Chapter: 2. Breeding Ground for Superpowered Beings
A bar bathed in the night.
Kane stared at the girl in front of him with a face full of shock. The shattered starry sky in her eyes seemed to possess a power that could stun the soul.
“Elemental Sovereign… why are you here… didn’t you sacrifice yourself…” He was so confused that his words were jumbled.
Nayun, upon seeing this, didn’t attempt to explain anything; instead, she quietly put her special contact lenses back in.
The moment that shattered starry sky was covered.
Kane, standing before her, seemed to suddenly awaken, the awe in his eyes vanishing, replaced by suspicion, wariness, and hostility.
“Ms. Tsukimi, it’s a pleasure to meet you… and your friends…” Kane’s expression seemed to have completely forgotten what had just happened. He merely heard Nayun’s introduction and responded with the vigilance one would show to a stranger.
Especially considering that this stranger was accompanied by some mythical creatures.
Nayun had completed her experiment, as advised by the Ending Nayun.
Now her soul was a collection of fragments pieced together in some way, unable to disguise the existence of her “self” before the world. When her “window of the soul”—her eyes—was fully revealed to the world, everything would recognize her as the “Elemental Sovereign.”
That was why Ending Nayun had given her these special contact lenses; only by wearing them could Nayun conceal her identity as the “Elemental Sovereign.”
Moreover, people and the world would forget about the “Elemental Sovereign,” just like now. For Kane, the Elemental Sovereign did not exist, so he would naturally overlook any mention of the Elemental Sovereign in their dialogue, disregarding that information.
This was the experiment Nayun had just conducted.
[How sad! My master, you actually don’t believe what I said?] The voice of Ending Nayun, feigning grievance, came from the concealed earpiece Nayun was wearing.
Ending Nayun did not accompany Nayun here, and the reason was simple; He was being hunted by this world. Acting separately was a better choice for both. However, Ending Nayun would maintain contact with Nayun through “scientific” means, to assist her, as a “reborn” being disconnected from the world who might need help.
As for why it was “scientific” means, it was likely because the supernatural powers would be easier to detect by the organization chasing Him. Recently, Ending Nayun had resonated with the soul of the president of a world-class technology company, equipped with all the necessary technology and equipment.
“Let me correct you.” Nayun was not angered by Kane’s sarcasm; after all, someone living in hell every day had to find a way to remain optimistic.
“I am not friends with them.”
“Oh, of course, they are contract beasts, right? The Illusion Monster Tamer.”
“No, they are just… friends of someone I know, I guess.” Nayun casually glanced at the mythical creatures in the bar.
Her thoughts suddenly returned to that night.
……
……
“Ending, are you planning to carry out this plan with me?”
“No, given my current situation, separating from you, my master, will simplify the operation. Of course, I will provide you with the necessary power, so you won’t have to personally fight with just this frail body as a Monster Tamer.”
“Do you think I’m powerless without the contract beasts?” Nayun replied without holding back; she had no good feelings toward Ending Nayun.
“I know your strength well, my master, but believe me, this new world is far stranger than you might imagine.” Ending Nayun said, clapping His hands. In an instant, multiple magical reactions rapidly appeared around the park.
“So I gathered some helpers.”
As soon as the words left His mouth.
The first lightning bolt tore through the darkness.
A gigantic thunderbird suddenly appeared, its wings composed of crackling lightning. With each slight flap, the air erupted with a deep roar, static electricity wrapping around the surrounding benches and ground, while the metal railings emitted hissing sounds.
Next to Nayun, in the water pool.
The water began to churn, a vortex expanding in the dark, the surface shaking violently as a huge, twisted tentacle crawled out from the unfathomable depths of darkness. Its skin was not smooth but made up of layers of flesh and twisted veins, the surface covered in rough black scales.
On the shaded path behind the swing.
Countless humanoid shadows stood silently in the night, each figure dark as ink, almost merging with the night itself. They had no features, only a hint of crimson light flickering deep within their eye sockets, like burning embers.
Finally, at the end of the park, under a streetlight, a tall figure cloaked in black slowly emerged. It wore a pitch-black mask, yet no shadow was cast from it despite the light.
Mythical creatures.
“Do you need me to introduce their powers to you, my master?”
Nayun did not respond immediately to Ending Nayun’s words.
The mythical creatures in front of her were familiar; in each instance of world-line retracing, she retained memories of that time when these creatures ambushed her and Kan on their taxi ride, putting her in mortal danger.
“They… obey you?” After a moment, Nayun lightly inquired.
“Correct.”
“Why? The purpose of their creation is to save this world; why would they obey you, who intends to destroy this world…”
“Because we are—like-minded comrades.” Ending Nayun turned His head and smiled slightly at Nayun. “I told them the truth, so our goals are aligned.”
“What truth?”
“After so many events, I trust that recalling this point personally will be more fitting for you, my master.”
Once Ending Nayun finished speaking, He quickly changed the subject, clearly unwilling to elaborate further.
“I know you won’t contract with them, but rest assured, even so, they will unconditionally and completely obey you.”
Ending Nayun’s words struck Nayun’s heart.
Indeed, she would not contract with these unknown mythical creatures. From the moment she entered into any new contract, her contract beasts would only be them, not anyone else—
—————–
A dirty, disordered bar.
Kane struggled to keep himself calm. He had once been an A-class superpowered being and witnessed many grand scenes. Even though the girl in front of him commanded so many mythical creatures, it had yet to breach his psychological defenses.
“Well, about your purpose… I think you’ve got the wrong person.” Kane shrugged. “Although I used to be a superpowered being from the Star Academy, I clearly am not adept at disguising identification in my current role as a mercenary living day-to-day in a war-torn third world. Here, guns and bullets are our identity.”
“You are right; you are not good at disguising identities.” Nayun nodded.
Upon hearing this, Kane secretly sighed in relief. However, Nayun’s next words surprised him even more.
“But you excel at sending people to Special Circle SEMA and the Three Great Academies, right? I just hope your next list includes me.”
In the worldview of the “Star Inducer” series, the awakening of superpowers often accompanies intense pain and hatred.
This is a war-torn third world where countless lives are lost every day, and many feel a pain intense enough to tear apart souls. Just a spark of “supernatural power” is enough to awaken superpowers.
This is a breeding ground for superpowered beings. Even if Special Circle SEMA and the Three Great Academies are unaware of the “truth of awakening,” anyone with a basic understanding of statistics and patterns can grasp this.
That is why people like Kane are placed here, to quickly find and protect those “awakeners” and send them to Special Circle SEMA or the Three Great Academies.
Kane could sense that the girl in front of him was not bluffing to extract information from him; she genuinely understood her identity and role.
“Can I ask, why do you want to go to Star Academy?”
“To study.”
“….. As expected, you look just like an underage girl.” Setting aside her stature, Kane inwardly rolled his eyes. “A high schooler?”
Nayun nodded slightly, affirming Kane’s question.
“Then I would actually recommend Special Circle SEMA more; they offer high school courses—”
“—but I am an honor student.”
“….. Of course, I could tell at a glance.”
Nayun interrupted Kane’s teasing; the mythical creatures sent her warnings that a large group of people was gathering nearby, surrounding the bar.
“Before discussing my enrollment, I think you should be more concerned about yourself. Do you have enemies here?” Nayun jumped down from the high stool in front of the bar and gave a signal to the mythical creatures inside the bar.
They immediately concealed their figures, blending into the shadows at Nayun’s feet, a capability provided by Ending Nayun so they could always hide within Nayun’s shadow.
Kane also realized that something was off.
“I think this question can be reframed, such as—who here is not my enemy?”
As soon as he finished speaking.
The roar of a heavy machine gun unleashed a torrent of heated bullets, violently tearing apart the walls and doors of the bar, splintering wood and bricks flying everywhere.
Metal shell casings clanged to the ground, piercing through bottles and wooden pillars behind the bar with a shrill cry, the explosions continuous and unrelenting.
