Chapter 738: HONEYBUN!

Moon took out two Surpasser-rank corpses from his storage ring, feeding one to Honeybun and the other to Mirage.

He’d been pouring resources into Honeybun above all else, and for good reason. The little turtle’s rate of growth was simply insane, converting everything it consumed into immediate, explosive progress, and surpasser-rank corpses, while expensive, were at least obtainable. Every investment into Honeybun paid back faster and larger than anything Moon had ever seen.

Mirage was a little different.

The natural treasures that could push the white steed’s evolution at a comparable pace were far harder to come by, tied to the specifics of his bloodline and origin. There was no clean, reliable path to rapidly accelerate him the way there was for Honeybun, which made every opportunity to strengthen the steed something Moon didn’t let slip past.

Moon watched Mirage tear into the Surpasser corpse with satisfaction.

He’d acquired Mirage for next to nothing back in the First Sanctuary, a cheap mount bought for simple transportation, nothing more. He’d never imagined the white steed would turn out to carry such extraordinary potential, or that it would become one of his most steadfast companions through everything that followed. Mirage had been with him longer than almost anyone. Through the early struggles, the hidden realms, the battles that should have killed them both.

The steed had a secure, permanent place in Moon’s heart, and Moon was determined to see him grow strong too, no matter how much harder his path was.

I still have the core of the Three-Tailed Illusion Fox. The thought surfaced, as it had before. That could push Mirage’s illusion abilities to a whole new level. But...

He hesitated, the same worry that had held him back every time he’d considered it.

’What if Mirage didn’t walk the path of illusion? What if forcing a Supreme-rank illusion fox’s core into him clashes with his actual bloodline, his real nature? I could hurt him. Or worse...’

His hand tightened slightly. ’I’m not willing to gamble with his life over a shortcut.’

That caution was exactly why he hadn’t taken the step yet. Honeybun had just entered the River of Paths and come back stronger, and Moon wanted to understand that process better, to watch how it worked and what it revealed about a beast’s true path, before he risked anything with Mirage. Once Honeybun’s journey taught him more, he’d be in a far better position to help Mirage safely, to know for certain whether the fox core was a blessing or a danger for the steed.

Mirage finished the corpse and lifted his head, and Moon reached out to rub the white steed’s neck gently.

"Goodness is coming for you too, buddy," he murmured. "I promise. I just need to be sure I’m doing it right. I’m not going to rush something that could hurt you. So be patient with me, your time’s coming, I promise."

Mirage leaned into the touch and released a satisfied neigh, content with the meal and the affection both, trusting his companion completely.

Moon smiled, resting his forehead against the steed’s for a moment.

"We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? From the First Sanctuary to this and we’ve got a lot further to go, together."

Mirage huffed softly in agreement.

Once they both completed their meals, Moon checked up on the little turtle’s progress, and whilst his strength did increase, it was nothing significant.

"Seems like getting you to Surpasser-Rank won’t be so easy, huh?" Moon huffed, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looked at Honeybun, now sitting at the peak of Five-Star.

Then something clicked in his memory.

Wait. The Jade Turtle’s Core. I still have it.

He immediately dug through the storage ring where he kept his most valuable items, the one holding the blood of the Golden Fish and the core of the Three-Tailed Illusion Fox. He found what he was looking for, and he pulled it out, examining it with Eye of Truth.

[Jade Turtle Core]

[Order: First]

[Rank: Supreme]

[Details: The condensed essence of a Supreme-rank creature, containing its true soul power within. This core holds the pure, concentrated spirit of the Jade Turtle. It can be devoured by creatures following its path to inherit a core trait of the Jade Turtle. Highly potent in soul power, and dangerous to consume without the correct path or sufficient strength.]

Moon’s heart began to race as he read the description.

Honeybun was the direct offspring of the Jade Turtle. First of its kind, yes, somewhat elevate by the Golden Fish’s blood and other treasures, but its foundational bloodline was pure Jade Turtle. And this core held the concentrated spirit of that very creature, a core trait waiting to be inherited by one who walked its path.

Honeybun walked that path. There was no safer, more suitable candidate for this core in the entire world.

But then a different thought stilled his hand.

This is its mother’s core.

He stared down at the jade-green essence.

Honeybun descends directly from the Jade Turtle bloodline. Feeding it this core means feeding it the soul essence of its own mother. Is that... is that right? To have a child devour a piece of its own mother?

He lingered on the question, internally conflicted, turning the core over in his fingers while the little turtle watched him intently.

While Moon was lost in his hesitation and thoughts, Honeybun made the decision for him.

Quietly, sneakily, without Moon noticing, the little turtle stretched its neck forward, opened its mouth, and snatched the core clean out of his hand.

Moon’s head snapped down.

"Honeybun, wait—"

It was too late. The turtle gulped the Jade Turtle Core down before Moon could react, swallowing it whole, its eyes focused, as though it had understood exactly what the core was and had decided, without any conflict at all, that it wanted it.

Moon stared, stunned in his place, unable to put enough words together to form a coherent sentence.

"Honeybun..."

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Author Notes: Unfortunately we were unable to reach top 5 ranking last month to get the 5 Chapter mass release this month, but that’s okay. Let’s try get it this month, the month just started, and we could do it! I will also be releasing a few extra Chapters every now and then when we accomplish a strong milestone (:

GT RANKING: Top 15

Goal: Top 5

Thanks for the support.