My Tribrid System: More than a Monster

Chapter 129

A few moments passed in that tight, warm embrace.

For some reason, Van could feel his own body temperature rising slightly for about three seconds before it spiked and then returned to normal.

He moved back awkwardly, disengaging from the hug once he noticed that Ray had finally settled down.

”What happened? Can you tell me?” Van asked, his voice low and laced with genuine concern.

Ray forced a thin smile and shook his head dismissively.

”Ah... it’s nothing much. I just had a bizarre dream that made me act a bit dramatic. Don’t worry, it isn’t anything serious.”

Van narrowed his gaze at Ray, clearly not buying the excuse for a second.

As usual, the Tribrid knew his friend wouldn’t drop the matter until he reached the bottom of it.

Only one tactic usually worked to divert him.

”Wait, you usually don’t return to this room until late at night. Did something happen?” Ray asked, lifting a brow in feigned curiosity.

The moment he heard that question, Van’s eyes widened in sudden realization.

”Fuck! I completely forgot that I was in the middle of building something valuable! I came back specifically to grab an important component and it totally slipped my mind. I’m sorry, I have to bolt now,” he said, springing to his feet.

”You’re definitely good, right?”

Ray nodded, offering a reassuring grin. ”Of course I am.”

”Good.” Van gave a short nod and hurried toward the door.

But before he exited, he paused to call back over his shoulder,

”I know exactly what you’re trying to do. Just so you know, this conversation is far from over.”

Then, he was gone.

”Damn. That didn’t work?” Ray mumbled with a silent chuckle.

He lifted his gaze to stare at the closed door for a moment longer. ”Good. I can still see it.”

A moment ago, immediately following his strange vow, Ray had received a notification from the System that had caught him completely off guard.

[DING!]

[The System has taken note of a sincere promise made by the host to his dear one. The System is moved; hence, it has decided to grant a reward to aid you...]

[One Bloodline skill added]

[Name: Mark]

[Skill Description: This ability allows the user to imprint their unique energy onto a chosen target. Typically, this skill functions best after a solemn promise that must not be broken. An aura—visible only to the host—will manifest, allowing the user to track their targets. It can be utilized to hunt prey or monitor loved ones.]

[Cost: None. Always active until the target perishes or the distance between host and target becomes excessive.]

[Slots: 0/3]

[Do you wish to mark target: Van?]

’System, are there any side effects to this? Will anything happen to Van if I place this mark on him?’

[None at all. Since this is a promise made to him by you, there are no negative consequences for the target. However, the same cannot be said if the situation were reversed; any broken promise on your end could result in severe penalties.]

’So he remains safe if I mark him?’

[Yes.]

’Okay. Do it.’

[Processing... Van has been successfully marked.]

[Slots: 1/3]

It was at that exact moment that Van had felt the brief flash of heat before his body stabilized.

To Ray’s eyes, a faint blue aura now shimmered in the air—looking much like a translucent thread tethered to Van, undulating softly as he moved.

Even after Van had left the room and the door had clicked shut, Ray could still perceive that glowing thread stretching out into the hallway, connected to his friend’s essence.

All he had to do was follow that spectral line, and it would lead him straight to Van whenever he desired.

”Uh... am I going to just keep seeing this aura in the air all the time?”

[You can choose to perceive it or not as you see fit.]

”How so?”

[Simply visualize the suppression of the aura. It functions much like a persistent mental image that one can consciously decide to focus on or ignore. Just mentally switch it off.]

”Okay?” Ray muttered.

Taking a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes for several moments, working to steady his mind and center his focus.

When he finally opened them, the shimmering blue thread was gone from his vision.

”Now that that is settled, I need to get ready for the afternoon gear training.”

He paused for a beat, his eyebrow lifting in a sudden realization of the quietness in his mind.

”Bruce, you are unusually silent today. Is everything okay?”

”...”

There was no immediate response, causing Ray to sigh and close his eyes while remaining standing.

He instantly submerged into his gloomy, shadowed subconscious.

In the dim light of his inner world, he saw Elyon seated in his customary position, staring at him with a faint, knowing smile.

Several meters away, Bruce remained a hulking silhouette, lying motionless in a dark corner.

”Hm... he is definitely still alive and hasn’t kicked the bucket yet.”

”Buzz off, kid,” Bruce’s gravelly, deep voice rumbled from the shadows.

Ray turned his attention back toward the Celestial.

”What exactly happened to him?”

Elyon simply shrugged, his expression neutral.

”He’s been like that for quite a while now. I honestly don’t know—perhaps he’s just bored out of his mind or lost in his own thoughts.”

”Hm?” Ray lifted his brows, his gaze lingering on the werewolf in the corner.

Truth be told, he felt a genuine pang of sympathy for the two entities sharing his space.

He couldn’t imagine the sheer tedium of being confined within someone else’s headspace for days on end, with nothing to do but observe the actions of the body’s primary controller.

It was almost like a unique form of solitary confinement.

They had no one else to converse with and no activities to occupy their time; their only entertainment was whatever Ray happened to be doing in the outside world.

He cast a quick, contemplative glance at Bruce and then at Elyon before letting out a soft sigh and stepping away from the mental chair.

”I have two hours before the gear training commences. Elyon, you can take over the body until then. In the meantime, I’ll stay here and keep Bruce company.”

Upon hearing the request, Elyon’s face beamed widely, his eyes twinkling like miniature suns.

”Really? You’re serious?”

Ray nodded firmly.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Celestial stood up, bolted toward the chair, and quickly synchronized to take control of the physical body.

Meanwhile, Ray walked toward Bruce with steady, unhurried steps.

”I believe I said: buzz off, didn’t I?” the werewolf repeated, his voice heavy with irritation, though he still didn’t look up.

”But yet, I still find myself wanting to annoy you,” Ray chuckled, finally reaching the werewolf’s side.

’Besides, this is killing two birds with one stone,’ Ray thought to himself.

’Let’s see exactly how much time they can maintain control of the body before it hits its limit.’

Smiling outwardly, he sat down near the shadow-clad figure.

”Let’s gist, pal.”