Lord Of Beasts

{Congratulations on defeating the Boss Beast!}

’I’m surprised that lizard fucker survived that long with a destroyed skull,’ was Ethan’s immediate thought.

{The host has now met the requirements to ascend to Floor Eleven, a D Tier Floor}

{Would you like to move to the next floor of the Tower Of Beasts?}

{Yes / No}

He didn’t hesitate and pressed ’No’ once again.

”Not today.”

Ethan smiled, a dangerous look in his eyes.

”That’s for next time.”

He was in decent condition, aside from his arm.

His MP would recover quickly, and realistically, his arm would heal almost entirely just by eating some of the Basilisk if he really wanted to. As disgusting as the creature looked, Ethan had eaten much worse already.

’You’d be surprised what your stomach can handle and what you’d be willing to eat when you really need it.’

So it wasn’t his condition that caused him to back out, but the mental fatigue that had caught up with him.

”I’m shattered.”

Ethan had a constant headache and pushed through with sheer grit and determination, but he was starting to feel it become too much.

The reason was simple: he hardly rested for an entire month.

While his real body slept, his soul was here in the Tower hunting beasts and fighting for his life. And when back in his body, he would train like a madman, wanting to make as much progress as quickly as possible.

”Yeah... I should take a break.”

Though he doubted he would end up sitting still when he recalled the only objective he currently had...

{Objective 1: Enter a Gate}

It was short and ominous, but it also excited Ethan.

’I’ve left it for too long.’

He would have to enter a gate eventually, but at first, he felt too weak and wasn’t confident in his abilities.

’Now things are different.’

He wasn’t an S Rank or anything, not even close, but he wasn’t ”weak” anymore either. Though that was subjective, compared to the person he was a month ago, it was like night and day.

’Whatever happens, happens.’

Ethan decided to go with the flow like always.

”For now...”

A small grin formed on his face.

”I’m going home.”

He wanted to get some rest, spend some time with Mark, get some food, and not have to worry about being attacked by a beast or how much his stats had gone up for one day.

Obsessed with growing stronger, he barely spoke to the only person he had in his life, exchanging only glances as he raided the kitchen.

”Yeah, I should probably fix that.”

Standing up, Ethan glanced at the Basilisk’s corpse before nodding towards his beasts.

”Go on.”

Wolfy and Talon, who had been patiently waiting for his permission, didn’t need to be told twice.

They moved immediately, devouring the fallen beast as Ethan watched. He had a satisfied smile, and only once they had eaten their fill did he press that familiar button.

{Exit The Tower}

The world instantly shattered into blue light, and Ethan’s soul returned to his real body.

His eyes snapped open

But this time, he didn’t jolt upright, gasp, or scramble as he used to when he first returned from the Tower. Instead, he just lay there, still and calm, a faint smile resting on his lips.

The familiar basement ceiling greeted him.

His body felt light, yet grounded in a way that the Tower never allowed. He could feel reality, which was a difficult sensation to explain. The closest thing he could relate it to was the difference between one’s body in a lucid dream and in real life.

Gone was the constant tension and ever-present threat of life.

It was silent, and he didn’t have to worry about a beast pouncing on him.

”Feels nice.”

He exhaled slowly before wincing slightly as he went to sit up.

”Okay, maybe not that nice.”

Beneath him, the air mattress was completely deflated, and he was essentially just lying on the hard wooden floor, which his aching back could attest to.

As for the basement itself, it was in complete shambles: scratches carved into the wood, chunks missing, claw marks, and even burns.

It was to the point that Mark had stopped using it for storage, and it became Ethan’s mini playground for him and his beasts. Letting them out down here probably wasn’t the smartest idea.

But then again, where else could he use his beasts without drawing unwanted attention?

’Who cares? I’ll just buy Mark an even bigger bar once I start making real money as a Titled.’

With that thought in mind, he sprang to his feet.

His body felt stronger, more controlled and refined, but one thing lingered.

”Ugh. I feel disgusting.”

Even if it had been his Tower Body in the Fog Marsh, the dampness, filth, and even the Basilisk’s blood still clung to him. It was all in his head, but he immediately headed for the cramped basement under the basement stairs.

’A cold shower in the morning’s never hurt anyone.’

Ethan stepped inside, peeling off his clothes and pausing as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

He looked different.

It wasn’t dramatic, nor had he noticed it since it was gradual, but in hindsight, the changes were quite obvious.

Ethan looked more muscular, but remained lean and defined, impressively so. His muscles weren’t bulky, but they were sharp, functional, built through constant strain, combat, and survival.

He also seemed to have gained an inch or two.

’What am I now...?’

He tilted his head slightly.

’Six foot and about 185 pounds.’

(Which is roughly 183 cm and 84 kg in metric units)

”Not bad, if I do say so myself.”

He smiled, his piercing blue eyes staring back at him intensely.

There was something sharp and dark in his gaze, his eyes worn and bloodshot, like someone who had seen and experienced too much.

Not that it surprised him.

His jet-black hair had grown out as well, long enough now that it fell into his face if he didn’t tie it back. So he did: a small ponytail at the back of his head that was practical and out of the way.

But what stood out the most and always amazed him when he saw them were his tattoos.

Ethan turned slightly.

On his left pec was the fierce and detailed Ulfen that was alive and shuffled ever so slightly.

On his back, spanning across his shoulder blades, a Skyrend Hawk with its wings fully spread as if ready to take flight.

Then his gaze dropped.

Not that far, don’t worry, but to his right forearm, where there was the insignia of his third beast, the weirdest of the lot.

I bet you’re wondering all about his third beast, called Spark.

Well, Ethan couldn’t help but reminisce about when he first acquired it, chuckling softly as he did...