This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

[Team Trial Initiated: Obelisk Sync]

[Your team must claim and synchronize 6 of the 9 Resonance Obelisks before time runs out.

Time Limit: 20 minutes.

Note: Not all Obelisks are stationary.

Note 2: Only humans can claim an obelisk.

Note 3: Touching an Obelisk will initiate a spiritual challenge specific to your level of spiritual power. Failure ejects you from the trial.

Note 4: The Obelisks do fight back.

Survive.]

The chime ended with a soft thud, like the close of a book.

“Wait, did it just say—” Addison began.

“—the Obelisks fight back?” Aiden finished.

And right on cue, a blast of spiralling light erupted from the closest obelisks on the platform just above where the twins were standing. The floating platform beneath it crumbled into ash, leaving only the thread connected to the obelisk directly. Something slithered out from the glowing spire—or perhaps it was more accurate to say it was forming from the Obelisk’s emitted energy. It was forming and shaping itself from the light, a creature half-spiritual energy and half a substance resembling molten glass. It opened its mouth and emitted a high-pitched screech that almost caused Kain’s ears to bleed..

Kain’s eye twitched. “Of course,” he muttered.

Then another obelisk turned red—this time even higher above.

A long, jagged shape tore itself free from the obelisk’s side and plummeted toward the group, not simply falling but actively steering itself like a guided missile toward them.

“MOVE!” Leonara shouted.

Everyone scattered just as the following object exploded, glassy shards of spiritual residue raining across the mossy ground like glowing shrapnel. Kain instinctively waved his spear, catching a piece just before it sliced into his face and then quickly summoned Aegis and the Vespid guards for support.

The others weren’t so lucky—Feather Sweater let out a yelp as her arm was grazed, though she kept moving.

Bridge was already moving toward one of the other platforms, one of Kain’s Vespids—one of the older ones who likely remembered fighting alongside Bridge in the past—lifting him upward and dodging attacks sent down from various Obelisks.

‘Since when do you lot listen to another person so well?’ Kain said, confused by how Bridge almost immediately got a Vespid to carry him where he wished. Even after spending months with Serena they didn’t listen to her so well.

Nevertheless, the rapport with Kain’s contracts was a huge boon for Bridge considering he didn’t summon any of his own contracts.

Unfortunately, due to having an affinity for wolves only, Bridge still hadn’t managed to find a suitable flying contract of his own.

But the trial had more restrictions. Only humans could claim the Obelisks—no sending swarms of Vespid guards to do it for them. Meaning that those unable to fly, still needed to either climb the threads connected to each Obelisk or borrow the contract of another person.

“We split and claim separately?” Bridge called, already moving far away before Kain replied.

“No,” Kain said sharply, calling upon the Vespid guard carrying Bridge to return, then surveying the activated obelisks now emitting an ominous red glow. “They’ll pick us off one at a time if we spread ourselves too thin. Pairs. Three max. And someone should be responsible for covering all teams to watch out for ambushes—or any sudden changes.”

“Guess that’s you,” Aiden said with a smirk.

Nobody argued with that. Very few beast-tamers in the entire empire had a way of controlling dozens of flying contracts like Kain did.

Kain also nodded in agreement.

“Who among you doesn’t have access to a flying contract? I will allow you to borrow one of these guys” Kain said while gesturing to the Vespid guards buzzing around him. A few had gone to the nearby Obelisk that had ‘birthed’ that strange glass creature and were bombarding it with stingers. They didn’t do too much damage, but they kept it occupied. Not to mention their valuable efforts allowed Kain and the others to observe its fighting habits.

Bridge, slightly sulking at being forced to return rather than charge into battle, raised his hand, along with Tattoo Girl and Big Axe Guy.

Kain quickly divided the team: The twins would target one since their partnership was impeccable—with even their gift boosting each other’s strength; Leonara, Bridge, and Feather Sweater were another group; Tattoo Girl, Big Axe Guy and Michael would form the third group.

Kain would direct the Vespid guards like a general from behind to support the others.

The Obelisks had originally been spread unevenly—three anchored to the mossy ground, five suspended on floating platforms above. But as soon as the trial began, the terrain shifted: two of the grounded Obelisks lifted into the air, zipping unpredictably like untethered meteors. Only one remained on the ground.

The remaining grounded Obelisk gave Kain an immediate sense of unease—a low, instinctual warning thudding at the base of his spine.

From what Kain could see of the Obelisks the others were already attacking, each Obelisk had a different method of fighting back:

The first floating Obilisk to attack Kain and the others hurled massive metal objects resembling cannon balls that would explode.

One generated gravitational pulses, trying to slam attackers down and out of the skies. Michel nearly plummeted to the ground, saved only by Kain’s quick command to a nearby Vespid guard.

A third spawned creatures resembling molten glass at regular intervals. If one didn’t destroy the previous creature quick enough, more would be added to create a numerical disadvantage.

A fourth faded in and out of existence, making it untouchable unless one perfectly timed their approach.

A fifth, spun and flew around erratically, its outer layer shedding razor-thin blades of spiritual residue that sliced through anything that got too close.

A sixth one located quite far from Kain and the others didn’t seem to have any noticeable defences, only glowing red like the others, but Kain didn’t buy it for a second.

The seventh one, the only one remaining on the ground, similarly didn’t seem to have any methods of attack, but Kain’s gut told him it was the worst one.

And the two newly airborne Obelisks? They zipped around like deranged superheroes, bobbing, weaving, and slamming into anything slower than a hawk like a bulldozer.

One actually managed to slam into Aiden’s contract with a sickening thud. Fortunately, Queen’s healing abilities had improved recently and she was able to heal the contract and Aiden before they pancaked onto the ground.

Kain glanced at the holographic timer suspended in the air to help them keep track of the passing time and instinctively knew that their chances of ‘claiming’ 6 of these things within the time limit would be far from easy.

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