Beast Hack: Customizing Beasts and Capturing Beauties

A thunderous cry echoed through the auction hall.

Greenish yellow lightning arced from the ceiling to the rising cage.

The cage that surfaced was a bit smaller but wider than Dreadmaw's.

Inside stood a towering raptor, nearly 18 meters tall.

Its wingspan stretched far beyond the confines of the transparent walls.

Storm clouds spiraled above it, drawn in by its sheer presence.

Liline's voice cut through the awe-struck silence.

"Let me introduce you… to Zephyron."

She smiled sharply.

"The Sovereign of Storm."

Gasps exploded across the room.

"That's a Sky Raptor!"

"Wait, wait—did she say 'Sovereign of Storm'?!"

"It's a lightning beast?!"

Raiven stood frozen, staring at the beast.

"…Damn it," he muttered.

He gritted his teeth. "I'm out. I have no money left after Dreadmaw."

From the other side of the hall, Sylvia stepped forward with a calm smirk.

"Then I suppose this one's mine."

She was about to shout out her bid.

But before she could speak—

Elaris Myralis raised a hand casually, smirking as well.

"Not so fast."

Sylvia blinked. "…You?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Isn't this beast a bit far from your specialty?"

"You're a nature tamer. This is lightning and wind. There's nothing forest-attuned about it."

Elaris shrugged. "True. But it's a flying beast—and that's rare enough."

She smiled.

"Besides, storm energy helps grow thunder-element plants."

"This beast will be perfect for cultivation. I'm not losing this one."

Sylvia's smile thinned. "Tch. Damn."

The tension surged again.

---

Sylvia raised her hand without hesitation.

"50 SS-Rank beast cores."

The hall stirred again.

"She's starting strong."

"Of course she is—it's Zephyron."

But Elaris just chuckled, arms crossed.

"Dreadmaw was sold at 60."

She stepped forward, eyes fixed on the beast in the cage as thunder sparked around its wings.

"Let's make this more interesting."

"Eighty SS-Rank beast cores."

Gasps rippled.

Sylvia's eyes narrowed. "Eighty?"

She clicked her tongue.

"Ninety."

Liline watched silently, smirking.

The hall was dead quiet as all eyes snapped back to Elaris.

She didn't even blink.

"One hundred."

Whispers exploded again.

"She pushed it to triple digits—!"

"This is insane—Zephyron's value is through the roof."

Sylvia's hand hovered, twitching just slightly.

Her lips tightened. Her eyes locked on Zephyron.

But the number had climbed too fast.

She exhaled sharply.

"…Damn," she muttered under her breath.

Elaris tilted her head slightly, her smirk never leaving her lips.

"So that's it then?"

She turned her gaze toward Liline.

"Looks like it's mine after all."

The crowd murmured again, stunned at the result.

"Elaris just won Zephyron."

"She beat Sylvia. That's two nobles who went head-to-head—again."

"Luxoria Castle really attracts monsters now…"

Sylvia stepped back, silent. She didn't argue.

---

Elaris stepped forward, walking confidently toward Liline.

She pulled out two glowing containers from her space ring.

One was filled with 100 SS-Rank beast cores, the other with 400 S-Rank beast cores.

"This covers Zephyron and the three Vornis, correct?"

Liline nodded. "Yes. Perfectly calculated, Lady Myralis."

Elaris flicked another, smaller container onto the table.

This one was filled with an extra 10 SS-Rank cores.

Elaris smirked. "Zephyron isn't mine to tame. I only want the cultivation manual."

"But I want the three Vornis contracted to me. Also, give me a fused cultivation manual for them."

She paused, then added with a shrug, "And I want my current beast safely disconnected. No backlash."

Liline smiled faintly. "Understood. One moment."

She turned slightly, eyes glazed as she linked to Lucius with a silent signal.

High above, Lucius received the message.

He looked over the transaction, nodding once.

"She's smart. Clean request."

He activated the system.

"Let's begin the hack, shall we?"

After a few minutes, a portal suddenly opened behind Elaris.

Her old beast—a gentle, leafy serpent—slithered out.

It glanced around, then disappeared into the mist outside.

Two spectral staff members then appeared before her:

One presented a dark steel scroll—the fused Vornis cultivation art.

The other held a polished obsidian slate etched with storm patterns—Zephyron's manual.

Liline gestured elegantly.

"The contract with your former beast is cleanly dissolved. The three Vornis are now fully yours. And here are your manuals."

Elaris blinked.

"…Already?"

She looked at her hands, then at the scroll.

"I didn't even feel it."

Her gaze shifted to Raiven, who was standing near the side.

"…So he wasn't exaggerating."

She smirked.

"Luxoria Castle is quite professional and quick. I like it."

Liline bowed gracefully. "Thank you for that, Lady Myralis."

Just then, a spectral staff phased in beside her, carrying something.

It was an ornate, silver-lined box.

Without a word, Liline raised one hand toward the transparent cage holding Zephyron.

The cage vibrated slightly before being compressed and streamed directly into the case.

WHOOSH—CLACK.

The case sealed with a hiss.

The room fell silent.

Elaris, Raiven, Sylvia, and several others stared.

Elaris blinked.

"…What did you just do?"

Liline turned calmly.

"This is the Silver Beast Box. One of our proprietary inventions."

She placed her hand atop the sealed container.

"It can hold an SS-Rank beast safely for 24 hours. After that, it automatically releases the beast within with its cage."

Elaris raised her eyebrow.

"You're handing something like that to me?"

Liline smiled.

"Lady Elaris stated that you're not the one who will tame Zephyron."

"This box will allow you to return to your domain easier."

"Just think of it as our service for buying such an outstanding beast."

Elaris looked impressed.

"To think you even have something like this…"

Liline smirked slightly.

"We are Luxoria Castle."

She gave the box a gentle tap.

"Though I must remind you—Zephyron is not only strong. It is intelligent."

She looked directly at Elaris.

"It understood it was being sold and made one demand: that its tamer must be worthy."

Liline stepped closer, voice quieter but sharper.

"That means someone with strong thunder and aerial affinity."

"If not, it may refuse to be tamed or even wreak havoc in your domain."

Elaris crossed her arms.

"I see… So it wants to choose who tames it."

Liline nodded.

"Exactly. If you need our help later—whether with taming, contracts, or resonance alignment.

"Luxoria Castle is always open to our clients."

Elaris smiled lightly.

"Fully noted. Thanks for the warning… and the box."

She picked up the Silver Beast Box with a firm grip.

Liline gave a small bow.

"Safe travels, Lady Eralis."