This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange - Chapter 530

Chapter 530: Chapter 530: A Force Beyond His Control
Because there were no new features of the System revealed, Kain decided to take a look around Pangea.

Since it had gotten fully healed, he had never taken the time to fully explore the new environment with each core fragment he absorbed.

Kain materialized on Pangea’s surface with a thought, his boots sinking slightly into the extremely dark and nutrient-rich soil.

The air smelled different—sharper, more alive, carrying scents of blooming flowers and distant saltwater that made his nostrils flare.

He exhaled slowly, letting his senses stretch outward.

Everything was… enhanced.

Many of the trees, once all sturdy but ordinary, now seemed to have mutated, and a tree that was at least of black-iron quality could be seen with every step…many were even higher in quality.

Kain reached out instinctively, brushing his fingers against the trunk of the nearest tree that stood out due to its pitch-black trunk. The moment his skin made contact, information flooded his mind—

—–

Species: Umbral Oak

Quality: Gold (Peak)

Strength: Orange-grade

Abilities: Shadow Manipulation, Dream Pollination

——-

Kain jerked his hand back in shock, even at Pangea’s peak he’d been hard-pressed to find a single plant above red-grade. Hence why he hadn’t yet capitalized on some of the vegetative resources of the planet.

But now, even the most ‘ordinary’ trees towered with an ethereal sheen, and their bark shimmered with faint bioluminescent patterns that pulsed to a rhythm, like the planet’s heartbeat.

Their leaves weren’t merely green but iridescent, shifting between emerald, sapphire, and violet as the wind stirred them.

Over the previously dried-out landscapes were now dozens—no, hundreds to thousands of new rivers that cut through the earth adding a moist quality to the surrounding environment no matter where he went.

The mountains in the distance seemed taller, at their peaks were multi-coloured auroras that had no business existing outside polar regions.

Even the air itself carried a richness that made his skin prickle and Kain could tell that cultivating on this planet would probably be even more beneficial to him than the Planetarium.

So, although he lost one System function, he still found a comparable alternative in Pangea.

Kain, as the owner of Panngea, had long sensed that its previous peak was its limit unless Kain broke through. But now the planet was thriving beyond its original limits—beyond his limitations. Due to the assistance—theft—of the energy from another world—Earth.

‘I can somewhat empathize with the Abyssals if they experience something similar each time they invade Earth…’

The spiritual creatures on the planet did seem to be the biggest beneficiaries.

Kain swept his gaze over the landscape, watching as creatures prowled, hunted, and clashed in bursts of terrifying power.

Before, high-level entities had been rare. Aurem and his underlings, plus the small group of high-level creatures in the oceans are the only ones. Before the limit that most creatures could hope to achieve had been maybe the equivalent of blue-grade. Now, high-level creatures roamed in numbers never seen before.

He spotted a massive, obsidian-plated feline weaving through the trees, each step soundless despite its bulk. Overhead, a trio of winged predators engaged in an aerial skirmish, their talons leaving streaks of light as they struck at each other with frightening precision. Even the weaker creatures carried an unmistakable potency, and Kain could instinctively tell that even if lower in level, they were all of a decent quality.

A low growl rumbled from the underbrush.

Kain turned slowly to face a predator that didn’t at all resemble any spiritual creature on earth—a six-legged feline with fur like liquid mercury and eyes that burned with contained lightning. It wasn’t able to see Kain, so he looked around to note that there was a crouching member of the same species on the other side of Kain—perhaps an intraspecies fight?

Kain focused on the creatures that didn’t seem that high in level, but still gave off an intimidating air:

——

Species: Stormclaw Pard

Quality: Platinum

Strength: Red-grade

Abilities: Electrokinetic Strikes, Phase Shifting

——–

To think that any random creature, if he were able to take them out to sell could be worth millions of Celestial Dollars. Kain folded his arms, a sharp exhale escaping him. “This place is ridiculous now.”

*That would be an understatement*, the System chimed in. *Pangea’s energy density has surpassed any previous peak. If it were a real-world location, it would likely become a sacred ground for any creature seeking power.*

Kain hummed in agreement, gaze trailing over a particularly massive beast in the distance—a scaled quadruped whose aura sent smaller creatures scurrying. The sheer concentration of high-tier creatures was absurd. If he had access to this kind of force in the outside world, he could…

A bitter chuckle slipped past his lips. “If only they weren’t bound here.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it?

Because the cruellest limitation remained—the creatures here, no matter how powerful, were bound by the same rules as always. They couldn’t leave Pangea without forming contracts. And when they did…

White-grade. Every time.

If things were different… If he could take them as they were now, unrestricted—

Aurem alone could shake an army.

A battalion of the strongest of them? A force strong enough to topple nations.

Kain let out a slow breath, pushing away the pointless fantasy. It wasn’t possible, and there was no use dwelling on it. The restrictions were absolute, and no amount of lamenting would change that.

Speaking of Aurem, Kain went to see his old friend—and one of the few entities on this planet privy to Kain’s existence.

The damage to Pangea was probably the hardest on Aurem and the Tree of Life, but the golden dragon seems to have more than recovered.

The golden dragon lay sprawled out lazily across an elevated plateau. Sunlight gleamed off his brilliant scales, a sight so dazzling that it could blind an unprepared viewer.

But Kain wasn’t distracted by Aurem’s dazzling appearance—his focus was on the ever-growing number of creatures gathered around the dragon.

There were more than before. Far more.

It seems like every spiritual creature that was talented enough to breakthrough to indigo-grade or above and become part of the higher-level population, was recruited (more like forced) by Aurem to become his subordinate.

Kain’s gaze swept over Aurem’s gathered underlings. The original four had already been monstrous, but now there were dozens of new arrivals—some of them powerful in their own right, though still beneath the four, now three, original underlings.

Even with the loss of the Black Tortoise due to it forming a contract with Gabriel, Aurem’s forces had expanded to an almost absurd degree.

Kain had no doubt that if these creatures could leave Pangea as they were, he’d have an army strong enough to compete with the entire Empire.

He nearly scoffed at the thought—imagine the horror of an empire, seeing a golden dragon leading an unstoppable tide of beasts to their doorstep.

Kain exhaled, folding his arms. A shame, really. If things were different if he could command them as they were…

Shaking his head to get rid of the dangerous thought, Kain focused back on his surroundings.

The newcomers surrounded Aurem in an almost fearful silence, waiting at a respectful distance while Aurem lazily gnawed on an object in his claws.

Kain narrowed his eyes.

A piece of glowing metal—a metal resembling a vibrant gold with deep crimson hues intertwined, flickering with an otherworldly radiance.

Even at a glance, Kain could tell it was extraordinary. The metal pulsed faintly, exuding an energy so condensed that it distorted the air around it. And given that a creature as special as Aurem was even obsessed with it, Kain was even more confident in this assertion.

Kain realized that it wasn’t just the creatures that had changed due to the improvement of Pangea. The material resources of Pangea had also seemingly evolved.

And unlike those that were alive…these new precious materials may be able to leave as they were!

Crack

Aurem crushed the metal with a sharp bite, his teeth shearing through it with only a little resistance. Sparks danced in the air as the remnants of the metal crumbled into dust, absorbed into the dragon’s body.

Aurem finally seemed to take notice of him. The dragon lifted his head, golden eyes locking onto Kain’s position.

He gazed at Kain with a faint expression of amusement…perhaps mixed with defiance.

After all, as the acting overlord of Pangea, Aurem likely felt as though he was above the puny human that nobody else could see.

Kain merely met his gaze, neither acknowledging nor denying the unspoken challenge.

Aurem huffed, turning back to his lounging. His tail lazily flicked against the ground, sending a tremor through the earth.

Kain sighed.

Perhaps it was a good thing none of them could leave without a contract.

It appeared as though not only was Pangea itself slipping from Kain’s control, but unless he greatly improved his personal strength, the creatures on the planet would also have no reason to fear and respect him.