Chapter 465:Hopes.

Chapter 465: 465:Hopes.

Silver opened his status.

[STATUS]

[Name: Silver Ruddington]

[Current Rank: Rank 2 - Upper Limit Approaching]

[Title: Reliable Companion]

[Soul Capacity: Limit Removed]

[Soul Stability: Stable]

[BEAST TATTOOS]

[Current Tattoos: 2]

[Maximum Capacity: Unlimited]

[ATTRIBUTES]

[Strength: 46]

[Agility: 39]

[Endurance: 37]

[Soul Synchronization: 53]

[Perception: 41]

[Mental Resistance: 30]

[SKILLS]

[Phantom Draw Lv4]

[Spatial Sense Lv3]

[Short-Step Lv3]

[Space Slash Lv3]

[Advanced Swordsmanship Lv3]

[Advanced Firearm Proficiency]

[Poller Trick]

[Primal Strength Lv3]

[Iron Bones Lv3]

[Fire Resistance Passive Lv3]

[Advanced Field Cooking Lv1]

[Field Analysis Lv2]

[Spatial Distortion Lv2]

[Mind Fortress Lv2]

[Linked Awareness Lv2]

[ soul Insight Lv2]

[Shared Beast Absorption Lv1]

Silver studied the status.

He’d come a long way but there was still plenty of room to improve, especially his spatial abilities.

He opened the Advanced Shop and the familiar categories appeared.

Silver navigated directly toward the items he’d been considering.

[Spatial Comprehension Shard - 3,500 AP]

[Portable Spatial Anchor - 2,800 AP]

[Mental Processing Enhancement - 1,800 AP]

[Advanced Physical Conditioning Capsule - 1,100 AP]

He considered each one.

The Spatial Comprehension Shard would likely help him understand his spatial abilities more deeply.

The Portable Spatial Anchor could improve his positioning and navigation.

Mental Processing Enhancement might help him manage the information provided by Spatial Sense during chaotic combat.

The conditioning capsule could further strengthen his body.

But Silver wasn’t interested in buying everything simply because he could afford it.

He wanted something that would help him cross the threshold into Rank Three without compromising his foundation.

He opened another category.

Beast Resources.

And several items appeared.

One caught his attention.

[Advanced Beast Synchronization Catalyst]

[Classification: Rare Consumable]

[Effect: Assists synchronization between the host’s physical foundation and integrated beast characteristics.]

[Potential Benefit: Improved stability during advanced Contractor development.]

[Price: 6,000 AP]

He opened the description.

The catalyst didn’t guarantee a breakthrough or directly increase his rank; instead, it assisted with stabilizing the relationship between his body and the beast characteristics he’d integrated.

For someone approaching Rank Three, that could be extremely valuable, especially someone like Silver.

He possessed two beast tattoos and unlimited capacity. His future development would almost certainly become more complicated as he integrated additional beasts.

He considered purchasing it, then hesitated. Six thousand AP was expensive but potentially worth it.

He looked toward his remaining balance.

[Affection Points: 21,714]

He had plenty, still, he didn’t buy it.

Not yet.

He wanted to speak with Ravenna, not because he needed permission,but because she’d been beside him through almost every important development since his system awakened, and she understood his circumstances better than anyone else.

He closed the shop, then checked the time. It was almost ten. Ravenna was probably already in her dormitory.

He opened his communicator.

Still awake?

Her reply arrived less than a minute later.

Yes. Why?

Silver smiled.

I think I’m getting close to Rank Three.

The response came almost immediately.

What? Then another. Silver, are you serious?

He laughed softly.

Very.

A call came through. He immediately answered.

Ravenna’s face appeared on the screen. Her white hair was loose, and she was sitting on her bed wearing a comfortable shirt.

She stared at him.

"Explain."

He smiled.

"Hello to you too, you look as beautiful as always"

"Silver," she firmly said.

"I’m approaching the upper limit of Rank Two. The system confirmed it."

Ravenna’s eyes widened.

"Already?"

"Apparently."

She looked genuinely excited... then her expression became serious.

"You’re not going to force it, right?" She said.

Silver shook his head.

"No."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She studied him for a few moments before nodding.

"Good."

Silver smiled.

"I found something in the shop that might help stabilize the breakthrough."

"What?"

"A beast synchronization catalyst."

He explained the item’s description. She listened carefully, then considered.

"That sounds useful."

"Expensive too."

"How expensive?"

"Six thousand AP."

Her eyes widened before she let out a loud sigh.

"Of course."

Silver laughed.

Ravenna looked toward him.

"Are you going to buy it?"

"Maybe."

"Then don’t rush."

He nodded.

"I wasn’t planning to."

She smiled.

"Don’t forget that."

For a moment, neither spoke, then Ravenna leaned closer to the screen.

"Silver?"

"Hm?"

"I’m proud of you."

His smile softened.

"Thank you."

She looked slightly embarrassed, then continued.

"You’ve been working really hard."

"So have you."

"I know."

Silver laughed.

Ravenna smiled, then tilted her head.

"Does this mean you’ll become Rank Three before me?"

He considered it.

"Probably."

She narrowed her eyes.

"That’s annoying."

He laughed.

"You’re very competitive," he said.

"Obviously," she said and spread her arms.

"You’ll catch up."

Ravenna smiled.

"Of course I will."

Silver believed her.

She had Soul Capacity nineteen, exceptional talent, a powerful fire integration and now a Tier Four strength-type beast tattoo. She wasn’t going to remain Rank two forever.

He knew that and he looked forward to seeing how strong she would become.

Ravenna yawned.

Silver smiled.

"Go to sleep."

She shook her head.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because I want to talk to you."

His expression softened.

"About what?"

She considered, then smiled.

"Anything, I just want to talk to you."

So they talked about classes, training and Antony’s complaints that first-years weren’t allowed to leave the academy.

Ravenna laughed when Silver told her he’d called himself a prisoner.

"He has a point," she said after calming down.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"You agree?"

"A little. I want to go into the city too."

Silver smiled.

"Maybe after the next assessment."

Ravenna looked toward him.

"Then we should go on a date."

Silver paused, then smiled.

"A proper one?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Outside the academy," she said.

"Food?"

"Obviously," she responded but her excitement could be seen.

"Shopping?"

"Maybe."

Silver leaned back.

"Sounds expensive," he said.

Ravenna smiled sweetly.

"You have twenty thousand AP."

"That’s not actual money."

"You’re rich anyway," she said dismissive.

Silver laughed.

"You got me."

Ravenna looked pleased.

"Then it’s settled."

He nodded.

"After the academy lets us out."

She smiled.

"After."

They continued talking until Ravenna’s eyes began closing between sentences. Silver watched her struggle to remain awake, then laughed softly.

"Ravenna."

"Hm?"

"Sleep."

"I’m awake."

"Clearly."

She smiled sleepily.

"Goodnight, Silver."

"Goodnight."

She hesitated, then leaned toward the screen.

"Kiss."

He laughed, pressed two fingers against his lips and then toward the camera.

Ravenna smiled.

"That’s terrible."

"It’s the best I can do from here."

She laughed softly, then ended the call. He remained seated for another moment.

His smile slowly faded into something more thoughtful.

Rank Three, he was close, but not there yet. And he had no intention of wasting the opportunity by rushing.

He looked toward the darkened training room, then toward his communicator.

The next assessment would arrive eventually. The academy would continue pushing them. New enemies, dangers and challenges would appear... but for now, Silver had a clear goal.

Stabilize his foundation, improve his skills, prepare his beast tattoos and break through to Rank Three.

He wanted to become strong enough that the next time danger came for the people he loved, he wouldn’t have to rely on luck to bring them home.