Greatest of All TimeSeason 1 – Chapter 1: The Rise of the GOATAuthor's Note
Welcome to a world where every human is born with a Monster Soul.
Some are blessed with legendary dragons.
Some command terrifying beasts.
Some possess powers that can shake the heavens.
And some...
Are born with nothing.
This is the story of a boy who lost everything...
His memories.
His past.
His power.
But perhaps...
He was never truly powerless.
PRESENT DAYThe World of Monster Souls
The world was beautiful.
And terrifying.
Across the endless continents, humans lived alongside incredible creatures and warriors.
Every person was born with something called a Monster Soul.
A soul connected to a monster.
Some people possessed the soul of a tiny grasshopper.
Others possessed wolves, eagles, tigers, snakes...
And then there were the rare ones.
The ones blessed with legendary Monster Souls.
Dragons.
Phoenixes.
Beasts powerful enough to destroy entire cities.
By forming a bond with their Monster Soul, humans could summon their beast...
Or even transform into it.
The stronger the soul—
The stronger the warrior.
But there was one boy who had none.
No dragon.
No wolf.
No beast.
Nothing.
His name was...
Arashio.
Fourteen years old.
No Monster Soul.
No family.
No memories.
And, according to everyone else...
No future.
The Boy Without a Soul
Arashio walked through the crowded streets of the capital.
His hands were inside his pockets.
His old shoes dragged across the ground.
He looked completely ordinary.
A few months ago, Arashio had survived a mysterious accident.
When he woke up...
He couldn't remember anything.
His parents.
His childhood.
His home.
His past.
Everything was gone.
The only thing he knew was his name.
Arashio.
And the doctors had discovered something even stranger.
He had no Monster Soul.
None.
Because of his lost memories and strange condition, Arashio lived alone.
He didn't know where he belonged.
He didn't know who he had been.
And honestly...
He had stopped caring.
Until—
BOOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion shook the marketplace.
Arashio stopped walking.
"...Seriously?"
People screamed and ran.
Arashio looked toward the smoke.
Two boys stood in the middle of the street.
One was enormous.
The other had wings.
The large boy roared.
"BULL TRANSFORMATION!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
Two massive horns exploded from his head.
His muscles expanded.
His eyes became red.
The crowd screamed.
The second boy smiled.
"EAGLE TRANSFORMATION!"
WHOOSH!!
Massive wings erupted from his back.
Sharp golden feathers surrounded his body.
Arashio stared.
"These guys again?"
The Bull boy pointed at the Eagle.
"You're finished!"
The Eagle laughed.
"Try me."
"FEATHER STORM!!"
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Hundreds of razor-sharp feathers shot through the air.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"HEY!"
He jumped between them.
"STOP!"
The Bull boy stared at him.
The Eagle stared at him.
Arashio awkwardly raised his hands.
"Fighting in the middle of a market isn't exactly a great idea."
The Bull boy laughed.
"Who are you?"
Arashio pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"I'm Arashio."
The Bull boy laughed even harder.
"Wait!"
"You're THAT Arashio?"
"The guy with no Monster Soul?"
The Eagle boy started laughing.
"HAHAHA!"
"The soulless guy wants to stop us!"
Arashio sighed.
"Okay."
"That was a mistake."
He turned around.
"Continue."
The Bull boy blinked.
"...What?"
Arashio walked away.
"Actually, forget I said anything."
The Eagle boy suddenly fired another Feather Storm.
Arashio turned.
"HEY!"
BOOOOOOM!!
Before the attack could hit—
A beautiful figure appeared.
FWOOOOSH!!
Blue and golden flames erupted across the street.
"PHOENIX SHIELD."
BOOOOOOM!!
Every feather disappeared.
The entire marketplace became silent.
A girl stood between them.
Long white hair.
Calm eyes.
A mysterious smile.
The Bull boy swallowed.
"...Phoenix?"
The girl looked at him.
"Yes."
The Bull boy immediately turned around.
"RUN!"
The Eagle boy flew away.
"WAIT FOR ME!"
The Bull boy roared.
"YOU COWARD!"
The girl smiled.
"You're not running?"
The Bull boy transformed completely.
"HORN STRIKE!!"
He charged.
Arashio watched.
"...He's definitely running now."
The girl raised one hand.
"PHOENIX FEATHER RAIN."
The sky exploded.
Thousands of golden-blue feathers descended.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The Bull boy flew across the street.
The mysterious girl slowly lowered her hand.
Arashio stared.
"...That's cheating."
The girl looked at him.
"Cheating?"
"Yeah."
"You used thousands of feathers against one guy."
She smiled.
"Would you prefer I used millions?"
Arashio immediately shook his head.
"Nope."
"Thousands is perfect."
For some reason...
The girl laughed.
It was the first time Arashio had heard someone laugh at something he said.
Then—
She disappeared.
Arashio blinked.
"Huh?"
He looked around.
Nothing.
Only a golden card remained on the ground.
Arashio picked it up.
VIP INVITATIONONE FREE NIGHT10-STAR ROYAL HOTEL
Arashio's eyes widened.
"...Free?"
His stomach growled.
GRRRRRRRRRR.
Arashio looked down.
"...Thank you, mysterious fire girl."
THE ROYAL HOTEL
That evening...
Arashio entered the most luxurious hotel in the capital.
Crystal chandeliers.
Golden floors.
Massive statues.
Rich guests everywhere.
Arashio looked down at his clothes.
Old shirt.
Worn-out pants.
Broken shoes.
He looked around.
"...Yeah."
"I'm definitely the poorest person here."
A waiter stared at him.
Arashio stared back.
The waiter looked away.
Arashio whispered,
"Good."
"Operation: Free Food has begun."
Suddenly—
"Welcome."
Arashio turned.
His eyes widened.
It was the mysterious girl.
The same white hair.
The same beautiful eyes.
But this time...
She wore an elegant uniform.
"I'm Siya."
Arashio blinked.
"...You're the fire girl."
Siya smiled.
"Fire girl?"
"Phoenix girl?"
"Flame lady?"
"Whatever you want."
Siya laughed.
"I'm the manager of this hotel."
Arashio looked around.
"You're the manager?"
"Yes."
"Then..."
"Where's the food?"
Siya stared at him.
Arashio stared back.
"...What?"
She laughed.
"Follow me."
THE DINING HALL
The moment Arashio entered—
His eyes sparkled.
Food.
Everywhere.
Chicken.
Meat.
Seafood.
Desserts.
Arashio slowly whispered...
"Beautiful."
Siya laughed.
"You're acting like you've never seen food before."
Arashio grabbed a plate.
"Don't ask questions."
Ten minutes later...
Empty plate.
Another.
Empty.
Another.
Siya stared.
"...Are you still hungry?"
Arashio nodded.
"Yes."
"How?"
"I have a very powerful Monster Soul."
Siya raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you didn't have one."
Arashio paused.
"...My stomach is special."
Siya burst out laughing.
Suddenly—
A familiar voice echoed.
"Look who it is!"
Arashio turned.
The Bull boy.
And the Eagle boy.
The Bull boy laughed.
"The soulless loser!"
Arashio slowly put down his fork.
Siya frowned.
"Leave him alone."
The Bull boy laughed.
"Why?"
Arashio smiled.
"Don't worry."
The Bull boy blinked.
"About what?"
Arashio leaned closer.
"I was just wondering..."
"Is your brain full of ash?"
The Bull boy froze.
Arashio continued.
"...Or did the ash replace your brain?"
Silence.
The Eagle boy exploded with laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The Bull boy's face turned red.
"YOU!"
Arashio calmly picked up another piece of chicken.
"Anyway..."
"Free food."
"Important things first."
Siya covered her mouth.
Trying not to laugh.
THE FIREWORKS
Later that night...
Everyone gathered on the hotel rooftop.
The sky was beautiful.
Stars covered the darkness.
Arashio stood beside Siya.
She looked at him.
"You like fireworks?"
"Never seen them this close."
"Then watch."
BOOOOOOM!!
The first firework exploded.
Red.
Blue.
Gold.
The entire sky became a masterpiece.
Arashio smiled.
For a moment...
He forgot everything.
His missing memories.
His loneliness.
His empty past.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A strange explosion erupted above the clouds.
Arashio looked up.
"...That wasn't a firework."
A gigantic spaceship appeared.
The entire rooftop went silent.
Siya's expression changed.
"Everyone!"
"GET DOWN!"
The spaceship fired.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The hotel exploded.
Arashio fell.
Buildings collapsed.
People screamed.
Siya transformed.
"PHOENIX FORM!"
Massive wings spread across the sky.
"ARASHIO!"
Arashio looked upward.
A giant steel beam fell toward him.
"SIYA!"
Suddenly—
BANG!!
A black weapon fired.
Siya's Phoenix flames disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
A yellow-haired boy appeared.
His expression was cold.
"Power Absorption."
Siya fell.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"SIYA!!"
A gigantic dragon suddenly appeared.
Its body wrapped around her.
The yellow-haired boy smiled.
"Finally."
"Got you."
Arashio clenched his fists.
"HEY!"
The boy looked at him.
"You."
Arashio pointed.
"Give her back!"
The boy laughed.
"You're the one?"
"The one everyone is looking for?"
Arashio froze.
"...What?"
The boy smiled.
"My name is Zen."
"And you're coming with us."
THE DARKNESS WITHIN
Arashio opened his eyes.
Darkness.
Absolute darkness.
"...Where am I?"
A blue light appeared.
Someone stood inside it.
A boy.
Arashio stepped backward.
"Who are you?"
The boy smiled.
"My name is James."
Arashio frowned.
"Do I know you?"
James' smile disappeared.
"...No."
"What?"
"Because you forgot."
Arashio's heart stopped.
James slowly walked closer.
"You lost your memories."
"But I remember everything."
Arashio stared.
"Who am I?"
James looked at him.
"That's the question..."
"...isn't it?"
Suddenly—
James' expression became serious.
"Siya is in danger."
Arashio clenched his fists.
"Then send me back!"
James shook his head.
"You're powerless."
Arashio looked at his hands.
"I know."
James extended his hand.
"But..."
"You don't have to be."
Arashio stared.
"Who are you really?"
James smiled.
"Your forgotten past."
"Your lost power."
"And..."
"Your greatest secret."
Arashio grabbed his hand.
"Then help me."
James smiled.
"Finally."
"You're ready."
SOUL CONTRACT.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Blue lightning exploded through the darkness.
THE AWAKENING
Arashio opened his eyes.
The city was burning.
His body was injured.
Zen stood before him.
"You're finally awake."
Arashio slowly stood.
"Where is Siya?"
Zen smiled.
"Why do you care?"
Arashio's eyes became cold.
"Because..."
"She's my friend."
Zen laughed.
"Friend?"
He grabbed Arashio by the neck.
"You're going to die."
Suddenly—
CRACK!!
Blue lightning exploded.
Zen froze.
Arashio's eyes turned...
NEON BLUE.
James' voice echoed.
"ARASHIO."
Arashio smiled.
"Let's go."
Blue lightning erupted across the city.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Arashio disappeared.
Zen's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
BAM!!
A punch struck Zen's face.
The entire spaceship shook.
Zen flew through the wall.
Arashio appeared before him.
"Where."
BAM!!
"Is."
BAM!!
"Siya?!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Zen crashed through the spaceship.
Arashio's lightning exploded.
The Dragon Army stared in horror.
"Impossible!"
"He's not using a Monster Soul!"
"Then what is that power?!"
Arashio reached the cage.
Siya stared at him.
"Arashio?"
He smiled.
"Hey."
"You okay?"
Siya stared at his glowing eyes.
"...Your eyes."
Arashio blinked.
"What about them?"
"They're blue."
"Oh."
Arashio looked confused.
"That's new."
Siya almost laughed.
"You just awakened some mysterious power and that's all you have to say?"
Arashio shrugged.
"Should I scream?"
Siya smiled.
"Maybe later."
Suddenly—
The spaceship began collapsing.
Arashio grabbed Siya.
"Hold on!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The spaceship exploded.
The two fell through the sky.
Arashio grabbed the power-absorbing weapon.
He pointed it at Siya.
FWOOOOSH!!
Blue energy returned to her.
Siya's Phoenix flames exploded.
"PHOENIX AWAKENING!"
Massive golden-blue wings spread across the sky.
She caught Arashio.
They landed safely.
Arashio looked around.
The Dragon Army was gone.
The city was destroyed.
Siya looked at him.
"Arashio..."
He turned.
"What?"
"Who are you?"
Arashio froze.
He looked at his hands.
He remembered James.
The darkness.
The Soul Contract.
His missing memories.
"I..."
"I don't know."
Suddenly—
His eyes returned to normal.
His body collapsed.
Siya caught him.
"ARASHIO!"
SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE HEAVENS
Far above the world...
A massive black fortress floated among the stars.
Zen knelt before a mysterious figure.
"We found him."
The figure slowly turned.
"And?"
Zen lowered his head.
"The vessel has awakened."
Silence.
Then—
The mysterious man laughed.
"Excellent."
Zen hesitated.
"But there's something strange."
"What?"
"His power..."
"Something is inside him."
The mysterious man slowly stood.
A pair of crimson eyes opened.
"Of course."
"Because he isn't alone."
Zen's eyes widened.
"James..."
The mysterious man smiled.
A dark energy surrounded the fortress
TO BE CONTINUED...