Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - Beast Tamer Ren Patinder

Today was their tenth birthday. Today, luck would decide their fate at this tender age... Their future hinged on this moment.

Today, they would contract their beast.

The Ceremony Master stood at the altar, his robust frame imposing in the temple's light.

His beast, evolved to Silver rank level 2, pulsed with a subtle argentine glow. The beast had matured after reaching the 5th rank, an achievement few could match and even fewer could surpass.

He struck his staff against the floor, the sound echoing through the ancient halls.

"The Ceremony of Ten Years begins now. The beasts will take the mana poisoning your young bodies and save you," he announced, his voice carrying the weight of tradition.

"Remember, your beast's rank determines your place in our society. Iron for the slaves, Bronze for the workers, Silver for the privileged."

He didn't mention the higher ranks. He didn't need to.

The 7th rank, Gold 1.

Throughout the entire city, only five families possessed Gold-rank beasts, and the only living human with a Platinum creature was the king himself.

The only one with a beast of the 10th rank.

♢♢♢♢

A red egg rested on the altar.

The boy who had placed it there positioned himself in the center of the circle.

The egg cracked.

It began to glow, and then...

"A Crimson Salamander!" The Ceremony Master's announcement pierced through the temple as Ron Blackfire's red egg burst into flames. From the ashes emerged a scarlet creature, its scales gleaming like living embers.

Whispers of amazement turned to cheers as the tiny salamander opened its mouth and spat a perfect sphere of fire that danced above Ron's outstretched palm.

An Iron-rank beast at its lowest... but with vast potential.

Not only could it easily rise to Bronze rank, but with proper cultivation, it could even reach Silver.

The kind of creature that opened doors, that with proper investment could transform a mere student into someone destined for comfort and privilege.

Ron's smile widened, already tasting his future among the elite. With his family's proper cultivation techniques, his salamander would undoubtedly reach Silver rank, guaranteeing him a place among the upper-middle class.

Even now, freshly hatched, it granted him great strength and the power to conjure fireballs at will.

"Next!" the Ceremony Master announced.

Ren's heart stopped beating for an instant.

It was his turn.

The metallic taste of fear flooded Ren's mouth as he stared at his gray egg on the stone altar.

Around him, dozens of eggs glowed in other children's hands with promises of better futures, deep blues, vibrant greens, intense reds. Most guaranteed at least a Bronze-rank beast at maturity, and the most expensive ones promised creatures with evolution potential up to Silver level 3.

Only his was gray.

The gray egg barely pulsed in Ren's trembling hands. A pathetic heartbeat so weak he had to hold his breath to feel it.

Today, this miserable egg, the cheapest available, would chart his destiny, decide his place in the world.

All his parents had been able to get him, after selling their last sellable possessions, was this gray egg.

Not white. Not black. Not even brown. Gray.

The color of failure.

Laughter and congratulations for Jin still echoed in the temple as Ren approached the altar. His gray egg looked even smaller now, following the magnificent display of the Crimson Salamander.

Ren mentally reviewed the possibilities for the thousandth time, clinging to hope.

There was a 5% chance of getting a marsh frog. It wouldn't be as impressive as a fire salamander, but with the right cultivation technique, a frog could reach the highest Bronze rank, a "mature" level 2 marsh frog.

But he knew it was asking too much; the probability was too low... He had resigned himself.