The man collapsed the moment he entered.
His body hit the floor hard, his breathing wild and uneven as if he had been running for his life far too long. His clothes were torn, stained with dirt and dried blood. His hands trembled uncontrollably as he tried to crawl further inside, as if even stopping for a second would mean death catching up to him.
Nami immediately shut the door behind him.
BOOM.
The bunker sealed once again.
Safe.
At least for now.
The man didn't look at them at first. He just lay there, gasping, his voice barely audible as he muttered to himself—
Unknown Man: "I'm alive… I'm alive…"
Stefan stood a few steps away, watching him carefully.
This was it.
The first human.
The first step toward becoming stronger.
And yet… it didn't feel simple.
Nami stepped forward first, her voice firm but controlled.
Nami: "Look at us."
The man slowly lifted his head.
The moment his eyes landed on Rex, they widened in pure fear.
Unknown Man: "W-What is that…?"
Rex let out a low growl, flames faintly flickering around his mouth.
Nami placed her hand gently on Rex's head.
Nami: "He won't hurt you… unless you give him a reason."
The man swallowed hard and quickly shifted his gaze toward Stefan.
Fear returned instantly.
Stronger this time.
Unknown Man: "…You're the one… right?"
Stefan stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Every step carried weight.
Stefan: "You agreed."
The man nodded rapidly.
Unknown Man: "Yes! I agreed! I'll do anything—just don't send me back out there!"
Stefan's eyes stayed fixed on him.
Then he asked clearly—
Stefan: "Do you accept being tamed?"
The man froze.
Just for a moment.
A brief hesitation.
A final resistance.
Then—
Fear crushed it.
Unknown Man: "Yes… I accept."
The system activated instantly.
> [CONSENT CONFIRMED]
[INITIATING HUMAN TAMING – TYPE 2 CONTRACT]
A soft glow surrounded the man.
His body stiffened, his eyes widening as he felt something invisible take hold of him.
Unknown Man: "W-What is happening—?!"
The light pulsed once…
Then sank into him.
Silence followed.
Then—
> [CONTRACT SUCCESSFUL]
The glow disappeared.
The man dropped forward slightly, catching himself with his hands. His breathing slowed, but his expression had changed.
Not controlled.
Not empty.
But connected.
Bound.
He looked at Stefan again—this time with something new behind his eyes.
Awareness.
Man: "…What… did you do…?"
Stefan didn't answer immediately.
Because at that exact moment—
A surge of energy flowed through his body.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
His system appeared.
> [ABILITY ACQUIRED FROM CONTRACTED HUMAN]
[MINOR PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENT GAINED]
Stefan clenched his fist slightly.
His strength had increased.
It was working.
Nami noticed immediately.
Nami: "You felt it, didn't you?"
Stefan: "Yeah…"
He looked back at the man.
Now calmer.
Now stable.
Now… his.
Stefan: "What's your name?"
The man hesitated.
Then answered quietly—
Man: "Kiran…"
Stefan nodded.
The name settled into the space between them.
Stefan: "Alright, Kiran."
His voice was calm—but carried authority now.
Not forced.
Natural.
Stefan: "From now on… you stay with us."
Kiran lowered his head slightly.
Not like a slave.
Not like a broken man.
But like someone who knew—
He couldn't refuse.
Kiran: "…Yes."
Nami watched the interaction carefully, then turned slightly toward Stefan.
Nami: "Then we move forward."
She looked at both of them now.
At what they had become.
At what they had just started.
Nami: "We survive… together."
But deep down—
All three of them understood one thing.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was the beginning of something much bigger.