Chapter 3: Limits Never Exceeded

April 21st, 2055

A few days had past since my conversation with Cassia. I wondered the decadent halls of the squad 12 barracks. Perhaps I could find something to take my mind of things...

-POW-

A large crashing sound emanated from the basement of the facility. "Oh...I guess they are at it again." It was a daily occurence at the Black Dog barracks. The Black Dogs were fundamentally unstable beings, and as such, we must undergo training and calibration tests every day to ensure that we do not lose control.

Today, it was Malery and Pam doing their daily calibration.

"Test start!" Pam yelled at the empty room, causing it to glow a mesmerizing blue. She reached out her thin hands, conjuring a purple flame that materialized into a spear. A strange construct, no...an effigy morphing into human form floated above her like a ghost.

"Come to my aid, Gilsong."

Gilsong did not speak. Instead, it pointed towards Pam and emitted a strong surge of Magical energy. She grew a pair of fangs and hair sprouted from her forearms. She gained a beast-like appetite for violence and mowed down the simulated Magical Beasts.

Her movements were sporadic and violent as she carved away at the projections with her purple staff.

This was the true power of a contract. Ordinary humans could utilize the power of monsters and fight back against the madness of the wandering sea. That is the true purpose of the Black Dog experiments, to test the limits of the human form.

[Test Complete!]

[Synchronization Rate: 33%]

"Tsk- still stuck in the 30s? Just what am I missing?"

I entered the training room to a frustrated Pam Fuller with a deactivated contract. Sweat slid down her neck and forehead as she caught her breath.

"Already up to training? You sure are dedicated. It's only 10am."

"Well how else should I prepare for the operation? My damn synch rate won't budge no matter how much I activate the contract."

"Contracts are more than just physical training. They come from the soul, from understanding."

"So going on dates with Cassia has aided such understanding?"

"I-it isn't like that…" I nearly forgot about that sly tongue of hers, along with that stubbornness she carried. If i'm not careful, she'll carry me to a verbal death…

Thankfully, a distraction in the next room drew our attention away from the conversation.

It was the legendary prodigy herself, Malery Zhou, performing her daily training as well. While Pam had an aura of savagery in her attacks, Malery's body was as elegant and clean as fresh snow. Her attacks were light, yet carried the impact of a guillotine, earning her the moniker "Executioner". Pam's attitude soured ever more at the sight of her comrade's brilliance.

[Test Complete!]

[Synchronization Rate: 81%]

"That bitch..." Pam's face twisted into a sharp glare of contempt. The sparks of light around her became more unstable as she struggled to control her contract. I grabbed her wrist in an attempt to stabilize her body. With Pam and Malery's rocky relationship as it is, today wasn't exactly the best day for the two to cross paths.

"Gah..." Pam recovered from her partial instability and left the training room without looking me directly in the eyes. She carried a sense of shame and anger around her. Perhaps it wasn't possible to support everyone wholeheartly if they can't accept such support. It was best to just leave her alone for now.

___

I entered the vacant 4th training room and initiated the practice tests. I selected the spirituality training and the room became a deep white, completely void of any impurity that would impair the simulated void.

Synchronization Rate was comprised of numerous factors that contributed to higher performance between Master and Magic Beast. Physical compatibility was one's aptitude for withstanding the power of a Magic Beast a contract. If your physique is too weak, you won't be able to draw out significant power from your Magic Beast.

A personal connection was also a major requirement for a high synchronization rate, as contracts are a relationship built upon consent and mutual understanding. Attempting to force a Magic Beast to loan it's power over to a master will only result in destruction, as the Beast can not only refuse the demand, but also retract some of it's previously lent power and cancel the contract.

Among the Black Dogs, my particular case was unique. While others were often trapped within fixed ranges of synch rates, I was the worst among the worst. Not once has my synch rate risen above even 15%. My aptitude for the Black Dogs program is only slightly above the average for a human. The only reason I haven't been dumped into a landfill was because of the rarity of humans capable participating in the Black Dogs project.

Regardless of that fact, I'll continue to train hard and work regardless. Today I'll focus on the second factor of synchronization, personal connection. My synch rate is so abysmal that I can't even communicate, let alone summon my Beast. Hell, I don't even know it's name or appearance, so I'll have to go all the way back to the basics. Communion.

I sat down in the white void and slowed by breathing to a crawl, each inhale invigorating my spirit, and each exhale soothing my negative emotions. I then imagined a circle of black light rotating above my head. By conceptualizing a specific image and focusing my conscious on it, I could delve deep into my soul and communicate with my Magic Beast directly.

"...?!"

The energy in the air took a drastic shift as the empty void was consumed by black clouds and a red moon. The smell was familiar, yet distant, like a faint scent that takes you back to your childhood, before disappearing just as quickly as it came. It was thick and nauseating, clogging my lungs and tightening my throat.

"This...is smoke?"

Sweat dripped down my face. A physical wave of heat swept through the burning ruins and stung my eyes. This wasn't Baroque City…it was my hometown in the brink of disaster. Kukri Village.

Alone in the bright flames was a mysterious figure bathed in black. It's face was completely obscure, yet it held a hint of familiarity.

"I've come back after all this time, aren't you a bit happy to see me?"

"…"