Lord Of Beasts

{Beast Eliminated!}

The notification rang out as Wolfy tore into the corpse of the A Rank Beast that Kaela had defeated.

As soon as it did, Ethan didn’t hesitate.

He had disabled the automatic prompts for this, but now it was his turn to reach out to the system.

’Acquire it.’

His intent was clear.

{Beast Acquired!}

{Beast Capacity: 4/4}

A sharp pulse ran through him as a new connection formed, another presence added to the growing beast ecosystem within him.

And just like that, he had acquired an A Rank Beast.

Behind him, the others were still processing what they had just witnessed.

Kaela blinked slowly, her gaze shifting toward Ethan with mild curiosity.

”...You just stole my kill,” she muttered.

Ethan shrugged lightly.

”You said it wasn’t going anywhere,” he replied.

She stared at him for a moment, then she laughed lightly.

”Fair enough.”

It wasn’t like it mattered to her who actually finished off the beast.

Meanwhile, Wolfy continued its feast.

The Fenrir tore into the massive corpse with relentless hunger, devouring chunks of flesh with little regard for its grotesque nature. Despite the creature’s size being larger than Wolfy itself, it consumed it piece by piece with terrifying efficiency.

As it did, all the energy and nutrients were converted and absorbed. Its body seemed to pulse faintly as it fed, its already powerful presence growing subtly stronger.

’That’s one hell of a loot drop,’ Ethan thought.

He could practically feel the value of what he had just gained, both strengthening Wolfy and granting him a beast that could grow into a fearsome A Rank.

But the system wasn’t done just yet.

Ethan barely had time to process the fact that he had just acquired an A Rank beast before the system followed up with something that made him pause entirely.

{You are welcome.}

For a moment, he just stood there, confused by the sass of the robotic voice in his mind.

Then his expression twisted.

’What do you mean, you’re welcome?’

There was a brief pause, as if whatever governed the system was considering how to respond before it did.

{Your wild friend and this beast you have just acquired would be in the abyss if the system had not stepped in and spawned this island beneath them. As such, you are welcome for both your friend and the beast.}

Ethan wasn’t sure what to say.

It now made sense how this island was still intact despite everything surrounding it being destroyed by Kaela’s battle, but it left him with even more questions.

’Thanks... I guess.’

He scratched the back of his head, genuinely unsure how to feel about that.

The system always seemed to be guiding and rewarding him, while occasionally screwing him over for fun.

But this was different.

It almost felt like a sentient being was talking to him rather than an automated program built for whoever received his Title.

’So you’ve got a personality now?’

There was no response.

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.

’Or maybe you’re just looking out for me and want me to know that.’

That idea was much more comforting, especially since it could affect reality itself. But either way, all would become clear, and it didn’t seem like he was going to get answers right now.

There was only one thing that unsettled him.

’What exactly does it get in return or want from me?’

If there was one thing he had learnt painfully, it was that nothing was free in life, and if it truly was a sentient existence, then everything likely wasn’t a handout.

Ethan exhaled slowly and shook his head.

”Whatever.”

His future self could worry about that, and he had just secured his fourth beast, one with even more potential than Wolfy currently had.

Ethan’s lips curled into a grin.

’After all that thinking about what kind of beast I need next...’

He glanced down at the massive, partially devoured corpse of the dragonfly.

’...I just went ahead and grabbed this without thinking it through.’

And yet, there was not a single ounce of regret in him.

If anything, he felt excited.

Then something else hit him, his expression suddenly shifting.

’Wait.’

He looked down at his body, scanning himself frantically.

’Where’s the mark?’

Every time he acquired a beast, he was tattooed with a symbol related to it.

’I’m not in the tower, so...’

This time, it would be on his real body.

”...Where the hell is it?”

Ethan immediately began patting himself down like a man who had just lost something important, even lifting his shirt slightly to look at his abdomen

To everyone watching, he looked completely unhinged.

”What are you doing?” Darius asked, raising a brow.

Ethan ignored him.

He spun slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of his back, and there was nothing there either. Or, well, there was a pair of green wings tattooed across his back from Talon, his Griffling, but nothing new.

Then his gaze slowly lowered to his left forearm.

Just beneath the skin, there was a faint glow as it began to surface. It was like ink bleeding through paper; a sharp, intricate tattoo formed itself across his forearm.

It resembled a stylised dragonfly, but unlike anything natural. Its wings were jagged, its body sleek and dangerous, and faint arcs of blue energy pulsed through it.

The engraving was crackling and almost appeared to be alive.

Ethan froze for half a second.

Everyone around him also froze, staring at him intently as he laughed awkwardly.

”Oh, this?”

He rolled his wrist casually, as if nothing had just happened.

”It’s been there the whole time.”

”You’re joking,” Darius said flatly.

Ethan just grinned.

”What? Never noticed?”

Kaela snorted from where she lay.

”Yeah, because glowing lightning tattoos are easy to miss.”

Ethan shrugged.

”Guess you weren’t paying attention.”

Darius stepped closer, squinting at the mark.

”No, that definitely just appeared.”

Ethan only laughed again.

”Maybe you need to get your eyes checked.”

Darius frowned, clearly unconvinced and curious about Ethan’s unique abilities. Dave said nothing, but his white eyes lingered on the tattoo, studying it carefully. And the Bulldozer shifted slightly, clearly unsure what to make of it all.

Kaela shook her head, amused despite everything.

”You’re weird.”

Ethan just shrugged, unbothered about being the centre of attention.

Instead, he focused on the newfound power coursing through his body, as if his left arm had a pulse of its own. It was faint and feeble in comparison to the power emanating from the other markings on his body, but it was there, waiting for him to call upon it.

His right arm still carried the Spark’s flaming mark, and now his left arm carried lightning.

’I probably look like a freaky nerd with these tattoos.’

Ethan’s markings were definitely eye-catching, and another appeared on his chest under his shirt when he unsummoned Wolfy. The massive Fenrir vanished as if it had never been there; the sudden absence of its overwhelming presence was almost jarring.

”Where did it go?” the Bulldozer asked cautiously.

Ethan ignored him.

Instead, he focused inward and brought up the system interface, wanting to see what he had acquired.

{Beast Status}

{Name: N/A

Race: Lightning Dragonfly

Growth Stage: Infant

Beast Rank: E

Beast Potential: A

Strength: 2

Speed: 12

Stamina: 4

MP: 12}

Ethan stared at it and smiled.

It was weak, so much so that he could crush it under his foot if he summoned it right now.

But that did not matter.

Because he knew what it would become.

’All I need... is time and Evolutionary Shards.’

This thing would soon become something that could rival Kaela again and even surpass her.

The thought alone made him grin like an idiot.

{Please provide a name for your beast.}

Ethan tapped his chin thoughtfully.

’Wolfy... Talon... Spark...’

He didn’t have the best track record when it came to naming things, but he was improving, and one thing instantly came to mind.

’Storm.’

It was simple, fitting, and most importantly, sounded cool.

’Storm, I’ll call it Storm.’

{Name confirmed.}

His grin widened.

He could already imagine a massive lightning-infused predator tearing through enemies, fast, deadly, and untouchable.

”You’re smiling like a psychopath,” Darius said.

Ethan blinked.

”Am I?”

”Yes,” Liora confirmed, also curious and baffled by the blue-eyed enigma.

Off to the side, Elara let out a silent chuckle.

She had gotten used to Ethan’s craziness and was the only one who didn’t react to his odd behaviours and abilities.

’He just keeps getting stronger.’

It was fascinating how quickly he and his beasts were progressing, but she wasn’t the same Elara she was before entering this gate either.

’I’m making this power my own, just like you said I could.’

She had done what she hadn’t been able to do in years since receiving her Title.

And her timing couldn’t have been better.

With only twenty-four hours to complete Phase Three in this gate of endless floating islands, they needed all the improvements they could get. And once again, Ethan Crowe was going to find himself at the centre of the chaos that was to come...