The Apocalypse had changed the world forever.

Beasts — monstrous, otherworldly creatures — roamed freely across the Earth, slipping through mysterious gateways that had opened between realms.

The lands inside these portals, known as dungeons, connected their world to ours, and when the beasts escaped, the results were catastrophic.

Towers crumbled, cities fell, and humanity was pushed to the brink of extinction.

The creatures were ruthless, their immense power enough to reduce entire populations to ashes in a matter of hours.

For decades, the war between humanity and the beasts raged without mercy. Every new dungeon that appeared felt like the death knell for humanity's last hope. But then one day , everything changed.

The humans discovered a way to fight back — a way to tame the beasts.

By forging blood contracts with the creatures, a select group of people known as Beast Tamers were able to harness the beasts' power and turn it against their own kind.

The blood bond created a link between tamer and beast, binding them in a pact that allowed the human to control the creature in battle.

The war slowly turned in humanity's favor as more and more tamers emerged, gaining strength and skill in their craft.

Now, thirty years after the height of the war, the world had settled into a new, uneasy peace.

The dungeons still appeared, but the destruction they caused was nowhere near as devastating as it had been.

The beasts were no longer a scourge, but part of everyday life. Humans and beasts coexisted, often working side by side, bound together by their contracts.

Beast Tamers had become some of the most respected and wealthiest people in the world. The ability to tame a beast was a rare gift, and those who could master it were in high demand.

Among those seeking to rise to the ranks of the great Beast Tamers was Alan, an 18-year-old student at the prestigious Tamer Academy.

Alan's black hair was tied back in a short ponytail, and his crimson eyes gleamed with determination as he walked through the streets of Elden Town.

He wasn't alone. A group of five young men and women flanked him, all wearing the same black robes with a small star insignia on the left breast.

The Tamer Academy had a reputation that stretched across the Imperial Empire, and students like Alan were easily recognizable in the towns they visited.

As they walked, the usual buzz of Elden Town's market stalls began to fade. Vendors who had been calling out to customers moments earlier now turned their backs, hastily gathering their wares and retreating into their shops.

The few remaining traders watched with a mixture of wariness and respect. It was no secret that tamers were important, and it wasn't uncommon for a new dungeon to appear in the area when a group of tamers passed through.

Alan didn't blame them. He knew what they were afraid of.

At the end of the street, the source of their unease came into view — a swirling, blue portal, which stood like an open wound in the very fabric of reality.

It was a gateway to a dungeon, and through it, beasts could pour into the world once more. Alan's heart quickened as he approached, his crimson eyes fixed on the portal.

He had seen dungeons before, but never this close. This was different — bigger, more intense, almost… alive.

He could feel the power radiating from it.

The air felt charged with energy, and even the ground beneath his feet seemed to hum with anticipation.

"This is it, Alan," one of his companions said, a girl with short brown hair and a confident grin. "Your first dungeon raid. Ready to make some money?"

Alan nodded, trying to keep his composure. He had dreamed of this moment for as long as he could remember.

For him, becoming a Beast Tamer wasn't just about gaining fame... it was about the wealth... It was about survival.

Alan had grown up in a poor family, and as the eldest, the responsibility for his younger brother and sister's education — and for his mother's ongoing medical treatment — fell squarely on his shoulders. The money from dungeon raids was his best chance at providing for them.

"I'll do my best," Alan said, his voice low but determined. He had been training for this moment his whole life.

Every lesson, every sparring session, every hour spent studying the ancient texts on Beast Taming — it had all led up to this.

The group gathered in front of the portal, their hands resting on the weapons strapped to their sides. The dungeon was unstable, the energy from the portal pulsing erratically.

Alan could see faint shapes moving inside it, dark shadows that hinted at the beasts that awaited on the other side. His heart pounded in his chest.

"Remember," said their leader, a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a straight face. "Stick together. The dungeon is unpredictable, and the beasts are always stronger in there. If we work as a team, we can handle whatever comes our way."

Alan swallowed hard. He was ready, but he was also nervous.

This wasn't just a raid for treasure. The beasts inside the dungeon were powerful, and many had been known to be lethal, even to experienced tamers.

The leader turned to Alan, his expression softening for a moment. "Don't worry, Alan. You've got this. Just focus on your beast, and we'll cover your back."

Alan gave a tight nod, then stepped forward. His hand brushed the blood-red crystal on his belt — a token of the beast he had yet to summon.

It was a rite of passage for every tamer, to summon their first beast and form a blood contract.

The moment was approaching, and Alan felt a strange sense of clarity.

No matter what happened, he had to succeed. For his family... For their future.

He took a deep breath, stepping through the portal and into the unknown. The world twisted around him as he disappeared into the dungeon alongside the others, they were ready for their Mission.