Chapter 2: The Supernatural

[Here’s what happened: About a day ago, I suddenly received a mysterious black card.

When I got the card, a string of text appeared before my eyes, accompanied by a notification sound. It told me to use the card to form a contract and capture an animal as my pet beast, allowing me to become a Beast Tamer.

At first, I thought I was just like the protagonist of some anime, stumbling upon an incredible stroke of luck.

But it wasn’t that simple. After following the card’s guidance and completing the beginner’s mission, I was transported to a terrifying place teeming with wild beasts. I barely made it out alive!

My pet beast was gravely injured while protecting me. The local pet hospital said it was beyond saving. The injuries were so severe, and the doctors concluded there was no hope. What should I do?

I have this sinking feeling that we’re bound together. If my pet beast dies, something bad will happen to me too…]

The post also included a picture. It showed a large cat, its body appearing petrified, its eyes gouged out, and one of its legs missing. Gray blood oozed from its wounds, which looked strange and unnatural.

Fang Lan frowned deeply. “Did you finish reading?”

“Yeah,” Lu Ran nodded.

Fang Lan scoffed, “The injuries look off. The image must’ve been Photoshopped. This guy… I bet he’s just some sick animal abuser looking for attention.”

To her, the story seemed like a poorly crafted hoax meant to draw clicks. Too fake to be real.

“Thinks he’s one of those ‘Chosen Ones,’ huh?” she added sarcastically.

“Probably,” Lu Ran agreed casually. Yet his eyes lingered on the phone screen.

At first glance, the post did seem like a typical cry for attention from an animal abuser. But for some reason, Lu Ran felt a strange pull toward it.

Supernatural phenomena…

His mind immediately conjured a vivid image of a city being overrun by monstrous creatures. It was eerily similar to the recurring dream that haunted him.

He sighed inwardly.

Truth be told, Lu Ran had always been sensitive to anything related to the supernatural.

Why? Because he harbored a secret.

He could hear the “thoughts” of non-human creatures—a strange ability akin to understanding animal language and communicating with them telepathically.

This power had awakened two years ago. Initially clumsy with it, he’d since honed his skill and could now pick up on the thoughts of many animals.

It was this ability that allowed him to predict the weather and dominate Green Sea City’s Bug Battle Tournament.

But with this power came a recurring nightmare.

Every so often, he’d dream of cities being invaded by monstrous beasts, and he himself meeting a gruesome end before jolting awake.

He’d seen doctors about it, but they found nothing wrong with him.

Still, Lu Ran knew he wasn’t normal.

Because of his own strangeness, he was convinced there were other oddities in the world. But after so long, the only anomaly he’d ever encountered was himself.

Even though the internet was rife with supernatural stories and eerie rumors, none of them ever held up under scrutiny. They all seemed fabricated.

This time was no different. While he’d initially been intrigued by the post, he quickly shook his head. How many times had he fallen for this kind of nonsense? He wasn’t going to be fooled again.

The world, after all, was still pretty grounded in science…

“Let’s eat,” he said as the server finally brought their food. Setting his phone aside, he turned to Fang Lan.

“Alright,” Fang Lan agreed.

Though the picture had been quite gruesome, it didn’t faze Fang Lan much. Being from a family of veterinary professionals, she was used to such sights.

As they ate, Lu Ran asked, “Are you bringing all your pets to Magic City?”

“Of course,” Fang Lan replied. “I’ve got to keep up my weekly updates, or my fans will miss me.”

Fang Lan was actually a pet blogger, regularly sharing content about her pets online. She never showed her face—only her pets.

But Lu Ran always found her claim of being a “cute pet blogger” questionable. After all, her “pets” included snakes, spiders, scorpions, and centipedes—hardly what most people would consider cute.

“Looks like you’ll have to rent your own place,” Lu Ran teased. With pets like hers, there was no way she’d be allowed into a dorm. Even if the dorm supervisor didn’t mind, her roommates might strangle her in the middle of the night.

“Can you imagine living with someone who keeps scorpions and snakes in the same room?” he added.

“Renting’s fine with me,” Fang Lan said nonchalantly. “Just hurry up and pass your exams so you can help me split the rent.”

“As if I’d want to live with your pets. I’m scared of them too,” Lu Ran shot back. He wasn’t usually afraid of much, but Fang Lan had scarred him as a kid by shoving spiders and other creepy crawlies in his face. The trauma stuck with him.

This girl… she didn’t act like a typical girl at all. Even now, she hadn’t changed. What’s wrong with cats and dogs? Aren’t they cute enough?

The two bantered back and forth until the rain stopped and they finished their meal.

Fang Lan had plans with her friends in the afternoon, so she paid the bill and left first. Lu Ran stayed behind to pack up the leftovers. He knew Fang Lan’s family cared about him and that her visit was just to check on him after hearing he’d skipped class.

“Sigh… so boring~” Lu Ran muttered as he stepped out of the restaurant. Breathing in the fresh, rain-soaked air and gazing at the rainbow in the sky, his mood fluctuated.

High school was dull. It left him with so little free time…

He couldn’t wait to get to college.

But before he could take another step, something stopped him dead in his tracks.

He raised his hand, staring intently at the mysterious black card that had suddenly appeared in his grasp.

It was the size of a playing card, with a plastic texture—not a restaurant membership card or some random flyer someone had slipped him. No, this card had materialized out of nowhere.

And along with it came strange visions and sounds. For a moment, the world around him felt both eerily silent and overwhelmingly loud. He was completely isolated.

Lines of text flashed before his eyes, accompanied by a voice:

—

[Detected: You possess Beast Tamer potential…]

[Contract Card materialized…]

Beginner Mission: [Use the Contract Card to capture an animal as your pet beast and become a Beast Tamer!]

—

Hints:

1. Beast Tamer: A profession involving contracting, training, and commanding pet beasts for work or combat.
2. Contract Card: A tool that enhances the user’s mental power for capturing pet beasts. It contains a space for the beast to rest.
3. Contract Cards cannot be used on humans.
4. Capture success depends on the user’s mental power and the card’s quality. Avoid capturing creatures beyond your control to prevent card damage or beast backlash.

—

“What… is this?” Standing by the street, Lu Ran held the black card tightly, observing the bustling world around him. He was certain this wasn’t some animal’s thought he’d picked up—it felt completely different from his usual ability.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Ran stared at the card.

Contract Card? Pet beast? Beast Tamer?

His mind raced back to the post Fang Lan had sent him earlier and the poster’s eerie description.

It all matched perfectly!

No way… Was that guy telling the truth?!