SSS Class Awakening: I Can Forge My Beast Soul Avatars
Chapter 20: Forging a beast

Chapter 20: Forging a beast

Atlas didn’t need to be told twice.

His footsteps echoed through the massive chamber as he approached the central platform, and the moment his foot touched the first stone step, the Forge awakened.

Golden light exploded across the platform as the three metallic rings began rotating in harmony.

The runes carved across their surfaces ignited, sending streams of golden energy toward the center while the floating instruments — needles, scalpels, forceps, mechanical arms, and crystal lenses — rose to orbit the central table in a perfectly synchronized loop.

Atlas slowly climbed the final step and stared at the spectacle. "Okay... How do I start?"

"Tutorial phase initiated," the system’s voice echoed around him.

"Host will answer a series of questions to determine the fundamental characteristics of the first creation. Every action during the tutorial will be performed automatically by the system. Future creations will require the Host to personally operate the Soul Forge."

Atlas’s eyes widened slightly. ’So this is basically a guided demonstration.’

That made sense; the system probably didn’t expect a sixteen year old to instinctively understand how to construct an artificial beast from scratch.

His attention returned to the translucent screen hovering before him as the first question appeared.

[Select Beast Type]

* Boar

* Sparrow

* Wolf

* Pig

Atlas stared, blinked, and then stared again. "What exactly am I supposed to do with a pig? And what’s the difference between a pig and a boar?"

The system remained silent, prompting Atlas to frown before imagining the possibilities. ’Maybe I could become the first Beastmaster in history to command a Legendary Pig.’

His shoulders began shaking as he tried to suppress a giggle. "Heh... Imagine that. A Legendary Pig! Maybe I could even use it as an edible summon. Imagine being a Beastmaster who eats his own beast because it makes good pork."

He burst into another fit of laughter at the ridiculous thought, but eventually cleared his throat as his laughter died down.

"Okay, enough. Give me the wolf."

[Beast Type: Wolf Selected.]

The next screen immediately replaced the first.

[Beast Size & Build]

* Small — Speed / Agility

* Medium — Balanced

* Large — Tank / Defense

[System Note: Size determines fundamental bone structure and Soul Essence consumption.]

Atlas considered the options thoughtfully. ’A large wolf sounds intimidating, but a small wolf would probably be incredibly fast. Still, both choices seem to specialize in one extreme.’

"Medium," Atlas selected.

[Medium Build Selected.]

[Primary Combat Role]

* Striker — High single-target damage

* Scout — Reconnaissance / Mobility

* Guardian — Defense / Protection

[System Note: Selection determines initial skill-tree allocation.]

Atlas didn’t hesitate for long. "Scout."

He wasn’t creating a beast simply to throw it into a battlefield without a plan. A scout could move quickly, gather information, track enemies, explore dangerous areas, and most importantly... evolve into something far more versatile later on.

[Scout Role Selected.]

[Elemental Affinity]

* None — Pure Physical

* Fire

* Earth

* Water

* Wind

* Shadow — Rare Existing Element

Atlas’s expression immediately shifted as the word left his mouth almost instinctively. "Shadow."

He stared at the option, intrigued. ’This sounds dangerous.’

He had no idea what Shadow affinity actually entailed or if he’d ever seen a beast with it, but that was exactly why he wanted it.

"I’ll take Shadow."

[Shadow Affinity Selected.]

[Bone Affinity Added.]

* Effect: Increased Durability.

* Effect: Enhanced Fear Response.

Atlas blinked. "Wait. Where did that come from?"

[System Note: Tutorial grants one free affinity. Further affinities require appropriate materials.]

Atlas’s expression slowly changed as he glanced toward the Forge. ’Bone... So that’s why the system mentioned affinities.’

His mind began racing. If Shadow was his elemental affinity and Bone was his secondary affinity, what other combinations could he create in the future?

Could he eventually create a beast with three or four affinities, combine Fire and Ice, or even engineer a creature that controlled gravity?

Before his imagination could run too wild, the system interrupted his thoughts with the next prompt.

[Appearance Customization]

* Default Template

* Customized — Describe three features

"Default," Atlas immediately selected. He shrugged slightly; he didn’t know enough about beast anatomy yet to start messing around with manual customization.

[Default Template Selected.]

Then came the final prompt.

[Name Your Beast]

[System Note: Naming establishes a Soul Bond. Unnamed beasts possess 20% reduced loyalty.]

Atlas froze, his finger hovering over the screen. "...Oh."

That was crucial. He stared at the question, thinking deeply.

’Okay... this is probably the hardest one. A name isn’t just a name if it creates a soul bond — I want to choose something meaningful, something that fits and feels right.’

Nothing came to mind immediately, so after a moment, Atlas sighed. "I’ll name it later."

[Name: Unassigned.]

Atlas blinked. "Wait, it actually accepted that?"

The system offered no response, leaving Atlas to scratch his head with a quiet, "Okay, then."

The various selections began assembling themselves on the holographic display:

[Beast Creation Parameters]

* Beast Type: Wolf

* Size: Medium

* Primary Role: Scout

* Elemental Affinity: Shadow

* Secondary Affinity: Bone

* Appearance Template: Default

* Projected Appearance: Greyhound-Type Wolf

* Eye Color: Glowing Red

* Name: Unassigned

* Soul Essence: 100/100

Atlas slowly read through the list — a medium-sized Shadow wolf, a scout with Bone affinity, a sleek greyhound-like build, and glowing red eyes.

His grin slowly returned. "Not bad."

[Begin Craft?]

[Warning: The forging process cannot be interrupted once initiated. Estimated completion time varies according to complexity and selected parameters.]

Atlas stared at the warning as his excitement took on a more serious edge. This was it — once he started, there was no going back.

The first beast he created would become his partner and his first real companion in this new life.

Atlas slowly clenched his fist. "Begin."

[Forge Initiated.]

[Estimated Time Until Completion: 07:59:56]

Atlas’s eyes widened. "...Eight hours?" He stared at the countdown and scratched his head. "Well, damn. Guess I’ll be checking on it in the morning."

The Forge suddenly shifted as the massive central table began vibrating with a deep mechanical hum that echoed throughout the chamber.

Something was rising from beneath the forging platform — a gigantic rectangular metallic container that resembled an oversized bank vault, its dark metal surface covered in glowing runes and mechanical seams.

Atlas stepped closer as the container locked into position with a heavy clang. "What’s that?"

The system didn’t answer, but the floating instruments — needles, scalpels, forceps, mechanical arms, and crystal lenses — descended into the metallic structure one after another.

Atlas stared, unable to see inside but hearing the rhythmic movement of machinery, the faint mechanical clicks, and the pulsing hum of energy.

Something that hadn’t existed before was being carefully assembled.

Standing silently before the Forge, Atlas truly understood what his Aspect meant for the first time.

Beast Forger.

He wasn’t simply summoning existing creatures; he was creating them, building them, giving them form, endowing them with abilities, and ultimately bringing them to life.

A strange mixture of excitement, anticipation, and responsibility settled in his chest. Whatever emerged from that container eight hours from now would be his very first creation and companion.

Atlas slowly smiled. "I’ll see you in the morning, then."

The Forge continued its silent work as metallic tools moved, golden runes pulsed, and the Soul Essence within the chamber slowly drained to give form to a new life.

"I really should get some sleep," Atlas murmured, descending the platform.

With one last glance over his shoulder at the countdown ticking down to [07:42:31], he disappeared into the darkness.

Deep within the Soul Forge, the creation process continued — a creature born not from nature or evolution, but from the hands of a Creator.