The Parasite Tamer : I Steal Talents From Beast

Useless talent

The awakening hall smelled like sweat, cheap incense, and crushed dreams.

Kael Draven stood near the back of the line, arms crossed, watching the others light up like festival lanterns. One kid got Flame Sovereign. Another pulled Ironhide Constitution. A girl with braided silver hair screamed in delight when the crystal orb declared “Wind Ripper – Rare Grade.” Cheers exploded around her. Someone even clapped Kael on the shoulder like he was next in line for glory.

He just smirked.

Eighteen years in this backwater border town, and today was supposed to be the day everything changed. Everyone awakened exactly one Talent. One shot to climb out of the mud and into the beast-taming world. Tamers who ranked high in the Beast Tower got money, fame, beautiful partners, and contracts with empires. The weak ones? They stayed fodder.

Kael’s turn came.

He stepped up to the glowing Awakening Crystal, placed his palm on the cool surface, and waited. The hall quieted a little. Even the town elders leaned forward.

Blue light swirled. Words etched themselves into the air above his head in sharp, glowing letters.

Talent Awakened: Parasitic Bond (Common Grade)

Effect: Form a temporary parasitic link with any beast or tamer. Copy one of their talents permanently. Link duration depends on the target’s strength and resistance.

The silence that followed was so complete Kael could hear the old elder’s dentures click.

Then the laughter started.

“Parasitic Bond? What the hell is that?”

“Common grade? Did the crystal glitch?”

“Kid, you just got the most useless talent in Aetheria history. Congratulations!”

Kael kept his smirk plastered on. Inside, something cold and hungry stirred. Useless? Maybe. But “copy permanently” had a nice ring to it. He didn’t argue. He never did when people underestimated him. It made the later part sweeter.

He walked out of the hall to a chorus of pitying chuckles and headed straight for the western woods. The elders had warned everyone: stay away from the deeper parts today. Too many wild beasts stirred up by the awakening energy.

This was actually the perfect time for him to find a beast to form a bond with. Then he found it.

A scrawny wolf pup, barely alive, curled under a rotting log. One eye missing, fur matted with dried blood, ribs showing like cage bars. It lifted its head weakly as Kael approached, a low growl rattling in its throat.

Kael crouched, meeting that single golden eye.

“You look like shit, little guy,” he muttered. “Same as me right now.”

The pup snapped at his fingers. Weak, but it had spirit.

Kael grinned. “Good. I need someone with bite.”

He reached out and activated his talent for the first time.

Parasitic Bond initiated.

Target: Shadow Wolf Pup (Low Mortal Rank)

Resistance: Negligible.

Copying available talents…

Talent copied: Shadow Fang (Basic)

A faint, warm thread snapped into place between them. The pup jerked, then relaxed, its single eye widening in surprise. Kael felt a tiny surge of energy flow back into him, nothing major, just the echo of the bond. The pup’s wounds stopped bleeding.

Not bad for a first try.

But Kael wasn’t done.

He sat down right there in the dirt, cross-legged, and focused. The system that only he could see flickered to life in his mind, a sleek blue panel that called itself the Beast Evolution Nexus. It had appeared the moment he awakened, like it had been waiting for someone exactly like him.

Beast Evolution Nexus Online.

Current bonded beasts: 1

Stored talents: Shadow Fang (Basic)

Channel talent into bonded beast? (Y/N)

Kael didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

The pup yelped as dark energy rippled through its body. Its remaining eye flashed brighter. Muscles twitched under the thin fur. Bones creaked softly. When it was over, the pup stood on shaky legs, a little larger, a little meaner. The wound on its side had closed completely, leaving only a faint scar.

Kael laughed under his breath. “There we go. First mutation.”

He named the pup Fenrir on the spot. It sounded fierce, but it was fitting for something that was going to grow into a monster.

Night had fully fallen by the time they left the woods. Fenrir trotted at Kael’s side, limping less with every step. The bond thrummed between them, warm, alive, hungry for more.

Back in town, the local bully was waiting.

Renn Tarvos. Big, loud, son of the town guard captain. He had awakened Flame Strike, a decent offensive talent, and his contracted beast was a bulky Rock Boar. The thing snorted and pawed the ground as Renn spotted Kael.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the parasite trash,” Renn sneered. A small crowd gathered fast, teenagers, a few adults, all eager for free entertainment. “Heard you got the shittiest talent possible. What, you gonna suck the life out of rats now?”

Kael stopped. Fenrir growled low beside him, hackles rising.

Renn laughed. “That mangy mutt your partner? Pathetic. Watch this.”

He activated his talent. Flame Strike flared around his fist as the Rock Boar charged straight at Fenrir.

The crowd cheered.

Kael didn’t move. He just sent a silent command through the bond.

Fenrir exploded forward.

Shadow Fang activated. Black energy coated its jaws. The pup, still small, still scrawny,  slammed into the Rock Boar’s side like a missile. Fangs sank in. The boar squealed as shadows ate at its tough hide. Fenrir shook its head viciously, ripping out a chunk of flesh in one brutal motion.

The Rock Boar staggered.

Renn’s eyes widened. “What the…? Again!”

Flame Strike crashed down. Fenrir twisted at the last second, the flames only grazing its fur. Then it lunged again, faster than before, the fresh mutation giving it just enough edge.

One bite. Two. The boar went down hard, thrashing.

Renn roared and tried to punch Kael directly.

Kael sidestepped lazily and flicked his wrist.

Parasitic Bond activated.

The link snapped onto Renn for less than three seconds, just long enough.

Talent copied: Flame Strike (Low Grade)

Renn gasped, stumbling back like he’d been shocked. His face paled. “What… what did you just do to me?”

Kael’s smirk deepened. “Borrowed a little spark. Don’t worry, you’ll recover. Probably.”

The crowd went dead silent.

Fenrir stood over the fallen boar, blood on its muzzle, single eye glowing with new strength. It looked bigger already.

Kael patted its head. “Good boy. We’re just getting started.”

He turned to leave, the weight of stunned stares on his back. Behind him, Renn was still sputtering, trying to relight his flames and failing.

Kael disappeared into the night with his wolf, one thought burned hot in his mind:

If they think Parasitic Bond is useless…

…they’re going to learn the hard way.