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VoC: B1 — 12. The Unity Bond
🕑 Added 2025-08-31 06:23:04 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Damon (Our New 24-Year-Old MC!)
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Damon knelt beside the small cage, studying the bear cub; instinctively, he knew it was far more dangerous than the other creatures, despite its small, vulnerable eyes that would make Aria’s lich heart melt. Up close, the creature was both more ordinary and more remarkable than he’d anticipated.
The cub was perhaps the size of a small dog, with thick brown fur that caught the lamplight in subtle bronze highlights. What had seemed like simple bear features from a distance revealed themselves to be something more complex—the ears were slightly pointed, the snout more refined than a typical bear’s, and there was an intelligence in its dark eyes that seemed almost human.
“Go ahead, we’ve already made a verbal agreement, which is legal,” Lady Ashcroft encouraged, moving to stand beside him with fluid grace—far too close, especially after he’d already said he was taken.
“The bonding process for Unity Tamers is quite different from other Tamer subclasses. You’ll want to extend your hand slowly—like so, let him catch your scent first.”
She did invade my system data…
Damon gently pulled away from her guiding hand and showed a strained smile at the assertive, smaller woman. “Sorry, but I’m not comfortable with how this conversation is progressing… And how are you so familiar with Unity Tamers?”
“Oh, my apologies. Sometimes I can be a little too friendly,” she responded with a slight laugh that held no embarrassment. “As for my knowledge, being a Sage myself, I made it a priority to know all the available branches our Tamer subclass can take,” she replied with a mysterious smile.
“Unlike classes, which are assigned seemingly at random once reaching Level 5, subclasses can be selected by the average citizen at Level 10.
“Sage Unity variants are rare. Most Tamers rely on the Dominance or Partnership paths. Unity comes with its…disadvantages, as I am sure you will become aware of. Of course, it also has some incredible benefits. Not that those are well-documented. At least, as far as I’ve seen.”
He shifted his gaze to the invisible system menu he willed to open, moving menus around with a thought to his Passive Feat section. He was still nervous about getting involved in a monster fight pit, but his vampire-like abilities should be able to help him.
Damon was a little surprised the side effects had currently been all but nonexistent, excluding the sunlight issues. As Ashcroft said, though, there were problems with being a Unity Tamer.
I can see being unable to use any weapons as a disadvantage, but how far does that extend? Anything can be counted as a weapon, right? I’ll have to figure that out later. Right now, I need to bond with this little guy. Why is the cage so large for a bear cub as big as a medium-sized dog?
As Damon slowly extended his hand toward the cage, the cub’s fur bristled outward, nearly doubling its apparent size. With a soft chittering sound, dozens of green quill-like barbs emerged from between the hair follicles along its back and shoulders.
Woah! Well, that explains the cage size, he thought, retreating slightly before shooting Ashcroft a quick glance as the woman giggled. She’s enjoying herself…
What had looked like a harmless bear cub now resembled a defensive super-porcupine, crossed with a grizzly bear. Spotting the Feat he should have used from the start, he muttered, “Easy,” while extending his hand.
[Animal Handling]
The familiar sensation of understanding flowed through him—not mind reading, but an intuitive grasp of the creature’s emotional state. Fear. Confusion. Recent trauma. The scent of blood and violence still clung to its memories. Somehow, he connected with those fragmented scars and could extract the cause.
The cub watched his mother die… He’s not as smart as a human, but not as dumb as an animal.
“You adapt fast, using your Feat like that,” the snake-like woman whispered, rising to her full height again and gripping her elbow. “What you activated was his [Thorns] ability. Currently F-tier and White Grade, but quite effective for deterring predators or in a physical brawl.
“The Tier can upgrade naturally, but be careful about where you sink Feat Points for the Grade. This little one is a Razorback Bear and can benefit greatly by saving for Feats that come at higher levels. You see, he is the offspring of a rather impressive A-tier Dungeon Floor Boss, if the man I bought him from is correct.”
Marcus’ comments undersold him then. Typical businessman. What does an A-tier Dungeon even mean? Ugh. This is why I need Aria… Floor Boss? Are there multiple types of bosses? Grades and Tiers for Feats. I have nothing to compare it to…
I guess it doesn’t matter at this point, he noted, keeping his movements slow and deliberate, letting the [Animal Handling] guide his approach.
The point is, he’s tougher than these other creatures, and I need someone who can handle the front line. I can’t use weapons, and Aria is a freaking necklace that shoots spells. As Aria would say, we need a tank.
The cub snapped his small fangs, launching forward slightly before pulling back again, but Damon didn’t flinch.
He began to hum softly—a meaningless tune his sister had been fond of back on Earth, something about a cartoon character, or was it anime? Either one, he’d never quite understand it unless she explained the plots. It didn’t help that she never waited for him to go to the next episode, or even went a whole season ahead of him.
The melody seemed to resonate with something in the cub’s instincts, and gradually, the defensive quills began to retract.
“You have good instincts,” Ashcroft murmured. “Most people would have pulled their hand back. If you had, he would have fired those quills…like a gun.”
Damon resisted the urge to shoot a glance her way, stomach twisting.
Great. A world that knows about guns… And why didn’t I go that route, Titania?!
Ashcroft paused for the slightest of moments, possibly using his reactions to try and better understand what type of reincarnate he was or what time period he was from.
“Mmm… Tell me, how is it for a Unity Tamer? Do you understand its fear, its aggression, and harmonize with it or make yourself feel familiar to its kind?”
“Something like that,” Damon replied, not wanting to reveal how much his Feat was doing the work for him. As the last of the quills disappeared into the cub’s fur, he carefully opened the cage latch. “Hey there, little guy. I know this is scary, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
The cub’s dark eyes fixed on his, and Damon felt something shift in the air between them. Not quite magic, but something deeper—something almost spiritual.
He placed his palm gently on the cub’s head, and the world exploded into sensation.
...
[Unity Bond: Initiated]
[Bonding Process: 15%... 34%... 67%... 89%... Complete]
[New Companion Acquired: ???????? Razorback Bear Cub]
[Tamer’s Mark: Activated]
...
The moment the bond snapped into place, three intersecting circles appeared on the cub’s forehead, glowing bright gold before uniting with its fur. At the same time, Damon gasped as information flooded his consciousness—not thoughts or words on a screen, but pure understanding of his new companion’s nature.
...
Basic Info
Name: [Unnamed]
Race: Hybrid Razorback Bear
Lineage/Path: ???????? ????
Notable Abilities: [Thorns], [Quill Fire], [Elite Offspring], [???????? Lineage Feat]
...
Class & Level
Class: Beast
Current Level: 1
Total Experience: 0
Next Level: 500
EXP Bonus: 0% Base + 300% (Damon’s A-tier [Rapid Growth] Feat)
...
Stats & Bonuses
Strength: 16 (+5) [21] (Skilled)
Dexterity: 14 (+5) [19] (Skilled)
Constitution: 21 (+5) [26] (Distinguished)
Intelligence: 9 (+5) [14] (Above Average)
Wisdom: 14 (+5) [19] (Skilled)
Charisma: 8 (+5) [13] (Above Average)
...
Through their bond, Damon sensed the bear’s nature: remarkably resilient for his age, with natural strength and agility that promised impressive growth. Something about his heritage ran deeper than mere beast.
...
[Unity Tamer Bond: Shares emotional state, gains passive modifier buffs, and basic communication with Bonded.]
[Shared Feat [Limit: 4]: Damon and his bonded companion have the ability to give, receive, and mix their Feats up to the current limiter.]
[Bonded EXP: Shares EXP with all Unity Bonded individuals.]
[Available Feat Points: 18]
...
The rush of understanding left Damon momentarily overwhelmed. So much potential in such a small form, but it was the mysterious [????] lineage that truly caught his attention. He could sense something powerful lurking beneath the surface.
“A natural,” Ashcroft noted, though something in her tone suggested she was evaluating more than just the bonding process. “That’s quite the golden seal you’ve manifested. From what I understand, most Unity Tamers produce silver, perhaps pale gold at best. Such intensity suggests either exceptional compatibility or…”
She trailed off, her green eyes studying Damon with uncomfortable intensity.
“Or what?” Damon pressed, gently stroking the cub’s head. The creature had relaxed completely, even going so far as to nuzzle against his palm.
“Or you possess abilities you haven’t fully discovered yet,” she finished. “Tell me, do you have the [Scan] or [Appraisal] Feats? You must have had some method of discovering this little fellow’s worth.”
Damon kept his expression neutral, recognizing the fishing expedition for what it was, but…that also didn’t make a lot of sense. She’d already broken past his [System Trickery] and scanned his status menu.
She should know exactly what Feats he had. Unless she didn’t know [System Trickery] warned the user it was compromised. Although…a more uncomfortable possibility was that it wasn’t Ashcroft who broke past his Feat. If that option was true…who did? Marcus?
“I can see quite a lot of information through our bond,” he carefully responded, “but I’m not quite sure how to respond to that question. Isn’t knowing the status sheet of those we bond to normal?”
The woman’s glossy lips curved in what might have been approval. “Indeed, it is. How refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t reveal all their cards immediately.” Her gaze shifted to the cub. “And what do you make of his mysterious Feat?”
“You called it his Lineage?”
“And you pay attention to others. Such a treat. Every creature of significance carries the potential of its bloodline within it. For most animals, it’s simply an expression of their species’ natural abilities. But for the offspring of dungeon bosses…” She gestured elegantly at the cub. “I’m sure you have discovered his unique qualities. Then again, some condition must be met before they activate—usually something tied to their nature.”
Damon considered this, his mind already working through possibilities. If the activation was nature-based, and he was a predatory boss monster, he might not need to wait for the fighting pits at all. “And you think I’ll discover it in the arena?”
“Perhaps. Though knowing you reincarnates, you’ll probably find a way to trigger it much sooner.” There was definitely amusement in her voice now, and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a bit of subtle disappointment. “You other-worlders do tend to be more of the impatient types when it comes to unraveling mysteries.”
The cub—he really needed to give it a name—had curled up in his lap, apparently deciding that Damon was acceptable. It was a bit hard, considering it was about the same as a full-grown, medium-sized dog. And that was before it grew when feeling threatened.
Even with his much taller and grown body, it was awkward, but the trust was both touching and slightly overwhelming. This creature was depending on him now, and given its mother’s fate near the Hell Gate, that responsibility carried weight.
“You’re rather confident that he’ll be okay with fighting,” Damon noted, rubbing under the cub’s chin. “Before anything, first, I need to visit Titania’s shrine in the city. I have…personal matters to address.”
Lady Ashcroft’s eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly. “Of course. I will be as transparent as glass. The shrine is in the Garden District, which seems rather on the nose for my taste. It is near the old noble quarter and is typically where the more fae-like creatures congregate. It essentially has its own ecosystem compared to the rest of the city.
“High Cleric Sorrel Nightbloom maintains and…defends it, and she is always present, in one form or another. As for the fighting pits and your new cub…” She paused, her expression becoming more serious. “You could say I have a certain instinct when it comes to creatures as a fellow Tamer. You need this… Not only for the money, but for the reputation.
“Just remember our arrangement, young prince, it will be in divine contract. Whatever you earn in those rings—whatever you win, including lives—I’m entitled to half.”
The casual mention of “lives” sent a chill down Damon’s spine, but he kept his expression steady. “I haven’t even agreed to it yet.”
“Oh…but you have.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You just haven’t realized it yet.. I’ll ensure Marcus handles the paperwork properly while you become acquainted with your new companion.”
Her serpent-like eyes glinted with something Damon couldn’t quite identify. And just like that, she turned and left with a few parting words.
“Do remember, names are important. It carries weight and consequences across generations. Also, if your pet causes any trouble, the authorities need to know who to blame.”
As she moved toward the back of the establishment, Damon noticed something that made his breath catch. A small snake—brilliant red with black diamonds along its spine—slithered out from behind some equipment and gracefully wound its way up Lady Ashcroft’s leg, disappearing beneath the fabric of her dress as if it belonged there.
The movement was so natural, so obviously routine, that it spoke of a permanent bond. Lady Ashcroft was a Tamer as well, after all, and a snake really suited her as a companion.
But what kind of Tamer was she? And why did something about that snake make his newly developed instincts whisper warnings?
It’s pretty obvious she wants something that’s going to be at this upcoming event, but doesn’t want to get involved herself… Great. What mess am I going to end up in this time, Soph? Hopefully, this is a part of your plan, Titania, because I could use all the help I can get with how this deck is stacked.
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[ Next POV: Lady Ashcroft ]
[ Theme: Behind smiles and charm, there can be venom...
There can also be misdirection and dangers, masked beside serpents. ]
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