**Chapter 1: The Awakening of Chaos**
The world of Eryndral trembled as if it remembered an ancient fear. The skies tore apart in jagged streaks of light, cascading a symphony of color and chaos upon the land. The Second Awakening had begun.
Erythion clutched his tattered cloak as he crouched in the underbrush of the Wyrmwood Plains, his heart pounding in time with the deep tremors beneath the earth. The distant howls of beasts—unnatural and guttural—echoed across the valley. Something was different tonight, something far darker than the usual dangers of scavenging in the wilderness.
He glanced down at his hand, the faint glow of the mysterious mark on his palm pulsing in sync with the tremors. It had appeared hours ago, burning into his skin when he'd unknowingly stepped into an ancient ruin, a place long buried beneath Wyrmwood's cursed soil. The ruin had whispered to him in a voice both alien and familiar. *"The Sovereign has been chosen."*
"What the hell does that even mean?" he muttered, his voice cracking. He shook his head. Whatever this mark was, it had to wait. Survival came first.
The piercing cry of a beast snapped Erythion's attention to the ridge ahead. A pack of dire wolves—E-rank beasts he could usually avoid with some clever maneuvering—bolted past him in terror, their snarls replaced by panicked whimpers. Dire wolves never ran from a fight, which only made his pulse quicken.
Then he saw it.
A massive shadow slithered into view, its body coiling like liquid smoke against the faint moonlight. Its eyes glowed an unnatural crimson, and its jagged, obsidian-like scales reflected the chaos of the sky above. The creature—a *Void Serpent*—was no ordinary beast. Its presence screamed of something ancient, something long forgotten.
"S-rank…" Erythion whispered in disbelief. He had heard tales of such creatures, but never imagined encountering one in Wyrmwood Plains. And it wasn't alone.
Dark figures emerged from the portal swirling behind the serpent—humanoids clad in armor that writhed like shadows. Their movements were sharp, alien, and filled with purpose. Behind them, the portal pulsed, its edges sparking with unnatural energy, as if something far greater was preparing to cross through.
Erythion's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. He watched in horror as the serpent raised its head, its crimson eyes locking onto him.
"No, no, no…" He staggered back, his breath hitching as the creature began slithering toward him.
Suddenly, the mark on his palm flared to life. A surge of energy coursed through his veins, burning and exhilarating all at once. Information flooded his mind in fragments, a voice speaking directly into his thoughts.
**"Beast Sovereign System Activated."**
**"Initializing…"**
**"Host identified: Erythion."**
**"Assigning rank: Initiate."**
"What the—" Erythion stumbled, clutching his head as the voice continued.
**"You have been chosen to inherit the legacy of the Beast Sovereign. Tame, command, and evolve beasts to stand against the darkness."**
The serpent lunged, its maw wide enough to swallow him whole. Erythion raised his hands instinctively, his mark glowing brighter than the stars. A pulse of light erupted from his palm, and a form materialized in front of him—a beast unlike any he'd ever seen.
It was a wolf, but not like the dire wolves that roamed Wyrmwood. Its fur shimmered with streaks of silver and gold, and its eyes burned with intelligence and ferocity. Sparks crackled around its paws as it growled, standing protectively between Erythion and the serpent.
**"Beast Summoned: Stormfang, F-Rank."**
**"Potential for Evolution: High."**
"An F-rank? Are you kidding me?" Erythion shouted, but the wolf ignored him.
The Void Serpent struck, and Stormfang leapt forward with a speed that defied logic, its claws slashing arcs of lightning into the serpent's shadowy scales. The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, forcing Erythion to shield his face.
"Fight or die, Erythion," the voice in his mind said. "Command your beast. Prove your worth."
Erythion clenched his fists. He didn't understand this system, the mark, or why he'd been chosen, but survival was no longer just a hope—it was a demand.
"Stormfang, aim for its eyes!" he shouted, his voice trembling but resolute.
The wolf obeyed, darting around the serpent's strikes with uncanny precision. Lightning surged from its body as it lunged, its jaws clamping onto one of the serpent's glowing eyes. The serpent screeched, thrashing wildly as dark ichor splattered the ground.
Erythion's mark flared again.
**"Taming Skill: Available."**
**"Do you wish to tame the Void Serpent?"**
His mind reeled. Tame it? An S-rank beast? It was madness. Yet, the alternative—letting it kill him—wasn't appealing either.
"Do it!" he roared.
The mark burned brighter than ever, and chains of light erupted from his palm, wrapping around the serpent's body. It thrashed and howled, its crimson eyes flickering as the chains tightened. Stormfang snarled, holding its ground despite the beast's furious resistance.
The battle of wills raged in Erythion's mind, his consciousness brushing against the serpent's primal rage and boundless hunger. For a moment, he thought he'd fail.
Then, the serpent froze. The chains pulsed once more and vanished, leaving the massive beast slumped on the ground, its eyes now dull.
**"Void Serpent Tamed: S-Rank."**
Erythion collapsed to his knees, his breath ragged. Stormfang padded over to him, nudging his shoulder with a low growl.
The voice in his mind spoke again, its tone both ominous and triumphant.
**"You have taken your first step as the Sovereign of Infinite Beast. But beware, for the true darkness is yet to come."**
As the portal flared behind him and more shadowy figures emerged, Erythion realized this was only the beginning. The world had awakened, and with it, so had chaos.
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*End of Chapter 1.*