C4 Old Friend Witchwood!

"Don't be nervous, just relax a little," Egil said soothingly, his expression softening as he looked at the slight girl on the altar.

"Okay," she replied meekly, nodding her head and lifting her right hand as her teacher had instructed.

She placed her hand on the pillar, and a moment later, a sharp pain shot through her palm as a drop of blood emerged and fell onto the altar.

Buzz!

The blood was absorbed, and the ancient runes on the quiet pet altar began to glow brightly. It transformed into a mirror-like surface covered in golden light, and a one-foot-long little green snake with a budding horn on its forehead appeared on the golden mirror. Additionally, three stars beside the pillar lit up.

The one-horned green snake was a battle pet with a black iron grade and three stars of aptitude. Several elite tamers in the association owned such a battle pet. Its skill, Thorn Bind, required the use of a Thorn Seed to cast, and its power was quite impressive.

"Not bad," Egil nodded, clearly pleased.

"Ssssnake," the girl from Class One murmured, her face turning ashen as she looked at the little green snake on the stone platform. Clearly, she was terrified of snakes.

"This is your contracted battle pet. He's sentient and won't harm you," Egil reassured her, his tone gentle as he recalled a Summoning Ceremony where a girl had fainted at the sight of a giant black spider.

The little green snake then gracefully coiled around the girl's arm. It was only when she felt the familiar sensation from the snake and the connection it brought that she began to recover, quickly stepping down from the altar.

The other students, numbering over three hundred, watched the girl from Class One with envy. With a battle pet of black iron three stars aptitude, it wouldn't be long after the Summoning Ceremony before the academy reached out to her.

This was indeed a promising start for them all.

Subsequently, the rest of the students from Class One took their turns, each one filled with hope and anticipation. Out of the thirty-five students, thirty-one successfully summoned a battle pet, and four had battle pet qualifications.

Going by that ratio, there were nine classes in total. Only about fifty individuals had the battle pet qualifications necessary to enter Tamer University. Naturally, many other students could join different colleges within Tamer University.

Next up was the second class. Six people boasted battle pet qualifications, predominantly one or two stars, which left Egil feeling somewhat disheartened as he observed the students with inferior black iron qualifications. Improving their skills would be quite a challenge.

Then it was time for Third Class. Symas was first in line, according to the student roster. Idod, beside him, seemed lost in thought. Symas remained unfazed; the scene before him mirrored his past life, and he was certain of it.

With a stoic face, he placed his hand on the pet altar's pillar. A sharp pain shot through his palm. As his blood mingled with the altar, a golden mirror surfaced once again. From it emerged a dark red bracelet intertwined with vines. The bracelet split open, transforming into a nearly two-meter-long dark red vine that writhed like a sentient snake. Sensing Symas' familiar presence, it swiftly coiled in front of him.

"A plant-type fire pet!"

The Witchwood was a fire attribute pet, perfect for the small fire type pet nest in the Void Territory. It would even accelerate its growth, eliminating the need for additional pet nurturing materials.

At that moment, many students in the stands cast envious glances his way. Battle pet quality was evident. Below, the star mark lit up three times.

"Old friend," Symas murmured, gazing at the Witchwood now fashioned into a dark red bracelet, his lips curling into a smile. This battle pet had been his companion in combat for three years in his previous life.

Symas tenderly stroked the dark red bracelet. It was still unranked, merely a pet baby. Advancing its level and training it were unique courses offered at Tamer University.

The Witchwood on his wrist vibrated gently, emanating a wave of goodwill. As it drew near Symas, it basked in the comforting aura that enveloped him.

"The Witchwood is quite impressive," Egil remarked, admiring the vine bracelet that once was the Witchwood, offering his commendation.

The Witchwood, as a plant-based pet, is not as slow-moving as other plants; it resembles a snake-type pet with its additional fire attribute attack. Most crucially, it has the ability to heal itself, making it exceedingly rare.

Symas returned to his seat, and Idod along with the rest of the Third Class began to congratulate him.

"You've really got something special. Once the Witchwood evolves to elite status, it will be adept at both offense and defense, ranking it among the upper echelon of its peers in battle power."

Idod snapped back to reality, realizing there was indeed something amiss with Butler Austin. He resolved to have his father thoroughly investigate upon returning home and to ensure additional guards were placed around him. It was nothing they couldn't handle.

Next, it was Idod's turn to step up, marking a high-energy moment with the introduction of an elite seven-star Ice Butterfly battle pet. This ice attribute battle pet, resembling a piece of white jade and the size of an adult's palm, emitted a chilly aura.

As the Ice Butterfly settled on Idod's hand, it brought a refreshing coolness, dispelling any lingering warmth.

"Hahaha, excellent!" Egil, usually stoic, allowed a smile to grace his face. "An elite battle pet with an ice attribute. Though it may lack in melee combat, you can pair it with other close-combat pets to compensate for that weakness. If you're looking to train your pet, feel free to visit me at the association. I'm on duty every Sunday."

Idod responded with utmost politeness, "Thank you for the honor, senior." He held great respect for elite demon hunters like Egil, who had made significant sacrifices for the base city.

Being an elite student could open doors to the Imperial College in the Trintis Dukedom, a hub for prodigious talents. The dukedom poured substantial resources into the college, making it highly prestigious.

From Littlewell, a high-speed train to the imperial capital was merely a day's journey. Alternatively, one could arrive in half a day by riding certain birds or demons—a relatively short distance.

Uncle Callahan's daughter, Jaylee, was a freshman at the Tamer University within the Imperial College, majoring in the Battle Pet Academy. Last year, Jaylee was ranked among the top three in Littlewell with her black iron six-star aptitude.

To gain entry into the Imperial College, one must possess an aptitude of at least five stars in the black iron category. Should a base city fail to produce a student with such qualifications in any given year, that city would miss the opportunity to send anyone to the Imperial College.

In his past life, Symas was able to attend a prestigious Tamer University in the Imperial College's base city, thanks to Jaylee's strong recommendation. This university was second only to the Imperial College itself. He later learned that this opportunity had been secured through an elite pet tempering stone Jaylee had found in a relic, which she exchanged for a spot at the battle pet academy. Such stones were incredibly valuable, as they had the potential to enhance a pet's quality.

Relics are classified into levels D through A, and then S, SS, and SSS, based on their danger and the quality of battle pet resources and related materials they contain. Level D relics contain only black iron battle pets and ordinary materials. At level C, elite battle pets and materials begin to appear. Level B occasionally features overlord-level battle pets. From level A to SS, overlord-level pets are common, and at level SSS, divine level star pets can be found.

Presently, there are only two level SSS pet relics on Orithyia. One is situated in the frigid North Pole, while the other lies atop the snowy peaks of Kunlun.