Chapter 30: Dance With The Devil I
Chapter 30: Dance With The Devil I
The first time, he came in unseen by others as with the capability of Kitsuul, no Beast Master or any of the terrifying sensors and security measures of the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation had managed to catch him.The second time, he was led in by a Sentry X-1AI Guard heading straight toward the Beast Master elevators the Trial Guardians had taken.
As Damian followed the Sentry, his earpiece buzzed with Anastasia’s voice.
"I’m looking through more and more information regarding Interstellar Beast Masters and their ranks of power. Are you ready to hear about it now?"
Damian’s eyes lit up as he tapped his earpiece, giving her the go-ahead. She immediately began unloading waves of information.
"Interstellar Beast Masters are divided into multiple stages of power, based entirely on the strength of the Interstellar Beast and the bond shared with their Beast. The power of the Beast itself can vary, but at the beginning, a newly bonded pair is known as Initiates. You fall into this category."
...!
Initiates.
Since he was recently bound to Kitsuul, he was now an Initiate Interstellar Beast Master.
"Among Initiates, strength varies wildly depending on the species of the Beast Partner. Every species has a Racial Trait as most beasts possess a Basic Class Trait. Rare species have Evolved Class Traits. The even rarer ones have Apex Class Traits. And then there are the Unique Class Traits—traits shared only by Guardians like Vex Talon and their Beasts. There are apparently even higher Traits, but that information’s classified and not available here."
...!
Traits.
Basic, Evolved, Apex, and Unique Class Traits of Interstellar Beasts.
Damian didn’t even need to look at Kitsuul to recall what he’d seen two days ago when she bound herself to him. That moment was burned into memory.
Kitsuul (Beast Partner)
Species: Umbra-Kitsune
Basal Form: Small, fox-like creature of the Umbra-Kitsune species with six glowing tails, soft gray fur, and silver eyes
Unlocked Unique Trait: Veilshift – Undetectable by other Beasts and Beast Masters. Can make the Beast Master completely invisible and undetectable by any known senses.
Unique Trait.
His little furry fox that could literally turn invisible... had a Unique Trait. And that was just her Basal Form!
She would likely evolve into more powerful forms as she matured, and...
"At the Initiate level, all Beasts are typically in their Basal Form. Once they gain enough nutrients- either by devouring rich materials from other Interstellar Beasts or through Synthesized Beast Nutrients provided by Beast Corporations- they can evolve into their Advanced Form. When this happens, the Beast Master graduates from Initiate to Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Master. This is the second stage of power, and it’s when a Master truly taps into their Beast’s strength."
...!
Initiate... then Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Master.
Damian listened in silence, sensing a shift in Anastasia’s tone before she continued.
"From Basal to Advanced Form, a Beast can also undergo a massive transformation into a Mythic Form. This evolution brings their Master to the third and extremely dangerous stage of power—Mythic Unity Interstellar Beast Master. That...that’s where Vex Talon is. His feedback bond with his Beast is so strong, even armor-piercing rounds can’t scratch him."
"..."
Her voice turned cold.
It was full of restrained fury.
The one they needed to take down... was that powerful.
To even have a chance...
Damian glanced at the little silver fox perched on his shoulders.
Kitsuul had to evolve. From her Basal Form to Advanced Form. And then... maybe even her Mythic Form.
Maybe.
Damian kept one crucial fact in mind.
Every Interstellar Beast species was different.
Kitsuul’s species—Umbra-Kitsune—was special. Could it be possible that she didn’t even need to reach Mythic Form to stand a chance against someone like Vex Talon?
There was no telling. While lost in thought, the soft ding of the elevator snapped him back. The Sentry X-1AI Guard remained standing in front of him, unmoving, as Damian spotted the nesting number above.
120th Floor. The one the Serpent Queen entered earlier.
The floor that looked like a world of its own inside this building with fortified walls and artificial forests woven through it.
DING!
The elevator doors slid open again as the Sentry X-1AI Guard stepped aside and announced:
"Therion Dark, delivered to the 120th floor, where the ZENTHRA Beast Trials are currently taking place. Please proceed ahead and await further instructions."
The robotic voice resonated with authority. Damian stepped out with cautious eyes, scanning everything, while distant eyes scanned him just the same.
The 120th Floor.
One of the ZENTHRA Coliseum Core Floors- enclosed arenas for combat, training, and dominance displays involving Interstellar Beasts.
This floor was selected for today’s Beast Trials, as a glowing green holographic banner read...
The Verdant Crucible.
Anastasia’s voice came through again, feeding him more intel.
"The 120th floor of the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation is one of the most revered and dangerous Coliseum Core Floors. Known as The Verdant Crucible, it’s an enclosed arena that simulates a full biome. Unlike sterile training grounds, this floor mimics a living, breathing alien forest- infused with advanced synthetic ecological systems. Watch for the Bioluminescent Canopy Forest."
As she spoke, Damian observed the towering synthetic trees—obsidian bark, glowing emerald leaves, and massive canopies that flickered with photosynthetic light. Shadows twisted unnaturally, disorienting his sense of depth.
The forest floor pulsed beneath his feet—living moss that reacted to body heat and motion, sometimes sprouting thorns as reflex tests. Damian ignored the weird texture and stepped deeper.
Anastasia kept going.
"The air here is laced with perpetual twilight mist, filled with trace minerals and micro-nanites. They’re designed to stimulate a Beast’s instincts during combat. How’s little Kitsuul holding up?"
Damian turned. Kitsuul’s eyes sparkled in awe, her fur almost shimmering. Her body practically glowed, visibly more vibrant—absorbing whatever was in the air.
He tapped his earpiece in reply. He couldn’t risk speaking too much here.
"Okay," Anastasia continued. "Also... let’s see. There are tall, rune-etched crystal monoliths that rise periodically. They amplify Beast abilities and track energy output in real-time for evaluation."
...!