***
Lyra, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally spoke up. "I can't believe you defeated an entire pack of C-tier monsters all by yourself!" she exclaimed, a mix of shock and admiration on her face.
"Uh, C-tier? What's that?" Seth asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Lyra chuckled lightly. "You really don't know anything about the monster tamer world, do you?"
"Well," Seth replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "I only met my companions two days ago, so I'm still getting used to all this."
Lyra shook her head in disbelief. "You should know, though—it's basic knowledge in this world," she said, looking puzzled.
"I see… Maybe I forgot some things," Seth said, his tone suddenly contemplative. "I did survive a monster attack after that bald guy's group abandoned me. Maybe I lost my memory because of that," he added, rubbing the back of his neck.
Inwardly, he mused, "Well, it's not a lie. This body probably did die, and then I took over. So technically, I'm telling the truth… right?"
"Alright, let me explain," Lyra began. "Monsters are categorized into tiers, ranging from Tier E to Tier S. Tier E monsters are low-level creatures. They're unintelligent and mostly used for beginners to level up their skills. Then there's Tier D. Monsters in this tier are somewhat threatening because they're usually juveniles. For example, my monster here, this is a Nightclaws. It's currently classified as Tier D, but once it evolves, it'll become a Tier B due to its enhanced strength, speed, and shadow abilities."
"Oh, so monsters can evolve?" Seth thought to himself, Just like that game, Pickémon.
Lyra continued, "Next is Tier C. Monsters in this tier are capable of destroying small towns. For instance, your Abyss Howler falls into this category. Oh, and I almost forgot, starting from Tier C and above, each tier has sub-levels. Your Abyss Howler is classified as Tier C-2. That's why the Abyss Howler leader we fought earlier was in charge of the Frostbite Wolves, which are Tier C-1. Does that make sense so far?"
"Understood, ma'am. Please continue," Seth replied, his tone a mix of teasing and sincerity.
Lyra chuckled and resumed. "Alright, after Tier C, we have Tiers B, A, S, and SS. I've never seen or even heard of a sighting of Tier S or SS monsters, but Tier A monsters alone are capable of destroying entire large cities. For example, there used to be a fortress city called Haven Stronghold. It was prosperous and well-defended, capable of withstanding attacks from monsters ranging from Tier E to Tier B. But when a Tier A-3 monster attacked, even the monsters they had tamed couldn't stand a chance against it."
She paused for effect before continuing. "One of the most infamous Tier A-3 monsters is the Darkflame Serpent. It's a colossal serpent as tall and as long as six 10-story skyscrapers. Every step it takes makes the ground tremble, and—"
"Wait, hold on," Seth interrupted, wide-eyed. "That thing is only Tier A? Not S or SS? What kind of madness is this?"
Lyra blinked, puzzled by Seth's reaction. "Well, yes. The Darkflame Serpent is classified as Tier A," she confirmed, her tone steady but curious.
"What kind of world is this?! Seth thought, his mind reeling. "Just imagining a serpent the size of six ten-story buildings is absurd! No wonder humanity is on the verge of extinction. If Tier A monsters are this catastrophic, I can't even fathom what Tier S or SS would be like."
He tried to keep his composure but inwardly was panicking at the realization.
Seth glanced over at Raynar and Cerbyss, who were lounging around with goofy, relaxed expressions. "Should I just end it all now?" he thought with exasperation.
Lyra, oblivious to Seth's internal struggle, continued her explanation. "But you don't have to worry about the Darkflame Serpent. It was driven back in the past by our former Ironshield Citadel leader, Kael Ithain. He was a hero who tamed a Spectral Reaper, a monster resembling a grim reaper wielding a massive scythe. He was nicknamed 'The Soulbinder' because of its haunting appearance."
Hearing this, Seth's face lit up with hope. "What? Really? That giant serpent can be defeated?"
"No-not defeated, but driven back," Lyra corrected him.
"Yeah, yeah, driven back. So, did it at least sustain any fatal injuries?" Seth pressed eagerly.
"Uh, injuries? No," Lyra replied matter-of-factly. "The serpent was commanding an army of monsters, and after Kael defeated several of its elite generals, the Darkflame Serpent retreated."
"What? They didn't even fight?" Seth slumped, his face falling into despair again. "Yeah, that's it. I should just end it. To hell with this world," he lamented inwardly.
Lyra tried to cheer him up. "But it's been decades since the serpent has been sighted. Some say ten legendary heroes defeated it for good."
Seth perked up instantly. "Really? So there's still hope for me—I mean, for humanity?"
"Of course," Lyra said gently. "These days, new technologies have been developed to help evolve monsters, and some have even reached Tier A-3. Humanity isn't doomed just yet."
"Good, good. It has to be that way," Seth said, his resolve returning. "Alright, how about we head to the city? I want to see this human ingenuity in action."
"Sure, I'm feeling much better now. Let's head back to the fortress," Lyra agreed with a smile.
"Alright, let's go. Hey, future heroes, get off your butts! We're about to explore a whole new world together," Seth called out to Raynar and Cerbyss with a grin. The two monsters let out happy growls, clearly sharing in Seth's newfound excitement.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Lyra exclaimed suddenly, then explained, "We need to collect the monster cores from these creatures."
"Monster cores? What are those?" Seth asked curiously.
"Like this," Lyra pulled a dagger from her bag, stabbed it into the chest of one of the wolves, and extracted a translucent blue crystal. She held it up for Seth to see. "This is a monster core. It's the source of a monster's abilities. Without it, monsters are no different from regular animals without any unique skills or powers. The denser the color, the higher the monster's level."
"Oh, I see. Alright, teach me how to do it. I'll help collect them," Seth said.
Lyra began teaching Seth step by step. At first, he thought it would be hard an almost vomited, but after a few tries, he quickly got the hang of it.
"I'm done. How about you?" Seth asked Lyra.
"I'm finished too," she replied. They both displayed their collection of monster cores.
"Seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fifteen... whoa! We got a lot of them! That's a ton of AP," Lyra said, looking amazed.
"AP? Is that some kind of currency?" Seth asked.
"Exactly," Lyra explained. "AP stands for Aether Points. They're generated from monster cores like these. Once we turn them in to the Tamer HQ, we'll get AP based on the value of the cores we collected."
"Got it. So, how much AP do you think we'll get?" Seth asked.
"Probably around 1,500 to 2,500 AP, since some of these cores have pretty high density," Lyra estimated.
"Sounds good. Let's split it evenly once we're done. Afterward, let's have dinner together. What do you think?" Seth suggested.
"Really? Can I actually get a share? I don't think I should. You're the one who defeated most of the monsters," Lyra replied, a bit hesitant.
"Don't worry about it. Consider it payment for all the information you've shared with me. It's settled. After this, we'll have dinner," Seth said confidently.
"I'm really grateful, Seth, but about dinner... I'm not sure I can join," Lyra replied.
"Why not?" Seth asked, confused.
"My two younger siblings are waiting for me at home," Lyra explained.
"Then bring your siblings along! We'll all eat together. My treat. Just make sure you pick a place that fits within the AP we've got, alright? Haha," Seth said with a laugh.
"Umm, I don't think that's possible, Seth. My youngest sibling is paralyzed and can't walk," Lyra replied gently.
"What? Really? Oh... I see. If it's not possible, that's okay," Seth said, his voice tinged with disappointment. Lyra noticed his reaction and couldn't bear to see him down, so she offered an alternative.
"How about this? Instead of eating out, we have dinner at my house? After we get our AP, we can go shopping, and I'll cook dinner for us," Lyra suggested.
"Really? Are you sure it's okay for a stranger to come over for dinner at your place?" Seth asked hesitantly.
"Of course, it's fine! Besides, it's you, Seth, you saved my life," Lyra reassured him.
"Alright, if you're sure. But why dinner? It's still midday," Seth asked, puzzled.
"You'll understand once we get to Tamer HQ," Lyra said with a small laugh. Seth could only shrug, still confused by her comment.
They continued walking along a path often used by ruin explorers. Along the way, they encountered a few monsters, but as soon as Cerbyss growled at them, the creatures fled in fear.
Soon, Seth saw something that left him awestruck: an enormous, towering wall stretching endlessly in both directions. "I feel like I just walked into Attack on Giant world," Seth muttered under his breath.
When they reached the massive gate, they joined a line of people waiting to be inspected before entry. Watching the process, Seth noticed the other travelers showing something to the guards.
"What are they showing at the gate?" Seth asked Lyra.
"They're showing this," Lyra said, raising her left arm to display a silver bracelet adorned with an emblem of three claw marks.
"What's that bracelet?" Seth asked, intrigued.
"This is an identification bracelet. To enter the city, you need to pay an entry fee, and the AP I mentioned earlier is credited to this bracelet. It's an essential item," Lyra explained.
Seth looked at his own wrists and found nothing there. He checked his pockets, searching his clothes frantically, but still found nothing.
"Umm, Lyra... I think I lost my bracelet," Seth said, his face turning pale with panic.