On his phone screen, Gekirin was watching a video.
In the recording, a wild roar tore through the air, shaking the windows of nearby buildings.
The next second, a colossal creature burst through a building's facade, exploding concrete and glass in a violent cascade. A mane of dead roots and a horned, skeletal crown adorned its beastly head, from which jutted razor-sharp fangs and tendrils of smoky shadow.Its glowing crimson eyes pulsed with ethereal light — alive with something ancient.
Civilians ran in every direction, trapped in the chaos. Some, wounded, stumbled or screamed for help while Watchers struggled to get them to safety.
Amidst the mayhem, three figures walked forward with calm precision. Leading them was a man with a piercing gaze, clad in a long black coat, staring at the creature with eerie detachment.
With a smooth motion, he drew the weapon strapped to his back: a black sword with a wavy blade, shrouded in a dark mist.
The monster roared again, slamming its massive claws into the rubble.
The man didn't move.
A cloud of black fog swirled around him, shifting like a living veil.In a blink, he vanished.
When he reappeared, his sword was already brushing the monster's neck.
One motion. One breath.
The monster's head was cleanly severed. It rose in a geyser of blood, then crashed to the ground with a wet thud. Its titanic body collapsed in a heavy rumble that made the earth tremble.
Still wrapped in shadow, the Watcher sheathed his sword with precise ease. He cast one last glance at the carcass — then turned away, impassive.
The video ended.
Gekirin lifted his head, eyes gleaming with admiration, fists raised in front of him.
"That guy's power is unreal..." he thought, his heart pounding with excitement." If I pass the Selection, maybe I can be that strong. No... I'll be even stronger."
His thought was cut short by the bus driver's deep voice :
— Final stop. Everyone out!
Gekirin stood up. As soon as he stepped off the bus, a wave of Ether slammed into him.
The air felt heavier.Every step, every breath took extra effort, as if gravity had quietly deepened.
He looked up at the massive Selection building, its overwhelming presence dominating the entire landscape. Around him, small etheric creatures — usually rare — floated in scattered flocks.
With a sharp, focused gaze, he clenched his fists.
"Now or never.""All those months training like a madman... There's no way I'll settle for an ordinary life." "I'll become the strongest Watcher this world has ever known." "No matter the trials, I'll survive them all. Failure is not an option."
With firm steps, he joined the line of candidates...
Hundreds of young people, split across multiple rows, stood silently — waiting their turn.
Outside, the air buzzed with Ether. Here, everything felt frozen in still tension.
Minutes dragged on. Long. Slow.
"This is suuuper slow...Well, at least I can use the time to observe the others."
Gekirin scanned the candidates around him. Most looked confident.But in their eyes... he could see it — a flicker of fear, hidden under the surface.
"They're just as tense as I am."