Tokyo's backstreets weren't meant for heroes.
Kazuki Ren knew that well—yet here he was, collapsed in a pool of his own blood, breathing through cracked ribs and gritted teeth. The alley smelled of rust, rain, and regret. Somewhere in the distance, police sirens wailed like a late apology.
"Stupid… move…" he coughed, spitting out red. His vision blurred. His arms felt like lead. The thugs had long since run, their wallets full and conscience empty. He had jumped in to save a kid. He failed.
Another mistake.
The world around him grew colder. Rain pattered against his skin. His fingers curled around the one thing he had left—a black pendant around his neck, the only keepsake from his mother. It pulsed faintly now, a warmth growing in the metal.
"…Sorry, Mom."
Then—everything stopped.
The wind halted mid-whistle. The rain hung suspended in midair. Even pain froze.
A single line of glowing text blinked before his eyes:
> [You have been selected by the Primordial Beast Code.]
Ren blinked. Was this death?
> [Verifying host integrity…]
[17%… 39%… 71%… Complete.]
> [Warning: Host's life signs critical. Emergency transfer initiated.]
"What… the hell?" he whispered.
Then came the light.
Blinding. Pure. Everything shattered—reality, pain, thought—until all that remained was the sound of his heartbeat and a voice that spoke directly into his mind:
> [Initializing… Welcome, Beast Sovereign Candidate.]
Somewhere Else…
Ren's back hit solid ground. He gasped for air—not the smog-choked kind of Tokyo, but fresh, earthy air that smelled like pine and ozone. He opened his eyes slowly.
Blue skies stretched above, broken by floating islands and clouds that shimmered unnaturally. Giant trees towered over distant mountains. In the nearby meadow, deer-sized rabbits grazed peacefully beside glowing blue mushrooms.
"What the…"
> [Location: Spirit Beast Field – Beginner Zone]
[Host status: Stabilized. System access—UNLOCKED.]
A semi-transparent interface appeared before his eyes, hovering in the air like a hologram:
[BEAST CODE SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Host: Kazuki Ren
Status: Soul-Bound Initiate
Beasts Contracted: 0
Spirit Points: 0
Evolution Crystals: 0
Beast Slots Available: 1
> [New Mission Unlocked!]
Mission: Tame your first spirit beast
Reward: 100 EXP | Beast Codex (Basic) | 1 Evolution Crystal
Failure: ???
Time Limit: 24 hours
Ren's heart thudded.
"Wait—this is real? This isn't a dream? I died back there... didn't I?"
> [Technically, you were 9.2 seconds from death. I intervened.]
The voice was neutral, feminine, yet mechanical—like an AI.
> [You are now the bound host of the Primordial Beast Code, the last surviving system of its kind. You were chosen by the will of the Eternal Sovereign.]
"Chosen… by who?" he asked aloud.
> [You will understand in time. For now, survive. And tame a beast.]
Ren stood shakily. His body felt… lighter. Stronger, even. His wounds were gone.
A rustling from nearby snapped his attention. Bushes parted as a small creature emerged—something between a wolf pup and a fox, its fur jet black, its eyes glowing faintly blue. A scar ran across its snout.
It growled, baring tiny fangs.
> [Beast Identified: Voidtail Cub – Spirit Rank: F (Unawakened)]
Temperament: Hostile | Bloodline: Unknown Mutation
Status: Injured, Aggressive, Starving
Tameable: Yes
Ren froze. The creature leapt—
His instincts screamed.
> [Initiating Combat Tutorial…]
To Be Continued…