In an instant, the budding thorns rapidly spread, spontaneously mending the stag's wounds as scarlet flowers bloomed one after another. Sharp iron crystals swiftly proliferated over its broken antlers, while golden thorns twined around them like a solemn crown.
In the end, the two completely merged into one.
Huai Shi let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his brow.
The nascent spirit within the shield had not collapsed, nor had the stone-born golden thorns gone out of control.
The most dangerous stage had passed. The work was complete.
Then the furious stag rammed him right in the stomach.
After enduring such pain, the stag had finally recovered a little strength, but it was hardly grateful. Staggering to its feet, it instinctively tried to move closer to its master.
It stood vigilantly between its master and this strange man.
Even though it was still weak.
It failed to notice that its master was already too excited to know what to do.
Huai Shi did not mind this little display of wariness or misunderstanding.
It was only a bump.
As long as he did not take a missile head-on, he would be fine.
He merely crouched down and examined it carefully.
Ignoring the stag's resistance and struggles.
"Its spirit is too fragile to endure any further alterations or repairs, so I could only make up for this loss by other means."
Huai Shi curled a finger and tapped the antler, listening to the crisp metallic ring. "Once activated, the Golden Thorns will form a symbiotic relationship with it. This forged creation has no self-awareness, only instinct, but it is rich in Source Matter. After fusion, it can strengthen the weakened spirit once more.
"Now that I look at it, its consciousness is much tougher than I expected..."
The stag