The sky was grey; the street was bustling, and people were roaming, each one of them with a destiny to fulfill; one could occasionally be able to see beasts, beasts of different shapes, sizes, and colors, walking around with their respective masters.
All the screens—whether it was a television, someone's mobile phone, or even advertisement boards on buildings—were showing the same broadcast.
A cheerful reporter stood in the crowd that lined both sides of the road. She was covering a parade of military personnel dressed in red, accompanied by their impressive two-meter tall dark cats, which had crescent-shaped maroon stripes across their bodies.
As they marched down the road, the reporter said in a beautiful voice, "Here comes the famous Blood Ghost Division, masters of reconnaissance and sneak attacks. They have brought glory to humanity many times."
Her voice was barely audible as the crowd's cheers drowned out all other noise; everyone stared in admiration and respect.
The parade disappeared slowly in their sight.
The reporter tactfully remarked, "That was truly majestic; those cheers made my blood boil with excitement. Unfortunately, there will be a bit of a wait until the next division arrives. In the meantime, we will be broadcasting a summary of 100 years of history since the foundation of the Arex Association."
The scene quickly shifted to a lush forest, as a deep voice narrated: "The Linces Jungle, located on the continent of Laraxia, covers nearly half the continent and boasts a vibrant ecosystem composed of various animals. It is home to half of the known animal species on our planet.
This is one of the earliest recordings showcasing the opening of a portal to another world."
A massive oval portal with crimson borders and a flat burgundy surface suddenly appeared out of thin air. It towered almost a hundred meters high.
Shrieks from various beasts echoed as they scattered away from it. Flocks of birds were visibly frantic, desperately trying to escape the area as quickly as possible.
After a while, a deathly silence enveloped the vicinity; the silence was dreadful, cold, and oppressive, giving off an uneasy feeling.
A massive head, stretching tens of meters, surged through the portal. It resembled a dragon, its azure scales hard and gleaming, seemingly impenetrable. Its eyes lacked pupils, filled instead with an unknown yellowish, almost golden liquid.
The beast opened its mouth to a guttural scream. The camera, which was originally present to document the wildlife, quivered and fell down, darkness enveloping it's lens.
The screen flickered to life once more, revealing a city caught in the chaos of a catastrophe. Waves of fierce beasts charged through the streets, devouring everything in their path and smashing down towering skyscrapers!
Gunfire erupted everywhere, but it futile —barely making a dent in the destruction. The narrator's voice broke in, full of emotion, "This footage is from the early dark age, when countless cities suffered under the attack of these savage creatures.
Countless lives were lost, and humanity saw its population dwindle to just one-tenth of what it once was."
You could feel the weight of his words—an ache of sadness sweeping over everyone listening.
Then, the scene shifted to a grand conference where representatives from every surviving nation were gathered. "To combat this disaster, the Arex association was established! Every remaining country came together, setting aside their differences, uniting as one for humanity's survival!"
But now, instead of despair, the atmosphere was charged with awe and hope. The narrator spoke again, his voice brimming with respect, "After twenty grueling years, we welcomed the first beastmaster—Mr. Richard Wallace.
Guided by his vision, a new wave of beastmasters emerged, pushing back those ferocious monsters and reclaiming our land step by step!"
The screen showcased a majestic white snake, stretching for meters, with a strong man standing majestically on its head. He might not have been conventionally handsome, but his blonde hair and striking green eyes spoke power. This was humanity's first beastmaster!
The imagery transformed once again, now highlighting people collaborating to rebuild cities, accompanied by various beasts of all kinds, following commands to bring the city back to life.
"On this reclaimed land, new cities blossomed! As a reward for their unwavering contributions, beastmasters rose to the status of heroes, with some cities even named in their honor.
Their roles became noble, overseeing and protecting these cities, assuring safety from the wild beasts that once threatened everyone." The tone of the narrator brimmed with admiration, lifting everyone's spirits.
In a cozy store in a small town, a group of students beamed at the television, their excitement palpable. One tall student shouted with glee, "Yes! I can't wait! Tomorrow, we'll be tested for our talents. I'm going to be the greatest beastmaster, strong enough to make any beast tremble in fear!"
Laughter filled the shop, echoing around him, except for one young man. With his jet-black hair and dark eyes, he stood tall and slender, yet well-defined. He rolled his eyes, a hint of pity crossing his face as he left the convenience store, grocery bags in hand, reflecting, 'I used to be just like them.'
Reaching home, he removed his flip-flops and placed the bags on the table before lying down on the sofa, feeling the urge to nap.
Suddenly, a loud beep interrupted the quiet.
Tired, he picked up his vibrating phone and answered the call. "Aaron, tomorrow we will set out on our first task," said an enthusiastic voice on the other end.
"Yes, I'll be there; there's no need to make a fuss," Aaron replied, his voice rough from sleep. Wanting to rest, he ended the call and dozed off on the sofa.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar place surrounded by the ruins of buildings. A low roar echoed from behind him, and as he turned, he saw a giant crimson lizard,with bone spurs growing out from its joints and spine, it dropped, it's acidic saliva falling on the grass below draining it of any vitality. The creature leapt at Aaron with all its ferocity
...
Chapter 1 end.