Awakening : Becoming The World's Strongest Beast Master

The desolation of the house was painfully evident as Leo and Mia prepared to leave. They had nothing to take with them except a few pieces of worn clothing.

Their parents had disappeared years ago, leaving them to fend for themselves. Fortunately, their elder sister, Lia, had awakened a supernatural ability, bringing in a small monthly subsidy that barely covered their basic needs. But Lia's injury had drained the family's finances, forcing her to borrow heavily.

Now, with the house ransacked, Leo and Mia filled a single backpack and left without looking back.

As they walked along the bustling streets, Leo took in his surroundings. It was eerily similar to his original world—wide asphalt roads, towering skyscrapers, and a sea of vehicles zipping by.

Yet, there were distinct differences: the cars floated half a meter above the ground, powered by energy stones. The technological advancements in this world were leagues ahead of anything Leo had known.

People moved with caution, maintaining distance from one another. Most carried weapons, ready for battle at a moment's notice. Some were accompanied by strange beasts, though these creatures were mostly common and unimpressive.

Leo's Beast Mastery ability was considered the lowest of all supernatural abilities, as it only allowed users to control beasts for combat—a seemingly insignificant power in a world where survival hinged on fighting off the relentless beasts beyond the city walls.

Mia, clutching Leo's hand tightly, glanced up at him with fearful eyes. "Brother, where are we going?"

Leo squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll find somewhere safe for you to stay first. Then I'll go to the hospital to see Lia."

He scooped Mia into his arms and quickened his pace. Though Mia was only two years younger than him, an accident at the age of 12 had stunted her physical and mental growth. She remained childlike, both in appearance and behavior.

Soon, they arrived at the door of a small apartment belonging to Leo's childhood friend, Finn.

He knocked firmly three times, and moments later, a groggy Finn opened the door, yawning.

"What's going on?" Finn mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Finn's ability, Nightmare, was a B-rank special ability, significantly stronger than Leo's. However, its drawback was excessive drowsiness. Finn needed sleep to recharge his energy and grow stronger, which left him perpetually lethargic.

"Can Mia stay with you for a while? I need to take care of something, but I'll be back to pick her up soon," Leo said, setting Mia down.

Finn nodded without hesitation, barely asking for details. Leo trusted him completely; Finn had been his closest friend since childhood and had even lent his family money to help with Lia's treatment.

Leaving Mia in Finn's care, Leo hurried toward the hospital with his two newly fused beasts—White Jade Cat and Silver Light Fox—drawing curious stares from passersby. The A-rank bloodlines of his beasts made them stand out in a world where such creatures were rare and highly coveted.

Arriving at the hospital, Leo rushed to Lia's ward. Through the window, he saw her lying motionless on the bed, her once vibrant figure now frail and emaciated.

A surge of guilt and pain coursed through him. Memories of Lia's laughter and strength clashed with the harsh reality before him.

"System," Leo whispered. "Is there any way to make money quickly?"

The system's voice responded promptly:

[ Assessment complete. Recommended methods:

1. Exchange system points for this world's currency. Conversion rate: 1 point = 100 units.

2. Use points to purchase items from the system store and sell them for local currency. This requires the host to identify valuable items for resale. ]

Leo's surroundings shifted as he accessed the system store. He found himself in a massive hall with four glowing screens labeled: Medicines, Daily Necessities, Combat Supplies, and Special Items.

He dismissed daily necessities as too common to resell and combat supplies as risky due to strict regulations.

Special items seemed too unpredictable, leaving medicines as the best option.

Scanning the screen, Leo found a list of available remedies:

[ Turtle Renewal Ointment: Heals external injuries, 10 points. ]

[ Dragon Fang Water: Treats internal injuries, 10 points. ]

[ White Jade Snail Saliva: Treats internal and external injuries, 50 points. ]

Though the snail saliva was expensive, its description promised powerful healing properties. Trusting the system, Leo purchased it.

[ Purchase successful. 50 points deducted. Remaining points: 50. Item stored in warehouse. ]

Back in the hospital, Leo retrieved the crystal bottle from his system warehouse. The viscous, transparent liquid shimmered faintly.

He hesitated. What if it had side effects? But Lia's worsening condition left him no choice. He carefully tilted the bottle, allowing a single drop to fall into her mouth.

Lia's body shuddered violently, startling Leo. But moments later, her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up with surprising strength.

"Lia!" Leo exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion.

"I'm fine," Lia said, her voice steady. She swung her legs off the bed and stood, her movements growing more confident with each step. Her color improved visibly, and the frailty seemed to vanish.

Leo stared at the bottle in awe. The snail saliva's effect was nothing short of miraculous.

A raspy voice interrupted his thoughts. "What did you give her?"

Leo turned to see an elderly man in the neighboring bed, watching him intently.

"Was that a new kind of healing potion? Can you use it on me? I'll pay—name your price!"

Leo hesitated, studying the old man. Despite his bedridden state, the man didn't seem poor.

As if reading Leo's thoughts, the man produced a sleek black card from beneath his pillow.

"This is a black card from the Supernatural Bank," the old man explained. "There are only a hundred of these in existence. I can withdraw any amount of money instantly. If you can restore my health, I'll make it worth your while."

Leo's heart raced. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.