The aroma of warm soup filled Luxe's small apartment. He had woken up earlier, cooking and tidying the house.
Grandma Lam stepped out of her room, her small frame slightly hunched.
"Luxe, what time did you come home last night? I was worried… you didn't pick up my calls."
"Ah, Grandma… I was home before dark. By the time I got here, you were already asleep," Luxe answered with a faint smile.
"Come on, let's eat breakfast together." He gently guided her to the dining table.
They shared a simple meal. Luxe didn't say much, his mind still replaying last night's events.
Fifteen minutes later, he was already in his room, laptop open, scrolling through the Beast Slayer forum.
"Good thing I've got a day off today. I need to learn more about this whole beast world… That owl that resonated with me looked weak, but how could it hold its ground against the Silver Dragon?" he muttered, fingers flicking down the screen.
--
[GUIDE] Beast Tier Ranking 2025 – Posted by: SlayerMod
A lot of newbies keep asking about beast tiers. Here's the list:
1. Feral – wild, instinct-driven.
2. Savage – aggressive, brute strength.
3. Elite – has elemental abilities.
4. Lord – commands smaller beasts.
5. Duke – unique essence, district-level threat.
6. King – rules wide territories.
7. Mythical – disaster-class power.
8. Primordial – legends, origin of beasts.
--
Luxe tapped his chin.
"So that owl should've been just Feral… But if that's true, how the hell did I bind the Silver Dragon last night? That thing was at least a King-tier beast…"
He kept scrolling.
--
[GUIDE] Beast Taming Capacity & Tattoo Slot System – Posted by: SlayerMod
Resonance Beast (Core Beast)
- Only one per lifetime.
- Resonance = core tattoo appears (symbol depends on the beast).
- Beast Users cannot use the skills of their Pet Beasts. Pets fight using their own innate abilities, but those abilities do not transfer to the tamer.
Core beast = the main source of power, cannot be replaced.
Taming Beasts (Pet Beasts / Tamed Beasts / War Beasts)
- Limited slots, maximum of 7.
- Each successful taming = one additional tattoo mark on arm/back.
Overloaded slots = failed taming or damage to the tamer's soul.
--
Luxe glanced at his bare arm.
"So normally, people get a tattoo right after resonance… but me? Nothing. Does that mean I failed… or is my system different?"
He closed the laptop slowly, then muttered,
"Alright then. I need to register at the Beast Slayer Association. If I want to sell these beast cores, I'll need a Slayer ID… otherwise they'll accuse me of stealing."
"Grandma, I'm heading out for a while to buy some food for dinner!" Luxe said as he put on his jacket and shoes.
"Be safe, Luxe. Remember to come home before sundown," Grandma Lam replied warmly, folding laundry with her wrinkled hands.
Luxe sat in a shuttle bus heading toward the towering Association building. From the window, rows of digital billboards lit up the cityscape.
One of them showed an energy drink ad:
"Boost your stamina! Infused with premium Beast Core extracts—safe even for ordinary humans!"
On the screen stood Moore, one of the nation's strongest Beast Slayers. Handsome, sharp undercut hair, pale skin. His arm proudly bore seven tattoo marks—proof of maximum taming capacity.
Luxe stared at the ad, whispering,
"If you're that strong, making money must be so damn easy…"
The Association's central branch towered before him, black pillars etched with beast symbols. A golden plaque gleamed under the sunlight: Beast Slayer Association – Central Branch.
"Whoa…" Luxe swallowed hard. If it looks this grand from the outside, what about the inside?
He stepped in. The lobby was crowded with young people, their faces tense. Some looked nervous, others confident. A few wore light combat gear—clearly the wealthy ones.
At the far side of the room, Luxe approached the registration desk and carefully filled out the form.
Once done, he stepped aside, waiting for his turn in the line.
Moments later, a receptionist in a crisp black-and-white uniform called out,
"Next in line—Luxe Lam."
Taking a deep breath, Luxe stepped forward.
"Place your hand on the Resonance Crystal. It reads your soul contract and sync level with your core beast. The results will determine your initial rank." The receptionist explained, her eyes briefly scanning Luxe's registration data.
Before him stood a massive crystal, faintly glowing blue on a metal altar. Luxe pressed his palm against its cold surface.
For a moment, it shone bright—then dimmed suddenly. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. Murmurs rose in the crowd.
"What the—why is it cracking?"
"Never seen that before… failed resonance?"
"No, if it failed it wouldn't react at all. That looks like… overload."
The receptionist furrowed her brows, fixing Luxe with a serious look.
"Wait a moment… it seems the system can't read your Core Beast properly. On your registration form, it says the beast resonating with you is a black owl, correct? A feral-level beast should have been detected by the system."
Luxe simply nodded in response, just as puzzled as she was.
The crystal pulsed once more, then flared with faint black light before being swallowed by darkness. Silence filled the hall.
Luxe yanked his hand away, sweat dripping down his forehead. Shit… what was that? Why black?
The receptionist swallowed hard before rising to her feet, her voice taking on an official tone.
"This case… the test results indicate an unstable aura. In accordance with the association's system and the type of beast resonating with you, you are hereby placed in Rank F."
The room erupted in whispers.
"Rank F? That's rock bottom!"
"Hah, of course! He resonated with a mere feral beast!" one of them scoffed, struggling to hold back laughter.
Luxe clenched his fists, his face calm though his chest burned inside. Rank F, huh?
The receptionist added, "Even as Rank F, you are officially recognized as a Beast Slayer. This grants you the right to be outside during the night… at your own risk."
She handed him a black card stamped with a large F. Luxe gripped it tightly.
Leaving the Association, Luxe walked with mixed relief and bitterness. The ID card felt heavy in his pocket.
"At least now… I can sell these two beast cores. And I can walk at night without being called a criminal," he muttered, forcing a smile.
The streets bustled with seasoned Slayers carrying weapons or walking alongside their tamed beasts—one even had a hulking Orc Gaze.
Luxe kept his head low until he stopped before a neon sign: Core & Material Exchange.
Inside, the smell of iron, dried blood, and herbs filled the air. Shelves were stacked with fangs, scales, and bottled essence.
"Welcome. Selling cores or materials?" asked a bespectacled middle-aged man at the counter.
Luxe pulled out two cores from his pocket. Red and white light pulsed faintly—making the shopkeeper's eyes widen.
"Beast cores? How'd a kid like you get these?" His voice turned sharp. "Do you even have a Slayer ID? Ordinary people with cores get charged as criminals."
"Ah—" Luxe quickly produced his ID card, the F glaring on its surface.
The shopkeeper exhaled. "Rank F, huh? No wonder you still look pale. A newbie."
He weighed the red core under the light. "Clean quality. From an Elite-class beast, I'd say. Market value… around 4,000 Zen."
Then he inspected the white core. "This one's a bit cracked, but usable. About 2,500 Zen."
Luxe's throat went dry. 6,500 Zen… that's nearly ten times what I make at the ramen shop in a month!
The shopkeeper scribbled on a small ledger. "So, 6,500 total. Cash now, or transfer straight to your Association account?"
"Transfer. Safer that way, right?" Luxe replied quickly.
The man smirked. "Smart kid. Most rookies blow it all in a week."
Moments later, Luxe pocketed his slip of transfer. His steps felt lighter as he left the shop.
6,500 Zen—more money than he'd ever dreamed of holding.
On the way home, he stopped by a market, buying rice, fresh vegetables, and even a bit of meat for Grandma. Bags swung from his hands, and for the first time in a long while, his lips curled into a genuine smile.
The sky was turning orange; dusk was close. Luxe quickened his pace toward their modest apartment.
He set the groceries down on the table, then stared at his hands. Dark shadows flickered faintly across his skin.
"If I really am a Beast Slayer… then I should try taming."
His heart raced at the thought.
Yes… tonight. I need to get my first Pet Beast.