VoC: B1 — 10. The Unity Bond
Added 2025-06-25 23:14:34 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Damon (Our New 24-Year-Old MC!)
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Damon knelt beside the small cage, studying the bear cub; instinctively, he knew it was far more dangerous than the other creatures, despite its small, vulnerable eyes that would make Aria’s lich heart melt. Up close, the creature was both more ordinary and more remarkable than he’d anticipated.
The cub was perhaps the size of a small dog, with thick brown fur that caught the lamplight in subtle bronze highlights. What had seemed like simple bear features from a distance revealed themselves to be something more complex—the ears were slightly pointed, the snout more refined than a typical bear’s, and there was an intelligence in its dark eyes that seemed almost human.
“Go ahead, we’ve already made a verbal agreement, which is legal,” Lady Ashcroft encouraged, moving to stand beside him with fluid grace—far too close, especially given his current age. “The bonding process for Unity Tamers is quite different from other Tamer subclasses. You’ll want to extend your hand slowly—like so, let him catch your scent first.”
She did invade my system data…
Damon gently pulled away from her guiding hand, glanced up, and showed a strained smile. “Sorry, but I’m not comfortable… But how are you so familiar with Unity Tamers?”
“Oh, my apologies. Sometimes I can be a little too friendly,” she responded with a slight laugh that held no embarrassment. “As for my knowledge, being a Sage myself, I made it a priority to know all the available branches our Tamer subclass can take,” she replied with a mysterious smile. “Unity variants are rare. Most Tamers rely on the Dominance or Partnership paths. Unity comes with its…disadvantages, as I am sure you are aware.”
He shifted his gaze to the invisible system menu he willed to open, discovering he could move menus with a thought and not just touch.
I can see being unable to use any weapons as a disadvantage, but how far does that extend? Anything can be counted as a weapon, right? I’ll have to figure that out later. Right now, I need to bond with this little guy. Why is the cage so big for such a small cub?
As Damon slowly extended his hand toward the cage, the cub’s fur bristled outward, nearly doubling its apparent size. With a soft chittering sound, dozens of green quill-like barbs emerged from between the hair follicles along its back and shoulders.
Woah! Well, that explains the cage size, he thought, retreating slightly before shooting Ashcroft a quick glance as she giggled. She’s enjoying herself…
What had looked like a harmless bear cub now resembled a defensive super-porcupine, crossed with a bear. Spotting the Feat he should have used from the start, he muttered, “Easy,” while extending his hand.
[Animal Handling]
The familiar sensation of understanding flowed through him—not mind reading, but an intuitive grasp of the creature’s emotional state. Fear. Confusion. Recent trauma. The scent of blood and violence still clung to its memories. Somehow, he connected with those fragmented scars and could extract the cause.
The cub watched his mother die… He’s not as smart as a human, but not as dumb as an animal.
“You adapt fast, using your Feat like that,” the snake-like woman whispered, rising to her full height again and gripping her elbow. “What you activated was his [Thorns] ability. Currently F-tier, but quite effective for deterring predators or in a physical brawl. This little one is a Razorback Bear—the offspring of a rather impressive A-tier Dungeon Floor Boss, if the man I bought him from is correct.”
And this is why I need Aria… Floor Boss? Are there multiple types of bosses? And what does A-tier even mean? I have nothing to compare it to…
I guess it doesn’t matter at this point, he noted, keeping his movements slow and deliberate, letting the [Animal Handling] guide his approach. The point is, he’s tougher than these other creatures, and I need someone who can handle the front line. I can’t use weapons and Aria is a freaking necklace that shoots spells. As Aria would say, we need a tank.
The cub snapped his small fangs, launching forward slightly before pulling back again, but he didn’t flinch.
He began to hum softly—a meaningless tune his sister had been fond of back on Earth, something about a cartoon character, or was it anime? Either one, he’d never quite understood it unless she explained the plots. It didn’t help that she never waited for him to go to the next episode or even season.
The melody seemed to resonate with something in the cub’s instincts, and gradually, the defensive quills began to retract.
“You have good instincts,” Ashcroft murmured. “Most people would have pulled their hand back. Tell me, how is it for a Unity Tamer? Do you understand that fear, it’s aggression, and harmonize with it or make yourself feel familiar with it?”
“Something like that,” Damon replied, not wanting to reveal how much his Feat was doing the work for him. As the last of the quills disappeared into the cub’s fur, he carefully opened the cage latch. “Hey there, little guy. I know this is scary, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
The cub’s dark eyes fixed on his, and Damon felt something shift in the air between them. Not quite magic, but something deeper—something almost spiritual.
He placed his palm gently on the cub’s head, and the world exploded into sensation.
[Unity Bond: Initiated]
[Bonding Process: 15%... 34%... 67%... 89%... Complete]
[New Companion Acquired: Razorback Bear Cub]
[Tamer’s Mark: Activated]
The moment the bond snapped into place, three intersecting circles appeared on the cub’s forehead, glowing bright gold before uniting with its fur. At the same time, Damon gasped as information flooded his consciousness—not thoughts or words on a screen, but pure understanding of his new companion’s nature.
Basic Info
Name: [To be named by Damon]
Age: 3 months
Gender: Male
Race: Hybrid Razorback Bear
Subrace: ???????? ????
Height: 60 cm (will grow with [Growth] Feat)
Weight: 85 lbs (will gain mass with [Growth] Feat)
Fur Color: Dark Brown with Green-tinted Quills
Bond Status: Unity Tamed by Damon
Lineage/Path: ???????? ????
Class & Level
Class: Beast
Current Level: 1
Total Experience: 0
Next Level: 500
EXP Bonus: 0% (gains from Damon’s party share)
Stats & Bonuses
Stat * Base (Total) * Grade
Strength * 16 (+5) * 21 (Skilled)
Dexterity * 14 (+5) * 19 (Skilled)
Constitution * 21 (+5) * 26 (Distinguished)
Intelligence * 9 (+5) * 14 (Above Average)
Wisdom * 14 (+5) * 19 (Skilled)
Charisma * 8 (+5) * 13 (Above Average)
Mana & Buff Modifiers
Max Mana (15 MPI): 210 (14 Intelligence × 15)
HP Recovery (Hour): 2.6% (26 Constitution × 0.1%)
MP Recovery (Hour): 3.8% (19 Wisdom × 0.2%)
Armor Penetration: 19% (19 Dexterity × 1%)
Movement Speed: 4.75% (19 Dexterity × 0.25%)
Critical Rate: 19% (19 Dexterity × 1%)
Attack Speed: 4.75% (19 Dexterity × 0.25%)
Active Feats
[Thorns (Active - F-tier - 5 MP): Nature-based damage that grows out of the user when used, remaining active for 1 minute unless deactivated; deals Piercing Damage to those who come into contact with them.]
[Quill Fire (Active - F-tier - 15 MP): Projects defensive quills (modified by [Thorns]); deals Piercing Damage. If used when [Torns] is active, enhances Feat.]
[Maul (Active - F-tier - 10 MP): Enhanced claw attacks with bleeding effect and chance to stagger.]
[Taunt (Active - F-tier - 2 MP): No cooldown but can be resisted, unlike Elite Roars. Only usable on one target at a time. Snarl at a perceived opponent for a Mental Attack that forces a [Hyper Focus] State on the user for 10 seconds.]
[Elite Intimidating Roar (Active - F-tier - 50 MP- 1 minute CD): Releases a primal roar that inflicts [F-tier] Fear on all perceived enemies within 10 meters for 30 seconds. Roars share cooldown.]
[Elite Taunting Roar (Active - F-tier - 50 MP - 1 minute CD): Releases a primal roar that inflicts [F-tier] Taunt on all perceived enemies within 10 meters for 30 seconds. Roars share cooldown.]
Passive Feats
[Growth (Passive - F-tier - N/A): Increases natural size by 25% beyond species norm; affects weight and reach.]
[Natural Focus (Passive - F-tier - N/A): Passive Mental Attack that draws attention to the user.]
[Thick Hide (Passive - F-tier - N/A): Natural armor; reduces physical damage by 15%.]
[Elite Offspring (Passive - E-tier - N/A): +2 to all stats due to Elite status.]
[Final Boss Offspring (Passive - D-tier - N/A): +3 to all stats for heritage.]
[Predator's Sense (Passive - F-tier - N/A): Can detect hostile intent within 2 meters; +1 Wisdom against ambush attempts.]
Lineage Feats
[???????? ???? ???????? (??????? ??????? - ????? - ???): ??????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????.]
Unity Bond Effects
[Unity Tamer Bond: Shares emotional state and basic communication with Damon.]
[Shared Feat: Can receive up to 2 Feats from Damon.]
[Bonded EXP: Shares EXP with all Unity Bonded individuals.]
[Available Feat Points: 18]
With the flood of information, much of which was still new to him, he had to take a moment to collect himself.
The mysterious [????] Feat immediately caught Damon’s attention. He could sense something powerful lurking beneath the surface, and the cub certainly was impressive, especially his Stats.
“A natural,” Ashcroft noted, though something in her tone suggested she was evaluating more than just the bonding process. “That’s quite the golden seal you’ve manifested. From what I understand, most Unity Tamers produce silver, perhaps pale gold at best. Such intensity suggests either exceptional compatibility or…”
She trailed off, her green eyes studying Damon with uncomfortable intensity.
“Or what?” Damon pressed, gently stroking the cub’s head. The creature had relaxed completely, even going so far as to nuzzle against his palm.
“Or you possess abilities you haven’t fully discovered yet,” she finished. “Tell me, do you have [Scan] or [Appraisal] Feats? You must have had some method of discovering this little fellow’s worth.”
Damon kept his expression neutral, recognizing the fishing expedition for what it was, but…that also didn’t make a lot of sense. She’d already broken past his [System Trickery] and scanned his status menu, unless she didn’t know the Feat warned the user it was compromised. Though a more uncomfortable possibility was that it wasn’t she who did that.
“I can see quite a lot of information through our bond, but I’m not quite sure how to respond to that question. Isn’t knowing the status sheet of those we bond to normal?”
The woman’s glossy lips curved in what might have been approval. “Indeed, it is. How refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t reveal all their cards immediately.” Her gaze shifted to the cub. “And what do you make of his mysterious Feat?”
“You called it his lineage?”
“And you pay attention to others. Such a treat. Every creature of significance carries the potential of its bloodline within it. For most animals, it’s simply an expression of their species’ natural abilities. But for the offspring of dungeon bosses…” She gestured elegantly at the cub. “I’m sure you have discovered their unique qualities. Then again, some condition must be met before they activate—usually something tied to their nature.”
Damon considered this, his mind already working through possibilities. If the activation was nature-based, and he was a predatory boss monster, he might not need to wait for the fighting pits at all. “And you think I’ll discover it in the arena?”
“Perhaps. Though knowing you reincarnates, you’ll probably find a way to trigger it much sooner.” There was definitely amusement in her voice now, and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a bit of subtle disappointment. “You other-worlder types do tend toward the impatient when it comes to unraveling mysteries.”
The cub—he really needed to give it a name—had curled up in his lap, apparently deciding that Damon was acceptable. It was a bit hard, considering its size and his 10-year-old body, but the trust was both touching and slightly overwhelming. This creature was depending on him now, and given its mother’s fate near the Hell Gate, that responsibility carried weight.
“I’d like directions to the underground betting market,” Damon decided, rubbing under the cub’s chin. “But first, I need to visit Titania’s shrine in the city. I have…personal matters to address before anything else.”
Lady Ashcroft’s eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly. “Of course. The shrine is in the Garden District, which seems rather on the nose for my taste. It is near the old noble quarter and is typically where the more fae-like creatures congregate. It essentially has its own ecosystem compared to the rest of the city.
“High Cleric Sorrel Nightbloom maintains…and defends it, and she is always present, in one form or another. As for the fighting pits…” She paused, her expression becoming more serious. “Remember our arrangement, young prince. Whatever you earn in those rings—whatever you win, including lives—I’m entitled to half.”
The casual mention of “lives” sent a chill down Damon’s spine, but he kept his expression steady. “I understand the terms.”
Something tells me she wants something that’s going to be at this upcoming event, but doesn’t want to get involved herself… Great. What mess am I going to end up in this time, Soph? Hopefully, you’re on my side, Titania, because I could use all the help I can get with how this deck is stacked.
“Good.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll ensure Marcus handles the paperwork properly while you become acquainted with your new companion. Do remember, names are important. It also carries weight and consequences across generations. Also, if your pet causes any trouble, the authorities need to know who to blame. I hear Razorbacks are especially fond of honey.”
As she moved toward the back of the establishment, Damon noticed something that made his breath catch. A small snake—brilliant red with black diamonds along its spine—slithered out from behind some equipment and gracefully wound its way up Lady Ashcroft’s leg, disappearing beneath the fabric of her dress as if it belonged there.
The movement was so natural, so obviously routine, that it spoke of a permanent bond. Lady Ashcroft was a Tamer as well, after all, and a snake really suited her as a companion.
But what kind of Tamer was she? And why did something about that snake make his newly developed instincts whisper warnings?
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