Re: Varekmon Saga

Of course, it wouldn't be as simple as just grabbing the creature and walking away.

After all, we're dealing with a society where the company that manages monsters also sells themed lunchboxes. Cordeiro Corp knows how to profit from every single breath a creature takes.

"Now that you've made your choices," said the Professional Conductor with the kind of smile that sells insurance and saves the world in his spare time, "we move on to the most important process of all: the Bond."

He paused for dramatic effect—probably rehearsed.

"The Bond is a bio-emotional connection created between a human and a Varekmon. It's not just friendship. It's something that can be detected scientifically — bioelectric synapses, brainwave frequencies, and an emotional quantum field... blah blah blah."

He kept talking, but my mind was already drifting down to the gray thing at my feet. The little creature didn't look like it cared about quantum fields. It was licking its paw with a wet, squishy sound.

Alek looked excited. The redhead was already cradling her frog carefully, like it was some expensive porcelain vase. And me? Well, I was just bored. Honestly, I was just going with the flow. I still didn't really know what to do next.

"Since you're still young and this is your first bond, we'll be using Cordeiro Corp's Neural Stimulation Chambers. They enhance the connection and—" another dramatic pause "—ensure the Bond is strong and stable."

He said all that, but what I actually heard was: we're going to stuff you inside some shiny capsules that smell like expensive disinfectant and hope the creature doesn't reject you.

We were taken to the inner wing. The place looked like the showroom of a failed future: glossy white floors, reinforced glass walls, and screens playing educational videos with annoying little jingles.

A cleaning robot passed by, looking like it earned more than my mom. Everything here just screamed expensive.

On the way, a round Varekmon, shaped like a bouncy bean, was hopping through the corridors, leaving trails of fluorescent slime. It stopped suddenly, stared at me with three tiny eyes, and let out a "peep" so high-pitched I felt my soul flinch. But the redhead beside me lit up, and I swear I heard her whisper "cute."

When we got to the main chamber, two scientists were waiting for us: spotless lab coats, overly restrained smiles. One of them had a Varekmon — a fuzzy little ball with wings and a bow on its head (yes, a bow) — crawling up his leg like a needy cat. That one was actually kind of cute.

"Step in. Relax. Trust the bond," said one of them, pointing to the center, in that classic "this might hurt a little" tone of voice.

Where he pointed stood a large metallic capsule, covered in organic wires and glowing crystals pulsating in green and blue hues. There were three of them — one for each "worthy" child — and beside each one, a smaller station where the Varekmon would be connected via a thick cable.

Inside, lying down, with sensors on my head and straps lightly holding my arms, I watched my Varekmon approach from the outer edge of the capsule. He stared at me with round eyes, and for the first time, he looked… curious.

Maybe because I was vulnerable. Or maybe he was just hungry. Who knows.

Then everything went dark.

Now we are being watched — by external eyes. Monitoring screens, pulsing graphs, electrical synapses converted into data. The observation room is silent, except for the clicking of keyboards and the controlled breathing of a researcher too old to be impressed... and yet, still impressed.

"Beginning neural monitoring. Subject One: Alek. Subject Two: Eloá. Subject Three... Niko."

A younger scientist leaned closer to the monitor. His eyes widened.

"The boy's brain… Niko, right? Look at this. A spike in the temporal lobe synapses. He responded to minimal stimulation with insane stability."

The more experienced tech let out a sound of approval in his throat.

"Alek's doing well too. But this here—" he pointed to Niko's graph "—this is unusual. His brainwaves are almost perfectly aligned with the Varekmon's."

"Not almost. They are. Look at the variance rate. They're syncing like they've known each other for years."

"Initiating Stage Two: Resonance," said the younger one, his voice rising in excitement.

The lights on the panels changed color. Lines of code began flooding the screen.

"Symbiotic fusion signs... 82% and climbing. This is... way too high. Compatibles never reach this."

The older one narrowed his eyes.

"That doesn't make sense. A Compatible Varekmon has never fully fused. Only wild ones behave like this."

The Professional Conductor stepped in, peeking over their shoulders.

"Wait… he passed the second stage? That's… Full Circuit Fusion."

"We need to document this immediately. That's a Class A anomaly."

The teacher covered her mouth in shock. Aura frowned deeply.

"You're telling me," whispered the younger scientist, still staring at the monitor, "that this kid just did what veteran Conductors spend years trying to achieve... and even then, rarely succeed?"

The other didn't answer. He just watched the data climb. Their silence spoke louder than any analysis.

And then... everything went quiet.

I'm pulled.

I find myself floating inside my own mind.

The lights grow dim and distant. The capsule fades as I sink. The room around me lights up — a light so bright I have to shut my eyes — and then, with a blink, the world changes.

I see a field full of flowers. My eyes open like someone waking from a long dream.

Children run around me. Laughter, voices, friends. Alek is there, older, with a bit of a beard and a wide smile. Clara pulls me by the hand, laughing, and behind us, others — faces that only existed in previous versions of me.

I know this day.

It was one of the few peaceful moments we found in the middle of a mission. Our group had specialized in stopping Varekmon smuggling, but it eventually became something much bigger. Clara was our fearless, reckless leader, always at the front with her Varekmon.

Her partner was a Varekmon that looked sculpted straight from the heart of a storm.

His name was Ignoto, and every step he took left trails of sparks, as if the world had to remember where he'd been.

His body was long and agile — a blend of feline and serpent — covered in black scales with glowing cracks pulsing orange and gold, like living lava under a splitting rock.

Curved spines rose from his back, resembling obsidian blades, and his eyes — two sharp yellow beams — never stopped moving, as if scanning the entire battlefield at once.

He had two serpentine tails that moved like whips, used both for attack and to balance his agile body during wild charges.

His type was Organic Elemental, and his power was clearly tied to Clara's emotions — the angrier she got, the brighter and more unstable he became. I've seen him burst into spontaneous combustion just because she yelled at someone.

But the most unforgettable thing about him was the roar.

It wasn't just a sound — it was pressure, it was heat. When Ignoto roared, even armed smugglers froze. Because everyone, even the idiots from Arkhan, knew this creature wasn't meant to be contained.

She and he were one and the same: wild, unpredictable, and in many ways... inevitable.

But here, he was just a pet, lying belly-up with his tongue out.

Not just him — everyone was smiling, playing, laughing. Life as it should be. These moments were rare.

Then the sky began to darken.

A shadow formed — unnatural in shape. Something that didn't belong in that memory.

It passed overhead like a black cloud, tearing the memory in two.

The voices vanished. The friends turned into particles.

The flower field became a frozen wasteland, littered with collapsed bodies.

I was alone, on my knees, blood flowing from my chest.

This was the moment of my death.

Two shadows stood ahead.

The first, human — a man with white hair and a flawless suit. On his back, a symbol marked his allegiance: He was the master of Arkhan.

His arms opened wide... and then came the second shadow.

Slowly, a hulking mass of flesh and energy knelt.

Eyes appeared in the darkness like glowing moons.

They stared directly at me — seeming to contain all the wisdom in the universe.

Niko, you promised to protect this world.

The voice wasn't spoken. It was felt.

And those eyes... I knew who they belonged to, but nothing could be certain.

They weren't just eyes.

They were wills.

They were hopes — the expectations of my comrades, carried by me every time I return.

I tried to scream, but no voice came out.

The man stepped onto the creature's head, and together, they walked.

Everywhere they passed, they left lifeless bodies.

And all the bodies had eyes wide open, staring at me, begging me.

Like shattered glass, the world broke apart.

I opened my eyes suddenly, like someone waking from a nightmare — gasping, soaked in sweat. My fingers trembled.

The Gray One was lying on my chest, head tucked under my chin, eyes closed like he had been dreaming of me.

For a moment, I said nothing. Just breathed, trying to calm myself.

Now I understood.

There's no more room for hesitation.

I have to save this world.

Or die trying.

And keep returning to this cycle until I can't anymore.

So, I slowly sat up and stared into the creature's eyes.

They were wide open now, staring back with a glint that didn't reflect love or devotion.

He looked like he understood me.

And for the first time in a long time… I felt I wasn't fighting alone.

"Let's go, Gray. Let's get that thing out of you before I can't anymore."

...

Today on the Varekpedia we have

Species: Umbrys

Type: ???

Origin: ???

Evolution Stage: Infant

Threat Level: Unknown (unstable potential)

Description:Umbrys is a silent and forgotten Varekmon, nearly indistinguishable from its surroundings. Its body is thin and elongated like a lizard-insect hybrid, covered in matte scales resembling fossilized armor. Its limbs are delicate and unnaturally long, and its eyes — large, black as fresh ink — show no pain or joy, only an unsettling emptiness.

Though it makes no sound, doesn't cry, and barely moves with purpose, Umbrys gives off a strange presence, as if it carries a weight no being its age should bear. Conductors often report sensations of déjà vu, vertigo, and profound sadness when attempting mental contact. Many experts consider it a rare case of pre-bond emotional decay, a theoretical condition never officially documented before.