Mimir moved off Reinhard's shoulder, hopping down to land on the bed in front of him. The black crow with golden horns looked up, golden eyes meeting Reinhard's transformed gaze. "My suggestion when it comes to both Beast Spirits is to continue mainly using Odin, as he's good for defense and attack. In addition, Odin speeds up your thoughts, making it easier for you to think and plan while also helping you figure out things faster.

Mimir tilted its head. "But when you're in close combat, I would switch to Fenrir and unleash a burst strike. In addition, Fenrir would be good if you are trying to rush to a place or escape from an enemy."

Reinhard hummed thoughtfully. "That does make sense, plus I feel Fenrir is best suited for striking swiftly and hard."

His arm blurred before four afterimages appeared simultaneously. The top showed a fist strike, below was a chop, the next one down displayed a stabbing motion with extended fingers, and the final image showed a claw strike. All four seemed to exist at the same time, overlapping and distinct.

Mimir nodded approval. "I can also see your spiritual armor has gotten a bit tougher, which is expected with the increase in strength. Now the question remains, what Beast Skills will you add to Fenrir?"

Reinhard fell silent as his golden eyes stared at nothing he considered. "Truthfully, I've been idly thinking about that whenever I think of Fenrir. The way it seems to operate, adding skills that would stun the enemy and allow me an opening to unleash my attacks would be best."

"That's true," Mimir confirmed. "If that's the case, you could try a Bear-Terror Roar skill, which will freeze the enemy when it hits, allowing you an opening to strike." The crow shifted on the bed. "But that's just a suggestion. Go inside your mind and check out the souls you've gathered. You can look over the potential abilities you can get from them."

Reinhard nodded, and then he closed his eyes, breathing slowly.

Darkness surrounded him before the light bloomed, and he found himself standing before Fenrir's Beast Spirit Symbol.

It shone golden, brilliant, and powerful.

Beside it floated the soul gauge, filled with countless orbs of light. Each one represented a soul he'd consumed, a life he'd absorbed.

So it transfers to the next Beast Spirit… Well, I guess that makes sense since they're tied to my soul, and not Beast Spirit.

As he approached, the orbs became more distinct. Various lights came in different sizes, each bearing special images of the beasts they represented.

He saw multiple Bear-Terrors, numerous Werefangs, and clusters of other beast types.

The only singular soul he saw was the Gravity Star, which was unique since he had only devoured one of them.

Reinhard began gently tracing his hand through the souls. His fingers passed through light, and images flooded his mind. A Werefang's experience washed over him. He saw through its eyes, himself rushing through Phane City streets in pursuit of a fleeing merchant. The man's terrified face looked back, mouth open in screams.

Then a sword glowing blue slashed across his midsection before pain exploded. Before he could recover, a shield smashed into his face. The world spun, tumbling through the air before crashing into a vendor's abandoned stall.

Wood splintered, and produce scattered.

Then his hand drifted over a Wyvern soul, leading to new images replacing the old. He felt himself flying through the air, wind rushing past the scaled hide.

Then smashing through buildings, one after another, and feeling joy as stone exploded from contact.

He heard the screams below before looking to see tiny figures scattering like insects.

Then he moved his hand off its soul.

The Bear-Terror souls drew his attention. He touched one, and the memory engulfed him. Standing on all fours, massive and powerful.

Phane City Guards surrounded him with their weapons drawn, fear in their eyes, trying to hide behind bravado.

He roared, the waves struck every guard simultaneously. They all froze before he swung his paw, smashing them away into buildings like toys. And then he removed his hand from the soul with a hum.

Reinhard sighed, the sound echoing in this mental space. "This really would go well with Fenrir. Alright, let's choose this one..." He paused, considering. "But I have three other slots. Is there no other one that would be helpful?"

He fell into thought, examining other souls. Werefangs offered speed and shadow manipulation. Autumn Deer provided grace and antler attacks. Wyverns granted flight capabilities. But none of them seemed to synergize with Fenrir's burst-strike nature the way the Bear-Terror roar did.

"Maybe this is enough-"

Reinhard paused before his eyes widened as a memory surfaced. It was a creature that had left him stunned and unable to act, frozen in pure terror.

"The Amalgamation from back in Mensis Town."

The image crystallized in his mind with perfect clarity.

Arms from Werefangs twisted together with wax and wooden mannequin limbs. Autumn Deer hooves protrude at impossible angles. All converging around a closed, single massive eye at the structure's center.

When it opened, he recalled its scream.

The memory appeared in his mind, and even now it made him tremble. Screams of terror layered over roars of bestial rage.

Crying pleas for mercy mixed with desperate begging for release.

All voices speaking at once, creating a wave that bypassed reason and struck directly at the mind.

Reinhard knew instinctively that this skill would work perfectly with Fenrir. It would give him the opening he needed or disrupt enemies at crucial moments.

But the question remained…

Did he want to use the souls of humans? After all, the Amalgamation was formed from the townspeople of Mensis.

Then he chuckled, the sound bitter and honest. "But is it any different than me using Ven's soul to tap into his skill? Does it matter if he was a Phantasm Beast when I considered him a real person and human?"

Reinhard closed his eyes within this mental space.

The decision settled in his chest, as he was going to a dangerous place soon.

He needed all the strength he could gather, and he could think about whether this was right or wrong later.

Right now, survival mattered more than anything.

Reinhard began focusing on the Amalgamation. He thought about that single massive eye staring with terrible awareness. Pain exploded through his mind, him clutching his head, doubling over.

Screams filled his consciousness, pleas for mercy, roars of rage, and screeches that hurt to hear.

Then he recalled how images rushed through his mind, Werefangs trapped and struggling as wax poured over their living bodies.

Autumn Deer was paralyzed by some unknown force while their limbs were removed, unable to move, and could only watch as their bodies were dismantled.

People fled through tunnels before Phantasm Beasts appeared ahead, blocking their path.

The light of his Beast Symbol flared in response.

A new brilliance pulsed deep within the gauge. A single orb glowed brighter than all the rest, drawing his attention like a beacon.

The sphere bore the shape and symbol of the Amalgamation. Its single eye is prominently featured, limbs sticking out from its blob-like form in chaotic patterns.

Reinhard smiled before he reached out and touched the symbol.

Light flooded the darkness, so bright it should have been blinding. The sphere rushed upward from the others, rising through the mental space until it settled on the far left side of Fenrir's symbol.

Golden lines burst from the orb, rushing through the air like lightning, and they touched Fenrir's Symbol, making contact.

Vibration went through him as he saw golden threads connecting the Amalgamation to his Beast Symbol, forming permanent bonds.

"Since that one is done, let's do the next one." Reinhard said.

He thought of the Bear-Terror releasing its roar. Visible sound waves traveling outward, striking enemies and freezing them solid.

The light of his Beast Symbol flared again.

Another new brilliance pulsed within the gauge. A different orb glowed brighter than the rest, this sphere bore the shape and symbol of a Bear-Terror.

Spike-covered back, mouth open in eternal roar, massive paws raised up, and the bear's body.

Reinhard reached out without hesitation this time, and his hand touched the symbol.

Light flooded the space again.

The sphere rushed upward, settling beside the Amalgamation mark. Golden lines burst forth, racing through the air before touching Fenrir's Symbol. The contact sent another vibration through him. Golden threads formed, connecting Bear-Terror to Beast Symbol.

Reinhard smiled, genuine satisfaction warming his chest.

He opened his eyes in the physical world. His vision adjusted, the mental space fading back into his room at the inn.

He raised his hand slowly, turning it over, and on the back, Fenrir's symbol glowed faintly. Around it were two smaller dots that now shimmered. One bore the Amalgamation mark with a single eye staring, while the other had a Bear-Terror which was forever roaring.

Then knowledge flooded his mind. The Amalgamation's skill was called Sinner Reflect, while the Bear-Terror's skill was Ursa Suppression.

Mimir peered down at the gloved hand, golden eyes studying the new marks. "Congratulations. I figured you would choose the Amalgamation."

Reinhard sighed, lowering his hand. "You could have suggested it."

Mimir nodded, ruffling his feathers. "But it's best when you decide for yourself. Don't you think?"

Reinhard's lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but Mimir was right. The decision had to be his, and the responsibility had to be his.

He clenched his fist, feeling power settle into his bones.

"Anyway, time for bed. My head is ringing."

Mimir faded away in a streak of black, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

Reinhard fell backward onto the bed, not bothering to change clothes or get under the blanket.

His eyes closed almost immediately, exhaustion pulling him under.

The last thing he registered was the soft glow of gas lamps through his window and the distant sound of students talking in the hallway.

Then sleep claimed him entirely.

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