Tamer Mash Royce (POV)

Sergei. "Mash, are you not done with Twiggy's walk? Ursus is groaning from waiting, and I am running out of treats to keep him occupied."

Sergei asked as he used the Monster App's food dispenser to feed a small cut from beefsteak to a pale blue-furred Polar bear cub that clings around the back of his neck. Icy mist pours out of its mouth, ears, shoulders, and paws.

Its cute Sea Blue eyes stare into space as if it is daydreaming while its claws made of hard blue ice dig into Sergei's shoulders but don't seem to be bothering him.

"Grraahh, chomp! Burp!"

Ursus burped after consuming the piece of steak. Satisfaction could be seen in its eyes, and the fur on its body glistened. All that is missing is a tattoo of a Blue heart on its belly, making it look like a real-life Care-Bear.

Mash. "You didn't have to wait for me to finish to evolve your Ursus, you know?"

Mash said as he walked on a treadmill, crawling slowly to allow his monster to walk alongside him with its stubby limbs and heavy body. Every step it took was a struggle. The turtle shell, a boulder covered in moss and bark, has doubled since birth. Twiggy felt the same way Dale did when he looked in the mirror every morning. All that useless weight seemed like a burden he wished to be removed or lessened.

Sergei. "We are comrades, are we not?"

Mash. "That didn't stop Zao from leaving the Gym when he was done training his monster."

Sergei. "Zao is... well, he is not the team player type. He is the oldest among the council members and the least experienced in dealing with people not serving his family. However, I doubt it was his intention to be aloof with us."

Mash. "He talks about helping his comrades and homeland more than you."

Sergei. "His family has historically ruled with an iron fist to maintain power like my country, but it is more similar to the ancient imperial families. So, it is understandable that he is not used to functioning well in a team like our council. This is actually the first time his family let him out of the country."

Mash. "For an eighteen-year-old, you sound like an experienced old-timer?"

Sergei. "I spent more time in the presence of old men and hardly any time with people my age. My father was adamant that I learn from the best and not be influenced by anyone lesser. That is why I can understand Zao's behavior to a certain extent."

Mash. "Overprotective families do more harm than good, in my opinion. Dale is a man who grew up depending on his father for everything, which made him fall apart when he lost him."

Sergei. "I do not understand. Dale seems perfectly fine."

Mash. "Oh, I am referring to how he behaved before the Monster App showed up. He went from college social star to a recluse in a few years."

Sergei. "You two have been friends from college?"

Mash. "We interned together in the same workplace in our gap year and went to the same college and became roommates. Then, he moved into a cheap apartment near my residence to leech off me after his father passed."

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Sergei. "If that is your shared history, why did you bring him here?"

Mash. "I owe him my life for making me try the app and introduce me to the community. The aide title was the only way to get him in this bunker."

Sergei. "Ah, I see, that is why you are so friendly with him. His loyalty to you is out of friendship and not fear of force."

Mash. "Fear of force? Your bodyguards are afraid you beat them up or something?"

Sergei. "Not me, but my father's wrath. They know what will happen to their families if I get killed."

Mash. "Wow... so when you said before they never sleep while you sleep, is it because of that?"

Sergei. "I feel sorry for them, I wish I could make them my friends, but they never dare to talk to me casually."

Mash. "They don't seem to be hanging around you now."

Sergei. "I told them what happened in Moscow. I wonder how they will treat me now, knowing my father... might not be around."

Mash. "Do you think they will turn on you?"

Sergei. "No, what is the point in doing that? The world outside is in chaos, and this bunker has everything they need to survive."

Mash. "I wonder what Zao's aides must be thinking if they also serve his family the same way as yours."

Sergei. "Oh, they treat Zao like the son of heaven, so I doubt they would do anything to him."

Mash. "Son of Heaven? I thought that kind of term belonged to Ancient China."

Sergei. "I am not sure why people still think that way, but their civilization is as old as India, and they too have traditions that will never die out just because the world changes."

Mash. "Speaking of India, why didn't Soma bring any aides with him? I didn't ask about it before because we are all getting acquainted but now that it looks like we are stuck together for a while, I think I should know."

Sergei. "Soma is the Ex son-in-law of the Indian Prime Minister, and Markus is the brother of the Chancellors Husband. So they are not blood relatives of their leaders like Rebecca, Zao, and me."

Mash. "But technically, they are right?"

Sergei. "Will the leader be affected by their deaths?"

Mash. "Umm... is that the only reason to send aides or bodyguards? Aren't they still representatives?"

Sergei. "It has more to do with their countries participating in this council to study the potential of Tamers and the monster app."

Mash. "I bet they regret it now... or would have at least."

Sergei. "Have you wondered why the five most powerful armed forces in the world could not swiftly react to the Pillars and the monsters that came out of them?"

Mash. "They couldn't move without approval?"

Sergei. "If any military movement is taken without the consent of the supreme commander during Defcon 3. How would it be handled?"

Mash. "Ah, no wonder they took so long to move."

Sergei. "Our armies are only effective as our communication and coordination capabilities. Even the other middling powers have realized this and are making radical changes in their troops. For example, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and the Middle-East countries have instructed their armed forces to open the Monster App and access the video recording and sharing function. Not to create Tamers but as a tool to communicate only. They are trying to copy our model of App networking to restore their defense capabilities."

Mash. "How do you know that?"

Sergei. "While you were busy walking Twiggy, I checked my phone and saw the report Dale created about what is going on globally."

Mash pulled out his phone from his pocket. Without closing the Monster App, he mini screened it to let him open a video recording report from Dale. First, Mash saw the message about the militaries adopting the monster app. Then he saw a new report that just came out.

[Tamer Dale:

The Middle East and North African countries have formed a military alliance.

Korea, Japan, and Australia have formed a military alliance.

The South American Nations, and Mexico, have formed a military alliance.

The Southern African nations have formed a military alliance.

These new powers are mobilizing their defenses to guard against the monsters spilling out of the borders of the US, Russia, China, India, and the EUF.

Refugees are being rejected from crossing their borders.

Those alliances need to first look after their own population and are not ready to accept millions of refugees.

Tamer Union HQ has received a request for a party of five Tamers to be given sanctuary in our bunker.

They are located one hour away from our location.

Can we help them?]