Beastline Ascension

"Yo!"

Rex jogged up beside him, "You're entering your first gate tomorrow, right?"

Renji nodded, adjusting the strap on his bag. "Yeah. F-class Abyss Gate."

Rex whistled. "Don't underestimate it just 'cause it's F. Those ferals don't think — they just tear."

Renji smirked faintly. "I'm not scared."

"I didn't say you were." Rex clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Just… don't get cocky. F-rank gates usually contain Feral-class Voidspawn. Packs of 'em. Weak alone, but they swarm."

"Good to know," Renji said quietly.

"Still can't believe you awakened as a Honey Badger," Rex laughed. "Of all things."

"Guess it fits," Renji replied. "Stubborn and hard to kill."

They both laughed, then parted ways at the turn. The swamp mist curled along the ground as Renji made his way home alone.

His house creaked as he stepped inside. Built on stilts to avoid the floods, it was small, humble, and barely held together by worn wood and habit.

He dropped his bag on the floor, collapsed on the bed, and opened the system screen hovering before his eyes.

[STATUS]

Name: Renji Kurozawa

Race: Human (Outworld Soul)

Beast Type: Honey Badger

Rank: F Bronze Rank (Level 1)

Power Type: Unknown

Strength: 14

Agility: 13

Endurance: 14

Perception: 9

Luck: 7

Beast Resonance: 1%

Talent: Adaptive Evolution

Skills:

• [Feral Claw – Level 1]

• [Predator's Gaze – Growth Skill (F Rank)]

• [Passive: Fearless Tenacity]

Renji stared at the line that mattered most:

Talent: Adaptive Evolution

The more you fight, the faster you grow.

That phrase had echoed earlier in class.

"The more he fought… the stronger he became."

Instructor Ain's words.

Renji reached for his phone. It was slow, the screen slightly cracked, but it still worked. He typed into the school net's archive:

"F-Rank Abyss Gate - Details"

"Class F Gates are considered safe training grounds for newly awakened.

They contain Feral-class Voidspawn — beasts with primal instincts and no reasoning ability.

Still dangerous in packs.

Gates are monitored and timed.

First-timers are advised to stay alert and never separate from their group."

"Feral class…" he murmured. "Perfect place for a monster like me."

Curiosity stirred in him. He switched tabs and searched:

"The Chosen One - First Hero of Liertas"

A grainy, war-torn image loaded.

A young man with messy black hair, fists bloodied, eyes sharp as blades.

His eyes glowing crimson red.

It felt like his presence alone had an aura.

The comments beneath were more interesting than the article.

"Why was he called the Chosen One?"

Because he grew stronger too fast. Every fight made him evolve. It was terrifying.

— Instructor Ain

Renji leaned back against the wall.

That quote. That power. That feeling.

Why did it sound familiar?

Why did he feel... connected?

His fingers hovered over the picture on the screen.

Though he'd never met him, something stirred in him.

A whisper of recognition.

"I'm sure…" he muttered. "I've seen those eyes before… But where exactly?"

Silence filled the room again.

He closed the screen and lay back, eyes wide open.

Tomorrow was his first gate.

And he was ready to embrace whatever he found on the other side.