Kael felt weightless.
Floating—not in the sky, not in water.
In nothing.
A dark, endless space where even his thoughts seemed to echo back slower than they formed.
He blinked, but nothing changed.
Did I… die?
Panic stirred in his chest.
Again? Am I seriously getting transmigrated twice?
Is that a thing now?
Die five times, get a free reincarnation?
He laughed once, bitter and breathless.
Then a memory came—clearer than the void around him.
Selene.
He was… starting to like her, actually.
And then—sound.
Soft. Haunting.
Pretty in a suspicious sort of way.
A voice, like wind blowing through haunted chimes.
Calling.
Kael turned, sluggish, like swimming through cough syrup.
And there she was.
A woman—or something that had decided to cosplay as one.
Floating. Sitting.
Floating while sitting?
Physics had clearly been fired from this dimension.
She wore a red dress, all velvet and shimmer, like fire had decided to be fancy for once.
Golden hair.
Crimson eyes.
Face sculpted to perfection by someone with mythological-grade narcissism.
She looked like temptation had taken human form—and was probably going to invoice him later.
Beautiful.
Unreal.
Wrong, in the most symmetrical, flattering way possible.
She raised a hand.
Smiled just enough to be unsettling.
Her lips moved.
"Come... come..."
Kael squinted.
Okay. Definitely a trap.
Then—pain.
Blinding, stabbing, skull-splitting pain.
Like his brain was being used as a tuning fork for cosmic nonsense.
He winced.
She kept smiling.
Of course she did.
Because of course the terrifying void lady was a fan of migraines !!!
Then—everything cracked.
Light ripped through the void like someone had drop-kicked a chandelier through a stained-glass window.
His chest jerked.
He gasped—like drowning in reverse.
And then—he woke up.
Eyes flew open.
And there she was.
Selene.
Very close.
Inches-from-his-face close.
His brain, still rebooting from whatever celestial nonsense just happened, managed exactly one thought:
Lips.
Then Kael, very seriously, very softly, said:
"…Are you molesting me in my sleep?"
Selene's face froze.
Then turned red.
Deep. Furious.
Nuclear warhead red.
***
A Few Moments Before—
Night had settled softly over the forest, blanketing the world in stillness.
Snow shimmered under the pale moon, untouched and glowing, like the ground had agreed to be quiet just this once.
The fire crackled in the hush, casting flickers of gold across the clearing.
Selene knelt beside it, skewering strips of Frostmane meat over the flames.
The scent was wild and a little offensive, but warm—like survival with a touch of regret.
She glanced back.
Kael lay still, cocooned in a cloak that was slightly too small for someone with main-character shoulders.
His chest rose and fell in even rhythm—alive, at least, which was more than she'd expected.
He hadn't stirred since the fight.
He'd dropped like a sack of arrogant potatoes.
She had carried him.
Bridal style.
The shame would haunt her forever !!!
Selene sighed, brushing soot and pride from her cheek.
"Mana exhaustion," she muttered.
"Brilliant strategy—nearly die on your first hunt.
Very inspiring."
The fire popped.
She turned.
And frowned.
Drew closer.
Kneeling at his side, she studied his face in the low firelight—pale skin, furrowed brow, that stupidly noble jawline.
Sweat clung to his temples.
He looked like a tragic statue someone had passed out carving.
Her eyes lingered.
Handsome, she thought, begrudgingly.
She leaned in.
Just a little
Close enough to hear him breathe.
"…Not bad up close either," she murmured.
Then Kael's eyes opened.
And then, very seriously, very softly, he said:
"…Are you molesting me in my sleep?"
Her face froze.
Then went red.
A deep, flushed, furious red.
Then, without warning—
Thud.
Her fist landed squarely on Kael's chest—not hard, but not gentle either.
"Ow—what the hell?" Kael coughed, wincing.
She looked away, flustered, arms crossed now in defensive irritation.
"W-What are you talking about? I was just… just mending you!
Checking your vitals. You looked half-dead."
Kael groaned, slowly sitting up, hand to his ribs.
"Yeah. I understand. Standard medical punch. Very precise."
She didn't answer.
Just turned quickly, her cloak fluttering slightly as she walked back to the fire.
"I'll finish the food," she mumbled, trying not to let the red in her cheeks reach her ears.
Kael leaned back against the cold rock, still sore but smiling faintly.
As the fire crackled and the smell of roasted Frostmane meat filled the air, Kael leaned back against a rock and let out a slow breath.
His muscles still ached, his side throbbed where the beast's claws had grazed him—but he was alive.
He glanced toward Selene, who was hunched over the fire, pretending very hard not to look in his direction.
'Alright,' he thought,
'Let's see what that damn system was so eager about.'
He focused inward, calling forth the system.
A faint shimmer appeared before his eyes—translucent, floating text in that now-familiar glowing script.
[System Notification]
[You have slain:Rank 1 Beast – Frostmane Tiger
Reward Calculated...
🎉 Reward Granted: Rank 1 Beast Taming Card]
Kael blinked.
'Beast taming?'
As if answering his confusion, glowing lines of text shimmered to life in front of him.
[Item: Rank 1 Beast Taming Card]
[— One-time use. — Allows taming of a weakened Rank 1 beast. —
Target must be physically or mentally subdued. — Upon successful taming, the beast will form a soul-link and follow your commands.
Note: Loyalty level may vary based on treatment and compatibility. ]
Kael stared at the glowing taming card, utterly speechless.
After a beat, frustration bubbled up.
'Where's my OP destructive god-tier spell, huh?
The one that levels mountains and makes enemies go 'Oh no!'?
Fucker, give me my spell!'
He looked around expectantly—nothing.
No flashing notification, no booming voice, no divine intervention.
Selene, carrying a small plate of steaming food, approached quietly.
Before she could say anything, Kael—without thinking—grabbed her in a sudden, awkward hug.
She froze. "What are you doing?!" she said, cheeks burning red.
Kael sniffled dramatically, mock crying,
"This world is unfair…"
Selene was dumbfounded for a beat, then softened.
"Yeah… I guess it is."
Kael smiled faintly, feeling strangely comforted.