After staring through the window for a couple of minutes, absorbing the ancient-future rhythm of his new home, Onyx turned back into the quiet of his room. He sat on the edge of his bed, the mattress giving a soft sigh under his weight. Onyx then did something that would have seemed strange to anyone who didn't know any better.

  He lifted his right hand and pressed a finger firmly to the spot just behind his right ear.

  A gesture meaningless without context. But upon closer observation, one would notice he was pressing a diamond-shaped black crystal, the size of a thumbnail, tucked snugly against his skin. It seemed almost melded into his flesh.

  But not to fear—this was an Omnichip. A standard piece of technology from the advanced civilization he hailed from, specially adapted to maintain core functions even within the strange, fluctuating physics of the outer realms. It served a myriad of functions and provided several conveniences, acting as a personal data-core, communicator, and identifier. One of its most common functions was being displayed right now.

  As Onyx pressed the chip to activate it and willed a command with his mind, a screen—unseen to anyone else—materialized in his line of vision. It shifted subtly to focus, displaying several rows of stark, functional text in his perception:

  ONYX . R . BENNETT

  LEVEL 1 : [ 0% ]

  SOUL CAPACITY : 12

  FLUX : 9

  TRANSCENDENT ARTS : [BASIC ENERGY CIRCULATION] [BEAST COMMUNION]

  TAMED BEASTS: [TOTEM: [FIGHTER BEETLE LARVAE]]

  EMPOWERMENTS: NONE

  BOONS : NONE

  and now to explain what each entry meant, first is level and the percentage next to it , levels indecate the level of evolution or the overall strength a being is in and the percentage next to them indecate one's progress within every given level , one have to reach 100% growth rate in Thier level to advance to the next , it is also very important to note that both men, beasts, resources and even entire realms follow this level system and levels are very important indicator to keep track of as for example a Catalyser can only tame beasts of the same level or lower, beasts needs and usually can only use resources of the same level to progress through Thier own and finally for all living beings man or beast , they can only travel to and through realms of the same level or lower

  finally there are 9 levels in total

  after that there's soul capacity which indicates the capacity of ones soul sea, soul capacity is absolutely critical for a Catalyser as other than the level requirement a Catalyser also needs to have the required capacity to accommodate any beast they want to tame, within the same level a Catalyser can have as many and as powerful of beasts as Thier soul capacity allows

  right next to soul capacity there is flux which the energy generated by all living beings ,which can be used as fuel for all sorts of supernatural feets, in the case of beasts it's the abilities incrypted into Thier beings and as for humans through the use of Thier transcendent arts

  the last thing to know about soul capacity as well as flux is the amount everyone initially have is a direct reflection of Thier potential, the greater the potential the higher this two values would initially be

  Transcendent arts are the methods developed by humans to harness flux and accomplish many supernatural feats as well as get stronger

  Tamed beasts are self explanatory, empowerment are power ups a Catalyser gets as a feed back from taming certain beasts, and boons are objects that contain powers within them usable by both man and beasts , very rare and Very valuable

  Onyx browsed through his status. Although he was well familiar with the discouraging numbers, he couldn't help but inspect them again, as if to take the full measure of his meager self.

  He sighed and whispered to himself, "I have to get to work on improving this as soon as possible. But first…"

  His eyes, those deep pools of near-black, shifted to the Tamed Beasts entry in his status. He focused his attention on the name: [TOTEM: [FIGHTER BEETLE LARVAE]]. As he willed it, the entry expanded, displaying a new set of text in his vision.

  FIGHTER BEETLE LARVAE [TOTEM]:

  TYPE: Corpus

  GROWTH LEVEL: [ 0% ]

  SOUL LOAD:---

  FLUX:5

  TRAITS: [PREMATURE] [HUNGRY, HUNGRY GRUB]

  ---

  [PREMATURE]: This beast has not yet reached full maturity.

  [HUNGRY, HUNGRY GRUB]:This beast possesses a great appetite, which helps it consume large amounts of substance to amass fuel for its metamorphosis.

  ---

  ABILITIES: [CORE STRENGTH]

  ---

  [CORE STRENGTH]: This beast channels its entire core strength, accomplishing a significant physical enhancement. The degree of enhancement is proportional to its core strength.

  ---

  EMPOWERMENT: None

  SPECIAL MOVES: None

  This was Onyx's first and currently only Catalyst Beast , a Fighter Beetle Larvae. Or, as Onyx had decided to name him, Tusk.

  Onyx had received Tusk not long before his graduation through a special ceremony called The Kindling. While we won't delve into the intricate details of that ritual , just know that its purpose was to ensure that every new Catalyser would acquire the most suited beast for them from the available pools. This was designed to give everyone the most optimum start possible and, more importantly, to ensure that a Catalyser's most suitable beast would become their Totem.

  You must have noticed the label of "Totem" next to Tusk's name by now. And to explain what it means, you must understand another core purpose of the Kindling ceremony which is to forge Totem Beasts.

  Totem Beasts are different from regular tamed beasts. Their souls are not just bonded but intertwined with their master's very essence. This grants them several unique advantages over regular ones

  Firstly a totem Beast can never truly die as long as their master remains alive. No matter how severe the physical damage it sustains, it will not perish; it will persist in some form, drawing strength from its master's soul until it can be reconstituted.

  Secondly Unlike other beasts, a Totem imposes no burden on its owner's Soul Capacity. This is why Tusk's Soul Load value was marked as blank '---'. It exists within Onyx's soul sea as a natural extension of himself, not as a separate resident consuming space.

  Third and lastly, Their deep connection with Thier catalysers makes a Totem Beast far more intuitive and easier to control than other beasts, able to react to their master's will with instinctive immediacy.

  Tusk, therefore, was more than just a starter creature. He was the one beast most suited for Onyx, making him his closest partner and one that would stick by his side for life .

  But even with all those facts , Onyx would be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed when he first received Tusk. Call it unrealistic expectations or whatever, but a part of him had secretly hoped the Kindling would somehow reveal a hidden, magnificent potential within him. He’d fantasized about receiving a more infamous type of creature , stuff like a dragon hatchling, a phoenix chick, or some other mystical being with incredible, awe-inspiring abilities, just like all those protagonists in all those books and novels he read growing up. It was a childish way of thinking , true, but in a life with few hopes, he allowed himself this one.

  In the end however, Onyx ended up with Tusk and that was that. A humbling but unsurprising result.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Thinking back at it now , Onyx sighed to himself and said, "Well, it's not like this world is some novel and I am the protagonist or something."

  Onyx focused inward, reaching into the quiet, shallow space of his soul sea. With a gentle pulse of will, he called forth.

  The air in front of him shimmered, and a form materialized on the worn floorboards. It was Tusk. The Fighter Beetle Larva was about the size of a large melon, its body soft, chubby, and a pale creamy brown. It had six stubby, powerful legs and a broad, blunt head that housed small, inquisitive mandibles. Its eyes, like dark beads, looked up at Onyx.

  "Hey there, Tusk," Onyx said, his voice soft. He reached down and gave the creature's soft head a few gentle pats. A low, contented chitter vibrated from the larva.

  As he stared at his beast, his only true companion in this realm, Onyx began to contemplate.

  Onyx’s first thought was a simple recognition of how weak Tusk was. But that wasn't a surprise. Tusk was still an infant—a phase of inherent weakness for any living being, but one that seemed especially pronounced for his kind.

  With its two seemingly useless traits—[Premature] and [Hungry, Hungry Grub]—and a single, straightforward ability, Tusk was far from being able to offer anything meaningful in a fight. That fact was painfully clear. If it were otherwise, Onyx wouldn’t have been so utterly helpless several days back. His Totem simply wouldn't do in its current state.

  So, the first order of business was obvious , toughening up Tusk.

  And how, you might ask? Well, for beasts, there is only one way and that is through Catalysts.

  The term 'Catalyst' refers to anything that can trigger growth or a significant change in a beast. Catalysts can come in all sorts of forms but are usually divided into three broad categories: Material, Habitual, or Environmental.

  · Material Catalysts are physical substances— plants, minerals, or even parts of other creatures.

  · Habitual Catalysts involve repeated actions or bahovoirs.

  · Environmental Catalysts are environmental conditions like places of concentrated energy, elemental affinity, or intense pressure.

  These catalysts are necessary for a beast to raise its Growth level, develop new traits and abilities, and even to break through to higher levels. in fact, the creatures of yggdrasil had earned their title of Catalyst Beasts from this fundamental dependency. They are beings of potential, requiring specific triggers to unlock each stage of their power.

  For Tusk to move from 0% Growth, Onyx would need to find the right Catalysts for it. The [Hungry, Hungry Grub] trait pointed strongly towards a Material need first and foremost , so in other words tusk was a growing boy and growing boys need to eat.

  That, Onyx understood. But here is the thing about Catalysts , like anything else in life that was wanted or needed, they were expensive—unless you were willing and able to go out and acquire them yourself, which Onyx couldn't, for obvious reasons.

  A quick mental check of his Omnichip displayed his current balance: 1,027 Credits. It was the remainder of his modest inheritance, a sum that had felt substantial back on Earth. But here, it felt perilously thin. While it was enough to live on sparingly for a little while, Onyx wasn't at all sure it would be enough to keep providing Tusk with the Catalysts he needed until he reaches maturity—at least, not without leaving Onyx flat-out broke and helpless afterward.

  So, like so many other problems in life, Onyx's issues could all be traced back to a more fundamental need, which is money.

  And so that would be Onyx's goal for now, earning some money until his beast could pull its own weight.

  Usually, Beast Catalysers made their living by selling the things they hunted or foraged while exploring the realm. But that required a baseline of strength , which Onyx simply didn't have. That lucrative path wasn't an option for him, unless he was willing to mooch off of someone else's and repay them later.

  However onyx would never do that. He might be a poor weakling, but he had his dignity. More than that, he hated owing other people .

  So what was left for Onyx was domestic work, right here within the station. Since there were so many revived, hands-on industries within the station that required manual labor, there were theoretically many odd jobs a rookie could pick up.

  With that plan in mind, Onyx unsummoned Tusk back to his soul sea and headed out of his room, determined to find a job that could support him and his larval companion. He stepped into the dusty street with an air of optimism. In such a large, bustling station, how hard could finding work be? he thought to himself as he began his search.

  Several hours later, Onyx was sitting on a bench in the middle of a small, dusty park between stone buildings, looking utterly defeated.

  "Well... shit," Onyx cursed, his earlier optimism completely gone.

  Turns out, finding work within the station was actually very hard. But don't get it wrong—it wasn't because there weren't any jobs, but because there weren't any that would take him.

  Onyx had first tried his luck at the more lucrative positions, like the station guards. That ended in immediate failure because Onyx didn't reach the bare minimum thresholds of strength or potential to qualify for such a position.

  In fact, he didn't qualify for many other desirable jobs for the same reason—his low strength and potential. Something he really should have figured out from the start.

  Realizing the hindrance of his potential, Onyx changed his search toward jobs that had no requirement for it: artisan apprenticeships, and simple manual labor.

  Sadly, he was blocked from these, too, for a multitude of other reasons. Some required specialized skills he didn't have. Others demanded prior experience he couldn't possibly have. And there was even a few cases of favoritism and nepotism amongst employers

  Onyx sat slumped on the bench, the brief afternoon sun doing nothing to warm the cold knot of failure in his gut. The initial, determined energy that had carried him out of his room was utterly spent, leaving behind a deep, hollow exhaustion. It was a tiredness that was more than physical, though his feet ached and his shoulders were tight from a day of being politely—and sometimes not so politely—turned away.

  But Onyx didn't let despair take hold just yet.

  "There's still one place I could try," he said to himself, the words pulling him upright as he steeled his resolve once more.

  The scene then shifted. As Onyx now stood within a large plantation located on the station's periphery, specifically in front of a large stone hut ,where he was talking with a man.

  The man was quite elderly. With Greying hair, thin on his scalp, and abundant in his thick beard. His skin was deeply taned and etched with deep wrinkles that spoke of a long life spent outdoors. However, his figure still seemed full of a stubborn vigor; he stood tall and straight, not bowed by age. His build was burly yet he possessed arms thick with corded muscle that clearly hadn't retired. He wore dirty blue overalls over a simple tunic and a wide-brimmed straw hat pushed back on his head. He held a trowel in one hand and eyed Onyx with a mix of skepticism and mild curiosity.

  "So you're looking for some work, ain't that right, boy?" the man said, his voice a deep, gravelly rumble.

  "Yes, sir," Onyx simply replied.

  The man moved his eyes up and down, seizing up onyx . "Any particular reason you want to work in this plantation ?" the man asked.

  "No, not really," Onyx replied.

  "Not really ? ."

  Shoot, Onyx cursed in his head. I should have phrased that better.

  He quickly tried to salvage the situation. "I-I don't have a reason that would make me want to work here specifically," he admitted, his voice earnest. "In all honesty, I just need something to make ends meet for a while. But I promise to work as hard as I can," he explained, putting as much sincerity as he could into the words.

  The man heard Onyx's explanation and then furrowed his bushy brows, looking at him as if contemplating a particularly stubborn weed. After a full minute of awkward silence, broken only by the distant chirp of birds from the far away woodlands, the man finally spoke again, shaking his head slowly.

  "If that's the case," he said, his tone final, "then I can't hire you."

  "What? Why?" Onyx yelled out, the frustration and fatigue of the day finally cracking through his composure.

  The man gave Onyx an unimpressed look and explained, "Well, I'll be lyin' if I said I couldn't use the extra help around here. But that doesn't mean I'm willin' to accept just anyone. No offense, son, but you don't seem like the type who's strained their back in their life. How do I ensure you'd take this job seriously, or won't half-ass your work? Also, you said you only need this job for 'a while.' How do I know what you can do in that 'while' would even be worth the price?"

  Onyx was gritting his teeth from sheer frustration. He knew what the old man was saying was logical, reasonable even. But the fairness of it didn't soften the blow; he was just so tired of rejection.

  He tried to reason one last time, his voice tight with desperation. "Sir, please, reconsider. I really need this job. Once again, I promise I would work my hardest if you hire me. You could even deduct my payment should my work be unsatisfactory if you so wish!"

  The old man shook his head again, a gesture of weary finality. "While I certainly could do that, as you can see, I'm pretty old. Time is very precious to me. So I prefer not to waste my time on the hassle of figuring out if you're worth it or not. So sorry, kid. Better luck with the next guy."

  But there is no next guy! Onyx roared in his head. Working in this plantation was his last option. He needed to get this work, or else… well, he didn't even know what he'd do.

  "What is it gonna take?" Onyx suddenly said, his words sharp .

  "Excuse me?" the old man said, puzzled by Onyx's sudden intensity.

  "To prove I'm worth it. What is it gonna take?"

  " kid, don't embarrass yourself..."

  "No," Onyx strongly interjected, taking a half-step forward. "With all due respect, sir, you say that I don't look the type to strain their back. And to that, I say balderdash. You don't know me, but I've gone through my fair share of hardship in life. I know all about hard work and strain."

  "Well, well, ain't you mighty confident?" the old man retorted, his tone hardening, carrying a new note of anger. "But even then, do you think what I do here is easy, boy? I've been a farmer most of my years, and I can confidently tell you it ain't. You can talk all that fancy talk, but try an honest day's work in here, and then come meet me if your legs don't buckle from under you even once!"

  " Wanna bet ?"

  "What?"

  "You heard me. If you're so sure I ain't got what it takes, let's bet on it then."

  The old man was stunned by Onyx's proposal. But despite how ludicrous it seemed, he didn't immediately retort. Instead, he looked at Onyx once more, sizing him up again, and couldn't help but feel the young man in front of him seemed a little taller now, even if not in the literal sense.

  Still, who was he, anyway? To come asking for work and then start an argument about it? Better yet, why should he even humor him? A loud and clear 'no' was all it would take to end this squabble, and that would be the end of it. So why he even bother giving this brat the chance to show him up?

  That's what the old man thought. However, he couldn't bring himself to follow those thoughts to their conclusion. Looking into Onyx's eyes and seeing sparks flying within them, despite how dark they were, was… intriguing.

  Not every day you run into such a spirited young blood, the old man thought in a corner of his mind.

  A long moment of silence had passed since Onyx barked his declaration of challenge, an impulsive reaction he was starting to regret.

  In his head, he was thinking, That old man hasn't spoken for a minute. Was I too rude? I hope I didn't anger him too much, else I...

  "Well, alright then," the old man said in a low, rumbling tone. He stepped forward, closing the distance until he stood face-to-face with Onyx. The old man towered above him considerably, making Onyx feel a little nervous, but he didn't dare back down. He needed to show he meant business.

  The old man spat to the side, then turned his flinty gaze back to Onyx. "If it's a bet you want, then a bet you'll get." He lifted his right arm, making Onyx flinch for a second. But when he looked, he saw the old man was using it to point to something behind him.

  "See that field in the distance?" the man began. Onyx turned his head to spot it.

  About 250 square meters in size, the field was a clear testament to neglect. A thick, tangled carpet of weeds and stubborn brush choked the earth. Stones, some large enough to need two hands to lift, jutted from the hardened, sun-baked soil. It looked less like a field and more like a patch of wilderness that had stubbornly resisted being tamed.

  "Well, here's my bet," the old man continued, his voice cutting through the quiet. "If you can plow that entire field by your lonesome, then you can have this job."

  Onyx perked up. He was actually being given a chance. There was still hope. But as he gazed back at that field, his initial surge of optimism cooled. Measuring the size of it, he judged that plowing it on his own would certainly be no easy task. Yet, he didn't let that shake his resolve. Difficult didn't mean impossible. Onyx wasn't that weak, and he certainly wasn't lacking in determination. He judged that if he worked diligently and paced himself, he could eventually get the task done.

  However, it wasn't long until Onyx's resolve would be truly shaken.

  "...and you have until the middle of next day to finish it," the old man added.

  "What? Only 'til the middle of the day tomorrow?" Onyx said, stunned.

  "That's right," the old man said, a hard grin spreading across his weathered face. "Like I said, I'm old and don't got time to waste. So that's all the time I'm giving you. Starting from this day's noon and ending in the next's. A fair day, in which we'll see if you can do a fair day's work."

  Onyx hesitated completing , that field was possible; he knew he could. But doing so in the time span of one day? Now he was getting uncertain. The sheer scale of the work—clearing the weeds, removing the rocks, breaking the iron-hard soil—crashed into the brutal deadline.

  The old man, as if sensing the wavering in his resolve, taunted, "Well, then? Do you accept, or are you having second thoughts?"

  Onyx remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. But before the old man could begin thinking he'd won, Onyx blurted out in a high, defiant tone, "where the hoes at ."

  The old man gave Onyx a scowl before his grin returned, wider and more challenging. He then turned and stalked over to a toolshed, emerging a moment later. He placed the tools at Onyx's feet , a single, heavy-looking iron hoe with a worn wooden handle, a thick-bladed sickle for cutting weeds, and a stout iron bar for prying out rocks.

  "And with that," the old man rumbled, "the bet's on."

  He pointed a thick, calloused finger at Onyx. "That entire field. On your own. No tricks, no beasts to help. And you only have one day to complete it."

  Onyx hefted the hoe, testing its unfamiliar weight. "Yes," he said, his voice firm, the earlier doubt buried under a layer of stubborn grit. "I heard you the first time."

  Without another word, he turned and marched toward the neglected patch of earth, leaving the old farmer watching his retreating back.