A voice echoed through the void, calm yet firm.

“You will be transported to a new world filled with magic. You will be given powers.”

The words struck like lightning. A young man, Nate Williams, felt his mind spin in confusion.

“Wait, what?” he stammered, trying to make sense of it all.

The voice ignored his question, continuing as if time was running out.

“Go forth and live a new life, young boy…”

Before he could respond, a blinding light engulfed him, and his body was pulled into the unknown.

---

When Nate’s eyes snapped open, he found himself lying on cold, damp ground. The scent of earth and moss filled his nose, and the hum of distant wildlife surrounded him. He pushed himself up slowly, taking in his surroundings.

Towering trees stretched high above, their leaves glowing faintly in the dim light. Strange animals circled him—lions, cheetahs, wolves, and even birds perched in the branches above. Their eyes locked onto him, but none made a move to attack. It was as if they were waiting for something.

“Where… am I?” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Before he could think further, a glowing screen materialized before him, hovering in the air with a faint golden shimmer.

---

System

Name:

Last Name:

Age:

Gender:

---

Nate stared at the floating text, baffled. Was this a dream? A game? The words blinked expectantly, waiting for input.

After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke. “Nate Williams. Age 18. Male.”

The system responded immediately, his words appearing as text before him. Then, new options flashed on the screen.

---

System

“Confirm Info”

Yes / No

---

Instinctively, he nodded, unsure if the system could read his movements. The screen blinked, and a strange sensation washed over him. His body felt weightless, as if gravity had loosened its grip. Slowly, he began to float a few inches above the ground.

Golden light wrapped around his arms and legs, dissolving his clothes into glowing ash. In their place, a new outfit formed—sleek, lightweight leather armor that fit him perfectly, as if tailored just for him.

“What’s happening to me?” he muttered, staring at his transformed appearance.

The animals around him suddenly lowered themselves to the ground, bowing. Even the birds dipped their heads, as though acknowledging a king.

Nate’s vision flickered, the world briefly shifting into negative colors before returning to normal. When it was over, he landed softly on the ground.

Curious, he reached for a lock of his hair, pulling it into view. It was no longer the bright blue he remembered. Now, it shone silver under the faint light. His skin had also changed, taking on a paler, almost ethereal tone.

The system reappeared, offering an explanation.

---

System

“You have gained a hero class: Beast Change. (Level 1)”

---

“Beast Change?” Nate repeated, trying to make sense of it.

The system’s text continued, explaining that he could transform into beasts he had defeated or forged contracts with. Each transformation would last for 30 seconds, followed by a two-minute cooldown.

He glanced at the animals around him, but their numbers had dwindled. Hadn’t there been more before?

The system answered his unspoken question.

---

System

“95% of the beasts were used to complete your update.”

---

Nate’s eyes widened. “Update?” He looked down at his armor, realization dawning on him. “So… they became this?”

A new window appeared, revealing his inventory.

---

Inventory

Eagle’s Crest Helmet

Wolf’s Fang Gauntlets

Alligator’s Blade

---

Each item looked fierce, designed for a warrior attuned to nature’s beasts. Despite their rugged appearance, the armor felt surprisingly light, as if made for both agility and strength.

Then, another system message flashed before him.

---

System

“Title Unlocked: King of the Jungle.”

---

Nate chuckled, though the name felt surreal. “King of the Jungle, huh?”

According to the title’s description, he now had the ability to command the remaining beasts. More than that, he would gain 50% of the experience they earned in battle.

Another notification popped up.

---

System

“Would you like to see the names and levels of your beasts?”

Yes / No

---

“Yes,” he answered, curious.

Above the animals' heads, glowing nameplates appeared.

Flame Lion (Level 2)

Lightning Cheetah (Level 2)

Shadow Panther (Level 2)

Cursed Crow (Level 4)

“They’re all below Level 5,” Nate mused. “Not bad, though. A small team to start with. I can work with this.”

This world was already shaping up to be an adventure.

---

Emily – Age 19

Deep within the same forest, Emily cautiously led her team of adventurers through the underbrush. Their mission was simple—an E-rank task to hunt down five goblins. It was their first goblin hunt, and everything had seemed straightforward.

Yet, something felt off.

“So far, we haven’t seen a single goblin,” the armored knight muttered, scanning the area.

“You’re right. It’s strange to walk this far without being attacked,” the archer agreed, her bow resting on her shoulder.

“Do you think it’s a trap?” the mage asked, gripping his staff tightly.

“Possibly,” the knight replied. “What do you think, Emily?”

Emily hesitated, tightening her grip on her staff. “Maybe… we just don’t know what to expect yet. This is our first E-rank mission, after all.”

Her team nodded, though uncertainty still lingered in their eyes. They pressed forward, unaware of the danger lurking ahead.

---

Nate

For the past thirty minutes, Nate had been training with his beasts. He and his team had already taken down several goblins, leaving him covered in dirt and sweat. Resting beneath the shade of a tree, he checked his progress.

His beasts had all reached Level 9, except for the Cursed Crow, which had soared to Level 13. Meanwhile, Nate himself had climbed to Level 12, and his Beast Change ability had improved—now lasting 30 minutes with only a 3-second cooldown.

As he reviewed his stats, a desperate voice rang through the forest.

“Help!”

Nate froze. Was he imagining things?

“Help!” the voice came again, louder this time.

He let out a sigh, pushing himself to his feet. Someone needed help. And ignoring them wasn’t an option.

---

Emily

This was a nightmare.

Her team was surrounded—an army of goblins closing in from every side. There were at least a hundred, their crude weapons glinting in the dim light.

At the back of the horde, a massive goblin general loomed, its sharp teeth curled into a wicked grin.

Emily and her team fought desperately, but they were losing ground fast. She lifted her staff, preparing to cast a healing spell—when a goblin lunged at her, blade raised.

She barely had time to react.

The attack was too fast.

At that moment, one terrifying thought crossed her mind.

This is how I die.

--

Emily

The goblin’s knife gleamed in the dim light as it lunged toward Emily. Her body refused to move. Her magic had failed. This was the end.

Then, in an instant, a fireball tore through the air, colliding with the goblin mid-leap. Flames erupted, swallowing the creature whole. The searing heat spread, setting nearby goblins ablaze, their agonized shrieks piercing the battlefield.

Emily gasped, her wide eyes darting toward the source of the flames. From the shadows, a pair of glowing eyes emerged, burning like embers in the night. A figure stepped forward—a beast unlike any she had seen before.

A lion.

Its mane crackled with flames, each flickering strand illuminating the battlefield. The sight of it sent a shudder through her. A magical beast? Or something more?

“The hell…?” she breathed.

The goblin general snarled, barking commands in its guttural tongue. At once, the remaining goblins charged, their weapons raised.

The flame lion let out a deep, thunderous roar. From the darkness, more creatures answered its call. A panther materialized from the shadows, its form flickering like smoke. A cheetah emerged next, lightning arcing along its sleek body. Overhead, a massive crow with glowing red eyes circled, watching with an eerie stillness.

The first goblin to attack vanished into a swirling mass of darkness. It was as if the panther had swallowed it whole. In the same instant, twenty more goblins collapsed, their bodies consumed by the void.

A knight beside Emily gripped his sword tighter. His voice wavered. “A flame lion commanding other beasts… How is this possible?”

Before an answer could be spoken, the crow flapped its wings, scattering a shimmering dust across the battlefield. The goblins beneath it froze mid-motion, their bodies locked in place.

A second lion—this one wreathed in darker flames—emerged from the shadows. With a single sweep of its claws, a scorching wave of fire engulfed the paralyzed goblins, reducing them to cinders.

It all happened in mere moments. The once-overwhelming goblin horde had been decimated. Only the goblin general and a handful of minions remained.

The flame lion—the leader—moved forward, its heavy steps scorching the ground beneath it. The remaining goblins lunged in desperation, but before they could land a hit, streaks of lightning lit up the air. The cheetah blurred past them in a flash, leaving nothing but smoking bodies in its wake.

The battle was over.

Emily’s breath came in short gasps. “What… are those creatures?” she whispered.

Nate

Standing before the goblin general, Nate had taken on the form of the flame lion. His muscles burned with raw power, his body wreathed in searing heat.

The system’s notifications echoed in his mind.

[System Alert: Defeat the Goblin General to unlock its power.]

That meant he would be able to transform into it. Even summon goblin knights.

The goblin general let out a guttural snarl, tightening its grip on its axe. Then it charged.

Before it could close the distance, a streak of lightning flashed across the battlefield. The cheetah struck, slamming into the goblin general at full speed. The impact sent the monster stumbling, its armor cracking from the sheer force.

But the goblin was quick. It recovered, slamming its axe into the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. A diversion.

Nate narrowed his glowing eyes. Smart.

A second later, the goblin lashed out blindly, and despite the obscured vision, its fist connected—striking the cheetah mid-dash. The beast was sent flying, rolling across the battlefield before it skidded to a stop.

A deep growl rumbled in Nate’s throat. That was the last mistake the goblin would make.

He activated Blazing Body.

Heat surged through him, and flames erupted across his form, intensifying until his entire body glowed like molten lava. The very air around him warped with the sheer intensity of the heat.

The goblin general swung its axe down—only for the weapon to melt before it could even touch him.

With a single bound, Nate lunged forward. His flaming claws slashed through the goblin’s chest, searing through armor, muscle, and bone. The monster let out a final, guttural choke before collapsing in a smoldering heap.

A familiar chime rang in his mind.

[System Alert: Goblin General Defeated.]

Level Up: 13

New Title: Goblin Slayer

New Beast Unlocked: Goblin Knight

New Skin Unlocked: Goblin General

Not bad. But this was only the beginning. There was still so much he had to learn about this system—and this world.

As he turned to leave, movement caught his eye.

The adventurers.

They were still here, weapons drawn, hands trembling. Fear was written all over their faces.

Of course. To them, he wasn’t a savior. He was a monster.

Nate sighed and allowed his body to shift. Flames flickered before fading entirely, revealing his human form—silver hair, pale skin, and piercing eyes.

The adventurers froze.

“H-He's human?” one of them whispered.

A young woman in pink robes stepped forward. Unlike the others, she didn’t tremble. Her gaze held something else—curiosity.

“You saved us,” she said, her voice steady. “Thank you.”

Nate turned, preparing to leave.

“Wait,” she called after him. “Will you not take your spoils?”

He shook his head. “I don’t need them.”

“At least tell us your name.”

For a moment, he hesitated. Then, glancing over his shoulder, he spoke.

“Nate Williams.”

Before anything else could be said, he shifted again—this time into the cursed crow. His wings spread wide, and with a powerful flap, he soared into the night.

His beasts followed from the ground, their dark forms slipping back into the shadows. The crow, however, stayed with him, its crimson eyes glowing against the dark sky.

Athena

The clash of magic echoed through the royal training grounds.

Athena stood alone, sweat trickling down her brow as she cast the spell once more—only for it to fizzle out. Her frustration burned hotter than the magic she failed to control.

“Damn it…” she muttered under her breath.

No matter how much she trained, she couldn’t master it. And every failure felt like a weight pressing down on her shoulders.

Would she ever get this right?

A presence approached from behind. She turned to see a knight in golden armor kneeling before her, his polished plates gleaming under the afternoon sun.

“Your Majesty requests your presence,” he announced, his voice deep and respectful.

Athena exhaled sharply, forcing herself to regain composure. “Very well. I’ll go at once.”

As she stepped past him, she could feel his gaze linger.

Everyone already knew what she was trying to accomplish here. It was no secret.

She had something to prove.

Nate

For hours, Nate had battled ogres, cutting through the monstrous horde with relentless precision. But now, he stood before their true challenge—the Ogre Lord.

Despite remaining in his human form, Nate knew he wasn’t at a disadvantage. With his newly acquired skill, Part Change, he could selectively morph parts of his body into beast-like forms, amplifying his combat abilities while maintaining agility.

Beside him, his Goblin Knight, now level 11, gripped its sword, its glowing eyes locked onto the towering creature before them.

The goblin charged first, its blade colliding with the ogre’s massive hammer in a deafening crash. The impact sent the goblin skidding backward, but Nate seized the opening. With a burst of speed, he appeared behind the ogre, his Crocodile Blade raised high, aiming for its thick neck.

The Ogre Lord, however, was surprisingly fast for its size. It twisted its hammer upward, blocking Nate’s attack with a reverberating clang. The force sent Nate flipping back, landing gracefully on his feet.

“Damn,” he muttered with a smirk. “For a brute wielding a hammer, it fights like it’s got two. Now I really want that weapon.”

The Goblin Knight didn’t hesitate. It lunged again, anticipating the ogre’s movements this time. As the hammer came down in defense, the goblin adjusted mid-strike, sliding its blade along the weapon’s shaft before revealing a hidden dagger. With a swift slash, it carved into the ogre’s leg, forcing the beast to one knee.

“Well done!” Nate called, rushing forward once more.

He leaped, aiming for the ogre’s skull, but the stubborn beast swung its hammer upward again, blocking him. The clash gave the Goblin Knight the perfect opening. Without hesitation, the goblin drove its sword deep into the ogre’s chest, delivering a decisive finishing blow.

As the Ogre Lord collapsed, the battlefield grew eerily silent. Nate exhaled, patting his goblin’s armored head. Fighting in human form was a challenge, but it was the kind of challenge he thrived on.

A familiar chime echoed in his mind.

[System Notification]

Ogre Lord Defeated

Level Up: 17

New Beast Unlocked: Ogre Chef

New Skin Unlocked: Ogre Lord

Satisfied, Nate turned his attention to his beasts, now resting after the grueling fight. Their transformations continued to impress him.

Ignis Lion (Level 16) – Its mane now a roaring blaze, radiating intense heat.

Thunderstrike Cheetah (Level 17) – Its sleek fur marked with streaks of crackling lightning.

Evil Charm (Level 20) – Once a mere cursed crow, now engulfed in dark flames, exuding an ominous aura.

Shadow Panther (Level 17) – Still unchanged, yet as lethal as ever.

Leaning against a tree, Nate commanded the system to display his stats.

[Human Stats]

Level: 17

HP: 5000

MP: 4600

Attack: 2600

Defense: 2200

Abilities: Shadow Strikes, Flame Thrower, Lightning Dash, Dream Ville

A smirk tugged at his lips. Even in human form, he retained access to some of his beasts’ abilities. A job well done.

---

Athena

The throne room was heavy with silence, the tension between Athena and her parents thicker than the stone walls surrounding them. Her father, King Aldred, rose from his throne, his piercing gaze locked onto her.

“What is this nonsense you’re trying to pull, Athena?” His voice was a deep growl, laced with frustration.

She stood tall, unfazed. “I’m only doing what I want, Father.”

“What you want?” His voice rose in anger. “Do you enjoy risking your life for meaningless thrills? Do you want to die as an adventurer?”

“Yes!” she snapped, her resolve unwavering. “At least as an adventurer, I’ll be free!”

For the first time, the king hesitated. His anger softened, if only slightly, as he slowly sank back into his seat.

Athena met his gaze without flinching. “Why do you insist on stopping me? Ruling this capital isn’t my dream. And we both know the throne will go to my brother.”

Her mother, Queen Elira, spoke then, her voice softer but no less firm. “Because we want what’s best for you.”

Athena turned away, her expression unreadable. “I know what’s best for me.”

As the heavy doors closed behind her, she muttered under her breath, Royalty won’t rule me.

Outside the palace, she strode toward the capital gates, only to be stopped by two guards barring her path.

“Lady Athena, we cannot allow you to leave unsupervised. It’s too dangerous,” one of them said.

Before she could argue, a familiar voice interrupted.

“She won’t be alone.”

The guards stiffened, recognizing the speaker immediately. A knight in gleaming white armor stepped forward.

“Owen?” Athena’s eyes widened slightly.

The guards saluted, parting without further question.

Without a word, Owen fell into step beside her. Together, they left the capital, heading into the depths of the forest.

---

Owen

The dense foliage rustled as Owen and Athena moved through the forest, their journey stretching for hours in silence. The weight of unspoken words hung between them.

Eventually, they reached a fallen tree and decided to rest.

“So,” Athena finally broke the quiet, “how was your training at the Holy Knight Academy?”

“Hard,” Owen admitted. He studied her face, noticing the frustration she barely concealed. “By the looks of it, you’ve had a rough time yourself.”

She exhaled, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her sword. “Yeah… They still won’t let me become an adventurer.”

“You worry too much,” he said simply. “In time, they’ll understand you better.”

She scoffed but said nothing.

Without warning, Owen stood and pulled her to her feet.

“Where are we going?” she asked, startled.

He grinned. “Just follow me.”

Without another word, he led her deeper into the forest.

---

Emily

The guild bustled with life as adventurers moved about, yet none spared Emily’s party more than a passing glance. They were just another group returning from a mission—until they reached the counter.

The receptionist greeted them with a warm smile. “Back already?” She began counting the goblin ears they handed over. “One… two… three…”

Her expression changed the moment she spotted a Goblin General’s ear.

“A Goblin General?” Her voice carried across the room, drawing attention from nearby adventurers. “That’s quite the achievement!”

The knight beside Emily shifted uncomfortably. “It wasn’t us,” he muttered.

Their group stood in uneasy silence. Their pride had taken a hit—being saved by beasts had shaken their confidence.

The receptionist hesitated. “Who saved you?”

Instead of answering, the knight spoke with quiet determination. “I’d like to take on F-rank missions again.”

The receptionist blinked. “You… do realize that’s a demotion?”

“I know.” His tone remained firm. “And I accept it.”

One by one, his teammates followed suit.

“Count me in,” the archer said.

“Me too,” the mage added, raising his hand.

The receptionist turned to Emily. “And you?”

Emily glanced at her team. Though they had faltered, their resolve remained. She took a deep breath, her decision clear.

“For better or worse, I’m with them. I’ll become strong enough.”

The knight smiled, a newfound fire in his eyes. “So, what’s it going to be?”

---