My attributes are increasing infinitely Chapter 442: Journey of the beast master

Ethan's eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at his teacher with a sly grin.

That cheeky smile he directed at Teacher Griffin wasn't merely teenage mischief. It was a careful probe. He'd brushed against the 9th Sky, a level deemed unreachable. Disclosing it would mark him as a target visible to the mightiest clans across the land.

"Teacher, I believe I've already established a contract," Ethan declared, his tone firm.

Teacher Griffin halted, his gaze sharpening through his glasses. Forming a contract was a holy ritual, often needing the teacher's help to secure the spiritual connection.

"What? You've formed a contract already? Perhaps you've mistaken the selection by a beast soul for completing a contract?"

Ethan chuckled softly, feigning the role of a puzzled yet fortunate pupil.

"Is that the case? I sensed a bond, and suddenly I was here again. I figured it was the contract."

Griffin exhaled, his rigid posture easing. He gave Ethan's shoulder a reassuring tap.

"The Astral Realm can confuse anyone, Ethan. It's normal for a powerful soul echo to mimic a full pact. Yet a real contract demands the beast's physical appearance and the blood oath."

Ethan bobbed his head in compliance.

Within, his thoughts churned wildly. He sensed their presence—the Emperor Slime and the nine tailed fox—curled up in his soul realm like dormant deities.

His gut urged him to conceal the fox no matter what, at least for the moment. A slime might seem worthless and overlooked, but a sacred beast from the upper realms would summon the realm's rulers to his door in moments.

"Very well. Start now!" Griffin bellowed, his words booming across the chamber. "Focus on the beast's imprint and call it forth into reality."

The chamber exploded into a burst of radiant hues. This marked the pivotal instant.

Those students who hadn't even touched the 1st Sky had already slipped out, faces downcast in defeat, leaving just the victors and a handful of watchful onlookers.

To one side, Reyna Grimlock drew every stare.

A dazzling, intense yellow radiance erupted from her torso, lighting up the shadowed nooks of the space. It signaled the 3rd Sky.

"Check that out!" a voice murmured. "A 3rd Sky beast right off the bat? The Grimlock clan has birthed a true prodigy."

With a sizzle of warmth, a lion materialized from the glow.

This wasn't any common lion; its mane consisted of writhing, fiery tendrils that danced in the air, and its gaze blazed like liquid gold.

It unleashed a thunderous roar that shook the panes in their casings.

Reyna held her head high, her jaw lifted proudly, soaking in the jealousy from her classmates.

Next, the rest followed suit.

Kael, from a trading lineage, called forth a 2nd Sky Frost Wolf, its coat shimmering with frosty shards.

Lina, the reserved girl from the rear, brought out a 1st Sky Eagle.

The space turned into a vibrant mosaic of crimson, amber, and gold.

Yet as time ticked by, attention shifted to Ethan.

He lingered in a shroud of shadow. No shimmer appeared. No vibrant energy pulsed. He resembled an empty gap amid a sky of twinkling lights.

"Did he fib?" Griffin voiced his doubt openly, regret thick in his words. "Maybe he never made it to the 1st Sky."

Ethan tuned out the whispers.

He shut his eyes and murmured inwardly, "Emperor Slime, show yourself."

In an instant, devoid of any flash or breeze, a tiny, shadowy lump dropped to the ground before him.

It was a slime.

Deep violet, nearly ebony, it appeared as harmless as a soggy berry.

"A slime?" One student erupted in guffaws. "He ventured to the Astral Realm and returned with a glob of muck!"

Teacher Griffin approached, peering closely.

"What in the world is that? Why no radiance? It's definitely a slime... but the absence of any elemental vibe is odd. Maybe it's so basic that the realm skips announcing it."

Ethan brushed off the mockery.

This slime was more than a lump; it hid a voracious void masked as a companion.

"Now, all of you, place a droplet of blood on your beast's crown," Griffin ordered. "This will bind the contract."

The chamber fell silent as the students nicked their fingers. This sealed the union of their vital essences.

As the blood touched the creatures, the shining auras dimmed, drawn into their summoners' forms.

Ethan dabbed his blood on the slime's chilled, see-through skin.

The slime quivered.

For a fleeting moment, Ethan glimpsed golden symbols flickering in the slime's heart, vanishing before others could spot them.

"Hey, check him out!" a lad yelled from the stands. "He's a 'Master' at last! Beware, or his slime could ooze onto your boots!"

The jeers cut deep, but Ethan scooped up the slime and set it atop his head like an odd, quivering crown.

He sensed the being's satisfaction.

He grasped the reality: unlike their beasts, bound by breed and sky tier, his slime faced no limits. It could devour, transform, and expand until it eclipsed the stars.

"Head home and recover," Griffin proclaimed, though his stare fixed on Ethan. "Tomorrow, you step into the Sanctuary of Gods. That's where your beasts will build their power. Ethan, visit my office."

As the youthful Ethan navigated the academy corridors, his primary form remained in the icy quiet of the advanced starship.

He observed the events via a psychic bond that crossed vast distances.

"Why stop at the 9th Sky?" the core Ethan questioned.

[Master, the 9th Sky stands as a firm barrier in this era's cycle. To climb further, the avatar needs to forge his own lineage as a Progenitor. He's bound by the 'Rules of the Game' for now.]

Ethan scowled.

"Growing this slowly will drag on forever. When can I unite with him to regain my might?"

[Master, I propose something better,] Yumiko interjected.

[Skip the merger. Free this aspect of yourself completely. Allow him to ignite as a separate flame. Also, consider dispatching three additional avatars to the trial realms of the other Great Races.]

Ethan reclined in his control seat.

"Why do that?"

[By embodying all five Great Races at once, you'll link the entire cosmos. The Higher Realm proves more intricate than anticipated. The God-Race holds strength, but relying solely on it risks everything. As a part of all five, defeat becomes impossible.]

"That would splinter me," Ethan countered. "My essence would shatter. How do I advance to greater power then?"

[You're already part of the God-Race, Master. You've shaped your Law. Your journey shifts from realm breakthroughs to expanding your reach. Shedding a sliver of soul won't diminish you now, but it plants your presence across the divine expanse ahead.]

Ethan fell quiet, pondering the dangers.

At last, he agreed with a nod.

"How do I locate those realms?"

[Coordinates are ready. But first, bolster yourself here. Surpass the Absolute Continuum, and you'll shatter the 'cage'. Meanwhile, target the Land of the Ancients. Work wonders. Earn their devotion. Rally them to your cause. That surge will skyrocket your power.]

Ethan's eyes shifted to Prince Ryogu, stationed close, awaiting commands.

"How many of your people remain?"

"About 10 million survivors, brother," Ryogu answered steadily.

Back in the beast masters' realm, the young Ethan exited Teacher Griffin's office.

The talk had been tedious, with Griffin mostly extending "pity" for his weak beast and hinting at jobs in refuse handling, where slimes proved handy.

Ethan shrugged it off.

He headed for the academy entrance, the shadowy slime wobbling faintly on his crown.

He perceived the Emperor Slime's craving, a subtle buzz at his mind's edge.

"Waste management?" Ethan murmured to himself, a sharp glint in his stare. "They haven't a clue. This tiny thing is a deity among beasts."

"I'll conquer the whole realm and honor my master," he whispered.

Afterward, Ethan headed straight home. His master, a duplicate of Ethan's core self, awaited him.

"Master, I succeeded," Ethan exclaimed, bouncing with excitement.

"Excellent. Now, come closer. Let's plan your actions in the sanctuary starting tomorrow."

"Yes, Master, tell me," Ethan urged, full of anticipation.

"The Sanctuary of Gods teems with dangers. Beast masters venture inside, slay creatures, and nourish their beasts."