Shawn stood near the central hall entrance surrounded loosely by several younger cousins speaking to him in obvious admiration. Unlike most Elites, he actually looked like an experienced Contractor.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and calm. His blue hair was gelled back giving a view of his face and eyes that carried experience. Silver was familiar with that look, it was of someone who had seen bloodshed and had done the same.

A dark combat coat rested on reinforced combat gear while faint traces of a beast tattoo stretched from his collarbone towards his neck. Silver wasn’t sure which beast it was but from the rumours, he knew Shawn at least contracted an elder Tier 5 fire wolf as his main contracted beast.

He was a Rank 7 with a soul capacity of 13 after all so it wasn’t impossible.

He had awakened the previous year and was already famous within the sanctuary because he was genuinely strong and worked really hard for the position he was in.

But of course, Silver couldn’t forget his role in the novel. He was also cannon fodder for Cruella. He had unfortunately been pulled into her orbit at some point and ended up being killed in her state. He became a meat shield.

Silver shook his head at the thought, someone that young had died in vain. He was only entering his twenties, of course, he would want to experience romance which Silver didn’t fault since he was in the same position, but the person he chose was a disaster magnet.

He also absolutely disliked Silver.

Shawn noticed him descending the stairs almost immediately. His expression cooled subtly.

He didn’t show the open hostility Silver saw in his memories at the moment since they were still in the family estate and that would be improper.

He dismissed Silver almost immediately as something mildly unpleasant.

"Silver."

"Shawn."

The conversation died down at that point. Several younger cousins glanced between them in anticipation. Everyone in the family knew that the relationship between them was terrible. They had been at each other’s throats since they were young but the introduction of Cruella between them had worsened everything.

Shawn looked Silver over once, his gaze briefly lingering on the handgun holster and dagger near his waist.

"You actually bought a weapon this time, the world must be ending."

He said all that with a straight face without so much as a twitch.

Silver smiled faintly.

"I heard beasts bite."

One of the younger cousins choked slightly trying not to laugh.

Shawn remained unimpressed.

"For your sake, try taking today seriously."

"There’s a comforting amount of confidence in that sentence."

"You’ve never been outside the walls properly. I do not wish to be burdened."

Neither had the other technically. Even in his memories, Silver only found their interactions to always be throwing stupid insults at each other like a normal functioning family.

"You’re different," Shawn suddenly said startling Silver but he didn’t show it.

"Why do you think so?"

"I don’t know... you’re just different."

He didn’t elaborate further. It was still a surprise to Silver. He seemed to be the only one who noticed something was off about him.

"Don’t die today," he finished and turned his attention back to their other cousins.

Between the two of them, he had been the first to die though.

Shawn had completed a year of Contractor operations after his awakening. Compared to the current generation, he may as well have been a veteran. His soul capacity alone placed him among the elite of the younger generation.

Shawn crossed his arms calmly his gaze turning serious as it moved between his other cousins who were also going. From the looks of it, he seemed to be the one in charge of the whole operation.

"The outer zones aren’t training simulations. Once integration begins, hesitation gets people killed."

That part wasn’t arrogance but pure truth. The world beyond the walls was fundamentally hostile to humanity now.

The collapse had changed the ecosystems entirely. Beasts weren’t just animals strengthened by soul energy. They constantly evolved, mutated, and adapted. And unlike humans, they grow naturally over time.

That was why beast tattoos mattered so much.

Humanity survived by integrating beast essence directly into awakened souls, borrowing traits, instincts, and abilities from creatures strong enough to survive the wastelands.

Every contractor’s first beast shapes their future path. For example, if a contractor integrates a beast that focuses on poison as its main power, they can never integrate with one that has healing since they will clash. Same as elements. Clashing elemental beast tattoos can lead to soul damage.

A weak integration creates limitations permanently while a powerful integration could alter someone’s entire destiny. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Silver glanced at the enormous reinforced gates visible through the front windows. Beyond them, the real world awaited not the protected illusion of the sanctuary.

From how the novel described it, Silver knew it was bad. Ruined highways, dead overgrown cities, Radiation zones, beast territories, and huge opportunities. The outside world was basically still unexplored, only a small part of it had been explored.

A servant entered the hall quickly before bowing towards the gathered participants.

"Transport envoy is prepared."

Immediately the atmosphere shifted. Nervousness, excitement, and fear dominated the room. Even the arrogant ones became quieter, because now it felt real.

Silver followed the others towards the estate exit calmly.

Outside, massive armoured transport vehicles waited at the front of the gates while heavily armed contractors performed final inspections nearby.

Shawn stopped beside one of the transports before glancing back towards Silver once more.

"You should stay near the rear teams today."

Translation:

Don’t be a burden.

Silver’s smile widened.

"I’ll consider your heartfelt concern carefully."

Shawn looked unconvinced that Silver understood danger at all which was fair enough. Honestly, yesterday Silver probably wouldn’t have either.

But now? His soul no longer had a limit and somewhere beyond those walls, his first beast waited.

"Get in your designated vehicles, we will be picking the remaining contestants up as we move forward. Do not exchange seats. Those who do will be disqualified. Each seat has its owner’s name. Get in."

After finishing his speech, Shawn got into the first military vehicle in the convoy.