The road stretched endlessly ahead of them—smooth and well-traveled, cutting through fields of wind-swept grass.
In the distance, gentle hills rolled beneath a pale blue sky, and above them all loomed the colossal spire of the Beast Tower, piercing the heavens like a god-forged spear.
It never seemed to grow closer, no matter how far they traveled. Its size defied logic, its presence constant and commanding—like a silent overseer of the world.
Wein sat behind Terr on the back of his spirit beast mount, Minsi. The beast's gait was fluid and steady, gliding effortlessly across the stone-bricked road. Two days had passed since they left District 1, and they were now approaching a town where they would rest before completing their journey to the Beast Tower.
As they rode, Wein glanced back toward the land they had left behind. From this vantage point, he could see the full outline of District 1—its winding roads, crowded buildings, and, most striking of all, the towering wall that encircled it like a coiled serpent. The wall extended into the distance, curving with the land and connecting to the neighboring districts like a massive stone spine.
This was one of the outer rings of civilization—one of a hundred districts arranged in a vast circle around the Beast Tower, each one mirroring a corresponding Beast Realm Gate.
The entire continent was divided into three massive cities, each separated not just by strength or class, but by geography.
Districts 1 to 30 formed the Lower City—the most populated area. Most of the people living here had not managed to ascend past Level 30 in the Beast Tower. The districts were crowded and noisy, filled with homes, shops, and all manner of life.
Districts 31 to 60 made up the Middle City. Though less dense than the Lower City, it was still lively, populated by those who had reached mid-tier levels. Most people came here to study or train under stronger challengers. Most of the continent's academies, training centers, and research institutions were located here.
And finally, there was the High City—Districts 61 to 100. This city was unique. You couldn't simply walk into it. Entry required an official invitation or approval from the Alliance. That was because the Alliance Headquarters was based there, alongside the homes of Elite Families, high-ranking challengers, and the wealthiest merchants.
Wein had gradually learned about all this over time, though it was still hard to grasp at first.
"Why separate the cities like that? Just because of realm levels?" he had asked Terr days after he arrived in this world.
"You could say that," Terr had replied. "But it's not just about status—it's about privilege. The Beast Realm gates leak something known as realm energy. No one fully understands it yet, but it's believed to nurture the beasts inside the realms. That same energy seeps into our world, gradually altering the environment around the gates. And the higher the realm level, the stronger and purer that energy becomes."
"The environment actually changes?" Wein had asked.
"Exactly. In the Lower City, the difference is subtle—almost unnoticeable. But in the Middle City, the air is cleaner, and the surroundings are more vibrant and healthy. Just breathing there fills you with energy. In the High City, the difference is dramatic. People say living there is like inhaling liquid magic. Your body grows stronger simply by being in that environment. Illness is rare, and even aging slows down."
Wein's eyes widened. "So the High City's basically a paradise?"
"That's what most people say," Terr confirmed. "The realm energy alters everything—crops, animals, even humans. But that's also why the place is strictly regulated. Only the strongest or most privileged get to live there."
Wein had leaned back then, wind brushing across his face. It reminded him of Earth—how the world was divided between slums, average cities, and the homes of celebrities, politicians, and the ultra-rich.
In this world, strength didn't just mean survival.
It meant access.
Now, more than ever, he wanted to grow stronger—not just to fight, but to experience what this world truly had to offer.
That night, they arrived in a bustling town halfway to the Beast Tower.
The streets buzzed with activity. Challengers, merchants, and beast hunters filled the roads. Carts brimmed with supplies and beast materials. Warm light from spirit lamps spilled across cobblestone streets, and the sound of music floated gently from the plaza.
After stabling Minsi, the two found a modest restaurant tucked between an inn and a blacksmith's forge. The smell of grilled meat and herbal broth filled the air.
As they sat down to eat, Wein caught a conversation from a nearby table.
"Did you hear?" a man said loudly. "There was a Gate Breach at Realm 50 a few days ago."
"You're joking," another man replied.
"No joke. Word came down from the Middle City. It caused quite a stir."
Wein's eyes shifted to the table beside them. Four hunters sat drinking, wearing different hunting armors.
Gate Breach.
Wein knew that term. In this world, a Gate Breach meant a beast had escaped its realm and entered the human world.
The result of a Gate Breach was nothing short of catastrophic. Many breaches in the past had led to massacres and widespread destruction, making it a grave and urgent matter in this world.
He leaned closer, listening.
"How many beasts got through?" asked one of the others.
"Just one."
"One? And they still couldn't stop it?"
"This one wasn't normal. It wasn't a Galevarn like the usual ones in Level 50. This beast was... different. Even the Alliance sent their elite trackers after it."
"They didn't catch it yet?"
"No."
"What kind of beast was it?"
"They said it was massive. A flying beast, black as night, with four wings and glowing blue eyes. Fast as the wind."
His chest tightened.
A massive black bird… four wings… glowing blue eyes…
No. It couldn't be.
But he knew it was.
Only one creature matched that description.
Midnight.
The Obsidian Crow—one of the hundred Sacred Beasts that dwell within the realms.
His Sacred Beast.
And now they were saying… it had breached the gate?
That's not supposed to happen… Sacred Beasts never left their realms. Unless someone bonded with them.
Could this world be different?
Could Midnight have... escaped on his own?