Lilina finally snapped out of her euphoria and hurriedly thanked Professor Stephanie. "Thank you, Professor!"

"Don’t thank me just yet—I actually have a request," Stephanie murmured, leaning close to peer into Lilina’s eyes.

"A... request? After all you’ve done for me, I’ll help however I can!" Lilina was startled that her teacher would ask a student for favors. Then she remembered: without Professor Stephanie, she’d never have known how formidable Dark Beasts truly were. Helping her teacher was nothing.

"It’s not difficult. I simply ask to borrow your Contract Beast for one day."

"This... alright. But please don’t hurt it!" Lilina hesitated, then gritted her teeth and agreed.

"Don’t worry—I’d never harm it. In fact, this might even benefit your little beast." Stephanie smiled warmly, pulling ten Mind Crystals from her pocket and pressing them into Lilina’s hands. "Here. Payment for borrowing it."

Lilina tried to refuse. "You’ve helped me so much—I can’t accept payment!"

"I told you earlier: my initial advice was assistance. This request is personal. Payment is non-negotiable." Stephanie’s tone turned stern. "Besides, you’re still far from reaching Low Mage rank. Without enough meditation time, you’ll struggle to advance to third year."

Lilina fell silent, then accepted the crystals and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Professor!"

"Go now—you’ll miss dinner. I’ll return your Contract Beast after tomorrow’s class."

"Yes, Professor Stephanie!"

Lilina cast one last reluctant glance at Wu Yan before leaving.

Wu Yan was boredly doodling circles on the floor with his tentacles.

*Must learn language first. Must learn language first. Must learn language first...*

So consumed by this mantra, he didn’t even notice Lilina leave.

"Now then," Stephanie’s voice cut through his thoughts, "it’s just you and me, little Dark Beast. Ready?"

A chill shot down Wu Yan’s spine. He turned to see Stephanie holding a disk etched with intricate lines, her eyes blazing with fervor.

"Gurgle?!"

*MASSIVE CRISIS!*

Wu Yan scented danger. He scrambled toward the door on his tentacles—yes, after a day of practice, he could *run* now. Hard-won progress. Utterly useless.

Stephanie flicked her foot. The door slammed shut under Wu Yan’s desperate gaze. He skidded, crashed face-first into the wood.

*Veteran driver crashes!*

Before he could recover, Stephanie plucked him up and plopped him onto the magic-array disk.

Panic surged as Wu Yan realized he couldn’t move.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

Tears welled in his eyes as he watched Stephanie’s fanatical expression.

*So my eighteen years of purity end today? Fine. Didn’t someone say life’s like rape? If you can’t fight it, might as well enjoy it. BRING ON THE STORM!*

*AAAAH!*

(Not arousal. Actual. Pain.)

Stephanie began shoving Mind Crystals into his mouth one by one, scribbling notes furiously.

"Thirty-five... already surpassing that genius’s Contract Beast. And it can still take more..."

Precious Mind Crystals vanished like candy. Wu Yan felt zero joy. Each crystal burned like live coal down his throat—relentless, inescapable.

"Gurgle! Gurgle!"

"Forty-seven... the gap is staggering..."

Stephanie paused, noting the data as Wu Yan lay gasping. Next came the Magic Crystals.

An hour later, Wu Yan felt Death’s cold hand beckoning. He lay slumped on the disk like melted wax.

Stephanie was speechless.

*It devours Magic Crystals endlessly—converting all attributes to Dark energy. Immune to illusions too, unlike that other Contract Beast. Its mana output could fuel an Arcanist nonstop... far beyond his capabilities.*

She exhaled slowly, studying the exhausted blob beside her.

*If you could truly communicate... this world would tremble.*

Her hand stroked Wu Yan’s round body. "You did well, little one."

Wu Yan flinched—traumatized.

*Chu.*

Stephanie smirked, leaving a hickey on his skin... (-_-||)

Wu Yan froze.

*Compensation? Hmph. Since you’re so sincere... I forgive you.*

He recalled his old life: gaming, fantasizing over sweet NPC voices. Now, barely in this new world, he’d already been kissed twice. *What a waste of eighteen years.*

*Of course I’m NOT happy about being a Tentacle Monster! N-O-T!

(Just check my totally innocent eyes.)*

Relief washed over him as Stephanie removed the disk.

*Finally over—*

"Rest time’s up!" Stephanie produced an even more complex disk. "Let’s begin the next test!"

Wu Yan shrank back. Before he could flee, she seized him and slammed him onto the new array.

Despair crushed him.

*AGAIN?!*

"Gurgle (Yamete)!!"

*(The following scene is too intense for young readers. Use your imagination.)*