Chapter 1: Regression
Kim's fingers danced across the keyboard, his eyes locked on the screen. Lines of code scrolled rapidly, yet not a single one registered. He wasn't really working. Not today.
Outside his apartment, a thunderstorm raged. Each crash of thunder rattled the glass, and flashes of lightning briefly illuminated the dim room. Rain drummed against the windows like war drums—steady, relentless.
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping.
"Another pointless day…" he muttered.
His eyelids drooped. "So sleepy…"
Then, without warning, the screen flickered. The colors warped. Static raced across it in jagged lines. He blinked in confusion, leaning forward—
What the—?
The air around him twisted. Light bent unnaturally, as if space itself were tearing apart.
Then—blackness.
Total, suffocating darkness.
And silence.
Followed by… heat.
A suffocating warmth filled his lungs. Pressure crushed his chest as though gravity itself had shifted. He gasped, and the world snapped back into motion.
When Kim opened his eyes, everything was different.
Gone was the glow of his computer. Gone were the familiar walls of his apartment.
Now, sunlight poured down from a cerulean sky. Towering academy buildings loomed nearby, their walls gleaming in the warm light. Colorful flags fluttered in the wind—banners of different academies, symbols of prestige and power.
In front of him stood hundreds of students his age, all wearing navy-blue jackets with silver trim. A wide, circular platform stretched out before them, upon which stood instructors in ceremonial robes. Their faces were stern. Expectant.
Kim's lips parted.
"…No way…"
He turned slowly, his eyes darting from one familiar sight to another—the plaza, the uniforms, the banners.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
I know this place…
Was this ten years ago?
No—something was different.
He felt too aware. Too awake. His memories were intact—all of them. Every hard-earned lesson, every mistake, every blood-stained battle.
And yet, here he stood again… in his fifteen-year-old body.
"A parallel world…?"
His voice trembled with disbelief.
And then his eyes fell on the strange object cradled in his arms.
An egg.
He opened his mouth, stunned. "What are those eggs…?"
"Come on, bro, are you serious? You're lined up for the Awakening Ceremony and don't know?" a student behind him snapped, clearly annoyed.
Kim flinched. "Sorry…"
The bell tolled across the square—a deep, resonant chime that cut through the air like a blade.
"Line up!" a voice bellowed from the stage.
The students shifted into neat rows.
Kim followed, dazed, his heart pounding in his chest. He could still feel the weight of his past—or perhaps his other self's past—rushing through his mind like a tidal wave.
In this world, everything changed ten years ago.
A spiritual explosion bathed the Earth in energy, warping the laws of nature. Animals and plants began to evolve into monsters. Cities fell. Humanity became prey. Modern weapons failed against the mutated beasts.
Just as despair loomed, humans awakened a mysterious ability—the power to tame and bond with beasts.
The rise of the Beast Tamers marked the turning point.
With soul contracts, people could tame these powerful creatures—pets in name, but partners in survival. A new age began.
And today… was the Awakening Ceremony.
Each high school senior would receive an egg from the government. Inside was their first soul pet. The hatching would determine their fate.
Of course, if you had money, you could buy rare eggs on the black market.
But Kim was from a middle-class family. Like most, he could only rely on the government's standard-issue egg.
And the pet inside? Completely random.
Luck was everything.
"So this world is really… magical," Kim muttered, wonder in his voice.
A tall, stern man in professor's robes stepped forward. He exuded a quiet authority.
"Welcome," the man began, voice echoing. "Today marks a pivotal moment in your lives. Before each of you is a soul egg. If you look at your wristbands—"
Ding!
A soft chime rang from the band on Kim's wrist.
Pet: Egg (Unhatched)
Attributes: ???
Bloodline: ???
"To hatch your egg," the professor continued, "inject your spiritual energy. Let your soul resonate. Fate will guide your bond."
One by one, students activated their eggs. Small bursts of light flared across the plaza. The air shimmered with mana.
Most students called forth pets of common or rare bloodlines.
Even a rare pet was considered incredibly lucky.
Epic? Legendary? Mythical?
Those were one in ten thousand.
Colleges judged you by your pet's quality. A rare might get you into a mid-tier academy. A common? You'd struggle just to survive.
Kim stared at his egg—a black, smooth shell with faint purple veins. It looked… unimpressive.
But then—
Ding!
A mechanical chime echoed inside his head.
Divine Book of Knowledge connecting…
Compatibility detected…
Binding successful.
Welcome, Host.
He froze.
A translucent panel hovered in the air before him—visible only to his eyes.
System Initialization Complete
Divine Book of Knowledge – Version 1.0
Soul Beast Evolution Path: Unlocked
Scanning Host's Soul Egg…
His heart stopped.
I remember this egg…
A plain black cat. Common in every way. In his previous life, it was discarded by instructors and mocked by peers.
Pet: Black Cat
Rank: Common
Bloodline: Common
Attributes: Normal
Kim clenched his fists.
"So weak…" he muttered.
Then golden text flashed across the panel.
Hidden Evolution Path Detected.
Pet: Black Spotted Cat
Attributes: Water
Hidden Evolution: Purple-Eyed Midnight Cat (Epic Bloodline)
Materials Required: Dark Crystal Attribute, Essence of Midnight Lotus, Shadow Beast Core
First Evolution Bonus: All materials granted free.
Would you like to evolve your Soul Egg now?
His eyes widened.
An epic bloodline!?
He didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he whispered.
The egg trembled in his hands. The purple veins pulsed brighter and brighter. A low hum echoed, resonating through his bones.
Nearby students turned toward him. The air around him grew thick. Mana twisted like a vortex.
Evolution in Progress… 23%... 67%... 99%...
BOOM!
A shockwave of dark-blue light exploded from the egg.
Gasps rang out across the plaza. Instructors looked up sharply. Even the headmaster stirred.
Cracks raced across the shell. A heartbeat echoed—deep and ancient.
Crack.
Crack.
CRACK!
The shell shattered.
A creature stepped forth.
Sleek. Elegant. A feline born of night. Its fur was darker than shadows, yet shimmered like still water beneath moonlight. Two violet eyes blazed with power and intelligence.
Mist and shadow curled around it like twin spirits.
Kim's breath caught in his throat.
Congratulations. You have obtained a Hidden Pet: Purple-Eyed Midnight Cat
Rank: Common (Evolving)
Bloodline: Epic
Attributes: Dark/Water
Special Traits: Stealth Veil (Passive), Water Step (Passive), Lunar Gaze (Active)
Hidden Evolution Path: ???
Stealth Veil (Passive):
The Purple-Eyed Midnight Cat is naturally covered in a layer of shadow energy that makes it hard to notice. It moves quietly and can easily blend into dark places, becoming almost invisible when it stays still. Even powerful tamers may have trouble sensing its presence or guessing its true strength.
Water Step (Passive):
This trait allows the cat to move as smoothly and lightly as flowing water. It can walk across wet surfaces or even skim over shallow water without sinking. Its movements are quiet and graceful, making it excellent at dodging attacks and slipping away from danger.
Lunar Gaze (Active):
When activated, the cat's eyes glow with a soft violet light, locking onto a target. The enemy hit by the gaze may feel scared, confused, or slowed for a short time. It can also reveal enemies that are hiding or invisible nearby. However, the ability can only be used once every minute.
He dropped to his knees, clutching the cat.
Tears welled in his eyes—not of sadness, but awe. This… This is my second chance.
Then—
"Student!"
A firm voice cut through the daze.
Kim looked up.
A woman in a long white coat strode toward him. She had sharp eyes and short, silver-streaked hair. A badge gleamed on her chest—Elite Instructor, Tier 5 Beast Tamer.
Behind her, two faculty members followed, clearly alarmed.
"You!" she said, pointing to Kim. "Name?"
"Kim… Kim Raines."
"Kim Raines," she repeated. "That egg. That burst of mana. That pressure… You've awakened an Epic Bloodline pet, haven't you?"
Kim nodded slowly, his arms tightening around the trembling kitten.
The instructor's expression shifted from sharp curiosity to barely concealed awe.
"Do you have any idea how rare that is?" she whispered, stepping closer. "In ten years, we've only had three students awaken a pet with Epic bloodline quality in their first evolution. And none from government-issued eggs."
Kim didn't answer. He couldn't. The words lodged in his throat.
"What's your background?" she asked softly. "Did you buy an egg? Inject a catalyst?"
He shook his head. "No… It was just luck, I think."
She narrowed her eyes. Then suddenly smiled.
"Or fate."
The cat in his arms purred—a low, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate with elemental energy.
"I'm reporting this to the Academy Council," she said. "You'll be given special attention from now on. Opportunities. Sponsorships. Be prepared."
Kim's heart thudded.
Just like that… my life has changed.
As the instructor turned to leave, she paused.
"One more thing," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "That pet of yours… Don't let anyone see its full power. Not yet."
Kim's breath caught.
She was warning him.
Because in this world—where strength meant survival—having power was both a blessing…
…and a target.
He looked down at the Purple-Eyed Midnight Cat, its eyes gleaming with silent promise.
"I won't waste this chance," he whispered.
A second life.
A hidden system.
An epic pet.
Let the real journey begin.