Tamer's Path

Life had been kind to Akira. He had worked hard to build a comfortable existence, one filled with love and purpose. He had a beautiful wife whose smile could light up his world, and an adorable daughter who brought endless joy to his life. Together, they were his everything.

Financially, he was secure. As the owner of three successful schools, Akira wasn't extravagantly wealthy, but he lived a life of comfort and fulfillment. After years of relentless effort and sleepless nights, he was finally reaping the rewards of his labor. His days were steady, predictable, and gratifying.

That morning began like any other. Akira shared a peaceful breakfast with his family, laughing at his daughter's delighted giggles as she reacted to one of his bad jokes. His wife watched them with a warm smile, her presence grounding him in a way nothing else could. After kissing them both goodbye, he set off for work at one of his schools in the capital city, savoring the routine that had become so precious to him.

As he approached his car, Akira absentmindedly pulled out his phone to check his notifications. Among the usual flood of emails and app updates, one message caught his eye. It wasn't a work-related alert or a social media post—it was from a mobile game he had recently started playing.

Akira wasn't much of a gamer, his interest in such diversions usually fading within a week. But this game, a monster-taming RPG, had held his attention longer than usual. He had only started three days ago and was at level 30, still a novice but enjoying the experience.

The notification stood out because it wasn't like the others. Instead of advertising an event or prompting an in-game purchase, it read:

"Do you want to save the world and become a hero? Accept, and a unique reward will be yours."

Akira chuckled. "What kind of cheesy marketing is this?" he muttered. It was clearly a gimmick to keep players engaged. Still, his curiosity got the better of him. Perhaps accepting it would unlock a rare item or exclusive monster. Shrugging, he tapped Accept.

 The moment he did, his screen changed. A simple "Thank You" message appeared before the world around him shifted.

A strange tingling sensation coursed through Akira's body. His limbs felt numb, as though they were dissolving, and when he looked down, his form was pixelating, breaking apart into shimmering fragments. Panic gripped him. He tried to move, to scream, but his voice was swallowed by the shifting light around him. His surroundings blurred into streaks of color and light until everything went black.

Everything was pitch black for a moment. In that darkness, a shimmering blue-and-gold card appeared before me. It radiated an almost magnetic energy, calling out to me in a way I couldn't explain. Somehow, I just knew—this was the reward I'd been promised for accepting the offer.

My mind raced with questions and possibilities. I could have panicked, could have broken down, but I didn't. I've always been someone who refuses to give up, no matter how dire the situation. I couldn't fight whatever was happening, so I accepted it. Somehow, I knew: I was being sent to another world. This card was likely my only chance to survive—and maybe even a way to return to my family someday.

When I reached out and touched it, a flood of information poured into my mind. I gasped, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of what I was learning. I was being sent to an alternate Earth, part of a multiverse connected to a much larger, more dangerous dimension.

The world I was about to enter had been eerily similar to my own—until one catastrophic day. Two colossal monsters, fully evolved beings from the main dimension, had crashed onto Earth during a battle. Each of these monsters wielded the ability to tear through dimensions, and their fight unleashed destruction on an unimaginable scale.

By the time the battle ended, the Earth was nearly unrecognizable. Vast craters scarred the planet, and entire nations were wiped out. Only fragments of humanity remained: parts of Africa, some of the United States, and a handful of Asian and European countries. The population had plummeted to just 20%, and Earth's surface was in ruins. It was only thanks to pure chance—or divine mercy—that the monsters hadn't attacked the planet itself. Their fight alone had been enough to destroy everything in their path.

In the aftermath, both monsters died, leaving behind an energy unlike anything humanity had ever encountered. This energy changed everything. Humans and animals began to evolve, developing enhanced physical abilities and powers. But this evolution wasn't enough to make humanity safe.

Over the years, the survivors banded together, realizing that division meant extinction. They formed a single global entity, pooling their resources and knowledge. Their newfound abilities allowed them to tame monsters—either enslaving them or forming bonds to fight alongside them. These "tamers" became humanity's greatest hope for survival. Each tamer's unique abilities could boost their monsters, making them stronger than wild ones.

But Earth's new strength came with new dangers. The unprotected universes—like this alternate Earth—were considered "free game" by the powerful forces of the main dimension. These forces saw such worlds as opportunities to expand their influence. Although humanity had gained the support of angelic beings from the main dimension, they still lived under constant threat. Even a casual skirmish between the greater powers could annihilate Earth.

As the vision faded, I felt a chill settle over me. Could I really do anything to help a world like this? My chest tightened with doubt, but I pushed it aside. Despair wasn't an option. Not for me.

I tried asking the mysterious force that brought me here for answers—why me? What was I supposed to do? But there was no reply. The only thing I received was a surge of energy that coursed through my body, changing me. I felt... stronger. I'd somehow skipped the usual unranked stage and reached the "iron ranking," making me far more powerful than a regular human. I could probably take down a bear with my bare hands if I had to.

Along with this newfound strength came another gift: a partner monster, a creature tied to my soul. As an iron-ranked tamer, I could now access a special taming space—a dimension where my partners could rest and recover. The space could be expanded and customized as I grew stronger, eventually accommodating massive creatures or even a small village. For now, I was allowed three partners, though they couldn't exceed the bronze rank. Anything stronger would overwhelm me and risk disobedience.

I focused on summoning my first partner. From the taming space emerged a striking figure: a humanoid creature with a body that seemed molded from white wax, its eyes and hair blazing with flames. Gold armor covered its legs and arms, giving it an air of both regality and raw power.

I stared in awe. This wasn't an ordinary monster. I could feel it—this creature had the potential to become legendary. Its physical stats were impressive, and it could manipulate both wax and fire, creating devastating combinations. Even more remarkable was the bond we shared. It was tied to my soul, ensuring it would never betray me. But that bond also came with a catch: this creature was essentially a newborn. It had no knowledge of the world or its abilities. I would have to guide it, train it, and help it grow.

As I studied my partner, I realized I had an innate understanding of its abilities. It was as though the knowledge had been implanted in me. This insight gave me an advantage—one I knew I would need in the battles ahead.

With this realization, I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. I didn't know how I'd been chosen or why, but I had no choice but to move forward. This world needed a hero, and for better or worse, I was the one they got.