As the sun dipped below the horizon, its last light faded, swallowed by the veil of night. The once lively city fell silent; doors locked, streets emptied. For humans, the day belonged to them—but once darkness took over, the world became the domain of the Beasts.
"At last… night has come! Normally I'd hate the darkness… but this time, I'm actually looking forward to it. Grandma's already asleep… good. It's time to hunt for my first Beast!" Luxe whispered, grabbing the cracked black scythe. He tied it with a rough strap and slung it across his back.
He crept toward the apartment door, fingertips brushing the wall to avoid making noise.
"Damn, it's so dark…" he muttered.
Suddenly, black aura surged through his body. His eyes gleamed gold, cutting through the shadows.
"Hah… it's bright? Like daylight?"
He glanced at the mirror near the door. Two golden owl eyes stared back.
"This… is it the Owl Beast's skill?!" Luxe clenched his fist, a grin tugging at his lips. "Good. I'll call this skill—Golden Sight."
Stepping outside, Luxe looked up at the night sky. His body felt light. He bent his knees and leapt—black aura coiling around his legs.
In a blink, he landed on the roof across the street. A faint smirk spread across his face.
"So it wasn't just luck… this power is really mine. I'll call it… Shadow Step."
He dashed forward, jumping rooftop to rooftop like a shadow dancing under the pale moonlight.
From one rooftop, Luxe spotted two Feral Beasts prowling below.
Ignis Midge—a housecat-sized fly, its wings blazing with fire.
Leap Fang—a rabbit as big as a dog, its long fangs jutting from its jaws.
Luxe gripped his scythe tightly, his hands trembling.
"This is my first hunt…"
He tried to summon the shadow chains—but only a faint ripple appeared on his hand before fading away.
"Tch… no good. I'll have to use what I can control!"
He bent his knees, aura flaring.
Shadow Step!
His body shot forward, eyes shut, scythe raised high.
Slaaash!
Blood sprayed. Both beasts were cleaved in a single strike, their bodies collapsing lifeless.
Panting, Luxe's hands shook.
"Y-Yes… I really killed a Beast with my own hands…"
From their remains, faint light flickered—dropping a fly wing and little fang onto the ground. Luxe quickly snatched them up. But when he touched one of the carcasses—
Wuussh.
It dissolved into essence mist and was absorbed into his body. Luxe staggered in shock.
"Wh-what?! Why did it turn into essence? I can feel… foreign energy inside me…"
He tried recalling the forum he read.
"1. Taming can only happen after a Beast is weakened, not killed.
2. Usually needs a sigil, chain, or blood contract.
3. If it fails, the Beast goes berserk… or the Slayer's soul takes damage."
Luxe stared at his hand.
"So that shadow chain from last night… could it really be my taming skill?"
He kept moving, leaping with Shadow Step.
From above, he spotted Beast Slayers patrolling—one wielding a strange spear glowing with essence, another riding a Water Grizzly Bear, its massive body covered in streams of water.
Luxe's eyes widened.
"Woah… so Pet Beasts can even be used as mounts?!"
He turned right, drawn by loud roars and flashing lights. Many Beast Slayers were locked in battle with a horde of Beasts—Feral to Elite swarming the streets.
Each Slayer had already summoned one or two of their pet beasts. One unleashed a Frost Werewolf, a hulking wolf wielding a hammer of ice. Beside it loomed a Steel Golem, two stories tall, its massive fists crushing feral beasts with every blow.
A woman called forth a Nature Fairy, a tiny figure glowing green, carrying a rose-shaped staff. Waves of healing light radiated from her, keeping the team's stamina steady. Not far away, a Blinded Witch floated with her eyes bound by cloth, clutching a crystal that flared with violet energy, tearing apart enemies from afar.
The ground shook as a Sandworm erupted, swallowing several beasts whole before scattering whirlwinds of sand. Meanwhile, a Houned Lizard darted forward, its long tongue whipping at enemies like a blade.
On the other side, a Black Mammoth stood upright like a man, swinging its massive twin horns as weapons, slaughtering beasts around it. Above, a Flymoth spread its wings, scattering a blue luminescent powder that weakened everything it touched.
Luxe stood frozen.
"They're… fighting like a real army. Covering each other… a perfect team."
His heart pounded.
"With just this cracked scythe… I wouldn't last against even half that horde."
Then, the Slayers suddenly began retreating. One of them shouted:
"Fall back—it's a Duke Beast! Prism Ward!"
Luxe leaned forward, eyes sharp.
"Prism Ward…?"
From the chaos, a figure emerged. A knight from another world with transparant wings, clad in radiant white armor. From every seam, pure light leaked out. Its eyes were not eyes—only white beams pulsing behind a faceless helm. Twin prism blades gleamed in its hands, scattering rainbow shards of light with every move.
Luxe's jaw tightened.
"Damn… that Beast looks incredible! No matter what, I want him as my first War Beast!"
Black aura flared violently. Shadow chains erupted from Luxe's hands, whipping forward and coiling around Prism Ward. The Duke Beast raised its blades, clashing against the chains—sparks of light and shadow fractured the air.
Then—something strange happened. The aura around Luxe pulsed, pulling the Prism Ward's body into his shadow.
Poof
Gone. No essence. No core. No drops. Nothing.
Luxe staggered, gasping.
"Haaah… hah… my chains only appear when I truly want to tame a Beast… so… did I succeed? Or… did Prism Ward just die?"
He glanced at his hands. No tattoo. No mark. Unlike everything he'd read.
"But… why does it feel so empty? Not like when I absorbed those Feral Beasts earlier."
Exhausted, he clenched his jaw.
"…Forget it. I'll go home. I failed to get my first War Beast tonight. Maybe tomorrow."
He leapt again with Shadow Step. But midway, his legs faltered. His energy was spent. His body tilted, about to plummet into the dark streets.
Brakkk—
A sudden flash of white mixed with black erupted from his shadow. A transparent prism shield materialized, catching him and hurling him back onto the rooftop. Luxe collapsed, panting.
His eyes widened.
"P…Prism Ward?! That was his skill!"
His hands trembled.
"How am I using it? Only Resonance Beasts share their skills with the Slayer… not War Beasts. Don't tell me… I actually tamed him?"
He steadied his breathing, staring at his shadow trembling under the moonlight.
"…Prism Ward. Summon."
The shadow rippled. White light seeped out, pushing through the darkness.
A tall figure emerged. Prism Ward.
But he was no longer the towering Duke Beast Luxe had seen. His body had shrunk, just over two meters tall. His armor simpler, less divine, yet still radiating pure white light tinged with Luxe's black aura.
The twin prism blades remained, though more compact, like tempered weapons for battle.
Prism Ward stood silently beside Luxe, head lowering slightly—an unspoken acknowledgment.
Luxe's lips parted, disbelief flooding his face.
"S-shit… I really tamed a Duke Beast? But why… does he look like this?"
Clutching his scythe, Luxe glanced at the knight once more.
"If that's true… then I don't just have the Owl as my core… I also have a Duke Beast in my shadow."
His chest tightened, heart racing. That night, Luxe finally understood—his secret was far more dangerous than he'd ever imagined..