Apocalypse Beast Supplier: Only I Sell God-Tier Beasts

[Your Mutated Iron Shadow Hound would like nourishment.]

[One B-Rank core is equivalent to five C-Rank cores.]

A sleek system window popped up in Terrence’s sight as he held the monster core. A small smirk appeared on his face.

Without hesitation, he tossed the beast core down to the Shadow Hound.

The beast opened its jaws and caught the core, crushing it effortlessly. A faint dark pulse rippled over its black fur as the energy absorbed into its body.

[Your Mutated Iron Shadow Hound is growing.]

[Next mutation or rank: 1%]

Terrence calculated the numbers in his head.

’So a full daily nourishment gives one percent growth,’ he thought. ’With this rate, I would need a hundred days of complete feeding to evolve it to the next rank or mutation.’

That was still an absurdly fast growth rate compared to standard taming methods in this world.

”Hey! Is that really your beast?”

The sharp, agitated voice snapped Terrence out of his thoughts.

Menard stood a few paces away, his face twisted in frustration.

He gritted his teeth so hard his jaw muscles bulged, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Behind Menard, the other two members of the Alpha Squad remained completely silent.

They didn’t dare interject. On one hand, they were immensely relieved to still be breathing after facing a B-Rank Ore Ogre. On the other hand, they knew how fragile Menard’s pride was.

As a recognized genius of the Lee family, being saved by Terrence—the notorious talentless trash who was exiled just yesterday—was a massive blow to Menard’s ego.

Terrence gave a simple, calm nod in response.

That silent nod was enough to make Menard’s blood boil with rage.

”Prove it!” Menard demanded, his voice rising. ”Prove that it belongs to you! If I learn that you stole it or used some illegal trick, I will use my authority as an Alpha Squad leader to confiscate it from you!”

Terrence let out a short, sarcastic laugh.

”How the hell do you plan to steal a beast from someone?” Terrence asked, staring at him as if he were an idiot. ”Do you even hear yourself right now?”

Menard’s breathing grew heavy with impatience. Doubt crept into his mind.

’Terrence never awakened,’ Menard thought, his eyes darting between Terrence and the small black dog. ’I know that for a fact. The ceremony confirmed he had zero affinity. So how is he controlling a beast like this?’

Reaching into his leather belt, Menard pulled out a sleek, metallic monocle—an Inspecting Frame issued directly by the family. He quickly placed it over his right eye and focused on the Shadow Hound.

The frame whirred softly as blue light scanned the dark hound. A second later, the reading finalized.

Menard’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. His breath hitched in his throat.

’S-Rank?! No way! That’s impossible!’

A wave of intense, ugly jealousy washed over Menard. His mind spun out of control. An S-Rank beast was something even the patriarch of the Lee family could only dream of obtaining.

’Terrence doesn’t deserve to control a beast like this,’ Menard thought, a dark scheme forming in his head. ’He’s a nobody. I will get it from him!’

Terrence watched Menard’s expression shift from shock to raw greed. Having lived around the Lee family for eighteen years, Terrence could read their body language with his eyes closed. He knew exactly what Menard was planning the moment his eyes narrowed.

Before Menard could even take a step forward, Terrence gave a silent command through his mind.

In a fraction of a second, the Shadow Hound blurred.

CLACK!

A tiny black paw flicked upward, striking the Inspecting Frame right off Menard’s face. The expensive metallic eyepiece flew through the air, slammed onto the hard ground, and shattered into pieces.

Menard stumbled back, clutching his face in utter disbelief. He looked down at the broken glass near his boots, then looked up, barking in fury.

”How dare you do that!” Menard screamed. ”Don’t you know how valuable that equipment is?! It was issued directly by the family!”

Underneath his outrage, however, his heart was burning with envy.

’How could he control an S-Rank beast while I’m struggling to command a C-Rank wolf?’ Menard screamed internally. ’That S-Rank should be mine!’

Confusion mixed with his anger. Nothing about this made sense.

’Unless... did he awaken yesterday after he was kicked out?’ Menard wondered. ’No, that’s impossible. Sixteen is the standard awakening age. Nobody awakens after that!’

Terrence shook his head, looking at his cousin with blatant mockery in his eyes.

”Don’t you think you’re being a little too full of yourself?” Terrence said softly.

”Where the hell is that coming from?!” Menard snapped back.

”You spent your whole life calling me trash,” Terrence said, taking a slow step forward. ”Right now, you can’t accept reality. You can’t wrap your brain around how I have a powerful beast while you’re stuck relying on a weak C-Rank.”

”Shut up!” Menard yelled, his composure completely breaking down. ”You don’t deserve that beast! You’re just a talentless outcast! Give it to me!”

Realizing he couldn’t force Terrence by strength alone after seeing what the hound did to the ogre, Menard quickly changed his approach. A fake, desperate smile stretched across his face as he thought he found a compromise.

”Wait... listen to me, Terrence,” Menard chuckled nervously, waving his hands. ”If you hand the beast over to me right now, I’ll go straight to the patriarch. I’ll say a good word for you and get your privileges as a Lee family member fully restored! How about that?”

He looked at Terrence with expectant eyes, expecting the former outcast to jump at the chance to return home.

Terrence simply stared at him, the cold smile on his face growing wider.

For a brief, agonizing moment, Menard’s eyes brightened. He mistook Terrence’s silence for hesitation.

’He’s actually considering it,’ Menard thought, a surge of triumph swelling in his chest. ’Of course he is. Who would choose to survive in the filthy Fringe over the luxury of the Lee family estate?’

Menard took a step closer, puffing out his chest, his confidence returning tenfold.

”Think about it, Terrence,” Menard urged, his tone shifting into a smooth, predatory coaxing. ”Your warm room in the main manor. Three meals a day. Access to the outer training grounds. All I need from you is to transfer the beast. I’ll make sure the partriarch knows you willingly contributed to the family’s glory. You’ll never have to sleep in the dirt again.”

The two remaining members of the Alpha Squad exchanged quick glances behind him. They could see the tempting nature of the offer. To an outcast thrown into the wilderness with nothing, returning home was the ultimate salvation.

Terrence let the silence stretch further. He listened to the hollow promises, letting Menard build up his golden illusion higher and higher until it reached its peak.

Then, Terrence let out a low, breathy laugh.

It started small, bubbling up from his chest, before turning into a clear, mocking chuckle that echoed across the ruined clearing.

Menard’s triumphant smile instantly froze. ”What’s so funny?”

”You really haven’t changed at all, Menard,” Terrence said, his voice dropping into a dangerously calm register.

He didn’t make a move to attack. He didn’t order the Shadow Hound to strike.

”You think the Lee family is a reward?” Terrence asked, looking at Menard as if he were a beggar offering a handful of dirt.

”You’re offering me scraps, cousin. A warm room and a title? In exchange for an S-Rank beast that just wiped out a beast your entire squad couldn’t even scratch?”