Limit Breaker Zero – Chapter 3: Welcome to the World of the Strong
Ren Kurogane gestured for Joseph Ayikon to follow him. The streets had long since fallen silent, dust curling along the cracked pavement as the two of them walked. Joseph's steps were easy, almost casual, while Ren's were precise, measured. They walked. And walked. And walked.
After several minutes of silence, Joseph finally broke it. "Hey… what is this organization about, anyway?"
Ren didn't answer, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Joseph tilted his head and asked again, softer this time. "I mean… come on. Even I can tell this organization is interested in me. They clearly want me to be part of them… as a whole."
Ren's pace faltered just a fraction, and he muttered under his breath, "I thought this guy was a fool… but his intuition… it's impeccable."
A deep sigh escaped him. "I… won't die if I tell you. It won't kill me… so I'll say it."
Joseph perked up, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes. "Go on, then."
Ren's voice grew steady, serious. "There are a group of people called Soul Tamers. They manipulate their souls… shaping them, molding them… until they create a creature called a Soul Beast."
Joseph's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "Soul Beast, huh? Sounds… fun."
Ren's eyes darkened slightly. "But… when a Soul Tamer dies, their Soul Beast goes berserk. It's just a fragment of their soul. When the original Soul Tamer dies, the Soul Beast becomes incomplete… and goes on a rampage. That Lightning Beast you defeated? Just another Soul Beast left alone after its owner died."
Joseph's eyes widened ever so slightly, a flicker of interest in the otherwise emotionless depths.
Ren continued, "HQ… is responsible for training Soul Tamers. And when a Soul Beast is left without an owner, HQ takes care of it. Neutralizing the threat is our responsibility."
They walked a little further, the cityscape slowly giving way to a vast, open area that made Joseph pause. He looked around and froze.
People floated above the ground on sleek boards, gliding effortlessly through the air. One rider sat atop a massive, armored elephant, its eyes glowing faintly. Others zipped along, worm-like creatures tunneling beneath the soil, carrying their riders in a blur of earth and motion.
Ren stopped abruptly. He turned, raising a hand and smiling faintly at Joseph. "This is HQ. Welcome… to the world of the strong."
Joseph's gaze swept over the scene, dark eyes reflecting the chaotic ballet of power around him. For the first time, a small spark of anticipation glimmered in his otherwise empty expression.
The world had changed. And so had he.