Theron was about to lose it. The behavior shown to him… how could this trash with a common talent refuse his gesture in front of the entire crowd?
But a steady voice echoed across the field. Theron calmed down after hearing it, swallowing his outrage.
Then a man appeared, stepping between Theron and Zane, lightning coiling around his shoulder like a storm.
But this phoenix was larger, more intimidating, crackling with far more electricity than Theron's.
It was Andren Blackwood—Theron's father. The richest man in the city.
He glared at Theron with icy eyes. Theron swallowed whatever he was about to say, looking away with a soft "Tch."
Andren turned his attention to Zane, moving close, trying to intimidate him with his presence.
Zane met his gaze without flinching. His face didn't change.
He wasn't afraid of this Beast Master, even if he hadn't yet contracted with his beast. He couldn't do anything to him, as he was a student of the government facility.
Andren was surprised. Most adults would struggle against this aura. Yet this youth, not even a Beast Initiate, was standing face-to-face with him, the Beast Sovereign.
He spoke formally:
"Do not take my son's words to heart. If you cannot tame this beast, sell it to the Blackwood family, not someone else. We will compensate you well. I offer… one hundred million coins if you sell it. Think about it."
One hundred million coins?
You could buy a rank-A beast for one million.
Does that mean… a hundred rank-A beasts?
Does our city even have that many Beast Masters with rank-A beasts?
"Thank you," I said. "I will think about your offer. But first, I must try. If I don't… how will I know I can't, right?"
Andren said nothing.
So he's a few-words person, I thought.
Did that mean I had rejected one hundred million coins?
"Don't you know," a voice muttered from behind,
"if he succeeds in forming a contract, one hundred million may become his monthly income."
"Yeah… you're right," someone replied.
"I'd try first too, before selling."
I said these big words, but I didn't know if I could tame this SSS-rank beast with a bottom-rank talent.
No. Zane, don't lose hope. Your family's future is in your hands, even if you don't have one.
Zane felt someone tugging at his clothes from behind. He turned his head,
Who was it?
It was the cyborg girl, his beast summon.
Does she want me to sell her too? His heart raced.
But the girl's next words shattered his thoughts:
"Husband… can we sign the contract now?"
Everybody's mouths dropped open after that.
They thought Zane would try and get rejected by this guardian beast.
They thought someone would take it from Zane.
But they never thought the beast itself would ask to form a contract with Zane.
What he has, they don't have. What?
Arlen's mouth dropped. He did not expect the beast to initiate forming a contract.
He too expected Zane to fail and go there for his guardian beast and lure it with his talent.
Beasts want their masters with high talent because this helps them grow faster and stronger.
But forming a contract with a common-level talent… does this beast want to be the same as Zane?
He could not allow that. There cannot be two Beast Masters with SSS-rank beasts from this city.
He hurried up to Zane and shouted, "Stop!"
Everybody's heads turned toward him, but he ignored their stares and walked up to the cyborg girl and said,
"Don't form a contract with him. Form a contract with me. I have divine talent. He has only common talent. If you choose me, your growth potential will be infinite."
Veyra emerged from his back and said,
"Master, don't I count enough for you?"
Arlen looked at Veyra, understood he had reacted impulsively, and smiled while saying, "No, Veyra. I will form contract with other beasts too in the future, right? Don't you want your companions to be as strong as you?"
Veyra looked at Arlen, then at the cyborg girl, and said, "I don't believe this iron can be as strong as me, but you are right. I need strong teammates in the future. Weaklings only slow me down."
Arlen breathed a sigh of relief. SSS-rank beasts might be strong and have great potential, but it's very difficult to order them.
It will take many years to form a bond and have proper control over them. At the beginning, they will be rebellious a lot.
Then Arlen looked at the cyborg girl, expecting her to agree. He did not care about the rules and rights of a new Beast Tamer.
If he got to tame both SSS-rank beasts, nobody would punish him, even if they do it would only do it for show.
The cyborg girl looked at Arlen, then looked at Zane again, and said, "No. I only have one husband," and hugged Zane, burying her head in his chest.
Crowd burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… did you see this? This cyborg just rejected divine talent for a common one!"
"Is this beast stupid?"
"Don't know others but I respect her loyalty…"
Zane, at the scene, breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, he thought Arlen would snatch his guardian beast, but he never thought this cyborg wife of his would be this loyal.
Then he looked at Arlen with a glare. This bastard tried to snatch my wife—ah, no, my guardian beast.
Why is there a wife word with this type of beast? Can't it just be cyborg girl? If it were that, it would have been easier for him.
He let go of the cyborg girl and said to her, "Let's sign a contract." The cyborg girl nodded and extended her lips.
Zane said, "What are you doing? I said sign a contract, not kiss."
"If you don't kiss me, I don't sign the contract with you," the cyborg girl said, pouting.
Arlen joined from the side. "I—I will kiss you. Sign a contract with me."
But the teacher intervened. "Arlen, if you don't stop, I will have to use force. Don't interfere with the contracting beast master."
Arlen shut up after that.
The teacher looked at Zane and said, "Continue."
Continue my ass. Who will kiss a summoned beast in the crowd? Am I a show to you?
But I don't have another choice. If I don't, this Arlen or others might snatch her from under my nose.
"Okay," Zane said. Then he grabbed the head of the cyborg girl with both hands and kissed her on the forehead.
White light erupted around both of them.
The teacher, after confirming they were contracted, told them to move to the ground. There were still some students left.
After leaving the center, Zane went to a corner, and the cyborg girl followed him.
After looking around and seeing only a small number of students nearby, Zane said,
"What is your name?"
The cyborg girl hearing that didn't answer. She did not say a word and materializes glasses from her elbow.
Zane did not know what it was for, but he wore it anyway.
[Cyborg Wife (Astra Prime)]
[Status: Contracted]
[Level: 1 (Exp: 0/1000)]
[Type: Humanoid Beast / Mechanical Hybrid]
[Rank: SSS]
[Element: Energy / Plasma]
[Gender: Female]
[Height: 1.6 m]
[Weight: 75 kg (mostly mechanical limbs)]
───────────────────────────STATS (Level 1):
Strength: 90
Intelligence: 100
Agility: 90
Endurance: 90
Energy (Mana?): 300
──────────────────────────
SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Ranged Assault — Fires built-in projectile attacks from mechanical limbs.
Adaptive Protection — Automatic defensive maneuvers and energy shields.
Guardian Instinct — Prioritizes the master's safety; can act autonomously.
Ultra Attack — Concentrated energy blast from mechanical hands, consuming 90% of total energy; capable of obliterating near- to long-range targets, similar to a plasma cannon.
Is this cheat? Zanethought
If you like the story, add it to your collection.