I've Been Reincarnated As A Summoned Beast: Chapter 4

Zero

Standing in front of three beasts caused my excitement to bubble up as bloodlust started to exude from all over my body. I had convinced Euphy to challenge all three of his beasts for me to really drive home my point. Even if I can’t beat all of them, I can still stay in the fight and not lose. I’m sure of this fact.

I promised Euphy I would show her a portion of my true power. She warned me not to go overboard as this wasn’t an actual fight of life and death. While I will try, I still have no idea how strong my opponents are. Even though I feel like they aren't much, could it be I'm not picking up on them or something? How else could this man call himself the strongest in the world if his beasts are only at this level?

There was a golden lion that I was told used fire; it sounds like a pretty easy target from my experience with fire-based beasts. Second was a long twenty-foot serpent that uses water; it will be interesting to try my powers vs. another element. But it's still water, so how hard could it be? The third one was the most concerning: a wolf with a lightning element.

It would be a pretty interesting combo attack from the serpent and wolf coming together with water and lightning combined. The lion looks to be the first one to approach. Perfect is all I could think to myself as I started to decompress my power to show it off to my now favorite person, Euphy.

***

Euphemia

Watching on as Zero was standing against her father’s three beasts. What she really didn’t understand about her fox was how he overthrew a world of fire as ice. You would think ice, as an element, would just melt when put against flames. If water were the element instead of ice, he could just drown out the fire. But Ice would always be at a disadvantage.

When I really think about it, Zero had said his main element isn’t just ice but absolute zero. No fire could burn at that temperature, or no life, for that matter, would survive. As I was deep in thought, I felt the same pressure that was present upon the summoning earlier.

I watched on as Zero started to grow from a huggable, cute little fox into a giant, ferocious one that I had seen in my dreams, towering over all three of the other beasts. At the same time, a blue-like fog started to leak out of his body, with his blue eyes starting to flicker.

He roared with a deafening sound as the whole practice grounds turned into an icy hell at the same time the lion collapsed to the ground. Looking over, I saw my father watching on with a concerned face. I really hope Zero didn’t just kill him.

The other two launched a combo attack, charging at him with water coated in a lightning element sent in Zero’s direction in a storm of magic and carnage. As soon as those two elements came into contact with the lethal level of absolute zero, their magic was frozen solid as if it had never existed. The smug-looking fox just sidestepped as they smashed into the wall behind him.

He didn’t really move at all and just stood there as if he was waiting for them to attack once again. The wolf and serpent looked unsure of themselves as they once again prepared to attack. Zero made no attempt to stop it and took on its full power.

Both spells dispersed the second they were about to touch his fur, as if he were covered in some type of anti-magical barrier. I couldn’t help but feel completely astonished for my summon to be this powerful. Watching Zero fight my father’s beasts was like seeing a five-year-old fight a grown adult.

This is great news for our guild and this city in general. There are many threats in this world that would literally take most of our guild to show up to suppress it. For Zero to absolutely crush like this, it’s almost like he’s one of those monsters who came to this world from those unknown rifts.

“If I had to make an educated guess, your fox is probably at a legendary or even mythical level of power. Euphemia, it’s truly amazing that my three summons couldn’t even make him try seriously. The true question is, what even is his ceiling, and can you even control something that powerful? Good luck, daughter. The fate of the world probably now lies on your shoulders with how well you can control that powerhouse of a fox.” My father said with a heavy sigh as he walked out to get the healing started on his beasts.

Zero just sat there as if mocking the other three beasts in front of him, not even attempting to attack the wolf and serpent. It was completely meaningless besides enforcing his dominance over them. How will I get such a powerful beast to actually listen to me? At the very least, he seems to really like me, and at the same time, after he licked all over my lips earlier, I’ve felt weird. Just what did he do to me?

I started to make my way to Zero as he shrunk himself back down to his small size from earlier, the most smug face I'd ever seen plastered across his face.

'So…'

While I want to scream in joy and hug him to my heart's content because of how outrageously strong my summons turned out to be. But is that the right move to feed his ego even more? Can I even control him?

'Why do you have such a serious face? Just hug me already!' He demanded with a slight bit of annoyance in his voice.

What am I going to do with this fox? Also, he seems to have this obsession with having me cradle him in my arms. What's up with that?

Reaching down, I picked him up as he once again tried licking my face, but I was ready for him this time as I blocked him with a hand.

'Tease!'

"What?" I couldn't comprehend what in the world he was implying.

'Didn't you pick me up so I could lick your face?' Zero said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 'I'm sure you're feeling it, aren't you?'

"Feeling what?" I asked, dumbfounded.

'My soul link was established with you the second our saliva mixed during the summoning ceremony. So… now your body is taking on my element of absolute zero; don't you feel it yet? I know I can feel it within you.'

Now that he mentioned it, my body has become a lot colder than before. As I try to breathe heavily, I see some light fog exit my mouth. At my core there was something rotating, and at the same time it felt comfortable, as if it was always meant to be there.

"I'm changing because of the tongue licking I got earlier?" I couldn't help but panic at what was happening to me. I've never heard of a beast who could give powers to the one that summoned them.

'Well… how else would you be able to withstand my kind of power if you aren't also of the same element?' Zero asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Does that mean I will develop powers in the future?" My mind couldn't help but be excited about the prospect.

'Who knows? But, at the very least, you won't be harmed if I have to get serious.'

"So… does that mean you licked me like that, creating a soul link between us to protect me from your magic?" I couldn't help but think.

'Sure…' He said with a lot of emphasis. 'So allow me to do my job and enjoy your lips.'

Why do I feel like this means a whole lot more than he's explaining? I know some beast summoners are intimate with their summons, but this feels way too affectionate.

"Fine, but this is the last time for a while." As I gave in to Zero, he started licking me with fervor.

Is it weird that I don't hate this? What's wrong with me to actually feel somewhat turned on by such an action when he isn't even a human? After about a minute of this taking place, he seemed to finally be satisfied, relaxing into my arms and putting his head down.

A few hours later…

I couldn't help but confide in my mother. The first thing I did was drop Zero off onto my bed because he refused to go anywhere else. Then I made my way to her study, where she took care of our family affairs. My father wasn't currently home.

"What's wrong, dear?" My mother's atmosphere was soft as she looked at me with caring eyes.

"I need to ask you a question about beast summons because Zero sure acts weird." I emphasized the word weird greatly to get my point across.

"Oh? What did he do?"

"He wants to lick my lips as if he were trying to court me or something." I watched as my mom's expression turned weird as I continued. "He said it was because of a soul link that was established during our first exchange of fluids, but I don't really understand."

"It's not that unnatural for a beast to show love towards its master. They also tend to mark their territory as if to tell every other predator, this is mine."

"I understand the need to mark your territory, but wouldn't that be achieved by just rubbing its body against mine, leaving its scent on me? Why would it need to constantly lick at my lips?" My mind has been in a constant state of unease ever since I summoned Zero, especially after that first interaction, where I got a sudden chill throughout my whole body.

There has to be more to his actions; I just know it.

"Is it really a big deal? I mean, he played with your father's beasts as if they were children. If Zero's collar is your affection towards him, it's worth it. He's probably going to be the key in the future to turn the tides against the evil that is invading our world."

"Are you telling me to have a relationship with a fox?" My mind couldn't comprehend my mother's intentions. While, yes, I can understand what she means, but at the same time, how can I have that with a wild beast?

"You know there have been stories from long ago where summoned beasts get a human form once they reach a certain level of power. Zero could be one of those with how he's able to communicate so well." My mom looked at me with a knowing glance. "Don't mess it up, Euphy; it's up to you to tame that wild beast. You could see in his eyes that he's a killer and won't be easy to restrain.

I know she's right, and I also felt it when Zero had that stare-down with my father. You could feel the rage bubbling up to the surface, and he probably would have killed him if I didn't step in. It's going to be a fine line trying to cater to his needs going further, and for taming him, it's only a pipe dream for now.

"I understand." The fate of our guild and possibly even the world might be decided by how well I can control Zero in the future. He even said he only used a small portion of his power earlier today, but I don't know how true that is. He seems to have quite the ego and could just be puffing out his chest.

The fact he has seven tails is significant because Todd also has a fox, but only one tail. It shows nowhere near the same level of power as Zero. It's also a girl from what I remember; maybe I should introduce them. They might create a bond that would pull his overly affectionate personality away from me.

At the same time, I don't really feel like that's a good idea. What if he decides to abandon me for her? No way! That's just stupid to even think something like that. He said we were bonded, right? He wouldn't leave me for a female fox.