Chapter 2: izanami my first partner
"Hey, Takashi, snap out of your memory. You know I can help you! Get your revenge on Sukura, I mean," the system's female voice echoed smugly in his mind.
Takashi rolled his eyes. "For a system, you talk too much. Are you even a real program?"
The voice chuckled. "Oh, pardon me. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm an advanced AI. But first, let's deal with the beast in front of you."
Before Takashi could respond, a second, more robotic voice boomed in his head:
"Congratulations! You are now the Punisher of the Knights.
Title: Punisher of the Knights
Details: You can punish any knights, regardless of alignment—light or dark.
Transformation initiated...
Holy Army Armor Set activated.
Holy Sword of Xuvutor activated.
You are now the law. You are Justice. But be warned: abuse of power will result in title revocation."
Takashi's mind raced as the system continued.
"Quest received: Tame the beast in front of you.
Reward: All stats increased. Bonus reward included."
Looking down, Takashi realized he was now clad in shining black, white, and gold armor, wielding a massive silver sword. He gave it a small swing, surprised at how effortlessly he held it.
"Is this because of the title I got? Feels unreal…" Takashi mumbled.
"Dumbass," the AI snapped, "how many times must I tell you? The system is real. Now, to tame the beast, you need to prove your worth. Open the auto-assign mode."
"Wait, auto-assignment? Are you telling me this world functions like some kind of game?" Takashi groaned, rubbing his temple.
As Takashi clicked the auto-assign mode, his body moved on its own, rushing toward the beast with unnatural speed. In a blink, he stood face-to-face with the massive creature, its fiery eyes glaring down at him.
The beast roared, swiping its massive claw. Takashi's body, now under the system's control, ducked effortlessly and countered with a powerful slash of the Holy Sword of Xuvutor. A golden arc of light surged from the blade, striking the beast and sending it skidding back.
The beast lunged again, its maw snapping shut inches from Takashi's face. Without hesitation, his body sidestepped and slammed the sword into the ground, summoning holy chains that wrapped around the creature's limbs.
The beast thrashed, breaking the chains in an explosion of raw power. Undeterred, Takashi's body leaped high into the air, the sword glowing brighter. With a thunderous cry, the blade descended, creating a shockwave of golden energy that slammed into the beast, forcing it to the ground.
As Takashi regained control of his body, the beast's fiery eyes softened, showing newfound loyalty. He patted its massive head, still catching his breath.
"Well, I felt like I was going to pee my pants for a moment there," Takashi muttered, shaking his head.
"Congratulations," the AI chimed in its robotic tone. "Beast tamed. All stats increased. Bonus reward unlocked: You now have the ability to transform beasts into humanoid companions. Check details in the system menu."
The beast stood, towering over Takashi, yet its demeanor had completely changed. It let out a low rumble, almost as if it were waiting for his command.
"Guess you're mine now, huh?" Takashi smirked, pulling up his system stats.
Stats:
Agility: 55 (boosted by title)
Strength: 67 (boosted by title)
Healing: 90 (boosted by title)
System Suggestion:
"Improve your swordsmanship skills to maximize combat efficiency."
Suddenly, the female AI voice chimed in again, her tone as cheeky as ever. "Hey, boy, that was some great luck you had! Not bad for a first fight."
Takashi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, great luck. I could've been toast if anything went wrong."
"Ah, but nothing did, thanks to me," the voice teased. "Just trust me, Takashi. With me guiding you, you'll survive this world. And maybe even conquer it."
Takashi shook his head and looked at the beast. "Alright, buddy, let's figure out what this humanoid transformation thing is all about. If I'm stuck here, might as well make some allies."
Takashi clicked on the skill menu and noticed a small option beneath the main skill list. The words "Details" appeared in glowing blue letters.
"Smart choice, boy," the female voice said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
As Takashi selected the option, a long description materialized before him:
Skill Class: Legendary
Function: This skill allows beasts to evolve into humanoid forms.
Before he could read further, the female voice cut in.
"Wait! Don't just skip ahead. Let me explain the system of classes in this world first."
Takashi sighed but nodded, deciding to let her speak.
"In this world, everything has a class—beasts, humans, weapons, even abilities," she began.
"Even humans?" Takashi asked.
"Yes, humans too! Now let me finish," the voice snapped, clearly irritated.
She continued:
First Class: Reserved for the royal family and their ministers.
Second Class: Nobles and knights with family titles.
Third Class: Farmers, laborers, and common soldiers.
"Wait, why are there two levels of First Class?" Takashi asked.
"Simple—to emphasize the superiority of the royal family. Now, let's move on to weapons," she said, ignoring his exasperation.
She explained the weapon system:
Legendary Class: Extremely rare, owned only by kings... and you.
Beast Weapons: Rare weapons forged from beast materials.
Crafted Weapons: Standard swords, spears, and tools.
"Now onto abilities," she said, her voice softening slightly.
"There are four main elemental magics—Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind—and two special elements: Holy Light and Dark Magic. You, thanks to your Error Class, can use them all."
"Error Class?" Takashi asked, intrigued.
"Yes, you're unique. It's not something common in this world. But don't get cocky," she warned, crushing his brief moment of pride.
Finally, she explained the six classes of skills:
1. Mythical Skills: Practically impossible to find.
2. Legendary Skills: Extremely rare, like the one you have.
3. Epic Skills: Strong but more common.
4. Normal Skills: The most basic abilities.
"You're lucky to start with a Legendary Skill," the voice said.
"Gee, thanks," Takashi replied, rolling his eyes.
"Now, you can resume reading," she said.
Takashi refocused on the skill description, eager to learn what made his Legendary Skill so special.
As Takashi prepared to resume reading, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information. He glanced at the glowing screen in front of him, where the detailed description of his skill awaited.
"Alright, back to business," he muttered.
The description read:
Skill Name: Beast to Humanoid Evolution
Skill Class: Legendary
Description: This skill allows the user to evolve a tamed beast into a humanoid form, granting them intelligence, speech, and the ability to wield weapons or magic. The humanoid retains its beastly abilities but gains a unique humanoid appearance. Skill activation requires a synchronization process between the user and the beast.
Requirements:
Tamed beast loyalty: 100%
User's mana pool: 60% capacity minimum
User must pass a mental synchronization test.
Warning:
Evolved beasts may develop free will. Handle with caution.
Additional Effects:
Beast gains a personal skill upon evolution.
Beast retains loyalty to the user unless mistreated.
After reading the description, Takashi leaned back and sighed. "This sounds more complicated than I thought. Why does everything have to involve tests and synchronization?"
"You're the Punisher of the Knights. What did you expect? A cakewalk?" the female voice quipped.
Takashi ignored her sarcasm and focused on the screen. "So… I just sync with the beast and let it evolve?"
"Exactly. But remember, failing the synchronization test could have… unpredictable consequences. You might want to be mentally prepared," the female voice warned.
Takashi glanced at the massive beast standing nearby. Its glowing eyes were calm now, filled with trust. "Well, buddy," Takashi said, patting its scaly head, "looks like we're about to take this to the next level."
Without further hesitation, he clicked on the "Activate Skill" button. A blinding light enveloped the beast, and the synchronization test began.
The female voice chimed in once more, "Good luck, Takashi. Try not to embarrass yourself."
"Too late for that," Takashi mumbled as his consciousness was pulled into a surreal mental plane, where the beast's essence awaited.
After synchronization began, Takashi found himself enveloped in darkness, standing in a murky black void where thick mud clung to his feet. He felt an overwhelming heaviness in the air, as though he'd stepped into someone else's nightmare. Then, the darkness gave way to a vision.
Before him, a family of beasts appeared. The father and mother were large, majestic creatures, their fur shimmering faintly under the sun. Beside them were two small pups, tumbling and playing with unbridled joy. Takashi recognized one of the pups immediately—it was the very beast he had tamed, now so small and innocent, barely the size of a puppy.
Every day, Takashi watched them. The family hunted together, rested together, and played together. Their bond was pure and filled with love. Seeing their simple joys brought an unexpected warmth to Takashi's chest.
One day, the father beast saved a human adventurer from the jaws of another predator. The father's strength and nobility were evident as he risked himself to protect the human. The adventurer survived, expressing gratitude before leaving.
But kindness was repaid with betrayal.
A few nights later, the adventurer returned—not to thank the beast, but to slay it. Armed with a party, they ambushed the family. The father beast fell first, shielding his mate and pups. The mother beast fought valiantly, but she too was overpowered. The pups fled into the woods, their cries echoing in the night.
Takashi felt his heart twist. He could see the terror in their small eyes as they ran, never daring to look back.
The vision shifted. Time passed, and the pups were now grown, living a peaceful life in the forest. They played together, foraged for food, and found solace in each other's company. Yet peace was fleeting.
Another group of adventurers appeared. They attacked the siblings without reason or mercy. One sibling was killed outright, and the other was captured, shackled and broken. Takashi recognized it again—it was his beast.
A new figure appeared: a beast tamer. For a moment, it seemed salvation had come. The tamer spoke kind words and offered trust. But it was another betrayal. The beast was used, exploited, and discarded like a tool.
The screen faded, leaving Takashi alone in the darkness. The weight of everything he had seen pressed down on him, suffocating.
Then came the voice—deep, guttural, and filled with anger.
"You humans always repay us with betrayal," it growled. "Do you know how it feels? To watch your family, your only joy, taken from you again and again? My father told me not all humans are the same. But he was wrong. You forced me to submit to you, and now I am nothing but your prisoner. I have no purpose left—only the hope that one day, I'll end this pain."
The words pierced Takashi like a dagger. He fell to his knees, bowing low until his face touched the mud.
"I know I'm in no position to ask for forgiveness," he said, his voice trembling. "I won't ask you to trust me. But I swear I'll prove my words through my actions. You deserve more than pain. You deserve love, a family, and happiness. If you'll let me, I'll share your pain. I'll make your joy my purpose. From this moment on, we are one. I will honor you as more than my companion—you'll be my family."
Silence followed. The beast's voice returned, softer but no less fierce.
"Very well, human. But know this: I do not trust you. And if you falter or let your guard down, I will end you. There is still a way to cancel this synchronization. If you choose to proceed, you risk everything. Do you still accept?"
Takashi, without hesitation, nodded.
The darkness around him shattered like glass, and light poured in. When his eyes opened, he found himself staring at a stunningly beautiful woman with golden hair and piercing eyes—yet something about her aura told him this was no ordinary human.
Before he could speak, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he collapsed.
"Damn it, now she has the chance to finish you off," the AI muttered, her voice laced with irritation.
And so, the synchronization was complete, though Takashi had no idea what lay ahead in his fragile alliance with the beast.
After losing consciousness, Takashi slowly regained it but kept his eyes closed, trying to process what had just happened.
"Hey, boy, you're back! And it seems like you're unharmed. The beast really didn't kill you," said the familiar female AI voice, WOB.
As Takashi opened his eyes, he immediately noticed something unusual. He felt something soft yet firm under his head—definitely not a pillow. Then, his gaze fell on a golden-haired, beautiful woman. Her radiant skin glowed softly, and to his shock, she was completely naked.
His eyes widened as he realized her upper body was fully exposed. "She's hot… and big... uh... bbs," he thought to himself before shaking the thought away.
The woman, who now appeared human, noticed his reaction and smiled warmly. "Oh, you're awake. I was worried about you," she said softly.
Snapping back to reality, Takashi sat up abruptly and stammered, "Y-you didn't harm me? Why?"
The woman chuckled gently. "About that... I thought I'd wait for you to wake up so I could ask about my transformation. So, no, I didn't eat you," she teased.
Takashi immediately covered his eyes with one hand, peeking through his fingers. "Please, can you transform back into your beast form? You're, uh, not wearing any clothes. I mean… not that I'm complaining or anything, but maybe wait until we find you something to wear."
Understanding his discomfort, the woman smiled knowingly and reverted to her original form—a majestic lion-like beast with golden fur.
"That's some luck you have," WOB commented with a mischievous tone. "Turns out the beast you tamed is female. And quite the motherly figure milfy, too, huh?"
"Excuse me, what are you implying?" Takashi muttered, still flustered.
"I mean, she needs a name!" WOB retorted. "You tamed her and didn't even think to give her one. Honestly, what kind of dumbball are you?"
Takashi sighed, turning his attention to the beast. It looked up at him, its golden eyes filled with a strange mix of curiosity and trust. "Do you already have a name?" he asked.
The beast shook its head, indicating no.
"Alright then," Takashi said after a brief pause. "From today, your name is Izanami."
The beast growled softly in acknowledgment, and Takashi smiled, feeling a strange sense of connection. However, his body suddenly felt heavy again, and he collapsed to the ground.
Izanami, alarmed, immediately transformed back into her human form and caught him before he could hit the ground.
"Here we go again. Our Mr. Smart is out cold," WOB remarked with a hint of exasperation.