My F-Rank Sagea is Secretly an EX-Rank Calamity

Chapter 1: Premature Bonding

[Author’s Note: A Quick Word on Lore]

Welcome to the world of My F-Rank Sagea is Secretly an EX-Rank Calamity! Before you dive in, just a quick heads-up regarding the system and monster names: This story takes place in a completely original fantasy universe, not Earth.

​You will see a unique blend of mythologies—like naming a giant, nine-tailed Calamity wolf Erebus (combining the Greek concept of absolute darkness with East Asian multi-tailed beast lore). Everything is deeply tied to the world-building, so sit back, enjoy the cross-mythology fusion, and let’s get into Chapter 1! ✨

--------------------------------------------------

It was the day of the ceremony, the monumental event where individuals were finally bonded with their Sageas.

These immortal beings dictated a person’s status in society. Once bonded, a human would unlock immense powers and complete dangerous missions to help their Sagea evolve.

​"Rowan Flynn!" the ceremony master called out, his voice echoing through the grand hall.

​Every human had to adhere to strict rules once the bonding process was complete. If any of those boundaries were crossed, they would face severe consequences.

​The ancient Bond Laws flashed vividly across the massive screens in the hall:

​>> Rule 1: The Bond of Trust <<

Humans must maintain an absolute bond of trust with their Sagea, keeping their thoughts, emotions, and intentions transparent and honest.

​-- Consequence --

If a human manipulates or deceives their Sagea, the bond will be severed, leaving the human permanently vulnerable to dark energies.

​>> Rule 2: The Balance of Power <<

Humans must respect the balance of power within their bond, neither dominating, controlling, nor submissively surrendering to their Sagea.

​-- Consequence --

If a human attempts to force control over their Sagea, they will be consumed by the creature’s raw power, losing their identity and autonomy forever.

​>> Rule 3: The Sanctity of Secrets <<

Humans must keep all secrets and knowledge shared by their Sagea completely confidential, protecting the integrity of their bond.

​-- Consequence --

Breaking this rule curses the human with a horrific magical affliction, forcing them to relive agonizing visions of the past and present until madness takes them.

​>> Rule 4: The Prohibition of Exploitation <<

Humans are strictly forbidden from using their Sageas as mere weapons or tools for unprovoked harm and manipulation.

​-- Consequence --

Violating this law causes the Sagea to be permanently scarred by darkness. The human will be afflicted with a "shadow echo"—a terrifying manifestation of their own malice that torments them until amends are made.

​These rules were displayed at every single Bonding Ceremony, read aloud and memorized by these individuals until they were permanently imprinted into their minds. It ensured that no one took the ritual lightly.

​Rowan stepped confidently into the summoning circle and placed his palm onto the central crystal.

​Suddenly, the crystal glowed with a blinding, full-beam radiance that it had never shown before. The light continuously intensified, filling the room.

​"Holy grail!" the ceremony master exclaimed, shielding his eyes.

​The crystal split down the center, revealing a glowing scroll detailing Rowan’s enhanced abilities. The crowd murmured in astonishment while Rowan’s younger brother, Asher, watched in absolute awe from the sidelines.

​"His Sagea is ranked..." someone whispered breathlessly in the crowd.

​The ceremony master’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Erebus! An immortal, gold-ranking entity! Number one in both the human and Sagea realms!"

​Erebus. An ancient, legendary nine-tailed wolf.

​The summoning ring flared to life, and the veins in Rowan’s arms glowed with a matching vibrant light. "Now, summon your Sagea," the master commanded, his voice trembling.

​Rowan stood firm, opening his palm toward the sky. "I call upon the eternal pact! Erebus!"

​A massive, grey-furred, nine-tailed wolf materialized in a flash of light. Its athletic build radiated an aura of quiet, suffocating power, and its silver fur shimmered brilliantly. It was incredibly massive, dwarfing any normal Sagea.

​Rowan looked small enough to die if the creature merely decided to rest a paw on him.

​"It’s a giant!" someone screamed from the crowd.

​Rowan stepped forward, a proud smile on his face, happily receiving his Sagea as if he had expected this greatness all along. The crowd watched in stunned silence as he exited the ring, the majestic wolf following closely behind him.

​"Your brother must be a chosen one," Luna, Asher’s friend, whispered excitedly.

​"Asher Flynn!" the ceremony master called out next.

​Asher froze. He hadn’t expected to be called at all. He hadn’t given off any of the spiritual signs that normally preceded a summoning, and worse, he wasn’t even of age. Yet, under the weight of a thousand stares, he stepped forward into the ring.

​The murmuring intensified instantly.

​"Is that Rowan’s brother?"

​"He looks way too young."

​"Their family must be overflowing with monstrous talent."

​Beads of cold sweat formed on Asher’s forehead. He had only come to watch his older brother’s triumph, not to receive a partner of his own.

​"Place your hand on the crystal, please," the master instructed.

​Asher pressed his palm against the smooth surface, his heart hammering against his ribs. The silence in the room was deafening. With every eye locked onto him, he felt an ominous intuition that this was the beginning of a nightmare.

​The crystal gave a weak, pulsating, dim yellow flicker.

​"It’s barely reacting..." someone muttered, right before the crowd burst into mocking laughter.

​Asher clenched his jaw, his inside twisting with embarrassment. None of this was his fault. He hadn’t asked to be put up here.

​Surprisingly, the crystal still split in half, revealing his scroll. The master pulled it out, looking thoroughly bewildered.

​"A... squirrel?" the ceremony master blurted out, visibly holding back a laugh.

​The crowd erupted into roaring laughter. The sound echoed in Asher’s ears, turning his embarrassment into a burning, defensive anger. His fists clenched so hard at his sides that his knuckles turned white.

​"I take back what I said, he’s a total failure!" a voice shouted.

​Tensing his body to keep from trembling, Asher waited for the final instruction.

​"Summon your Sagea, Kaito," the master said, a smirk playing on his lips.

​Asher felt his entire world crumbling around him. "I call upon the eternal pact... Kaito," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the remaining chuckles.

​The room quieted down slightly, everyone eager to see if the failure was real.

​A bright pop echoed, and the crowd gasped. "No way! It’s an actual squirrel!"

​Kaito the squirrel appeared. He had absolutely nothing in common with Erebus the wolf, or the magnificent dragons, sphinxes, and griffins of legends. It was just a regular brown squirrel, hopping uselessly around Asher’s boots.

​The mockery escalated to an all-time high. Even the ceremony master couldn’t contain his laughter anymore.

​Fought back bitter tears, Asher remained silent. He forced himself to look down and gently scooped up his little symbol of misfortune. The squirrel gave a tiny squeak at the touch of his fingers before scurrying up his arm to forge a nervous perch on his shoulder.

​"What a pathetic turn of events."

​"Good luck trying to fight monsters or communicate with a common rodent."

​Asher didn’t say a word. He turned on his heel and walked out of the hall, letting the shadows of the corridor swallow him.

​The moment he was completely out of sight, he kicked the nearest stone wall with all his might. "Fuck this shit!" he screamed.

​Kaito squeaked in terror on his shoulder, trembling at his partner’s explosive rage.

​Asher wiped his eyes fiercely, staring at the ground. "What am I supposed to do now?"

​"Asher?" Rowan’s voice broke the silence. He approached with a deeply concerned look, Erebus trotting quietly behind him.

​Asher forced a bitter smile. "Congratulations, bro. You’re going to be famous in no time."

​Rowan sighed, clearly feeling the weight of his brother’s despair. "Thanks, but that’s not what I care about. Besides, Mom and Dad are going to be incredibly proud of you too."

​"Don’t lie to me! I’m not a kid anymore!" Asher snapped, turning his back on him.

​"Asher, you’re fifteen! You managed to pull off a bonding ritual at fifteen. You must be lucky in some way. The early bird gets the worm, right?"

​Asher walked away, his shoulders tense. "I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just go home."

​He already knew how his future would play out. Rowan would be showered with praise by their parents, revered across Ravenwood, and courted by powerful factions. Meanwhile, Asher would be left in the dust—the boy who bonded with a squirrel.