Arbiters

Taking out my phone, I noticed some cracks on its screen.

'Great.' I muttered inwardly, as I realized that I must have accidentally gripped my phone too tightly back when I was in my room, causing the screen to crack.

'Sigh.' 

"Seems like I need to get myself a new phone later on." 

Opening my phone, I launched the map app and eagerly checked for the presence of a nearby public library.

My eyes lit up with excitement as I noticed one within proximity to my current location.

"It's not very far away from here."

Without a moment of hesitation, I began walking towards the location of the library.

...

Passing by a store named [ Zero ], I arrived at a two-story modern building adorned with a captivating neon sign.

The neon sign proudly displayed the word [ Kosmos ], leading me to assume that it was the name of the public library.

The building's exterior walls were painted in a pristine and inviting white hue. Notably, the second floor boasted large panels of one-way glass, allowing natural light to flood the interior while providing a scenic view of the outside world.

My attention was then drawn to the entrance, which was marked by a set of double-handled glass doors.

Mesmerized by the architectural design of the building, I took a moment to appreciate its beauty before stepping inside the public library.

Upon entering, I found myself standing before a reception desk. The reception desk features an intricate design made with white and black jagged pattern ceramic, creating a visually striking and unique appearance.

Behind the reception desk stood a young lady in her twenties.

Her long, straight hair shimmered in a striking white-silver hue, perfectly complementing the enigmatic beauty of her amethyst-purple eyes.

Those eyes, devoid of any sparkle or light, yet held a mysterious allure that captivated anyone who met her.

She wore a pristine white polo shirt, adorned with a silver book cover necklace that accentuated her neckline.

Her petite frame showcased flawless white skin, and she had a slender figure that was neither too thin nor too curvy.

Adding the finishing touches to her outfit, she wore a short black skirt that revealed her slender, long legs. And her choice of black high heels added an elegant touch to her overall appearance.

Standing tall at 182cm, she possessed a commanding presence that rivaled the models of my world. Her unique eyes, devoid of any visible light, added an intriguing element to her captivating beauty.

I took a moment to appreciate her appearance before making my way towards the reception desk. It was undeniable that she possessed a remarkable beauty that caught everyone's attention.

Although, it is the first time I have seen someone as beautiful as the lady before me.

I am not someone who only thinks with my lower body.

Clearing my thoughts, I joined the line, patiently waiting for my turn to approach the reception desk.

...

10 minutes later.

'The line is longer than I initially thought.'

I shook my head, as I glanced around the library before it was finally my turn to approach the receptionist.

Walking in front of the receptionist, I politely asked.

"Excuse me, how do I sign in?"

"You can simply scan the QR code on the table," she replied with a professional smile.

"Use the Soul'Re app and tap on the camera button at the top right corner."

I nod my head and pull out my phone.

As I was about to scan the code, I heard a voice ranging from the distance.

"Evelyn? It's been a while since I last saw you working here."

The receptionist named Evelyn turned to the voice that called her out.

"Who?" she responded.

"Hmm? Evelyn, did you forget me?" the male receptionist who called her asked.

"Apologies, my eyes have recently gone blind."

"Ahh..." the male receptionist blankly stared at her, as though he wasn't able to process what he had heard.

I also had an evident look of shock as I looked at her. Even though she called herself blind, she was able to naturally pick up things properly without any issues at all.

"It's Michael.." the male receptionist sighed before he consoled her.

"It's fine. you don't need to be an Arbiter to live a good life."

Arbiters?

'Right.' I thought to myself.

Nearly forgot about the fact that I still haven't uncovered the memories implanted to me. 

Taking a quick glimpse at the memories I had obtained before.

I recalled that they are essentially the people who have gone through the first trial and obtained their destinies.

So, the lady in front of me is an Arbiter?

Now it made sense why she looked as beautiful as the top models back in my world and was also able to handle the task as a receptionist without any issues at all.

People who became Arbiters not only obtained supernatural powers through their destinies but their bodies and souls also undergo a strengthening process each time their core rank increases.

As a result, Arbiters tend to have not only a refined physique but also an exceptional outward appearance.

Clearing my thoughts, I glanced at her lifeless purple eyes.

For a split moment, I felt a cold chill run down my spine. It's as though the person in front of me can see through my whole existence.

'Am I imagining things? or this is the true extent of an Arbiter?' I wondered.

The female receptionist smiled politely and replied.

"You don't need to console me, you already know what I do for a living."

The receptionist named Michael fell into a momentary silence before asking in a careful tone.

"Is.. everything all good?" Michael whispered in a low voice, yet somehow I could hear it.

Evelyn fell into silence before giving him a brief nod of affirmation. 

Michael lets out a breath and nods at her.

"That's good to hear."

As I listened from the sidelines, I felt puzzled by their conversation.

However, before remembering my goal and why I had come to the public library, I shook my head once again.

'Didn't know that I'm the type of person who likes to eavesdrop on other people's conversations.'

Although no one was lined up behind me, I would still feel uncomfortable if someone were to eavesdrop on my conversation.

'Yeah, let's never do that...' I thought briefly, before continuing.

'Unless it's necessary.'

Scanning the code with my phone, I walked away from the reception desk.

Just as I walked past the reception desk and entered the 2nd floor, my face froze as I came to a sudden halt.

What appeared before me was a long, endless line of bookshelves.

'Ughh..' I groaned while I clutched my head with one of my hands as I stood there motionlessly.

'This will take some time.'

...

1 hour later.

'Is this some cliche light novel world that I got transmigrated to?' I thought in disdain as I looked through the historical books before me.

800 years ago, beasts invaded the world through a colossal crack that materialized in the sky. Humans proved incapable of defending themselves against these formidable creatures.

For 100 years, a war between beasts and humans ensued upon the Earth's surface.

Numerous lives were lost, yet many managed to survive. These individuals who endured the war eventually became Arbiters.

Initially, at the beginning of the war, the human race was powerless against the beasts. These creatures possessed impenetrable hides capable of withstanding bullets, attacks as formidable as tanks, astonishing speeds surpassing the sound barrier, and many more seemingly impossible abilities.

It was a one-sided massacre until the birth of the first Arbiter. With the birth of the first Arbiter, countless more came after, each equipped with an enhanced physique that allowed them to engage in direct combat with the beasts.

Due to the presence of the Arbiters, the tide of the war took a complete 180-degree turn. With the Arbiters utilizing their enhanced physique, they adopted a new approach by resorting to medieval weaponry, including swords, bows, lances, great-swords, and various other weapons.

In the end, humans emerged victorious, successfully defeating the beasts and bringing the war to a decisive conclusion.

Although it may sound cruel, but with the death of the people. a significant change occurred in the atmosphere. The appearance of the crack introduced a new concept of energy called "Soul energy".

The death of people fuels the world with soul essence, which in turn converts into soul energy.

Consequently, humans acquired the ability to participate in trials, and through successful completion of these trials, they would attain a path that aligns with their destiny.

'....' 

I rubbed my temples, as I let out a soft sigh, before settling back into my chair and gazing up at the blank white ceiling.

"The memory that implanted in me doesn't seem to give me a brief introduction about this world." I pondered aloud.

As I stretched my back, I took a glance at the pile of books in front of me.

'I don't want to read anymore.' I thought to myself.

However, I was kind of in need to learn more about this world. So, I sat back up and began reading the contents of the historical books.

Following the war between the beasts, humans began exploring the depths of the crack. With the introduction of soul energy to the atmosphere, Earth's animals began to transform, evolving into powerful beasts.

However, a clear distinction exists between the evolved beasts and the creatures that emerged from the colossal crack in the sky. The beasts from the other side exhibit a significantly higher level of intelligence as if they possess a unique and extraordinary bloodline.

In contrast, the evolved animals on Earth, despite becoming more hostile and physically stronger, do not match the strength of the beasts from the other side.

As a result, the Arbiters began to refer to them as "blood beasts," signifying their superiority in every conceivable way over the evolved beasts on Earth. Not only were these blood beasts physically stronger, but they also possessed supernatural powers that surpassed those of the evolved beasts.

Make no mistake, the evolved beasts are far from harmless. Every year, numerous lives are lost due to the relentless beast tides they unleash.

Consequently, the population has experienced a significant decline. As the frequency of beast tides continued to rise, the Arbiters made a crucial decision to construct massive domes around each major city for protection.

Additionally, the introduction of soul energy enabled the Arbiters to create teleportation gates known as "Soul Gates." These gates formed a vast interconnected web, linking major cities across the entire planet Earth.

With the emergence of Soul Gates, humans gained the ability to travel effortlessly throughout the world. However, a pressing issue weighed heavily.

Initially, the majority of countries opposed the idea, fearing the potential infiltration of their lands through the Soul Gates.

This issue remained a significant challenge for over a century until the Arbiters could no longer remain passive. They took a decisive step by forming their organization in collaboration with the United Nations.

Under this new arrangement, each continent could only have 1 Saint Core Arbiter, with the rest joining the organization known as "Phantom."

With this significant development, the Arbiters established their own set of rules and laws. To become an Arbiter, individuals were required to register their information in the UAO (United Arbiter Organization). Furthermore, the usage of supernatural powers in specific areas of the city was strictly prohibited, among other regulations.

These measures effectively reduced the incidence of crimes committed by rogue Arbiters. However, despite these efforts, there were still individuals who became Arbiters without registering their information through the UAO. To counteract this, the UAO swiftly responded by creating a radar device capable of detecting anyone undergoing the trial. Since failing the trial meant permanent death.

This strict enforcement aimed to maintain order and ensure that only individuals who had registered themselves in the UAO were able to become Arbiters. This measure was implemented to uphold the integrity and safety of the organization and the general population.

As I read the pages of historical books, I find myself nearly falling asleep.

"God damn, this is lengthy..."

I should have expected this, considering that compressing 800 years of history into a quick read is no easy task.

Closing the book, I cast a glance at another stack of books.

"I wish I could have just found all of this information online."

Unfortunately, some information remains inaccessible on the internet due to restricted access for some reason.

I attempted to search for it online before, but the results kept indicating that the information I was seeking was unavailable.

'It seems like one of the laws concerning UAO is behind this restriction.' 

"What kind of nonsense is this..." 

"Could've laid down in bed and read all this through the net but they just had to restrict the information," I grumbled in frustration.

Glancing at the pile of books beside me, I aimlessly pick up another book in my hands.

===============

[Beyond the Crack]

-By Emilia Scott

===============

"I also need to read [ Concept of Soul Energy ], [ Path of Advantage ], [ Beast Encyclopedia ], [ World Geography ]."

Yes, I would need to read the book called World Geography, as this is no longer the Earth I once knew.

I had my suspicions before, but as I read through the pages, I realized that I didn't even know the names of the countries or their geographical locations.

Just imagine a person at the age of 16 who does not know where Asia is or even its name.

But here I am, facing this lack of knowledge. 

~~~~1

8 hours later.

-Zzz...

-Zz...

 "Umm.. hello?" Evelyn called out hesitantly.

-Zzz..

She shook her head and finally decided to shake the young man in front of her.

"Wakey wakey.. the library is closing."

Waking up from his peaceful slumber, Robin groggily gazed at Evelyn with his eyes filled with confusion.

"Oi! The.. library.. is.. closing!" she repeated pronouncing each word loudly and clearly.

Robin's eyes widened before he stood up from his seat.

"What time is it?"

Evelyn gave him a strange look before replying. "It's 6 pm."

"Ohh..." Robin muttered, realizing that he had fallen asleep midway while reading the historical books.

"Is the library available tomorrow?" Robin asked, hoping for an earlier opening time.

"Nope. It's unavailable tomorrow," she replied in a casual manner causing Robin to blink his eyes a couple of times, but before he continued.

He was interrupted by Evelyn.

"I know what you gonna ask, It's Saturday tomorrow. The library is off at the weekends."

Robin's mouth opened and closed like that of a goldfish before he let out a frustrated sigh.

"What are you reading, anyway?" Evelyn took a quick peek at the pile of books.

Robin opened his mouth, ready to answer Evelyn.

But once again, he was interrupted midway through his response.

"Didn't you register in the UAO already?" Evelyn redirected her gaze back to Robin.

"How can you not know all of this information?"

Robin could only force a smile while silently clenching his fists.

"I...forgot," Robin mumbled in a weak voice while upholding his fake smile.

Evelyn shook her head, as she noticed his silent movement and let out a soft sigh.

"Teens these days..."

She paused for a moment, contemplating her decision.

Before making up her mind. "Add my number.."

Robin looked at her with a puzzled expression, which annoyed Evelyn.

Fed up with his behavior, she snatched a piece of paper and hastily wrote her number down. She then forcefully shoved it into his hands.

"There! I know you'll be coming here quite often, so if you have any questions related to the soul aspect, just give me a call."

Before Robin could respond, Evelyn pushed him towards the stairs.

"Shoo~ shoo~ I will be soon locking up the library doors!"

Eventually, Robin relented.

Walking out of the library with Evelyn following closely behind.

Evelyn began closing down the library doors, as she called out to Robin.

"Hey.. your name."

Robin's body froze for a moment, and he responded in a robotic tone. "Robin."

"Right... Sorry about that. I can't see, you see." she said, gesturing towards her eyes as she got up.

"So, I was unable to see your name on the phone," she explained with a sad smile.

Robin opened and closed his mouth, unsure of how to respond.

"Sorry." 

"Pfft.. what are you apologizing about." Evelyn chuckled. 

She looked up at the night sky and said. "It was my choice to begin with... and perhaps it was my destiny to be an observer from the sidelines."

She shifted her gaze to Robin and smiled at him. "So please, don't do anything that you might regret in the end."

Robin stared at her for a moment, contemplating her words, before nodding his head in understanding.

"Good!" Evelyn clapped her hands together and started walking away.

"I'll take my leave, see you later." she waved at Robin with her back against him.

"Alright.."

"Goodbye." Robin waved in response.

He took a deep, soothing breath before he began moving.

Just as Robin was about to head back to his apartment, he heard Evelyn's voice booming loudly.

"Robin, do not trust anyone within the trials!!!" Her voice echoed through the quiet evening streets.

"They aren't real, remember that!!"

Robin responded with an okay sign, indicating that he understood her warning.

Evelyn smiled before turning away and walking off.

Robin began walking back to his apartment, while deep in his thoughts as he contemplated on the next course of action.

~~~~

As I walk back to my apartment, I stare at the glassy dome above me.

Through its transparent surface, a vast expanse of stars spread across the night sky, while a colossal red crack loomed prominently at its center.

"It's time to prepare for the trials."2