Silver studied the screen carefully. His physical stats weren’t impressive yet, as expected, since the previous Silvers’ only exercise was those mandatory short exercises from the family. They needed everyone to be fit for the awakening.

That also wasn’t the only reason. He had only awakened his soul yesterday so his physical would take a while to adapt and increase.

However, his beast Synchronization being disproportionately high, probably connected to the multi-coloured stone and the removed soul limitations. A big advantage he knew he held over the whole world technically.

Silver dismissed the screen afterward before glancing down towards the handgun resting near his side.

The reinforced weapon felt both familiar and unfamiliar in his hands. It wasn’t uncomfortable per se, but just limited. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

From his observations today Silver had noticed something he hadn’t when he went out since he had been in a hurry and too preoccupied to even think properly past his survival.

The realisation bothered him slightly because guns dominated modern combat mostly for lower-ranked contractors. They were fast, efficient, and safe.

But outside the walls, ammunition eventually became a problem. Higher-ranked beasts adapted quickly to predictable attack patterns. He had seen that in the military pamphlets they had each found on their seats.

Once someone’s rank continues to increase, close combat would be inevitable. That was why elite Contractors carried melee weapons eventually.

Silver’s gaze shifted towards Shawn near the front. He carried a sword beside his gun, on the opposite side of his waist where his gun holster was.

Most experienced Contractors preferred blades or spears once they reached higher ranks because power flowed more naturally through direct contact weapons.

Guns remain useful bit they stop being enough.

Silver rested his fingers lightly against the combat knife at his waist. It was small and balanced, close enough to a blade that the transition later wouldn’t feel completely unnatural.

He knew there was a difference between this world’s training regime and Earth’s training regime. While on earth it was mainly for fighting against humans but here close combat is for monsters ten times his size. Not something that can just come naturally with a flick of his finger.

He planned to start with firearms, which he was more proficient in, first for survival, and then learn close combat gradually.

Eventually transition fully towards swords once physical ability caught up. That path made the most sense to him.

He wasn’t the protagonist, he couldn’t just touch a sword or spear and suddenly become a grandmaster.

.

.

.

The convoy travelled for two more hours before slowing. The ruined highway finally disappeared behind them, replaced instead by fractured plains overtaken by aggressive vegetation and scattered remnants of collapsed suburbs swallowed by nature.

Silence filled the vehicle more frequently now because everyone was listening for any foreign sound. Beyond the walls, sound mattered.

A distant howl, movement inside abandoned buildings, the crack of shifting concrete beneath something heavy. Everything could become dangerous very quickly.

Silver rested his head lightly against the reinforced window while observing the wastelands passing outside. The world outside was a mixture of two things.

Life and death. Plants had been given full control and took over while the previous world had died under its growth leaving only husks of half-fallen buildings.

Eventually, the convoy slowed near a wide fortified checkpoint constructed from reinforced steel barriers and portable defensive walls arranged in layered circles.

The Rookie integration zone.

Silver immediately understood why they used this location. It had an open terrain and good visibility.

Several elevated sniper towers overlooked the surrounding area while experienced Contractors patrolled the perimeter carrying weaponry and advanced Beast tattoos visible under their gear.

This was safe by wasteland standards meaning still very dangerous.

The convoy doors opened one after another. Cold wind rushed inside carrying the smell of dust, blood, and distant rain.

"Move out," one of the supervising contractors ordered.

The younger awakeners disembarked quickly, some visibly excited while others tried to hide their nervousness.

Silver stepped down from the transport calmly and immediately felt the difference more clearly now that he stood outside properly.

The spiritual density in the air was immense. These were little particles of energy he had started seeing after waking up. It seemed to have happened after his soul had somehow stabilised.

Not far away, several low-ranked corpses hung from metal hooks near the perimeter walls, likely killed earlier by patrol teams.

It acted as a sort of reminder, especially to the new arrivals, that this wasn’t a training.

A broad man wearing dark combat armour eventually stepped onto one of the raised platforms near the centre of the zone.

Silver recognised him instantly.

Marcus Oscar, Rank 6, soul capacity 11.

He was the Veteran Hunter Division Captain. One of the sanctuary’s senior field instructors.

Even standing casually, Marcus radiated pressure strong enough to quiet the entire area immediately.

A visible beast tattoo stretched from beneath his collar across the side of his neck, dark crimson markings resembling clawed skeletal wings.

His voice carried easily across the field.

"Listen carefully. I’m only explaining this once."

Nobody spoke or moved.

Marcus folded his arms.

"You’ve already awakened your souls. Today determines whether those awakening become useful, or whether you die during your first real deployment six months from now."

Direct and simple a very contractor-like way of speaking.

"The purpose of your first integration is stabilisation."

As he spoke, several projected displays activated behind him showing diagrams of the soul system.

"When humans awaken, the soul enters an incomplete state. Unstable. Empty. You might get an increase in strength but that instability worsens over time without integration."

One diagram showed a hollow glowing core gradually cracking apart.

"Beast integration solves this problem by anchoring your soul through spiritual synchronization."

A beast core merged into the hallowed centre. Afterwards, the cracks stabilised immediately.

"Beast cores are the carriers of the beast essence," his gaze swept over everyone, " I know you’re wondering why you can’t just integrate a beast core bought from the shop then?"

Most of them nodded even though it was common knowledge that some people always ignore.