Smoke formed from thin air; from it, a creature was born. It was small, about twice the size of a palm; it was black and white in color. It resembled a jester, with glowing red eyes.
[Max: Don't worry. This is just my physical form.
Zora ignored his remark. He had something more important he needed to do.
"You said you could save kitty, right?" He asked, dropping her on the ground softly. "Do it. Save her."
[Max: Taming Kitty...]
A soft, bright light shone, swallowing Katty for a brief moment. Zora could feel the warmth radiating from Kitty. He felt a tingling sensation; a subtle but strong connection was forming.
[Max: Taming complete. Kitty has been tame and awakened.
[Max: Would you like to see your stats?
"Sure."
[Name: Zora.
Title: Master Tamer.
Age: 14
Ability: Bond Thief.
Ability Description: You can only tame an already tamed beast.
Tamed beast: 1.]
"Huh, interesting. What about kitty?"
[Max: Kitty has awakened; here are her stats.]
[Name: Luna Queen.
Title: ???
Race: Kitsune.
Ability: ???
Tails: 1/9
Rank: 1/15]
[Max: Your profile will be updated as you rank higher.
Zora was confused.
"What's the difference between a rank and tail? What are their functions?" he asked.
[Max: A rank is how strong a beast is; a tail is the overall potential of a beast and how much it has unlocked.]
"I see."
[Max: New mission alert!]
[Max: Main objective: Get into the Hunters Academy.
Urgent mission: Tame a new monster within seven days.]
Zora was curious about this mission and the quest. He had questions to ask, but it was already late. He had to return before the orphanage decided to lock him out again.
Zora had long given up on the prospect of an evening meal.
"I need to rest." His system panel and Max disappeared.
Getting a system sure was nice; his fatigue and injury weren't hurting as much as before. He felt good, almost energized.
"So this is how mana feels."
Zora looked at Luna; she was fine now, mostly healed, but there was a problem.
Looking at his Kitsune under the night light, her black fur shone with dark radiance. A white crescent moon was engraved on her forehead. She was now the size of an actual fox.
She was fast asleep.
Zora couldn't lift her; he was too weak. His lack of proper nutrition had caught up to him.
"Damnit."
He couldn't leave her there alone, vulnerable, and so he decided to stay by her side till she woke up.
Sitting on the ground, Zora rested his back against a tree. He felt the hard texture against the tree bark. Although he was lean and lanky, he still had his charms. He was good-looking... A little.
The wind blew against him, cool and refreshing, tussling his white hair.
Now alone, or so it seemed, he had enough time to feed his thoughts.
The Hunters Academy. It was a place that trained Tamers and Summoners alike to face the harsh reality of the world.
In truth, the world of Al has been on the brink of collapse ever since the descent of monsters. Humanity has barely been able to fight them off since then.
Zora exhaled.
Recruiters from the Hunters had recently come to the orphanage to seek those with potential, offering them an invitation to the academy.
Zora's face twisted as a diabolical thought crossed his mind.
Osborn and his friends had been invited along with a few others. Why not just tame his beast and take his invitation??
After all, the academy only seemed to care about talent. They shouldn't mind, right?
This was the perfect way to get back at him for all the bullying he had done.
Still, his beast was a formidable foe. How was he going to win?
"They're to leave for the academy five days from now; I have to fight and win before then."
Zora ran his hands across Kitty's soft fur. He had been given a chance; he wasn't going to waste it. He would win, rank up, and prove to everyone that he's strong. Make them bend to him and return what's rightfully his.
Zora exhaled.
For now, he had some preparations to make.
Purr.
Kitty stretched as she woke.
"You're a fox now," he said, giggling.
Now, they had to return.
*******
"So you returned." A woman spat, her tone lacking any form of pity or care. "I had thought the gods had done us a favor; guess I was wrong."
Zora didn't say anything; he didn't need to.
For five days, all he had to do was bear these shenanigans the orphanage put up.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, with his usual practiced words.
"Finally, you've put down that filthy cat," she said smirking. "Good riddance. Rest; you have an early day tomorrow."
This bitch that called herself mother, she was surely going to suffer a slow, agonizing death when her time comes.
Zora's room was literally a storage room. His bed was made of discarded rags, his clothes torn and worn out. Those were all what he had the right to call his.
Janitorial supplies occupied a good amount of the space.
Soon.
He sat on his makeshift bed, contemplating plans to get revenge on Osborn.
Right now, Kitty wasn't with him; he had given her a simple yet important mission.