The so-called world is nothing but a massive zoo, where the strong sit on their thrones and watch the weak fight to the death.

The number of people who have died because of this is merely a small amount, as no matter what, they know that during the Scarlet Tide, these strong ones are the only people who can protect their worthless lives.

The Scarlet Tide, which has occurred since ancient times, was once known as a curse by the people of the early ages. But now, it is considered a natural disaster. Each time it occurs, all creatures—whether humans or beasts—lose their consciousness and mutate into what are called soul devourers, or Estenos (short for spirit-like beasts).

The soul devourers are ruthless and tyrannical to the point where they will eat their own kind and weaker beasts to grow stronger and evolve into much more violent forms. The tide has caused global casualties, reducing the present population to little more than a hundred thousand. However, over a decade ago, after years of tireless research, scientists found a way to turn those soul eaters into pet-like beasts that listen to their masters and fight for humanity.

The people who could wield such power were known as "Soul Tamers," and only they were the hope for the future.

Now, after years of battles, humans have succeeded in building a foundation and numerous cities with high walls, strong defense systems, and communities full of both common people and Soul Tamers.

But the fight was not over yet. The beasts have been evolving at a rapid rate, and now even creatures as big as kaijus are not uncommon. The Soul Tamers cannot express such beasts.

The beasts have been classified into various groups: mainly soldier, elite, leader, lord, king, emperor, and so on. While the existence of such beasts is not uncommon, only king levels have been observed. Whether that is the end or not, nobody can tell.

In a small city named "Lucid City," today, November 25th, was its end as the clouds began to darken up.

???: This mist is strange.

A man with a golden badge spoke.

???: It is indeed, but remember to stay alert.

???: YES, COMMANDER!

The group of soldiers were watching the surrounding vicinity when one of the soldiers spoke up.

???: Commander, I see something.

The tall, burly man took his binoculars to look at the distance, where nothing was found, and he thought it was a false alarm.

HOWL!

A howl resounded as hundreds of wolves began to charge at the base.

???: RING THE RED BELL! IT'S A SCARLET TIDE!

A man quickly jumped out of his seat and pressed a red button. The entire town was covered by the red light of a huge alarm.

This light caught the attention of many strong people across the town as they began to move to the guard station.

BOOM!

A man with a 20m tall wolf broke into the guard tower.

???: HOW IS THE SITUATION?

???: REPORT! WE HAVE OBSERVED A HUGE GROUP OF WOLVES CHARGING AT THE CITY. THERE ARE COUNTLESS SOLDIER LEVELS AND ELITES IN THE GROUP!

???: Such a large tide... it can't be a mere leader level...

Suddenly, a desk phone rang, which a soldier picked up.

???: Hello?

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"REPORT TO THE OUTPOST! THE WOLVES SEEM TO BE IGNORING OUR BASE, INCLUDING A LEADER LEVEL WOLF. WE ARE AFRAID SOMETHING BIG IS COMING," a voice said from the other side of the phone.

???: WHAT?!

The man who was watching the leader take the call was surprised.

???: REPORT! THE TIDE SEEMS TO BE NOT A NATURAL ONE BUT A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN SCARED BY A MUCH MORE TERRIFYING CREATURE. EVEN THE LEADER LEVEL IS FLEEING!

???: A creature that can make a leader run...

ROAR!!

A deafening roar resounded as they looked out with the binoculars and saw huge amounts of smoke covering the sky and the forest, making it hard to see.

???: This is not good...

BOOM! BOOM!

The ground shook more and more as the sound approached them. The captain tried to use his desk phone to contact the squads, but none answered.

???: They're not answering.

As they talked, a call came in which the man placed on speaker.

???: Run...Terror...

An extremely weak voice spoke from the other side as the phone was held up.

???: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!

ROARRRR!!!

A large roar resounded as all the beasts began to flee in fear, some of them smashing into the guards and the tower but none stopping.

A powerful beam of orange light suddenly shot in their direction, destroying a large portion of the forest, which made the leader panic as he pressed an orange button that activated a booming sound.

ALL PERSONNEL TO HIDE AND RETREAT, IT IS A TERROR LEVEL.

I REPEAT, ALL PERSONNEL TO RETREAT. IT IS A TERROR LEVEL.

EVACUATE ALL CITIZENS.

Everyone began to panic as the roads were full of cars and the soldiers were unable to control the large crowd.

The roads began to clear up, including Zan Yan, who was taken away by the military for safety.

Zan Yan, who was 8 years old, had lost his parents after birth, as he didn't know where they went, and he had been living in an orphanage ever since.

He wanted to look back at his once-called home as the cars sped through. Suddenly, he could vaguely see something in the distance.

Like a flood, flames engulfed the entire city, leaving nothing untouched as buildings collapsed one after another. A large hand grabbed the roof of the commerce building as a huge head like a drill with multiple segments appeared, crushing the roof before moving forward.

A large hound-like beast also came onto the same building and pounded on the giant, but the giant opened its mouth, showing a large hollow mouth covering its entire face with hundreds of teeth, before consuming the hound-like beast and departing.

The sudden movement terrified many of the kids in the army van, causing them to scream, making the soldiers come and calm them down as they moved through the forests to a faraway place which the army personnel referred to as Qilin City.

As the convoy sped through the dense forests, the atmosphere inside the army van was tense. The children, including Zan Yan, clung to their seats, their eyes wide with fear. Outside, the sounds of the monstrous chaos in Lucid City began to fade, replaced by the eerie silence of the forest.

In the front seat, a soldier named Li Wei kept his eyes on the road, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. Beside him, Sergeant Fang was on the radio, trying to coordinate their retreat with the other units.

"Qilin City, this is Delta Squad. We have a convoy of civilians heading your way. ETA is twenty minutes. Requesting immediate clearance and medical assistance upon arrival," Sergeant Fang spoke urgently into the radio.

A crackling response came through, "Copy that, Delta Squad. You're cleared for entry. Medical teams are standing by. Hang in there."

As the van approached Qilin City, the children began to calm down, comforted by the sight of the fortified walls and the reassuring presence of the soldiers. The massive gates of the city opened, and the convoy rolled in, greeted by a flurry of activity. Medical personnel rushed to help the injured, while others directed the vehicles to safe zones.

Zan Yan stepped out of the van, still clutching his small bag of belongings. He looked around, taking in the towering walls and the bustling city beyond. This was the first time he had seen a place so large and well-protected. The stark contrast to the slums he grew up in was overwhelming.

As he stood there, a kind-looking nurse approached him. "Are you okay, sweetie? Do you need any help?" she asked gently.

Zan Yan shook his head, his eyes still wide with awe. "I'm okay. Thank you."

The nurse smiled and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, you're safe here. We'll take good care of you."

Over the next few days, Zan Yan settled into a routine at Qilin City. He was placed in a temporary shelter with other orphans, where they received food, clothing, and a place to sleep. Despite the trauma of recent events, there was a sense of hope in the air. The city's inhabitants were determined to rebuild and protect their new home.

One evening, as the children gathered for dinner, they heard an announcement over the city's loudspeakers. "Attention, all citizens. We have received intelligence of an impending threat. All Soul Tamers and capable fighters are to report to the main square immediately. This is not a drill."

Fear rippled through the shelter, but there was also a steely resolve among the older children. Zan Yan watched as the Soul Tamers, recognizable by their distinct uniforms and powerful auras, assembled in the square. He marveled at their strength and determination, wondering if he could one day be like them.

As the night wore on, the city's defenses were bolstered, and the inhabitants prepared for the worst. The air was thick with anticipation, and everyone knew that the battle ahead would be a test of their resilience and unity.

For Zan Yan, this was a turning point. He knew that his journey was just beginning, and that the trials he had faced were only the beginning of a much larger struggle.