Everyone Else Awakened, But I Just Opened a Pokémon Pet Shop

The relentless downpour soaked everything, including the three terrifying Death Beasts radiating a murderous aura.

As raindrops struck their massive bodies, they sizzled against the eerie, shadowy miasma of death energy cloaking them. That miasma, however, didn't disperse freely. Instead, it seemed bound by some strange force, limited in how far it could spread.

"T-Those are… Death Beasts?!?!"

Liu Qiaoqiao stood frozen in place, petrified by the monstrous sight before her.

She had never seen one with her own eyes—but the oppressive pressure in the air told her everything she needed to know.

There was no mistaking it—those were Death Beasts.

But… why were there Death Beasts inside the city!?

And not just any Death Beasts. Judging by their sheer size… they had to be at least S-Class.

Even though Liu Qiaoqiao was still young, she knew one thing—the larger the beast, the higher the class.

These towering monsters were much bigger than anything her teachers had ever described in school.

Her legs buckled, but she still trembled forward, holding up the heavily wounded Zhou Xiaofei.

"B-Brother Xiaofei… we have to run!"

She wanted to cry. But when she thought of how badly injured he was, she swallowed back her tears.

If she ran now… Brother Xiaofei wouldn't be able to escape at all.

At this moment, the possibility of escaping from an S-Class Death Beast never even crossed her mind.

"I… I can't run!"

Zhou Xiaofei was just as terrified.

He'd snuck onto the city walls once during a Death Beast siege—he knew exactly what they were capable of.

And now, three of those monsters stood before them.

He knew, without a doubt, that the man behind them was here to destroy the Pokémon Center.

He hadn't worked there long…

But to Zhou Xiaofei—

The Pokémon Center was already home.

Once, he'd had a real home. Parents. Love. Safety.

But all of that had been wiped out by Death Beasts.

Now… was it happening again?

He turned his head with difficulty, staring through the rain at the silent, unmoving Pokémon Center.

It stood proud and strong…

But would even it survive a direct attack from an S-Class Death Beast?

Would he lose his home again?

"Qiaoqiao… you should run."

Zhou Xiaofei shook his head weakly, trying to push her away.

"I can't leave. I'm a proud employee of the Pokémon Center… Even if I die, I have to protect it!"

In his simple mind, this was his duty. This was his battle. He didn't want to drag anyone else down with him.

Especially not a little girl.

But the moment he pushed, his ribs screamed in agony.

The pain was so sharp that cold sweat immediately burst from his forehead.

What infuriated him more was—

He couldn't even move Liu Qiaoqiao.

This little girl he'd only met once before stood firm, her legs trembling but planted like nails into the ground.

"I'm not leaving!"

Tears welled in Liu Qiaoqiao's eyes, her entire body shaking with fear, but her voice rose defiantly.

"Daddy told me… we can't be afraid of Death Beasts!"

"The more you fear them, the more powerless you become. And in the end, you'll only grow weaker!"

"I'm going to be just like Daddy! I'm going to fight too!"

She was shouting more for herself than anyone else.

But this girl—though terrified—was undeniably brave.

She refused to abandon Zhou Xiaofei to save herself.

"Fools…"

Li Jian, who had fallen to the ground earlier, still hadn't ordered his Death Beasts to attack.

His leg had been shattered by Magikarp. Now he sat helplessly in the mud, cloak slumped to one side, exposing his face—

twisted and veined with black lines pulsing beneath his skin.

Rain pelted his face, but he barely noticed.

He mumbled to himself, curses slipping between his lips, but in his eyes…

There was a flash of hesitation.

In this world, the youth of humanity often began like this—

With bright ideals, with courage, and with dreams of pushing back against the darkness.

Education was full of stories about human heroes—tales meant to give children the strength to resist.

Once, long ago, Li Jian had been just like these two children.

Before awakening as a Contract Master…

He, too, had once burned with passion, purpose, and the will to fight for humanity.

But once he awakened—once he began walking the path of a Contract Master—

Everything changed.

The world needed Contract Masters to bond with Death Beasts—to fight as a last resort.

People poured immense money and resources into acquiring those beasts.

And yet… they never respected the Contract Masters themselves.

As Death Energy seeped into their minds, most Contract Masters gradually became greedy, violent, unstable.

Society needed them—but never trusted them.

In truth, they were a tragic profession.

Contract Masters weren't born cruel.

But their mental link with Death Beasts slowly, inevitably changed them.

Bit by bit, they lost who they once were.

They became cold, hated, isolated.

And now, Li Jian's mind—filled with Death Energy—briefly cleared as he looked at the two brave children.

For just a heartbeat… he saw himself.

But that moment of clarity came at a terrible cost.

The three S-Class Death Beasts—left without instruction—were beginning to grow restless.

They sensed something unnatural wrapping their bodies—a barrier blocking their death energy from spreading outward.

It felt like being wrapped in plastic wrap.

It was suffocating.

And Death Beasts, by nature, were violently unstable.

They had obeyed only because Li Jian's will forced them to.

An S-Class Contract Master could control one S-Class Death Beast without harm…

But three?

Just now, when his thoughts wavered—

That fragile control shattered.

And the sight of the red Magikarp standing protectively in front of Zhou Xiaofei—its gaze no longer blank, but intensely focused—

Ignited their bloodlust.

"AAAAAAAAGH!!!"

Li Jian suddenly screamed, clutching his head in agony.

If one peeled away his clothes, they would see:

His entire body was now covered in pulsing black veins.

His arms. His chest. His neck. All writhing with death energy.

A Contract Master can only control one S-Class Death Beast safely.

But in order to destroy the Pokémon Center…

Li Jian had used forbidden methods to contract three!

And now, with his body wounded and his mind shaken—

The surging death energy tore through him.

He was being devoured by his own monsters.

Li Jian writhed in the mud, screaming and thrashing under the downpour.

The three S-Class Death Beasts, however, no longer cared.

They were free.

And one of them, roaring with rage, raised its massive claw—

—and swung it viciously toward Magikarp.