Chapter 5: Cities and Dangers

Zen Hoshi's early years in Gold City 14, known as the Mentor City, were a blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, set against the backdrop of a bustling metropolitan hub teeming with life. He was lucky to have been born into a family that lived in a Gold tier City, especially the Mentor City. The city was famous for having a multitude of experts living in it. They would frequently impart knowledge to the younger generation hence where it's name came from. If Zen had been born in an unranked city… He shuddered at the thought of it. 

Zen has heard horror stories about the unranked cities. Unranked human habitation was divided into two classes, Conquered and Unconquered. A conquered unranked city is where humans managed to take back some land from the monsters and built an establishment there. It was frequently under martial law, civilians weren't even allowed to step foot in these cities. On the other hand an unconquered unranked city was simply a death sentence to live in. Malnourishment ran rampant, crime rates were sky high, and frequent monster attacks. The lack of military or organizational presences leads to a complete nosedive of human morals and survivability. Zen shook his head trying to get rid of the thought of living there. 

As Zen took his first steps along the bustling streets of Gold City 14, his parents, Sora Hoshi and Aya Hoshi, guided him through its labyrinthine pathways, imparting wisdom about the intricacies of life in this vibrant urban landscape. From the towering skyscrapers that pierced the clouds to the bustling markets where merchants plied their trade, Zen's senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city.

But amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, Zen found solace in the quieter corners of Gold City 14, where he would often retreat to explore the vast expanse of knowledge housed within the city's grand libraries. Here, amidst towering shelves filled with tomes and spellbound scrolls, Zen lost himself in tales of heroes and legends, eager to unravel the mysteries of Gaea's past.

As Zen grew older, he began to comprehend the intricate workings of Gaea's society, from the hierarchical structure of its cities to the constant struggle for control over contested territories. With each passing day, his appreciation for the complexities of his world deepened, fueling his desire to make a difference in the ongoing battle against the encroaching dangers that lurked beyond the city walls.

But even as Zen immersed himself in the affairs of the city, he never forgot the vastness of Gaea itself – a world four times larger than Earth, with vast stretches of land and sea yet to be explored. Of the habitable land area, only a fraction had been reclaimed by humans, roughly twenty percent. Fifty percent of the land area was waged between the three organizations, the military versus the monsters. The last thirty percent of area was uncontested and monster infested lands that most humans dared not venture. 

The eighty percent of lands that humans didn't live in were considered Danger Lands. The Danger Lands were divided in different categories. The lower the ranking the lower the danger. That thirty percent that was uncontested was labeled the S-Tier Danger Lands. These Danger Lands not only had abundant monsters and wildlife, it also had an overlord. For example The Tundralands and The Sanguine City were both S-Tier Danger lands ruled by a King Frost Dragon and a Vampire Emperor respectively.

But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Zen found comfort in the love and guidance of his parents, who nurtured his curiosity and encouraged him to embrace the challenges that lay ahead. As he stood on the threshold of his fifth birthday, Zen looked to the future with optimism and determination, ready to embark on the journey that lay ahead and carve out his own destiny in the sprawling tapestry of Gaea.