He felt like an imposter in a sea of monsters he had shackled himself to in a desperate bid for strength.
Around him, many wore pretty and handso faces, but their characters were horrid.
Prideful.
Arrogant.
Killers.
Those who gazed at the weaker with the disdain of kings looking down on insects.
Yet so...
Damian’s gaze flickered to Lyra Veyrin, catching her continued act of shyness around others. So were unique monsters — ones who might have more beneath the surface.
Monsters without the sa cruel streak as the rest.
He joined them in the elevator as Guardian Flaborn tapped a few keys, selecting the 150th floor. Her gaze was resolute as she nodded toward Becca and continued.
"ZENTHRA was forged under that mission years ago, its founder none other than the Interstellar Beast Master, Caelen Veylor. Listen closely. You need to understand ZENTHRA’s history if you ever hope to be one of its revered Beast Masters."
...!
Guardian Flaborn launched into a grand speech that made several Trial Guardians roll their eyes. But not Lyra — her eyes shone as if hearing about a hero she deeply admired.
"Born in the labyrinthine alleys of Ebonreach tropolis, Caelen Veylor grew up dreaming beyond the clear skies of Skyglass Heights. As a young Beast Master, he bonded with the now-famous Sylrae, a luminous winged drake whose growth tragically stalled at its Basal Form — no matter how fiercely they fought or how deeply they bonded. Refusing to accept fate’s decree, Caelen poured his life into forbidden research, scouring the lost sciences of genetic augntation and ancient Interstellar Archives. His vision was simple but revolutionary: no Beast Master should be shackled by predestination."
...!
Guardian Flaborn’s crimson eyes flared visibly, flas almost seeming to shoot from them.
"Founding ZENTHRA amid political unrest during Ebonreach’s darkest days, he wove together rogue scholars, defiant engineers, and outcast Beast Masters, building a corporation that defied natural law itself. Caelen’s legacy wasn’t just the creation of evolutionary pathways — it was the ignition of hope. Proof that the limits set by Existence were rely challenges ant to be shattered by will, innovation, and an unbreakable bond. This...is ZENTHRA!"
DING!
The elevator arrived at the 150th floor.
In Damian’s mind, Anastasia’s voice buzzed through the ntal channel.
"What a load of bull. Caelen Veylor is spoken about in hushed tones because of how brutal a researcher he was. I don’t know how they distort history this much..."
Her voice seethed with cold rage. Damian listened quietly, following the other Trial Guardians out as Guardian Flaborn led the way, her every motion filled with the energy of soone trying to awe new recruits.
Overhead, in dazzling green hologram, the ceiling read: [Lesser Guardian’s Abode].
...!
"Welco to your base of operations for the near future," Guardian Flaborn said, her voice carrying easily across the floor. "You’ll report here for your mission into your first Entropic Rift tomorrow. You’ll get your resources, your equipnt, and Artificial Nurturing Rooms for your Interstellar Beasts here."
The floor was awe-inspiring.
Damian’s silver-glowing eyes swept across the 150th floor of the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation — the Lesser Guardian’s Abode.
The entire floor humd with a low, disciplined energy. Towering glass enclosures lined the curved walls.
Guardian Flaborn gestured proudly.
"Each of those towering enclosures houses Artificial Beast Nurseries, where young Interstellar Beasts — both natural-born and bioengineered — are nurtured under controlled, radiant light."
She pointed toward chambers glowing green, blue, and gold, leading them deeper into the sprawling level.
Crates labeled with rare Beast Resources — crystalline Growth Catalysts, Primal Interstellar Stones, Evolutionary Marrow — were stacked thodically across secured sections.
Nearby, technicians in purple ZENTHRA uniforms moved carefully, storing Synthetic Serums designed to enhance a Beast’s physical, cognitive, and elental traits.
Damian shifted his gaze — another sector.
Overseers, elite ZENTHRA employees in sleek purple uniforms embroidered with silver etchings, patrolled the floor with tablets and scanners in hand. Their presence lent the space an air of solemn pride; those trusted to work here were caretakers of ZENTHRA’s future.
Guardian Flaborn led them toward the center of the floor.
"At the heart of this floor sits the Trial Guardian Command Center," she said, gesturing at a massive hexagonal hub pulsing with holographic displays, surveillance feeds, and mission boards. "Here, Trial Guardians gather around alloy consoles, studying ever-shifting data panels. Missions range from taming rogue Beasts in the Outer Wastes, to Heroic Missions in the city, to Entropic Rift dives, and classified retrieval operations. Acceptance is as simple as a biotric scan and a nod — but failure is not tolerated."
...!
Her words landed like heavy stones in a riverbed, booming through them.
Ahead, ZENTHRA employees moved with swift, practiced precision inside the glowing command center.
"New Trial Guardians, follow to accept your Welco Crates. The rest of you — scatter and make yourselves useful. We reconvene in thirty minutes for a Rift Dive debriefing."
Guardian Flaborn beckoned to Lyra, Damian, and Vixor.
The three followed her off to the right side of the floor, weaving past ZENTHRA employees — many accompanied by small, genetically-engineered Beasts that looked like fuzzy, glowing balls of purple or blue fur.
Damian watched them without emotion as they approached a sleek tal door. Guardian Flaborn stepped forward, scanning her eyes. A light bathed her from head to toe before the door beeped green and slid open.
Inside...crates. Cases!
Hundreds of matte-black and tallic-purple cases stacked neatly, the ZENTHRA insignia etched into each one.
Guardian Flaborn smiled slightly.
"Trial Guardian Welco Crates," she said. "Inside are your standard-issued white ZENTHRA reinforced suits, an Obsidian Entropic Soft Crystal, a new ZENTHRA Next Gen Communication Device for secure communications, Beast Nutrient Vials for your Beast for the next thirty days...and a few other essentials. Therion Dark — you get two crates, for your bravery in facing Alex."
...!
The reward for his first march — the promised Obsidian Entropic Soft Crystal for surviving a Trial Guardian challenge.
Damian nodded grimly as Guardian Flaborn concluded.
"Take your cases. Get out of this room. Gear up and get ready for the debrief. Use the Trial Guardian Rooms over there."
She pointed toward a set of chambers across the floor.
Without hesitation, Damian, Lyra, and Vixor moved in.
The Trial Guardian Welco Crate was cold and solid in Damian’s hands, etched with sharp precision — a sleek symbol of ZENTHRA’s might.
As he gripped two of them, Damian felt it.
Everything finally clicking into place.
He was a Trial Guardian of ZENTHRA now, and he was planning on using their resources, their systems, and their strength.
Until the day he toppled one of their strongest Guardians!
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