Chapter 7: Beast Dominion
Leo followed what Rurk said and moved aside.
More names were called, but Leo's attention had already drifted elsewhere, onto a translucent, holographic screen floating before him.
< God Beast Sanguor is fascinated by your desire to grow stronger. >
< He has given you a gift, expecting great things from you thanks to your potential. >
< Primordial Beast Dominion System >
Leo was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice Zolton awakening his Beast Taming talent.
Zolton really did awaken, the rare, one-in-a-hundred-thousand success.
While Zolton was busy getting full of himself, Leo focused entirely on what he had received and went through it.
*****
< System Interface >
Leo *Leonel Draven* –> Leo
Level – 0 (0/10)
Soul Strength – Common, *Mythical*
Talent – Bestiary of Souls, *Primordial Beast Taming*
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[Bestiary of Souls]
Effect 1: Allows you to collect the beast essence from the core of slain beasts, rendering the core useless. The stored essence can later be used to enhance a similar type of tamed beast's bloodline and strength. Each essence contains a random skill from the slain beast, which can be absorbed by the recipient beast.
Effect 2: Allows collection of soul essence from beasts that have gained intelligence and use it to strengthen the soul of the talent holder. There is an extremely rare chance to gain a talent from the absorbed soul.
[Primordial Beast Taming]
Due to the user's soul not being native to this world, a suitable talent has been bestowed upon you.
Effect: The bond formed due to this talent is 'Primordial Bond'. Even if the beast and tamer are not fully bonded, it allows the tamer to share senses and strength with their tamed beasts. As the bond level increases, the tamer can share more strength with their bonded beast, and even communication with them will become possible.
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Stats:
Vitality: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1
Magic Power: 80 (Soul Rank Number (1+7) × Intelligence × 10)
Unallocated Stat Points: 0
*****
What the hell! A fucking system! Let's gooo!
But… who is Beast God Sanguor? A God… yes, he must be a God. He saved my fucking life. Thank you!
He studied the system interface carefully.
So… it looks like my original information are between the asterisk signs… Which means I have a Mythical Soul! And the world can only detect the original owner's soul, so that's why the test result came as Common Soul Rank.
His thoughts raced.
And wait… it looks like it was my soul that awakened the taming skill… Wait, doesn't it mean that I was the one who awakened a talent? Just because it wasn't a taming type, it would have gone unnoticed since only taming talents produce a visible reaction to eyes.
A chill ran down his spine.
That was dangerous. I might have just ended up crying in a corner after someone beat the shit out of me just because I was a 'commoner'.
He exhaled slowly.
Fhew… lucky me.
Then his eyes lit up again as he reread the abilities.
And what does it say? I can share the strength of my tamed beast, and on top of that, I can enhance their strength using the essence of other beasts with the other talent? Isn't that overpowered like hell?!
A grin spread across his face.
Leo wasn't wrong to think that way. Normally, a Beast Master trains their body to grow stronger and, at best, can borrow the beast's magical skills and not its raw strength. And that only changes if they possess some special talents that allow them to share strength, or if they could fuse with their beast using a fusion skill—a skill that only appears when their bond with the beast evolves to the level of the soul.
There are four levels of bond, and everyone begins at the lowest level with their newly contracted beasts.
– Chain Bond (Lowest)
A forced subjugation. The beast obeys out of fear and the contract's restrictions.
It remains stable with low★ beasts, but as they grow stronger, rebellion becomes more likely if the bond doesn't improve.
Growth is limited, and overcoming bottlenecks becomes difficult.
– Blood Bond (Intermediate)
Forms when the beast fully trusts its master and uses the tamer's blood to imprint a mark on its soul. This creates a shared vitality between tamer and beast.
This bond is far more stable and allows smoother growth through bottlenecks. The beast will willingly lay down its life for its tamer.
However, if the beast dies, the tamer suffers a backlash.
– Soul Bond (High)
Deeper resonance where both the beast and the tamer share fragments of their soul. It naturally evolves from a Blood Bond as their connection strengthens.
This level of bond offers the highest stability and immense growth potential.
It also unlocks Fusion Skills (unique abilities born from synergy).
– Ascendant Bond (Extremely Rare)
Achieved only when beast and tamer reach absolute harmony.
It can break bloodline limits and even create entirely new evolutionary paths.
Both tamer and beast influence each other's growth—allowing even a Common Soul Sank tamer to rise far beyond expectations.
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Leo was having a hard time controlling his expression as he thought about the endless possibilities in the future.
Doesn't this mean that… from the moment I tame my first beast, I will already be stronger?
Wait. Let's take a step back.
Why did I receive this system? It just said the Beast God was fascinated by my desire to grow stronger… and my potential. That's it? I don't have to do any noble deed, do I? Like to 'save the world' nonsense?
At most, the most noble deed I could do is take Lily with me on some remote mountain and live on to peacefully and quietly grow stronger. That alone might save the world from a crazy maniac.
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No response, huh? Well, don't complain later when I ignore the sorry souls just to save my hide.
And what is this system? What can it do, and what are its limits?
…
Still no response... not a user-friendly thing.
Before Leo could think anymore, Rurk's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Alright, this year's awakening trial is over. Those who have failed—promptly leave before someone drags you out. And those who have passed, follow me to the Beast Hall. You will get yourself registered there and contract your first beast of choice, which is secured by the Hall for you."
Leo blinked, finally coming out of his thoughts and taking in his surroundings. Out of roughly forty people who had passed the Soul Rank test, nearly thirty have awakened, while the rest were already walking away.
That was when he spotted Zolton among the successfully awakened ones present.
"This is bad…" Leo muttered under his breath. "Now he might come to take away Lily by himself. I need to grow strong quickly."
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Rurk led them into a grand building made of polished wood and stone, its intricate designs radiating quiet wealth.
Well… that definitely looks expensive.
Inside, everyone registered their details and received a copper badge—proof of their noble status, albeit the lowest rank: a Knight.
An interesting fact caught his attention as Leo observed.
Even Zolton, despite having a surname thanks to his father, wasn't officially registered as a noble yet. He, too, received a copper badge like everyone else, signifying his noble status.
Once everyone was registered, another man led them to an open area lined with several cages in order.
Looks like Rurk got way too bored of us halfway through
Then the man stopped and addressed them.
"Everyone listen carefully. The beasts here were captured by experienced Beast Masters. You have until evening to choose which beast to contract. It's possible that none of the beasts here might be to your liking…"
His gaze lingered meaningfully on Zolton.
"So… you're free to go and try your luck in the wild. No one will stop you. But for those without such privileges… my suggestion is to choose their first beast here. Train them, grow a bit stronger, then hunt in the wild to grow even more stronger to help his majesty the Emperor rule over more land."
He paused before adding.
"Remember, humanity's survival now rests in your hands."
Everyone nodded, and the man finally gave way for people to choose the beast of their liking.
"You may only choose one beast," he said firmly. "So choose carefully."
With that, he stepped back.
Leo took a step forward, then stopped briefly, careful not to arouse anyone's suspicion.
Because something had just changed.
Above every beast's head… he was able to see their bloodline rank and personality!