Lucas Carter hated Mondays, not because of some tired meme or punchline, but because Mondays reminded him how trapped he truly was—chained to a desk in a concrete jungle, surrounded by buzzing fluorescent lights and fake smiles.
He sat in his cubicle, eyes glazed over the latest report for marketing analytics. The numbers blurred. His back ached. His coffee had gone cold, untouched. Again.
"Lucas," barked his manager from across the office,
"I need that report in the next ten minutes. And clean it up this time—your last projections were off."
Lucas didn't answer. He just nodded and kept typing. His fingers moved on autopilot, copying, pasting, calculating. There was no joy in the work—there hadn't been for years.
His phone vibrated—a message from his mother.
"Don't forget to eat today, honey. Love you."
He smiled faintly, then returned to the screen.
That's when it happened.
A blinding pain slammed into his chest like a sledgehammer. He gasped, clutching at his shirt as the world tilted sideways. Papers flew as he collapsed, knocking over his monitor. Shouts rang out. Someone screamed. Someone else called 911.
But for Lucas, it was all distant noise, like echoes in a tunnel. His vision dimmed. Darkness closed in.
'So this is it?' He thought, bitter amusement flickering in the corner of his mind. Death by spreadsheet. How poetic.
The last thing he saw was the flickering fluorescent light above him, blinking like a dying star.
Silence......
Then, a soft breeze.
Lucas's eyes snapped open.
He was lying on something soft. Grass? His fingers curled, brushing dewy blades beneath him. He bolted upright, heart thundering. The sky above him wasn't made of concrete or fluorescents—it was endless and blue, with two suns hanging in the sky.
"What the hell—?"
DING!
[System Initialization Complete.]
Welcome, Lucas Carter. You have been successfully reincarnated.
Installing Beast Dominion System...
Lucas froze. A blue panel floated in front of him, translucent and shimmering with a faint, pulsing glow.
"What... what is this?"
[Beast Dominion System Installed.]
You are now recognized as:
Host – Lucas Carter.
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Age: 15 (Equivalent Body Age)
Title: Heir of Barony Greystone
Status: Newly Awakened
Another ding echoed through his mind, followed by a soft, melodic female voice.
{You're awake! About time, sleepyhead.}
Lucas blinked.
"Who the hell—?"
{Relax. You're not dead. Well... you were, but now you're not. Long story short: congrats on reincarnating! And lucky you, you've got me.}
"Who are you?"
{You can call me... hmm, how about Angel? That's what I feel like today.}
The voice was cheerful, almost teasing, but oddly soothing—like a best friend who knew all your secrets but wouldn't rat you out.
Lucas slowly got to his feet. His body felt... different. Younger. Stronger. He looked down—he was wearing a simple tunic and leather trousers, his hands free of callouses, no wristwatch, no phone.
This wasn't Earth.
"Where... am I?"
{Welcome to Aerion, Lucas. A world where beasts rule, empires clash, and the strong thrive. Oh, and don't forget—magic, dragons, elves, beastkin, and the occasional demon.}
{Fun, right?}
Lucas took a slow breath. He wasn't dreaming. This was real. The smells, the warmth of the sun, the way his senses felt sharp—it all screamed authenticity.
"So I died... and reincarnated into a fantasy world?" he muttered.
"Why?"
DING!
[Main Quest Initialized: Rise of the Beast Emperor]
Objective: Form your first beast bond.
Reward: Unlock 'Beast Fusion' ability.
Hint: Follow the wind.
Lucas rubbed his temples. "This is insane."
{Says the guy talking to a floating voice.}
"Fair point."
"Status"
Another ding, and a new panel materialized.
[Personal Status]
Name: Lucas Carter
Age: 15
Race: Human
Class: Beast Tamer (Locked)
Level: 1
Skills: None
Bonded Beasts: None
Titles: Reincarnated One, Heir of Greystone
System Energy: 100/100
"Beast Tamer?" Lucas murmured.
"So I tame creatures? Like the anime that I know?"
"Yes, but with fewer cute monsters and more deadly claws and elemental fury."
The wind picked up, tugging gently at his clothes. Remembering the quest's hint, Lucas turned toward the breeze. In the distance, a forest loomed—thick, wild, and humming with unseen life.
"I guess that's where I start," he said aloud.
{Smart boy. There's hope for you yet.}
Lucas began walking, muscles adjusting with each step. Despite the surrealness of it all, part of him was thrilled at the freedom. No suits, no deadlines, no spreadsheets.
Just a world full of monsters—and the power to command them.
The forest canopy swallowed the sunlight, casting green shadows across the mossy path. Lucas stepped carefully, senses on high alert. The System had gone quiet, but he could feel it—buzzing just beneath his skin.
That's when he heard it—a low, guttural growl.
He froze.
Ahead, a massive black lion stalked into view, muscles rippling beneath obsidian fur that shimmered like polished stone. Its golden eyes locked on Lucas, intelligent and unblinking.
DING!
[Beast Identified: Black Nemean Lion – Umbra]
Rank: Legendary Beast
Temperament: Territorial, Proud
Bond Status: Unbonded
Taming Difficulty: Extreme
Lucas's heart pounded. "Legendary? Isn't that too much for a first—"
{Relax. He won't kill you. Probably.}
Umbra let out a roar that shook the trees. Birds scattered. The ground trembled.
"Roaaaaaaaaaarr"
Lucas held his ground. Something deep inside told him this was a test—not of strength, but of will.
He met the lion's gaze.
"I'm not here to fight you," he said aloud.
"I want to forge a bond. Stand beside me—not beneath me."
Umbra blinked.
Then leapt.
Lucas barely had time to react. The lion landed just feet away, its massive form towering over him. Claws scraped the earth. The roar that followed made Lucas's ears ring.
{Don't move. Show no fear.}
He didn't.
He met Umbra's eyes again.
"If you want a king to follow, I'll become one. But I won't kneel—and neither should you."
The silence stretched.
Then....
DING!
[Taming Attempt Successful.]
Beast Bond Established: Umbra – The Black Nemean Lion
Bond Level: Initiated
New Ability Unlocked: Beast Fusion – Gauntlet Form (Locked)
New Title Gained: Lionheart
The lion huffed and lowered its head.
Lucas blinked in disbelief.
"Did... did I just pass?"
{You didn't just pass—you impressed him. That's not easy with a prideborn like Umbra.}
Umbra approached, brushing against Lucas's arm. The contact sent a jolt of raw, primal energy surging through him.
The panel updated again.
[Bonded Beast: Umbra]
Form: Black Nemean Lion
Traits: Indestructible Fur, Magic-Disrupting Roar
Weapon Form (Locked): Black-Gold Gauntlets
Bond Status: Initiated – Respect Gained
{Not bad for Day One.}
Lucas exhaled shakily.
"One beast down... how many more to go?"
{That depends. How big do you want your empire?}
He looked at Umbra, then to the sky where twin suns burned like eyes of destiny.
"Big," Lucas said. "Very big."
DING!
[Quest Update: The Beast Emperor's Path Begins]