"Welcome to the Beast Dominion"
The voice came from nowhere, and yet, it felt like it was inside my head. Calm, neutral, robotic. It didn't startle me, but the words sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"You have been selected to participate in the Beast Games. You will now be provided with your system interface."
I froze for a moment, trying to process what had just happened, my head going blank with each thought.
Beast games?
I immediately felt bile rush up my throat but I couldn't bring myself to throw up, I just kept staring straight ahead, my chest heaving silently. What the fuck…?
The mages couldn't have chosen me, could they? I had stayed out of their sights for the last 10 years! Was I hallucinating? The beast games? Oh shit, I was gonna die and I was gonna die in the most gruesome way.
No one would remember me, I would be wiped awㅡ
"System online. Displaying contestant profile."
A screen appeared in my mind, flashing with details I didn't fully understand, making me stop my thoughts to look at it properly.
Contestant Profile:
- Name: Li Xian
- Age: 28
- Status: Inactive
- Current Objective: Tame your first beast.
- Remaining Time Until First Trial ends: 72 hours.
- Beast Bonding Progress: 0%
I blinked at the screen, processing the information. That was all my information which meant I was really in the beast games.
I swirled around, looking at the trees that stretched across the space and I suddenly felt goosebumps. I knew almost nothing about how these games worked, I had never bothered to learn anything about it because I knew I could never be that unlucky.
"The beast games…" The words slipped out my mouth in a silent murmur.
"The Beast Games is a trial for survival. Contestants are randomly selected from various sectors to compete in taming beasts and enduring challenges. Failure to complete these objectives will result in elimination." The voice in my head droned.
"I freaking know what the beast games are!" I almost screamed.
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to keep my focus. Elimination? It seemed like a death sentence, but the system's tone didn't change. It was just… matter-of-fact. As though everything was perfectly normal.
"You will now begin your first quest. The Beast Taming Trial will start immediately. Please proceed with caution."
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The words echoed in my mind. Beast taming?
The only thing I had recalled from what people had said about these games was that you would have to fight a beast. The absurdity of the situation almost made me laugh.
"Failure to tame a beast within the given time will result in immediate termination."
I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my composure. Termination? I had no idea what this meant—whether it was death, or something worse. But I didn't have time to question it. I only knew losers disappeared but it seemed I was about to experience first-hand how that was going to happen.
I had to survive. That was the only thing that mattered.
I glanced around, realizing that the longer I stood here, the more likely I was to fall victim to whatever dangers this world held. The fact that I was still alive meant nothing. Danger was everywhere.
And that's when I heard it.
A faint rustling, like something was moving through the underbrush. At first, I thought it was just the wind, but the sound grew louder, closer. My instincts kicked in. I crouched low, eyes scanning the surroundings. Whatever it was, it wasn't just the wind neither was that a human. Too fast and light.
I stood completely still, waiting. I could hear the faint sound of heavy breathing. Then, I saw it.
A creature—no, a beast—emerged from the foliage. It was small, no bigger than a dog, but its proportions were off. Its body was sleek and muscular, covered in thick, black fur that seemed to shimmer in the light. It had clawed paws and eyes that glowed a bright yellow, filled with a predatory gleam as it sighted me.
It stopped a few feet away, staring at me. I could feel the intensity in its gaze, its hunger, as it sized me up, preparing to pounce.
I didn't move. Stay calm, I told myself. I had no idea how to fight or tame this thing, and I certainly wasn't prepared for this. But I was not going to die here. Not like this.
The system's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Quest objective: Tame the beast. Use your wits to succeed."
"I think I got that the first time. Thanks for the useful info" I thought, my mind racing. I didn't have anything to tame it with, no weapon, nothing. And this thing… it was clearly ready to tear me apart.
The beast crouched, its muscles rippling as it prepared to attack.
"Quest activated: Beast Taming Trial. Time remaining: 1 hour."
That was it. I had an hour. To do what? Tame it with my bare hands? I had no idea what kind of creature this was, or how it could be tamed.
I backed away slowly, trying to maintain a distance to see if I could make a run for it. The beast's eyes followed every movement I made.
Suddenly, it lunged, faster than I had anticipated. I barely managed to dodge its claws, feeling the brush of air as they swiped past me. I stumbled back, my heart racing in my chest.
The beast snarled, its growl low and menacing. It wasn't just hungry—it was aggressive, and it clearly didn't like the sight of me.
Mutual.
I felt the ground beneath me shift, making it harder to move. My feet slipped, and I fell to the ground, my heart pounding in my ears. The beast was on top of me in an instant, its claws reaching for my throat.
Just as it lunged, I managed to roll out of the way, pushing myself up to my feet again. I was too slow and whatever this thing was, it was too fast.
I barely dodged another swipe, but this time I felt its claws graze my arm, and pain flared through me.
I was going to die.
Then, just as I thought it was time to accept my fate, the voice of the system came again, cold and indifferent.
"Quest failed. Termination will be delayed. Warning: Beast is too powerful for contestant at current level."
Before I could react, the beast lunged again. This time, I didn't dodge fast enough.
Shit.