.

Reinhard and the others continued staying back, giving the two women space for the process of soul devouring. This moment was crucial not just for absorbing power, but potentially claiming new Beast Sigils.

Marie's entire frame began shaking violently. The tremors started in her hand and spread rapidly, such as through her arms, shoulders, torso, and legs. Her other hand rose instinctively, fingers digging into her scalp as if trying to hold her skull together against pressure building from within.

Her expression twisted as pain flashed across her face, which was sharp and overwhelming. As she felt the emotions of the snake, its contentment, its anger, and its curiosity that swept through her. But if this wasn't enough, she felt something beyond the pain and emotion, something else trying to pour itself into a container too small to hold it comfortably.

Marie felt the memories of the light snake flashing through her mind.

She saw images of them rushing through the forest at the speed of light. Then she saw how the snakes would blast holes through various Phantasm Beasts after dashing. Then she saw the group of them screeching as a shower of light rain fell down while they shifted and moved through them.

A groan escaped her lips while she gritted her teeth, and her knees slightly buckled. But she held them with visible effort as the light continued washing over her in relentless waves. And then gradually the memories began fading while the emotions she felt were suppressed.

Marie straightened with visible effort, movements slow and controlled while she closed her eyes.

...

Reinhard saw Roana and Marie closing their eyes before he asked. "Will Roana pick that dash attack or the light rain?"

Gran says. "She should choose the light shower-"

Scath chuckles as she shakes her head and says. "She will pick Dash because she knows her weakness very well."

Nikki clasped her hands and let out an ahh. "Right. It's difficult for her to close in on her target."

Scath nodded while Joseph's eyes hummed and said. "But with the Light Dash, it became no longer a concern."

Brunhilde chuckles. "Well, while they're choosing the skill, you guys should also devour the other Light Snake souls."

They nodded before heading over to start devouring the souls while Brunhilde continued watching over everyone.

...

Darkness surrounded her completely, which was just the empty space where consciousness could exist, separate from physical form. Marie stood in the void of her own inner world, aware of distant bodies but present here in this space between.

Before her, floating in darkness, was her Beast Symbol.

She smiled at the symbol that gave off a soft radiance and warmth. It was a spear surrounded by twelve wings with a halo circle encompassing the entire design. Glittering balls of golden light orbited the symbol slowly, each one pulsing gently.

Warmth radiated from it, familiar and comforting. Her beautiful and warm Seraphim continued to give her strength.

Marie smiled, then glanced to the side.

The gauge appeared, a vertical bar filled with small balls of light, each representing a soul she'd consumed. She counted quickly, knowing the number already but needing to see it confirmed.

It currently has 1,102 souls, which was still far from the 10,000 required for First Class Beast Master, but growing steadily.

Marie focused her attention, recalling the Light Snake's soul now integrating with her own. She then vividly began recalling the serpent using Precision against her and Roana.

The way its eyes had locked onto predetermined targets with absolute accuracy. As it struck, bypassing obstacles, ignoring distance, and finding weakness with certainty.

She recalled the way it moved from these memories, and then she felt the Beast Spirit Symbol beginning to flare up.

Brilliance pulsed deep within the gauge beside the main symbol. A single orb began glowing brighter than all the rest and began standing out like a star among candles.

The sphere pulled Marie's attention completely.

She walked toward it, movement effortless in mind-space, and as she approached, the details became clear. The sphere bore the symbol of the Light Snake, which displayed a serpent giving off a light glow, coiled around a ball of radiance.

It was simple, elegant, and powerful.

Marie giggled in pure joy at the successful harvest and power gained. Her hand reached out without hesitation and touched the glowing sphere.

Light flooded everything.

The sphere containing Light Snake's essence rushed upward from the gauge and moved with purpose, with direction, with inevitability.

Marie watched it ascend through darkness until it settled into position, right next to her Butterfly Princess Sigil.

Two dots are now orbiting her main Beast Symbol.

Then golden lines burst from the new orb.

The threads of light rushed through the air like living things, weaving complex patterns as they moved. They touched her Beast Symbol, the main representation of her connection to Seraphim.

Contact sent vibration through the entire space, through Marie's consciousness itself.

Golden threads connected the Light Snake sigil to the main symbol. Energy flowed between them, and once integration was completed, power became accessible, a new skill joining her arsenal.

Then silence.

The light faded as everything stabilized.

Marie opened her eyes.

...

Marie's eyes snapped open to a forest clearing and concerned faces. She raised her hand slowly, deliberately, and looked at the back.

Her main Beast Symbol glowed faintly, displaying a spear, twelve wings, and a halo circle all visible beneath her skin.

Around it, two smaller dots now shimmered with their own light.

The newest mark showed clearly, the Light Snake coiled around radiance, which was the second Beast Sigil claimed successfully.

Marie glanced sideways to see Roana standing nearby, her own eyes just opening. The grey-haired woman's pale features showed satisfaction before she glanced over to Marie. Their eyes met, and both smiled in understanding of what they'd just accomplished.

Behind them, Reinhard and the others were finishing their own soul devouring. Each had claimed one of the remaining eight Light Snakes, absorbing the power even if not claiming the Beast Sigil.

Reinhard straightened first, his light blue eyes finding Marie immediately, and with a faint smile, he asked. "How do you guys feel?"

Marie's grin was immediate and brilliant. "I feel great!"

Roana nodded with more restraint but equal satisfaction. "It feels good to gain another Beast Sigil."

Scáth stepped forward, purple hair catching filtered sunlight, wine-colored eyes gleaming, and with a smile. "Let me guess, you got the Light Dash?"

Roana nodded without hesitation. "I can't delay not having a skill to cover my weakness." Her admission was matter-of-fact, pragmatic. "Close-range engagement has always been my vulnerable point."

Scáth's smile widened, showing teeth. "Good. It's about time." She nodded with approval. "Now you'll be an even better sparring partner."

Roana's lips twitched, caught between amusement and exasperation at Scáth's single-minded focus on combat. But she nodded in agreement. "Regardless, we should continue searching for everyone else's Beast Sigils."

The statement shifted focus.

Joseph stepped forward, his calm presence steadying the group. "The map shows our next target is approximately one hour east." His green eyes scanned the forest. "Storm Crows in Inner Area 5."

Gran adjusted his glasses, mind already working through logistics. "We should maintain the same plan and tactic."

Nikki laughed, her crimson eyes bright with enthusiasm. "More hunting! This is fun!"

Scáth's grin matched Nikki's energy perfectly. "Finally! I was starting to think we'd spend all day watching you two have all the fun."

Marie giggled, platinum hair swaying as she moved to collect Longinus from where she'd set it down. "Don't worry, Scáth. Plenty of Phantasm Beasts left to fight."

"Let's move," Reinhard said quietly. "We have a lot of hunting to do."

The group moved deeper into Colin Forest.