Then—
**[Fusion Process Initiated.]**
Silence.
For a split second—
Nothing changed.
Then—
It began.
A faint ripple spread through the lizard's body.
Subtle at first—
Then deeper.
His muscles tensed slightly as something foreign—yet strangely familiar—flowed through him, threads of energy weaving into his being, merging seamlessly with what already existed.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
But precise.
Calculated.
His golden eyes flickered faintly.
Inside—
Something shifted.
A new sense.
A new awareness.
Not sight.
Not sound.
But—
**Perception.**
A faint expansion of his consciousness, as though an invisible layer had been added to the way he interpreted the world.
The system's voice echoed again.
**[Integrating Mental-Type Gene Ability…]**
A pause—
**[Synchronization in Progress…]**
The lizard remained still.
Observing.
Feeling.
Not resisting.
Not rushing.
Because this time—
He was aware of it.
Every step.
Every change.
Every thread being woven into him.
No instinct.
No unconscious activation.
Only—
Control.
Then—
**[Integration Complete.]**
His eyes dimmed slightly—
Then steadied.
Outwardly—
Nothing had changed.
But internally—
Everything had.
This time—
The power wouldn't act on its own.
It was understood.
Contained.
His.
His tail flicked once.
Then stilled.
Behind him, the fox watched quietly.
"…Done already?"
She tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk forming.
"Not bad."
She studied him for another moment, her turquoise eyes sharp but relaxed.
"Alright," she said, stretching lightly. "Let's keep moving."
Her tail swayed behind her.
"I still need more souls for the banner… and we should keep an eye out for that spirit."
A faint grin touched her lips.
"And you're not satisfied with just that, are you?"
No answer came.
Instead—
The lizard's body shrank.
Smaller.
Lighter.
Until he lifted off the ground and drifted forward, settling gently between her ears.
Silent.
Calm.
Then—
He vanished.
Invisibility spread over him like a second skin—
And in the same instant—
It cloaked the fox as well.
She glanced down at her paw.
Nothing.
A grin tugged at her lips.
"…Still love this."
Her voice dropped into a low murmur.
"Alright then. Let's—"
She stopped mid-step.
"…Wait."
Her ears flicked.
Then she let out a small breath and reached into her storage pouch, pulling out the **Ghost Banner** once more.
The dark cloth stirred faintly.
"Wandering around aimlessly is a waste of time."
Her eyes glinted.
"…Let's get ourselves a guide."
Spiritual energy flowed into the banner—
The runes flared—
And with a sharp flick—
A figure was dragged out.
The ghost of the Mind Ripper.
Its form was more stable now.
Refined.
Bound.
Integrated into the banner's control.
It blinked.
Confused.
"…I—"
It looked down at itself.
"…I'm… still alive?"
Its voice carried disbelief.
"What… is this—?"
The fox stared at it, unimpressed.
"It looks like your consciousness is pretty strong."
Her tail swayed once.
"Not surprising. You're a beast with an active mind."
She tilted her head slightly.
"So you remember who you were."
A brief pause.
Then her eyes sharpened.
"Which means you should also understand something else."
Her voice lowered.
"Who your master is now."
The Mind Ripper froze.
Its gaze shifted around—
Searching.
Scanning.
Confusion deepened.
"…Master?"
It frowned.
"I don't see anyone here."
Its voice grew wary.
"There's no one—not even the one who summoned me—"
The fox blinked.
Then—
"…Oh."
Her ears twitched.
"…Right."
A small, almost sheepish smirk appeared.
"I forgot."
Her tone turned casual again.
"We're invisible."
The ghost stilled.
Its expression changed instantly.
From confusion—
To unease.
Because now—
It understood.
It wasn't alone.
It just couldn't see them.
Above the fox, the lizard remained silent, completely concealed. His presence was nonexistent to anything below the Golden Core stage.
The ghost hovered in place, more stable now—but still unsettled.
"I don't see anyone," it muttered, eyes narrowing. "Still not even the one who summoned me—"
The fox let out a small, amused breath.
"Yeah, that would be me."
She shifted slightly.
"Hold on."
A faint ripple passed over her body—
And for a brief moment—
She became visible.
Just enough.
The ghost's eyes widened as it finally saw her.
Turquoise eyes.
Calm.
In control.
Then—
The invisibility settled over her again.
Gone.
Only her voice remained.
"Better?"
The ghost hesitated.
"…You—"
"Yeah, yeah," the fox cut in lightly. "Save it."
Her tone turned more direct.
"You're not dead in the way you think."
"You've been absorbed into my banner."
A small pause.
"Which means…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"I'm your master now."
Silence followed.
The ghost's expression shifted—processing.
Resisting.
Understanding.
Slowly.
The fox continued, calm but firm.
"You can still think. Still remember. That's because your consciousness was strong."
Her tail swayed.
"That makes you useful."
Then—
Her tone sharpened.
"So don't waste it."
A brief pause.
Then she got to the point.
"You're going to guide us."
The ghost's eyes flickered.
"…Guide?"
"Yeah."
Her voice carried a faint hint of amusement.
"Instead of wandering aimlessly…"
"We might as well use something that actually knows the mountain."
Her ears flicked.
"You lived here."
"You hunted here."
"So—"
Her unseen smile returned.
"Start talking."
"Where do we go if we want more prey…"
A slight pause.
"…without running into something I *can't* deal with?"
The ghost drifted in place.
Silent.
Thinking.
For a moment, it said nothing—instinct and resistance clashing against its new reality.
Then—
Its eyes shifted.
"…You want prey."
Its voice steadied.
Less rage.
More calculation.
"You should head east."
The fox's ears twitched.
"East?"
The ghost continued.
"There's a lower ridge past this part of the forest. Dense. A lot of mid-stage Foundation beasts gather there."
A pause.
"They avoid the deeper zones."
Its gaze shifted faintly, recalling the terrain.
"Far enough from the Demon Kings' territories… but still rich in prey."
The fox nodded slightly.
"Good."
Her tail swayed.
"That's more like it."
The ghost continued, almost automatically now.
"There's also water nearby. A spirit stream."
"Beasts gather there often."
Another pause.
"…You won't be the only hunters."
The fox let out a small chuckle.
"Even better."
Her tone held no concern.
Only interest.
Above her head, the lizard remained still.
Invisible.
Listening.