Prologue #1
Clack-clack—clack-clack—
The man turned his gaze blankly out the train window at the sound of the rails. The familiar urban sprawl filled his view. He let out a long sigh and scratched his head.
December. A wintry Monday afternoon when the east wind began to rage—a leisurely scene under the gray sky.
Shim Daeyoung, a 5th-grade administrative officer at the Seoul Disaster Management Bureau. To him, it was just the usual sight, nothing particularly good or bad.
The overcast sky scowled darkly, heavy with gloom.
Cheorwon, huh...
Today's destination wasn't exactly welcome. It was near Cheorwon, classified as a disputed zone.
He'd only recently become a bureau officer. The 5th-grade public service exam was notoriously tough, so he'd prepared thoroughly. The written test was one thing, but as an Awakener, he had to prove his abilities too.
He'd built up achievements clearing dungeons and handling monsters with a major Seoul guild, earning a nationally certified B-rank. The elite track, in other words.
Some valued guild life higher. An Awakener's risky path offered income matching the peril.
But Daeyoung hated that. Safety. Steady pay. Nothing beat public service for those.
Clack-clack—whirr—
The train picked up speed. The scenery blurred past in an instant.
Monsters invaded, Awakeners emerged. That clichéd tale had unfolded half a century ago. Textbooks always highlighted the Daybreak of 49 years prior.
Interdimensional rifts opened, monsters poured in. Humans awakened unique powers to fight back. Called World War III, the devastation collapsed and rebuilt civilization.
And now, humanity survived, forging a new world.
“......”
Cities rebuilt, science—no, magic stone tech—blossomed into a new era.
Daeyoung felt the train accelerating. The mystical mana energy from monsters' hearts, magic stones, propelled it at terrifying speeds.
Shwoooosh—
The train glided smoothly, then slowed. The rural landscape sharpened into view—stark opposite of the glittering city.
Entering Cheorwon, snow finally fell from the brooding sky. Fat, vivid flakes blanketed everything.
In these frozen fields rimed with frost and ice, the oddity was the combat outposts scattered everywhere.
[Next stop: Cheorwon. Cheorwon Station.]
Daeyoung rose at the announcement. Here, he had to meet a man.
* * *
Hordes of monsters, dungeons opening everywhere. A great war, they said.
Only photos remained now, but rural elders still remembered. A war washed in blood. Hell without restful sleep. Countless deaths.
Where there was war, there were war heroes.
The man Daeyoung sought was one—from the five legendary war heroes in textbooks.
Though Daeyoung privately thought their feats exaggerated.
“Ah, you've arrived. The new officer, right?”
At Cheorwon's borderline, guarded by military, a gate stood amid the outpost. An Awakener sentry greeted him.
“Please take care of us.”
Daeyoung smiled faintly, flashing his ID.
The man checked it and bowed. “Officer Shim Daeyoung, pleasure to meet you. As you know, beyond here is the disputed zone. Untamed monsters lurk. Need an escort?”
“I'm good.”
“Understood. Proceed.”
Daeyoung stood before the steel gate. Beyond: monster territory.
Creak—
It opened. He crossed.
No civilization here. Dense woods everywhere. He walked on crumbled asphalt—once a road.
Shhh—
Snow fell in the zone too. Fat flakes piled white swiftly.
Silence. No insects, no birds. Pure wilderness hush.
He pulled out his smartphone, checked the map app's marker.
Should be around here.
A long walk. Cars needed once—but not for him.
Pop!
He dashed. Mana surged from his Awakener body, empowering him.
Whoosh!
Scenery whipped by like wind. Through brush, run, walk—how long?
Beyond endless woods...
“......!”
A large log cabin stood abruptly. Crude but sturdy.
Map confirmed: the spot. Daeyoung scanned around.
“Huh?”
He froze.
Squeeze—squeeze!
A monster had appeared, tilting its head before him.
Mossduck?
Twice his height. 3.8 meters, bloated bulk obvious. Ostrich-like, but duck-beaked. Legs muscled for 100 km/h sprints.
Those clear eyes seemed innocent—but deadly ignorance.
An A-rank disaster beast...
In cities, A-rank triggered emergencies. B-rank already meant evacuations.
“......”
Emergency hit Daeyoung.
He backed away hastily.
Squeeze-squeeze!
It stepped forward.
Mossducks flock.
Meaning...
Squeeze-squeeze-squeeze!
Squeeze-squeeze-squeeze!
Duck cries echoed. Heads poked from brush. Dozens now.
Like Gulliver among giants?
Fight?
Cold sweat chilled his spine. Provoke them, and their fury crushed all.
As Daeyoung retreated...
SCREEEEEECH—!
A roar from above.
“Wh-what!”
He looked up. Amid snow, a massive bird flapped.
Thunderbird?
A-rank disaster beast. Ten-meter wingspan eagle form.
Why so many A-ranks?
Then—
Shwoooosh—
Another Thunderbird appeared. Two dominated the sky.
One spotted Daeyoung.
“Huh?”
SCREEEEEECH—!
It dove at prey speed. He knew that dive.
—You'll sweat bullets at first.
The previous officer's teasing echoed.
“Th-this is beyond sweating!”
Clear: flee. Hide in the cabin.
Daeyoung bolted. A crude fence ringed it—he vaulted over.
SCREEEEEECH!
The Thunderbird closed in.
ROAR—! Wing gusts battered!
This path to hell, not success?
Absurd thought—then something leaped from the Thunderbird, landing beside him.
“What are you?”
It spoke.
“Uh......”
Daeyoung stared. A person. From the monster's back.
“Wh-who?”
“I asked first.”
The man eyed him, then touched his ID necklace.
“Officer, huh. New one?”
Voice even, pleasant mid-low tone. Mid-20s. Messy black hair first. Shorts and short sleeves—unbelievable winter wear.
Daeyoung nodded stiffly. The man glanced up, beckoned the Thunderbird.
“Go.”
ROAR—!
It obeyed like a lamb, soaring high with its kin.
“You too.”
Squeeze-squeeze-squeeze!
Mossducks approached, lined up, bowed—then scattered.
Tension shattered. Daeyoung collapsed, soaked in sweat, teeth chattering. Relief flooded him.
Reason returned. He spoke.
“Um... Choi Kang-ho, sir?”
“Yeah.”
The man nodded lightly, glanced, offered a hand.
“Told 'em no need to come every time. Anyway, tough trip. Come in for tea.”
“Y-yes...”
Choi Kang-ho. One of the Hero 5 in textbooks. First real sight.
Mind-blowing. Born October 5, 1989—80 years ago. Should be elderly.
“Y-you're really Choi Kang-ho...?”
“Told ya.”
But mid-20s youth.
—Don't question it. We can't understand.
Previous officer's words resurfaced. Daeyoung followed him.
Coops, garden nearby. Glanced at one.
“......”
Thunderbird chicks inside. He quit being shocked.
“Uh... sir. These...?”
“Can't tell? Thunderbird chicks.”
“......”
“Cute when young, right?”
“Y-yeah...”
Small—watermelon-sized. Grow into those monsters.
A-rank chicks in a coop.
Daeyoung recalled his textbook codename.
Beast King!
Beast Master ability holder!
Fiercest beasts bowed to him.
Blocked the monster horde advancing on Incheon alone...
Thought exaggerated. But now? Undeniable.