This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange-Chapter 539: "Holy Land"

Time passed, but due to the lack of a sun or moon underground to measure its passing, it was not measured in days but in battles.

'Abomination number 53…no, actually, this may be 54 now…'

Even Kain, who had been enthusiastically mowing through them, was feeling it wearing him down—much less the others who didn't receive any benefits while fighting.

However, regardless of their exhaustion they kept moving forward—not that their attackers would let them rest for too long anyways.

Not to mention, despite approaching what they assumed to be the center of the underground ruins, the conditions of the tunnels and caverns worsened.

The deeper they ventured into the underground ruins, the more the path twisted and narrowed, pushing them through cracked stone tunnels and over half-collapsed, trembling bridges that dropped into seemingly bottomless abysses.

But, having faith that the symbol at the center of the map was truly the location of the relic core, they didn't turn back—no matter how skeptical some of them were beginning to get.

But in this bleak atmosphere, there were some bright spots.

After the last update that some System functions were restored, Kain had enthusiastically called upon the System while the others were sleeping, only to be notified that the only function restored at the time was the Shop…

The Shop that only displayed a limited number of objects and rarely had something he felt was necessary. But at least it was something…

Secondly, no longer shackled by Kain's lower-level, Bea was ready to advance again. Unfortunately, while Kain no longer held her back, her current evolutionary form did:

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Species: Apex Mindshard Amoeba

…

Quality: Platinum

Type: Microorganism (Amoeba)

Attribute: Mental

Skills:

…

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And without the Simulator provided by the System, Kain didn't dare risk having her evolve blindly. The best-case scenario would be a powerful form he achieved by sheer luck—which was extremely unlikely.

Another, more likely, possibility would be that the evolution failed—which honestly wouldn't be too bad except for some temporary sequelae and the wasted materials.

But the absolute worst-case scenario would be Bea evolving into a significantly weaker form. And given Kain's luck recently, this was entirely possible.

But today may actually change all of that. After killing 53 (or 54?) of the abominations, and admittedly absorbing energy from certain objects when he felt as though Serena wasn't looking, the System finally had enough energy to unlock a second function.

As if answering all of Kain's prayers, Kain finally had access to the Laboratory again, which he quickly went to enthusiastically.

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Due to the System's fusion with Pangea, the locations of the System's functions were no longer so abstract…as the System brief alluded to, they would all likely appear now as physical spaces that exist on Pangea.

That night Kain closed his eyes and entered Pangea—or, more specifically, the representation of the System on the planet.

The transition was seamless, as if he were simply blinking between realities.

Kain's consciousness materialized at the base of a towering mountain that had erupted from Pangea's surface not long after the System's fusion.

Before him, the mountain rose impossibly high, its upper reaches shrouded in swirling white clouds that glowed faintly with an inner light.

The path upward was paved with smooth, iridescent stone that shimmered between jade green and sapphire blue depending on the angle of view—a fusion of Eastern celadon glaze and European stained-glass artistry.

Thud

"Oooowwaahh!" Kain looked to the side to see what appeared to be a baby tiger-like spiritual creature, that didn't even reach his knees, slam headfirst into an invisible barrier surrounding the mountain.

When this massive glowing mountain resembling a holy land suddenly appeared on Pangea, naturally it had been an object of intense curiosity.

Everything from the weakest rodent-like creature to Aurem had visited it and attempted to enter…unsuccessfully.

Nobody but Kain was able to enter without his permission.

Eventually, all of the creatures got used to and ignored the mountain, but the odd young one would still try to approach and be knocked away…like now.

Smiling slightly, Kain walked past the disgruntled cub that couldn't see him to the beginning of the path, and began his march upward.

As Kain ascended, the steps subtly reshaped themselves underfoot, forming intricate reliefs of coiled dragons, mythical figures, shining constellations and more—blending images from various cultures.

At the mountain's first plateau stood the Shop. Before, when the System was still separate, its Shop had been a sterile, holographic interface. Functional. Cold. Efficient.

But now, it was no longer a flat computer-like interface but a physical structure that took Kain's breath away the first time he saw it.

The Shop pavilion had sweeping, upturned eaves—reminiscent of a Song dynasty building—were gilded with veins of a magical metal that pulsed like living amber. Yet the columns supporting the ceiling were more close to the Greco-Roman style, their surfaces etched with thousands of glowing constellations.

When Kain had first entered the building, there had been a single polished wooden table at the center of the intricate room. Upon it rested that week's offerings for sale. Each item was real now. Tangible. Not just a name and string of stats.

No longer merely flat 2D images. Now they were tangible artifacts that Kain could pick up and test out, but not leave the building with unless purchased.

The only thing to break the sense of immersion was the blue holographic text that hovered faintly in the air above each object, offering succinct descriptions and their prices.

But now, eager to see the new location and appearance of the System Laboratory, Kain did not enter it again, he continued on his journey upward.

Eventually, Kain reached the peak of the mountain, with no other buildings appearing along the way.

The Laboratory, as Kain's most used function of the System, was given the honor of resting at the peak of the mountain.

At the very center of the peak, where once there had been only mist, a new structure now dominated the skyline.

It loomed like a temple dedicated to a god, and had an almost overwhelming grandeur.

Its wide entrance was framed by pillars of white-gold stone etched with constellations that shimmered and shifted faintly. Massive, arched windows were scattered along the outer walls, shaped like lotus flowers and stained with vibrant colors that changed in the lighting.

The domed roof at the center gleamed and reflected the sky, covered in dark silver tiles that almost resembled dragon scales.

The buildings white walls ended in curved eaves as well, keeping to a similar architectural theme as the Shop.

Hanging gardens floated around the building on platforms of translucent crystal that floated in the sky, each one glowing faintly with a violet energy. A large, intricate bronze door stood closed at the main entrance, carved with patterns that seemed to shift by the second—one moment a calm nature scene, the next an epic battle.

The Laboratory had been remade into something that could rival the Empire's royal palace in grandeur and uniqueness.

The architecture was impossible to define—part eastern pagoda, part western cathedral, wholly alien.