Chapter 32 – A Shiny Surprise
Chapter 32 – The White Nine-Tails
(Alden's POV)
---
I sat cross-legged on the floor of my dorm room, staring at the crimson egg resting on my desk.
No movement. No energy spikes. No cracks. Nothing.
Just a perfectly intact egg that looked ordinary—except it was anything but.
I drummed my fingers against my knee. "Alright… how do I hatch you?"
Silence.
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
In the game, this egg never hatched. It was nothing more than a collectible, a cruel joke by the developers. But this was reality.
And I was not about to carry around a giant egg forever.
I placed my hand over it, channeling a thread of mana. If magical beasts functioned like weapons or artifacts, then mana infusion should trigger something… right?
The moment my mana touched the egg—
Crack!
A faint glow pulsed from within.
My heart skipped a beat.
Oh. Oh, it's actually hatching.
Before I could react, the entire shell shattered, glowing fragments scattering across my desk.
A warm, golden light filled the room.
And then—
A tiny, white-furred fox tumbled out, landing right into my lap.
…Wait. White?
I blinked, staring at the small creature curled against my chest.
Weren't Nine-Tailed Beasts supposed to be red or golden? Their color reflected their affinity, but I didn't remember any mention of a white one.
This one's fur was pure white, almost silver under the light.
I narrowed my eyes. "Did I just get the shiny Pokémon?"
---
The Divine Calamity (…?)
The tiny fox stirred, its ears twitching as it slowly opened its eyes.
A pair of glowing amethyst irises locked onto mine.
It yawned, its fluffy tails twitching, before nuzzling into my shirt like a lazy cat.
…This thing was supposed to be a divine calamity?
I poked its cheek. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be all-powerful or something?"
The fox blinked at me. Then, without warning—
Chomp.
I froze.
The little thing had just bitten my finger.
"…You little—"
[Hmph. Insolent human.]
I flinched, nearly dropping it.
The voice hadn't come from its mouth. It had spoken directly into my mind.
The tiny fox tilted its head, fluffy ears twitching.
[Who dares wake me from my slumber?]
"…Me?" I answered dumbly.
It stared at me for a long moment before letting out a tiny huff.
[Tch. I expected more from my summoner.]
Summoner? Right. Hatching the egg must've meant I had officially contracted this thing.
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
I just woke up a mythical creature… and it was already judging me.
---
A Beast Beyond the Game
I crossed my arms. "Alright, time for some answers. What exactly are you?"
The fox flicked its tail, fixing me with an almost smug expression.
[I am no mere Nine-Tailed Beast.]
Its voice carried an unmistakable air of superiority.
[My kind was thought to be extinct long ago. I am a Celestial Nine-Tailed Beast.]
I froze.
Celestial? That wasn't in the game's lore.
"Were you different from the usual Nine-Tails?"
[*Hmph. Unlike those common flame-tailed mutts, my power surpasses mere fire. Celestial Nine-Tails wield dominion over pure mana itself. *]
I felt my breath hitch.
That was way beyond what I expected.
Pure mana control?
That meant this thing wasn't bound to any single elemental affinity. It could manipulate raw mana freely, adapting to any battle situation.
In other words—a literal walking cheat code.
I muttered under my breath, "Did I just pick up an endgame boss as a pet?"
The fox yawned. [Perhaps. But you have yet to prove yourself worthy of me.]
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Great. I just got a tsundere mythical beast.
---
A Name Worthy of a Myth
"Alright, if you're sticking around, I should probably give you a name."
The fox glanced up at me. [Hmph. Very well. I shall accept a name… if it is worthy.]
I rolled my eyes. "Relax, I'm not about to name you 'Fluffy' or something."
The fox visibly cringed.
I smirked. "Okay, how about… Shiranui?"
The moment I said it, the fox froze.
A pause. Then—
[Shiranui…]
The name echoed in my mind.
The little beast lifted its head high, its nine tails swaying behind it like wisps of moonlight.
[Yes. This name shall do.]
I let out a breath. "Glad you approve, Your Majesty."
---
Status Update
I pulled up my status window, curious to see if Shiranui had been added.
⟪ Status Window ⟫
Name: Alden Blackwood
Race: Human
Rank: E
Mana Capacity: E+
Affinities: None
Physique: Enhanced (Due to Purification)
Basic Stats
Strength: E
Agility: E+
Intelligence: C
Mana: E+
Stamina: E
Skills
⟪ Eclipse Vision ⟫
Illusions & Mind Control – Can trap enemies in illusions or briefly control weak minds.
Enhanced Perception – Slows down time perception, improving reaction speed and battle awareness.
⟪ Mana Manipulation (Intermediate) ⟫
Allows precise control over mana flow and circulation.
⟪ Stealth (Basic) ⟫
Reduces presence and sound of movement.
Traits
⟪ Voidstep ⟫
Phasing: Allows the user to phase through objects and enter the Void, a formless space beyond reality.
Teleportation: The user can step through space itself, vanishing and reappearing at will.
Weapon Arts
⟪ Five Forms of the Crimson Moon (5-Star) ⟫ [1/5 Unlocked]
First Form – Lunar Severance: A devastating single slash that cuts through mana defenses.
⟪ Shadow Fang Dagger Art (3-Star) ⟫ [15% Proficiency]
A fast, deceptive dagger art specialized in speed and misdirection.
⟪ Phantom Edge Sword (2-Star) ⟫ [55% Proficiency]
A precise sword style focused on counterattacks.
⟪ Swift Blade Style (2-Star) ⟫ [50% Proficiency]
A quick, balanced sword art designed for rapid attacks.
⟪ Shadow Step Footwork (2-Star) ⟫ [65% Proficiency] (Copied using Eclipse Vision)
Enhances movement speed and allows quick dodges.
Beast Companion
Shiranui (Celestial Nine-Tailed Beast) – Rank Unknown
I shut the window, exhaling slowly.
I had officially gained one of the rarest creatures in existence. A living, breathing nuke of raw mana.
But something didn't add up.
If I had found this egg—what else was different from the game?
The protagonist never got this. The game never mentioned Celestial Nine-Tails.
Something was changing.
And I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.