CHAPTER 274: SUBDUED

He is a monster on his own, Adyr thought.

In that moment, Adyr realized that with Malice, he could have stopped the shockwave without using any Spark skill. But imagining countering it using only muscle strength and technique, without any skill amplification, was beyond him.

That alone proved it: Lucen’s sword technique was still superior. Every controlled motion, every micro-adjustment, and every ounce of force applied reflected a mastery that Adyr couldn’t match at the moment.

"Finally." Liora’s voice trembled as she sank to her knees, body battered, bleeding from multiple wounds, arms torn. Yet her eyes burned with a luminous determination, fixed on Collossith’s inert form in the crater. Every fiber of her being radiated resolve, a living testament to her unyielding will.

The colossal creature, over 200 meters long, now lay unconscious. Its breaths were faint, a whisper of air across the crater’s surface, and its body shrank rapidly—a definitive sign of surrender. Dust and debris settled around it, leaving the field eerily silent, punctuated only by Liora’s controlled, ragged breaths.

"Sis, you really did it," Mirela said, flying to her side, accelerating her recovery with her own healing skill. The energy shimmered around them both, a quiet reassurance amid the lingering tension.

"It’s not over until I subdue it," Liora’s form quickly returned to her usual, short Velari body, her wounds closing at the same rapid pace. With Mirela’s assistance, she stood and began advancing toward Collossith with deliberate steps.

With each of her strides, the shrinking creature became smaller and smaller, until, by the time Liora reached it, it resembled nothing more than a harmless platypus in the palm of her hand.

"It’s hard to imagine that something so enormous and terrifying can actually be this small," Mirela murmured in awe, earning only a sideward glare from Liora.

After a brief pause to study Collossith’s tiny, motionless form, Liora turned her gaze to Adyr as he flapped his wings, descending slowly to land beside her. "We made it thanks to your power," she said, a genuine smile lighting her face. "If you want it for other plans, it’s yours—sell it, keep it, or use it later when you reach Rank 3. The choice is yours."

Adyr paused briefly, hearing her words, though he wasn’t surprised.

Any practitioner offered the chance to subdue a Rank 4 Spark would normally seize it greedily without a second thought. Yet Liora Virell was offering the opportunity sincerely, placing the entire reward in Adyr’s hands.

Even more remarkable, Lucen and Mirela voiced no objection—they simply waited silently for his decision.

Adyr smiled, speaking in a calm, gentle tone. "It’s the reward for you and your people who have worked for it for years. I just helped a little, so it’s yours."

His words perfectly reflected his Astra path nature, radiating warmth and trust that touched everyone present.

But his next sentence injected an unexpected thrill and blood-tingling intensity.

"Besides, Collossith doesn’t fit my skill build. I’m planning to subdue another one later, once I reach Rank 3." His tone was casual, matter-of-fact, as if stating something trivial, something anyone else might dismiss as a joke.

Yet coming from Adyr, Liora and the others felt only one thing: he was utterly serious, completely confident in what he said. And the most incredible part—they didn’t doubt him, even when the claim seemed impossible.

Apart from that, Adyr had two additional reasons for allowing Liora to claim Collossith.

The first was, of course, to further strengthen his relationship with the Velari. By helping them selflessly, he elevated their trust and sense of support, creating a foundation of confidence that would serve as infrastructure for his future plans across the Outer Region.

Every act of assistance reinforced loyalty, ensuring that when the time came, his influence could extend more effectively.

The second reason was to reinforce his position and security for the upcoming Legacy Domain event.

This event would host numerous Rank 4 Practitioners from various races and kingdoms, including powerful, titled individuals like Sevrak, who were likely to target him.

Liora’s increased strength would have a profound impact, serving both as a deterrent and protection. Anyone considering underhanded methods would now have to think twice, factoring in her power and the consequences it implied.

In allowing Liora to claim Collossith, Adyr was not simply being generous. He was strategically solidifying alliances, ensuring security, and positioning his influence for the challenges ahead.

Liora nodded, her expression soft yet clearly affected by Adyr’s words and decision. Recognizing that any further discussion would be nothing more than empty words, she turned her attention to the unconscious Collossith in her palm. Channeling the necessary energy, she began the subduing process.

Without a hint of resistance, the creature yielded completely, its body engulfed by the energy and vanishing in a beam of light as it was absorbed into her [Sanctuary].

After a brief pause, Liora recalled the now-subdued Collossith, its tiny form resting in her palm. She glanced at Adyr and Mirela. "Can you heal it?"

It was clear that Collossith’s own regeneration was extraordinary, but leaving it to recover on its own might take days—time none of them could afford.

Mirela nodded, starting to channel her Spark’s skill. Her multicolored hair shifted to green, extending to envelop the small Spark’s body, while Adyr allowed the influence of Grace to enhance the process.

Seconds stretched, then minutes, before the tiny Collossith began twitching. Soon, it was standing on its six legs once more, fully revived in Liora’s palm.

"It could actually be considered cute in this form," Mirela remarked, her hair returning to its original colors.

"We don’t need it to be cute," Liora laughed, setting Collossith on the ground and issuing the command for it to grow, restoring it to its colossal, intimidating form.

"Now we can make quite a scene." She watched as Collossith’s body expanded, reaching two hundred meters in height, then summoned her cloud to carry herself atop the Spark.

Her intention was clear: to flaunt her Rank 4 Spark in the market, using it as a mount so that everyone could see. This was her way of declaring to all that she, too, had become a titled Practitioner.