my beast change system

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Nate

The moment we stepped into the capital, I was overwhelmed by its sheer liveliness. The streets were full of people, knights patrolled in shining armor, and merchants called out their wares, bargaining with eager customers. Children ran through the streets, laughing and playing, while parents held their little ones close as they navigated the busy roads. Carriages rolled by, adding to the chaotic yet mesmerizing scene.

"C'mon, we need to stop by the guild. Or would you rather stay and get lost in the sights?" Owen teased with a smirk.

I held back my irritation, not giving him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Let's just get this over with," I muttered. You got me this time, but next time, I'll make sure to double the payment.

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Bethany

From my position behind the guild's counter, I watched as the place buzzed with life. Adventurers crowded around the quest board, talking amongst themselves, while others downed mugs of liquor, laughing loudly. Another typical day.

Then, the door creaked open, and three figures stepped inside.

The first was Owen, a well-known B-Rank Holy Knight, respected for his swordsmanship. The second was Princess Athena, infamous for her unstable mana control but still highly regarded for her sharp judgment and leadership.

And then there was the third guy—the unknown one.

His outfit was strange, like armor yet nothing I had seen before. He had no discernible aura, which was odd considering his confident posture. His messy silver hair and sharp golden eyes would've made him attractive, but that eerie lack of presence was unsettling. Instead of walking straight to the counter, he glanced around the guild like some lost tourist—or worse, a creep.

"Bethany..." Athena spoke first.

"Princess Athena," I replied flatly, locking eyes with her in a silent battle of wills.

"We're here to register as adventurers," Owen interjected, breaking the tension.

I sighed, glancing at them before eyeing the unknown guy again. What was his deal? He was touching people's armor like a curious child seeing a toy for the first time.

"When you say 'we'... are you including him?" I asked, pointing at the guy now sulking in the corner of the room like he'd just lost all hope in life.

Owen and Athena both sighed and nodded.

"Alright." I pulled out three registration forms. Man, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy was the first to die in their group.

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Nate

I stood by the counter, watching Owen and Athena fill out their forms effortlessly while I struggled to understand even a single word.

Seriously, what the hell was this? ¥€√÷π—was this some kind of ancient Greek dialect?! Someone help me!

Almost as if answering my unspoken plea, a familiar screen appeared before me.

[System Notification]

"Would you like to understand the writing of this world?"

[Yes] / [No]

I didn't even hesitate—I nodded immediately.

A sudden shift in my vision made everything go dark for a second, then returned to normal. When I looked back at the form, the once unreadable symbols were now perfectly clear.

"Oh, hell yes."

Now I could fill this out with ease.

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Bethany

Once they finished filling out their forms, I skimmed through them. Athena's form almost made me laugh—"Ice Queen"? Her? The girl who couldn't even control her own mana?

Then I glanced at the one from Nate... and I burst into laughter.

Three-element control?! This guy? The one with zero aura?!

"Arghh… Why is she laughing? Did I write something wrong?" Nate asked, confused.

"Sorry, but…" I barely contained my laughter. "You wrote that you can control three elements."

"But it's true."

The entire guild erupted into laughter. Even the strongest heroes in the world could only control two elements. And this guy—this aura-less, clueless guy—thought he could surpass even them?

I wiped away a tear and grabbed a testing orb, placing it on the counter.

"Alright, then. Place your hand here. Your rank and mana capacity will be revealed."

Owen stepped aside—his rank was already known. Athena went first, placing her hand on the orb. It glowed intensely before stabilizing, revealing her A-Rank status but nothing about her mana. Guess she really was the Ice Queen.

Then it was Nate's turn.

I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter as he stepped forward. The entire guild chuckled along with me. Owen and Athena, however, just stood there, smiling knowingly.

Something was off.

Nate placed his hand on the orb.

And in an instant—it shattered into two.

The guild fell silent.

Even I was stunned.

"No way. That must've been a mistake. Try again." I quickly grabbed another orb.

Nate scratched his head. "Quick question—do I release my mana, or do I just place my hand?"

"Just place your hand," I replied, still unsure of what had just happened.

"Alright then… but this one's probably gonna break too," he muttered.

As soon as his hand neared the orb, before he even touched it—it shattered again.

The laughter, the mockery, everything came to an abrupt halt.

The entire guild stood frozen, unable to process what just happened.

My breath hitched. What… what is he?!

Nate leaned on the counter, smirking.

"You said I had no aura, right?" His tone was mocking, but there was a dark edge to it.

"Well… here's something you should know." His smirk disappeared, replaced by something cold—something dangerous.

"I was only holding it back… so none of you would die."

A chilling, suffocating pressure filled the room as a dark, overwhelming aura radiated from his body.

The guild members fell to their knees, some even fainting. The weight of his presence crushed down on them, rendering them completely powerless.

And yet, Owen and Athena remained standing, unfazed.

Nate leaned closer, gripping my chin and tilting my face toward his.

"Now that you've seen 20% of my aura…" His voice was a whisper, but it carried the weight of an absolute ruler.

"Would you like to see 19% of my mana?"

I couldn't respond.

I couldn't even move.

I just shook my head, trembling.

Nate pulled back, his aura vanishing in an instant. The suffocating pressure lifted, and the entire guild gasped for air.

"Damn," Nate sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Now how am I supposed to know my rank if the orbs keep breaking?"

Before I could respond, the guild doors burst open.

A massive figure stepped inside—carrying ten golems on one shoulder and dragging a chimera by the other hand.

The room went dead silent.

"I will be the one to test you," the figure declared, standing in the doorway.

Owen's eyes widened in shock, his hands trembling.

"It… it can't be…"

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