Elias stepped into his small apartment on Earth, his muscles screaming from three months of intense dueling with Celestia. His sweaty shirt stuck to him as he slumped onto the couch, blowing out an exhausted breath. Celestia entered after him, her elegance unwavering despite the months of relentless training both of them had endured.
"Well," Elias muttered, "I think I'll sleep for a week."
Before Celestia could reply, a familiar golden holographic notification suddenly appeared in front of him.
[ Beep…
Congratulations, Host! You have cleared a hidden quest: fighting with Celestia for 15 months]
"What's a hidden quest?" Elias asked, before straightening himself.
Another notification popped up.
[Hidden Quests: These quests are not visible to you but will be rewarded whenever completed with special skill or material. Progress is invisible to you.
]
"I did a quest without even knowing it?" Elias blinked. "That's…kinda unfair but cool, I guess."
Before he could fathom that further, a new notification appeared.
[ Beep…
System Reward:
Legendary Skill Unlocked: Luminous Mirage
Description: Bend light to create lifelike illusions.
Cost: 3000 Beastial Qi per use.
]
Elias' jaw dropped as the details sunk in. "Luminous Mirage?" He looked at Celestia. "Wait, that's—
Celestia's eyes widened. "An illusion skill that bends light? That's… borderline overpowered."
"Seriously?" Elias said, still grinning, for the first time forgetting how exhausted he was.
"Do you realize how few people in the entire universe have abilities like this?" Celestia crossed her arms. "Illusions of this caliber could deceive even the most advanced senses. This isn't just powerful- this is game-changing."
Elias leaned back, chuckling. "Well, I suppose beating myself up for three months wasn't a waste."
Celestia shook her head. "You're either very lucky or…" She turned thoughtful.
"Or?"
"Or something or someone is guiding your steps."
Elias did nothing more; instead, the system once again responded to him.
[Info: The host currently has 6000 Beastial Qi Capacity. You are capable of using Luminous Mirage a couple of times in succession until you must rejuvenate it.]
"Twice, eh?" Elias muttered, "Guess I have to use it sparingly then."
Celestia smirked. "Yeah, Let's see how long you can last."
He laughed. "Hey, I'm not that weak!"
The system's text changed.
[ Quest: Try out your first legendary tier skill : Luminous Mirage
Reward: 300 CP]
"Wait, what?" Elias stared at the notification, but Celestia simply laughed.
" Why? Got a new quest?" She asked with a smile on her face.
" Yeah," Elias turned his head in a robotic manner towards Celestia, " Wait- how did you know that? Can you also see it now?"
" No," She shook her head with an absurd grin on her face, " I just guessed. Let me guess again, it's about trying that new skill, right?"
Elias nodded his head as he leaned forward. A bright glint of determination flashed through his eyes, as he intently observed the notification, displaying the information of his new skill.
"Alright," he muttered after inhaling a deep breath. "Let's try this Luminous Mirage thing."
Celestia watched from beside him, crossing her arms. "Are you sure? You barely recovered. This might be overkill and drain what little energy you have left."
Elias smirked. "Only one way to find out."
He closed his eyes and focused on the skill. The moment he used it, he felt so much of his energy drawn out instantly.
[Beep…
Skill Activated: Luminous Mirage
Consumed: 3000 Beastial Qi
Remaining Beastial Qi Balance: 300/6000]
He let out a sigh as a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him. "Well, I'm not in my best condition."
" Really?, "Celestia asked as an ironic smile bloomed on her face.
" What? I'm telling you the truth!"
" Ok, ok, I get it! Just try it." Celestia quickly replied. Anybody could see her effort not to laugh.
A cold, sharp sensation spread through Elias's chest as light began to twist around him. The surrounding view blurred, bending and reshaping into a new image. When he opened his eyes, the air shimmered, and before him stood a vision unlike anything he'd ever imagined.
He found himself in a huge, empty landscape of a mysterious world, standing on a damp, foggy ground surrounded by twisted, bare trees. The sky matched the gloom of the surroundings, filled with dark, shadowy figures hiding in the thick darkness. In the distance, massive black spires loomed like strange, eerie beings crafted from pure darkness.
Elias stumbled backward, eyes wide. "What… is that?"
Before Celestia could say anything, the illusion flickered and then burst into pieces, like shards of glass. The room snapped back to normal with Elias huffing and puffing for air.
[Beep…
Quest completed.( Due to the host's low cultivation level this skill can't be used more than 15 secs.)
The host has gained 300 CPs]
Celestia was staring at Elias with a unreadable expression on her face. "That… was the Shadow Spector Realm."
"What?" Elias wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It's one of the Twelve Realms," she explained. "A place of darkness, secrets, and illusions. Only someone tied to its power could recreate such an image. But you—" She shook her head. "You shouldn't be able to do that. Not at your level."
Elias blinked. "I wasn't even trying to create that! I wanted to… I don't know, make an illusion of you or something."
Celestia arched an eyebrow. "Flattering, but often, illusionary skills draw from the essence of the Shadow Spector Realm. That can explain this. Still …" She trailed off, looking at him with a tinge of curiosity and alarm.
"What?" Elias pressed on.
"I believe you caught her eye."
"Who?" He asked, looking genuinely curious.
With a moment of thought and then a deep breath, Celestia replied softly, "You don't have to worry about that just yet."
Not wanting to discuss it any further when she didn't seem into it, Elias decided he wouldn't press the numerous questions he had about what he had just seen for clarity.
"Damn it, I hope this ain't some more drama!" He told himself as he stared into her face, trying to find an expression.
—
In the silent dark and cavernous hall, there was a huge stage right in the center, carved from obsidian and etched with patterns that seemed to shift under the faint light of flickering violet flames.
Upon the stage, a woman of haunting beauty and undeniable appeal stood in its center. Her hair flowed like a dark river from an ivory-perfect pale face. Her violet eyes gleamed softly in that space, showing a face with sharp bones. Wearing flowing robes in black, shining brightly in the gripping dark, she represented the power of a deadly and seductive attraction.
A faint, knowing smile quirked in her lips as one delicate, pale hand rose and her crimson-colored nails shone with an eerie aura that was so alluring.
"Interesting." The low purr of a voice rang like the Bell of Seduction, coupled with her alluring appearance.
The flames danced higher, momentarily, illuminating the towering columns of the hall and the lines of figures kneeling before her. The heads remained bowed, their forms barely distinguishable from the darkness.
Her eyes seemed to shift, focusing through the void on something very distant. "A vision of my realm," she said, smiling wider. "And from such a lowly tier… How bold!"
The shadows around her quivered, as if they were dancing to her mirth. She took a step forward, her gait stately and unhurried, like some predator playing with its victim.
"Who are you, little one?" she breathed. "To call the essence of my realm so carelessly…"
She paused, her eyes reflective. And then, with a flick of her wrist, the fire tempered, and the hall fell once again into darkness.
"I will be watching."
—
The next morning, Elias entered the simulation grounds for his final trial, the last obstacle of the Beast Tamer Recruitments. This was the day he had been waiting for since he woke up as the Beast Lord.
The arena was full of people: contestants, staff, and even law enforcement present. It was filled with the sound of congratulations, the nervous chitchat, and a touch of sadness.
"Elias!" The familiar voice made him turn. Ren approached, his dark eyes scanning the crowd, a glint of nervousness flashing in his eyes. He looked ready for war despite the visible nervousness and this arousing a like feeling in Elias.
"Hey," Elias said a bit brusquely. For some reason, he felt awkward around Ren, but after the little talk he had with him last time, he decided to give him some face.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Did you have a good few days off?"
Elias forced a half-smile. He thought back a little. What was he supposed to say? That he'd been training in secret with Celestia, pushing his body past the breaking point? He shook his head. "Just… resting up," he said, forcing the words out like they were the truth.
Ren chuckled, crossing his arms. "Well, you'll need it today. Things are going to be bloody"
Before he could reply, Bertholomew Stark appeared, one of the greats-a Beast Tamer of unparalleled genius and cruelty. His silver hair shone bright, his eyes razor-sharp, and the smile upon his face cold, like winter's bite.
Elias's chest tightened; their eyes met, an ominous feeling spreading through him like a sheet of ice. In that moment, he knew that refusing to become Stark's disciple had marked him, and not in some kind of way one could just wash off and forget about.
"Let the third trial begin!" boomed Stark's voice across the arena, mighty and discordant. His eyes, raking the stands, again seemed to fall on Elias, with a flicker of recognition, and with something else-a disturbing interest.
After what felt like an eternity, he cracked a sinister smile that ran chills down his spine. For what felt like an instant, it was only him and Stark staring each other down. Then, in a flash, his attention fell to the tablet in his hands.
And as if nothing had happened, Stark began to speak further, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "The groups for the trial have been decided." He continued reading each member of groups of three, as the association had decided to hold it as group battles later. "Team 12: Elias Stroud, Ren, and Lily. Report to the center stage."
Elias blinked. Lily? He turned to look for her but found only a girl with fiery red hair and an air of quiet confidence, approaching them. Ren, noticing the shift in Elias' attention, gave a small nod.
"Looks like we're on the same team, then," Ren said, his tone neutral but the corners of his mouth hinting at a smirk.
"Guess so," Elias muttered, trying to shake off the heavy feeling still coiling in his chest.
Taking a deep breath, he followed the others inside the direction where the allocated simulation room for them was located.