Kaizen Hikaru left the village, his satchel filled with snacks and supplies. The sun had climbed higher, warming the road ahead. He walked casually, hands in his pockets, humming softly to himself. Villagers had returned to their daily lives after the brief panic caused by the bandit, unaware that Kaizen had just erased him from existence.
Peaceful, for now, Kaizen thought. But I want something more interesting today.
He had been traveling through the outskirts of the village, where the forests grew thicker and the air smelled of moss and wet earth. This region was rumored to be home to dangerous beasts—creatures that could rip apart even upper-class magic users in seconds. Kaizen yawned. Upper-class? Please. I wonder what Guardian-class looks like in person.
Kaizen had barely entered a small clearing when the ground trembled. Leaves shook violently, and a deep, rumbling growl echoed through the trees. A colossal shadow emerged.
There, towering above the forest, was a dragon—its scales glinting like molten silver in the sunlight. Its eyes burned with intelligence and power. The sheer presence of the creature made the forest seem tiny. This was no ordinary dragon. Even without measuring its aura, Kaizen could tell at a glance: Guardian Class. The kind of being most humans would die just looking at.
The dragon roared, sending a shockwave through the trees. Birds scattered, and the very earth seemed to tremble beneath its claws. It opened its mouth, and fire sparked along its fangs, ready to incinerate anything in its path.
Kaizen tilted his head, taking a casual bite of a candied fruit. Guardian class, huh? Not bad. He yawned. Time to wake up the fun.
With a simple gesture of his hand, the dragon froze mid-roar. Its massive wings hung suspended in the air, fire suspended mid-stream, and eyes wide with confusion. In a blink, Kaizen walked up to it.
"Hey there," he said softly. "You're strong… but I'm stronger."
The dragon blinked, confused, before Kaizen reached out and touched its snout. The aura around it melted like water in the sun. The creature collapsed to the ground, perfectly unharmed, but fully subdued.
Kaizen crouched, examining it. Guardian-class, yet so… cute when they're not fighting.
He chuckled and gave it a small piece of the candied fruit from his bag. The dragon sniffed it, then ate it delicately. Kaizen smiled. "There. You're going to be my pet now. Don't worry—I'll feed you plenty."
Before Kaizen could continue, a howl echoed from the forest. A massive wolf, larger than a horse, emerged from the trees. Its fur shimmered silver, and its eyes glowed with a fierce intelligence. Kaizen immediately sensed its level: General Class. Powerful, deadly, but not quite the Guardian-class he had just tamed.
The wolf growled, circling Kaizen, claws digging into the dirt, teeth bared. Its aura was intimidating enough to make any adventurer freeze. Kaizen, however, simply tilted his head.
"Another one, huh? You're strong… but you're hungry, right?"
The wolf leapt, faster than the eye could follow, teeth aimed at Kaizen's neck. In response, Kaizen didn't move an inch. He waved his hand lazily. The wolf froze mid-leap, suspended in the air. Kaizen smiled. "Nice jump… but you'll need more practice."
With another flick, the wolf gently landed in front of him, unharmed but fully aware it had been defeated. Kaizen knelt and offered it a piece of bread from his satchel. The wolf sniffed it carefully, then devoured it in a single bite.
"You're going to be my second pet," Kaizen said softly. "And I'll make sure you eat well."
Both creatures, once terrifying to anyone else, now sat obediently near him. Kaizen reached into his bag and pulled out more snacks. Fruit, bread, small pieces of meat—he fed them carefully, making sure they got plenty.
Guardian-class dragon… General-class wolf… and they'll eat as much as they want. This is going to be fun.
Kaizen spent the next hour walking deeper into the forest with his new companions. The dragon followed him like a massive, gentle shadow, while the wolf padded silently at his side, eyes alert. Despite their immense power, both creatures were surprisingly obedient, responding to subtle gestures and Kaizen's calm presence.
Eventually, Kaizen found a flat area near a small river—a perfect place to settle temporarily. He examined the surroundings. Trees surrounded the clearing, providing natural shelter. The river provided water. Plenty of space for the dragon and wolf to roam.
"This will do," Kaizen said, setting his satchel down. "You two will stay here. Eat well, sleep well, and I'll make sure no one bothers you."
He spent the next hour fortifying the area. With a casual flick of his hand, Kaizen rearranged stones and logs, creating a small shelter for himself and a space for the wolf. He carved out a larger area for the dragon, marking boundaries with simple magical glyphs that the dragon instinctively respected.
Not too fancy… but comfortable enough, Kaizen thought. Even creatures this strong need some care.
Once the shelter was ready, Kaizen sat on a log and pulled out more snacks. The dragon settled nearby, curling its massive body around the clearing, while the wolf leaned against his leg, tail wagging slightly. Kaizen fed them methodically, enjoying the quiet moment.
Guardian-class dragon… General-class wolf… and neither of them is dangerous to me anymore. Funny how easy this is.
He leaned back, looking up at the sky. The sun was starting to set, painting the clouds in orange and pink. Kaizen's mind wandered again, thinking about the hierarchy of magic in this world.
Weak class… common class… middle class… upper class… general class… guardian class… He smirked. Even the strongest in this world aren't a problem for me. Funny… the people who call themselves heroes don't even realize how weak they are. And Heaven… they think they're strong too. They're going to be in for a rude awakening.
The dragon lifted its massive head, eyeing Kaizen as if asking for more food. Kaizen chuckled and reached into his bag again. The wolf nudged his hand, whining softly for attention. Kaizen patted it on the head.
"You'll be well-fed. Don't worry," he said. "I don't mind at all."
Night fell, and the forest grew quiet. The dragon curled up, resting its massive head on the ground, while the wolf lay beside Kaizen, still alert but calm. Kaizen took out a small blanket from his bag, wrapping himself loosely to stay warm.
This is peaceful, he thought. Even though the world is full of threats, even though Heaven wants me dead, moments like this make it worth it.
He looked at his companions and smiled faintly. Guardian-class, General-class… and my pets now. Funny world we live in.
Kaizen yawned and closed his eyes. Tomorrow would bring more adventures, more threats, maybe even a stronger enemy from Heaven—but for now, he could rest. He had powerful companions by his side, food in his bag, and a safe place to sleep. The mistake of Heaven had found his little corner of peace.
And when tomorrow came… well, the world would be ready for him.