: Did the Succubus Turn on Her Master at the Start?

Lythos.

In front of the Beastbond Summoning Altar, shadows flitted by.

The summoning array on the altar shimmered with white light, casting on each student's face filled with tension and anticipation.

"Excellent! It's at an excellent level!"

"How is my beast at an ordinary level... It's over..."

The students present were exclaiming, joyful, dejected, or frustrated...

The teacher in charge of the ritual remained calm, his gaze sweeping over each student.

"The summoning of beasts is entirely random. The probability of summoning a high-quality beast is less than one in ten thousand. Even if the result is not ideal, you still have a chance to grow stronger through effort."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Amidst the crowd, a handsome young man was looking around bewildered.

A strange world, strange terms, strange rules!

He looked down at his hand, then raised his head to gaze at the altar emitting mysterious energy, finally confirming one thing—

He, Aster Grant... had transmigrated!

Fortunately, as a transmigrator, he quickly accepted the memories of this body.

However.

After he sorted through the information in his mind, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"Alternate Space invasion? Beastbond for everyone? Parents deceased?"

In his previous life, although he was poor, he at least wasn't in life-threatening danger.

But in this world...

One careless mistake, and he might end up as ashes scattered by Alternate Space creatures!

"Next, Aster Grant!"

The teacher's call from the altar suddenly pulled him back to reality.

Aster took a deep breath and stepped onto the altar.

The teacher made a check on the list and nodded at him.

At this moment, standing before the array, Aster's heart was racing.

This altar could connect to an Alternate Space to summon beasts.

This was a common Beast Tamer's only chance to defy fate!

As long as he summoned a high-talent beast, he could soar to great heights!

"Place your hand on the summoning array and relax."

Following the teacher's guidance, Aster slowly raised his hand and pressed his palm onto the array.

In an instant, a purple beam shot into the sky.

The entire place fell into dead silence.

The next second—

"Pur...Purple?! Damn! An Epic Talent beast?!"

"The last time Lythos saw an Epic Talent beast was a year ago, right?!"

"Aster Grant... What kind of luck does this guy have?!"

Even the teacher, who had always remained composed, had his pupils suddenly contract.

—An Epic-level Beast!

What does this mean?

This means his summoning ritual record would be recorded in the history of Lythos!

His name would resonate throughout the city with the birth of this beast!

He quickly raised his head, his gaze locking onto the center of the altar.

However, an even more shocking scene unfolded—

A humanoid Beast Pet?!

"How... How is this possible?!"

The forms of beasts were countless and varied, but humanoid pets were the rarest and most precious!

Because humanoid meant higher intelligence, greater potential, and a more perfect combat adaptability!

—This was the kind of beast only the favored children of the heavens could receive!

As the purple light gradually faded, a slender figure slowly walked out.

It was a young girl.

With skin like snow and small bat wings gently flapping behind her, every step carried an all-consuming allure.

—Succubus!

The teacher's mind immediately identified the species of this beast.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and explained in a low voice:

"Succubus, a Dark Element Epic-level beast, though its direct combat power is slightly inferior to those of the same tier, its intelligence far surpasses that of ordinary Beast Pets, with enormous growth potential!"

"Cultivate it well, and you'll be among the top ten talents of Lythos!"

However, at this moment, Aster was not in the mood to listen to the teacher's analysis.

Because—

Before his eyes, a semi-transparent attributes panel suddenly appeared!

[Succubus (Unnamed)]

[Status: Uncontracted]

[Talent: Epic Two Stars]

[Level: Tier Zero]

[Attributes: Dark Element, Spiritual Type]

[Skills: Desire Absorption, Enchanting Eyes]

[Cultivation Suggestions: Use Dark Night Crystals, Fallen Feather... can enhance this beast's talent]

Staring at the attributes panel before him, Aster's heart was in turmoil.

This is... the Golden Finger?!

As far as he knew, no one in this world could directly see the detailed data of beasts, let alone have a clear cultivation plan!

What does this mean?

It means that just by following the panel's guidance, he could possibly cultivate this succubus's talent to Epic Nine Stars, or even... Legendary Level!

As he felt his heart surge, the succubus gently approached him, leaning against his side obediently.

The teacher beside him seemed to remember something, quickly reminding him sternly:

"Aster, quickly sign the contract with the beast! No time for dreams!"

Aster was just about to nod—

"Caw—!"

A sharp bird cry ripped through the sky!

Everyone looked up to see a massive azure bird, wings spanning over five meters, diving down with a whirlwind, making the flags around the altar whistle sharply.

The bird landed, and a middle-aged man in a luxurious robe gracefully leaped down.

He wore a false smile on his face, his gaze fixed tightly on the succubus next to Aster.

"Mr. King, congratulations! Hosting the ceremony to summon an Epic Talent beast, this is big news for Lythos!"

Shane Cheney clasped his hands in a friendly tone, as if they were old friends for years.

Mr. King sneered coldly: "Boss Cheney, busy as you are, how do you have time for this small altar?"

"Oh, the altar is the foundation of Lythos, of course I often come to care for it."

Shane Cheney smiled casually, but his steps didn't stop, heading straight for Aster.

"This student—"

He feigned a kindly demeanor, patting Aster's shoulder, "My son just entered his senior year too, and he lacks a powerful beast. How about transferring this Epic-level one to me?"

Plot exposed!

Aster's pupils shrank, instantly understanding his intentions.

Shane Cheney, the controller of the largest merchant association in Lythos!

He actually intended to seize his succubus by force!

Aster instinctively looked toward Mr. King.

"Draconia law stipulates that without the Beast Tamer's consent, no one is allowed to forcibly seize a summoned beast."

"That means as long as you don't agree, no one can take your beast today."

With the teacher's assurance, Aster felt slightly relieved.

He took a deep breath and faced Shane Cheney straight on:

"Sorry, I refuse."

Shane Cheney's smile didn't change, as if he had anticipated this answer.

"Don't be too quick to refuse."

He slowly raised a finger, "Ten million. This sum is enough for you to buy a beast of excellent talent and still have resources left to cultivate it."

He squinted, his tone enticing:

"An Epic Talent beast requires vast resources for cultivation. Why should you, a regular student, struggle so hard? Why not take the money for practicality?"

For others, this condition might indeed be tempting.

But Aster just sneered.

—What a joke!

With the system in hand, the growth path for the succubus was clear, and in the future, it could even break through to Legendary!

A mere ten million?

Couldn't even buy a feather!

He was about to firmly refuse once more—

"I... I think he makes sense."

A weak voice suddenly came from next to him.

Aster froze, unable to believe as he turned his head.

—The one speaking was actually the succubus leaning against him!

...

...

: 20 Million! No Haggling!

As the succubus's voice fell, the entire altar fell into dead silence.

The eyes of the three were fixed on her in unison.

Under such a gaze, a touch of shyness appeared on the succubus's face...

But her body subtly moved away from Aster's side, and even quietly shifted half a step in Shane's direction.

Betrayal!!!

Aster felt like he was struck by lightning, frozen in place.

In this world, a Beastbond's betrayal of its master is more absurd than the sun rising from the west!

One must know, to a Summoner, a Beastbond is akin to the "parent" who gives them life.

The vast majority of Beastbonds would rather die in battle than betray their master.

But this succubus in front of him...

Aster stared at her intently.

That innocent and charming face still appeared harmless to humans and animals alike.

But at this moment, in his eyes, it seemed like a meticulously disguised facade...

Underneath it was nothing but calculation and greed!

But the next second, Aster suddenly laughed.

Is it a blessing in disguise?

Rather than keeping a ticking time bomb at his side, it's better to see her true colors as soon as possible!

So what if it's an Epic-level Tamed Beast?

His Golden Finger can cultivate more than just this one!

Even if he changes to an ordinary Beastbond, under his cultivation, it can reach the peak given enough time!

"Interesting."

Aster chuckled lightly as he shook his head:

"It seems some people... no, some beasts, don't even understand the most basic loyalty."

On the other side.

Shane was initially stunned, then his smile became even brighter.

"I've long heard that the succubi are exceptionally intelligent; today it truly lives up to its reputation!"

"Miss Succubus, as long as you're willing to follow my son, the Cheneys will spare no resource in cultivating you!"

As he said this, he did not forget to look hypocritically at Aster:

"This classmate of yours, if your Beastbond says so, you wouldn't... make things difficult for her, would you?"

"Nonsense!"

Evan King, having taken in the whole scene, stepped forward abruptly and cursed angrily.

Retired from the battlefield, Evan despised Shane's oppressive behavior.

"The 'Draconian Beast Taming Technique' clearly states that Beastbond transactions must be personally consented to by the Summoner! When did a Beastbond get to decide?"

He turned to look at Aster, his gaze sharp as a blade:

"As long as you shake your head today, no one will think about taking her away!"

This sentence once again focused everyone's attention on Aster.

The wind on the altar suddenly stopped.

Aster slowly turned his head, looking at the succubus whose eyes were filled with pleading, yearning for freedom.

This Beastbond... is she so eager to leave him?

He suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with sarcasm and relief.

"Boss Cheney," Aster's voice was frighteningly calm, "I agree to this transaction."

Joy appeared simultaneously on Shane and the succubus's faces, but before they could relax—

"However..."

These two words instantly made their hearts jump into their throats.

"The price is doubled, twenty million."

—Boom!​

This figure was like a shocking bolt of lightning, causing Shane's face to change dramatically.

One must know that a normal Epic-level Tamed Beast fetches around eight million on the market.

Offering ten million was already considered an overpriced purchase, yet this kid dared to raise the price on the spot!

"Bro, this price..."

Shane suppressed his anger, attempting to negotiate.

"No bargaining."

Aster directly interrupted him, his voice as cold as ice:

"If Boss Cheney is unwilling to pay this price..."

"I'd rather send her to be destroyed!"

Crack!​

The facade on the succubus's face instantly collapsed.

As a Spiritual Type Beastbond, she could clearly feel the killing intent in Aster's words—

This man is serious!

"Ugh..."

Facing death, she could no longer maintain that pitiful look.

She looked at Shane in terror, eyes full of pleading.

This was her only chance for survival!

And Shane's face was indecisive.

To him, twenty million wasn't much, but being played by a novice like this left him feeling choked.

He squinted his eyes, sizing up the young man in front of him; the other's "certain victory" posture only fuelled his anger further.

But thinking of his son, he forcibly swallowed his resentment.

First, secure this Beastbond, then as for the rest...

The days to come are long.

"Fine, I agree to your terms!"

Shane nearly ground out these words through gritted teeth.

Aster said nothing more and deftly lifted the temporary contract with the succubus.

Once saved, the succubus immediately gave Shane a grateful look, her voice sickly sweet:

"I will surely assist your son earnestly~"

Having accomplished his objective, Shane snorted coldly and left with the succubus.

While Mr. King looked at Aster, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, he sighed lightly and patted his shoulder:

"I've seen this kind of thing often, but a Beastbond betraying its master..."

He shook his head, "This is indeed a first."

"However, it might not be a bad thing."

"At least you've seen her true colors. With this money, you can totally go choose an excellent-level Beastbond and cultivate it well."

"Thank you, Mr. King."

After bidding farewell to Evan, Aster walked out of the summoning altar alone.

The sunset stretched his shadow long, and the exotic buildings and various Beastbonds walking along the street served as a constant reminder that this was no longer the world he once knew.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the complex emotions in his heart.

The most urgent thing right now is to contract a Beastbond as soon as possible—

No matter the talent!

"Without a Beastbond, I can't even participate in the intra-school selection ten days from now..."

Aster murmured to himself, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

The "college entrance examination" system in this world was completely different from the previous life.

The harsh three-round elimination system, with the first round being the intra-school selection held in ten days.

Only the top one hundred from each academy could advance, and now even his eligibility to compete was hanging by a thread.

Thinking of this, Aster couldn't help but clench his fists.

If that succubus hadn't betrayed him, ten days would have been enough for him to gather materials to complete the first cultivation...

With further enhancement of the Epic-level succubus, even if he couldn't clinch first in the school assessment, he could still get into the top ten.

But now...

His knuckles turned white from exertion, he forced himself to calm down.

"At least there's still the twenty million..."

This large sum is enough for him to buy an excellent-level Beastbond from the Beastbond Trading House.

Although it couldn't compare to the succubus with Epic Talent, he now had no other choice.

Aster raised his hand to hail a taxi pulled by a bipedal drake and, after getting into the carriage, spoke in a deep voice:

"Driver, to the largest Beastbond Trading House in Lythos!"

...

...

: Fallen Angel

The Beastbond Trading House is the largest trading house in Lythos, responsible for controlling the circulation of alternate space resources.

They not only sell various types of Beastbonds captured from alternate spaces but also offer rare materials, evolution potions, and even exotic treasures.

Aster Grant stood in front of the grand entrance of the Beastbond Commerce Guild, looking up.

The entire building is pyramid-shaped, divided into five levels, each corresponding to a different level—

Common, Elite, Excellent, Epic, Legendary.​

Of course, the top "Legendary Level" area is often vacant, with only a few rare materials from alternate spaces occasionally on display for people to admire.

As for the fourth-level "Epic Level" area, it only contains a few epic materials, with prices so high they are shocking.

Aster Grant did not stop on the first level and went directly to the third level—

The Excellent Level Beastbond Zone.

In the spacious hall, dozens of Beastbonds of various forms were locked in specially made energy cages, with each labeled with detailed information and price.

Aster Grant's gaze swept over them, and their attribute panels automatically appeared before his eyes—

[Black Serpent]

[Talent: Excellent Three Stars]

[Level: Tier Zero]

[Skills: Poisonous Fang Bite]

[Spirit Cat]

[Talent: Excellent One Star]

[Level: Tier Zero]

[Skills: Agile Evasion]

...

The prices of these Beastbonds generally ranged from five hundred thousand to a million, the higher the talent, the more expensive the price.

Aster Grant finally paused in front of a wolf-like Beastbond.

This was the highest talent on the entire third level—

[Dire Wolf]​

[Talent: Excellent Three Stars]

[Attributes: Wind Element]

[Level: Tier Zero]

[Skills: Gale Claw Strike]

[Cultivation Suggestion: Wind Spirit Grass, Hurricane Crystal...]

Looking at these Beastbonds with only one skill each, Aster Grant furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

Although Excellent Level Beastbonds were already considered a good choice, compared to the epic-level Succubus, the gap was indeed huge.

Moreover, he had twenty million in funds, enough to pursue a higher upper limit!

"Hello, do you have other Beastbonds in the Beastbond Commerce Guild?"

He stopped a staff member, unwilling to give up, and asked.

"Hello, guest, what is displayed is all the Beastbonds our guild has obtained this year."

Excellent Talent...

He stared at the Dire Wolf, and a three-star talent was already rare in the eyes of ordinary Beast Tamers.

But having seen the panel of the epic-level Succubus, the Beastbond with this talent had no attraction to him.

Furthermore, cultivating such a Beastbond to the level of a Succubus might not even be doable within twenty million.

However, just as he turned around in disappointment...

The staff member suddenly called out to him.

"Wait! There's another place..."

Aster Grant suddenly turned, his movement so quick that the staff member unconsciously took half a step back.

"Where?"

The staff member was startled by Aster Grant.

"It goes like this, because we only display the latest Beastbonds we acquire each year."

"And those that didn't sell in the past years are uniformly managed at the logistics department."

"But...guest, please don't hold too much hope, after all, those Beastbonds are the leftover substandard goods."

Hearing this news, the hope that had just ignited in Aster Grant's heart died again.

How could those leftover substandard goods possibly still have Beastbonds of decent talent?

But adhering to the principle that since he was here, Aster Grant hesitated for a moment and decided to go see the logistics department.

Even if he gained nothing from the logistics department, he could return to the third floor to contract with the Dire Wolf.

"But you'll have to hurry, or they will soon be sent for destruction."

...

Logistics Department.

The lighting was dim and oppressive.

A silver-haired girl curled up in the corner, hugging her knees tightly, burying her face deep in her arms.

Around her, several Beastbonds of various forms were also quietly awaiting their fate.

A Shadow Leopard missing a leg, a Spirit Fox born blind...

They were the leftover substandard goods that no one took for a whole year.

"It's time."

The metallic hinges let out an ear-piercing wail, as a young man in uniform pushed open the door and entered.

Today was the day of Beastbond summoning in Lythos, and it was also the doomsday for these Beastbonds.

The guild was not a charity; having kept them for a year was already kind enough.

Destroying them would still recycle some materials, making the best use of them.

Hearing the footsteps, the Beastbonds stood up blankly.

But the most eye-catching was still the silver-haired girl.

When she raised her head, her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her exquisite face was set with a pair of amber eyes, making her look like an angel that had descended from the heavens.

No—

She was an angel!

The staff member sighed.

A year ago, this epic-talent angel caused a sensation when she descended upon Lythos.

Unfortunately, her congenital defects made her inferior even to ordinary Beastbonds, let alone able to upgrade through contracting.

Such a "defective product" had minimal recycling value left.

"Let's go!"

Just as he was about to lead the way, a rapid series of footsteps approached from afar.

"Wait!"

Out of breath, Aster Grant burst into the room, his hair soaked with sweat.

He had been searching through the labyrinthine Beastbond Trading House for a whole half-hour before finally reaching this secluded logistics department.

His gaze swept around the room and was instantly drawn to that silver figure.

The attribute panel instantly popped up:

[Angel (Lazuli)]

[Status: Uncontracted (Wings cannot be contracted)]

[Talent: Epic Nine Stars]

[Level: Tier Zero]

[Skills: Holy Light Judgment, Wings of Heaven, Divine Lament]

[Special State: Congenital Defect (Wings) (Negative Status: Unable to Level Up)]

[Cultivation Suggestion: Use Angel's Feather, Radiant Star Dust, Holy Spirit Stone (Repair Injuries)]

Aster Grant's pupils suddenly contracted.

An Epic Nine Stars talent Beastbond?!

This was the highest talented Beastbond he had seen so far...

Just one step away from the Legendary Level!

Furthermore, generally, Epic-level Beastbonds have only two skills, but Lazuli...

She had as many as three skills!

Just that...

His gaze unwittingly shifted to her back.

Where there should have been a pair of holy wings, it was now completely empty.​

That was the reason she was overlooked!

But the system gave a repair solution:​

Angel's Feather*1, Radiant Star Dust*3, Holy Spirit Stone*1.

And these three materials, the Beastbond Trading House happened to have them all!​

Aster Grant's heart pounded violently.

She's the one!​

This was the Beastbond he was seeking!

As long as he healed her injuries, her talent would completely overshadow the Succubus!

Aster Grant took a deep breath and slowly walked over to the staff member.

"Hello, I want to buy that angel. How much is she?"

Upon hearing this...

Lazuli's pupils suddenly contracted.

She slowly raised her head, her amber eyes reflecting the figure standing in the light.

Was he...talking about her?

Over three hundred days and nights, she had curled up in this dark corner, countless times holding hope, countless times disappointed.

In the end, she became numb, not even daring to hope that someone would look at her again.

But at this moment—

That unfamiliar human actually pointed at her.

Her heart felt like it was being tightly clenched by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

Did he...really know what he was choosing?

A waste that couldn't even fly...

Her nails dug deeply into her palm, yet she felt no pain.

Lazuli lowered her head, her silver hair falling, hiding her slightly reddened eyes.

Clearly...she shouldn't have expected anything more.

But why...does her heart still ache?

....

...