Greatest of All TimeSeason 1 – Chapter 1: The Rise of the GoatPresent Day
This is the world of a Monster Soul.
Some people possess wolves.
Some possess tigers.
Some possess eagles.
And the rarest warriors...
Possess dragons.
A Monster Soul can be summoned, transformed, or combined with its owner's body to create incredible power.
But there was one boy who had none.
His name was Arashio.
Fourteen years old.
No Monster Soul.
No transformation.
No memories.
A few months earlier, Arashio had survived a terrible accident. When he woke up, almost everything about his past was gone.
He didn't remember his family.
He didn't remember where he came from.
He didn't even remember what his Monster Soul was.
So he simply lived alone and continued moving forward.
That afternoon, Arashio was walking through a crowded market.
His stomach growled.
He looked at a food stall.
"Maybe I should've brought more money..."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
A huge explosion shook the street.
People screamed and ran.
Arashio looked ahead.
Two boys were fighting.
One transformed his body into a powerful bull-like form.
"BULL TRANSFORMATION!"
Two enormous horns appeared on his head.
The other boy spread giant wings.
"EAGLE TRANSFORMATION!"
Sharp glowing feathers surrounded him.
Arashio sighed.
"Why are they fighting in the middle of the market?"
The Eagle boy launched his attack.
"FEATHER STORM!"
Hundreds of glowing feathers shot forward.
The Bull boy charged through them.
"HORN STRIKE!"
BOOM!
The attacks collided.
Arashio immediately stepped between them.
"STOP!"
Both boys stared at him.
The Bull boy laughed.
"You?"
"You don't even have a Monster Soul!"
The Eagle boy laughed too.
"What are you going to do?"
Arashio crossed his arms.
"Tell you to stop again."
The Bull boy grinned.
"Move."
"No."
The Bull boy rushed toward him.
"Then get crushed!"
Arashio didn't move.
But before the horn could reach him—
WHOOSH!
A brilliant golden-and-blue flame appeared.
A huge shield blocked the attack.
BOOOOOOM!
The Bull boy was pushed backward.
A beautiful girl stood in front of Arashio.
She had long white hair and a calm expression.
She raised her hand.
"Enough."
The Eagle boy immediately recognized her.
His face went pale.
"Her..."
"Run!"
He flew away.
The Bull boy shouted,
"Hey! Don't leave me!"
The girl looked at him.
"You should probably run too."
The Bull boy swallowed.
"Probably?"
She smiled.
"Phoenix Feather Rain."
Thousands of glowing feathers appeared above him.
The Bull boy looked up.
"...I'm sorry."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire street shook.
When the smoke disappeared, the Bull boy was gone.
Arashio stared at the mysterious girl.
"That was..."
He looked around.
"...pretty strong."
She smiled.
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
Arashio noticed something on the ground.
A golden card.
He picked it up.
His eyes widened.
VIP INVITATION
One Free Night at the 10-Star Royal Hotel.
Arashio's mouth opened.
"...Free?"
He looked at the card again.
"...FREE FOOD?!"
His entire mood changed.
"Whoever dropped this..."
"You are my favorite person."
The Royal Hotel
That evening, Arashio arrived at the Royal Hotel.
It was enormous.
Crystal lights covered the ceiling.
Golden decorations filled the halls.
Rich guests walked around wearing expensive clothes.
Arashio looked down at his old clothes.
"...I definitely don't belong here."
He looked at the invitation.
"But..."
"...I'm invited."
He walked inside.
The smell of food immediately attacked him.
Arashio's eyes sparkled.
"Finally."
"Something important."
He rushed toward the dining hall.
There were hundreds of different dishes.
Arashio stared.
Chicken.
Roasted meat.
Seafood.
Rice.
Desserts.
He grabbed a plate.
"Let's begin."
Ten minutes later...
His table was completely covered with empty plates.
Arashio leaned back.
"That was amazing."
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Enjoying the food?"
Arashio turned.
His eyes widened.
It was the white-haired girl from the market.
"You!"
She smiled.
"Me."
Arashio pointed toward her.
"You're the Phoenix girl."
She laughed.
"My name is Siya."
"Arashio."
"I know."
Arashio blinked.
"You know me?"
Siya smiled.
"I've heard about you."
"The boy without a Monster Soul."
Arashio's expression became quiet.
"Yeah..."
"That's me."
Siya noticed his expression.
"I'm sorry."
Arashio shrugged.
"It's fine."
"I'm used to it."
Siya smiled softly.
"Then tonight..."
"Just enjoy yourself."
Arashio nodded.
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
The Rooftop
Later that night, everyone gathered on the hotel rooftop.
The sky was filled with stars.
Fireworks were about to begin.
Arashio stood beside Siya.
Everyone activated their Monster Soul abilities to protect themselves from the magical energy released by the fireworks.
Arashio looked around.
"Why is everyone using their powers?"
Siya explained,
"These fireworks release dangerous energy."
"You need protection."
Arashio looked at himself.
"...I don't have any."
Siya immediately moved closer.
"Stay beside me."
Arashio smiled.
"Okay."
The countdown began.
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The night sky exploded with beautiful colors.
Everyone cheered.
Arashio stared upward.
"Wow..."
Then—
Something appeared above them.
A gigantic spaceship.
Siya's expression instantly changed.
"...That's not a firework."
A massive weapon opened beneath the spaceship.
Arashio looked up.
"...That doesn't look good."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The hotel exploded.
People screamed.
The rooftop collapsed.
Arashio fell.
"SIYA!"
A huge steel beam crashed toward him.
He tried to move—
But his injured leg failed.
"I'm stuck!"
Siya immediately transformed.
"PHOENIX FORM!"
Golden-and-blue wings exploded from her back.
She flew toward him.
"ARASHIO!"
But suddenly—
BANG!
A yellow-haired boy appeared.
He held a strange black weapon.
"Power Absorption."
A dark beam struck Siya.
Her Phoenix energy disappeared.
Her wings vanished.
"What?!"
She fell.
The yellow-haired boy caught her.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"LET HER GO!"
The boy smiled.
"So you're Arashio."
A gigantic dragon appeared behind him.
The dragon grabbed Siya and carried her toward the spaceship.
"SIYA!"
Arashio reached out.
The spaceship disappeared into the night.
Silence.
Arashio stood among the burning ruins.
His fists trembled.
"I'll..."
"...bring her back."
Suddenly—
Everything around him disappeared.
Inside Arashio's Consciousness
Darkness.
Endless darkness.
Arashio opened his eyes.
"Where am I?"
A blue light appeared.
A boy slowly stepped forward.
He smiled.
"My name is James."
Arashio stared.
"Who are you?"
James laughed.
"Your friend."
"I don't remember you."
"I know."
"You lost your memories."
Arashio looked around.
"Where are we?"
James pointed around them.
"Inside your consciousness."
Arashio froze.
"What?"
James smiled.
"I've been inside your soul for a long time."
Arashio stared at him.
"So..."
"You're inside me?"
"Exactly."
Suddenly, another presence appeared.
Arashio looked around.
James became serious.
"Saku is here too."
Saku appeared within the darkness.
He looked at Arashio.
"So..."
"The time has finally come."
Arashio frowned.
"Come for what?"
James answered.
"Siya is in danger."
Arashio immediately clenched his fists.
"Then send me back!"
James shook his head.
"Without power?"
"You can't save her."
Arashio looked at his hands.
"I don't care."
"I'll fight anyway."
James smiled.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
He extended his hand.
"Ready?"
Arashio looked at it.
Then grabbed it.
"Ready."
Saku placed his hand over theirs.
"Then let's awaken."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Blue and crimson energy exploded through the consciousness.
Lightning tore through the darkness.
James shouted—
"SOUL CONTRACT!"
Saku roared—
"AWAKEN!"
Arashio screamed—
"SIYA!"
The Awakening
Back in the real world...
The yellow-haired boy was flying toward the spaceship.
Suddenly—
He stopped.
Something changed.
Arashio slowly lifted his head.
His eyes opened.
One eye became neon blue.
Blue lightning exploded around his body.
The yellow-haired boy froze.
"...What?"
Arashio disappeared.
BOOOOOOM!!
His fist smashed into the boy.
The enemy flew across the spaceship.
CRAAAAASH!!
The spaceship shook violently.
The yellow-haired boy screamed.
"What are you?!"
Arashio appeared in front of him.
Lightning covered his fist.
"Let her go."
The boy attacked.
Arashio dodged.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
Another strike sent him flying.
The spaceship began breaking apart.
Siya fell through the sky.
Arashio immediately caught her.
She opened her eyes.
"Arashio..."
He smiled.
"You're safe."
They landed safely on the ground.
Siya stared at him.
"Your eyes..."
Arashio looked confused.
"My eyes?"
The neon blue glow slowly disappeared.
Arashio looked at his hands.
"What..."
"What happened to me?"
Inside his consciousness, James smiled.
Saku crossed his arms.
Neither said anything.
But both knew the truth.
Something inside Arashio had awakened.
Something that had been sleeping for a very long time.
Far above the world...
The destroyed spaceship drifted through the darkness.
The yellow-haired boy knelt before a mysterious figure.
"We found him."
The figure remained hidden.
"Who?"
The boy lowered his head.
"Arashio."
Silence.
Then the mysterious figure smiled.
"So..."
"The forgotten boy has finally awakened."
His crimson eyes opened.
"Excellent."
"Everything is beginning exactly as planned."
The darkness swallowed the figure.
And far below...
Arashio looked toward the night sky.
He didn't know who he really was.
He didn't know why James lived inside him.
He didn't know why his power had awakened.
And most importantly...
He didn't know why powerful people were searching for him.
But one thing was certain.
His ordinary life...
Was over.
The Rise of the Goat had begun.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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