For tamed monsters, at their 3rd awakening level, they start to learn their specializations instead of their normal skills. Ember learned basic skills like [Tackle], [Polymorph], [Clone], and such from her basic and 1st awakening levels. Although she didn’t manage to study her new skills at the 2nd level, she managed to develop her new element at the 3rd level instead. However, she had yet to have a specific specialization.
Specialization is a process where a beast or monster chooses a path to pursue. Even before getting transferred to me, Fang already specialized in sneak attacks and assassination. As soon as she evolved to the 3rd awakening level, she automatically underwent her specialization as an assassin.
Her skills relating to those actions are therefore enhanced, while those that aren’t are weakened. Ember hasn’t formed her specialization yet, so her skills are basically below what a 3rd awakening level should be able to do.
“And so, I think it’s time we choose your specialization.”
As we ran, I explained this to Ember.
The path was just a straight paved road, so there was no problem even if we didn’t pay much attention to our steps. Even if we close our eyes, we wouldn’t bump against anyone else as it’s not like other travelers would pass through this road around this time. Unlike us, who just love to run around, the most common way to travel is by air. Looking right above, a large dragon-like monster just went past while kicking up the dry leaves and dust from the road.
Although I felt slightly envious of those tamers who already had a flying tamed beast, I convinced myself that I, too, would soon have one.
“A specialization…”
Ember was muttering while she ran absentmindedly.
“If possible, I want to specialize in creation.”
After a while of thinking, she finally decided.
“Whenever I remember how I was able to beat monsters above my level through Master’s genius designs, I can’t help but wish I could specialize in that.”
“You mean, through [Polymorph]?”
I did make her morph into things like a helicopter, a plane, or a hammer. However, I didn’t think she would get interested in such things. Although it would have been difficult to do that before, now that I have the activated Taming System, I could simply pass on my engineering knowledge to her.
If she could emulate convenient gadgets further down the line, then I guess that in itself is a pretty great specialization.
“Okay. But if that’s your decision, then you’ll basically end up as support. All your battle skills would be greatly weakened.”
Becoming specialized in support is a great addition to our team’s versatility and power. However, given how weak she would end up in battle, I am worried about what would happen if we got separated. Still, it’s Ember’s decision, so I would like to support her to the end.
“It is my wish to support you, Master, so I don’t mind.”
Ember said with a warm smile as she stared into my eyes.
“Ember…”
Her remarks touched my heart. I could feel her genuine desire to protect me with her life through the special link between us. While I was moved by her words and emotions, I took a wrong step and tripped on a large random stone.
“Master!”
Ember, who was closer to me, quickly dashed to catch me. She circled in front and caught my falling body in a tight embrace. My face sank deeply between Ember’s two mountains.
Fang, who was on the other side, laughed lightly.
“Leader, watch your step! You’re still a human; if you hit your head badly, you can even die.”
Fang teased. Although I was slowly getting stronger too, I can’t deny how weak the human body is. Still, it’s too much to say that I would die just from tripping on a rock. I’m not that fragile.
“Although it may sound like an excuse, I only tripped because I really can’t see where I’m stepping over.”
Turning my head, still buried in Ember’s deep valley, I stared at the ground. There, the only thing I could see was a blinding path of rainbow-colored light leading from the capital to the west. Since the two cannot see this, I think this path of light is actually dense energy particles rushing from one place to another.
For the third time, I took out the compass that I got from God Zeshion. The arrowhead was pointing straight toward the direction the path of light was heading.
“Looks like I wouldn’t even need this compass…”
If my guess is correct, this path should lead us straight to the dwarves. Although it’s going along the highway for now, we’ll know once we reach a branch in the road.
“So, Ember, mind letting go now…?”
Ember was still hugging my head as she listened to me speak with Fang.
“…”
Although she looked reluctant, she slowly released my head. Even if it was a very comfortable location to rest my head on, we were in the middle of the road. It’s not an appropriate thing to do here.
“Right, Fang, help Ember with her specialization process later. I don’t really know the specifics, so I’ll leave it to you.”
I asked Fang before we resumed our run. She only said, “Okay, leader,” with a bright smile.
As we resumed our run, the road started to curve to the right. The path of light, however, was still going straight. I took out the compass once again and saw that it really was pointing toward the location the path of light was leading to.
“It looks like we need to go offroad from hereon… Ember, Fang, go ahead and clear the path if ever there are demons along the way. I’ll slowly catch up with you two.”
The two nodded at the same time before they darted off. In just a moment, I had already lost sight of the two.
“They’re really fast,” I muttered as I slowly followed the path of light.
Since we were only going straight while following the light, Fang and Ember didn’t lose their way. In just a few more hours, we had already broken past the sea of trees only to be greeted by towering brown rocky mountains.
The path of light was still going straight, passing straight through the rocky face of the mountain. With me in the lead, we followed it to an empty-looking cliff face. As the path of light goes through here, I know that there should be a path behind it. ｂ𝚍ｏｖ𝚕．𝚝
“Woah!”
When I touched the wall, I realized that it was only an illusion. With my whole body weight leaning forward, I tumbled and smacked my forehead on the ground, earning a little bump.
However, the pain I felt was blown away by the scene in front of me. A large forge spewing golden tongues of flame. It was undoubtedly the Forge of the Ancients.