Clap…Clap…Clap.
Captain Chrysop's hands struck together, "Congratulations," he announced, "Each of you has successfully activated your system."
He continued . "What you're looking at now is the standard version of the Interface. It has been uniquely calibrated to align with the specific traits and abilities of your Beast. As you grow stronger, the system will evolve in tandem with you, unlocking new features and adapting to your progress."
"New Anima," Captain Chrysop called out in a higher screech tone, drawing the students' full attention.
"Before we move on to the next phase of your training, there's something important I need to explain."
"Focus on the Anima menu."
He gave them a moment.
"Your beast is currently at level 1, and for now, it can only provide 5% divine energy. With stimulation, this energy will gradually increase, and once it reaches 100%, you will progress to the next level."
"Now, take a close look at the section showing the Active Divine Energy—it's currently at 0%."
"This means…" he explained, pacing before them "that, as of now, your body has yet to channel any divine energy. That is expected."
"At this stage, your beast's divine energy hasn't yet begun flowing into your body. The upcoming tests will awaken and unlock that energy and allow it to flow through your body as a true Anima dei."
"I'm sure all of you already know that in order to increase the beast's power, the Anima must first be placed in life-threatening situations. This training session is designed to simulate exactly that. Fortunately for you, if the pain becomes unbearable, you're allowed to quit at any time. The training will also be strictly supervised, so there's nothing you need to worry about."
Divine energy is the most powerful force in the universe, possessed only by the gods.
To protect their worshippers, each year the gods—satisfied with the devotion and prayer of humanity—grant them a Beast, born from the gods' own essence. Each Beast carries powers that mirror the nature of its divine creator, and through them, humankind gains the strength to stand against the monstrous horrors that plague the world.
These divine Beasts bond with chosen pupils—souls deemed worthy by the gods. Through this sacred bond, mere mortals can channel and wield divine energy.
A Beast's power evolves through the increased intake of divine energy. This energy intensifies when its Anima is constantly placed in life-threatening situations. The gods interpret such moments as signs that their chosen are fighting against the Monstrous—creatures that threaten the lives of their worshippers. In response, the gods amplify the divine energy within the Beast, empowering the host to better protect the faithful.
However, within these deadly encounters lies a razor-thin line—either ascend to unimaginable power… or perish.
These gods are incredibly unpredictable—no one knows when they will choose to help or simply let their beast vessels die. Humanity has yet to understand the minds of the gods. Many believe it's because they are higher beings whose way of thinking is beyond human comprehension, but others argue that they are nothing more than creatures driven by animalistic instincts.
Captain Chrysop added, "This 5% of divine energy can either be channeled into a specific part of your body or used to enhance your entire body all at once—though that would mean dividing the 5% across every part."
"Now, we'll begin training to increase the divine energy flow in specific areas first, and then gradually expand it to your entire body."
Captain Chrysop outlined the plan, "The training will be conducted in several stages.
We'll begin by enhancing your sensory perception—sight, hearing, pand more.
Subsequent phases will target localized physical amplification, including muscular reinforcement of the limbs, optimization of internal organ function, and epidermal resilience.
Finally, he declared, "The first stage of your training focuses on channeling divine energy into your ocular system, enhancing night vision and enabling perception in total darkness. This process effectively upgrades your eyes into high-sensitivity photoreceptors, capable of detecting and interpreting even the faintest traces of ambient light."
The students are then escorted to the location where the training will take place.
Upon reaching the training site, the students were promptly lined up in formation. Captain Chrysop stepped forward and began detailing the objectives, methods, and critical importance of the training they were about to undertake.
"We have arrived at the location where the next phase of your training will take place—Umbra Village," Captain Chrysop announced.
The students looked around, but there was nothing to see—only complete and utter darkness.
"This is a place of absolute darkness. The people here have undergone decades of bodily modification to survive without a single trace of light," he continued.
"In this phase of your training, you will learn to channel divine energy into your ocular system, focusing it to enhance your vision and perceive in total darkness—just as the inhabitants of this village have done for generations. And you will do it in just one day."
"Your actual training won't take place in the village itself, but…," he said as he pointed his finger. " in Nocturn Cavern. A place deep beneath Umbra Village. A place so dark that not even the faintest light can exist. It is home to creatures that thrive in pure, undisturbed blackness."
A supervisor stepped forward to continue the briefing. "For now, we stand at the outer edge of Umbra Village, where traces of light are still permitted. But beyond this point, the rules change. The god of darkness, God Tenebris, despises light within his domain. We move without torches or lanterns. From here on, you'll rely solely on these—"
He held up a small, sleek device.—an advanced visual enhancement tool designed to allow them to see in the absence of light.
The supervisors moved among the trainees, handing out the equipment one by one. Then, the group began their descent into the village.
With each step, the darkness thickened. Even with the tools provided, seeing clearly was nearly impossible. Everything around them dissolved into shapeless outlines or swallowed by the endless black.
The group came to a stop at the cave's entrance.One by one, the students were led inside and lined up.
For the last time, Captain Chrysop gave his instructions. "You are now standing at the entrance to the cave where your training will take place. The entrance to this cave will be sealed shortly. Your task is simple: find the other exit that has already been prepared for you. Sounds easy, doesn't it?
"But," Captain Chrysop tried to make his tone more serious, though his mechanical screech made it sound strange." This cave holds more than darkness. Within lies something far more dangerous than the absence of light, a terrifying divine creature —The Gloomspire Worm."
Divine creatures are beings imbued with divine energy, born from gods who possess abundant worship energy. They are used by humans in daily life to enhance worship practices. The magnitude of divine energy carried by these creatures is classified into five levels—Level 1 being the weakest, and Level 5 the most powerful.
However, these divine beings are notoriously difficult to tame. As a result, there are two types: the wild ones that roam freely, and those that can be domesticated—like the creatures in Jack's lab. Tamed divine creatures consume worship energy, while wild ones feed on divine energy from other creatures or torment energy.
He glanced toward the ceiling of the cave, He looked like he was staring at something. Whatever it was, only the captain—with a Level 5 beast—could see it. Even with their night vision devices, the students couldn't see a thing.
"The cave is full of them. You won't see them. You won't hear them. But they're there—waiting
"These divine creatures hang from above like stalactites, their pale, serpentine bodies coated with millions of jagged teeth that will tear your flesh apart upon the slightest touch. And even if you find a space where none are currently hanging, these worms always shift their positions. "
"But don't worry," he added, "they move very slowly. Even so, avoiding them will be nearly impossible unless you can see them… which, in this darkness, you can't. Not yet."
"If you try to power through and endure the pain, be warned—the Divine Pain Scale rates these creatures at Level Two. That's enough to break most of you. And if, by some miracle, you reach the end—don't expect to have much of your body left. Bones, perhaps." Said Captain Chrysop with a slight chuckle.
"So listen well. If you want to finish this trial, if you want to find the exit. then you must learn to sharpen your vision in the dark. There is no other way."
The first to make it out will receive the highest exam score. You may give up if you can't take it anymore, but that means… you won't advance to the next stage of training and will have to keep repeating this stage until you succeed.
Screech — the sound of a massive stone being moved echoed.
"All right, students. Good luck. Your training begins now."
Captain Chrysop and the supervisors left.
"You have to get out of here too," said Captain Chrysop as he pulled Helix's body. "Without a bond to a beast, staying here is far too dangerous. The pain those worms inflict can send your body into shock—you could die from it."
"Ha..." Helix gasped in surprise.
"Alright, old man. I'll leave you here. Good luck." Helix screamed as his body was pulled away.
With the cave sealed shut, only absolute darkness remained—so thick it felt alive. The only sound that filled the void was the unsteady rhythm of the students' breath.
"Hmm… guys, how long have we been here?" one student asked,
Aghh!
Aghh!
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