They walked in silence, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them like an unseen force. The path ahead stretched endlessly, shrouded in mist that swirled at their feet like restless spirits. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the very air around them was warning them to turn back. But there was no turning back—not from exile, and certainly not from whatever fate awaited them beyond the four doors.
Leon walked slightly ahead of the others, lost in thought. This wasn't supposed to be his life. Right now, he should have been with his family, sitting at a table, laughing over a meal, training in the courtyard, living. But instead, he was here—an outcast, a prisoner, an exile.
All because of that damn hybridization.
His jaw clenched, and his fists curled at his sides. Why him? Why had this happened to him?
Then, as if something suddenly clicked in his memory, his features shifted. He turned toward Callum, the ever-smiling fraudster, and narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, you," Leon said, his voice sharp with curiosity. "Earlier, you called me a hybrid, didn't you?"
Callum, who had been lazily walking with his hands behind his head, raised an eyebrow. Then, his grin widened as if Leon had just asked him a question he had been waiting for.
"Ah, so you finally noticed," Callum said, amusement in his tone. He leaned slightly toward Leon. "Alright, my friend, but what I'm about to tell you is a lot. So, brace yourself."
Leon crossed his arms, impatient. "Just get to the point."
Callum chuckled. "A hybrid is a human who has merged their cells with those of a monster in order to gain its strength. The process requires a specialized tool—though I suspect your case was… different."
Leon's mind raced. A specialized tool? That wasn't how it had happened for him. There had been no tool, no deliberate choice—just pain, transformation, and a newfound power that felt both his and not his.
"But hybridization," Callum continued, "is strictly forbidden in both the Northern and Eastern Empires. Officially, there are a few reasons for that. Some obvious, some… not so obvious."
Leon listened carefully, sensing that Callum was about to reveal something important.
"The first reason," Callum explained, "is that hybridization is dangerous. When a human fuses with a monster's essence, the chances of survival are—well, let's just say it's not great. The odds are about fifty-fifty if you're merging with a regular mutant monster, and the stronger the beast, the lower your chances."
Leon frowned. Fifty percent? That's basically a death sentence.
Callum shrugged. "Then there's the religious reason. The churches in the North and the temples in the East believe that the human body is sacred, untouchable. Merging with a monster? That's blasphemy in their eyes."
Leon exhaled sharply. That made sense. But somehow, he felt like there was more to the story.
Callum smirked. "But the real reason?" He paused dramatically before lowering his voice. "The hidden truth? It's about power."
Leon's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Callum stopped walking for a moment, turning to fully face Leon. His usual grin was still there, but his eyes carried something else—something darker.
"Do you know who truly holds the most power in the world?" he asked.
Leon didn't hesitate. "The empires."
Callum let out a short laugh and shook his head. "No, not even close. The real rulers of this world are the Security Council."
Leon's brow furrowed. He had heard of the Security Council, of course—an organization that claimed to maintain order and protect human rights.
"They like to pretend they're just an overseeing body," Callum continued, "but in reality, they control everything. And the nine highest-ranking members? Each one of them is a Soul Core Extractor—the strongest ones in the world."
Leon's eyes widened slightly. He had heard of Soul Core Extractors, but he had never realized that the very people who governed the world were among them.
"Now, imagine what would happen if hybrids became too powerful," Callum said, his voice turning serious. "If people could just fuse with monsters and rival the Extractors? The hierarchy they've built would crumble. And they hate that idea."
Leon remained silent, letting the information sink in.
"If things keep going the way they are," Callum added, "we're heading straight for an uprising."
A war.
Leon didn't like the sound of that.
Then, as if snapping back to reality, Callum waved a hand and chuckled. "Ah, I got a little carried away, didn't I? Anyway, if you want to learn more about hybrids, head south. That's where the first hybrid was created."
Leon blinked. "South? You mean the Southern Empire? That place is just a desert."
Callum's grin returned, but this time, it carried an edge of mystery. "Oh, it is a desert. But a century ago, it wasn't. The Southern Empire was the most advanced civilization in the world—skyscrapers reaching past the clouds, technology beyond imagination. And then, in a single night, everything turned to sand. No one knows how. No one knows why."
Leon's stomach tightened.
"One night?" he echoed.
"One night," Callum confirmed, tapping his temple. "And ever since, the truth has been buried along with it."
Leon didn't know what to say to that.
Before he could ask more, a massive structure appeared before them.
Four colossal doors, towering so high they seemed to touch the sky, stood at the end of the misty path.
Their surface was black as obsidian, each door carved with intricate symbols that pulsed faintly, as if they were breathing.
A low hum vibrated through the air.
The four exiles stopped in their tracks, staring up at the doors, their earlier conversation momentarily forgotten.
Callum let out a low whistle.
"Well," he muttered. "Here we go."