As time passed, the egg began to glow brighter and brighter, its light pulsing like a heartbeat ready to awaken.
Leon sat motionless on the floor, staring at the egg in his hands, mesmerized by its rhythm. His heart thudded in sync with the warm radiance, each pulse igniting a flicker of anticipation in his chest. The moment felt eternal—like the world had paused, holding its breath alongside him.
Then, after an unknown amount of time, the entire room became so bright that Leon had to shut his eyes against the overwhelming light. It was as if the sun itself had descended into his room, flooding every shadow and crevice with blinding brilliance.
Then, all at once, the brilliance vanished—fading into nothing, leaving the egg dull and lusterless once more.
The sudden change struck Leon like a punch to the gut. His eyes snapped open, squinting in the now dim light. The vibrant egg in his hands had lost all glow, its surface matte and lifeless.
Leon stared at the now dull egg, a frown creasing his brow. Doubt crept into his mind like cold fingers brushing against his spine.
"Did… did the contract fail?" he muttered, confusion tightening in his chest. That burst of light—it was supposed to signal success, right? What if something had gone wrong? What if…?
Crack.
Just as uncertainty began to settle in, a soft, unmistakable crack echoed through the room.
Leon's eyes widened, and a breath he hadn't realized he was holding slipped out in relief.
"So it worked after all…" he whispered, leaning closer, his face mere inches from the shell.
The egg trembled gently in Leon's hands, fine cracks spiderwebbing across its shell. Each second felt like an eternity as the lines spread further, the dull surface slowly losing its smooth shape.
With a soft pop, a small piece of the shell broke away—then another. Suddenly, a tiny pink paw pushed through the opening, wiggling slightly as if testing the air. Its soft fur glistened faintly in the light, delicate claws flexing gently as it reached out toward the world beyond the shell.
From the cracked shell emerged a creature so enchanting that Leon momentarily forgot to breathe.
The tiny fox cub stumbled forward, shaking off shards of its former home with an adorable huff. Its fur was a stunning cascade of silken pink, so vibrant it shimmered in hues of rose-gold under the fading light. Its fur seemed alive, glowing like embers fanned by the wind.
Delicate silver patterns swirled across its back and tail, glowing faintly with an inner light, as though the cub held stardust in its veins. Its eyes—large, intelligent, and a striking shade of amethyst—locked with Leon's, pulsing with warmth, trust, and the flicker of a bond newly born.
Graceful yet fragile, the cub stood on wobbly legs, its single fluffy tail curling behind it like a wisp of smoke. It looked nothing like an ordinary beast—it looked like a miracle.
The little fox cub sniffed around for a moment, then turned its attention to the broken eggshells scattered around it. Without hesitation, it started munching on them, crunching down the pieces like they were some kind of snack.
Leon blinked in surprise. "Guess you're not letting anything go to waste, huh?"
The cub didn't seem to care—it just kept eating, tail wagging slightly with each bite. Watching it chow down on its own shell felt oddly natural, like it knew exactly what it was doing. Maybe the nutrients helped stabilize its body. Or maybe… it just tasted good.
Once it was done, the fox let out a tiny, satisfied yip and licked its paw.
Leon smiled, eyes soft. This little guy had personality.
Curious, Leon summoned the Beast Codex from his spatial ring. The thick tome appeared in a burst of light, floating briefly before landing with a heavy thump on his lap. He focused his mind, channeling the bond between him and the cub into the pages.
The ancient book responded instantly, its runes shifting and shimmering as information poured into his consciousness.
---
Name: ???
Type: Spirit Beast
Race: Fox
Level: Primary Iron
Bloodline: A faint trace of Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline (will increase with each evolution)
Skills:
Claw Strike (Entry) — A quick physical attack using sharp claws. Deals moderate physical damage.
Bite (Entry) — A basic melee attack using the beast's fangs. Effective at close range.
Fireball (Entry) — Launches a small flame projectile at a target. Deals fire-type damage and may inflict a burning status.
Note: All skills progress through five mastery stages—Entry, Adept, Expert, Master, and Perfect. Mastery improves damage, efficiency, and special effects.
---
Evolution Route:
1st Evolution:
Basic route: Blazing Fox (Requirements: Peak Iron stage + Bronze level beast core + Fire Stone + Blazebloom Grass)
Nine-Tailed Fox route: Two-Tailed Fox (Requirements: Peak Iron stage + Bronze level beast core + Element Stone + Element Grass [1st level])
Note: To awaken a specific elemental tail, you must use the matching Element Stone and Elemental Grass.
Elements include: Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, and Wood.
Only after unlocking all five basic elements can advanced elements like Thunder, Wind, Light, and Darkness be awakened.
2nd Evolution: Unlock after completing first evolution.
---
Leon's hands trembled slightly as he turned another page.
"A Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline?" he murmured. "And it can evolve one tail at a time… each tied to a different element?"
He leaned back, heart thumping. This wasn't just a cool beast. This… this was legacy.
"This isn't just any beast... this could be a once-in-a-generation companion."
The little firefox sneezed—a tiny spark bursting from its nose—and gave a smug little yip, as if to say, Of course I am.
Leon chuckled. "Cocky already, huh?"
The fox cub chirped again, then began padding toward him on unsteady legs. Its fluffy tail wobbled with every step as it climbed clumsily into his lap.
"Huh? What are you—?"
Before he could finish, the cub nestled into the crook of his arm, its warm body curling up like a tiny ember seeking comfort.
Leon's breath caught.
Then, slowly, his arms wrapped around it—protectively, instinctively. Like it was already a part of him.
"You're… really mine," he whispered.
The cub gave a soft, approving rumble, its warmth seeping into his chest like fire on a cold night.
Leon gazed down at it, emotions swirling in his chest—hope, wonder, pride. This wasn't just the start of his journey as a beastmaster.
It was the beginning of a lifelong bond.
A soft smile tugged at his lips as his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"I wonder… what kind of beast Layla will awaken?"
---