The morning sun barely pierced the dense canopy of the dark forest as Kael followed his master through winding paths. The ground was uneven, covered in thick roots and fallen leaves. Kael's muscles ached slightly from the previous day's grueling run, but his resolve kept him moving.
"Kael," the master said after a while, breaking the silence, "today, we'll begin your next Limit Breaker training—measuring your strength limit."
Kael looked up, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Strength limit? What exactly does that mean?"
"You'll see soon enough," the master replied with a faint smirk. "But first, you need to understand the world you live in—the monsters, beasts, and demons."
Kael nodded, listening intently as the master continued.
"Do you know about their ranking?" the master asked.
"A little," Kael admitted. "I've read some reports published by the World Government—they have a book listing monsters they've encountered and their rankings. But I never read it all, so I don't know much."
The master's eyes narrowed. "And did you know… that book contains only half-truths?"
Kael blinked. "Half-truths? How do you know that? Did you even read the book?"
"Did you?" the master countered sharply. "When I saved you from that giant serpent yesterday, do you remember its size and how it attacked?"
"Yes…" Kael whispered, recalling the terror.
"That serpent," the master said calmly, "was listed in the book as a Rank E beast."
Kael froze. "What? How… how can it change rank from E to C?"
"They evolve," the master explained. "Just like us, when they awaken to power, their abilities and forms change. A monster can grow stronger, change appearance, and increase in rank. When an S-rank monster evolves, it becomes a Demon."
Kael's eyes widened. "Demon? Then they're… much stronger?"
"Yes. Extremely powerful. They can control beasts weaker than them, and even some humans if they're strong enough. And just like monsters, demons also have rankings."
Kael's brows furrowed in confusion. "How do you know all this? The World Government never tells us. Why risk human lives by giving us false information?"
"They're not lying entirely," the master said, his gaze steady. "They just tell half the truth… enough to guide humans but not enough to reveal the danger."
Kael's voice trembled slightly. "And how do you know this?"
The master's expression softened, a shadow of mystery in his eyes. "I will tell you when you're ready."
Kael frowned. "Ready for what?"
"When you're strong enough to handle the truth," the master said, ignoring the question. "Do you know where our powers come from?"
Kael answered cautiously. "From awakening…"
"Correct," the master said. "But where did that power originate? You have no idea, do you?"
Kael shook his head.
"You know nothing about this world, Kael," the master said quietly, but firmly. "All will be revealed… once you're strong enough."
After their conversation, they finally reached the clearing that would serve as Kael's testing ground. Before him lay a massive object—a massive, unyielding structure that Kael would have to drag across the rough terrain.
Kael stared at it, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. This… this is my first real strength test.
The master's voice broke the silence. "Your strength limit begins here. Show me what you're made of."
Kael took a deep breath, gripping the object. His heart pounded as he prepared to push beyond his limits.