Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 223: New Zodiacs (II)

Just as the group was about to finish the discussion on the Zodiac Bond System, an unexpected voice spoke up in disagreement.

"No. It won’t be over Leo when you have established them all. You will have to reach 100% with each of them."

Astra’s voice could be heard clearly by everyone and it naturally caused confusion for the new members of Penny and Greg.

The voice was soft and clear, sounding like a child’s. Everyone froze, glancing around the room in confusion.

Penny tilted her head. "Where did that child’s voice come from?"

A soft glow came from Leo’s bracelet. A gentle pulse of light shimmered from its core, and then a small figure floated upward from it. She had puffy silver hair tied into short twin tails, round cheeks, and big sparkling eyes filled with moving constellations.

Her little dress sparkled like a night sky, and her little boots dangled as she hovered in the air for a brief moment before they touched down.

"Wait...where did this adorable little one come from?"

Penny asked as she rubbed her eyes, her brain not accepting what she had just seen.

Leo simply chuckled softly and remarked

"Rose, this is Astra. Astra. Rose"

It was a simple introduction but it was enough for Penny.

Penny’s jaw dropped. She looked from Leo to the tiny girl and back again, her hands flailing helplessly in front of her like her body was trying to physically process the shock.

"You—what—she—what?!" Penny sputtered. "She just floated out of your bracelet like a little cosmic cupcake and you’re introducing her like she’s your cousin visiting for the weekend?"

Astra tilted her head slightly. "Cupcake?"

"She’s got super cute boots, Leo! Boots! And that hair? Those cheeks? She’s like if a nebula decided to cosplay as a baby idol!"

Greg felt awkward and wanted to take a step back as Penny marched closer to Astra, stopping herself just short of poking the glowing child with a trembling finger.

But the moment Astra saw the expression on Penny’s face, with wide eyes, trembling hands, and a look that was somewhere between awe and obsession, she visibly flinched.

Without a word, she turned and quickly walked behind Leo, placing him squarely between herself and the overly enthusiastic girl.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Astra?"

Still half-hidden behind him, Astra answered in a small, matter-of-fact voice. "Her face scared me."

Penny blinked, frozen in place. "My face scared you?"

Astra nodded slowly, her eyes peeking around Leo’s side. "You were staring at me like you were going to kidnap me and stuff me in your backpack."

I was not," Penny said, practically sputtering. "I was just surprised. You’re tiny, you sparkle, and you have the most precious boots I’ve ever seen. How else was I supposed to react?"

From the side, Adam let out a quiet chuckle. "She’s not wrong, Rose. You looked like you were about to claim her and name her something like Moonbeam Snugglepuff."

Penny whipped around to face him, pointing. "Take that back. I would never name anyone that. I have taste."

Adam raised his hands. "Sure. Whatever you say. But I saw it in your eyes. You were ready to build her a bedroom in your inventory."

Pennt let out a loud groan as she knew that continuing to argue eith her Uncle would only make things worse for herself. So instead she tried to change the topic.

"So what was she saying about not being done?"

Aria giggled at her antics while Rachel grinned slightly in amusement.

Very subtle, Rose," Aria said, covering her mouth as she tried to stifle a laugh.

Luna couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "Honestly, you’re about as subtle as a firework show in a library."

Penny threw her hands up. "I said I was surprised! I didn’t expect a glowing magical child to crawl out of Leo’s bracelet like it was a nesting doll. Can we please focus on the thing she just said?"

Astra, now standing a little more confidently beside Leo, gave a small nod. "As I said, the Zodiac Bond System won’t be complete just by forming connections. Each bond must be nurtured until it reaches full resonance. One hundred percent."

Greg frowned slightly. "And what happens if Leo doesn’t reach that with all of us?"

Astra looked at him, her expression soft but serious. "Then the system will be a failure. The true potential you’re all building together will remain locked. Forever."

"Well that result seems like it will be great..."

Adam remarked with his voice dripping in sarcasm.

So what do we do then? How do we get to that one hundred percent?"

Astra’s eyes sparkled with a faint glow. "Each bond must be strengthened through trust, shared experience, and understanding. It is not enough to simply form the connection. You must live it, breathe it, and let it grow naturally."

Greg nodded slowly. "So it’s about more than just power. It’s about the relationships themselves."

"Exactly," Astra said, her voice gentle but firm. "Without true unity, the system cannot reach its full potential. It will always fall short."

Penny swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of it all. "Sounds like a lot of work."

Luna smirked. "Welcome to being part of this team."

Rachel grinned. "Good thing we’re stuck with each other."

Leo looked around at everyone, determination settling in his eyes. "Then let’s make sure we get there. Together."

Astra smiled softly. "That is the only way."

Adam crossed his arms and nodded. "Alright then. Looks like we have our mission."

Penny grinned, her usual excitement returning. "Challenge accepted."

Leo nodded his head and navigated through some prompts. Within seconds, three separate and different coloured lights burst from his bracelet, each one striking a different individual.

A pink light hit Penny on her stomach but she didnt feel any pain. Turning around to lift up hwr shirt to check if she was injured somehow, she saw a faintly glowing pink star based pig tattoo had appeared.

She looked to the others to see if what had just happened was abnormal but no one seemed to have a strong reaction.

She was about to say something when she saw Greg had a glowing grey tattoo on the back of his hand in the shape of a goat.

She was beginning to question if she had joined a cult.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l