My God-Tier Beast Begged Me Not to Contract It

The City of Valoria

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 towers.

Scott even spotted giant lizards being used to transport passengers.

The sight left him speechless.

Sports arenas occupied several streets.

Inside one, two summoners were racing mounted beasts while crowds cheered.

In another, heavily armored warriors trained alongside their contracted beasts.

Nearby, a group of children laughed while playing with small Golden Beasts no larger than dogs.

Businesses had also adapted to beast usage.

Construction workers used earth beasts to move stone blocks.

Water beasts supplied fountains and irrigation systems.

Even security patrols rode powerful Mythic Beasts through the city streets.

Scott had never imagined a city where beasts and humans lived so closely together.

Mr. Zen noticed the amazement on his face.

"You look overwhelmed."

Scott laughed awkwardly.

"A little."

"Where are you from?"

"Azra."

Mr. Zen nodded.

"Oh, Azra."

"I've heard of it."

Scott raised an eyebrow.

"You have?"

"Of course."

Mr. Zen smiled.

"It's considered a small city compared to most major cities in this kingdom."

Scott scratched his head.

That was one way to put it.

Mr. Zen continued.

"Every city has its own king, but Azra would never challenge the larger cities."

"Why?"

"Population."

Mr. Zen pointed toward the busy streets.

"And summoners."

He gestured toward the crowds.

"Valoria alone has thousands of active summoners."

Scott looked around.

For the first time, he realized how common summoners actually were outside Azra.

"We even have a few God-Tier Summoners."

Scott blinked.

"A few?"

Mr. Zen chuckled.

"The truly powerful people live deeper inside the city."

"The inner district is reserved for high-ranking nobles, powerful summoners, and influential clans."

Then he glanced toward Scott.

"Someone like you would fit right in there."

Scott almost choked.

"Please don't joke like that."

He waved both hands.

"I'm nobody."

Mr. Zen laughed.

"If you want this entire city to stop what they're doing and stare at us..."

He pointed behind Scott.

"Just summon your beast and let it walk beside the carriage."

Scott imagined White casually strolling through the city.

The image alone made him laugh.

"So that's the kind of privilege God-Tier Beast owners have."

Mr. Zen nodded.

"You have no idea."

Eventually, the carriage entered a wealthy district.

Scott's jaw nearly dropped again.

The gates surrounding Mr. Zen's residence were gigantic.

Several guards stood watch.

Beyond them lay a compound so large that it made King Aldric's palace look small.

The mansion itself resembled a fortress.

Gardens stretched across the grounds.

Fountains decorated the walkways.

Training fields occupied entire sections of the estate.

Scott stared.

"This is your house?"

Mr. Zen smiled proudly.

"One of them."

Scott nearly fell off the carriage.

One of them?

The difference between nobles and slaves was truly unfair.

As they entered the estate, another question surfaced in Scott's mind.

"What happens if people fight inside the city using their beasts?"

Mr. Zen smiled.

"That rarely happens."

"Why?"

"Because only fools and drunkards start beast battles inside city limits."

Scott nodded.

That sounded reasonable.

Mr. Zen continued.

"The city's security forces possess some of the strongest Legendary Beasts available."

"The chief officers command God-Tier Beasts."

Scott's eyes widened.

Mr. Zen laughed.

"Anyone foolish enough to cause trouble usually loses their beast."

"Or their head."

Scott immediately decided that fighting in the city was a terrible idea.

"Conflicts are usually settled in official battle arenas or outside the city."

Scott nodded.

That part wasn't very different from Azra.

As Mr. Zen continued speaking, Scott directed a thought toward his tattoo.

"White."

Yes, Scott?

"What did he mean by strongest Legendary Beasts?"

White answered immediately.

Every beast possesses a hierarchy.

Scott became interested.

The first rank is Elite.

Then Commander.

Then General.

"How many levels does each rank have?"

Elite ranges from Level One to Level Three.

Commander ranges from Level Four to Level Six.

General begins at Level Seven.

Scott absorbed the information.

"That's actually simple."

Most systems are.

Scott rolled his eyes.

"What level are you?"

A brief silence followed.

Then White answered.

Commander Level Four.

Scott nearly stumbled.

"Wait."

"That means you're only Level Four?"

White sounded offended.

Only?

Scott quickly corrected himself.

"I mean... for a God-Tier Beast."

I was stronger before.

Scott immediately became curious.

"You can increase your level?"

Of course.

The more suitable energy cores a beast consumes, the stronger it becomes.

Scott remembered something.

"You had already eaten energy cores before appearing in Azra, right?"

Yes.

"Were they God-Tier energy cores?"

Mostly.

Scott nearly choked.

Mostly?

As if consuming God-Tier creatures was normal.

White continued.

A beast can only advance by consuming energy cores from creatures of similar rank.

For example, if I consume the energy core of a General-Level Legendary Beast, I would gain strength but not a level increase.

However, if I consume the energy core of an Elite-Level God-Tier Beast, my level can increase.

Scott nodded.

That made sense.

Then another thought came to him.

"What about summoners?"

White's answer came immediately.

The same principle applies.

The energy core of a summoner is linked directly to their beast.

When a summoner dies, the contracted beast dies with them.

Scott's expression darkened.

The information felt important.

Very important.

A dangerous realization slowly formed in his mind.

If a summoner's death killed their beast...

Then killing a powerful summoner could eliminate an entire army's greatest weapon.

White seemed to sense his thoughts.

Now you're beginning to think like a summoner.

Scott smiled faintly.

For the first time since leaving Azra, he felt like he was finally stepping into a much larger world.