Lin Kai sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. The beast affinity machine in front of him blinked mockingly, as if aware of his utter incompetence. The needle barely twitched. Just barely. It had been the same result for three years straight. Every year, he had hoped—no, begged—that this time, maybe this time, the machine would recognize something, anything, in him. But every year, disappointment greeted him like an old friend.
"Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. Around him, the other students whispered and snickered. Young Master Feng, the academy's golden child, stood nearby with a smug grin, arms crossed, eyes glittering with cruel amusement.
"Ha! Lin Kai, still trying to trick the machine? Maybe next year it'll recognize your talent… for failing!" Feng jeered, making several students laugh outright.
Lin Kai clenched his fists, teeth grinding. He had no response—he couldn't argue with results, and anyway, his reputation as "trash" preceded him. The academy had already labeled him as a hopeless underdog. Even the teachers had long since stopped expecting much from him.
He stared down at the machine one last time, his fingers twitching as if willing it to react differently. Nothing. The needle remained stubbornly inert. Lin Kai groaned and turned away, muttering, "Maybe I should just give up…"
"Giving up, huh?" a soft, unfamiliar voice whispered.
Lin Kai froze. The voice was almost melodic, yet faint, like the rustle of wind through the leaves. He spun around, but no one was there.
"Who's there?" he demanded. His voice sounded much more desperate than he intended. The courtyard was empty except for the other students who were now busy congratulating themselves on their own affinity scores.
Then he noticed it—a faint glimmer at the edge of the trash pile near the academy's garden. Curiosity, or perhaps the last spark of hope, drew him closer. Among discarded spirit stones and broken branches, a small, cracked stone pulsed with a soft, warm light.
Lin Kai knelt and picked it up, turning it over in his hands. The glow seemed to thrum in rhythm with his heartbeat. "Huh… weird," he muttered. "I've never seen anything like this before."
No sooner had he spoken than the stone began to shake violently. Lin Kai dropped it in surprise, and it cracked further, letting out a high-pitched squeak. From the fracture, a pair of tiny, blazing red eyes blinked up at him.
A small, silver-furred fox cub leapt from the stone and landed squarely on Lin Kai's hand. Its tiny claws dug into his skin, sharp enough to draw a thin line of blood. Lin Kai yelped, almost dropping the creature.
"Ow! What—what are you?!" he exclaimed, clutching his hand.
The cub glared at him with an expression that clearly said, I will end you if you breathe wrong. Its tail flicked with a small, flickering flame, and Lin Kai couldn't help but notice the unusual aura radiating from it—intense, otherworldly, and… alive.
Then a voice boomed inside his head.
"WARNING! COMPATIBILITY 99% DETECTED — SYSTEM INITIALIZING!"
Lin Kai froze. "Wait, what system? What—inside my head?!"
A digital display suddenly materialized in his vision, showing a holographic interface filled with stats, meters, and flashing alerts.
System Name: Roast & Bond Enhancement SystemHost: Lin KaiStatus: Critical (Trash Tier)
Stats:
Strength: 2/100
Taming Affinity: 1/100
Charm: 5/100
Luck: 999/1000
System Alert:Congratulations, Lin Kai! You are officially the most incompetent host ever. Welcome to a lifetime of humiliation and beast-taming disasters.
Lin Kai rubbed his temples. "Great… I can hear a snarky AI in my head, too. Just what I needed."
Then the fox cub let out a small growl, and Lin Kai realized it wasn't just looking at him—it was judging him.
System Quest: Pet the fox three times without getting bitten. Failure will result in the loss of one year of lifespan.
Lin Kai stared at the tiny, glaring creature. "You've got to be kidding me."
He cautiously extended his hand, trembling. The fox immediately lunged at it. Lin Kai dodged, then tried again. This went on for nearly ten minutes, with him jumping, dodging, and squeaking like a terrified schoolboy. His clothes were torn, his sleeves burned slightly, and his dignity had long since evaporated.
The fox, meanwhile, looked entirely unimpressed. Its ears twitched as it bared tiny teeth. "Pathetic," it seemed to say with every flick of its tail.
Finally, after an exhausting ordeal, Lin Kai noticed a subtle change. The fox's ears relaxed, its gaze softened ever so slightly, and it allowed him to stroke its head for a brief second.
System Update: Bond Level 10% achieved. Skill unlocked: Flame Pulse.
Lin Kai blinked. "I… I actually did it?"
The fox let out a tiny growl, smoke curling from its paws. It wasn't exactly approval, but it was close enough. Lin Kai couldn't help but smile weakly.
"Okay… first win," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the academy courtyard. Young Master Feng's voice rang out:
"Lin Kai! What are you doing in the garden again? Playing with trash, no doubt!"
Lin Kai's stomach dropped. He looked at the fox cub, which had now begun circling his shoulders like a miniature whirlwind of flames. "Uh… hi," he muttered nervously.
The fox bared its teeth at Feng and gave a tiny roar, a plume of flame puffing out like smoke from a candle. Feng's smug expression faltered slightly, and Lin Kai couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride.
System:Note: Host's reputation may now increase slightly due to heroic display. Also, congratulations on not dying yet. Barely.
Lin Kai exhaled, trying to steady himself. "Okay… okay… this is fine. Totally fine," he muttered, though his hands shook.
As he walked back toward the academy gates, the fox cub hopped lightly onto his shoulder, flames licking the air. Lin Kai felt a strange warmth—a mix of fear, awe, and… curiosity. He didn't know why, but he felt a connection with this creature, one that seemed to stir something deep within him.
And then, as if sensing his thoughts, the cub's eyes glinted red with intelligence, and a small, almost human-like whisper echoed in his mind:
"You owe me your life… human. Don't screw it up."
Lin Kai froze. He had no idea what he had just agreed to, but one thing was clear: his life was about to change forever.
Little did he know that the academy gates ahead were only the beginning. Rival students, hidden beasts, deadly trials, and the relentless, sarcastic system would soon make his "trash" life anything but ordinary. And somewhere in the shadows, someone—or something—was already watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
For the first time in his seventeen years, Lin Kai felt a spark of excitement. Not the kind that comes from winning or gaining power… but the kind that comes from finally being part of something bigger than himself.
He glanced at the fox cub again. "Alright… partner. Let's see how far we can go."
The fox's tail flicked, sending a tiny flare into the air. For a moment, it looked almost proud.
Then it hissed.
Lin Kai yelped.
System:Congratulations, Lin Kai. Adventure begins. Also… you are completely doomed.
And with that, the boy who couldn't bond had officially stepped into a world where magic, beasts, and ridiculous challenges awaited him.