The sky didn't fall in a single moment—it decayed.
At first, it was just a strange color. A faint red tint spreading across the horizon as if the sun itself had started bleeding. Stefan stood near the half-open bunker entrance, staring at the ocean beyond their private island. The waves had become restless, crashing harder than usual, carrying with them a heavy metallic smell that made his chest tighten.
Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.
Behind him, he suddenly felt a tight grip on his arm.
Nami: "Stefan… close it… please… I don't feel right…"
Her voice trembled uncontrollably. When Stefan turned toward her, his heart dropped. Nami's face had gone pale, her eyes glossy with tears that were already starting to fall.
In all the years he had known her… he had never seen her like this.
Then it came.
A scream.
Not from nearby—but not far either.
It echoed across the island, distorted and unnatural, like a human voice being torn apart and stitched back together into something monstrous.
Nami flinched violently and grabbed Stefan tighter.
Nami: "What was that?! That wasn't normal… Stefan, that wasn't normal!"
Stefan didn't respond. His instincts screamed at him.
He immediately slammed the bunker door shut and locked it.
BOOM.
The heavy metal echoed through the underground space, sealing them inside.
For a moment… there was silence.
Only their breathing.
Only their fear.
Then—
A voice.
Cold. Mechanical. Inhuman.
But it wasn't outside.
It was inside his head.
> [SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
[WORLD STATUS: COLLAPSED]
[HUMAN SURVIVAL RATE: 0.67%]
[AWAKENING ABILITIES…]
Stefan staggered slightly, grabbing his head.
Stefan: "Nami… do you hear that…?"
But before she could answer—
She suddenly dropped to her knees.
Her body trembled violently as tears streamed down her face.
Nami: "It hurts… Stefan… something is inside my head… I can't—"
Her words broke into sobs.
Then—
> [ABILITY AWAKENED: BEAST TAMING SYSTEM]
[LEVEL: 1]
[MAX LEVEL: 10]
Nami froze.
Her crying slowly stopped… replaced by confusion and shock.
At the same time, a soft whimper came from the corner of the bunker.
Their dog.
Rex.
He hadn't transformed into anything monstrous—yet.
He looked the same… small, slightly trembling, his tail low, his eyes filled with fear.
Nami slowly turned toward him, her breathing still uneven from crying.
Nami: "Rex…?"
Rex walked toward her cautiously, as if unsure what was happening.
Then suddenly—
A faint red glow flickered in his eyes.
A subtle heat radiated from his body, like embers hidden beneath fur.
Not a monster.
Not yet.
But something had definitely changed.
Nami hesitated for a moment… then instinctively placed her hand on his head.
The moment she did—
A faint glowing circle appeared beneath Rex.
> [CONTRACT ESTABLISHED]
Rex relaxed instantly.
His tail wagged slowly.
The fear in his eyes disappeared… replaced with loyalty.
Nami gasped softly.
Nami: "He… he's listening to me…"
Stefan watched everything in silence.
His fists slowly tightened.
Before he could process it—
The voice returned.
But this time…
Only for him.
> [SYSTEM ERROR DETECTED]
[REASSIGNING ABILITY…]
[ABILITY AWAKENED: HUMAN TAMING SYSTEM]
[LEVEL: 1]
[MAX LEVEL: ???]
[WARNING: THIS ABILITY IS RESTRICTED]
Stefan's eyes widened.
His breathing stopped for a second.
"…Human… taming?"
He didn't say it out loud.
Didn't react.
Didn't move.
Because deep down—
He understood one thing immediately.
This ability…
Was not normal.
And if anyone found out—
It would change everything.
So he stayed silent.
And pretended…
He got nothing.
Just as he was about to speak—
A sudden scratching sound echoed from outside the bunker door.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Stefan's head snapped toward the entrance.
And this time—
The fear returned.
Stronger than before.