Kaito Yamada stood among the sea of students, his heart pounding in his chest. The Talent Awakening Ceremony was the moment every Beast Tamer Academy student had been waiting for. It marked the day when their dormant talent would be revealed. For most, it was a straightforward event— approach the Crystal of Awakening, touch it, and watch as their talent manifested.
For Kaito, however, the ceremony was a looming dread. He had never been the type to shine. The kind of person who never caught attention. He had always been a nobody, quietly training in the background, away from the spotlight. No one ever noticed him for anything other than his lack of skill with monsters. Even the academy had little hope for him. He couldn't tame a beast, couldn't bond with one. It felt as if the world of Beast Tamers was one he could never truly belong to.
But today, as he stepped forward to face the crystal, he couldn't help but feel a strange anticipation building in his chest. Maybe something will be different this time, he thought, though deep down, he didn't believe it.
The Crystal of Awakening stood on the stage before him, an enormous orb of radiant blue light. The air around it hummed with energy, as if it were alive. As students before him approached the crystal and activated their talents, the crowd cheered. Some of his classmates had already awakened abilities that were impressive—Elemental Affinity, Beast Mastery, Healing Hands, and other natural-born gifts that made them future stars of the academy. Kaito watched, his mind wandering.
His friend, Taro Kurozaki, stood off to the side with a confident grin, his posture straight and proud. Taro had always been one of the best—known for his exceptional skill with aerial beasts. Today, he was poised to unveil something that would no doubt raise the bar.
"Don't worry, Kaito," Taro said, slapping him on the back. "You'll awaken something good. You might just surprise yourself."
Kaito forced a smile, though it felt strained. "Yeah, I guess so," he muttered.
The ceremony continued as more students took their turn. One by one, they touched the crystal, their powers igniting before the audience's eyes. Each one seemed more impressive than the last. Kaito's stomach tightened as he took his first step toward the stage. I'm not like them, he thought, fighting to suppress the gnawing fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
Finally, the announcer called out his name.
"Kaito Yamada."
The crowd's chatter seemed to quiet down as Kaito walked to the center of the stage. He could feel the eyes of everyone on him, the weight of their expectations, and the ever-present fear that he would disappoint them all. His palms were clammy as he reached out to touch the crystal.
The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a shocking jolt of power coursed through him. His heart raced in his chest, but instead of feeling pain, something deep inside him felt... awakened. A deep, resonating hum echoed through his body, and his mind seemed to expand, as though the world around him was suddenly alive with possibilities.
A voice spoke to him—calm, deep, and yet strangely familiar.
"Beast Taming System: Activation Complete."
Kaito froze. Beast Taming System? What's that?
The system continued to speak within his mind.
"User: Kaito Yamada. System Type: Unique SSS-Class. Please check your status."
The world around him shifted again, and a transparent interface appeared before him, shimmering with bright blue text. His eyes widened as he read through it.
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Beast Taming System
User Status:
Name: Kaito Yamada
Level: 0
MP: 50 / 50
HP: 100 / 100
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 6
Endurance: 4
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Talent 1: Rank-Able Taming Talent (SSS) Can tame beasts up to 1 rank higher than your current rank.
Talent 2: 10x Experience Boost (SSS)Any monster tamed by the user will gain 10x Experience gain when levelling up or killing monster, user can also gain a boost to own experience points through tamed monster.
Talent 3: Monster Evolution path (SSS)The user can see different paths of evoultion required for monster.
Talent 4: SS-Level Skill EnhancementGrants significant combat ability improvements for both the user and tamed beasts. Skill points are gained from battle, with an enhanced effect on skills related to beasts and their training.
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Kaito's mind buzzed with the information flooding into his thoughts. SSS-Class talent? Skill Enhancement? The words felt foreign to him. He had expected something mundane—maybe a small boost to his ability to tame beasts, or some basic combat skill. But this was something completely different. He glanced around at the other students, who were obliviously cheering and watching the ceremony. No one else seemed to notice the massive surge of power he had just experienced.
Then, the voice spoke to him again, calm and matter-of-fact.
"Beast Taming System: Talent confirmed. Only SS-Level Skill Enhancement Revealed."
Kaito blinked, trying to make sense of it all. But why was no one reacting? He looked to the announcer and saw the familiar face of Professor Hayami.
"Congratulations, Kaito Yamada!" Professor Hayami's voice rang out across the hall. "You have unlocked an SS-level Talent—Skill Enhancement—a miracle indeed!"
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. It was clear that Skill Enhancement was a high-level talent, one that most students could only dream of. Kaito's heart skipped a beat. He had just unknowingly become the center of attention for something far more valuable than he had ever imagined.
"Indeed," the announcer continued, "the Skill Enhancement talent is not one that many possess. It will grant you an unparalleled ability to strengthen your skills and those of your tamed beasts. This is a powerful ability, and we look forward to seeing how you develop it, Kaito."
The murmurs grew louder. Kaito's chest tightened with anxiety. The attention felt suffocating, but there was little he could do about it. He had just been thrust into the spotlight.
After a few moments, Professor Hayami gestured for Kaito to step down. "We will now move on to the next student, but Kaito Yamada's unique talent will certainly be noted. Congratulations once again."
Kaito stepped down, feeling the weight of everyone's gazes. His mind was still spinning, and he couldn't shake the nagging thought: What was that system? Why can only I see it?