Aiden Nightshade stirred in his sleep. A deep, suffocating darkness surrounded him, punctuated by the eerie cries of the creatures lurking in the night. Owls hooted in the distance, their calls cutting through the silence like ghostly whispers. The rustling of unseen predators in the underbrush sent chills down his spine. A hollow, haunting wind wove through the towering trees, their gnarled branches stretching like skeletal fingers toward the unseen sky.
He turned in his sleep, instinctively seeking the comfort of his mattress—but something was off. Instead of the familiar embrace of a soft bed, a cold, uneven surface pressed against his back. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils.
Aiden's eyes snapped open.
The world around him was shrouded in darkness. The trees were enormous, their twisted trunks forming grotesque silhouettes against the absence of moonlight. The leaves rustled like hushed voices, whispering secrets he wasn't meant to hear.
His breath hitched.
"Where... am I?" he muttered.
His heart pounded in his chest, an erratic rhythm fueled by confusion. He stood up, brushing off the dirt clinging to his clothes. His fingers ran over the fabric—foreign, unfamiliar. Something about all of this felt wrong.
"I don't belong here."
The realization struck him like a hammer. His mind reached for memories, something—anything—that could explain why he was standing in the middle of an ominous forest. He remembered his name. He remembered falling asleep in a comfortable bed. But beyond that… nothing.
A pit formed in his stomach.
"Did I… die?" The thought came unbidden, a whisper of dread curling in his mind.
Suddenly, something flickered before him.
A glowing panel materialized in the air, its radiant blue light cutting through the suffocating darkness. Its surface was sleek and futuristic, lined with intricate symbols pulsating softly as if alive. A cold, synthetic female voice resonated from it.
---
[WELCOME TO THE ULTIMATE BOND SYSTEM]
---
Aiden recoiled, blinking in shock. "The hell is this?"
His eyes darted around. There was no one here—only him and the hovering panel. His fingers twitched as he reached out, attempting to touch it, but his hand passed through as if it were made of mist.
The voice continued, unbothered by his confusion.
---
[AIDEN NIGHTSHADE! YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A BEAST TAMER.]
---
His brows furrowed.
"Beast Tamer?" He muttered under his breath.
What was this? Some kind of dream? A hallucination?
The panel continued.
---
[YOUR MISSION: TAME MAGIC BEASTS.]
[BONDED BEASTS WILL TRANSFORM INTO HUMANOID WOMEN.]
---
Aiden blinked. Once. Twice.
"...What?"
He shook his head, convinced that he must be hearing things.
His mind was a swirling mess, but instead of confusion or fear, something else stirred deep within him—a strange, undeniable excitement.
For some reason, he wanted this.
Have I always longed for something like this?
The panel continued, its luminous glow illuminating the darkness around him.
---
[CURRENT STATUS]
[JOB: BEAST TAMER]
[LEVEL: 1]
[HP: 100/100]
[MP: 50/50]
[STRENGTH: 20]
[INTELLIGENCE: 30]
[SKILLS: COMBO]
[COMBO: Allows fusion of two skills into a more powerful ability.]
[SPECIAL: TRANSMUTATION]
[TRANSMUTATION: Converts a tamed beast into a humanoid form.]
[CURRENT ABILITIES:]
[Inferno's Fury – A raging fireball with explosive impact.]
[Stormsurge – A powerful wind attack that destabilizes enemies.]
[COMBO AVAILABLE:]
[Inferno's Fury + Stormsurge → IGNIS]
[IGNIS: A devastating fusion of fire and wind that can vaporize enemies within a 10-meter radius.]
---
Aiden's lips parted slightly as he read through the information. This was insane. But the more he read, the more he felt something pulse in his chest—excitement.
"Alright… so what do I do now?" he asked, still trying to process everything.
---
[MISSION: TAME YOUR FIRST BEAST]
[REWARD: LEVEL UP, TITLE: MASTER, STORAGE UNLOCKED, STATS INCREASED]
---
His pulse quickened.
"So, I can not only tame beasts... but turn them into people?"
Okay!" Aiden muttered to himself, exhaling slowly.
The absurdity of the situation didn't faze him as much as it should have. The system, the sudden awakening in an unfamiliar world, the eerie forest stretching endlessly around him—it all felt strangely… natural. As if this was where he was meant to be.
He could barely recall the life he had before this, but what he did remember was a dull existence. A monotonous routine, devoid of excitement. Here, however, something stirred within him—a thrill, an unshakable sense of adventure.
This… feels right.
A sudden realization struck him. He hadn't even checked his own appearance yet. The body he was in felt different—stronger, lighter, filled with a raw, untapped power.
Frowning, he raised his hands before his face, turning them over. His fingers were long and dexterous, calloused but elegant, as if they belonged to a warrior who wielded both swords and strategy. His arms were lined with lean muscle, power coiled beneath the surface like a beast waiting to pounce. His breathing was steady, controlled—every fiber of his being fine-tuned for combat.
He clenched his fists, feeling the energy surging through him.
"I should probably get a good look at myself," he murmured, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension.
Lifting his gaze to the floating system panel, he hesitated before asking, "Do you… have a mirror or something?" His voice, deeper and smoother than he remembered, carried a commanding edge.
The system responded instantly. The translucent panel shimmered, shifting like rippling water before solidifying into a reflective surface.
Aiden's breath hitched.
The man staring back at him was… stunning.
His hair, wild and untamed, was pure white—like freshly fallen snow under moonlight. It was short yet effortlessly stylish, with long, silken strands framing his face, secured by golden hairpieces that gleamed softly in the panel's glow.
His eyes—light-colored, possibly red or amber—were sharp yet warm, filled with an affectionate depth that hinted at both kindness and untold power. They held an intensity that could unsettle enemies yet comfort allies, a perfect balance of authority and charm.
His skin was smooth and fair, almost ethereal under the panel's glow, unmarred by any imperfections. The faintest hint of sharp cheekbones and a defined jawline only added to his allure, making him look like a noble warrior sculpted by divine hands.
He let his gaze travel lower. His attire screamed royalty. A deep crimson and black coat hugged his broad shoulders, intricate golden embroidery tracing the fabric like woven fire. Beneath it, a high-collared white shirt rested against his toned chest, its pristine material further accentuating his aristocratic bearing.
He turned slightly, observing how the outfit moved with him, tailored to perfection.
Damn. I look good.
He ran a hand through his snowy locks, feeling the soft strands slide through his fingers. A chuckle escaped him—low and rich.
"Well… at least I'm not ugly," he mused, smirking.
Even without fully understanding his new identity, he could already tell—this body was built for dominance. He was tall, easily over six feet, broad-shouldered, and exuded raw masculinity. Every inch of him screamed strength and refinement.
His smirk widened.
"Alright, I can work with this."
The system panel flickered before reverting to its original form.
With one last glance at his reflection, Aiden exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"Now… how do I find this beast?" he thought aloud, shifting his focus back to his mission.
As if on cue, a bone-chilling cry shattered the night.
Aiden's spine straightened. The howl was raw with agony, filled with a desperate struggle. It wasn't just a beast's cry—it was a plea for survival.
Somewhere, something was suffering.
Deep Inside the Forest
Aiden had barely set foot in this mysterious world, yet his heart pounded with exhilaration. The scent of damp earth, mingled with the faint metallic tang of blood, filled his lungs. The thick canopy above allowed only slivers of moonlight to filter through, casting eerie shadows upon the forest floor. The rustling of leaves and distant howls created an ominous symphony, one that set his nerves on edge.
Ahead of him, a savage battle was already underway.
A circle of monstrous wolves, their bodies massive and wreathed in dark purple flames, growled menacingly. Their black fur shimmered with an unnatural glow, and their sharp fangs glistened under the pale light.
But in the center of this encroaching horde was a lone figure—a female wolf, battered and bloodied, yet standing tall despite the odds.
Her fur was unlike the others. Jet black, adorned with streaks of glowing violet, as though the night sky itself had been woven into her pelt. Her piercing blue eyes burned with defiance. Though her breathing was ragged, she stood firm, her body trembling not with fear but determination.
She was different.
She didn't belong to the pack.
And now, they were closing in on her.
One of the larger wolves snarled and lunged, its claws extended to rip through her flesh.
She braced herself but knew she wouldn't be able to move in time.
Her vision blurred.
Her legs were too weak.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
But the attack never came.
Instead—
BOOM!
A fiery explosion erupted from the side, consuming the attacking wolf in blazing inferno. The air crackled, the scent of burning fur filling the battlefield as the beast let out a tortured howl before collapsing in a heap of smoldering ash.
A sharp voice echoed through the clearing.
"Inferno's Fury!"
The wolves turned in unison, their glowing eyes locking onto the source of the attack.
Aiden stood at the edge of the battlefield, his hand still raised, wisps of residual fire dissipating from his palm. His silver hair gleamed under the moonlight, his crimson eyes blazing with excitement. He grinned.
"I was looking for a fight. Guess I found one."
The horde growled in unison, their collective rage shifting toward this new threat.
Aiden rolled his shoulders, loosening up. The thrill of battle coursed through his veins.
"Alright then… let's dance."
END OF CHAPTER : 1 : THE ULTIMATE BOND SYSTEM : 1