"The Tester Potion is what we use whenever we believe an ordinary mortal has the potential to become a great Celestial Warrior."
"We secretly give the person a tiny amount of the potion."
"If they can perceive us after consuming it, their senses temporarily awaken, proving they possess the talent to cultivate Celestial Energy."
"At that point, they are invited into the Celestial community."
"If they can’t perceive us, nothing happens."
"The amount of Celestial Energy inside the potion is so small that it isn’t enough to awaken someone permanently."
Ben rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So, it’s basically a talent test."
"Exactly," Vanessa replied.
She suddenly reached forward and grabbed Ben’s wrist.
Ben looked at her in confusion but didn’t pull away.
Vanessa closed her eyes for a few moments as a faint trace of Celestial Energy flowed from her fingertips.
After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and released his hand.
"As I expected."
"There are still traces of the Tester Potion inside your body."
"I was right."
"You were tested by someone."
Ben slowly nodded.
So it really was the coffee...
But who would secretly give me something like that?
As Ben thought about it, the face of the mischievous waitress at the café suddenly appeared in his mind.
Was it her?
Doesn’t that mean she might also be part of this hidden world?
Vanessa noticed the change in his expression.
"Do you have someone in mind?" she asked.
Ben nodded.
"Yeah."
"I think my coffee was laced with the Tester Potion you were talking about."
Vanessa nodded.
"Hmm, that’s possible."
"To avoid drawing attention, we usually mix the Tester Potion into food or drinks."
"It is the safest and most common method."
Ben nodded in understanding.
"So that’s why I could see you."
"Exactly," Vanessa replied.
"If you were able to see me, then you’ve most likely passed the test."
"The person who tested you will probably contact you soon."
"They’ll explain everything about our hidden world and formally introduce you to the Celestial community."
After saying that, Vanessa stood up.
"I should get some rest."
"My injuries have healed, but I still need time to recover my Celestial Energy."
"The faster I recover, the sooner I can return."
Ben nodded.
"Alright."
"If you need anything, just let me know."
Vanessa gave him a small nod before turning around and walking back toward the guest room.
As soon as Vanessa returned to the guest room and closed the door, the living room became quiet again.
Ben leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
"So much happened today."
Just as he was about to relax, something soft landed beside him.
Plop.
Ben turned his head.
A small black puppy was sitting on the sofa.
It looked no more than a few months old. Its fur was as black as night, and its bright crimson eyes quietly stared at him.
"Huh?"
Ben frowned.
"Buddy, how did you get in here?"
He looked around the living room.
All the doors and windows were closed.
The puppy simply sat there, wagging its tail.
Ben reached out and picked it up.
"Did you sneak in while I was carrying Vanessa?"
He was about to carry the puppy outside when it suddenly spoke.
"You captured me, yet you don’t even remember me?"
Ben’s hands froze.
For a second, his brain completely stopped working.
Then...
"What?"
Ben slowly lowered the puppy until they were face to face.
The puppy sighed.
"I said, you captured me."
Ben’s eyes widened.
His mind immediately connected the words with the notification he had received earlier.
[Congratulations! You have subdued an Undead Creature: Death Flame Cerberus.]
He looked at the tiny puppy in disbelief.
"No way..."
He pointed at it with a trembling finger.
"Are you..."
"The three-headed dog?"
The puppy nodded calmly.
"Correct."
"My true name is Morbius, the Death Flame Cerberus."
"This is simply my sealed form."
Ben stared at the tiny puppy, then remembered the terrifying monster that had stood nearly two stories tall.
He looked back at the puppy.
Then at the system notification still recorded in his memory.
Then back at the puppy again.
"..."
"You got a serious downgrade."
The puppy’s face twitched.
"It is because of the contract."
"You forced me into a servant contract."
"My strength has been sealed according to your level."
"And you are nothing more than a mortal. As a result, I have also been reduced to the level of a mortal."
Ben blinked several times.
"So..."
"You can’t transform back into your true form?"
The black puppy looked at him with clear disdain.
"Correct."
"Now that I have become your servant, I must depend on my master’s Celestial Energy."
"Since you possess none, I am forced to manifest in this weak mortal form."
"I cannot return to my true form until you begin cultivating Celestial Energy."
The puppy let out an annoyed snort.
"In other words..."
"My strength now depends entirely on yours."
The puppy jumped onto the sofa and looked at Ben.
"Speaking of which..."
"How did you even obtain such a powerful soul contract?"
"I am a Sun-Level creature, yet you managed to subdue me."
Ben scratched his head.
"Sun Level?"
"I have no idea what that means."
"But if it’s named after the Sun, I guess it’s pretty powerful."
Morbius’s face twitched.
He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of terrible luck had led him to become the servant of a mortal who didn’t even know the most basic power rankings.
After taking a deep breath, he looked at Ben seriously.
"Listen, human."
"I don’t like this any more than you do."
"But now that we are bound by a soul contract, I am forced to stay with you."
"If you die..."
"I die as well."
"So from this moment onward, listen carefully to everything I teach you."
"If you want to survive in this world."
Morbius finished speaking with a serious expression.
However, because he was currently a tiny black puppy, the intimidating speech had little effect.
Ben stared at him for a few seconds.
Only one thought crossed his mind.
Cute...
Just then, footsteps came from the hallway.
"Ben, I almost forgot to—"
Vanessa stopped mid-sentence the moment she saw the black puppy sitting on the sofa.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"What is that?!"
Morbius turned his head toward her and let out a cold snort.
"Isn’t that the woman who was about to become my lunch?"
Vanessa’s expression instantly turned cold.
With a flash of blue light, a long azure katana appeared in her hand.
She pointed it directly at Morbius.
"Ben!"
"Get behind me!"
Ben looked from Vanessa to the tiny puppy on the sofa before shaking his head.
"I don’t think that’s necessary..."