Time ticked by, second by second. The aura within the pit continued to weaken, and Russell's brow furrowed ever more deeply as his worry for Harpy Dragon Harpe grew.
"Actually... it would be fine if you didn't undergo the dragon tribulation!"
He even wanted to immediately dig open the pit and pull Harpe out, telling it to forget about comprehending the mystery of life and death.
But the faintly trembling spiritual link silently conveyed Harpe's yearning for evolution. As a Phantom Beast, aside from its great love for roasted rat meat, its greatest pursuit was advancing into a Pseudo-Dragon.
So, as its Contract Partner, Russell could not simply crush Harpe's hopes.
"Polly, will Harpe succeed?" Russell asked softly in his mind.
"It will, Russell," Unicorn Polly replied gently. "Harpe and I are both Phantom Beast Pseudo-Dragon Descendants, and it desires to advance into a Pseudo-Dragon even more strongly than I do. Phantom Beasts with such powerful determination are rare."
It was understandable for humans to relentlessly pursue strength.
But it was far less common for Phantom Beasts to obsessively pursue strength. At their core, Phantom Beasts were merely beasts that had evolved once. It was understandable to desire strength, but seeking it through a near-death experience was exceptionally precious.
"I hope so." Russell nodded.
At that moment, Ouroboros Snake Ouroboros's voice came through the spiritual link again. "Something has changed underground, Russell. I can feel it, I can feel it. Harpe is changing... it must have comprehended the mystery of life and death!"
Russell was astonished. "Really?"
The next instant, tremors came from the pit. A gale burst out from underground, blasting all the soil away.
"Kraa!"
Harpe let out a cry and flew out of the pit.
Without wasting a word or even sparing a moment to communicate with