Spirit Taming

Chapter 238: Ralph's Determination

"The fire…" Ralph had heard of the fire that claimed an entire block. He had also heard the rumor that people had perished in it. Along with the fact that the Mourne family's young master had been the cause. However, the rumor was a taboo to say out loud and Ralph had only heard about it in passing.

"I didn't think you would have heard that rumor. Yes, that fire. Shortly after I finally hatched my first beast, I met Clara Mane who was working for the licensing examinations. She connected me with her family and helped me out. But when I returned to tell my family…" Clark paused for a moment. He could see that Ralph was clearly seeing why Clark wanted revenge and would be sharing this with him.

"I returned to ashes. Now I have a goal to clean up the abused power in the city. Maybe even further than the city depending on my growth. For now, though, we get stronger. Maria is an exiled daughter from the Mourne family. This is what they do to those that are not born strong.

They kill or abuse them. Isa and Ella are from powerful families that have their freedom. However, they have seen the disgusting use of power by the Mourne family and I trust them completely."

"I wasn't sure how you would fit in to things, but since they dragged you in to it you have a choice. Join us and be our partner or stay on your own. But if you join us officially, it will be hard. You WILL get stronger though. Much stronger. I can promise that." Clark was putting a lot of emphasis in his words.

He knew that Ralph needed a clear explanation to make the proper decision.

"I can do that. I can do that.." It sounded like Ralph was convincing himself. The fight with the senior that had been sent by Maria's older brother had clearly scared him. It had brought out the reality that his rival, Clark, was not the most powerful person he could go against. That there were people that were much more powerful out there that didn't even care if he lived or died.

"Are you sure?" Clark needed to hear it clearly before he invested anything else in to this.

"Yes, But I will still beat you in a match one day. I can't be the second strongest forever." The small smirk that Ralph held was a bit more of his true self. The arrogance would always show through. Yet, this arrogance was the true him. It was the desire to be stronger breaking through any other emotion that could beat him down. It was pure and not muddled by negativity or cruelty.

Just a pure belief within himself and his own power.

"Then you should meet my first beast. This is Devil, his nickname is Devi." Devi appeared from the taming space and got right in Ralph's face. He did not hesitate to laugh a little to scare Ralph a little.

"This is the ghost beast that I heard about before! You're that guy that dresses like a Phantom!"

"Don't look so surprised. The rumors of our disguises have kind of spread a lot. The Star city lord passed on how he had met a traveling expert at the auction and a few of the nobles know that we are connected to them.

He made up a pretty good story about us bumping in to him and learning a lot in Star city." Isa had been impressed when she heard the rumor but had assumed that Clark already knew about it.

"I see. Well, yes. We are disguising ourselves at times to hide from the people that came to cause you trouble. But that's not important. Show me your partner. I can tell that the poison will be the end of you too if not dealt with." Ralph showed a slight look of despair.

However, the hope that Clark would cure it was even greater.

"I was able to open the raging steel taming space. It's good for metal attribute beasts. No one else cared about the materials it needed because not many people think of taming metal type beasts. But it hasn't helped at all." The boar limped out of the taming space.

There were patches of steel hair that had fallen out and acidic burns all over it. The points that the scorpion had stabbed in to inject venom were clearly swollen and rotting already.

After Clark looked for a while he had some great insight from the system. The specific passage that the system gave him that caught his interest was…

'Infected by the forest moss scorpion poison is causing the rapping breakdown of muscle and inducing rot. The best way to cure it would be to transfuse other steel haired boar blood to remove the toxic blood.

There is an alternate unique evolution that can be achieved. Most metal type beasts will avoid corrosive poisons due to their nature. However, some beasts can embrace it to grow beyond what is expected. It causes a rapid growth that can only be seen as an evolution and not a growth to a proper stage.

The species that is possible with the addition of black iron ore, green slime acid, purple creeping vines, and volcanic copper is named the molten boar. It is considered a step back because this would cause the energy it has gathered to be burned up in to a weaker growth level. The infant molten boar is considered equal to the peak state of the current boar in front of the host.

The process will cause large amounts of mental and physical pain to the tamer. They will be forced to feel the entire process as the boar's body is broken down and regrown. This is not recommended because it can cause mental death.'

"The price is very steep. We can find the materials but it will take a major toll on you. I don't mean just pain. I mean more pain than you have ever even considered in your entire life. And then add more." Clark felt that he had read something taboo. There were more details there about the kinds of pain but… Well, your boar will change species in a way.

It will also start at a weaker growth stage but at the same level it is now when strength is concerned."

Ralph was silent while looking at his partner. The boar was clearly in pain and Ralph could feel it. However, when Ralph looked deeply at his partner. Deeply at the bond they shared he saw one single thing. A thirst for revenge. His partner wanted to prevail over the one that had done this to him.

Just like Ralph, he wanted to be powerful. They may not have been the same species but they shared the same mind. They desired strength. Power. They wanted to stand on top at whatever cost.

"If that is what you want, I will take on all the pain. If I won't be left behind by you, then I will handle it all. Just rest for a while." Ralph showed a lot of who he truly was. The person that was hidden by the constant boasting and challenges. Now the entire team saw who Ralph was and what kind of person he would be. "So, when do we start?"

"Ella, can you get these materials from Doc?" Clark watched as Ella read the list he had just written. "Maria, I need you and Isa to work on cleaning this entire area. As spotless and covered in metal sheeting as you can. There should be thin strips of tin over there for toxic beasts to be placed on." Clark was in motion as soon as he could be.

"Ralph, you will be dealing with a lot of pain. I will get a piece of wood to bite down on and we should probably restrain your arms and legs to prevent flailing. I can offer a few potions that might numb you…"

But they won't do much good. That's fine. Save them then. I said I would handle it all." The acceptance that Ralph had thrown away the last little bit of hesitation that Clark had about all of this. "I am trusting you here. If you just leave me to die here, my spirit will haunt you." Ralph tried to threaten Clark in good humor before he would be put through literal hell.

"Devi can eat your soul for energy. Don't worry. If you fail then I will let him gain some strength. You will still get revenge in some form." While this was true, it was fairly scary to say out loud. Clark didn't even realize that his joke had missed the mark. Missed it by a mile.

However, Devi had laughed a little. Although, his laugh just brought more goosebumps to Ralph and the others. "Oh, and you are going to need to buy new materials to alter your timing space. Specifically metal and volcanic materials." Clark was sure that the taming space would need adjusting if Ralph succeeded.