After a while;
Everyone gathered around in silence, and the Emperor took the center stage
"The one who claims first place in today's royal hunting game," Emperor Alexander announced calmly, "will be rewarded with a beast companion."
The moment those words fell, it was as if a massive stone had been hurled into a still lake.
The entire hunting ground exploded.
Eyes widened. Breaths hitched. Even seasoned cultivators couldn't suppress the surge of excitement that rushed through their veins.
A beast companion.
That single phrase was enough to drive practitioners mad.
On the Holy Mystic Continent, some monsters could be captured while young and bound through a soul contract, growing alongside their masters and becoming the most loyal of partners.
Once bonded, betrayal was impossible. Life and death were shared.
Such beasts were more than companions. They were shields, blades, and silent guardians.
And above all—
They were rare.
