Chapter 1: Waking to a New World

The air was thick with damp earth and wild scents. My eyes fluttered open, and my heart pounded erratically. Where was I?

Pushing myself upright, I found myself in a small, worn-down hut—cracked wooden walls, dusty floors, and a chill that made my skin crawl. No familiar city streets, no harsh office lights. Nothing that resembled the life I'd known.

I rubbed my eyes and tried to stand, but my legs buckled. Weak, shaky—like I hadn't eaten in days. A wave of panic surged through me. 'What happened?'

And then it hit me. Exhaustion. The suffocating weight of working three jobs, sleepless nights, and the crushing fatigue. The memory of collapsing at work played vividly in my mind, and the icy realization followed. 'I died. Didn't I?'

I clutched my chest, heart racing, trying to steady my breath. The unfamiliar surroundings only deepened the dread building within me. My body wasn't my own. I could feel it—a frail, young form.

But then, memories that didn't belong to me flooded my mind.

Her name had been... Kira. 'My' name was Kira now. She was an orphan, living alone in a small, forgotten village. She had grown up in this forested area, isolated from the world, with nothing but a shabby hut and her will to survive. At fourteen, she had been left alone to fend for herself, abandoned, hungry, and eventually... she'd starved.

But there was more.

This was a world where magical beasts roamed wild, where contracts 'Spiritual Imprints' bound creatures to their tamers. Powerful families ruled with these beasts at their side, and strength was determined by spiritual energy. Knowledge of spiritual ranks, contracts, and the dangers of the wilderness all flowed into me, alien yet strangely familiar.

I trembled as the weight of it all settled in. The girl whose body I now occupied had struggled, but I was far from any safety. 'Magical beasts. Spiritual energy. Contracts.'

My chest tightened. I wasn't on Earth anymore. This wasn't some fantasy or dream. It was real, and I could feel my pulse racing, a mixture of fear and disbelief taking over. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But nothing came out.

---

Days passed in a daze. The realization of my new life, of being in a world where I knew no one, weighed heavily on me. I didn't have the luxury of panicking for long—survival took precedence.

I forced myself out of the hut, driven by hunger and the need to figure out where I was. The remnants of Kira's memories guided me, but her knowledge was basic at best. I scavenged for anything edible, but my unfamiliarity with the plants and creatures made everything feel dangerous.

Then, one day as I stared at a strange, spiky plant, a voice echoed in my mind.

[Taming System Activated.]

I froze, blinking. What?

[Welcome, Kira.]

I jerked my head, heart hammering. Was someone there? I quickly scanned the forest clearing, but I was alone. Then it dawned on me—this voice, this presence, wasn't external. It was inside my head.

[You have unlocked the Taming System. This system is designed to aid in the identification, taming, and management of magical beasts. Appraisal functions available for beasts, plants, and artifacts.]

A translucent screen materialized in front of me, displaying text. My breath caught in my throat.

[Current functions: Appraisal, Mission System, Gacha Draw.]

I stared at the text, my hands trembling. This... was my "cheat"? Like those novels I barely had time to read back on Earth? My mind reeled.

---

After the initial shock wore off, I started experimenting with what the system could do. It wasn't easy at first, but soon, I got the hang of it.

By focusing on something, I could "appraise" it, just like the system said. One time, I used it on a patch of herbs growing near my hut:

[Appraisal: Greenleaf Herb, Rank: Common (Low)]

-A basic herb used for simple poultices.

No magic. Just a plant that could be useful for treating wounds.

But when I tried appraising the local wildlife, things got more interesting. Birds, small animals—even the occasional low-ranking magical beast—provided a wealth of information. The system showed not just their rank, but traits and skills.

Once, I appraised a small forest creature:

[Appraisal: Forest Lynx, Rank: Iron (Mid)]

[Trait: Quick Reflexes, Keen Sense]

[Skills: Dash, Claw Strike]

[Description: A small but swift predator, excellent in close combat.]

[Evolution: Fang Lynx]

My heart raced at the sight. The system didn't just show their rank; it outlined their traits, skills, and even potential evolutions. It was incredible—almost too good to be true. But it was real.

I couldn't stop there. The system wasn't done surprising me.

---

**Two Years Later**

During those two years, the Taming System had become my lifeline. It answered most of my questions and guided me through the process of surviving in this dangerous world.

The system taught me about taming—how to create 'Spiritual Imprints' by channeling spiritual energy to bond with beasts. There were two main methods: either suppress a weakened beast's will with your spiritual energy or form a natural bond based on friendship and trust. Both required mastery of spiritual energy, something I was still developing.

The system's 'Appraisal' function helped me identify edible herbs and low-ranking creatures, mapping out safer zones for me to forage. But it also came with limitations. I quickly learned that as my spiritual energy remained at the lowest stage 'Awakened (Low)' I couldn't access the more powerful draws from the 'Gacha'. The system would often remind me that my rank limited my chances of obtaining stronger techniques or items, and it became clear that the gap between stages was immense.

Beasts ranked 'Iron' were within my reach, but anything higher, like 'Silver', was beyond my capabilities. The higher the rank, the more difficult it became to even encounter such creatures, let alone tame them. And even for plants, finding rarer species with higher spiritual energy was a rare occurrence.

During these years, I also came across a peculiar creature that piqued my interest: the 'Shadow Sparrow'.

---

The first time I appraised the bird, I felt a shiver of excitement. It was elusive, darting between the shadows of the dense forest, with dark plumage that blended into the night.

[Appraisal: Shadow Sparrow, Rank: Iron (Peak)]

[Trait: Nightflight, Stealth]

[Skills: Shadow Dash, Dark Feather]

[Description: A nimble and elusive bird, capable of blending into shadows and moving unseen.]

[Evolution: Midnight Raven, Moon Shadow Sparrow]

Its potential was fascinating, and after weeks of observing its behavior, I felt ready. With the system's guidance, I formulated a plan. I knew the herbs that the Shadow Sparrow liked and had identified a nearby area where I could set a trap.

Tomorrow, I would make my move.