High above Azra, the moon cast a cold silver glow over the royal palace, leaving dark shadows lurking between its pillars and corridors as Scott moved silently through the palace grounds, his breathing controlled, his footsteps light. He knew every corridor, every staircase, every blind spot. Years spent serving within these walls had taught him the palace better than most of the guards assigned to protect it.He paused behind a pillar.Two armored guards marched past, their boots echoing through the quiet night.One...Two...Three...Scott counted in his head.The moment they turned to another corner, he moved in perfect sync.Like a stray cat sneaking through a marketplace, he flowed from shadow to shadow, unseen and unheard.A few minutes later, he reached his destination.The palace storage room.Relief flashed across his face.He quickly gathered several loaves of bread and stuffed them into his tunic. His hands then moved toward a wooden cabinet near the wall.Inside were sever

Two days.Two whole days without food or water.Most of the prisoners looked half-dead by now.Some lay sprawled across the cage floor. Others fought over scraps whenever something was thrown their way.Scott didn't care about his own hunger.His thoughts never left his mother.Every passing hour felt like a knife twisting deeper into his chest.Was she alive?Had the fever gotten worse?Had she spent the last two days alone?He clenched his fists and forced those thoughts down.Worrying wouldn't save her.He needed a way out.Gradually, the ceremonial grounds filled with people.Thousands poured into the massive stone arena.The rising rows of carved seats wrapped around the summoning grounds like giant stone waves, each level packed with excited spectators. Colorful banners bearing Azra's royal crest fluttered from towering pillars, while noble families occupied the finest viewing platforms overlooking the center.The prisoners had become part of the entertainment."Look at them!"A

Sniff...Sniff...The rich smell of roasted meat drifted into Scott's nose.His stomach immediately growled.The scent alone was enough to drag him out of unconsciousness.Slowly, his blurry eyes opened.A piece of roasted meat dangled directly above his face.Without thinking, he snatched it.Years of hunger had trained his body to react before his brain.He tore into the meat like a starving wolf.For several seconds, he didn't care who was holding it.All that mattered was food.Only after swallowing several large bites did he finally look up.Then he froze.A white bear was sitting in front of him.The creature was awkwardly trying to smile.Scott nearly jumped out of his skin.He scrambled backward so quickly that he almost tripped over a tree root.His heart nearly exploded from fright.The bear's voice immediately echoed inside his head.Calm down, Master.The familiar telepathic voice brought back everything.The ceremony.The red circle.The contract.The God-Tier Beast.Scot

The noble calmly stepped down from the driver's seat of the carriage.His hand rested on the hilt of the curved sword hanging at his waist.The remaining bandits rushed toward him from all directions.The first bandit reached him.The noble moved.A silver flash appeared.For a brief moment, nothing happened.The charging bandit blinked.Then his head slid cleanly from his neck.Blood erupted into the air.His body took two more steps before collapsing onto the dirt road.The other bandits froze.Then rage consumed them."Kill him!""Bastard!""Cut him apart!"The noble slowly raised his sword.His expression remained calm.Almost bored.Then he whispered."Tempest Edge."The surrounding wind suddenly came alive.Leaves spiraled into the air.Dust exploded from the ground.Blue currents of wind wrapped around his blade like living snakes.The air itself seemed to scream.The bandits' eyes widened.The noble swung once.WHOOSH!A massive crescent of compressed wind tore across the batt

A few hours later, the carriage finally arrived at its destination.The city of Valoria.The moment they approached the city gates, Scott's eyes widened.Thousands of people moved in and out of the enormous entrance.Merchants pushed carts loaded with goods.Travelers entered carrying supplies.Summoners walked proudly beside their beasts.Compared to Valoria, Azra felt like a small village.The city walls alone were taller than anything Scott had ever seen.As the carriage rolled through the gates, Scott found himself staring in every direction.Massive stone buildings stretched toward the sky.Some reached six or seven floors high.Colorful banners hung between streets.Markets occupied entire districts.The roads were wide enough for dozens of carriages to travel side by side.The city was alive.Everywhere he looked, beasts could be seen.Golden Beasts pulled merchant wagons.Massive horned oxen transported building materials.Large eagle-like beasts carried messages between tower