Luxe walked with a light step toward the restaurant where he worked. His face was bright, a faint smile never leaving his lips.
"Last night, I tamed my very first Beast… Prism Ward. Hah, just how strong is he really?" he muttered with excitement.
On the way, he passed by a shop with a wooden sign that read "Beast Material & Equipment Shop." He glanced at his watch.
"It's only seven… I've got time to stop by."
The moment he pushed open the door, a small bell chimed. The air smelled of metal mixed faintly with essence. Inside, rows of glass shelves lined the room, displaying all kinds of gear: swords plated with beast scales, necklaces glowing with cores, bottles filled with thick, oddly colored liquids.
Luxe walked slowly, his eyes sparkling.
"So this is… the equipment real Beast Slayers use?"
"Morning, can I help you with something?" asked the shopkeeper, a middle-aged man in a soot-stained apron.
"Oh, no… just looking around." Luxe smiled awkwardly, his eyes glued to the gleaming sword in the display case.
The man chuckled. "You're a new Beast Slayer, aren't you? I can tell just by the way you're staring. A lot of rookies misunderstand weapons. Want me to explain?"
Luxe nodded quickly.
"See that sword?" The man pointed to a jagged blade inside the case. "Forged from beast scales. We call it Origin Gear. Simple, but tough. Perfect for beginners."
"And this one," he lifted a bluish dagger, the surface misted with frost, "is Core-Linked Gear. Made from a beast's core. Expensive, but it carries special effects—ice, poison, fog, you name it."
Luxe swallowed hard. "Cool…"
"There's also something rarer: Living Equipment. Certain beasts can transform into living weapons or armor. But they still count as a taming slot, and can revert to their true form anytime."
Luxe's eyes widened. "So… a pet beast can actually be worn as armor or wielded as a weapon?"
The man nodded. "Exactly. But not all of them."
"And lastly," he continued, lowering his voice, "Resonance Relics. Forbidden weapons. Born from failed resonance, carrying the shattered soul of a beast. Strong, but dangerous. They can drive the wielder insane."
Luxe bowed his head politely. "Thank you for explaining, sir."
He stepped out of the shop, the small bell chiming softly as the door closed behind him.
"The world of equipment… it's way more complicated than I thought," he murmured.
He quickened his pace toward Ra-Eat, the restaurant. The doorbell rang as he entered, greeted by the rich smell of simmering broth filling the room.
Behind the counter, Bruce—the boss and owner—glared with arms folded.
"Hey, why are you walking here, Luxe? Where's your bike?"
Luxe froze for a split second, then flashed a sheepish smile.
"Ah… it broke yesterday, sir. I, uh… hit a lamppost."
Bruce clicked his tongue. "Careless brat. Haven't even gotten your paycheck and you're already causing problems." He squinted at Luxe, brows knitting.
"But wait… why does your face look like it's glowing? You using some fancy skincare?"
A few staff nearby glanced over, some snickering. Luxe scratched the back of his neck in a panic.
"E-eh? No way, boss… maybe I just slept well."
Bruce snorted but dropped the subject. "Fine, hurry and change. Customers will be here any minute."
Luxe let out a relieved sigh as he walked to the back room. Glowing? he thought. Could it be… because I resonated? Is my body starting to change?
Soon he was back to work, serving steaming bowls of ramen to customers.
While setting down an order, his ears caught excited voices from the next table. Two young men were huddled over a phone screen.
"Dude, lately there's been way more strong Beasts showing up around here!" one said eagerly.
"For real? That fight yesterday—man, I still can't believe it!" the other replied, jabbing at the screen.
Luxe stole a glance. On the small display, an acetuber's recording played. It showed the same five-man Beast Slayer team Luxe had seen the night before.
They were battling a horde of Beasts—only to panic and retreat when a Duke-class Beast, Prism Ward, appeared.
Luxe's heartbeat quickened. That was last night!
The customers scrolled to the next video.
"Look—here they came back with more Slayers. But… the beast was gone already."
"Such a waste," the friend groaned. "If a Duke Beast like that could've been tamed and sold to the Association… dude, that'd be worth an entire district. Instant riches!"
Luxe froze in place, brows furrowing.
Sold? Wait… beasts that are already tamed can be transferred?
His hand tightened around the tray. But the forums never mentioned that. If it's true… does that mean pet beasts can be traded like goods?
He hurried away, pretending not to care, though his head buzzed with unanswered questions.
By the time his shift ended, Luxe glanced at his watch—4 p.m.
"Still got time. I'll swing by that shop where I sold cores yesterday. Maybe these Fly Wing and Little Fang will sell too."
The bell chimed as he entered. The familiar smell of metal and herbs greeted him. The bespectacled shopkeeper was at the counter again.
"Oh, the Rank-F kid from yesterday. Selling more?" he asked flatly.
Luxe nodded, handing over a small pouch. Inside were a Fly Wing and a Little Fang. The man weighed them briefly.
"Hmm. Minor drops, but still usable. Fly Wing—400 Zen. Little Fang—250. Total, 650 Zen."
Luxe smiled faintly. Not bad. While waiting for the transfer, his eyes drifted to the glass shelves beside the counter. Clear orbs of various colors were neatly lined up.
"Sir… what are those orbs?" he asked.
The man adjusted his glasses.
"Not ordinary orbs. They're called Core Vessels. Containers for tamed beasts."
His voice slowed, explaining.
"You should already know—every Beast Slayer can only keep seven tamed beasts inside their body. If their slots are full, they can store the rest inside these Vessels. Think of it as a temporary 'soul vault.'"
Luxe nodded. "So it's like storage?"
"Exactly. But don't misunderstand—Vessels aren't just storage. They can also be used to sell beasts. In simple terms, a Vessel acts as a bridge between seller and buyer."
Luxe frowned. "A bridge?"
"Yes. The original owner can only release a beast's contract when they reopen the Core Vessel themselves. Once the bond breaks, the beast comes out free, and only then can the buyer attempt to tame it again. Complicated, risky, and of course… expensive."
So that's why those guys in the restaurant said beasts could be sold, Luxe thought.
He glanced again at the shelf. "Then why don't you have any Vessels here that already have beasts inside?"
The shopkeeper chuckled, narrowing his eyes. "You're a funny kid. Only the original owner can open it. Until they willingly release the bond, the beast inside stays locked. That's why you'll never see a Vessel 'pre-loaded' on display. If a Slayer wants to let go of a beast, they usually do it through official auctions… or the black market."
Luxe nodded slowly, then asked again, "But what if the Vessel's owner dies? You said only they can open it, right?"
The shopkeeper exhaled sharply, lowering his tone.
"When the owner dies, so does the contract. The beast inside reverts to wild… but it stays trapped in the Vessel. If someone else opens it, the beast bursts out—untamed and feral."
He tapped his fingers against the wooden counter, gaze locked on Luxe.
"That's why Vessels from dead Slayers are so coveted. Officially, heirs can auction them through the Association. But on the streets? People kill each other over a single Vessel. Sometimes the contents are trash, sometimes it's an Elite or higher."
His lips curled into a thin, cynical smile.
"Oh, and one more thing. Core Vessels can also be used for artificial resonance. The beast inside can be injected into someone who doesn't yet have a core beast. A shortcut to becoming a Slayer, no need to risk your life outside at night. Great for the wealthy—they can buy whichever beast they want. But its potential unlocks only around forty percent. Almost none ever grow to full strength that way."
Luxe's jaw dropped. "Huh? So you don't even need to go out at night? Sounds great… but that would just make you weak, wouldn't it?"
The shopkeeper closed the conversation with a firm tone.
"Exactly. Anyway, that's enough talk for now. The sun's almost set… and the Beasts will be out soon."
Luxe gave a brief nod, then stepped outside. The streets were emptying, the air chilling against his skin. The sun slipped behind the skyline, its last orange glow swallowed by the rising dark.
That silence could only mean one thing… Beast time was near.
"Tonight… I'll find out just how strong Prism Ward really is."