[Player: Lince]
[Role: Swamp Giant Lizard (Demon Beast)]
[Tier: Tier Two]
[Body Type: Approx. 5.2 meters]
[Bloodline: Earth Giant Lizard Bloodline (High Tier)]
[Growth Level: 62% (Current Tier growth; advancement possible at 100%)]
[Potential: ★★★ (Three Stars)]
[Elemental Affinity: Earth]
[Skills: 1. Frenzy, 2. Earth Spike Technique.]
...
"These graphics, this art style... I can definitely get into this!"
Lince stared at the screen, looking at the intro cinematic for a game he had downloaded on a whim. He found it surprisingly interesting.
On the computer screen, a ferocious, rock-gray Giant Lizard was displayed.
The Giant Lizard was mid-pounce, its short legs splayed and its massive mouth wide open.
In the path of its lunge was a silver-haired Knight clad in Leather Armor.
The Knight's face was a mask of utter despair. He lay paralyzed on the ground, staring blankly as the massive Lizard was about to snap its jaws on him.
The scene was incredibly realistic, easily on par with cinematic-quality graphics from a top-tier movie.
Just the opening cutscene alone had completely captured Lince's interest.
"Let's go. This is worth a buy."
Lince didn't hesitate. Playing the game was what mattered; he was all in.
Besides, the game had already paused on a frozen frame, and a text prompt appeared, asking him to make a choice.
[Welcome, Player Lince, to 'True Game.' Your randomly selected role has been confirmed: Swamp Giant Lizard.]
[Please choose an option for the current scenario.]
(Note: Once confirmed, this choice will determine your future gameplay style. Please decide carefully.)
[Option 1: Kill the trailblazing Knight.]
[Option 2: Let the trailblazing Knight go.]
[Option 3: Intimidate the trailblazing Knight and force him to sign a Master-Servant Contract with you.]
[Please make your choice: ...]
Looking at the options on the screen, Lince fell into a brief moment of thought.
'Three options that determine the rest of my gameplay?'
'Looks like this game has three different playstyles.'
'Option one is to kill, and I'm playing as a Demon Beast.'
'So, if I choose to kill this Knight, does that mean my game mode will be to oppose the Human Race?'
'Option two is to let him go without killing him?'
'Does that mean the Giant Lizard will become friendly with humans and join their faction?'
'Is that even possible? Heh...'
'If I let this guy run off, it'd be a miracle if he didn't come back with a party to farm me for loot.'
'Those not of my kind are sure to have different hearts.' Lince knew this old saying well; there was no need for naive thoughts.
'But since option two exists, it must represent some kind of gameplay mode. I just don't know which one.'
'It's not like I'm supposed to let the Knight go, only for him to return with a party to farm me, and that's it—GG, game over right at the start?'
Of course, that wasn't an impossibility.
However, connecting this to option three, Lince had another theory.
'If I let this Knight go, there's a high probability he'll come back with a group to farm me.'
'Then, I'll get beaten half to death and captured alive, becoming something like a Pet Beast.'
Lince thought the chances of that were actually quite high.
'And the existence of option three is the complete opposite of that scenario—the tables completely turned.'
"Interesting."
A slight smile touched Lince's lips as he gripped the mouse, his decision made.
[Option Confirmed: Three]
[The Player has chosen to intimidate the trailblazing Knight and threaten him into signing a Master-Servant Contract.]
[Player's future gameplay style has been unlocked.]
[Player entering scenario mode for the first time. Beginning role immersion and embodiment. Countdown: 3, 2... ]
As the final words of the text prompt appeared on the screen,
Lince felt a moment of shock. But that shock didn't last until the countdown hit 1. His head drooped, and his face slammed onto the keyboard.
...
「The central border of the Oranck Continent, the Wilderness Swamp.」
"Are you kidding me!!!"
"The report clearly said the Demon Beasts in this swamp were only Tier One!"
"Why is there a Tier Two here!!!"
"I... I don't want to die!!! I can't die! I absolutely cannot die!"
"Mother and Lucia are still waiting for me!"
"Run!!! I have to make it back!!! I have to..."
"..."
In the jungle at the edge of the swamp, York fled frantically, crashing through the undergrowth without a clear path.
But now, his face was already a mask of despair.
As the illegitimate son of a Baron, he had no right to inherit any territory.
Therefore, if he wanted to attain a noble title, he had only two choices.
One was to join the army and wait for an opportunity to perform meritorious service, thereby earning a promotion into the Nobility.
But such opportunities were few and far between, and the wait could be very long.
So, he had another, relatively easier option.
As a noble's scion, after becoming an Official Knight, he could venture into the Wilderness as a trailblazing Knight to claim new land.
If he succeeded, he could justifiably become a Lord.
At the same time, he could rightfully take his mother from the Baron's Mansion and would finally have the true qualifications to marry the second daughter of Viscount Callum.
But now, all of it seemed to have become an illusion.
"Everything was going so smoothly!"
"Why!!! Why!!!"
Tears of bitterness and despair streaked York's face.
And just then, a great number of earth spikes suddenly shot up from the ground.
Although he narrowly dodged the fatal blow, one of the spikes pierced his thigh, sending him tumbling wretchedly to the ground.
As he scrambled to push himself up and retrieve his fallen sword, he was met with the sight of a ferocious, gaping maw!
In that instant, it was as if the entire world froze in York's eyes.
A flood of memories, like a lantern show of his life, flashed through his mind.
"No!!!"
"Oh, Deities! I don't want to die!!!"
York shrieked in terrified despair, tears and snot streaming down his face.
It was a sight pitiful enough to make any who saw it grieve and any who heard it weep.
However, it was at this very moment that time seemed to freeze.
The next moment, something happened that York never could have anticipated.
The ferocious Swamp Giant Lizard abruptly halted its attack. Its massive, lunging body landed right in front of York.
It held its head high, looking down upon him.
Their two pairs of eyes met, both filled with bewilderment.
And just then, an abrupt, inhuman, mechanical voice sounded in York's mind.
[In accordance with an ancient pact, an unknown, great being has descended upon the mortal world.]
[Serve its mortal vessel, the 'Swamp Giant Lizard,' as your master, and you shall receive the favor of fate.]
[Frail mortal, make your choice!]
"Wha... what?"
York's expression was vacant, as if he hadn't yet come back to his senses.
'An ancient pact? An unknown being? A mortal vessel?'
'Is it talking about this Tier Two Swamp Giant Lizard in front of me?'
With no time for further thought, the terror of his situation and the immense joy of surviving a near-death experience compelled him to make his choice immediately.
"I am willing!!!"
"O, great being, great deity! I am willing to serve at the side of your vessel!"
"I beseech you to bestow your grace upon me!"
York looked up at the Swamp Giant Lizard that was gazing down at him.
Now, he could even see a sagacious and discerning light in the Swamp Giant Lizard's eyes—a look that should not belong to a Demon Beast.
He cried out, his expression filled with supplication.