Early next morning...

  In the heart of an ancient forest, towering trees intertwine to create a dense canopy. Sunlight can't penetrate through the thick layers of leaves to illuminate the forest floor below. Instead, at the base of the largest tree, a shimmering portal pulses vibrant light that dances across the massive roots, gnarled tree trunks, and moss-covered boulders scattered throughout the underbrush.

  Nestled behind one of these boulders is Arunus, clad in well-worn leather armor, its surface marked by scratches and stains that tell tales of countless battles. His left hand clings to the inner strap of the Golden Scarab Shield, intricately engraved with ancient symbols and black diamonds in the shape of the number 8. His Centurion Sword lies impaled into the soil at his side with his hand resting on its pommel.

  With his eyes closed, Arunus seems to be in a moment of contemplation, drawing strength from the serenity of the forest. Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind sweeps through the canopy above, rustling the leaves and parting them just enough to allow a brilliant shaft of dawn light to pierce through, illuminating his figure.

  As the warm light brushes his face, Arunus opens his eyes, and a gentle smile spreads across his lips. A Hercules Beetle had crawled onto his golden shield several hours ago and had been staring at Arunus the entire time.

  "In the end... even though Genesis summoned me to dedicate myself to him and the God of Melee, Kartan. As long as I have the freedom to resurrect the 8th Legion and protect the Human race by slaying monsters who threaten them. Then I have no complaints since that will honor my promise by carrying on the legacy the legion was created for."

  Arunus spoke to the beetle as if it were a Human.

  The beetle, of regular size with a faded black shell, lifted its bulky carapace, and with a series of rhythmic buzzes from its wings, it communicated a response. The Golden Shield translated the Beetle’s wing vibrations into thoughts that enveloped Arunus's mind like a gentle whisper.

  "I understand you!"

  The voice that filled his consciousness sounded old since it was nearing the end of its life cycle. Last night, it had been sitting on top of the boulder, waiting for its end, when Arunus came into view and chose to rest against the boulder it was on. He didn't notice the beetle above, but it crawled down to inspect the shield out of curiosity.

  "Hey, little guy! Wanna take a closer look at it?" Arunus asked, not expecting the beetle to understand his words but hoping it understood his intention.

  "Buz!" It flapped its wings to generate a sound out of reflex.

  "Yes!" The Golden Shield whispered to Arunus, which shocked him enough to bulge out his eyes and drop open his mouth.

  Somehow, Arunus was able to communicate with the simple mind of the Hercules Beetle through the Golden Scarab Shield that translated his words into images, smells, tastes, and memories for the beetle. After a few hours, the exchange of information became complex enough that it felt as if he were talking to a human instead of an insect. However, this process required frequent breaks, allowing the beetle to gradually absorb all the information, build its vocabulary, and understand grammar to form questions.

  When Arunus asked the Beetle if it knew why the Golden Scarab Shield could communicate, it explained that the shield had been blessed by the Divine Beetle long ago. Arunus wondered why no one had ever mentioned this unique ability. He eventually concluded that it might have been forgotten over time or was always regarded as a relic meant to support a Legion, preventing anyone from discovering or rediscovering its true power.

  “Thank you for spending the entire night with me,” He conveyed in a tone imbued with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. “I am grateful to have shared my grief with someone. But you should leave before a Summoned One emerges from the Portal behind me. It would look odd if they heard me speaking with you. No offense intended!”

  The Hercules Beetle, however, remained steadfast in its position, its wings buzzing in a rapid, probing rhythm.

  “How do you know it will be another four hours?” Arunus asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

  “Buzzz... Buzzz!” the beetle replied, insistent.

  “Ah, you rascal! If you had informed me about the arrival pattern earlier, I could've gone hunting for food,” he lamented with a playful huff.

  “Buzzz...” it buzzed again, sounding contrite if that were possible for a beetle.

  "Argh! There's truly no need for apologies. Genesis gave me a big loaf of bread last night, but it wasn't enough since I hadn’t eaten anything for an entire week in my old world."

  "Buzz?" it asked in confusion.

  "I have to pretend that I am from the Earth that Genesis came from, since there are no other connections to the others like mine. The best way to do that is to join the new batch of Summoned Ones when they cross over so they can vouch for me as one of them."

  "Buzz... Buzz?" It asked a question.

  "What do I want to eat? Well, I caught glimpses of boars, deer, and ducks. Their flavors haunted me all night while talking to you, but I suppressed them since I didn't want to leave this spot and miss the newcomers. Now that I have some time, I will have to find their trails and hunt them down fast."

  “Buzzz... Buzzz!” came the beetle’s reply with a rhythmic cadence that seemed almost reassuring.

  “Huh? You’ll scout for prey and guide me to them?” Arunus asked, a spark of hope lighting his eyes.

  “Buzzzzzz!” the beetle confirmed enthusiastically, flapping its wings in excitement.

  "That sounds fantastic! I will surely reward you with some of the meat for your efforts. It would be a fair exchange," Arunus proclaimed eagerly.

  “Buz...Buz,” the beetle responded, a note of hesitation creeping into its tone.

  “You only eat dead plants?” Arunus exclaimed, wrinkling his nose. “Yuck! The beetles from my previous world were carnivores. In the legends, they spoke of how humans were sacrificed to the Golden Scarab, for protection in its underworld and to fight the beasts that ruled the surface world.”

  “Buzzz,” the Beetle dully expressed disapproval of the comparison.

  “Don’t be so quick to judge! You won’t ever know if you like meat unless you give it a try,” Arunus argued, more animated, his hands gesturing for emphasis.

  “Buzz... Buz... Buzzzzz,” the Beetle buzzed in a suggestive tone.

  “A Magical Beast can eat meat, and you can evolve into one?” Arunus exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement. “But you need a few Soul Cores and Mana Cores, is that right?”

  “Buzz!” the Beetle chirped with renewed enthusiasm at the thought, soaring slightly in the air before sharing more information.

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  “Your life span will be extended when you evolve? How do you know that?” Arunus asked, genuinely intrigued.

  “Buz,” came the beetle’s simple yet enigmatic reply.

  “Instinct?” Arunus mused aloud. “Alright then. But, what exactly are Soul Cores and Mana Cores?”

  In that moment, the Hercules Beetle froze mid-air, dropping to the lush grass below in shock, before flipping over and buzzing furiously in apparent indignation.

  "Genesis advised me I shouldn't know more than what a newbie should know, might raise suspicion. But he underestimates my acting skills. Go ahead and teach me!"

  The Hercules Beetle then buzzed continuously for a minute. To anyone eavesdropping, it might sound like a message transmitted through Morse code.

  "A Soul Core provides Soul Essence when consumed by an animal, elevating its Soul Rank. Animals grow larger and stronger as their Soul Rank increases. When they devour Mana Cores, they gain an affinity for a specific type of Mana. This allows them to absorb and wield Mana, manifesting it into Elemental Spells that can be used in battle." Arunus repeated out loud to confirm what was translated by the golden shield.

  The beetle buzzed in approval, clearly satisfied with the clarity of its explanation.

  "That's amazing! Is all this knowledge from instinct?" Arunus asked in confusion.

  The beetle buzzed in a reply that sounded guilty.

  "So you learned by watching the other animals turn into Magical Beasts over the past three years?" Arunus extracted.

  The beetle buzzed in acknowledgment.

  “You should know,” Arunus began, “that in my world, magic does not exist. Since I had to pretend to be a Summoned One, Genesis educated me about it. He said he played fantasy games with friends to distract himself from traumatic memories he absorbed from other timelines. Pokémon was his favorite game, it had monsters that he caught who battled… Oh, are you willing to be my battle partner?”

  "Buzz?" It replied in a confused tone.

  "Let me rephrase the question. Will you travel and fight by my side, if I help you become a Magical Beast?"

  The Hercules Beetle buzzed boisterously in response, practically quivering with anticipation.

  “Great! Then you need a name. I’m tempted to call you Herc, short for Hercules—a Demigod renowned for his strength. What do you think?”

  Herc buzzed again, flitting around Arunus with joy as it repeatedly hailed its new name, a clear mark of pride.

  “Great to see you like it!” Arunus laughed. “Now, go on and find some targets for me to hunt. Make sure they have a soul core and a mana core!”

  With a spirited buzz of acknowledgment, Herc darted away to complete its task, leaving Arunus to relax. He took the opportunity to recollect what he learned from Genesis last evening.

  The first revelation that stood out was that he couldn't return to his old world to fulfill his promise. A wave of anger and desperation washed over him. In a moment of fury, he brandished his sword threateningly at Genesis, demanding to be sent back home. However, shock quickly overtook him as he realized that his body had become unresponsive. For a full hour, he was trapped in a strange paralysis, utterly at the mercy of Genesis, who took it as an opportunity to explain his origins and unique power to connect with souls who share the same essence across the multiverse and absorb their memories while he slept.

  Genesis also took the opportunity to effortlessly seize the sword, wielding it with an awkwardness that would have been laughable under different circumstances. He twirled the blade around clumsily, each movement a stark reminder of Arunus’s loss of control. The humiliation stung fiercely as Arunus watched, futilely trying to command his limbs to move.

  Finally, after an eternity, Arunus regained mastery over his body. He breathed a sigh of relief, but that sense of freedom was short-lived. Genesis calmly explained the unsettling truth to him. During the summoning process, a Soul-Link had been forged between them. This bond punished Arunus when he contemplated inflicting harm upon Genesis, leaving him wrestling between anger and fear.

  "Do not worry, the Soul-Link cannot force you to do anything else. You can also refuse the purpose for which I summoned you here and build a new life according to your desire. But the moment I die, your soul will die too. But if you die, I will inherit all the skills you learned in this world. It doesn't sound fair, but a Summoner is the King in chess. The moment he falls, the game is over. So I recommend you don't desert me until another clone agrees to be my shield or sword."

  "Clone? You have hazel eyes, whereas mine are grey. Your hair is black, while mine is white. Your skin is dark while mine is fair, and even though I haven't eaten in a week, I still possess more muscle than you. So what makes you think I am your clone?"

  "The color variations were influenced by your ancestors, who lived in an underground world with limited sunlight. There are tools in this world that can easily alter them to whatever I like, along with items that can alter my voice. As for my lack of muscle tone, I only need a few months of dedicated training to build a similar physique to yours. Anyone who looks at us then will think we are twins with different personalities and character traits. But they won't be able to know we look the same if our faces are behind masks with voice modulation properties."

  Genesis strolled purposefully toward the nearest stone bench, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. There, resting on the cold, rough surface, were two striking demonic masks. One was pure white, adorned with resplendent golden horns that curved majestically, while the other was a deep, obsidian black, its fierce red horns giving it a menacing allure.

  "These are known as Oni Masks," Genesis explained, lifting the white mask into the light. "I commissioned a Summoned One from Japan who picked the Artisan Class to craft ten unique pieces using the coins I accumulated over the past week. When you wear one, the mask fuses with your head, altering both your voice and your appearance. Once it's on, it cannot be removed unless you pull it off yourself without the pressure of another's hand."

  With a determined glint in his eye, Genesis settled the black Oni Mask with its vibrant red horns against his face. The moment it touched his skin, he felt a surge of energy as the mask seamlessly merged with him. In an instant, his eyes transformed into a striking blood red, while his once-normal hair turned dark and wild, framing his face like a shadow. A pair of fierce red horns sprouted from his forehead, and his skin darkened to a deep, pitch-black hue, accentuating his fearsome new visage.

  Arunus observed Genesis’s transformation with a mix of curiosity and disdain. "Good to know! But I have no intention of protecting someone who made me break my oath," he retorted defiantly. Seizing the white Oni Mask from Genesis, he positioned it over his face. As he did, the mask clicked into place, and he felt it bond with him. His eye color shifted to brilliant gold, his horn and hair glimmered with a radiant shine, and his skin turned pure white, giving him an ethereal, almost angelic appearance.

  Before he could exit beyond the boundary of the Pantheon of Gods, the air shimmered, and a powerful projection materialized before him. It was Kartan, the God of Melee, his presence commanding and authoritative, ready to impart his wisdom and guidance.

  "Do you know what fate awaited you in your old world?"

  "Huh? No, of course I don't. But I am sure I would honor my promise to my brothers."

  "After you prayed to the Golden Scarab idol, its descendants attacked you from the jars of coins. They took your shield away and let you escape with your life. However, the Emperor you served demoted you to the status of a slave for deserting your Legion and losing the Legion Standard. You were then sent to work in a dangerous coal mine, where a creature lurking in the depths hunted and consumed you. This robbed you of the chance to keep your promise." Kartan said all of this with a confidence that made it seem true.

  "How do you know that?" Arunus asked in confusion.

  "You didn’t give Genesis a chance to explain the amazing gift he was born with that allowed him to explore and live the many versions of himself across countless timelines, which we call the multiverse. Each version of Genesis shared their full life experiences with him while he slept, helping him gain wisdom to make better choices in his own life. However, such a cheat-like ability came at a cost. He had taken on their pains, regrets, and emotional scars, blending them with his feelings.

  Over 18 years, he absorbed the lives of 6,574 others, a feat that almost broke his mind. Luckily, we noticed his potential before it was too late and provided him with a portal to a safe space for him to find peace and purpose. That is the Testing Grounds you now stand in.

  Once he arrived, Genesis needed to meet certain criteria to receive our divine blessings. After fulfilling these, we explained why he was chosen and our plan to change his ability. We offered to reshape his power so he could call upon his 18-year-old selves who were most aligned with our blessings. To become our summoner, we rewarded him by removing the memories of all the alternate timelines he had experienced, freeing his mind from those burdens. We then transformed those memories into a personal library for the Gods of our Pantheon to use as needed.

  I was fortunate enough to be the first to pick a worthy candidate from this library. Your life story stood out to me, especially the Golden Scarab Shield you carried at 18. It is much more than a Legion standard, but what truly fascinated me was the hidden potential within you that was crushed before it could be discovered. Fortunately, Genesis was able to summon you at the point in time right before you lost the shield in the cave. Now you have been given a second chance because of him and me.

  I promise that if you commit to protecting Genesis with that shield till he finds another and dedicate your soul to be my champion who executes my will. I can reward worthy recruits who worship me to follow you so that you can revive your 8th Legion to defend the Human race against the monstrous forces that are being summoned by the cultists of a corrupted ancient god."