'This world is Earth hundreds of years after my death.'
That was the most shocking truth Ray had gleaned from the memories of his current body's original owner.
After his death in the year 2026 of the Common Era, rifts suddenly tore open across every major city.
From these rifts, terrifying demonic beasts emerged.
Humanity, caught completely off guard, suffered catastrophic losses.
Civilization collapsed.
Cities fell.
Billions died.
Those who survived the initial onslaught found themselves living in a world where humanity was no longer the dominant species.
They were prey.
The top of the food chain had been violently claimed by the demonic beasts that had come from beyond the rifts.
Thus began the Dreadful Dark Age.
In the first half of this age, humans were rapidly dwindling in numbers.
But everything changed when beast tamers started appearing.
These rare individuals possessed the unique ability to capture and control demonic beasts, turning the enemy into an ally.
With tamed beasts by their side, the beast tamers fought back to build a safe haven for humans in a world overrun by demonic beasts.
This marked the beginning of the Beast Tamer Era.
In the first year of this new era, a kingdom was established.
The Great Sun Kingdom.
A hundred years have passed since its establishment.
Outside its towns and cities, demonic beasts roamed free, so even though the living conditions were tough and human rights were non existent, especially for ordinary citizens and slaves, no one dared to leave.
Even weak beast tamers didn't unless there were benefits involved.
Kachack!
The gigantic doors opened.
And in came a drake with a deep growl!
It had crimson-red scales and a fiery aura that seemed to distort the air around it.
The temperature in the hall rose by several degrees the moment it appeared.
It was a Fire Drake!
Demonic beasts were divided into several ranks. From weakest to strongest, they were Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black Gold, Lord, and Overlord rank. Each rank was further divided into four minor realms. Namely, they were initial, intermediate, advanced, and peak.
Even the weakest Fire Drake was at least an initial Gold-ranked demonic beast, but this one was fully matured.
There was no doubt about it.
This was a Black Gold ranked demonic beast.
Ray shifted uncomfortably.
The heat emanating from the drake was oppressive.
Judging by the restless murmurs and fanning hands, the onlookers shared his discomfort.
Their reaction didn't go unnoticed by the burly middle-aged man sitting atop the drake.
Ray and many others recognized him immediately.
His name was Garrick Stonefury.
He was a well-known Beast Tamer in this region of the Great Sun Kingdom.
He had a scarred face, twisted and rough, making him look intimidating, even monstrous to some.
But Garrick wore his scars with pride.
Everyone knew why.
He had earned those scars while taming this very Black Gold-ranked Fire Drake.
He was already famous before that moment.
But that feat had taken his reputation to an entirely different level.
Beast Tamers were classified using the same rank system.
A Black Gold ranked demonic beast could only captured Black Gold ranked Beast Tamer.
It had something to do with the existence of Beast Taming Seal and the way they worked.
Beast Taming Seals were the tools that allowed mankind to make a comeback in the dark age after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of demonic beasts in the Common Era.
Anyways, what was trying to be conveyed here was that Garrick, as the Drake's master, was at least a Black Gold ranked expert, one of the top hundred experts of the Leon Kingdom!
Seeing such a person was a rare sight.
The onlookers felt excited.
"So this is what the master on black gold beast taming list looks like. His aura is spectacular," Ray was also impressed. Who wouldn't be when they see a man riding a fucking Fire Drake to work?!!!
Garrick gently patted his Fire Drake's head.
"Thanks for bringing me all the way here. You can rest now."
At his words, his Fire Drake transformed into a streak of red light and vanished into his body.
Without hesitation, Garrick leapt into the center of the crowd the very next moment.
Standing next to the giant sphere, he said to the surrounding people, "This is it. The moment you've been waiting for your entire life has finally arrived. The Beast Tamer Trial will determine your future. If you have the talent to become a Beast Tamer, you will become a privileged member of society. If you don't, you will have to continue doing menial tasks and hard labour to survive. When I call your name, get up here and touch the sphere. It's a unique treasure that can reveal if you have the making of a beast tamer."