Over the ten days, nourished by plenty of top-grade nutritional paste and a safe, comfortable environment, Lin Mo's body underwent a dramatic transformation.
He was no longer the emaciated "White-Skinned Monster" shunned by his own kind. His body had ballooned like an inflated balloon. Though still small compared with adult monsters, he now looked sturdy and strong.
His white fur had grown thick and glossy, gleaming with a healthy silver sheen in the sunlight. His limbs were powerful, his paw pads thick, and though his claws were still young, they were already beginning to look sharp.
Most noticeable was the pair of small lumps on his back. They had now risen into two distinct bumps, and he could faintly sense something within them taking shape and growing.
At last, he truly looked worthy of the name "Winged Tiger cub"—majestic and extraordinary.
Wang Keke was overjoyed. Every day, she held him while measuring him, excitedly recording his growth. "Mimi, you're growing so fast! This is wonderful!"
That day, Wang Keke didn't bring out nutritional paste as usual. Instead, she carried over an elegant silver platter piled with strips of meat, each about as thick as her little finger. They were a vivid red and gave off faint ripples of energy.
"Mimi, here, try this!" Wang Keke picked up a strip and held it to Lin Mo's mouth. "It's heart meat from a Beast Soldier Rank Iron-Horned Sheep. It's especially tender, and the energy is gentle, so it's perfect for your growth at this stage!"
The rich, meaty aroma filled his nostrils, far more primal than that of nutritional paste. Lin Mo could clearly sense that although the meat's energy wasn't as pure as the paste's, it carried a vigorous vitality.
He opened his mouth and took it. His teeth tore through the fibers with ease.
Delicious juices burst across his tongue, carrying a hint of sweetness and a wild, untamed flavor. More importantly, the instant the meat reached his stomach, his long-dormant [Combat Devour] Talent trembled faintly on its own, like a hungry wolf scenting its prey!
Lin Mo's heart stirred.
This is my chance!
He didn't simply absorb it passively, the way he did nutritional paste. Instead, he focused and tried to guide—to "command"—the faint power of his talent within him.
At first, it was difficult. The warm current was like a mischievous little fish, impossible to catch. But he had the focus and willpower of an adult human. He tried over and over, imagining himself as a net, trapping and refining every bit of the meat's essence.
At last, as he swallowed the third strip, he succeeded!
A surge of energy, noticeably hotter and more vigorous than what he absorbed passively, rose from his stomach and quickly spread throughout his body! Wherever it passed, his muscle fibers seemed to cheer inaudibly, his bones tingled faintly, and every cell in his body seemed to join in a small-scale celebration!
The improvement was still slight—perhaps his strength had increased by a fraction of a kilogram and his speed by a few hundredths of a second—but the feeling of growing stronger "actively" was unmistakable!
I did it! So this is what it feels like to activate the Devour Talent on my own! Lin Mo was elated. It meant his future growth would no longer depend solely on the resources Wang Keke provided. It would also depend on how much he could "devour" himself!
He looked at the remaining strips on the platter, his eyes burning with desire.
"Wow, Mimi, you like this meat that much?" Seeing the sudden, ravenous look in his eyes and the way he wolfed down the food, Wang Keke was even happier. She quickly added some more.
Lin Mo accepted every strip she offered. He gulped them down while continuously activating his Devour Talent, savoring the wonderful process of his body growing stronger bit by bit as it was nourished by the energy.
After they'd eaten their fill, warmth still flowed through him. Wang Keke didn't take him back right away. Instead, she carried him to a quiet pavilion in the beast garden and sat down beneath it. The setting sun bathed the estate in gold, while the distant roars of monsters and shouts from the training grounds reached them faintly.
Wang Keke gently stroked the smooth fur on Lin Mo's back, resting her chin on his fluffy head as she gazed at the brilliant sunset. Suddenly, in a voice quite unlike her usual cheerful tone—tinged with weariness and uncertainty—she spoke softly:
"Mimi, you know... everyone envies me. They say I'm a genius, the hope of the Wang Family."
Lin Mo's ears twitched. He stopped guiding the energy through his body and lay quietly, playing the part of a good listener.
"Dad, my uncles, and the family elders all look at me with such high expectations. They give me the best resources and the best protection... But sometimes, those expectations feel so heavy."
Her voice sank. "Being a Spirit Reader... sounds impressive, doesn't it? But every time I train my spiritual power, it feels like my head is about to explode. They expect me to reach the level of a War God Rank Spirit Reader before I turn twenty-five. They expect me to place in the top three at the Pet Battle Tournament and win more honor and resources for the family..."
"Sometimes, I even envy my cousin Wang Xin and the others. They don't have as many resources as I do, but at least... they don't have so much pressure. They're allowed to fail. I'm not. Because I've been given the name 'genius,' I can't fail."
She hugged Lin Mo tightly, as if drawing strength from him.
"Thank goodness I have you with me now, Mimi. You're not like them—you don't just demand that I get stronger. As long as you're full, you happily rub against me and keep me company... It's nice."
The young girl's gentle, slightly helpless confession mingled with the evening breeze and reached Lin Mo's ears.
His heart, which had been focused solely on devouring, evolving, and keeping a low profile as he grew stronger, stirred faintly.
He lifted his head and looked at Wang Keke with his amber eyes. The sunset cast a gentle glow over her delicate profile. Her long lashes drooped, and she looked melancholy in a way that seemed beyond her years.
So even this favored daughter of heaven, who seemed to have everything, had her own troubles and burdens.
He fell silent for a moment, then did something beyond the bounds of a "pet," but not too inappropriate.
He stuck out his barbed tongue and gently, carefully, licked the back of Wang Keke's hand.
The rough warmth made Wang Keke pause. She looked down and met Lin Mo's eyes, which seemed more "clear" than usual. They held none of their usual childishness or playfulness. Instead, they seemed to show... a hint of understanding and comfort.
The gloom in Wang Keke's heart seemed to lift a little at that gentle lick. She burst out laughing and vigorously rubbed Lin Mo's head. "Oh, Mimi, are you trying to comfort me? You're so sweet!"
She perked up again and stood, carrying Lin Mo in her arms. Her face brightened as it always did. "Come on! Let's go back and keep training! We'll work hard together for the tournament in three months! I'm not losing to that obnoxious Wang Xiao!"
Watching the girl come back to life, Lin Mo thought to himself, It seems my caretaker is more than just a meal ticket and bodyguard.
Perhaps, on the lonely road to the pinnacle of power, having a bond like this wasn't so bad.
He flicked his tail and followed Wang Keke.
It seemed he had one more reason to grow stronger.
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