MY F-GRADE BEAST IS THE STRONGEST

The Useless Shadow Beast

Inside a grand stone hall, fifteen-year-old children gathered to awaken their Spirit Beasts. Noble families watched from elevated platforms as one child after another summoned powerful creatures, ranging from blazing wolves to magnificent griffins.

For many of the children, this ceremony would determine their future. The stronger their Spirit Beasts, the greater their chances of becoming powerful Beast Knights as it is essential to fight against the ongoing apocalypse.

Among them was Airis Kal, the youngest son of the prestigious House Kal.

"Look! Airis is about to go up!"

A young man shouted, drawing everyone's attention toward the boy in the black robe.

On one of the elevated platforms stood Ethan Kal, Airis's father and one of the most respected Beast Knights in the kingdom. He watched his youngest son with a proud smile, confident that Airis would awaken a powerful Spirit Beast and bring even greater glory to their family.

After all, the Kals had spent generations building their reputation.

Ethan had no intention of allowing that reputation to fade.

Airis climbed the stone steps and approached the enormous awakening crystal resting on a pedestal. Its smooth surface shimmered beneath the magical lamps hanging above.

He took a deep breath and placed his hand against it.

"Here comes the moment of truth," he murmured.

Buzz!

The crystal suddenly vibrated, and brilliant light burst from its surface. The ground trembled beneath everyone's feet as the radiance flooded the hall, forcing several people to shield their eyes.

"What incredible energy!"

"Look at that light!"

Ethan's smile widened. He straightened his back, enjoying the astonished expressions of the surrounding nobles.

However, the brilliance lasted less than a minute before gradually fading.

Everyone turned toward Airis, eager to see what he had awakened.

Whoosh!

A tiny, shadowy creature appeared on his shoulder. Its vaguely beast-shaped body seemed to shift constantly, while darkness flickered around it, swallowing the faint light nearby.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

The examiner standing beside the crystal stared at the creature before checking the result displayed on its surface. His expression changed, and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.

He glanced at Airis before cautiously looking toward Ethan.

After swallowing hard, he infused his voice with mana and announced the result.

"Spirit Beast: Shadow Beast. Initial Classification: F-Grade. Elemental Affinity: Darkness. Combat Potential: Negligible."

Silence descended upon the hall.

Then laughter erupted.

"Hahaha! Is that really a Spirit Beast?"

"An F-grade Shadow Beast? I've never seen anything so useless!"

"How does he expect to become a respectable Beast Knight with that thing?"

"Poor House Kal! What a disgrace!"

Airis stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the tiny creature resting on his shoulder.

He had prepared himself for the possibility of awakening a weaker beast, but he had never expected such a result.

F-grade.

Negligible combat potential.

He clenched his fist, his fingernails pressing into his palm as the mockery continued around him.

Yet the person most enraged by the result was not Airis.

It was his father.

Ethan's proud smile had vanished. He stared at the creature on his son's shoulder, his face darkening with every passing second.

He had expected Airis to awaken a powerful Spirit Beast capable of strengthening the family's position among the kingdom's noble houses.

Instead, the boy had brought shame upon House Kal.

Airis turned toward the elevated platform, hoping his father would at least offer a word of encouragement.

Their eyes met.

But Ethan's cold expression crushed that hope before it could take shape.

Airis lowered his head, enduring the humiliation without saying a word. After a moment, he glanced at his contracted beast. Its dark body remained strangely still, and something about its presence made him reluctant to regard it as ordinary.

Whatever its classification, this was now his beast.

"I guess we're stuck together," he whispered.

The creature offered no response.

Airis stepped down from the platform and approached his father.

"Father..."

Ethan cut him short by turning away.

"Let's go, Marcus."

His elder son, Marcus Kal, glanced at Airis with a mocking smile. Unlike his younger brother, Marcus had always been talented, and his own Spirit Beast had earned him considerable praise.

"Try not to embarrass the family any further, little brother."

He followed their father out of the hall.

Airis watched them leave before following behind, leaving the laughter and whispers to fade into the distance.

The ceremony was over, but the consequences of his awakening were only beginning.

***

The flying beast belonging to House Kal was reserved for important occasions. Its enormous wings carried the family's carriage through the sky, while its appearance alone commanded attention wherever it landed.

Inside the carriage, however, an uncomfortable silence prevailed.

Airis sat with his head lowered. Ethan occupied the opposite seat with a cold expression, while Marcus leaned back beside him, occasionally glancing at his younger brother with poorly concealed amusement.

After thirty minutes of flight, the flying beast descended toward the edge of the wilderness.

Airis raised his head and looked through the open side of the carriage.

A vast forest stretched beneath them, its towering trees disappearing into thick mist. Their twisted branches resembled the claws of ancient creatures, and the distant mountains were barely visible beneath the darkening sky.

This was Gloamwood.

Airis had heard stories about the forest since childhood. Three hundred years had passed since the Nightfall Cataclysm, yet the world had never truly recovered.

Beyond the kingdom's protective barriers, corrupted monsters roamed the wilderness. Abyssal Gates scarred distant lands, releasing a sinister energy that twisted ordinary beasts into creatures capable of slaughtering entire hunting parties.

The magical barriers had allowed humanity to survive the catastrophe, but the lands beyond their protection remained dangerous. Every year, hunters and Beast Knights ventured into the wilderness to fight the monsters and gather resources, and many never returned.

"Father, why are we stopping?"

Ethan finally turned toward him.

"Your awakening has disappointed me, Airis."

Airis's fingers tightened against his knees.

"I understand that my beast's classification is low, but I…"

"Do you think the other noble families care about your excuses?" Ethan interrupted. "They saw what you awakened. By tomorrow, the entire kingdom will know that the youngest son of House Kal contracted an F-grade Shadow Beast."

Airis fell silent.

He had expected disappointment, perhaps even anger. But hearing those words from his father made the humiliation of the ceremony feel even worse.

Ethan rose and approached the carriage entrance.

"Get down. If you believe you can become a Beast Knight, prove it without relying on the Kal family name."

Airis stared at him.

"Father, you can't be serious. This is Gloamwood! I haven't even learned how to use my beast's abilities!"

"Then learn."

Ethan's expression remained unchanged.

Marcus chuckled.

"Come on, Airis. Surely an F-grade Shadow Beast is enough to help you survive a few days out here."

Airis looked from his brother to his father, searching their faces for any sign that this was a cruel joke.

He found none.

"How long must I stay here?" he asked quietly.

"Until you prove that you are worthy of carrying the Kal name."

Ethan turned away.

"Lower the carriage."

Airis stepped outside, his boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. The smell of wet soil and decaying leaves filled his nostrils as a cold breeze swept through the trees.

He turned back, hoping his father would at least leave him with supplies.

Instead, a servant approached.

"Your belongings, young master."

Airis frowned.

"What about them?"

"The supplies and equipment belonging to House Kal must remain with the family."

Before Airis could respond, the carriage door closed.

The flying beast spread its enormous wings and rose into the air.

"Father!"

Airis rushed forward, but the carriage continued climbing. He watched helplessly as it became a distant silhouette against the darkening sky before disappearing beyond the mountains.

For several moments, Airis stood motionless, listening to the fading sound of wings.

Then a low growl echoed from somewhere within the forest.

He slowly turned toward the trees.

"So this is what you meant by proving myself," he muttered bitterly.

Anger surged through him, but he forced it down. Cursing his father would not help him survive the night.

Airis took a deep breath and glanced at the tiny Shadow Beast on his shoulder.

"All right. If they want me to survive out here, then I'll survive."

His eyes still remained on his beast.

"We should find shelter before it gets dark. Can you do anything besides sit on my shoulder?"

The beast remained silent.

Airis sighed and began walking into the forest.

He had barely walked for ten minutes when he noticed several enormous footprints in the muddy ground. The surrounding vegetation had been crushed, and the tracks appeared fresh.

He crouched to examine them.

Something large had passed through recently.

A rustling sound came from the bushes to his left.

Airis froze.

Another sound followed from behind him.

He turned sharply, but nothing was there.

The forest had grown strangely quiet. Even the distant cries of birds had disappeared.

Then a low growl echoed between the trees.

A massive wolf-like creature emerged from the mist. Coarse black fur covered its body, dark veins pulsed beneath its neck, and its yellow eyes fixed hungrily on Airis.

An Abyss-Touched Beast.

Airis had seen illustrations of such monsters in books, but seeing one standing a short distance away was terrifying.

The creature lowered its head and charged.

Airis turned and ran, pushing through the undergrowth as branches scratched his face and arms. Behind him, the beast roared, its heavy paws shaking the ground as it rapidly closed the distance.

"Come on!" Airis shouted at his contracted beast. "Do something!"

He desperately tried to summon the energy connecting them, hoping the creature possessed some ability that could save their lives.

Suddenly, the tiny Shadow Beast leaped from his shoulder and landed directly in the monster's path.

Airis stopped in disbelief.

"What are you doing?! Move!"

Meanwhile, the Abyss-Touched Beast barely slowed down. It opened its jaws and lunged toward the tiny creature.

Airis's heart sank.

His Spirit Beast was about to be swallowed.

Then..

Everything stopped.

The monster froze in mid-motion, its enormous body trembling as though an invisible force had seized it. The shadows beneath the trees stretched unnaturally across the ground, spreading toward the beast like countless black tendrils.

Airis stared in disbelief.

Darkness swallowed the fading light beneath the canopy. The air grew heavy, and the monster let out a frightened whimper as it began retreating from the tiny creature.

"What... is happening?"

The Shadow Beast slowly raised its head.

For the first time since its awakening, its outline became clear. Two deep violet eyes opened within its dark body, and an ancient presence stirred beneath its tiny form.

Then a voice echoed directly inside Airis's mind, cold and filled with an age beyond his understanding.

“After all these years... have humans truly forgotten who rules the night?”