《The Fallen Death Dog》


 01 Turn of Event.

    In the outskirts of the Solaris City, a young boy named Cain walked around on the pedestrian street with no other soul in sight, buildings raised like a silent reminder, their windows lit by a lamp, casting a soft glow of sign of life within the place.


    The sky was pitch black, vast and stretched endlessly while being painted by myriad glitter dots of stars and a full moon that shone a way for those who lost.


    However, despite its beauty, the boy felt heavy and crestfallen, wallowing in a desolate whimper that weighed his mind.


    "...Is my life already predestined?".


    The black-haired boy of average height is lamenting about his fifteen years of life, which will soon turn sixteen in just a few hours.


    He wears a plain black T-shirt with long sleeves that cover his pale skin. His lower part is covered with black trousers and a pair of black shoes.


    Cain is on his way from part-time work. At least, he needs some money to provide for his daily expenses.


    A year ago, Cain lost his last remaining family member, his Grandpa, who passed away calmly without any regret in his life. As for his parents, he knows nothing about their existence, only about how amazing they were when they were still alive, from his Grandpa''s story.


    At first, he despaired, but his Grandpa taught him to always stay strong in any situation and to not lose himself, for it was the most humiliating thing as a human being, especially since he was also a boy and soon would be a man, later on, hopefully.


    He tucked his hand inside the pocket and took out a watch. With a press of his thumbs, the hatch opened up and showed the current time.


    "Twenty, huh. Another four hours and my life will be doomed. Man, why did it have to be like this? Grandpa, why does my life always end up like this?".


    "Opps, watch out Kid!".


    "Woah!?".


    From behind him, a man in his mid-twenties ran off like a wind, completely free from any obstacle. His body was cloaked with a green aura that felt calm around him and also gave him a sense of freedom.


    The man parted his lips while intensifying his run, and slightly from his side emerged beautiful green feathers that fluttered across the air, dropping down like a leaf in autumn.


    It was a lovely green bird that followed the man and chirped energetically as the man leapt before disappearing from the scene, leaving the boy in an absentminded state. A slight envy appeared along with a frown.


    "Wow, a Resonator, huh. I never expected there to be someone out here in the outskirts. Besides that, the Guardian beast was really pretty. Such good fortune he had!".


    The term "Resonator" has been used by the world for someone who succeeded in awakening the amazing power that lay dormant deep within an individual. The dormant power within humans itself was none other than a Guardian Beast.


    Like the name suggested, it was like an individual protector and partner in life, willing to face every trial their masters faced and ascend to greatness together. Of course, it was not only a beast that emerged; there were also other beings such as Angels, Demons, Spirits and many more, but all of those were considered rare.


    Most humans in this world have the power to manifest it, but, of course, not every human has a chance to awaken. If someone luckily can manifest it, they will have two options in life: fight and reclaim the land that had fallen to the enemy''s hand or provide support for those who stand on the front lines.


    All of the options were related to war or subjugation. This happened because the world was in crisis, and more than seventy percent of it had already fallen.


    Then, why did the invaders not use this chance to wipe out civilization completely? There are two reasons for that. First, the main enemy force was having an issue with being wreaked havoc by a single person from centuries ago.


    The Great Hero single-handedly breached out toward the enemy''s line of defence and succeeded in destroying half of its fleet, like a God of War, before pushing back the enemy toward the far end of the galaxy.


    However, his attempt had to come with his life on the line, and once every year at the new year, every living being in the empire and another will come to celebrate his bravado and sing his achievement.


    "...Great Hero¡­".


    Cain, who lived and was born as a commoner on the outskirts, holds at least a bit of a wishful dream. He wished to be a Resonator and become someone as great as The Great Hero.


    However, deep down, he knew too well that the dream was nothing more than a fleeting illusion that wouldn''t be grasped no matter what he did. The reason he gave up on his dream was because of the condition of becoming a Resonator. One must awaken their dormant power before they pass their sixteenth birthday.


    Then, with a bit of remaining time on his plate, Cain was already giving up. He probably lived as a regular commoner and worked in a mundane everyday life.


    Feeling a bit sentimental and pleased, for the least, he could still have the freedom to imagine something that was enough for him.


    "Well, I better go home and cook something, have some self studying, then prepare for school tomorrow".


    Feeling resigned to his fate, Cain resumed his walk. Earlier, he had stopped under the flickered golden lamp that seemed old and soon malfunctioned as he walked away from it.


    Once he placed the watch back while humming some pleasing instrument. Cain''s feet began to skip in joy.


    "Hm,, Hmm, hm, hmmm¡­!? Hm".


    Cain stopped in his tracks as his vision caught the figure of a boy running from the dark alley in front of him, clearly not in normal condition. The boy''s flustered and frightened face was etched deep into Cain''s mind while his body tensed naturally.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.Probably because of his consciousness that kept alternating his gaze to the back, the boy with short blonde hair stumbled upon his feet and dropped to the ground, dropping a black crystal that touched Cain''s shoes.


    With distressed gestures, the boy, with ragged breath, glanced at his back and found no one there. Soon, his face paled after he saw Cain, who took out the black crystal that lay on his front.


    The surface of the crystal was rough like a polished diamond, and different from its material, it was light, which was not something a crystal would have. Cain tightly grasped the crystal in his hand before crouching down and facing the boy, who soon opened his eyes in terror.


    Cain stupefied, looking at the boy''s appearance; he was probably still ten. However, his sharp and intelligent eyes give him an unfathomable wisdom rarely seen here. The clothes he wears are made from high-quality materials that put his own to shame.


    ''Is he a young master or something?''. Cain muttered those words in his heart, fearing his guess was wrong.


    Silence hung between the two as time kept ticking, urging the boy to leave the place hurriedly. The boy abruptly clicked his tongue and snatched the crystal from Cain''s hand in a ferocious manner, making Cain flinch.


    ''Yep, the boy is a young master. I am certain of it!''. Nodded internally, Cain saw the boy stop one step beside him, turned stiffened like a statue while looking at the several figures of an adult man wearing a skimpy outfit like a burglar.


    ''Is he involved in something?''. From the corner of his eyes, Cain could see the boy''s face contorted while trying to hide the black crystal in his hand. ''Is that the cause?''.


    "Give up, kid! There is no other place for you to run anymore!" One of the burglars stepped forward, trying to intimidate the boy.


    "...Kuh, is this my punishment for acting brave when I''m powerless?''. The blonde-haired boy tightly clenched both fists, grumbling faintly; only he and Cain could catch his lament.


    ''This Kid!?''. Cain looked toward the small back of the kid, trembling as he gradually surrendered himself to the fear that gripped his heart.


    However, the kid kept his posture straight, unwilling to submit to the situation, and this drew something deep within Cain''s consciousness.


    (*Bathump!)


    A loud beat of his heart resonated within him, pushing away the hesitation and limiter that he had placed upon himself. Cain''s body moved on its own. He stood in front of the boy with a determined face and composed attitude.


    "You!?".


    The blond-haired boy''s face stiffened upon realizing a shadow that blocked his vision, and that was the boy he had accidentally met earlier.


    "Huh, who are you, Kid! Leave before you experience pain".


    A sudden threat that pointed its cold edge to Cain''s throat made him suffocate. His instinct kept blaring an alarm since earlier, telling him to stay put aside and not act stupid because he did not have any countermeasures in fighting the enemy in front of him.


    Silenced was Cain''s answer, not because he is composed anymore, but because his lips froze stiff to open up as he was petrified by fear. However, he squeezed every last power he could and was forced to open his lips.


    "Let''s run".


    "Huh!?".


    The boy was baffled by the instruction of the one before him before he nodded himself to realize the situation they were in.


    "...I know a way around here, so, on three! Ready, one, two,,,".


    "Oi, don''t do anything stupid!".


    "Three!".


    Cain threw the plastic bag in his hand high up in the air, attracting the men''s attention for a second. He took the boy''s hands and dragged him toward the dark alley beside him, different from where the boy came from.


    "Shit, chase them!".


    The four men began to move. From one of their bodies emerged a conspicuous yellowish-brown aura that felt eerie and awoke a sense of unease, for the hoarders of carcasses had entered the stage.


    It was a beast with yellowish-brown fur and black spots all around their body, its face was hideous, and it almost seemed to snicker at everything it saw in sight. It began to creep out in snickering laughter and chase the two boys that ran to the alley.


    "Let''s go, Hyena!".


    With the boy in his hand, Cain ran through the narrow alley. It was dark and humid, and the unpleasant smell kept stinging their noses, giving their stomachs a churn and contorting their faces, but they had to keep holding on and pushing through to save themselves.


    "Big brother, why?".


    The boy asked obliviously why the boy in front of him was endangering himself by trying to save him despite their first meeting.


    "Quit the small details, first, we need to run! This way!".


    Cain himself didn''t know what force pushed him into doing these dangerous things, but somewhere along the lines, his body was moved before his mind could keep up.


    Deep in the darkness, which enveloped the surrounding environment with an eerie atmosphere, Cain''s lips broke into a fearless grin without him noticing.


    [Something Dormant inside you began to stir]

 02 Awoken.

    A sense of foreboding engulfed the figures of the two boys; its faint trace of life could be heard in the voice of bated breath. Silent threats began to sneak behind their backs, giving goosebumps that let their survival instinct kick in.


    Cain''s vision blackened out, but he leaned to his instinct and the fleeting light that shone in the alley, his feet bringing him to a faraway place. Each step they took echoed within the narrow and empty alley. But he couldn''t care less about any of that. He only wanted to help the kid in his hand and get as far away from the pursuer as possible.


    This thought helped him keep his motivation to the maximum despite not knowing the boy''s nature or name. It could be the boy is the one evil here. Or were the people earlier just his guards trying to get this boy back home?


    ''Well, it doesn''t matter anyway. When in doubt, follow your own heart, right Grandpa''. Cain shoves away those thoughts and solely thinks about running. He took a left turn and faced a branched path, then another turn to the right, using only the faint light from the moon that hung above him.


    Then, the two found themselves on a straight path that would lead them to a highway, the most conspicuous place and would get them in trouble. Cain had no hesitation in his steps; he breached through the highway and found himself facing a desolate road, with a highlight of the city of the dead with no souls around.


    At this time and hour, people rarely come out because of the criminal rate that has spiked in recent years on the outskirts of the central city.


    "Wait a minute! Ha,, ha,, big brother, where do you want to take me!?".


    With bated breath, the kid finally opened his mouth, but unlike his earlier conduct, now he felt much closer by sounding a bit more polite despite his appearance and status.


    Indeed, knowing the situation they were in, Cain couldn''t just randomly run around the place. That will definitely tire him out, giving the pursuers a huge advantage in capturing the boy, or worse, him too, for sticking his nose when it is unnecessary.


    He scanned his surroundings, recognized the place they were in, and opened his mouth.


    "Let''s go, we must hide first!".


    "Ah, Wait, big brother!?...".


    Without waiting for the boy to finish his explanation, Cain dragged the kid to enter another dark alley just a step in front of him.


    The moment when he thought he finally escaped the trouble in his hands, a terrifying chill seeped through his bones, sucked his breath away and made his gaze jolt to the source behind him.


    "Big brother?". An oblivious response came from beside him after seeing the strange act he showed.


    ''This feeling, no way!? It can''t be!?''. Cain''s body involuntarily trembles in fright. His hair stood to no end when he saw a glimpse of terror in the form of a pair of yellow eyes that blended within the darkness observing him.


    A snickering of madness echoed in the surroundings, signalling the presence of a trickery and treacherous beast with a cunning line of thought. It was always waiting for a chance to ambush and steal its opponent''s food and harass others with a sneer on their faces.


    The eyes blended into the darkness, and it disappeared, only to leave its sneer remark, which made Cain and the boy''s bodies flinched.


    "Hey, kid?" Cain gripped the kid''s hand tightly, causing the boy''s eyes to shrink.


    "What?".


    "Are the guys that chase you a Resonator?".


    "...Um, they are, probably".


    ''Which is it?''.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    There was a slight pause, and yet it greatly put him into a silent pressure that gripped his heart bare, strangling Cain. He wanted to curse at the boy and yell out what kind of trouble he had encountered at that age. Of course, Cain held himself out, only to unconsciously frown.


    ''What should I do?''. A black cloud began to swirl inside his mind before it cleared away.


    [Your Dormant Partner is responding to your call]


    ''What was that? Something inside me stirred awake, but what is it?''. Cain clutched his chest and felt just how fast it was beating. He regulated his breath and succeeded in calming his rate down.


    Because of that, the fog in his mind cleared away, and Cain could see a broader picture again while racking his brain to escape this predicament. Looking at the time and his surroundings, Cain resolved himself to let this case go to the patrol that stayed half a kilometre from his current place.


    Cain glanced at the boy clutching his chest, holding onto the black crystal he had dropped earlier. He didn''t know what kind of item that was, or rather, he didn''t want to know at all.


    ''The boy seemed fine, his breath also had calmed down. We can do this!''. Cain nodded off and held the boy, then dragged him from the place.


    "Are you ready? Let''s go, kid!".


    "Eh? Ah, okay!".


    Despite the unreasonable attempt Cain had made, the boy kept following his instruction obediently, far away from his picture of the people with status.


    Based on his own thinking and common sense, he assumed that people who have status and live in the city centre are arrogant.


    They have strong, in this term, stubborn characters, aloof and sometimes merciless toward the people like him who stay on the outskirts, but the boy in his hand, albeit aloof at first, gradually turned mellowed.


    While running, Cain was wary of his surroundings and sometimes looked toward the boy whose condition seemed worse. Then, an unexpected event happened. Cain lost his grip, and the boy''s leg stuck into the elevated ground, slamming his face to the ground.


    "Ouch!".


    "Kid, you okay!?".


    The moment Cain reached out his hand, a chill swept up their consciousness, shutting down his thoughts for a moment. Without him knowing, Cain found himself seeing the world turned upside down while feeling a sense of floating.


    ''Eh? What happened?''. He muttered those words before feeling a tremendous jolt that broke his consciousness apart, coming from his back.


    Cain''s body slid down from the building wall; he forgot how to breathe, his lungs desperately pumping their function to attain his life.


    "Big brother!?".


    The boy''s worried voice echoed in the empty space. He approached Cain, letting his body face the ceiling, and helped him regain his blocked air. After a few attempts, Cain could finally breathe the fresh air that he thought was delicious.


    "Huuf, I am glad you okay?".


    "Thank you, kid!".


    With his renewed breath, Cain rose up and found himself facing the ominous face of a beast. A hyena watched him closely, its yellow eyes gleaming in a dangerous light, and its snickered mouth showed protruding teeth and dropping saliva.


    "Run!".


    That word came out naturally from his thoughts and forced his screaming body to stand up. He somehow could stand and wanted to escape the place by taking the boy''s hand.


    However, faster than his movement, the Hyena had already arrived before him and spread its ominous smile. With a swipe of his tail, a strong gust of wind blasted away Cain and the kid beside him, who was a couple of meters ahead.


    [Your Dormant Partner is responding to your call]


    *Bathump


    Again, a weird sensation creeps out from the depths of his consciousness, telling him as if he wanted to break free from its long slumber. But, the fleeting feeling soon fades out, leaving a bitter taste in Cain''s mouth.


    The pain and hot liquid that streamed down on his temple brought his consciousness back to reality; he felt himself lying on his stomach on the hard surface. Cain fluttered his eyes open and saw he had lost consciousness for a brief moment there.


    "Finally, we found you!".


    Those solemn and deep voices that he heard recently echoed above him, and attracted his gaze to lift up and saw the boy was being strangled on his neck, blocking his air breath. With teary eyes, the boy kept fiercely struggling.


    "It''s pointless, hand over the fragment to us!".


    "Ukh! ¡­ver".


    "Huh? What did you say?".


    "...I said, never!".


    The boy''s shout rang through the empty environment; it roamed not only to the surroundings but also toward Cain''s chest.


    A strong ember of life lit furiously, and his frozen heart began to melt. His mind began to replicate the moment he lost his grandpa.


    ("...Cain, from this moment, you will live on your own. ¡­In time, you will know that the world is not just light but also dark. Good=Evil are intertwined, and come a time to face a great trial that threatens your own being. However, I believe you can face the world ahead with a gaze held high, undeterred in any situation, twist the trials that block your path, and then look toward a brighter future along with the people you cherish. ¡­Life, Cain! Fight, and never lose to yourself!


    I love you, Cain. Live well and goodbye!")


    Cain''s field of vision brightened, and strong resolve radiated from his eyes. Without everyone noticing, Cain grips the man''s ankle tightly, digging his own nail deep within. Probably because of the difference in physical strength, Cain feels his nail dug into concrete, not into flesh.


    However, he preserves, green veins bulge from his hands, and his determination rises above its maximal meter. A miracle happened when the guy who earlier had a sneer on his lips, now he knitted his brows after feeling a stinging pain that tore his skin apart.


    ''Again, it was still not enough, I needed more power to save the boy and the power to fight continuously ahead. I will Fight!''. Cain muttered those words, and unconsciously, his mouth shouted under the watchful eyes of the men, the boy, and the dark sky that shone its light toward the land.


    "Haaaah!".


    "Akh! What''s wrong with this kid!?".


    The world dimmed, and the street lights and lamps surrounding them began to flicker with ominous signs. Deep in Cain''s consciousness, a pair of purple eyes peered through him and noticed that he was facing the thing.


    [Your Dormant partner is awoken]


    [Starting the Resonance]


    [.....]


    [...]


    [Night Dog, your partner had awakened from its Dormant state]


    [Congratulations, you are now awakened as Resonator]


    [Updating status¡­]


    [Status update complete! Displaying]


    [Resonator Status]


    Name: Cain


    Race: Human (M)


    Rank: 0 Star


    Progress: 0%


    Attribute (Shared): Darkness


    Innate Talent: Tenacious


    Skill: -


    [Guardian Beast status]


    Name: -


    Race: Night Dog


    Rank: 0 Star


    Progress: 0%


    Attribute (Shared): Darkness


    Innate Talent: Shadow Ruler


    Skill: -

 03 The Truth.

    "What the!?".


    The man''s feet jolted in agony, a trail of fresh blood flowing to its heels; he jerked his leg and stepped away from Cain, whose entire body was glowing in the shade of eerie Darkness. The man saw Cain straighten his body, looking down in the process. He knew better what that was.


    Darkness follows; it engulfed everyone''s vision in a brief moment, invoking a sense of fear trapped inside an endless darkness that wrecked their mind, the moment when Cain awoke his power. Beneath him, the shadows expanded and connected to each other, creating a massive network that temporarily halted the world.


    An intimidating howl shook the ground. The howl was soul-piercing; it made the hyenas cower in fright, and the man lowered his guard, prompting the kid to escape and stand behind Cain.


    The boy stood on guard, clutching his chest while staring at the figure of Cain, who was still in a daze. From the bottom of his heart, joy sprouted, feeling happy that someone who helped him met his fate and awoke the power as a Resonator.


    As someone who was born within a renowned family, the boy knew well what the status is if awake as a resonator. Even in his family tree, many of them possessed a tremendous strength that could make the world envy them.


    Except for him, deemed with weak physicality, the boy desperately trained to be wounded and exhausted for a few days; he could only attempt to spread his mind, opening the window to the finite knowledge his family had.


    He was arbitrarily involved in this situation because of his reckless attempt to act foolishly as a Hero beyond his reach without finding out the risk¡ªtruly out of his character.


    ''Big brother, you are amazing!?''. The moment he said those words, all shadows within the surroundings swayed. An eerie thumping sign of birth echoed within their ears as the figure of a beast emerged from beneath Cain''s shadow.


    The body was clad in pitch-black fur reminiscent of endless night. Its four legs were firm and strong, leaking out black smoke that seemed blended with the shadow beneath him. A pair of fierce blue eyes glow in the Darkness, hinting at an unnatural intellect that goes beyond its mere animalistic instinct.


    At the same time as the Dog appeared, Cain''s gaze lifted and stared straight with a faint glint of a predator. The Dog responded, and with its triangle ears that perked up toward the sky like an antenna flinched, it lowered its stance, growling in wary.


    "This!?".


    Cain, who had regained consciousness, glanced at the change that had occurred to him. He felt a tremendous raw power seep from the endless Darkness beneath, nourishing his physique.


    All five of his senses had been greatly enhanced, and he could smell the distinctive taste of the air, a faint whispering that grew distant each time passed. More importantly, he felt a confidence impulse, thinking that he could do anything right now.


    However, all of that dangerous impulse that gnawed at his consciousness had to be blown away after his partner exerted its presence.


    *Woff!


    The Black Dog barked, alerting Cain''s attention to the side and met its gaze head-on. In a short moment, he could feel a strong connection that bound them both for eternity. The Black Dog greeted him for the first time, to which Cain responded with a satisfying smile and slightly bent his torso to give the Dog a pat on its head.


    "Pleased to meet you for the first time, partner!".


    *Woff!


    After giving his partner a satisfying greeting, Cain lifted his gaze in front and found himself engulfed within a silence. He knit his brows in wonder as to why this is all happening. Is it because of his sudden awakening that things turn out this way?


    The four people before him face darkened, their bodies trembling as if holding back something deep within themselves.


    "Pu¡­!".Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Cain and the Black Dog lowered their stance as the four men gave a weird response; then, out of all the possibilities that could happen, the men favourably cracked a laugh that blew away the silence that hung between them.


    "Puhahaha, a dog, hahaha¡­".


    "Pfft, Huhu, man, that took us suprised".


    "Ahahaha, I thought something fearsome would emerge but¡­".


    "....Ahaha, ihihihi, turns out it was just a dog, damn what a good laugh I have".


    While they were laughing, Cain, who was new to this situation, could only stand stiffened. He glanced at the Hyena, which, different from its master, kept his eyes fierce, ready to lunge at Cain at any moment but wary about the black Dog with the same physique.


    Not understanding what had happened, he felt a slight tug on his sleeves and saw the boy also look at him with a resigned gaze that seemed helpless about the situation they were in.


    ''What is this? Why is everyone laughing at me? Even the boy is kind of upset? What is truly happening?''. Dozens of questions began to filter through his brain, but they halted in his throat before reaching the ears of everyone present.


    Cain decides to hold in and glance at his growling Dog, who is glaring at the Hyena. The Black Dog''s height reached above his knee, overflowing with a threatening attitude to protect its master. Momentarily after watching the reaction of people around him, Cain had a slight doubt, but soon shook his head to get rid of that disgusting thought he had.


    ''No, you stupid bastard! He was your partner, believe in him and believe in yourself that you can get away from all of this!''. After re-affirming his resolve, Cain scanned his surroundings, then sneakily summoned his Status system and deeply immersed himself within the abilities he had.


    A translucent blue panel appeared before his sight. It was invincible to any eyes except him. Cain observed the stats and sadly found that there is no redeeming value with the current him. There is only an innate talent that seems to depict his personality well.


    [Tenacious: A special trait you have. It grants you an indomitable will to face every trial that stands in your path, enhancing the mentality aspect and ignoring the consequences that will befall you. It is a truly double-edged talent that will lead you toward the road to victory or the despair to the abyss.


    - Bonus effect: Granting you a boost of experience in your progress of growth]


    Innate talent is a latent potential the resonator possesses; it varies for every person who has it. Resonators who receive an innate talent within their first awakening are always deemed special but not rare. There are many resonators out there who awaken their innate talent, but there are some who don''t and will awaken it in their second phase, and so on.


    Then, the other status before him, which belonged to his partner, also awoke his innate talent, which is Shadow Ruler¡ªa relatively strong innate talent.


    [Shadow Ruler: A rare talent that belongs to the chosen beast. It would give the beast the freedom to control shadow all around them, sinking, shaping, destroying, or absorbing it, etc. Depends on how the beast battle experiences]


    Another one caught his interest: the Shared attributes they had: Darkness. Cain felt that it was not his own power, so it must have come from the Dog.


    [Darkness: An attribute that tends to have a corrosive and ominous nature. It had a good affinity with curses, illusions and many other forms of magic, depending on how deep the mastery in it]


    After finding out his capabilities, which still had many restrictions, unlike his partner, who seemed to have some mastery of them, he submerged himself in his own thoughts, unlocking his brain in an infinite potential of imagination, trying to use his Attributes. But, no results whatsoever.


    "Hey kid, do you want to know why we are laughing earlier?".


    The man abruptly starts a conversation, which greatly surprises him, but Cain internally pumps a fist, celebrating that he has another spare time. Seeing the frowned Cain, the leader takes Cain''s silence as an agreement; the man''s lips loosen, and he opens his mouth.


    "You know those resonators who fought in the front lines? What kind of Guardian beast they have, do you happen to know?".


    "...What is it?" Reluctantly, Cain shifted his attention and then thought the plan he had in mind to his partner''s mind.


    "None of them is a beast that comes from an inferior race like you have!".


    "...Inferior!?".


    "You probably read in some book''s right, that a Guardian beast also has a rank on its own and they classified it after millennia of research, dividing which race and solving any breed then categorized them into two breeds. Those who were born predators and those who were born defected".


    Cain''s eyes opened wide in his new founding. To think that kind of knowledge exists within the environment he was living in. To ensure it was valid information, he turned to his side and saw the boy who had kept his mouth shut since earlier, tightly gripped his sleeves and bit his own lips. ''So he was right?''.


    The only thing Cain knows is that, Long ago, when the Void creatures invaded the planet, they exhausted many of the planet''s resources, and the first thing between the living things that disappeared was the beast and then the animal.


    They were said to be almost extinct, but thankfully, after the constant struggle or never-ending war, some of the animals could survive despite the harsh conditions. To this day, they are hailed as lifesavers for their contribution to providing meat and some eggs for the lives of many.


    "Resonators who fought in front lines, mostly all of them possessed a guardian beast with an inborn predator breed, which excelled in battle and hunt, unlike you an inferior creature from, that born from the mighty Wolf race!".


    "I see, thanks for the information! Go!". Cain began his counterattack.

 04 Counter Attack.

    After knowing what has transpired inside his master''s mind, the Black Dog spins its body around and then bashes its tail up. Following the dog''s action, the shadows beneath the men wriggle in unnatural ways before sprouting, forming a layer of dark veil that blocks their sight.


    "What is this!?".


    "Darkness attribute?".


    "Careful guys!?".


    "...".


    Succeeding in causing the scene, Cain urged his partner and took the boy''s hand to resume their run, entering the dark alley to search for a place to hide their presence.


    After taking a left turn, they kept rushing ahead carefully, watching their surroundings to avoid stumbling upon the messy place. Cain occasionally looked behind him and saw a silhouette of his partner that perfectly blended with the darkness surrounding them.


    Thanks to their connection, they could understand each other''s simple thoughts even if they didn''t have to speak them. While the three of them ran, a T-junction was ahead, and Cain took a right turn.


    Near the place he was in, there was a small, cramped space that went straight toward another narrow path.


    Ahead of them, Cain clearly remembered that there was some huge abandoned warehouse, the place where he used to play with the other kids on the outskirts. He launched himself out from the alley and went straight toward a massive grey building with no lights on.


    They circled to the left and pushed inside the old rustic metal door; it creaked open, letting the air trapped inside flow, along with the piling dust, choking the two of them.


    "Let''s go inside, first!".


    When they entered the room, he closed the door tight. The interior was still the same as he remembered it from those times: a dimly lit vast room with high ceilings. On top of the wall, a line of transparent glass stretched to all sides, letting the moonlight filter through the room.


    Many types of steel containers are piling up dust for not being taken care of. On the corner, sacks and card boxes containing preserved food and other goods now lay scattered, proof of the abandoned time.


    However, despite all of the things he mentioned, the place still stood firmly on the ground, and there was no indication that it would erode over time.


    "Ha,, ha,, ha,, Big brother, why do we stop? Should we keep running?".


    True, given their situation, the best option for them was to run away and not stop in their tracks. But several problems follow.


    First, the boy seemed already past his limits, seeing that his face was now blue and gasping for breath. Even Cain could see the boy''s feet tremble. Second is the fact that one of the men Cain trapped earlier is a Resonator.


    Cain looked up to his partner, whose gaze was still lingering on the door, wary about the threat that followed behind them. He took out his phone and presented it to the boy.


    "Here, call your family or whatever, ask them for some help! The model was old, but you know how to use it, right?".


    The boy was hesitant to receive the phone, but he eventually gave in and nodded his head. He began tinkering with the phone and then pressed the numbers he remembered.


    Upon the connected call, he placed the phone near his ear, and Cain just shoved him inside a box in the corner to hide him from the pursuer.


    "Stay here and let the call connect through time, letting them detect you via tracking!".


    Unease began to creep deep in the boy''s heart, watching Cain''s resolved face.


    "Where are you going?".


    The boy pulled Cain''s clothes near, his eyes pleading, asking him not to leave him alone in this vast and lonely place. Cain stopped, his eyes faltering for a moment. He wanted to stay near the boy''s side, but someone had to distract the pursuer and, if possible, disarm them.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Cain gently places his hand on the boy''s head. He puts on the best smile he can muster despite internally being still clueless about what sort of plan he would make. He crouches down at the boy''s eye level.


    "Don''t worry. Keep calling your family for help, and I will do something about those pursuers."


    "...No, you can''t beat them!".


    "Who says I am going to beat them? I just need to act as a decoy and let you run the opposite way toward the guards who will protect you. Listen closely. Straight from this place, there is a patrol headquarters on the outskirts. You''ll be safe there."


    The boy feels warm and gentle encouragement from a stranger he met for the first time, while his own family never looks at him, except his big sister.


    It gives him a bit of courage. Strong light begins to form in his innocent eyes. He nods solemnly, giving Cain self-reassurance, and then he stands up from his place.


    "When the sign is up, run with everything you have got!".


    "Sign? What sign?".


    *Woff!


    Behind them, a warning was issued by the Black Dog, who constantly observed its surroundings.


    "Give me your jacket and hide!".


    Cain began to take out the boy''s jacket and throw his own in exchange. He walked briskly past the dog, who started to follow him behind. From the corner near the door, there was a steel pole, so he took it in his hands.


    It was a meter long and fit in his hand as a temporary weapon. He opened the door and began to run outside toward the highway.


    "Grrr!".


    Once they arrived near the highway, the dog growled threateningly toward the path they had come from. Cain observed his surroundings and found another alley that would lead him to another alley.


    He took a run, and the dog followed behind, deliberately making some noise. Cain hit a trash bag that was still piling up on his way, the tangy stench of something rotting, foul liquid that made his stomach churn, almost spilling his stomach. But he had to do it anyway.


    At the same time as Cain entered the alley, the men arrived, following the hyenas, which were tracking their scent.


    "Tsk, they''re gone!".


    "Where are they?".


    The Hyena sniffed around and noticed two distinctive smells that branched. One came from the massive building in front of it, but it was faint, and the other came from a moving target to its left.


    As an intellect beast, the Hyena could recognize its own potential warfare and the enemies it faced. Hyena instinct kept pointing toward the warehouse, aiming for the little one, who was also the more suspicious one.


    However, all of its attempts to tell its master broke off as a crushing sound came from the left of the alley.


    "There they are!".


    "Let''s capture them this time!".


    "Okay, leader, your call?".


    "Hyena take us there!".


    Hearing its master order, the Hyena reluctantly ran toward the left. Soon, their faces contorted in disgust, and one of them even threw up.


    "Bleeerg!".


    "Eck, that''s disgusting, dude!".


    "Ukh, the smell".


    "Keep moving guys!".


    Cain, who heard the pursuers'' outburst echoing within the narrow alley, began to run aimlessly while thinking of what kind of plan he had to make to disarm them. This was Cain''s first time he would undergo his first fight as a Resonator.


    As someone who was raised on the outskirts of the city, Cain had a fair share of fighting himself, but this time, he could do nothing but sigh. ''Huuf, to think my first battle would be against another resonator, what luck I have''. Cain stopped in his tracks and looked toward his partner, who looked up at him. Both of them stayed for a moment before he spoke.


    "Help me defeat those guys, would you?".


    *Woff!


    The air around them changed its flow. Subsequently, shadows began to crawl beneath their feet, shocking Cain to his core. The shadows crept up before enveloping both parties'' bodies, and they felt something had been cut off.


    "Amazing. What is this?" Cain looked at his own body, but there was no particular change in him.


    However, one thing that kept bugging him was his own presence. It was thin, almost escaping even his own perception. His gaze flickers, and he sees his partner before him. Its presence had indeed faded into the world, blended perfectly into darkness.


    "Where is it?"


    "Where are they?".


    "They must be hiding around here!".


    "Hyena, could you track them!".


    Cain''s body flinched, hearing the voice from his pursuers, who stood dozens of meters away from him. All of them have an absentminded look, searching for something that is present nearby.


    ''Don''t tell me!?''. Cain glanced at his partner, who crouched down, ready to engage in battle. ''So, this is how it feels in stealth mode. Hehe, not bad!''.


    He inhaled deeply and submerged himself into his own delusion, throwing away his fear and keeping himself convinced that he could do it.


    When the two breaths synchronized, Cain and his partner rushed forward, approaching their enemy.


    A steel pole in hand, Cain brought it upward, and his partner, its body slowly sank deeper into its own shadow before disappearing. They approached from the pursuer''s blind spot; Cain jumped and clenched the pole in hand, aiming to swing it toward one of the man''s nape.


    The Hyena probably notices something dangerous coming to their side unnoticed and turns its body, but alas, it''s too late. A gaping maw with protruding teeth embedded itself toward its throat; it came from the black dog that emerged from the shadow beneath it.


    *Nnng!


    The Hyena whined, finding itself had been bitten in the neck by the dog, alerting the leader of the group, but beside him, the figure of Cain had grasped his chance and swung the pole with all his might, hitting the man''s nape perfectly with a *Thunk!


    Two sudden attacks simultaneously brought down their leaders and the Hyena, shocking the other as they stood still, unmoving.


    "Counter attack, begin!".

 05 Ambush.

    Using all of his body weight to swing the steel pole, the leader man in front, his eyes whitened, and slowly, his body dropped down. Once Cain landed, he checked the man''s partner''s condition, and with the wounds, it had started to fade into nothing.


    "This kid!?".


    "Where did he come from?".


    "You bastard!".


    The nearby man raised his fist and approached Cain with hostile intent; Cain glanced at his side, but before he could do anything, a shadow from beneath him emerged, revealing his partner with his maw wide open.


    Its sudden appearance faltered the man for a moment, giving it a chance to bite off the man''s arm, tearing his skin and flesh with its sharp fangs.


    "Aakh, release it".


    In a panic, the man raised his other fist in trying to smash the dog''s head, but Cain was faster and diagonally from his right; he swung the steel pole and hit the man''s left jaw, letting out an unnerving cracking sound that made the other men cower.


    Not wanting to waste the momentum he had created, Cain rushed forward accompanied by his partner. He took the man on the right and his partner, the man in the back whose face paled.


    Their morale had hit rock bottom, making the job easier for Cain to finish the man. He crouched down and smashed the man''s knee until it bent, prompting him to let out a blood-curdling howl that shook his eardrum.


    Then Cain hit the man''s right temple, rendering him unconscious. Can resume forward in helping his partner, but because of the shock of his fallen comrade and being bitten by his partner, his consciousness slips out on his own.


    [Experience up!]


    [Progress 1%]


    [Night Dog Experience up!]


    [Progress 2%]


    "Hm!?".


    A translucent blue panel appeared in front of him, reporting the progress he had made. However, Cain knit his brows with the unfair judgment that gives him only one percent in progress while his partner is two.


    He turned to his partner, who shook his head intensely to the side to wash away the blood that stuck to his mouth. A moment later, he shrugged his shoulders and patted his partner, making it squirm and shrunken its distance.


    The black dog curled around Cain''s feet before it settled on his right leg, placing its body near it. It looked up with those adorable purple pupils.


    "Thanks, partner!".


    *Woof!


    Despite their language barrier, it seemed the black dog could understand the meaning behind what Cain told him. Realizing this, Cain is determined to deepen his relationship with his partner so that he can understand its meaning.


    "Let''s go!".


    *Woof!


    The two began to leave the dark alley and decided to visit the boy''s place, just in case he was still there. This was not his plan; at first, Cain planned to get the four men to follow him and fight them.


    Then, when the battle reached its peak, Cain asked his partner to howl as hard as he could to signal the boy to run to the patrol place.


    However, he assumed the fight would take a while to finish. Instead, it ended instantly, which gave him a bit of leeway in his plan. He glanced at the steel pole in his left hand, and the tip was bent when he struck the first man.


    Cain parted his lips and thanked the pole because, without it, the pursuers would overwhelm him. He felt a gaze, so he turned to the side and found his partner looking at him like he was asking for something.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ''Right, he still hasn''t got his name yet!''. Cain muttered.


    Naming their own guardian beast was normal so that it wouldn''t confuse the Resonator, and it also became a symbol of their own existence after being awoken from its dormant state and showing how close the relationship they had.


    Several names popped out inside his brain, but after careful consideration of his partner''s characteristics, Cain decided to give his partner names.


    "Noir, that is your name from now on!".


    *Woof! Woof!


    Noir responded pleasantly after giving a name. Its body halted before being enveloped by darkness, further enhancing its appearance.


    [Given a name to the Guardian Beast Night Dog: Noir]


    [The bond between you and your Guardian Beast deepened]


    [The understanding of the Attribute Darkness up!]


    [Skill Silent step, learned!]


    Cain involuntarily opened his eyes wide in surprise. Just giving a name to his partner had benefited him this much. His lips loosened, and he began imagining how strong he could get if his bond was strengthened further.


    "Hehe, thanks partner, you are truly my blessing".


    *Woff!


    With the power and strength he had gained, Cain''s dream of becoming a Resonator who fought on the front lines had opened its path. From here on, he only needs to take his first step there.


    Even if the people, country, or world rejected the strength they had, Cain would prevail and breach through whatever trial stood in their way.


    {Something inside you Resonating!}


    In a moment, Cain halted his footsteps, feeling something resonated within him. However, it was not shown to his eyes, and the feeling was already gone. He tilted his head, wondering what that was.


    ''What was that feeling!? Well, no time for us to linger in this place. We must get to the boy''s place. Cain hastened his steps, followed by Noir behind him.


    Despite knowing that the threat has gone, Cain and Noir keep their vigilance intact, scanning their surroundings.


    It was a quiet environment, with the fleeting light of the street lamp flickering under the passing of time. The whole situation unfolded in death silence, and instead of giving a tranquil feeling, it gave Cain and Noir goosebumps, as if something had lurked beneath the shadow depths, making even Noir have to put up its guard every time.


    Each step they took was like ascending the steep longer and becoming heavier. The two finally arrived at the Abandoned Warehouse after an arduous vigilance they put in.


    They circled the place, and Cain found himself in front of the rustic, old door with a broken lock. Slowly, with a creak, he pushed the door to look further inside. No souls had been seen inside.


    He took a step inside, and a sharp glint of a shadow appeared. It swung a stick made of steel downward right in the middle of Cain''s forehead. The time stretches far away, making the whole situation turn to a stop.


    Cain''s body reacted, and with his enhanced reflex after awakening as a Resonator, he put his leg firm on the ground before he backstepped. Noir began to respond in hostility, then lunged toward the shadow.


    "Aah, wait help!".


    Cain and Noir stopped in their tracks after hearing the familiar voice of the assailant. He peeked through the room and found Noir apprehending the boy while holding a steel stick in his hand.


    "Ah!? Big brother. help, your guardian beast is assaulting me".


    *Nnngh!


    Noir tilted its head to the side, not understanding the boy''s meaning. Cain facepalmed and asked his partner to get away from that position. Noir followed the instructions and sat beside the trembling boy.


    "I''m sorry about that, kid. You okay?".


    Cain extended his hand, grasped the boy''s slender hand, and pulled the boy up to stand. He looked around the place and found nothing suspicious. Noir, too, didn''t respond to anything except the earlier misunderstanding.


    "Big brother, why are you back? I thought you were fighting the pursuers and being instructed to run from this place when I heard the signal, is it now?".


    With a barrage of questions from the boy, Cain contemplated for a moment before nodding his head to simplify all of it.


    "Let''s go, I will take you to the patrol headquarters".


    "...Hm, okay".


    The boy''s mood dropped, and he looked down into deep thoughts. Negative thoughts began to swirl inside his mind, interrupting his cognition of his surroundings.


    ''Going Home like this? Who will welcome a person like me? All of them never pay attention to me. What good for me to be there in that massive and cold place they called home. I think nothing of it at all. What should I do?''. The boy fell silent, drowning in his own pool of negativity.


    Cain knew nothing about the boy''s hardship, but after one look at the boy''s expression¡ªhis bleak expression, gloom, and glittering eyes that almost spilled at any moment¡ªhe crouched down to meet the boy''s eye level and lifted the boy''s face straight to meet his gaze.


    "Hey, look at me! Calm down, okay. I don''t know what kind of situation you are in, but if you keep lamenting something out of your reach, it wouldn''t help you resolve this dangerous situation we are in right now, right?".


    "...".


    "Have you called your house?".


    "Hm, my big sister answered the call".


    "Good. For now, focus on escaping this predicament first, and then look toward other problems that disturbed your mind one by one, and make sure that you didn''t disturb others because of them, understood."


    "...Hm, understood".


    The boy''s expression returned to normal, and Cain abruptly stood up and took the boy''s hand. ''Well, I don''t know if that was the correct thing to do, but at least we must get out of this situation first. No one knows what will happen next, that''s why!''.


    Cain moved, dragging the boys out from the place, followed by Noir behind, but out of nothing, something flew to their feet, and the instant it touched his leg, Cain''s eyes bloated in shock.


    "Grenade? No it was¡­".


    With a click, the bomb opened up its mechanism and spewed a massive amount of white smoke that enveloped its surroundings. Cain''s gaze starts to flicker, struggling to keep his eyelids open. He clenched his teeth, but without him knowing, his body had lay on the floor, and his consciousness slipped away.


    The last thing Cain ever thought was to instruct Noir to hide in his shadow and then blacken out.

 06 Wolf.

    In this fleeting dream that drowned Cain to the depth of comfort, his consciousness jolted awoke. Slowly, he fluttered his eyes open, blurry, but gradually Cain''s eyes focused on the things in front of him.


    The first thing he noticed was that he felt something hard pressed against him¡ªno, he was lying on it. A dimly lit room and the light from the moon above helped him see ahead. It was the same place where he had hidden the boy, and now he was still here, meaning nothing big happened while he was unconscious earlier.


    However, something felt off. When he tried to move, his limbs were tied, restricting his freedom. Cain''s body began to tense; all hair stood around, and panic crept out.


    {Woff!}


    Cain''s body stiffened as Noir''s bark echoed within his mind, helping him to regain some of his calm. He exhaled and twisted his body around, trying to sit upright in this situation.


    After struggling for a few seconds, Cain was able to sit, but a looming threat in the sign of clapping resonated behind him, jolting his body in fright. He turned to the source and saw a medium-built man sitting on a wooden box, expressing his amazement in glee.


    "Woah, I didn''t expect that you could sit in that condition".


    The man''s voice was poised, or, should he say, composed; nothing in the place could deter his behaviour. The man wears a brown leather jacket with a white t-shirt inside; for the lower part, he wears loose black pants and leather shoes, which emphasize his aggression.


    He jumped off the box and walked toward Cain; under the light from the moon that shone upon his figure, the man walked out as a divine figure despite his hidden face, which was covered by darkness a moment ago, revealed, and it made Cain''s face cringed.


    His face was rigged with many scars, and one of his eyes was covered by an eyepatch, but upon looking closely, the man was filthy, his face dirty, and a foul smell began to assault Cain''s nose, making his stomach churn.


    The man who discovered what was on the boy''s mind stopped in his tracks, and his gaze turned cold. He didn''t utter a single thing, which made the whole atmosphere heavy.


    They both locked eyes for a brief moment before the man''s lips parted ways, and he smiled pleasantly.


    "Hmph, you''re a brave kid. I like that!".


    He snorted, then shoved his hand inside toward his chest pocket; he took something, a pack of cigars and its lighter. The man plucked one of the cigars to his lips before flicking the lighter. A spark emerged, and the man placed the tip on the source of the tiny fire and began to inhale deeply.


    From Cain''s perspective, the man before him was acting too carefree in this situation. Besides, he still had no idea whose side the man was on. He scanned his surroundings and found the boy lying not too far away from him, untied, sleeping soundly.


    ''I''m glad he is okay''. Cain muttered before turning his attention back to the man. He saw the man calmly enjoying his relaxing time while staring at the prominent light of the moon, which seemed to have thrilled him.


    "Who are you?". Bracing himself, Cain opened his mouth, and the man turned to look at him briefly before resuming his moon gazing.


    "Fuuu, Haaa, No one, I''m just some nobody who accidentally passed by".


    "...".


    ''Do you think I will take that at face value?''. Cain knit his brows; he put his guard up and secretly thought of Noir inside his shadow.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    {Noir, be ready in case something dangerous happened}


    {Woff!}


    {Um, I''m counting on you, partner!}


    Time passed in silence as the man kept his silence and dived into his own world of the moon. Cain kept observing his surroundings, obviously trying to find a possible way to free himself from this predicament.


    A moment later, a groan escapes from the boy''s lips. It seemed his consciousness had stirred awake.


    "Where is this?".


    Cain and the man turned to the boys, but before Cain could answer his question, the door from the side blasted open with a bang, jolting everyone in the room. His eyes opened wide, seeing the earlier unconscious four men now standing right back up.


    ''No, there is no chance they are fine''. When Cain looked closely, the men indeed had bruises, and one of them had been supported by the other for his knee injury that seemed to have taken away his feet.


    However, because of their appearance, his mood sank further into the abyss as the four men approached. Their gaze never left the man''s back, a gaze filled with admiration, respect, and hope.


    From that exchange alone, Cain could already picture the continuation of the situation he was in. ''Crap, this is truly bad!''. He turned to the boy whose frozen solid body trembles like a newborn fawn.


    Cain began to rack his brain while the four men approached closer; their bodies stiffened briefly before a surge of intense rage boiled their blood, looking at the figure of Cain, who was now tied.


    "Settle down boys!".


    A calm yet oppressive voice reverberated within the room and halted everyone''s thoughts for a second. The four men''s gaze turned to the man, who showed his face in front and ordered them to explain what had happened.


    "Explain!".


    "Okay, Boss!".


    One of the four men present, the leader, stepped forward and began to brief the man called the boss. Their conversation was secretive, with only a gesture and slight whispering on their part, invoking Cain''s curiosity. Well, he did not dare to interfere, though.


    Slowly, Cain slid away from his place to approach the boy while observing the other reaction. Thanks to the talk, which seemed important, all the eyes of the adults in place went to that place, giving Cain a chance to be near the boy.


    "Big brother, What happened?".


    "It seems we are in a dire situation, Can you move?".


    "Eh? Ah, yes, I can".


    "Good, can you untie me and please hurry!".


    The boy''s eyes landed on the rope on Cain''s wrist and legs. He nodded his head and began to place his finger to loosen it, but that moment proved fatal.


    {Woff!}


    "What!?".


    Before Cain could perceive what happened in his brain, his body received a sharp impact with tremendous force that sounded like a ''thud''. Slowly, his nerves throbbed in endless torture of agony that assaulted his brain.


    The shock lingered, and it pierced his lungs every time Cain wanted to take a breath; his eyes blurred, and tears began to accumulate as a response.


    ''Haa, It hurts, shit, it hurts!. Calm down, me! Keep your calm!''. Cain, with his lungs on fire, desperately lifted his gaze up and found the boy was petrified by the enormous presence of a Wolf standing behind him, which had kept its presence hidden until a moment ago. ''So, that''s why the boys don''t need to be tied, damn it!''.


    {Woof, woof!}


    {Not Yet, Noir. Wait for a bit more!}


    Noir still had some dissatisfaction about the instruction, but it reluctantly obeyed and stayed low inside Cain''s shadow.


    While adrenaline began to kick in, the pain that lingered on his side lessened, but Cain knew that it was only a temporary measure to let the body keep moving. He placed his forehead on the ground, feeling the moment of pain that gradually dimmed. In one go, Cain pushed out his spie using his abs and sat in seiza.


    With the new addition of the wolf, his situation became more dire, and he could find a way to escape this situation. He turned to the wolf, whose height was at the boss man''s waist. Its face was curling in warning, sharp teeth that could rip apart steel, its claws protruding outward, ready to intercept any suspicious activity from Cain.


    ''Yeah, this is difficult!''. In spite of the situation he was in, Cain never lost hope; he looked around once again and still found nothing worth using. The only thing that is worth his attention is how wide the place is, and up on the ceiling, many steel frames are still strongly connected to each other.


    ''But, that was too far away, I wonder if I can jump that high!''. At the same time, muttering those words, a scream that got his attention resounded.


    "...No!".


    The wolf held the Boy down; it growled, holding the poor boy down to the ground. With that as a cue, the boss man, along with the leader, approached the boy''s side, further intimidating him.


    "Okay, boy. Let me ask you nicely".


    *Grrr!


    "Where did you hide the Star fragment?".


    Being held down by a huge wolf and the pressure the man exerts by just looking at the boy from that angle involuntarily stitches the boy''s mouth.


    However, the boss man never lets his smile fade from his mouth. He carefully extends his hand and then yanks the boy''s hair, making him yelp in pain.


    "I won''t be nice the second time. Now tell me, where is the Star fragment?".


    "...ver¡­".


    "Hm, what is it?".


    "I will never tell you!".

 07 Choose.

    The room fell silent as the shout from the boy; despite being overwhelmed by fear, he still grits his teeth and speaks his mind out loud for everyone to hear. His action invoked a bit of admiration and shock, but things got worse for the boy.


    "Aakh!".


    The boss man, who was holding out his temper to kill someone, pulled his hair further. A blue streak of vein appeared on his temples, and he took out his cigar from his mouth. A sinister smile appeared on the boss''s face.


    "You better tell me, kid, because you don''t want this to get planted on your pretty face, would you?".


    "!?".


    Fear washed away the boy''s mind, turning his face pale. However, the boy kept his mind firm, not wanting to reveal where the crystal was. Probably deep down, the boy already knew that when he exposed where the crystal was, he would also escape their wrath.


    So, instead of despairing, the boy waited. He hoped someone would save him from this situation.


    Cain, whose face darkened, bent his body slightly further to let Noir get a better position to chew the rope binding him. Thanks to the boy''s bravado, all eyes were gathered upon him while their mind was focused on the crystal''s whereabouts.


    After regaining the freedom of his hands, Cain hurriedly opened up the rope in his feet, but a gust of strong wind blew from his side, and he witnessed Noir lying on the side a few meters from him.


    "Noir!?".


    His body stiffened upon noticing a huge shadow looming over him, enveloping his shadow itself. A threatening growl rang behind him; it further roused his fear within. Slowly, he turned around and found the wolf had stood behind him with its ferocious face right in front of him.


    Its movement was silent and unnoticed, and no scent wafted through the air. The beast before him was the definition of the Grim Reaper. It could easily take people''s lives in a second.


    Before the wolf attacked, Noir lunged at the wolf, but the wolf easily dodged its attack.


    *Woff!


    Noir warned Cain to focus on himself, and he did that; he pulled off the rope binding his feet and was finally free from the restraint; he stood up,


    *Grrr!


    From his side, Cain''s hair stood to no end when he found out the hyena, with its aggressive approach, rushed toward him with his jaw open wide, ready to bite off his flesh. Alerted, Cain jumped to his right and rolled to regain his footing.


    In front of him, Hyena growled in anger, still remembering the humiliation it received earlier. Cain keeps his focus ahead and occasionally peeks into the boy''s situation.


    Apparently, they noticed the commotion here, and they enjoyed watching the show while the boy was still in the boss man''s hand clutch. Cain gritted his teeth and moved away to the side.


    His eyes never tired of looking at his surroundings, trying to gather information or find something that could help him.


    *Hau!


    ''Tch, persistent beast!''. Cain looked up behind and watched the hyena follow him.


    The Hyena sprang up, opening its jaw wide to rip Cain''s throat, but Cain noticed that and dodged to the side, entering a steel container that opened on both sides. While entering inside, he didn''t forget to pull the lever to shut the door with a ''bang''.


    Cain ran forward and soon met the end of the container when the leader of the four men stood waiting for him. The man snickered while cracking his fists. Cain frowned, and once the two had gotten close enough, he slid down and escaped under the man''s between legs. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Tsk, slippery brat".


    ''Shut up, you stinky old man!''. Cain continued further and stood up, continuing his escapes.


    ''That is!''. His eyes caught the same stick the boy used when he was assaulted earlier. He rushed to the place and took one that seemed a bit shorter than the other.


    "You brat!".


    *Hau!


    Together, the man and Hyena, doing a pincer attack from both sides, entrap Cain in between. However, Cain kept his calm and observed which one is the most open for counter. ''There''.


    After calculating everything in his plan, Cain ran to his left toward the Hyena and Swung the steel stick downward. His move was awkward, but thanks to his enhanced state for being awoken as a resonator, when the stick hit the Hyena''s head, it resounded ''thud'', slamming its head to the ground.


    "You dare!".


    Cain jumped off the Hyena''s body and resumed his running. However, all of a sudden, his heart tightened to the point of pain. His left hand grasped his chest, which seemed to drum intensely.


    His lungs began to burn, and each breath he took felt labor. Sweat began to tick down his forehead, and for the worst part, he lost strength in his limbs. The lingering nightmare of agony returned; it bit down the side of his abdomen, contorting his face.


    His gaze flickered for a moment before he dropped down on all fours. He exerted a bit more strength on his limbs, trying to stand up, but it was so heavy that he couldn''t believe that the limbs were his own.


    ''Shit, not now!? Move, hurry, move! Guhk!''. Cain felt another jolt from his other side.


    The man who chased him earlier now had caught up and kicked Cain''s abdomen once more, leaving his body sprawled on the floor.


    "Gahak!".


    "Not tough enough, aren''t you? Take that!".


    "Gukh!".


    Cain received a stomp which blasted away the air in his lungs. His nerves were screaming for help, asking to stop this madness. But the man kept raining down with kicks and stomping his back. With each blow he received, Cain could feel his bones cracked over and over again. Also, the feeling of his flesh tearing tortured his mind, and he was crying without knowing.


    "What? Already over, boring!". A mocking tone came from the man standing above as he saw Cain was in tears.


    He had no willpower and strength to resist; his body was in taters and trembling nonstop. Cain''s body was dragged by the Hyena, who bit his jacket and treated him like a trophy of its hunt.


    After his body is dragged toward the Bossman''s place, the boy''s eyes widen, and horror starts to gnaw at his heart. A deep regret filled his innocent heart, which caused the demise of a kind person who always helped him despite not knowing each other''s names.


    The hyena throws Cain''s boy with its sheer power, making him let out a bit of a groan.


    "...Big brother!?".


    Tears started to accumulate in his eyes after the fear that slowly corroded his will and the guilt that clouded his heart. However, not all of the tragedy had ended. Instead, it was just getting started.


    *Eep!


    The sound of a whimpering beast echoed throughout the place. Everyone''s eyes turned to the source and found the wolf biting the dog''s feet and dragging it to its master''s side. All color drained from the boy''s face, and Cain, who saw it with bits ody lying down and face to the side, shuddered in fright.


    {Noir, return to the shadow!}


    Cain desperately issues an order to his partner, but alas, there is no response. Dread begins to clench his heart bare, his body shakes, and Cain slowly moves to get close to his partner.


    "No¡­ir!".


    His weak voice echoed within the muted place. The wolf seemed to understand Cain''s sentiment, so he purposely threw the dog''s body near him and approached its master.


    "Huhu, huhuhahahaha,,, Ooh, what a touching scene, am I right boy?".


    The boy''s eyes turned blurred, and a single tear streamed down his cheek. He deeply regretted his wishful thinking to keep his brave front when he couldn''t do anything, and yet only involved someone unrelated to the point of dying and dragged his guardian beast within.


    A sob escaped his trembling lips, and light began to disappear from his eyes with resignation. The boy''s lips opened.


    "It''s right ther¡­!".


    "No!".


    The sharp outburst came from Cain, who now embraced the dog in his chest, shielding it with all of his body. From within his chest, he could faintly hear Noir''s resolve, and Noir''s faint growl, which resonated with his chest, gave Cain a bit of strength to his dimmed will.


    ''Right, this is not over yet, right Noir!'' Cain, under everyone''s shocked eyes, tensed all the muscles around his body and desperately stood up.


    "Kuh!".


    His shout reverberated not only in the surroundings but also in the hearts of everyone present; their hearts shook in fright at the sheer willpower of the boy, which made them falter for a moment. However, the leader, who gripped a steel stick in hand, swung it down and stuck upon Cain''s nape, cutting off his consciousness.


    "What a noisy brat!".


    "Big brother, no, please wake up! Big bro, Akh!".


    The boss man pulled the boy''s hair harder, letting him face the boy''s gaze head-on. His lips parted in a hideous manner, and it sent chills around the boy''s body.


    "Look boy? You choose that boy''s life or hand over the crystal; it''s easy, right? The truth is. I abhor raising my hand to a child like you, but you leave me no choice, and this time, I am truly low on my patience! So, you better tell me before I wreck both of you!".

 08 Cruel.

    The boy''s gaze fell on Cain and his guardian beast, unmoving. They seemed unconscious. Thinking deeply, he realized that all of this had happened because he had overheard a certain group discussing something dangerous that could make the people drown in power. Also will bring catastrophe if a slight mishap happens.


    He doesn''t know if it was luck or not, but at that time, he had a chance to steal the thing and throw it far away, but destiny spoke otherwise. He got caught and desperately hid until he found himself sneaking into a cargo car that brought him to the outskirts.


    Alone and in the strange land, the boy was petrified, but upon seeing the men still chasing him, he ran away, and with fate guiding him, he met the boy Cain.


    He felt happy that, for the first time, someone other than his sister put him first before their own. However, because of that thinking, Cain got involved in this mess he created and was injured.


    The boy couldn''t contain his guilt and began to blame himself. Cain''s last shout might have opened a bit of his sentience, but all of that perished upon seeing his battered body lay motionless with his partner.


    "So, kid, where are the fragments?".


    He couldn''t feel even the pain in his hair as the boy''s empty eyes stared at the boss man with a bleak outlook. His finger lifted and pointed at one of the corners where he had hidden before.


    To make sure, the leader and hyena approached the place and found a piece of jacket Cain had given to the boy. Upon checking it carefully, he found the crystal, and soon, his lips parted in joy.


    "Boss, it''s here!".


    Pointing the crystal up into the air, the leader''s face brightened, and the boss man nodded his head satisfied. He turned to the boy, and Cain before his eyes knitted. A bit of pity clouded his eyes, but it disappeared briefly.


    With no use for the boys, he threw him to the floor, but the boy did not yelp; he just sat back up and approached Cain''s side.


    "Give me that, I will hand it to our commander later. You guys do what you wish!".


    After saying his piece, the boss man turned his back, and the wolf, which kept its vigilance, followed him from behind before it dissipated into nothing and returned to its master subspace.


    "Big brother¡­".


    The boy said meekly. He reached out toward Cain and caressed his bloated back, which moved up and down, indicating that at least he was alive. The same was true for the black dog.


    However, unnoticed by the others, even the boy''s Cain had already regained consciousness a few moments ago; he just had no strength to move or even speak. He kept pried his ear open, listening to the events that were happening around him.


    In his hand, he could feel a pulse thumping from Noir in his hold; relief washed away his grief upon noticing his partner was alive, albeit it was weak.


    Cain feared the worst happening to Noir. The moment he saw its condition being dragged away earlier, it pained his heart and brought him almost to tears. Even though the two had just recently met, the bond they created was strong enough for them to feel each other as a family.


    As someone who lived alone in the past year, Cain yearned with the term family and always looked forlorn if some kid around his age was arguing with their parents or happily laughing together after shopping for some ingredients for dinner.


    All of that feels foreign to him. Not knowing his parents and living with his strict grandpa made him strong mentally to not depend on someone but only himself. Also, if he can save a person who needs help in front of you. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    That moment came when he met with the boy who wept beside him; one time, he intended to give up, but his grandpa''s words snapped him back to reality. However, the outcome was like this.


    This is purely his miscalculation to never consider another party interrupted. Cain becomes arrogant after he beats up those four men with the help of Noir and an element of surprise. Without any of that mixed together, he is nothing but an ordinary teenage boy.


    {Noir, can you hear me?}


    {*hauu!}


    Hearing Noir''s weak breath puts Cain''s heart in tatters. Noticing that his next word was to give Noir some instruction when its body weakened, Cain cursed himself.


    {It''s okay, Noir. Rest for now!}


    {*Grrr!}


    Instead of acceptance, Noir refuses to admit its demise and is determined to rise up, confusing even Cain. Noir''s ears perked up, and with that alone, the hyena, which kept its eyes straight at its enemy, responded by standing up from the side of its master, alerting them.


    "Hm, what? They are awake!".


    "!? Big brother!".


    The leader and the boys shouted, attracting the other three''s attention. Seeing their situation, a sinister smile crept out of their mouths. Those corrupted thoughts also began to be transmitted to the hyena, which snickered in laughter.


    From the atmosphere that hung in the room, Cain and the boy''s face stiffened. Their hearts pumped wildly, sending a rush of distressed signals through all of their systems.


    *Grrr!


    Noir growl escapes its lips, which is received happily by the hyena. It still holds a grudge against the earlier event; the bite marks were still present, and the pain still lingers. The hyena stuck out its tongue and approached Noir.


    "No, please stop!".


    The boy pleaded to the men, but the other men lifted his body up, then he saw the leader and the hyena now standing near Cain.


    "Let''s see!".


    ''Kuh!'' Cain groaned as the leader''s man yanked his hair. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and the leader''s lips parted in joy.


    "Now, what should I do to you?".


    The man is lost in thought, thinking back upon the event that brought them together in this conflict. He recalls that the boy before him had just awoken his ability as a Resonator, and the dog was his guardian beast.


    A sickening smile plastered on his face made Cain''s body shudder in fright upon thinking about it. Cain gritted his teeth and struggled to open his mouth.


    "...top ¡­it. Stop ¡­it!".


    "As a Resonator, sooner or later you ought to experience the thing when your partner loses their life, and that is what I will teach you¡­".


    Cain''s face whitened; it was also the same for the boy his subordinates had held. His eyes trembled, and tears began to stream from his cheeks, but Cain was still unable to open his mouth fully.


    He had heard about it once a resonator lost its guardian beast. They will suffer a loss as if half of them are gone, along with their partner. Cain saw many in the news that some resonator turned crippled or even decided to suicide for the loss that befell them.


    This phenomenon was cruel, like a curse, but at the same time, it was also a gift and a blessing for those who awakened.


    Those terms teach us about a curse to remind a person that this will be the cause of losing some part of your heart, whether it was involved in a family or a loved one. No matter what your relationship was, if it''s true to its heart, regardless of what it is, they will suffer the same fate.


    At the same time, it was also a gift because they would shoulder responsibility for taking care of that power and using it for what their hearts followed. It also acted as a blessing for the sense of fulfilment of having a companion willing to share joy, sadness, suffering, and struggling together through the end.


    Those are what make the resonator shine so bright, becoming a hope for humanity to thrive and walk the path of an endless journey with a long-life partner beside them until death parts them away.


    ''Stop it!''. Cain''s body screamed in pain as he was slammed to the floor, and then before his eyes, Noir was taken away, leaving Cain in panic.


    "No, stop it; you guys are too cruel!".


    "Shut up, Kid!".


    The boy''s outrage was being held on by the man holding him; the man covered the boy''s mouth, making him only humming in protest.


    Under the many pairs of eyes that stared at the leader, he dragged Noir''s weakened body a few meters from Cain''s place, making sure that Cain could spectate it in the front seat.


    Ever since the warmth of his partner had gone from his chest, Cain''s body never stopped trembling, fear began to chew his consciousness. Is it anger for the people who try to kill his partner? Or anger directed at himself for being too arrogant and weak, so he was in this dire situation.


    The man who noticed Cain''s state looked around and soon found a piece of steel stick he had brought earlier; he walked toward it and took it in his hand. He also saw the appearance of a wooden box, so he took out the lid, brought the two together in his hands, and approached Noir.


    Cain''s body was convulsed; he couldn''t take himself to see Noir, his new family, being killed right in front of him. ''No! No, please stop, please!''.


    His prayer only incited the man''s sadistic nature further. He pondered for a second and chose the wooden lid first. He stood beside Noir and looked toward Cain for confirmation. Both eyes met for a second before the man struck down the wooden lid toward Noir.


    *Hauu!

 09 Forced.

    A thud resounded and sent a crushing pain that weighed down on Cain''s heart, the cry of his partner Noir piercing his heart to bleed. Never did he feel like this in his life, never knowing about his parents, losing his grandpa because of his natural occurrence.


    Cain grieved, but this phenomenon in front of him was unbearable. His body trembled nonstop, forcing his screaming nerve to move forward to protect Noir whatever it took. His body managed to crawl forward, but the man smiled and brought down the wooden lid once more.


    "Hhmm! Hmm! Hmmmmm!".


    From behind, the boy, with tears on his face, struggled to break free from the man''s clutch, but his efforts did not yield results; he could only lament and curse his own powerlessness.


    Cain''s eyes blurred, his thoughts gone; the only thing he wanted was to stay near Noir and protect it from danger, even if this had to sacrifice his body. ''Stop, please! Stop, Noir!''.


    A sense of accomplishment dyed the leader''s face as he pleasantly smiled, looking at the figure of Cain crawling toward his place. ''Hehe, good. I want to see that face more.'' He mercilessly raised the wooden lid up and struck Noir once more and again.


    Each thud and yelp that resonated within the place broke Cain''s shred of consciousness; his eyes had turned hollow, filled with bloody tears. Each breath he took was heavy, and he felt immeasurable pain wash over him before Cain felt numbed over everything, even the pain around his body.


    {No, please, Noir. Hide Noir, please get away from them}.


    However, instead of answering, the man brought down the wooden lid and struck Noir, following with a yelp that got weaker the more time passed.


    Cain''s chest tightened, his face aghast, looking at his partner, who was on the verge of dying. He could feel it in his heart that the bond they have as a Resonator and guardian beast dimmed, on the verge of breaking up.


    Satisfied with the wooden lid, which showed signs of breaking, the man threw it away and took out the steel stick, which was held by the hyena, who was also enjoying the scene.


    "Thanks, bud!".


    *Hee-hee


    The two personifications of cruelty laugh at the scene where Cain is looking at them in horror. The leader smiled and raised the stick high, and was pretty sure that if that thing landed on Noir''s current body, his life would be blown away, and Cain would lose his partner, dream and also hope.


    {No, no, no, Noir get away from there, please, Noir, I beg of you! Please¡­}


    {*Hau!}


    A weak yelp from Noir that echoed in his mind halted his thought for a second before it broke Cain''s emotion, and he desperately crawled forward, trying to stop the man from bringing the stick down.


    "Be thankful, Kid! For I will free you from the experience of fighting a strong enemy, some boring duty, and losing your own partner sooner. Trust me, later is the most excruciating experience, after all!"


    "NO!".


    Cain''s vocal cords burst, letting out a blood-curdling scream of pleading to have mercy upon the pitiful Dog.


    ''Ah! Aaaaaaaahhhh! Noooo! Please no. I beg of you, anyone, please stop that guy from hurting Noir, please! I don''t want to see Noir die in front of me; we are just starting to become a family, but why does fate have to be so ruthless? Please, I beg someone, please save Noir, please!''. But of course, there is nothing who would answer his prayer and wait for a miracle to happen.


    His internal monologue, ''poof,'' disappears as the stick is brought down. Deep down, he wishes that someone would save them from this predicament, but ''Tunk,'' the stick, lands on Noir''s body, and Cain''s world breaks apart like brittle glass.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    A moment of stillness happened as Cain entered his own consciousness, asking the world himself why he had to experience any of this. Is it because of his naive thought of helping others? or is it because he is weak?


    No one had the answer to that question besides himself; a dark, murky feeling began to sprout from within Cain; it was so ominous that it dyed his heart black. Intense rage he never knew manifested inside him, his mind shrouded in Darkness, and Cain could only see the world in black.


    [Noir condition is in a critical state]


    [It needs an immediate help]


    [Because of your genuine feelings toward your partner. Your bond with Guardian beast: Noir has strengthened, forming an unbreakable chemistry]


    [Acquired skill ''Link'']


    [Do you want to activate the skill!]


    [Yes or No]


    Light started to gather around his eyes, seeing a translucent blue panel that showed Noir''s condition; he grieved and pondered what sort of skill he acquired at this time.


    #Skill description Link: An exclusive skill for a resonator who has a strong bond with its Guardian beast. The skill will let a Resonator and Guardian Beast share their sense, enhancing each other''s basic ability and sharing the equal burden of damage received.


    Upon reading the description, Cain hurriedly thought of ''Yes'' in his mind, and his body glowed in dark light. ''What is this feeling?'' he asked. At first, it was strange, but gradually, it turned pleasant because his sense of smell was enhanced, and he could recognize several things with it. His physique is brimming with raw power and also the flexibility of the Dog.


    However, a sharp, electrifying and excruciating pain began to awaken Cain from his exhilaration, his nerves screaming and unnerving, cracking bones and tearing flesh plunged his consciousness into the Abyss.


    Cain''s body convulsed, which alerted the leader and the other people in the place, thinking that the boy had turned mad because of the loss of his Dog.


    [Your Body receives half the damaged Noir accumulated]


    [Noir feels touched upon by your self-sacrificing nature and begins to force open its seal]


    [Opening the Seal]


    [Warning: Opening the seal when the vessel is not ready would pose a great risk to both Resonator and Guardian Beast. Would you still be willing to continue?]


    [Yes or No]


    {*Woff!}


    With a resolute yes, Noir''s thoughts flow into Cain''s mind, encouraging him to endure everything together. The thought of hearing Noir''s spirited bark returned Cain''s sanity. He could see the world turned to normal, filled with renewed strength they had created.


    {...I''m with you, brother!}


    {*Woff!}


    [Initializing the process]


    [Error detected]


    [Error¡­]


    [Error¡­]


    ¡­


    A flurry of translucent panels began to block Cain''s vision. It was also the same for Noir. The two minds resonated as one. A throbbing pain began to split their skulls apart, but Cain and Noir gritted their teeth, followed by an impact that pressed against their consciousness, submitting them to the depth of true absolute power.


    [Error¡­]


    [Forcing open the seal succeed(Half)]


    [Because of this action, both Resonator and Guardian Beast would receive a penalty]


    [Attributes Darkness had been locked for a period of time]


    [The condition to unlock, reach Rank 1 star]


    [The Fallen Death Dog had give its master a part of its original power]


    [Soul Armament unlocked]


    [Statistics ''Karma'' added to the Status]


    While the two of them are on the brink of evolving, the people around them look at them in a weird way because they are convulsing nonstop. This even gives the leader who acted cruelly earlier goosebumps all over his body.


    Not only the leader, his subordinates and even the boys were shocked to see the development that had happened.


    When the two stopped in their tracks, the whole place dimmed. No, jet-black Darkness trapped the place, submerging them into the hollow of existence. No sound, no emotion, just pure Darkness trapped them, forcing their minds into madness.


    The Darkness only lasted for a brief moment, but for those who were trapped, they felt an entire year had passed, turning their minds on the verge of breaking down.


    When the place returned, all men in the surrounding dropped on their butts; two of them leaked because of the fear they felt after the unknown Darkness sucked out their mental force.


    The leader, awoken by its partner, the hyena, glanced at his front only to see nothing. Before him, there was no dog and Cain''s body lying on the ground. Instead, they felt a chill that seeped through their bones. They shuddered and turned to the source.


    There stood Cain, his body radiating an ominous black aura, holding the unconscious boy in his hand. When the Darkness trapped them, Noir began its move to save the boy by making him unconscious to prevent him from having a mental breakdown.


    *Woff!


    Noir barked clearly in rage, its eyes shining in purple colour, picturing its nobility and glorious power to make the world submit under it.


    "Rest well, kid!".


    Cain crouched down and placed the boy carefully onto the floor, his gaze soft but soon turned cold upon turning his back around, looking at the Resonator pair that had given him a good beating.


    His hands clenched before a black cloth swirled around them and tied itself, forming gauntlets that protected his knuckles and enhanced his power.


    Feeling a new sensation he still couldn''t get used to, Cain inhaled deeply and exhaled in one go. He focused his attention in front, crossing his hands and readying his fighting stance.


    "I will make you pay for what you did to me! Hundredfold!".

 10 It鈥檚 Over.

    Silence descended upon the place when they saw Cain''s demeanor had changed. His body was surrounded by a dark aura that looked ominous. His gaze gleamed with hatred and a fighting aura, glowing in purple light, the same as Noir.


    His hands were wrapped around black cloth that seemed alive, and the tips kept wriggling in the air. The leader and its beast hyena stiffened in fright. They could faintly feel it, the death manifesting in front of them.


    A bead of sweat trickled the leader''s forehead, and soon, his eyes opened wide when he saw Cain begin his move.


    With Cain''s enhanced body and flexibility, he could control his body easily, and in a nick of time, he arrived before the petrified leader while raising his fist up. Noir also followed suit; it rushed forward.


    Noir''s body had grown a bit larger, and it was wrapped around by an ominous gleam of darkness. Sadly, the two attributes were restricted, leaving them fighting only using techniques.


    He swung his fist aimed at the leader''s face, but he saw the attack coming all along. Even though Cain was enhanced, it doesn''t mean his abilities were raised significantly enough that the leader couldn''t follow his movements.


    The leader bends his body before jumping to the side; Cain stretches the black cloth on his fist and lets it march forward and tie into the wooden lid the leader used to torture his partner.


    "This is for earlier!".


    Putting all of his weight around toward the tips of his fingers, Cain swung his hands, and the black cloth followed the line, forming a beautiful arch carrying the wooden lid. ''Crack!'' The wooden lid was destroyed as it smacked the leader''s jaw, making his vision distorted for a moment.


    Cain opened his palm and clenched back to gesture the cloth wrapped around the leader''s hand, and he pulled the man toward him.


    "!?".


    Still affected by the impact that hindered his thoughts, the leader flew in a straight line, approaching Cain''s side, who prepared his fist ahead. With all the resentment he held and all the strength he could gather, he put everything into this one punch and destroyed the leader''s jaw.


    A ''bam'' resounded within the vicinity, making the other men tremble in fear. The leader''s body spun around in the air multiple times before it completely stopped and fell head first.


    "...That is still not enough!".


    At the same time, on another side, Noir had utterly dominated the battle in its paw as it toyed with the invincible attack of the Hyena.


    After engaging in close combat, Noir noticed the enemy''s attributes, and it was Air elemental. Its invisible nature, which also emphasizes freedom and agility, would make it difficult for a beginner to deal with it.


    However, Noir was not a typical Guardian beast; he held something special within him that stood out amongst the rest.


    The Hyena opened its jaw wide, intending to bite Noir''s neck, who kept its composure throughout the fight. However, before it touched Noir''s neck from its shadow, a black cloth shot forward, grabbing the Hyena''s jaw and shutting it tight before slamming it forward.


    All of that was happening, and Noir was just chilling and standing straight, looking at the Hyena''s sorry state. Looking at the figure towering before it, the Hyena realized that he was nothing but a weak, insignificant beast.


    Despite being born as a Hyena, who particularly lives in the wild, it could not hold a candle to the personification of darkness before it. Noir shiny purple eyes sucked the Hyena''s consciousness, making its body tremble.


    Noir, who noticed its opponent had lost the will to fight, scoffed. From the shadows, several black cloths appeared and fully restrained the Hyena. Noir lost interest in the Hyena and turned toward its master. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    *Woof!


    {*Woof!}


    Cain flinched after hearing Noir''s composed bark; he flashed a grin and turned to the target before him. The leader''s appearance had morphed into something gruesome. His hand limbs bent in unnatural ways, joints dislocated. His face twisted in agony and smeared with his own blood, but the leader still clung to life.


    Cain looked around and saw the steel stick lying far away from his side. He stretched his left hand, letting the black cloth take it. He gripped the stick tightly and approached the leader.


    With his immobilized limbs, the leader couldn''t do anything but only tears start streaming down his cheeks. From this moment on, he felt a deep regret for messing with something he shouldn''t.


    His greed for a sadistic temperament had blinded him from seeing the bigger picture. Is this the time for him to reclaim those sins he planted?


    Cain''s footsteps were calm, yet they were terrifying. Holding a sharp steel stick in hand, walking toward the man who gave him a tremendous fridge earlier. The other men, petrified, couldn''t even have the power to speak their minds.


    Arriving before the limp man, Cain crouched down to face him for the last time. He observed the leader''s face, etching it deep into his memory.


    "...Kuhk, What are you waiting for?". The leader''s voice was low and hoarse, struggling to hold a groan from escaping his lips.


    "Ah, I will".


    As soon as he said those words, Cain stabbed the man''s throat, spilling blood from his throat and flooding the stick in his hand. He kept the position for a while to make sure that the man''s sign of life had completely disappeared.


    {Noir, can you do it?}


    {*Woof!}


    Came a confident reply from his partner, and Noir tightened the cloth around the Hyena and broke its neck, reaping their first kill as a Resonator and its guardian beast.


    Cain pulled away the stick covered in blood. He stood up and pondered the atrocious act he had committed. He looked toward his hand; it didn''t tremble, indicating that Cain had no shred of guilt.


    This was his first time doing something like this, yet his heart was calm and not stirred at all.


    He wondered what caused his heart to change this much, but eventually, he shoved those thoughts aside and exhaled.


    [Resonator Experience up!]


    [Progress +13%]


    [Guardian Beast Experience up!]


    [Progress +18%]


    A transparent blue panel appeared before his eyes, and it took him a moment to absorb it. ''To think the first thing I would kill was Human and not our common enemy''.


    *Woof!


    Cain''s mind jolted to the surface after hearing Noir''s energetic bark and the warm feeling of his body sticking to his leg. He looked down and found Noir was biting a small ball in its mouth.


    "Is that a Beast core?".


    Noir put down the core, Lifting its gaze to ask for permission from Cain. He hesitated before taking the core in his hand.


    Beast Core, as the name implies, it was a core from Guardian Beast that contained its experience ever since it was awoken from its dormant state. If consumed by another Guardian Beast, it will give them a tremendous amount of experience in their progress.


    "Here, take it!".


    Cain crouched down and extended the core to Noir''s mouth, which happily gobbled before swallowing it in one go.


    [Noir had consumed Beast Core]


    [Experience up!]


    [Progress +30%]


    "Not bad, Noir!".


    *Woff!


    Now, when the two of them were talking harmoniously, there was a group who had tensed all along ever since Cain had changed. They were still, or rather couldn''t even move, due to fear of their own future.


    After witnessing their leader''s death, dread washed away all the feelings within their heart, coloring their future in a black void.


    Cain stood up from his place and faced the three men, who somehow submitted to the ground, trembling all over. Witnessing their state, Cain''s heart thumped before it hardened, as did his expression.


    He looked over and found the stick was still in his grasp, and he tightly clenched it. Then, in an instant, Cain took them all down with the same stab wound on the throat, brain, and heart, dying while spilling blood all over the place.


    "...Finally, It''s over!".


    [Resonator Experience up!]


    [Progress +3%]


    The place reeked of blood, so Cain took the boy in his embrace and left. A tranquil feeling washed away the demon he possessed in his heart, letting Cain loosen his tensed muscles.


    His action proved fatal; Cain''s gaze flickered, and he almost lost his balance. Thankfully, the wall beside him supported him. For a while, he leaned his back to regain his composure.


    "Huff, I can do this!".


    Strength began to fill his body, and Cain resumed his walk, carrying the boy in his hands. Probably because of the uncomfortable position he was in, the boy''s eyes fluttered open, staring at Cain in an absentminded state.


    "...Big brother?". The boy hesitantly called Cain''s surname, making sure that it was not a dream. He pinched his own cheeks, which jolted his consciousness awake.


    "Are you awake? Can you move? Sorry but, I am too tired after all the events happened".


    "Ah, right, sorry, and thank you".


    Cain put the boy onto the ground, and he could breathe a faint sigh of relief for being freed from the heavy burden.


    "Huuf, what a long night!".


    "...Big brother? What happened back then?".


    Facing the boy''s curious and guilty conscience he held, Cain scratched his cheeks and intended to open his mouth when Noir leaped forward and began to growl in wary.


    *Grrr!


    "Hou, I don''t think that those guys will lose to a single brat".

 11 Vs One Star.

    Cain''s face stiffened, hearing a familiar voice; he turned to the source and found the boss man standing on the side highway, chilling out while exhaling white smoke. The big Wolf emerged and stood beside him, its face knitted in wary.


    However, no matter how long the two stood on each side, none of them barely made any moves. Cain pondered for a bit, seeing the boss man''s obvious gesture toward him, telling Cain that he had something to say.


    Cain crouched down and looked toward the boy''s frightened eyes.


    "Bi-big, brother, what should I¡­".


    With his teary eyes and trembling body, it sure is that the boy was afraid and also had a bit of a guilty conscience to keep involving Cain in the matter. The boy doesn''t want to see Cain suffer anymore because of his act.


    That is why he is confused: What should he do? Will Cain be spared if he gives his life?


    A gentle pat from his head and the warmth it carried cleared the boy''s vision. He lifted his gaze and watched Cain with a calm smile. His big and rough hand somehow soothed the boy''s heart.


    "It''s okay, what''s your name, kid?".


    "...Eh? Um, Allen. My name is Allen from¡­!".


    Allan bit his lips, unsure if he would be sufficient to continue using the name of the family who abandoned him.


    "So, Allen, do you still remember the thing about going straight from this place and you will be safe there?".


    "...Yes, I am, but what about it? ¡­Don''t tell me!".


    Realizing what Cain had in mind, Allen''s face paled, and his whole body shook in fright. He clutched Cain''s clothes close, not wanting to let him go. Tears began to accumulate in Allen''s eyes.


    "Heh, you sure like to cry a lot. You are a boy; at least cry when you are lost in a fight or something. Don''t be a wimp, Allen."


    Cain wiped away the accumulating tears from the boy''s eyes and whispered those words that struck a chord within Allen''s heart. The string strummed his consciousness, making him look Cain in the eyes.


    His eyes are gentle, filled with kindness that he rarely received from his family. Besides Cain, there is only one other person who will look to him in that way, and she seems in the running to get to this place.


    "I will catch up with you later. So, go ahead and wait for me there!".


    "Bu¡­".


    "Allen".


    Before Allen could open his mouth, Cain gripped the boy''s shoulder tight, forcing his body to tense.


    "Go!".


    The solemn mood radiating from Cain forces Allen to say no to his order. Allen nods while looking down. With one last pat, Cain whispers, ''Good'', before abruptly standing up and turning to the boss man, who was kindly enough to wait the conversation until it was over.


    Cain walked past the boy''s side and stood facing the man. Noir, who caught its master thinking, briskly walked toward Allen and gave the boy a slight nudge of its head.


    "Ah, you are!?".


    Allen was surprised to see a black dog suddenly enter his sight. He tensed at first, but upon seeing the spoiling side of the dog telling him, it came to see him off. His heart filled with warmth, making him chuckle. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "You are the same as your master. I am sorry for what I did, and thank you!".


    *Woff!


    Hearing the spirited bark from Noir, Allen''s fear dimmed a bit; he mustered his courage and patted the black dog before him. The soft and silky fur brings his lips loosened in joy. ''A resonator, huh? I think I have to get a grip on myself.


    "Thank you. Let''s meet again later".


    Allen gives his last caress to the dog before turning to the way where the patrol headquarters are built. He didn''t turn around and keep his feet running to reach his destination. ''Big brother and Black Dog, please, be safe''.


    The place turns quiet after the disappearance of the pitter-patter steps of the boy who vanished into the distant darkness. Cain and Noir stood side by side, still on their guard.


    In front of him, taking his last breath before throwing the cigar from his hand, he stepped into the excess, letting the spark die down, and then exhaled.


    "You seemed attached to that boy?".


    "...Thanks for letting us have our farewell, at least".


    "Well, it''s not worth it for me to raise a hand to a kid like that. It would only leave a bad aftertaste".


    "!?".


    Come to think of it, the boss man before him had the most authority above those four. However, besides the scary look he had and the things he spouted to threaten Allen earlier, none of them had been realized.


    However, Cain shifted his thoughts and began to sharpen his senses. ''No matter what it is, if the man is hostile. I have no choice but to fight him''.


    The Guardian Beast Wolf attached to the man keeps its vigilance to the max in exchange for its master''s lax attitude. Then, to his surprise, the boss man takes out the crystal ball from earlier and plays with it.


    "Do you want to know what this is?".


    Feeling the gaze from Cain, who kept following the crystal in his hand, the man spoke, which startled Cain. Never did he think the man had so much leeway in this situation. The man''s composure, is this because of the difference in strength they have?


    Even though he felt irked by the opponent''s attitude, Cain was also curious as to what kind of crystal brought him into this event.


    "Hmm, I don''t know much about the details, but it seemed whoever swallowed this would have their power raised significantly and even gain another power¡­".


    ''No wonder they are persistently chasing that kid, but wait a minute, that is not all, right?''. Cain muttered in his heart, and the man seemed to notice it.


    "Yeah, you are right. There is no such thing as a free meal in this world. The person who swallowed it if the vessel is not strong enough it would cause a tremendous explosion that could wipe out a district".


    "!? ...I see. Your group sure loves to talk, huh?".


    "Well, sure I am, but I am not sure about the four. Are they dead?".


    "...Yeah!".


    "Is that so¡­".


    An eerie silence hung between the two; the boss man looked toward the crystal, and then, after a moment of pondering, he pushed it back toward his chest pocket and began to stretch.


    Feeling the man''s demeanor had changed, Cain tensed all the muscles around his body. However, a slight pain stung his side, and the effect of the earlier beating still had not fully recovered.


    Thanks to Noir awoke a part of his seal, it recovered a bit, but it is not fully healed as Cain still felt a stab every time he inhaled deeply.


    {Noir!}


    {*Woff!}


    Shadows beneath them, wriggling before something crawled out, the cloths around his arms also began to tighten on itself.


    The man seemed to realize that Cain had already prepared to engage with him. His lips loosened before they broke into a fearless grin. It''s been a while since I saw a person brave enough to stand before him.


    Before fighting, the man closed his eyes, recalling those smiling kids under his care. Smiles disappear from his face and a tremendous aura from a ranker descent into the place.


    Cain''s breath suffocated, his feet trembling, holding onto the fleeting tenacious side of him never willing to submit to the pressure from the man.


    In a blink, the man disappears and appears before Cain bringing his fist forward with a huge force that could pulverize the boulder in an instant. A chill crept up his spine, but Cain relied on his instinct and crossed his hands to block the punch.


    "Kuh!".


    The moment the man''s fist reached him, it created a shockwave that blasted away the dust around them, and Cain could feel his body tremble. He received the impact before being flung toward the wall of the building.


    *Woff!


    Noir, who caught its master flying, began to bare its fangs, but a looming shadow approached, opening its maw wide to rip apart Noir''s throat. Using the shadows as a medium, Noir''s body submerged within it before appearing behind the Wolf''s shadow, trying to bite its leg.


    However, the Wolf noticed it and jumped back to gain some distance. Noir, who had no shadows around, had to be forced out from its territory and face the Wolf, who held a lot of composure in the fight.


    *Grrr!


    [Karma raised 23%]


    Cain''s consciousness returned as he saw a fleeting blue panel blocking his vision. He shook his head to remove the panel and then tried to tense his muscles.


    "Ukh!".


    All the muscles around his body were screaming, telling him to stop moving. After a brief calmness hung, Cain''s face broke out in cold sweat; the figure of the man who caused him to be like this in just a punch walked over the breached walls and approached his side.


    ''You have got to be kidding me, right?''. Cain cursed the man and glared at him.


    "What, over already?".


    From this moment on, Cain finally understood the disparity between strengths.