My God-Tier Beast Begged Me Not to Contract It

Red Circle of Terror

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 young noble laughed as he threw a piece of bread into the cage.

Several starving prisoners instantly lunged for it.

Another spectator tossed an apple.

Then another.

Soon people were throwing food just to watch the prisoners fight over it.

Cheers and laughter erupted whenever punches were exchanged.

Scott remained seated in a corner.

He never joined the struggle.

Instead, his eyes wandered around the arena.

Searching.

Calculating.

Looking for a weakness.

A way out.

A ridiculous thought suddenly crossed his mind.

I wish a God-Tier Beast would appear.

He almost laughed.

If such a monster appeared, chaos would erupt throughout the arena.

Everyone would panic.

Everyone would run.

And in that confusion...

He could escape.

The thought was so absurd that he shook his head.

A God-Tier Beast hadn't appeared at a summoning ceremony in over a hundred years.

There was a better chance of the king personally opening his prison cage.

Above the arena, the royal viewing platform glittered with gold and silver decorations.

King Aldric sat upon his throne-like seat beside the queen. Around them were nobles, generals, high-ranking summoners, and powerful mages.

Today was important.

Every noble youth who had reached seventeen years of age would attempt their first summoning.

Inside the prisoner cage, the cheerful prisoner looked more excited than everyone else.

"This is the best part!" he declared.

Several prisoners groaned.

Not another lecture.

The man ignored them.

"Some of those nobles are going to place their hands on that globe and absolutely nothing will happen."

He burst out laughing.

"They'll discover their energy cores are too weak to summon even a squirrel."

A few prisoners laughed with him.

"For one glorious moment, they'll be just as useless as us slaves."

Before anyone could respond, trumpets echoed throughout the arena.

The noise immediately silenced the crowd.

A robed elder stepped onto the central platform.

His voice, amplified through magic as it spread across the entire arena loud and clear.

"Citizens of Azra."

The crowd quieted.

"Today we gather to witness the future of our kingdom."

His gaze swept across the young nobles ready for thier first summoning.

"May those chosen by fate form worthy bonds. May courage guide your hearts, may wisdom guide your actions, and strength protect our people."

The elder raised both arms.

"Let the Summoning Ceremony begin now!!!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

The young nobles assembled near the Summoning Globe.

There were around twenty of them.

Among them stood Prince Franky and Sarah.

The elder unrolled a scroll.

"Davelon Hartwell."

A young noble stepped forward.

The crystal globe glowed brightly as he placed his hand upon it.

Moments later, a massive green summoning circle appeared beneath his feet.

The cheerful prisoner instantly grinned.

"Mythic Beast."

A prisoner beside him blinked.

"How do you know?"

The cheerful prisoner looked personally offended.

"You people know absolutely nothing."

The prisoner shrugged.

"I'm not from Azra."

"Clearly."

The cheerful prisoner pointed toward the glowing circle.

"Green means Mythic Beast."

Another prisoner spoke before he could continue.

"Blue means Legendary."

"And yellow means Golden."

The cheerful prisoner nodded.

"Exactly."

He pointed toward the failed mage.

"Like our friend over there who managed a single Golden Beast."

Several prisoners snickered.

The failed mage looked ready to commit murder.

Suddenly, the green circle exploded with light.

A giant beast emerged.

Gasps swept through the arena.

It was a Mountain Tiger.

The creature stood nearly as tall as a house. Its dark stone-like fur was streaked with glowing emerald patterns. Massive muscles rolled beneath its body like shifting boulders. Two glowing green eyes burned with predatory intelligence, and every breath that escaped its jaws sounded like a growl from deep within a mountain cave.

The beast's aura alone made several nobles stumble backward.

A green contract scroll floated before the young summoner.

The Master of Ceremony gestured.

"Place your hand upon it."

The boy obeyed.

His birthmark tattoo immediately lit up.

The contract was forged.

The Mountain Tiger dissolved into green particles and disappeared.

The crowd erupted into applause...yehh!!!

"A Mythic Beast!"

"Azra grows stronger!"

The ceremony continued.

One noble after another stepped forward.

Some summoned Golden Beasts.

Others summoned Mythic Beasts.

Then came a young girl.

The moment she touched the globe, two blue circles appeared.

The arena exploded with excitement.

Two Legendary Beasts emerged.

The crowd roared.

Even the king nodded approvingly.

Eventually...

"Sarah Valen."

Sarah stepped forward gracefully.

A confident smile rested on her face.

The globe glowed.

Moments later, two summoning circles appeared.

One blue.

One green.

The arena erupted.

A piercing cry echoed across the grounds.

From the blue circle emerged a magnificent Phoenix.

Its body was larger than a flying warship. Scarlet and golden feathers shimmered like living fire. Waves of heat rolled from its body, causing the air itself to distort. Every flap of its enormous wings sent sparks raining through the sky.

The creature radiated overwhelming majesty.

Then the second beast appeared.

A giant Iron-Shell Crab.

Its emerald-colored shell resembled a moving fortress and it's massive claws could easily crush buildings, and countless magical runes glowed across its armored body.

One Legendary Beast.

One Mythic Beast.

The crowd exploded with praise.

"Amazing!"

"Lady Sarah is blessed!"

"Future protector of Azra!"

Sarah smiled proudly as she completed both contracts.

Not long afterward, another noble stepped forward.

He placed his hand on the globe.

Nothing happened.

Silence.

Then laughter erupted from every corner of the arena.

The boy's face turned bright red.

The cheerful prisoner nearly collapsed from laughing.

"Look at him!"

He pointed shamelessly.

"Not even a rabbit wanted him!"

Several prisoners joined in.

The unfortunate noble quickly retreated under endless mockery.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

"Prince Franky Azra."

The arena fell silent.

Even the prisoners straightened.

Franky walked confidently toward the globe.

Scott's eyes locked onto him.

His fists clenched.

Please fail.

For once in your life.

Or at least summon a Golden Beast.

Just one.

The prince placed his hand upon the globe.

Nothing happened for several seconds.

Then...

Three blue circles appeared.

The arena exploded.

"Three Legendary Circles!"

"The prince!"

"The true heir!"

King Aldric rose to his feet, unable to hide his pride.

Soon the beasts emerged.

The first was a Crimson Dragon.

Its body stretched over a hundred feet long. Crimson scales shimmered like molten steel as smoke escaped its nostrils, and each breath carried enough heat to melt stone.

The second was a Titan Ape.

The creature towered over the arena walls. Its massive black fur rippled with magical energy, and its fists were larger than carriages yet every movement caused by the feet makes the ground beneath it to tremble.

The third beast emerged moments later.

A Storm Roc.

The gigantic bird possessed silver-blue feathers crackling with lightning. Its wings stretched across half the arena, and thunder rumbled each time it moved.

Three Legendary Beasts.

The crowd lost its mind.

"Long live Prince Franky!"

"The future king!"

"No one can match him!"

A single contract scroll appeared before the prince.

Franky proudly pressed his hand against it.

His birthmark blazed brilliantly.

The contracts were complete.

Then everything changed.

BOOM!

The ground shook violently.

The arena trembled.

Cracks spread across the stone floor.

The cheering instantly died.

A deep humming sound echoed from the Summoning Globe.

Everyone turned.

The crystal sphere had changed.

It was glowing red.

A terrifying red light spread across its surface.

Then a massive red summoning circle appeared.

Fear swept through the arena.

The king shot to his feet.

"Franky!"

His voice thundered across the grounds.

"Leave the arena immediately!"

Panic erupted.

The nobles began retreating.

The prisoners stared in confusion.

"What's happening?" one asked.

Everyone looked toward the cheerful prisoner.

But for the first time since meeting him...

He wasn't smiling.

His face had gone completely pale.

His entire body trembled.

"No..."

He staggered backward from the cage bars.

"No, no, no..."

His voice cracked.

"It can't be."

Several prisoners felt their stomachs drop.

The cheerful prisoner looked ready to faint.

"Not today."

He grabbed the bars tightly.

"Why the fuck would the universe send a God-Tier Beast to this ceremony?!"

The prisoners froze.

A God-Tier Beast.

The words alone were enough to drain the color from their faces.

For the first time in two days, Scott slowly rose to his feet.

His heart pounded.

Fear gripped him like everyone else.

But beneath that fear, there was something else.

A tiny spark of hope appeared.

His eyes remained fixed on the glowing red circle as if expecting to swallow the arena whole.

If chaos broke out...

If people panicked...

If the arena descended into madness...

Then this might finally be his chance to escape.