Tamer's Path

Returning to Safe Haven Town, Akira separated from Yuna at the gates. They hadn't exchanged many words during their walk back, and she had only asked him some basic questions—like his experience as a tamer and his goals. Before leaving, Yuna informed him she would guide him when Atlas was too busy.

Her partner, a three-tailed white fox with blue-tipped tails, caught Akira's attention. This fox held immense potential, being distantly related to the legendary nine-tailed fox. Akira noted that her prowess was near the Bronze rank advanced level, which made her a reliable ally.

As she departed, Akira decided to explore the town, something he hadn't done since his arrival. The streets of Safe Haven were bustling with tamers, merchants, and adventurers, each immersed in their own world. The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with the metallic tang of armor being polished in nearby smithies. Strolling through the cobblestone streets, Akira allowed himself a moment to think and reflect. Walking had always helped him plan, and today was no different.

---

Meanwhile, inside the taming space, his partners were gathered for an important discussion. Akira's reckless confrontation earlier had drawn the attention of a dangerous entity: Apocalypse.

The silence was heavy as Nyx, the dark entity with the most knowledge of such matters, began explaining. His voice, always calm and measured, carried a weight of authority.

"Just to be clear, we are all marked now," Nyx began. "Especially you, Akira. He's going to come for you because of your ability."

Voltis, ever brash, interjected. "It's scary, sure, but how bad could it really be? He's sealed, isn't he? Most of his servants are dead, and I haven't even heard much about this cult doing anything significant recently."

Nyx sighed, shaking his head. "That's because you're young and uninformed. Allow me to enlighten you. The Apocalypse Cult isn't about quick destruction; they create hell on earth—a realm of despair and madness where suffering is eternal. They nearly succeeded thousands of years ago during the first war. Even sealed, their influence lingers. Geniuses disappear, powerful entities fall, and chaos spreads. These are not coincidences."

As he continued, Voltis shifted uncomfortably. Even Elythia and Lilia showed signs of unease. Only Asura, stoic as ever, remained composed.

Nyx continued, his tone dark. "Their blood is corruption incarnate. It taints those who consume it, enslaving them to its will. Even worse, some victims show no outward signs until it's too late. Double personalities, dormant curses—it's insidious."

Sangrelis, visibly shaken, muttered under his breath, "This… this is madness."

"It's more than that," Nyx snapped, his eyes narrowing. "This cult thrives in secrecy. It could be anyone, anywhere. And now, Akira, because of your actions, you've made us a target."

---

Walking past a row of artisan stalls, Akira overheard Nyx's sharp words through their mental connection. He felt a pang of guilt and regret.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I've put you all in danger," Akira admitted, stopping in the middle of the busy street.

His partners felt his sincerity, and after a brief pause, Voltis spoke up. "Look, we were going to face danger anyway. This just speeds things up, right?"

Akira chuckled despite himself. Voltis always found a way to turn tension into motivation. Lilia, emboldened by Voltis's resolve, chimed in, "I believe in you, Master. If this is our fate, then let's face it head-on."

Even Elythia nodded, though she still looked a bit wary. Only Sangrelis remained visibly troubled, his small body trembling slightly. He caught Akira's gaze and straightened, determined not to appear weak.

"Since we're marked, we have no choice but to grow stronger," Akira said. "Slow and steady won't cut it anymore. We need to get serious."

Nyx smiled faintly, his expression one of approval. "Now you're talking. But you'll need more than just power. You need training—real training. Fighting Apocalypse isn't like hunting beasts."

Akira realized the truth in Nyx's words. His battles so far had relied heavily on instinct and improvisation. But against a foe like Apocalypse, that wouldn't be enough.

---

He found a quaint aristocratic-themed café near the town square and took a seat. Calling Atlas, Akira explained his need for a trainer who could teach him and his partners how to fight as a team.

"Have you had any formal training?" Atlas asked.

"No," Akira admitted.

"What about your partners?" Atlas pressed.

"Two of them have some experience," Akira said, referring to Asura and Lilia.

"In that case, head to the dojo in town. With your rank and guild affiliation, you'll receive a Gold-level trainer. Once you've mastered the basics, we'll discuss advanced training at the guild headquarters."

"Thank you, Atlas," Akira said sincerely.

"It's my duty," Atlas replied before ending the call.

---

As Akira finished his tea, he glanced around the lively square. For a moment, he let the peace of the town wash over him, knowing it was fleeting. From now on, their journey would be fraught with peril. But with determination in his heart and his partners by his side, he felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Akira made his way down the bustling street known as the Tamer's Corridor, a place brimming with opportunities to hone one's skills. Each side of the street was lined with facilities specializing in various forms of combat training. There were shooting ranges for precision practice, weapon-specific dojos, and even places designed to help monsters improve their techniques. It was an entire ecosystem of learning, tailored to tamers and their partners.

For Akira, the priority today was foundational—learning how to fight with his body. After assessing the options, he decided on the largest dojo, a traditional building with grand wooden doors that radiated authority and experience.

Upon entering, Akira was struck by how massive the interior was—far larger than the exterior suggested, thanks to spatial expansions. The air hummed with energy as tamers and their monsters trained side by side. The dojo, under the jurisdiction of the Tamer Association, catered to tamers of all ranks, adjusting its services based on their ranks or authority.

At the reception desk, Akira presented his insignia from the Silver Horizon Guild. The receptionist immediately recognized it and assured him that a top-tier instructor would be assigned. After a short wait, a towering, muscular man in martial arts attire approached. His presence was commanding, and his easygoing smile immediately put Akira at ease.

"I'm Ekon," the man introduced himself, his deep voice carrying a hint of warmth. "Silver rank, martial arts trainer, and, well, your sensei for today. Let's get to it."

Ekon was from Nigeria, and though he looked to be in his forties, his movements were fluid and precise, exuding years of experience. His speech was casual and laid-back, a contrast to his intimidating physique. As they walked to a private training room, he asked Akira about his team.

"Got a big squad, huh?" Ekon remarked after hearing the details. "Alright, we'll split up the training for what each of your monsters needs."

Ekon quickly made arrangements for Akira's team:

Elythia: Her lance-like arms made her an ideal candidate for the weapon division. Ekon arranged for her to train with a specialist in spear techniques.

Sangrelis: Ekon paired him with a bird-type monster trainer, reasoning that their aerial and sharp movement styles would complement each other.

Voltis: Akira had decided to reveal Voltis to the public, inspired by the presence of other dragon-type monsters. Voltis was sent to train with a serpentine false dragon to hone his mobility and precision.

Nyx: Ekon chose an elemental fire creature as Nyx's sparring partner, focusing on controlling and adapting his unstable form.

Asura, Lilia, and Akira: They stayed with Ekon for martial arts training, as their humanoid forms would benefit most from mastering combat fundamentals.

Ekon led Akira, Lilia, and Asura to a private area. "We're gonna start from scratch. Basics first. No flashy moves, no fancy techniques—just solid foundations. That's what wins fights."

Akira nodded, knowing that while he had dabbled in martial arts before, his skills had long since atrophied. Lilia, on the other hand, was completely new to the concept. Asura, ever confident, seemed eager to adapt his monstrous strength into human-like precision.

The training was intense. For three hours, Ekon drilled them in the fundamentals of karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing, and Brazilian jujitsu. Each style was broken down into simple movements, then combined into chains of techniques. Ekon's teaching was hands-on—literally. He demonstrated each move on Akira, throwing him into the mat more times than he cared to count.

"Use your body's momentum!" Ekon barked as he demonstrated a kick. "You're not just throwing your leg—you're throwing your entire weight behind it."

Lilia struggled initially, her movements hesitant, but Ekon was patient. "Not bad," he said after she managed a decent jab. "You're not built for brawling, but knowing this stuff will save your life one day. And when you move on to ranged combat or swordsmanship, it'll make you faster and sharper."

Asura, meanwhile, was surprisingly adept. His monstrous strength translated well into controlled movements, and his natural agility made him a quick learner. "Not bad for someone with claws and fangs," Ekon joked.

When the session ended, Akira felt every muscle in his body protest. Despite the exhaustion, he was satisfied. Ekon's guidance had been invaluable, and Akira knew that this was just the beginning of their training journey.

"Good work today," Ekon said, clapping Akira on the back. "Rest up. We'll pick up where we left off next time."

As Akira left the dojo and headed back to his room, the town's announcement system blared to life.

"Attention all tamers. For your safety, no one is allowed to leave the Safe Haven until further notice. All tamers are required to return immediately and remain on alert."

Akira paused, his mind racing. The announcement confirmed his suspicions: the town's leadership was aware of the incident with the wolf and the Apocalypse Blood. The lockdown likely meant they feared other infected creatures or a potential attack from the cult.

"Worrying won't solve anything," Akira muttered to himself. "I'll just do what I can."

With that resolve, he headed back to prepare for his meeting with Atlas.