Gu Bei's eyes snapped open.
A rooster crowed outside, followed by the distant roar of something that definitely wasn't a rooster.
"What the fuck?" he muttered, bolting upright. His voice sounded smoother, younger. He swung his legs off the bed and stumbled to the cracked bronze mirror hanging on the wall.
The face staring back made him freeze.
Chiseled jaw. Sharp fox-like eyes. Skin like jade. Black hair falling perfectly without a single cowlick.
Gu Bei blinked hard. "Holy shit… I'm hot. Like, disgustingly handsome hot..."
This world was called the Beast Dominion Continent. Everyone and their grandma wanted to be a Beast Tamer.
Contracts came in four flavors: Blood, Soul, Equality, and the rare Master-Servant.
Beast Space existed inside every tamer's soul... a personal pocket dimension for storing contracted beasts.
Today was Gu Bei's eighteenth birthday.
A knock rattled the door. "Bei'er! You still sleeping? Breakfast's getting cold and the whole street's heading to the plaza!"
Gu Bei grinned at his reflection. "Coming, Mom!"
He yanked on simple linen clothes and stepped into the main room of their tiny house. His little sister Gu Ling, fifteen and loud as a firecracker, was already shoving porridge at him.
"Brother, if you come home without a beast today I'm telling everyone you're secretly afraid of slimes!" she teased, eyes sparkling.
Their father, Gu Feng, sat at the table with a tired but proud smile. A sturdy Rock Turtle the size of a coffee table dozed beside his chair.
"Ling, don't bully your brother," Gu Feng chuckled. "Bei'er, listen. The guild gives every new adult one free contract attempt with a Common beast. Don't be picky. Even a trash Fire Rat is better than nothing. Use an Equality Contract first... keeps the backlash low if it rejects you."
Gu Bei shoveled porridge, mind racing. "Dad, what if I get lucky and pull something with potential?"
"Lucky?" Gu Feng snorted. "Son, our Gu family has never had 'lucky' in our bloodline. Just don't come back crying."
A blue translucent panel suddenly bloomed in his vision, visible only to him.
[Fusion System Activated!]
[Host: Gu Bei]
[Core Ability: Fuse any two similar-type beasts into one new beast. Attributes, skills, bloodline, and potential combine and upgrade. No fusion cooldown.]
[Current Beast Slots: 0]
[Starter Gift: Fusion Vision – see compatibility percentages between beasts at a glance.]
Gu Bei almost choked on porridge. 'This… this is broken as fuck! I can literally fuse two commons into an Elite on day one? Two Elites into Rare?!'
Hundreds of eighteen-year-olds shoved and shouted while the Beast Tamer Guild had set up a giant cage arena.
Inside, dozens of Common-rank beasts paced... Fire Foxes spitting sparks, Wind Sparrows zipping, Earth Slimes jiggling, and a few Shadow Cats slinking in the shadows.
Guild Elder Ma stood on a platform, "One attempt each! Form the contract circle, pour your spirit energy, and pray the beast accepts! Equality Contract only for beginners!"
Young Master Wang was already strutting around in silk robes, his bodyguards holding a Rare egg. He spotted Gu Bei and sneered loud enough for half the plaza to hear.
"Yo, trash Gu! Still riding your dad's turtle everywhere? Today you'll probably contract a slime and cry all the way home."
Gu Bei flashed a handsome smile that made several girls nearby blush. "Keep talking, Wang. When my beast evolves past your entire bloodline, I'll let you watch from the ground."
Wang's face twisted. "Big words for a poor—"
"Next group, step up!" Elder Ma shouted, cutting him off.
Gu Bei's turn came fast. He stepped into the circle.
A sleek black Shadow Cat locked gazes with him.
Compatibility flashed in his vision: 87% perfect match for agility path.
He pressed his palm to the contract sigil. Spirit energy poured out. The cat yowled once, then the bond snapped into place.
[Contract Successful!]
[Beast: Shadow Cat (Common)]
[Skills: Shadow Step (Lv1), Claw Rend (Lv1)]
[Sent to Beast Space]
The real fun started when the next kid's contract failed. A second Shadow Cat panicked, clawed through a loose bar in the cage, and bolted straight for the forest edge bordering the plaza.
Elder Ma cursed. "Damn escapee! Someone catch it before it becomes a stray!"
"I'll get it!" Gu Bei yelled, already sprinting.
His father shouted after him, "Bei'er, don't be reckless!"
Gu Bei chased the cat into the treeline, low branches whipping past. The escaped Shadow Cat hissed from a low bush. Gu Bei slowed, palm out.
"Hey… easy. You're the same type as mine... We could be friends."
Gu Bei activated Fusion Vision. Two identical Shadow Cats: 100% compatibility.
"System… can I contract this one too?"
[Yes. System overrides standard one-beast-per-ceremony rule. Contract?]
"Yes!"
Spirit energy surged again. The second Shadow Cat stepped forward and accepted the Equality Contract instantly.
[Second Beast Acquired! Shadow Cat (Common)]
[Both beasts identical – ready for instant fusion?]
Gu Bei's glanced back... the plaza noise was distant.
"Do it... Fuse them!"
Golden light exploded between his palms. The two Shadow Cats dissolved into swirling energy, then slammed together. Fur rippled, muscles swelled, eyes turned deep violet.
[Fusion Complete!]
[New Beast Created: Shadow Panther (Elite)]
[Skills: Shadow Step (Lv3), Claw Rend (Lv2), Night Vision (Lv1), Panther Roar (new)]
[Beast Space updated]
The new panther, twice the size, sleek midnight fur with violet streaks rubbed its massive head against Gu Bei's chest.
Gu Bei stared, mouth open. "Shit… it worked. This system is actually insane."
He sent the Shadow Panther into Beast Space, keeping only the original contract record for show. Then he strolled back out of the trees carrying nothing visible, whistling innocently.
His father and sister rushed over.
"Bei'er! Did you catch it?"
Gu Bei shrugged, grinning. "It got away. But hey... I got my Shadow Cat!"
Gu Ling squealed and hugged him. Gu Feng clapped his shoulder proudly.
"That's my boy. Common is a start!"