"Buddy, I have to move to my row," Abdul said, giving me a nod.
"Alright, buddy. Happy awakening." We bumped fists, and he quickly made his way toward the B-rank row.
People might assume Abdullah's family is rich, but that couldn't be further from the truth. His father runs a small temporary care center for beasts—a modest place where people leave their tamed creatures for a short while. The income from that business is meager at best. As for his mother, I don't know what she does exactly—probably just a housewife—but she's one of the warmest people I've ever met.
So when I found out Abdul was going for a B-ranked beast, I was genuinely stunned.
"Hey Abdullah, are you okay? Don't tell me you've forgotten your digits—that's 110,000 UTS for a B-ranked beast," I said.
"Yeah, I see that, and that's exactly what I'm going for." He smirked.
"Are you kidding me? So your dad was actually Bruce Wayne all this time, and you didn't tell me?" I teased.
"I really wish," he chuckled. "Just you thinking I'm Bruce Wayne's son fills me with unlimited pride." We both laughed.
"But seriously, where did the money come from? Since we've ruled out Bruce Wayne, don't tell me you're the Joker and robbed a bank to get the funds."
Abdul gave me a mock glare. "When I was Bruce Wayne's son, it was fine, but now that it's the Joker, you actually think I'm him? Why not say I'm the Joker's son instead?"
"Bro, if you were the Joker's son, your dad might've given your mom a heart attack from the womb—and still laughed about it." I said, trying to keep a straight face.
"Hmm... makes sense, but that still doesn't justify calling me the Joker," Abdul said with a frown.
"Okay, Joker, now stop dodging and answer the question."
He shook his head slightly, the smile fading. "My dad took a loan," he admitted. "He said the first tamed beast really matters and that it's worth going for the best."
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Man, your dad really did try for you."
"Yeah, he always does," Abdullah said softly, his gaze distant. "But ever since he took that loan, he's been working double everyday, barely comes home. He's trying to pay it all off before the end of the year which is the deadline for payment".
"Hey, Lucas!"
A voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Luna waving at me as she made her way toward the A-rank row. She was the daughter of my boss at the
store—a girl with enough wealth behind her to afford a top-tier beast.
I waved back before heading to the E-rank row with Maya by my side. We squeezed onto one of the seats. They were meant for awakening students only, and I
didn't want to risk Maya getting scolded, so I kept her close.
My gaze shifted to the large podium ahead. Six long tables were positioned at the front, each with a sleek terminal and a chair behind it. Seated were officials from the Hunter Association, easily identified by their black and gold uniforms and the emblem pinned to their chests.
Beside each table stood an upright ape—tall, bipedal creatures with green and white patterned fur. These were Detection Apes, used to identify a person's taming potential after their first bonding. They could also detect if someone lacked the ability to awaken altogether.
A speaker crackled to life. "Alright, everyone, get ready," a voice echoed across the hall. "Each row has a corresponding table. Students will approach one after another when their names are called. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" We all responded in unison.
Names were soon called from each row. As students ascended the stage, they were asked a few questions at the table. Then, with a loud creak, a back door swung open, and six men in blue overalls wheeled out carts with steel cages. Inside each cage sat a beast, bathed in a soft blue glow.
"Brother, why is the cage glowing?" Maya asked curiously.
"That's a Relaxation Formation," I explained. "It calms the beast. See how relaxed they are?"
She nodded.
"There are other formations too," I continued. "Suppression, Enhancement, Weakening—each with a different purpose."
"Wow," Maya whispered.
Soon, the men began distributing glowing green stones to each student.
What are those stones used for?, Maya asked.
"Those are taming stones," I told Maya. "They're used to form the initial bond with the beast. Watch closely."
A student approached the table where a Needle Rat sat—a small creature with a sharp, pain-free tail used to draw a drop of blood. The students placed their hand on the table.
The Needle Rat's tail pricked them gently, and with the blood, they touched the taming stone. It immediately turned blood red.
Afterward, the student knelt in front of the beast's cage. We couldn't see much from our angle, but eventually, a name echoed through the speaker after sometime.
"Melissa Steel, C-rank talent."
The crowd murmured in approval. A man opened the cage, and Melissa picked up a sleek silver lizard-like beast. Smiling, she descended from the podium.
One by one, students approached and formed bonds with their beasts. Some smiled. Others wore blank expressions. All of them awakened.
"Abdul Smith, Layla Martin."
Their names were called together. Abdul gave me a small wave from the B-rank table. Layla headed toward the A-rank.
Moments later, we heard:
"Layla Martin—S-rank talent."
The crowd erupted.
"An S-rank?! Incredible!"
"No way!"
I smiled. Awakening with an S-rank talent was extremely rare. Layla's beast was an Ice-Horned Wolf—graceful and powerful.
Then came another shocker.
"David Higgins—S-rank talent."
Gasps filled the air. Everyone turned to the F-rank table, where a plain-looking boy stood with a bee-like creature hovering beside him. Clearly, his family are clearly not on the rich side, they may also not expect much—if they had known his talent, they might've invested in a higher-grade beast.
Two S-ranks in one day. It is almost unheard of.
Abdul, meanwhile, awakened with a B-rank talent. His beast? A Frost Hawk. But the double S-rank revelation had stolen everyone's attention.
Time passed, and I grew more anxious.
"Kendrick Mark." I saw him climb the stage, and a scowl crept across my face.
"Lucas Jeffrey."
"Brother, that's your name!" Maya said excitedly.
"Be right back," I smiled and ruffled her hair before heading up.
"You're Lucas Jeffrey?" The official at the table adjusted his glasses.
"Yes, sir."
"Age?"
"Seventeen." Just then, a man wheeled a cart toward us. Inside was my beautiful Steel Trunk Elephant, eyes shut, calm under the Relaxation Formation.
"Boy, answer me!" the man snapped.
"Sorry, sir. What was the question?"
"Do you plan to attend the Beast Tamer Academy?"
"Absolutely."
"Air mail address?"
"Lucasjef@2109."
"Go tame your beast."
I received the taming stone and approached the Needle Rat. A quick prick, a drop of blood. I touched the stone—red light glowed instantly.
I stepped toward the cage.
"Hey, buddy, I brought you something." I opened the small jar of metal rice and offered some. Instantly, the elephant stirred, its eyes opening as it sniffed the air. It took the rice with its trunk and joyfully tapped my hand.
I smiled. "Alright, let's do this."
I let go of the stone. It floated toward the elephant.
But suddenly—the red glow faded. The stone flickered. Then dropped to the ground, returning to its green hue.
My heart skipped a beat.
I turned toward the official, confusion and panic etched on my face
Then I heard it, those cold traumatizing words.
"Lucas Jeffrey—zero beast taming talent."
The words rang in my ears. Gasps exploded around me from all directions. My heart pounded like a drum.
"What zero beast taming talent".
"That's almost unheard of" .
"Who's that looser "
Murmuring filled the air.
I looked back toward Maya.
Her smile was frozen.
A knife twisted in my chest.
"Why… is my vision… turning upside down?" I whispered, the ground rushing toward me.
"Brother!" Maya's voice echoed and I caught a glimpse of her rushing towards me.
Then—darkness.