Beast Hack: Customizing Beasts and Capturing Beauties

Exactly one hour later.

A blinding surge of light burst from the chamber.

The walls rattled thanks to the energy radiating off the two figures inside.

Then—

Luna and Loxen roared.

Their eyes snapped open.

Bodies jerked violently as every fiber of pain—everything the simulation delayed—rushed into their nerves at once.

Luna screamed first.

"—AAAGHHH—F**K! YOU SADISTIC—"

She clenched her fists, body arching off the chamber floor.

"—Luci—! You absolute son of a—GAHH! My f**king SPINE—!"

Loxen snarled, its form flaring between phases as the pain surged.

It swiped at the air, tail thrashing, claws slamming against the floor.

"Why the f**k did you make it THIS REAL—?!"

Luna tried to stand but collapsed again.

"YOU SAID AN HOUR—YOU NEVER SAID IT WOULD FEEL LIKE A F**KING EXECUTION—!"

Lucius watched through the glass, unbothered.

He leaned his chin against his hand, smiling like a proud craftsman admiring his masterpiece.

"You survived," he said quietly.

"That's all that matters."

Luna managed to lift her head, hair clinging to her sweat-soaked face.

"I swear… if I could move—I'd shove that smug face of yours into the goddamn wall—"

Then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed flat, twitching once before going still.

Beside her, Loxen let out one last weak growl and dropped beside her.

Lucius finally stepped forward, entering the chamber.

He knelt beside them both.

Luna's body was still glowing faintly with silver traces along her veins.

Her skin had taken on a soft shimmer, and her breathing, though ragged, was steady.

But Loxen… had changed entirely.

Its panther body was gone.

What remained was a small, smooth silver bracelet.

It was curved and polished like a crescent moon.

It had also wrapped itself around Luna's wrist.

"Not just Divine…" Lucius whispered, grinning.

"You're not even physical anymore. A perfect elemental form."

He stood.

"Let them rest."

With care, he lifted Luna into his arms.

She was heavier than she looked—but still his family.

He walked to his personal quarters and gently placed her down on the silk bedding.

Lucius glanced at the glowing bracelet around her wrist.

"I knew you'd survive," he said.

"But I didn't think you'd look this good doing it."

He turned off the lights.

"Sleep. We start testing soon."

---

Luna's eyes snapped open.

Her body ached.

Every joint felt like it had been burned, rebuilt, and pressed into stone.

But it was quiet now.

No more screaming nerves. Just the dull echo of something survived.

She turned her head.

Lucius sat beside the bed, elbows on his knees, eyes on her like he'd never looked away.

"…Master," she whispered.

Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Welcome back."

Luna tried to sit up but winced, barely managing to push herself upright.

She looked at him carefully—his face, his posture, everything that made him Lucius.

Then her silver eyes lowered.

"I… I'm sorry," she said softly.

Lucius didn't react at first.

Luna forced herself to go on.

"For what I said. All the screaming. The curses. I shouldn't have—"

She hesitated, then bowed her head slightly.

"I forgot my place. I'm just your slave… and I—"

"Stop," Lucius said.

She looked up.

He leaned forward, resting one arm on his knee, the corner of his mouth lifting.

"Don't say it like that," he said.

"Yes, I bought you. Yes, you serve me."

"But you're not just a slave anymore."

Luna's lips parted, confused.

Lucius reached out and tapped her wrist—where the silver moon bracelet pulsed faintly against her skin.

"You're my shadow. My strategist. My blade. And now, my family."

His voice was quiet. No mockery. Just a fact.

"You earned that."

Luna stared at him, her expression unreadable for a moment.

Then she lowered her head again.

"…Thank you, Master."

But the calm didn't last.

Her fingers twitched. Her brows lowered.

A second later, her voice sharpened—back to the Luna Lucius knew.

"But still," she snapped.

"Master, what the hell was that?!"

Lucius raised an eyebrow, amused. "What?"

She sat up straighter, groaning as she moved but refusing to stop.

"That pain—compressing it into one hour? Do you have any idea how much I wanted to kill something halfway through?!"

Lucius smirked. "You said you wanted results fast, didn't you?"

Luna frowned harder. "Not death-by-torture fast!"

He waved a hand dismissively. "You survived. You're stronger now."

Luna clenched her jaw, then exhaled. "Barely."

Lucius stepped to the side of the bed, arms folded.

"Good. Then let's move on."

"Prepare for battle. You've been through more war in that hour than most tamers face in a lifetime."

Luna blinked, then smirked.

"…Of course, Master. That damn war taught me everything. Tactics. Powers. Loxen's full capabilities."

She held up her hand, staring at the silver moon bracelet wrapped tight around her wrist.

"I'm not the same Luna anymore."

Then her smile twisted into something darker.

Her fist clenched.

"Beast Castle…"

Her voice dropped into a hiss.

"Because of you, I went through hell. Because of you, I screamed like some broken toy."

She stood, wobbling once, then steadying herself with raw determination in her eyes.

"I'll make sure every one of you pays for it."

Lucius nodded, completely satisfied.

"Then we're ready."

"Let Beast Castle come," Luna said. "Let them try."

She tapped the bracelet once.

"I'll make their minds break before their beasts do."

---

Lucius turned, the air around him still humming faintly from Luna's divine evolution.

"Liline."

Without delay, a shimmer rippled across the wall.

Liline emerged silently from the wall, kneeling with one hand on her chest.

"Yes, Master."

Lucius didn't look at her.

He kept his eyes on the silver bracelet still pulsing faintly on Luna's wrist.

"Call Loreia for me. It's time we discuss our next plan."

Liline nodded. "Right away."

She vanished again, slipping back into the wall like smoke.

Moments later, Loreia stepped into the room.

She wasn't rushing.

She looked at Lucius, smiling while shutting the door behind her.

"So... you called for me, Lucius?"

Lucius turned toward her, smirking. "Yes, big sister."

He motioned for her to step closer.

"It's time we talk about the battle," he said.

"The one against Beast Castle."

Loreia tilted her head slightly. "Finally."