Lioro blinked as the notification flickered before him.
[Ding... High-Grade Spirit detected...]
[Favourability exceeds minimum requirement... Would you like to initiate a contract with Human-Spirit?]
His gaze sharpened as he stared at the translucent message hovering before his eyes.
A high-grade spirit.
"Lioro… are you okay?" Elsa's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, her expression tinged with concern.
He turned to her, hesitating briefly before nodding. "Yeah… just processing something new."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Something new?"
Lioro exhaled, his thoughts racing.
If Elsa was indeed considered a high-grade spirit, then forming a contract with her would allow him to increase her level.
High-level spirits could reach Level 70
If they signed a contract, he could make Elsa a Level 70 pure ice mage akin to a YGGDRASIL player, though with far fewer spells and skills. However, her stats would match that level, making her quite powerful.
Not to mention, a contract would grant Elsa 20% of his total stats, further enhancing her already formidable strength.
The benefits were obvious.
With this in mind, he decided to tell her. It wasn't like he had a reason to hide it. If anything, telling Elsa might actually be beneficial.
But first, he needed to check something.
"Elsa, what do you think? Do I seem different?" Lioro asked while inspecting his newly acquired passive skill, which increased a spirit's favorability toward him.
Since Elsa was considered a spirit, it should also work on her.
Elsa tilted her head in confusion. "I don't understand."
"I mean, don't you feel any different when looking at me? Like… I suddenly became more handsome or something?" he said, attempting a cool pose.
Elsa blinked, then—
Puff—
She burst into laughter.
"Haha—what are you even on about? You look so stupid with that pose...pfft…!"
Struggling to control her laughter, Elsa wiped the tears forming near her eyes.
Lioro gave her a dissatisfied look.
His passive skill was a fraud!
It didn't work at all!
At least, there was no noticeable change in Elsa's behavior… unless—
Her favorability was already high, so it didn't change anything.
That seemed to be the most logical answer.
Shaking off the useless thought, he got to the main point.
"Bruni, the fire spirit, formed a contract with me," Lioro said, lifting his palm, where Bruni lay curled up, flicking its tiny tail playfully. "He's now my contracted spirit."
Elsa's brows furrowed. "Contracted spirit?"
Lioro nodded. "Spirits and mortals can form contracts. It's a mutual agreement where both benefit from the connection. In my case, Bruni gains a portion of my strength, and in return, he assists me when needed."
Elsa's gaze flickered between Bruni and Lioro. "So… spirits can share power with their contractors?"
"Exactly. Spirits grow stronger by linking to a powerful individual. And since you're highly compatible with spirits, especially elemental ones, you'd benefit greatly from a contract."
Elsa's eyes lit up. "That seems powerful."
Nearby, Yelena and General Mattias, who had been silently watching, exchanged bewildered glances. The Northuldra had always communicated with the spirits, but forming a contract?
That was unheard of.
Lioro then touched his chin, pondering how to tell Elsa that she wasn't entirely human.
"What's wrong?" Elsa asked, curious.
Looking at her innocent expression, he decided to tell her straight.
"You're a half-spirit, Elsa. And we can form a contract."
"...Huh?"
A dumbfounded voice escaped Elsa's lips.
The onlookers were just as confused.
Lioro repeated himself. "You're a half-spirit, Elsa. Maybe one of your parents was one, or perhaps you were simply blessed by the spirits and became a half-spirit yourself."
Elsa's expression turned thoughtful. "I'm… a half-spirit?"
She extended her hand, conjuring delicate snowflakes that danced in the air.
Yelena and Mattias watched in stunned silence.
"I see… so this was why I could use ice magic…" she muttered.
Surprisingly, she accepted it quickly.
'That was fast,' Lioro thought.
He had expected a dramatic reaction.
But Elsa simply nodded.
Maybe… she didn't mind?
Only Elsa knew.
"Then, Lioro… you want to form a contract with me?" she asked, looking at Bruni as it climbed onto Lioro's head.
"Yes. If we do, I can share a portion of my power with you, making you stronger than ever before."
"I understand. I'll form a contract with you, Lioro, but… tell me one thing honestly."
"Hmm? Sure, ask away."
"...You're not bothered by the fact that I'm a spirit, are you?"
Lioro smirked lightly. "Nope. Elsa is Elsa."
Elsa smiled.
"Then, how do we form a contract?"
Instead of answering, Lioro extended his hand.
Elsa grabbed it instantly, without hesitation.
Lioro upgraded his Spirit Master class, then started the contract.
[Spirit Master Lv 1 → Spirit Master Lv 5]
[Contract initiated... Conditions met...]
An illusory white chain appeared, binding their hands.
[Contract formed...]
Instantly, Elsa felt her strength surge.
Her mana pool expanded, her physical capabilities skyrocketed, and her body pulsed with pure energy.
Since 20% of Lioro's stats transferred to her, meaning a +120 in all stats(Hp, Mana, Agility, Physical defense and attack, magical defense and attack).
She clenched her fist, then—
Boom!
She punched a tree, blasting a hole through it, breaking it apart.
Elsa stared humbly at the broken tree and then her hand.
"I-I really punched through?!" She gasped.
General Mattias's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets.
Seeing Elsa waving her hand, the soldiers instinctively took a step back.
While everyone was going crazy, Lioro checked Elsa's status panel.
----
Name: Elsa
Type: Human-Spirit (Ice & Curse Attribute)
Level: 30/70
Grade: High
Introduction:
Elsa, the Ice Spirit, is a being of unparalleled grace and power, embodying the essence of winter itself. Born from an extraordinary convergence of elemental energy and human will, she wields the chilling beauty of frost while carrying the weight of an untold curse. Her control over ice surpasses that of ordinary magic, as she bends nature to her will, crafting storms, shaping glaciers, and summoning blizzards with but a thought.
Yet, hidden beneath her mastery lies an ominous force, an ancient curse intertwined with her existence. While it grants her immense strength, it also binds her to an unknown fate, whispering from the depths of her soul like a frozen shadow waiting to awaken.
Her form retains a human appearance, though her presence carries an ethereal chill, and her emotions manifest in the very air around her. Those who stand beside her feel a protective winter's embrace, but those who stand against her find themselves encased in an eternal frost.
Her three sizes are.....(See)
Personal Traits:
Eternal Frostbearer, Cursed Birth.
Spirit Traits:
Ice Manifestation, Life Ice, Absolute Zero Barrier, Glacial Summon, Cursed Rebirth, Ice Resistance VI, Water Resistance III, Fire Vulnerability III, Divine Vulnerability II.
----
'Curse Attribute?'
Lioro frowned.
Elsa had an affinity with cursed energy.
'It seems she doesn't know it.'
Suddenly, Lioro stopped.
His gaze landed on the end of the description....
'Three sizes?'
Lioro blinked, read the numbers, and froze.
Unknowingly, his gaze turned towards Elsa's chest.
Originally, he thought it was medium size, but now....
Lioro didn't know what to say.
Elsa! Where the hell are you hiding them!? The data don't match!
He really wanted to ask if she could even breathe!
Just as Lioro's thoughts were going sideways.
A singing voice appeared in his mind.
"Haaahaaeehaa~"
Both Lioro and Elsa snapped their heads in the same direction.
Elsa's expression turned serious. "It's here again… the voice… but this time, it's clearer."
She turned to Lioro. "You heard it too?"
Lioro nodded. "Must be the spirit contract."
Or, more precisely, his new 'Spirit's Favor' passive skill.
"Let's go."
Leaving the stunned General Mattias and Yelena behind, they sprinted toward the siren's call.
----
Two figures dashed through the dense forest at an astonishing speed, their surroundings blurring into streaks of green. The wind howled past them, carrying the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves.
Elsa glanced at Lioro's back, a determined glint in her eyes. Then, without warning, she gathered her magic, infused her legs with ice energy, and surged forward, overtaking him with a triumphant smirk.
Lioro raised an eyebrow, watching her wink at him as she rushed ahead.
For a moment, he was speechless.
'I was deliberately going at a slower pace for her sake, and she actually took that as a sign of weakness?'
His lips twitched.
'A level 30 mage wants to race?'
Very well.
A grin spread across his face.
"Sure, let's go."
The ground beneath Lioro cracked open as an explosive force erupted from his feet. In an instant, he shot forward like a missile, a loud sonic boom echoing through the forest. The sudden burst of speed left a gust of wind in his wake, rustling Elsa's silver-blonde hair.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside her, reaching out to squeeze her cheeks.
"Catch me if you can," he said, flashing a grin before vanishing again in a burst of speed.
Elsa was left stunned, her lips slightly parted as she processed what had just happened. The tingling warmth of his fingers lingered on her cheeks, making her blush.
'Did he just… tease me?'
She bit her lower lip. Summoning her ice magic, she conjured a trail of frost beneath her feet, using it as a slide to propel herself forward.
But no matter how much she tried to push her speed to the limit, she could never catch up.
Lioro, still dashing ahead effortlessly, even had the audacity to glance back at her and stick out his tongue in a playful, taunting gesture.
Elsa puffed her cheeks in frustration.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of chasing him, they arrived at their destination.
Elsa stopped, breathing heavily, her shoulders rising and falling. She pouted, sending Lioro a glare of mild annoyance.
"You're such a child…" she huffed.
Lioro merely chuckled, pointing ahead.
"I don't want to hear that from you," he countered.
Elsa followed his gaze, and the moment her eyes landed on the sight before her, all the playfulness vanished from her face.
A wrecked wooden ship lay half-submerged in the sand, its tattered sails flapping weakly in the breeze. The hull was cracked, worn by time and the relentless waves.
Elsa's heart clenched.
She recognized it immediately.
"…Mother? Father?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she stepped forward.
Without another word, she rushed toward the ship, her breath hitching in her throat.
Lioro followed quietly behind her, giving her space.
The two of them entered the ship through one of the broken openings. The interior was empty, the scent of damp wood and salt filling the air. Elsa's fingers brushed against the splintered walls, memories flooding her mind.
"This ship… belonged to my mother and father," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lioro remained silent, sensing the weight of her emotions.
Then, Elsa raised her hand.
A faint glow emanated from the water around them, shimmering softly before forming a memory, an echo of the past.
In the translucent vision, two figures appeared: the king and queen of Arendelle. They were clinging to each other as the ocean waves swallowed them whole. Their desperate embrace was the last thing Elsa saw before the memory faded.
The glow vanished, leaving behind only silence.
Elsa's hands clenched into tight fists.
Lioro took a step back, allowing her a moment of solitude.
After a long pause, she released a slow breath, then turned to him with newfound resolve in her eyes.
"We must follow the voice," she said firmly. "I believe it holds the answers to everything."
The thick fog of the enchanted forest, the mysterious tribe frozen in time, the shipwreck of her parents, everything was connected.
Lioro nodded.
His Frost Dragon King Armor materialized, enveloping him in a regal sheen of icy blue and silver. Extending a hand toward Elsa, he met her determined gaze.
"Then let's go."
She placed her hand in his, and in the next instant, he pulled her into his arms. Holding her securely in a princess carry, he spread his wings.
With a powerful beat, they soared into the sky, leaving the shore behind as they flew toward the open sea.
As they approached their destination, the ocean grew restless.
The waves swelled unnaturally, rising into towering walls of water. The air crackled with magic, and an eerie song echoed across the sea, a siren's call, ancient and haunting.
Lioro narrowed his eyes.
"That's where the spirit disturbance originates," he muttered.
Elsa turned to him, her expression resolute. "The island… I hear a voice calling me from there."
"Then let's go."
The moment they neared the island, the ocean roared in defiance.
A colossal wave surged toward them, and from within its depths, a creature emerged, a water spirit in the form of a majestic yet menacing horse. Its translucent body shimmered like liquid sapphire, its glowing eyes fixed on them with a challenge.
Elsa's gaze hardened.
"Stay back, Lioro. I'll handle this."
She extended her hand, ice magic crackling to life.
In an instant, the massive wave and the spirit within it froze solid. The ocean's wrath was silenced, encased in a jagged, glistening glacier.
Lioro hovered nearby, watching with interest.
'Her power has nearly doubled…', he thought, noting the sheer scale of her magic.
The frozen spirit strained against its icy prison, trying to break free.
Lioro's eyes gleamed.
Summoning his skill, he uttered a single command.
"Spirit Command."
A blood-red chain materialized from the void, twisting and coiling like a living entity.
Unlike the usual ethereal contracts he had seen before, this one was different. It bound the water spirit tightly, wrapping around its spectral form like shackles.
The spirit let out an unearthly screech, its struggle growing more desperate.
Elsa's eyes widened as she watched the scene unfold. "Lioro…?"
"I'm forming a contract," he explained calmly, his focus unwavering.
Trusting him, Elsa remained silent and observed the process.
Minutes passed.
Finally, the spirit ceased its thrashing, surrendering to the red chain that now coiled securely around its neck.
The contract was complete.
Lioro raised a hand, opening the spirit's status panel.
----
Name: Nokk.
Type: Water Spirit.
Level: 27/50 (Experience: 0/100,000)
Grade: Medium.
Introduction:
The Nokk, a water-bound spirit of untamed will, takes the form of a majestic horse composed of liquid and mist. Dwelling in the deepest lakes and ocean tides, it is a guardian of the waters, fiercely resisting all who seek to cross its domain. Though wild and independent, it can form a bond with those strong enough to subdue its power.
Personal Traits:
Spirit of the Deep, Unyielding Tide, Guardian of the Flow.
Spirit Traits:
Water Manifestation, Tidal Manipulation, Water Stride, Water Resilience III, Pressure Resistance III, Ice Vulnerability IV, Fire Vulnerability III.
----
A new companion had been added to his collection.
Turning to Elsa, he said.
"Let's go."
Elsa nodded, determination flickering in her eyes.
Then they flew toward the heart of the island, toward the source of the voice calling Elsa forward.
The answers they sought lay just ahead.
----
Ps: Btw did you guys know this fanfic is the continuation of my other fanfic 'Ascendent Across realities'?, you don't need to read the previous one to understand this story but if you do then you will come to understand about the system and the Gojo powers Lioro received at the start, yes they were not a coincidence.