"Is there any weapon you can give me now so it will be easier for me to fight against the beasts?" Ray asked, his voice filled with determination.
Cyrus smiled faintly. "Yes, don't worry. I'll give you something. But let me explain: all weapons are not the same. Some belong to higher levels, and some to lower ones. I'll give you a lower-level weapon first. Once you master it, I'll provide you with a higher-level one."
"All the weapons," he continued, "work based on your inner potential. Simply put, a weapon awakens only when it resonates with your inner strength. Without that, the weapon is just an ordinary tool—only good enough to injure humans or normal creatures. It cannot harm a Soul Devourer or a clone. So, mastering your inner potential is crucial. And don't worry—we'll teach you how to do that and give you a weapon that aligns with your abilities and what you can handle."
"Alright," Ray said, nodding slowly. "I understand a little bit."
"You'll learn more in detail during your training. Don't rush it."
"Okay, sir," Ray replied earnestly, before bowing slightly. "By the way, thank you so much for understanding my feelings and for taking me into the team."
Cyrus chuckled softly. "By the way, what's your name again? I forgot."
"My name is Ray."
"Alright, Ray. I'm Cyrus," he said with a friendly smile.
"Okay, Cyrus, sir," Ray said.
Cyrus studied him for a moment before saying, "You know something? I see someone inside you."
"Who, sir?" Ray asked, intrigued.
"It's me—the old Cyrus from a few years back. I was just like you. But there's one big difference between us: I never saw my parents. I was alone in this world. No one cared for me. No mother, no father."
Ray noticed a flicker of sadness cross Cyrus's face, but then he quickly added with a grin, "Buttttt…! I do have a brother!"
At that moment, another man entered the room with a cheerful smile.
"Ohhh! Ray, this is my brother and team partner, Kevin."
Kevin greeted them with a wide grin. "Hey, Cyrus! Our leader has given us a mission. Want to come with me? Oh, by the way, check out what I got—a brand-new cigarette! You know, only 1,000 pieces of this brand were made, and I finally got one. Don't you think I'm lucky?"
"Haha, yes, you are," Cyrus replied.
"Want to try it?" Kevin offered playfully.
"Not now, Kevin. Actually, I won't be able to come today. I need you to go with the others. I'm busy, but when you come back, we'll enjoy this cigarette together."
"Sure," Kevin said with a nod. "Alright then, the one and only Lord of Sorcerers, Kevin, is back with unstoppable action! Let's go, team, and hunt something awesome. See ya, Cyrus!"
As Kevin left, Cyrus turned back to Ray. "That's Kevin. He's nice and funny. Also, he's just as strong as I am. Together, we make the best duo."
Ray's eyes lit up. "Wow! Even I want to become strong like you and Kevin, sir!"
Cyrus smiled. "Good, Ray. That's the spirit. Now, let me tell you more about the Soul Devourers. As I promised, once you joined this team, I'd explain everything."
He began, "Our organization is divided into groups based on ranks:
• Group A contains upper-level sorcerers.
• Group B is for medium-level sorcerers.
• Group C is for beginners.
• And lastly, Group D is for newcomers, where you'll start."
"Okay," Ray said confidently. "I'll work hard and reach Group A!"
Cyrus laughed lightly. "Yeah, but it's not that easy, Ray. Some sorcerers jump directly from Group C to Group A because of their hard work, kills, and performance. However, if you underperform in Group A, you can drop ranks or even fall back to Group D. It's all about consistency."
"Got it! I'll keep my rank high!"
"So, sir," Ray asked curiously, "since you're so strong, you must be in Group A, right?"
"No, Ray," Cyrus replied with a sly smile.
"Oh, then you're in Group B?"
"No," Cyrus said, shaking his head. "I'm in the Elite Group, which is above Group A."
Ray's jaw dropped. "What the…! You're an elite member? That means you're way stronger than I imagined! Please, tell me how I can grow faster. I want to go on missions with you someday!"
"It's not that simple, Ray," Cyrus said seriously. "This is a game of death. Every day, we deal with danger. Your mom's clone was one of the weaker ones. We handle far stronger ones. Let me explain: a human's clone is created with their original strength plus an additional 10%. That extra 10% might feel small, but in battle, it's like facing an entirely new beast. And clones are nothing compared to the real Soul Devourers. They have no limits to their power. Their bodies contain weapons we use to kill them, as I mentioned earlier."
"So, sir," Ray asked hesitantly, "has anyone ever defeated a Soul Devourer?"
"Yes," Cyrus said. "We've defeated about 15 to 20, but it took ten of us to take down just one Soul Devourer."
"Wow," Ray whispered, awed.
"But clones," Cyrus continued, "don't have weapons inside their bodies. That's the major difference between them and the real ones."
Ray nodded thoughtfully. "Got it."
Cyrus then added, "Our organization has a secret book with information about Soul Devourers and their hidden weapons. But the scariest part is our leader's prediction. He foresaw a great war between the Soul Devourers and all sorcerers, along with humanity. Their goal is to create clones of everyone and take over the world. If we don't stop them, the war will be inevitable."
"That sounds terrifying," Ray said. "Can I see the book?"
"No," Cyrus said firmly. "It's secret. Only a few, including me, are allowed to access it. Even Kevin hasn't seen it, despite being in the Elite Group for years."
"Understood," Ray said. "So, when do I start my journey? I'm excited!"
"Not so fast," Cyrus chuckled. "First, you'll undergo training for a week. After that, you'll be assigned to a team and sent on lower-level missions. For now, let's head to the training room, where you'll get your first weapon. Your master will teach you how to use it and unlock your inner potential."
"I thought you'd teach me," Ray said, slightly disappointed.
"Sorry, I have other work to do this week. And remember, weapons are ranked by their power, just like sorcerers. For now, you'll get a lower-rank weapon. Once you master it, you'll receive a better one."
"Alright, sir," Ray said with determination.
"Good. Let's begin, Ray. Welcome to your training room."