Chapter 5: Dual Talents

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Dual Talents

Following the armed escorts in four orderly columns, the crowd of two hundred and forty-seven newly awakened youths filed out of the municipal amphitheater and boarded the armored transport carriers.

The heavy magnetic engines hummed with a deep, low vibration as the convoy cleared the inner security gates, rolling smoothly along the elevated highway toward the fortified perimeter of Riverdale.

Inside the carrier, an imperial instructor stood at the front of the cabin, resting one calloused hand on the pommel of his standard-issue saber. His sharp, hawkish gaze swept across the silent rows of teenagers.

"Listen up, newbies," the instructor barked, his voice easily cutting through the engine’s muted roar. "Now that your soul realms are open, you need to understand the absolute fundamentals. The effectiveness of your future cultivation relies strictly on three pillars."

He held up a thick finger.

"First: your Talent Rank. The higher your natural soul talent, the faster and purer your physical body refines ambient mana from the atmosphere."

He raised a second finger.

"Second: your Beast’s Grade. Just like human talents, every creature in this world is categorized from F-grade all the way to SSS-grade. The higher your companion beast’s innate bloodline grade, the faster it cultivates and absorbs elemental energy. And because of the soul tether binding tamer and beast, you will receive direct spiritual feedback from your companion’s growth. If your beast grows stronger, its power feeds back directly into your soul core."

He raised a third finger.

"And third: Cultivation Manuals. They are divided into three major tiers: Mortal Grade, Earth Grade, and Heaven Grade. Each tier is further subdivided into Low, Mid, and High ranks. Better manuals unlock smoother meridian pathways and grant denser spiritual reservoirs."

The instructor paused, letting the weight of the hierarchy settle over the cabin before continuing:

"Upon successfully establishing a contract with an initial companion beast today, the Beast Taming Association will grant each of you one foundational Low-tier Mortal Grade Cultivation Manual free of charge. Do not scoff at it. It is the baseline stepping stone for every mortal setting foot onto the path of power."

Sitting in the middle row, Eric absorbed every word with absolute focus.

Glancing around the cabin, he noticed several teenagers flicking their fingers in empty air, their eyes darting across invisible screens with nervous curiosity.

*Right... the Status Panel,* Eric realized. *I was so focused on the Infinity Beast System activating that I haven’t checked my baseline world status.*

Eric directed his intent inward.

*Open Status.*

A standard, translucent azure pane shimmered into his field of vision, the official world panel, distinctly different from the system’s sharp crimson interface.

│ STATUS PANEL

│

│ Name: Eric

│ Race: Human

│ Cultivation Stage: Mortal

│ Level: 0 (0%)

│ Talent: Appraisal (Rank E), Skill Comprehension (Rank C)

│ Skills: None

│ Contracted Beast: 0/1

Eric stared at the glowing lines of text.

*Mortal stage, Level 0... that makes sense. Without a contracted beast to circulate mana, the body remains completely mortal.*

Then his eyes locked onto the Talent line.

*Wait. What is this?*

His breath caught.

The Awakening Stone on the stage had only assessed and projected [Appraisal (Rank E)]. Where did [Skill Comprehension (Rank C)] come from? According to every standard biological textbook in Riverdale’s public archives, humans were strictly bound to a single innate talent at birth. Having two distinct talents was deemed spiritually and biologically impossible.

*PING.*

A sudden crimson prompt flashed over the azure window:

[NOTICE: Talent Divergence Mechanics]

The Host originates from an external reality. The laws of this realm perceive two distinct soul frequencies occupying a single vessel, despite full spiritual fusion.

Result: Host possesses two independent talent slots.

Eric’s eyebrows rose.

*And here I thought you were strictly non-communicative.*

Silence.

No synthetic voice answered, and the crimson prompt dissolved back into the background of his consciousness.

*Cold and efficient. Works for me.*

A quiet rush of exhilaration ran through him. Access to dual talents was an incredible anomaly on its own, but having an auxiliary [Rank C: Skill Comprehension] alongside his system cheats was a massive force multiplier. It meant he could analyze, master, and refine beast battle techniques and cultivation manuals at several times the speed of normal tamers.

*Am I already overpowered?*

He considered the thought for a second before instantly shaking his head.

*No. Don’t get arrogant.*

Riverdale was merely a tiny, third-tier frontier settlement on the rim of a colossal continent. From the geographical maps he had studied, this world was immense, easily ten times the surface area of Earth, riddled with unstable dimensional tears, ancient beast domains, and empire-class prodigies born with natural S, SS, or even mythical SSS talents.

At his current baseline, Level 0 Mortal with an unbonded soul realm, he was still at the very bottom of the food chain. The system provided the blueprint, but raw strength required execution.

*HISS—*

The heavy pneumatic brakes wheezed violently as the armored convoy slowed to a complete halt.

"End of the line! Everyone on your feet!" the guards barked, releasing the heavy locking bars on the rear bay doors.

The candidates filed out into the open air.

Before them towered a colossal, reinforced steel perimeter wall, its surface interlaced with pulsating green barrier arrays designed to contain wild energy signatures. Above the massive blast gate hung an iron-forged archway:

**[Riverdale Municipal Sanctuary — Level 1]**

Beyond the translucent energy barrier stretched an untamed wilderness, rolling emerald knolls, dense thickets of ironwood trees, rushing crystal streams, and the distant, echoing cries of low-tier wild beasts.

The head instructor stepped up to the edge of the gate, his commanding voice echoing over the gathered crowd:

"Newbies! Beyond this barrier lies the Level-1 Sanctuary grounds. Inside, you will track, observe, and attempt to bond with a wild beast of your choosing."

He raised a stern hand, his eyes narrowing.

"Remember: these are wild creatures driven by natural instinct. When a beast willingly accepts your spiritual connection, your Status Panel will guide the tethering process automatically. Do not rely on reckless brute force, and do not provoke beasts beyond your ability to handle, they will defend their territory with lethal intent. You have until sunset."

The instructor lowered his hand as the barrier hummed, parting down the center.

"Enter!"

A wave of nervous excitement washed through the crowd as the candidates surged through the threshold.

Eric adjusted his hoodie, stepping through the shimmering barrier with sharp, calculating focus.

*Time to find my first beast.*