Everything that is happy can't last forever. Rei had been kicked out of his home—an outcome he had expected ever since he awakened as a Beast Tamer, the so-called weakest profession.
He sighed, walking aimlessly through the bustling streets of the city. The towering stone buildings, busy merchants, and chattering crowds all seemed to blur together as he tried to think of his next move.
'What should I do now?' Rei pondered, his hands tucked into his pockets.
"Hey, little kid, are you lost?"
A deep, yet kind voice interrupted his thoughts. Rei turned to see an old man with a long white beard, leaning on a wooden staff. His robe was made of fine fabric, embroidered with glowing runes that pulsed with faint energy.
Rei blinked in surprise and looked around before pointing at himself. "Are you talking to me?"
The old man chuckled. "Who else would I be talking to?"
"Eh... No, I'm not lost," Rei answered, scratching the back of his head. "I was just wandering the city, trying to figure out what to do next."
The old man studied Rei for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "A kid like you, out on the streets all alone? Must be a good story behind that. Let me guess—you awakened an unwanted profession, and now you're out on your own?"
Rei's eyes widened. "How did you—?"
"I've seen it happen before," the old man said, stroking his beard. "People judge too quickly, dismissing potential just because it doesn't fit their expectations."
Rei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah... I'm a Beast Tamer. Everyone thinks it's useless."
"Useless? Ha!" The old man's laughter boomed through the street, drawing a few curious glances. "Kid, let me tell you something. Every profession has its own strengths. The problem isn't the profession—it's the way people perceive it."
Rei looked up at the man, curiosity replacing his doubt. "Then... what can I do to get stronger? How do I level up?"
The old man's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Good question. You're eager—I like that. Listen, leveling up in this world isn't just about fighting random monsters. If you really want to grow, you need to challenge the dungeon."
"Dungeon?" Rei repeated.
"That's right," the old man said, tapping his staff against the ground. "Each nation has a single dungeon, and inside are 100 floors filled with challenges, monsters, and rewards. To level up, you must clear floors. The higher you go, the stronger you become."
Rei's mind raced at the thought. "So if I clear dungeon floors, I can get stronger?"
The old man nodded. "Exactly. And since you're new to this world, you'll need a guide. How about this—I, Varen, the top-ranked player of this nation, will take you in as my student?"
Rei's breath caught in his throat. "Wait… did you just say top-ranked player?"
Varen smirked, and for the first time, Rei noticed the aura of power radiating from him. This old man wasn't just any mage—he was a legend.
"That's right, kid. I'm a level 500 Earth Mage. And if you're serious about getting stronger, I'll show you the ropes. But be warned... training under me won't be easy."
Rei's hesitation melted into excitement. This was his chance.
He clenched his fists and looked up at Varen with determination. "I'll do it. Teach me everything you know."
Varen grinned. "Good. Then let's get started."
Varen led Rei through the winding streets of the city, eventually arriving at a secluded courtyard behind a grand stone building. The space was empty, save for a few training dummies and a large stone platform. Varen motioned for Rei to stand before him.
"Alright, first things first. Let's check your stats again. You need to fully understand your abilities before we do anything else."
Rei nodded, focusing his mind. As before, the blue status panel appeared in front of him.
[Name: Rei]
[Age: 6]
[Race: Human]
[Profession: Beast Tamer]
[Level: 1]
[Special Ability: Blood Pact (Allows the user to tame beasts with their blood, enabling evolution through leveling up.)]
[Shop: Allows the user to purchase unique and rare items based on progression and achievements.]
Varen rubbed his chin. "Blood Pact, huh? Interesting. Most Beast Tamers have to subdue creatures the hard way—using bait, trickery, or brute force. But with this, your bond is instant and unbreakable. That alone gives you an edge."
Rei nodded. He had learned from the god that his abilities were different from other Beast Tamers, but he still didn't know how to make full use of them.
Varen tapped his staff against the ground. "We'll start with the basics—combat. Even if you're a Beast Tamer, you need to be able to defend yourself. Your beasts will be your strength, but if you go down too easily, none of that will matter."
The old mage suddenly raised his hand, and the earth beneath Rei trembled. In an instant, three stone figures shaped like golems emerged from the ground. They stood about Rei's height, their glowing eyes locked onto him.
Rei gulped. "You expect me to fight these?"
Varen smirked. "Exactly. Let's see how you handle yourself in battle."
One of the stone golems lunged toward Rei. Reacting on instinct, Rei jumped back, barely dodging the attack. His heart pounded in his chest as he clenched his fists. He had never fought before, not even in his past life. But he refused to run.
Another golem swung its arm. Rei ducked under the blow and dashed to the side, looking for an opening. But these weren't ordinary opponents—each of their movements felt deliberate, coordinated. He was outmatched.
"Use your ability!" Varen shouted. "Tame one!"
Rei's eyes widened. That's right—his ability! Without wasting another second, he bit his thumb, drawing a small drop of blood, and pressed it against one of the golems.
A bright red light flashed, and suddenly, the golem stopped moving. Its glowing eyes flickered before turning from blue to crimson. Rei felt something shift inside him—a connection forming between him and the creature. A rush of information flooded his mind. He could feel the golem's presence as if it were an extension of himself.
Varen whistled. "Not bad. Now, command it!"
Rei took a deep breath and focused. "Attack the other golems!"
His newly tamed golem moved immediately, charging at its former allies. With a single punch, it sent one of them flying. The remaining enemy tried to counterattack, but Rei's golem smashed its fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that shattered the stone figure into pieces.
Rei stared in awe. "That… actually worked."
Varen laughed. "Of course it did! And that was just a weak training golem. Imagine what you could do with real beasts!"
Rei felt exhilaration surge through him. He had always thought his profession was weak, but now, he could see the potential. This was only the beginning.
Varen clapped a hand on Rei's shoulder. "Get ready, kid. Tomorrow, we head for the dungeon. If you want to become strong, that's where your true test begins."
Rei grinned. "I can't wait."
"By the way, tomorrow I'll teach you some magic ability tomorrow since there's no way that you'll be able to get close to the enemy everytime."