Contract Reached

On the shore of an unnamed lake in the core area of the Star Dou Forest, golden light shattered on the water's surface, breaking into thousands of dancing pearls.

The spiral horn on the Unicorn leader's head suddenly erupted with an aura like moonlight. It pawed restlessly at the soft mud on the bank with its front hooves, and the splashing, crystalline water droplets wet its forelegs without surprise.

Solomon's words were like pebbles dropped into the lake, stirring ripples in its emerald eyes.

Such ancient wisdom had never appeared in the long river of Soul Beasts' memories, yet it miraculously awakened a desire for equality deep within its bloodline.

Its slender neck trembled slightly, and the starlight flowing through its mane cast dappled shadows on the lake, making it seem too beautiful to be a savage Soul Beast.

"The contract you speak of," the Unicorn's voice was like the wind brushing against harp strings, each syllable carrying the ethereal echo of the forest, "is as beautiful as a dream. But is that truly a future we can touch?"

The young man smiled faintly, Holy Light draping him in a hazy veil.

He placed his right hand over his chest and drew a cross in the air with his left: "I swear by the Holy Name of the Father, this will be the shore we reach together."

The Blue Silver Grass by the lake suddenly swayed without wind, its leaves emitting a faint golden glow. The Unicorn keenly sensed the fluctuation of the forest's will. It elegantly raised its head, the aura on its spiral horn accelerating its flow. "But how can you prove this isn't just a new method for humans to enslave Soul Beasts? Like those Spirit Masters who hunt for Spirit Rings..."

Solomon didn't answer immediately. He condensed golden light particles between his fingertips. These dancing points of light, like living stars, outlined a complex three-dimensional magic circle in the air.

This pattern, which merged the contract runes of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods from the Key of Solomon with the principles of "Bond Evolution" from the Pokemon world, had a semi-transparent texture.

Three sets of interlocking rings appeared in the center of the light array: the outermost was an indigo halo symbolizing the Soul Beast's soul, like a deep ocean; the middle layer represented the Spirit Master's Martial Soul with a brilliant golden wheel, radiating warmth like the sun; at the core was the word "Equality," inscribed in Divine Language, each stroke flowing with liquid silver light.

"Please see the contract details." The young man placed his palm on the center of the light array, and countless shimmering characters poured down like a waterfall, spreading across the lake's surface. "Article One: Both contracting parties shall enjoy completely equal status; Article Two: Soul Beasts may materialize to assist in battle at any time; Article Three: When a Soul Beast requires assistance, the Spirit Master must provide full support..."

Time ticked by, and soon it was evening.

The Moonlight Celestial Wolf suddenly let out a long howl, its sound waves creating fine ripples on the lake. Astonishingly, the Blue Silver Grass by the lake collectively bloomed with golden pistils, and runes identical to those in the contract text appeared at their centers.

The entire forest seemed to awaken at that moment, the leaves of the ancient trees rustling as if making a solemn oath.

The System suddenly protested in his sea of consciousness: [Host, this is cheating! How can you talk about an equal contract when using God-tier psychological suggestion!]

Solomon chuckled lightly in his mind, replying, "The means to achieve a noble goal are unimportant; the result is everything. Besides, what's the difference between not using a cheat and not having one enabled?"

He subtly intensified his mental guidance, allowing a more potent sacred aura to envelop the Unicorn.

"So, noble child of the forest," Solomon took a step forward, moonlight condensing into a glowing lotus beneath his feet, "are you willing to forge this sacred contract with me and jointly usher in a new era for Spirit Masters and Soul Beasts?"

The Unicorn's emerald eyes widened slightly as it felt a tremor deep within its bloodline.

Under the dual influence of God-tier psychological suggestion and the forest's will, it ultimately could not refuse. It could only raise its head and let out a clear, long cry, its front hooves lifting high before gently landing again: "I am willing to try."

"Please place your front hoof here." Solomon pushed the rotating light array towards the Unicorn. Fine tendrils of light extended from the array's edge, gently coiling around the Soul Beast's hooves.

The moment its silvery-white hoof touched the center of the array, the entire lake seemed to boil.

Not a physical boiling, but countless silvery-white light spots rose from the water, like a reversed river of stars.

These light spots intertwined in the air, forming a massive, three-dimensional contract book, each page shining with different ancient characters. The Unicorn clan responded with calls from all over the forest, their combined roars forming visible sonic ripples in the canopy.

"With the Spirit of Creation as witness! With the Mother of All Things as notary!" Solomon's voice suddenly became grand and solemn, and seventy-two illusory Demon God images appeared behind him. "The contract forged at this moment shall transcend time and space!"

The array suddenly expanded a hundredfold, enveloping the entire lakeshore in sacred radiance.

A Spirit Ring never before seen rose from beneath their feet.

Life force as verdant as new tender leaves, purity as white as first snow, sacred energy as golden as the morning sun – these three colors intertwined into a perfect circle.

The Spirit Ring's surface flowed with fine contract characters, and with every rotation, star-dust-like motes of light scattered.

The instant the contract was formed, the Unicorn suddenly let out a pained cry.

Large bulges appeared on both sides of its spine, and pure white feathers pierced its skin, growing rapidly.

Simultaneously, the moonlight aura on its spiral horn surged, forming a small vortex of light above its head.

As its ninety-thousand-year cultivation broke through the hundred-thousand-year barrier, the clouds above the forest were torn apart by an invisible force, and a pillar of moonlight shot straight down.

The tome in Solomon's hand automatically opened to its first sealed page, the names of the seventy-two Demon Gods flickering on the parchment.

He felt five new abilities flow into his body: Acceleration made his blood surge like molten mercury, Fortitude enhanced his muscle fibers, Heavy Weight Coating plated his bone surfaces with psionic energy, and he gained two offensive skills: Divine Breath and Savage Charge.

As its wings of light fully unfurled, the newly born Winged Unicorn let out a sky-piercing roar.

Its size was a full two sizes larger than before the contract, and the feathers at the tips of its wings gleamed with a metallic coldness.

The most astonishing change occurred on its spiral horn. The originally silvery-white tip was now covered in golden patterns, and a pulsating Sacred Flame gathered at its apex.

"How does it feel? My partner." Solomon gently stroked the Soul Beast's newly formed wings, his touch feeling like warm velvet.

The Winged Unicorn lowered its head and nuzzled Solomon's shoulder, its emerald eyes swirling with complex emotions. "It feels both strange and warm, but it is indeed more pleasant than cultivating alone."

It could clearly sense its life force connected to the young man before it, a change that instinctively drew it closer to him.

It was as if they were born of the same mother years ago and had been separated as brothers.

"That's good," Solomon chuckled lightly. "I'll be counting on you in the future as well."