“So there’s a convenience tax too,” he muttered, doing the math instantly. “Egg costs 100 coins, instant adult costs a thousand. That’s an extra nine hundred just to skip the growth phase.”

He snorted softly. “Normally, I’d call that robbery as I have already given away a precious Epic spirit core, which I could sell for more than a million credits easily.”

Xuan Hei shifted on the bed, letting out a tiny grunt in its sleep, utterly unconcerned with his financial dilemmas.

Lin Fang glanced at it, then back at his net worth.

2.2 million coins.

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug. “I think I can afford that.”

He tapped Option 2 without hesitation.

*Ding!

[ You have purchased a Level-30 Flaming Velociraptor.]

*Ding!

[ Flaming Velociraptor is qualified to form a contract.]

The air in front of him shimmered faintly, heat rippling outward like a mirage.

Another message followed, slower, more deliberate.

[ Will you form a contract, or leave it as a normal monster?]

[ Warning: Uncontracted matured monsters are wilder and retain destructive instincts. They may not distinguish ally from enemy. Suppression is the host’s responsibility.]

Lin Fang’s expression grew serious.

“So if I don’t bind it,” he said quietly, “it’s basically a living disaster waiting to happen.”

Alpha’s tone was firm. “A Flaming Velociraptor born at Level 30 is a predator with no leash. But with your current strength, you can suppress it on your own, though.”

Lin Fang rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing slightly as he weighed the choice. He imagined a creature driven purely by hunger and fire, obeying nothing but instinct.

“This is a problem,” Lin Fang muttered under his breath, staring at the glowing prompt for a moment longer than necessary. His fingers hovered in midair, hesitation flickering across his eyes. “But it’s a problem for later.”

He exhaled slowly, as if shelving the concern somewhere in the back of his mind. Right now, overthinking would only slow him down. For now, the choice in front of him was simple.

“I’ll deal with control and coordination when the time comes,” he said quietly. “First, I need the foundation.”

With that, he confirmed the selection.

A clear system chime echoed through the room.

*Ding!

[ Flaming Velociraptor has become your monster companion.]

[ Please assign a name.]

Lin Fang tilted his head slightly, considering the prompt. Naming had never been his strong suit, and this time it felt even trickier. Unlike Nebula, Xuan Hei, or even Nyx, this creature wasn’t meant to stand alone. It wasn’t an individual in the traditional sense.

“This one’s different,” he murmured. “Since you’re not meant to be alone…”

He leaned back, eyes drifting to the ceiling as he thought aloud. “A pack creature shouldn’t have some overly fancy name. Simple is better. Functional.”

After a brief pause, he nodded to himself.

“Flamy I.”

The name felt almost lazy, but honest. And for what he intended, it was perfect.

*Ding!

[ Name registered: Flamy I.]

The air in front of him distorted violently.

Heat surged outward, sharp and dry, carrying with it the scent of scorched metal and ash. A summoning circle flared into existence on the floor, its runes glowing a deep, molten red. From its center, a tall silhouette emerged, unfolding itself with a low, rasping hiss.

Lin Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly as the creature fully materialized.

It stood a little over seven feet tall, lean and tightly coiled with muscle. Its body was covered in dense, brownish-grey feathers that shimmered faintly as flames danced along their edges, as though fire had been woven directly into its plumage. Its narrow snout was lined with sharp, predatory teeth, and its piercing eyes burned with a feral intelligence. A long tail balanced its frame, while the curved sickle claws on each foot gleamed ominously against the floor.

Despite the feathers, there was nothing avian about its presence.

This was a land predator through and through.

Lin Fang studied it silently. “You remind me of Tempest,” he said after a moment, voice calm. “But you’re sharper. Meaner.”

Flamy I lowered its head slightly, a subtle acknowledgment rather than submission.

Lin Fang stepped closer, unafraid of the heat radiating from its body, and placed a hand against its feathered head. The flames didn’t burn him. They merely flickered, responding to his touch.

“Commander Tier, huh,” he murmured as the creature’s details scrolled across his vision. “Level 30 already… fire-type. No baby transformation either.”

He clicked his tongue softly. “Straight to business. I respect that.”

After a brief moment, he sent Flamy I into the pet inventory. The flames vanished instantly, the room falling quiet again.

Lin Fang didn’t stop there.

He repeated the process twice more, the familiar heat and summoning circles flaring in succession. Each time, a Flaming Velociraptor emerged, nearly identical in build and presence.

“Flamy II,” he said to the second without ceremony.

*Ding!

[ Name registered: Flamy II.]

“And you’ll be Flamy III.”

*Ding!

[ Name registered: Flamy III.]

As the third raptor vanished into the pet inventory, Lin Fang leaned back against the bed, arms crossing loosely over his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the weight of what he’d just done settle in.

Three Flaming Velociraptors.

A pack, albeit a small one.

The system chimed again, breaking the silence.

[ Notification:]

[ Monster companion limit reached.]

[ Upgrade the System to Rank-3 to expand capacity.]

Lin Fang opened his eyes and snorted softly. “Whatever… I don’t need new monsters anyway.”

He looked around the quiet hotel room, Xuan Hei still curled up asleep, Nyx and the others resting safely in the nursery, and now three newly born predators waiting in his inventory.

“Rank-3 can wait,” Lin Fang said softly. “For now… this is enough.”

*

Lin Fang let out a slow breath and settled down on the floor, crossing his legs naturally. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the system interface hovering before him. There was no rush now. For the first time in a while, no one was chasing him, no enemies were lurking nearby, and no crisis demanded his immediate attention.

“There’s still a lot to do,” he muttered to himself, eyes scanning the endless list of menus and sub-functions.

Without hesitation, he shifted his focus to the Training Grounds.

The world around him dissolved into light.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing once again in the familiar white expanse. The ground beneath his feet was smooth and endless, stretching into nothingness. In front of him stood the towering yellow crystal, as tall as he was, its surface pulsing gently with contained power. Lin Fang stepped forward and placed his palm against it.

At once, the crystal flared.

Thirteen translucent habitats unfolded around him like pages of an open book, each one representing a different environment. Two of them glowed faintly yellow, marked as already cleared. Lin Fang’s gaze lingered on them briefly before settling on one he knew well.

“Cragstone Expanse,” he said quietly.

*Ding!

[Cragstone expanse habitat is selected.]

The selection is locked in.

The white world shattered, replaced by harsh wind and rugged terrain. Jagged stone formations rose around him, and the air carried the faint metallic scent of minerals buried deep beneath the earth.

*Ding!

[The host has already cleared Cragstone Expanse.]

[The host may freely move around without any restrictions.]

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