Chapter 36: Monoliths

Professor Stark stood before the class, silent for a moment as he stared at the eager faces of his students. When he saw that they were waiting on his words, he finally continued. "Theriology," he began, voice rough like gravel, "is the study of abyssal beasts. Their nature, their habits, habitats, diets... and most importantly, their weaknesses." His gaze swept across the rows of students. "This semester, we learn to understand them. The next, you learn to fight them." The silence in the room was filled with excitement. "Abyssal beasts are not ordinary animals." Stark continued. "They are born from the Abyss itself. The same Abyss that gave us the means to wield magic. The same Abyss that gave you your power. Some of you already know this, but many of you are just now realizing what it means to be a mage." He took a step toward the window, gesturing toward the beast pen. "The things inside that building? They’re abyssal beasts. And they’re exactly the kind of creatures that live within you all." He turned back to the class. "When humans first discovered ritual magic, there was only one type. Ritual magic that allowed the merging of man and monster." "That first generation of mages bound themselves to abyssal beasts to survive. But no one knew what the long-term effects would be." Stark moved to the chalkboard and began sketching a jagged structure, a pillar with twisting symbols etched into its surface. "Then came the Monoliths. Structures made of stone, but not natural. They rise like black towers, and inside them are places. Places between our world and the Abyss." The Monoliths are not made by human hands, and when they appear, they bring the Abyss closer." He pointed at the sketch. "If a Monolith is not sealed or cleared quickly, it will collapse the space between our world and the Abyss. And then the stronger beasts, real ones, not the diluted things you will fight in training, can enter freely." A hush fell over the class. "The Kingdom manages this threat through the Monster Hunter Guilds. These independent hunters are licensed to clear low- and mid-level Monoliths before they become a threat." "But the urgent ones... the Monoliths on the verge of collapse... those are handled by the kingdom’s official Monster Hunter teams." Noah scribbled quickly, processing the words. "But even then," Stark said, "when Monoliths appear, some beasts slip through before anyone arrives. They flee into the wild, where they breed and multiply. Their descendants become what you call common abyssal beasts. What you’ll see used in some common rituals, sold in markets, and hunted by entry-level teams." Stark stepped forward again. "You, Stone-tier students, were likely merged with one of these common beasts. Caught by Monster Hunters. Transported to the city. Brought to the ritual circle, and bound to your soul." He gave a nod. "It’s expensive, even for beasts like that. But for the nobility, the process is different." Stark’s lip curled slightly. "The nobles use rituals that cost five to ten times what yours did. Why? Because the beasts they bind with aren’t pulled from the wild. They’re taken directly from the Monoliths." "They pay for teams to breach Monoliths, capture beasts from the inner floors, and drag them out. Those beasts are purer. Stronger. More compatible. Their power is greater, and their skills more rare." "Or better yet, they use the kind used by the summoned heroes, in which the ritual itself selects the beast directly from the abyss and binds them to you." "But very few people have the kind of money to waste on that." He turned, letting that hang in the air. "That is the truth behind mage society. Power begins at the ritual. Everything else is climbing from there." The class was quiet as everybody processed what they’d just learnt. Professor Stark returned to the front of the room, placing his hands behind his back again. "You are here to learn about the beasts of this world. You’ll study how they live, how they feed, how they evolve. You’ll learn to track them, analyze their behaviors, and identify their patterns. All so that one day, when you stand in front of one, it won’t be the last thing you do." He glanced toward the window. "This semester is theory. Next semester... we’ll see if any of you are brave enough to test it in the field." He paused, eyes sweeping the class again. "However," he continued, "for all their danger, Monoliths are not just seen as threats." "Among mages, especially after graduation, they’re considered something else entirely." He looked over them with a hard gaze. "Wealth." There was a murmur of confusion from some of the students, but Stark continued. "You’ve heard what the Monster Hunter Guilds do. You’ve learned of the kingdom’s teams. But what you don’t yet understand is why so many mages willingly spend their lives entering Monoliths." He stepped closer to the students. "The abyssal beasts we have in the beast pen are dangerous. So are the ones inside Monoliths. But the Monoliths themselves? They’re treasure troves." "Inside every Monolith are materials. Rare herbs. Magical stones. Enchantment-grade resources. Some are used in rituals to rank up. Others are used to craft weapons. Some are ingredients in potions and pills. And every single one of them can be sold." He walked slowly back to the chalkboard, letting the words settle in. "The corpses of abyssal beasts are valuable. Their horns, bones, eyes, scales, each part has a purpose. Some are used in refining mana. Others, in making armor or alchemical mixtures. But the most prized of all?" He paused. "Their meat." A few students smiled in recognition. "Yes." Stark said, nodding. "Abyssal beast meat, when properly prepared, can temporarily enhance the physical attributes of a normal human." "Strength. Endurance. Even clarity of thought. It’s one of the most expensive ingredients sold in high-end markets. Not to mention it’s delicious, if you know how to cook it." Some of the students chuckled at that, but Stark’s expression remained serious. "This is why most mages, after they graduate and serve their mandatory two years of service, join Monster Hunter Guilds. Not because of duty. Not because of glory." He looked each student in the eye. "But because Monoliths pay." There was a long silence. "And if you survive long enough," Stark finished, "they’ll pay for your entire life." He stepped back. "And this, my students, is where you’ll learn what you need to make them pay."