He looked at them from the top of the altar, with a firm and unwavering voice, ready for the start of the ceremony.
— Today you will die, and finally become human... worthy of living in this society!
So said the mage, from atop the altar, holding a crooked staff like a coiled snake. His white beard brushed against his blue cloak, and his voice echoed through the ancient hall.
Boxes floated through the hall, resembling grimoires.
Below the altar, a hundred teenagers who had just turned seventeen were gathered, prepared for the most awaited moment of their lives.
They stared at the mage with fixed eyes. They were shirtless, side by side with their beasts — some enormous, like leopards, bears, lions, zebras, and wolves.
But among them all, Yuta stood out.
A slim young man, with short green hair. His body, though slender, showed physical energy. But his beast... didn't seem to be there.
The mage raised his staff, pointing at them with a solemn expression. The gesture made small pebbles fall from the altar.
— During the first days of your lives, you carried your hearts — the root of imperfection. Today, you will achieve true humanity.
— Remember: it is a crime for a seventeen-year-old to still possess a heart. Execution is immediate. The ceremony only happens once for each of you.
No one failed. No one had ever failed.
The teenagers stood still, ready. Their expressions revealed restrained, almost solemn anxiety.
From the mage's staff, blue magical circles emerged, covered in runes. His eyes reflected the same glow. As he struck the staff forcefully on the altar, a deep sound echoed through the hall.
The circles spread like waves, appearing under each teenager's feet. Their eyes widened, not in fear, but in excitement.
Yuta watched with the same excitement, determined.
— I can't wait to become a full citizen. Finally, I'll be human — he murmured.
Under the blue light of the magic circle, she appeared.
His beast walked under his left foot. Hidden until then, she revealed herself: a small golden lizard, with equally golden eyes. She was about 15 centimeters long.
She was so small that she barely deserved to be called a beast. Yuta felt ashamed to see her compared to the fierce beasts of the others — from the Dominant Class, General Class, Instinctive Class. His didn't even seem like a Null Class.
He remained still, in silence. Just like everyone else.
The floating boxes opened — one hundred grimoires revealed one hundred magical daggers, engraved with the same runes as the circles.
They floated to each teenager. All extended their right arms and grabbed the daggers, waiting for the signal.
The mage raised his staff again. His beard floated. Moving his lips behind the beard, he declared:
— Now, become perfect beings. Become human. Rid yourselves of your hearts!
Silence. The lights persisted. Each young person's eyes shone with emotion. The ceremony began.
No hesitation. No remorse. Only the desire to finally become citizens.
They raised their arms. And, with brutality, plunged the daggers into their own chests.
The sound of blades piercing hearts was overwhelming. Blood dripped slowly, touching the magical circles under their feet.
With a firm twist, they pulled the daggers out. The heart, shattered, stopped beating. The smell of fresh blood filled the hall.
A hundred bodies fell. Dead. The circles still glowed.
The runes absorbed the hearts, making them float in the air.
For the mage, it was perfection being born.
The beasts remained silent... until their eyes turned blue. Uncomfortable, they roared.
Then, they disintegrated.
Turned to dust. And that dust transformed into blue energy, which flew to the fallen bodies and entered through the open wounds.
In place of the hearts, the energy concentrated. An intense glow.
There materialized the Góia — a pulsing sphere, alive, like a new heart.
The circles disappeared. Along with them, the hearts vanished.
Breathing returned. They stood up. They were alive. But now, without a heart. And with a Góia.
Each one's gaze reflected satisfaction. They had become part of society. They had become human.
Until... the scream.
Just one.
Yuta had not died.
Kneeling on the circle, eyes wide. He tried. Stabbed his chest again. And again. But the wound healed. Always.
— I can do it... I can do it! — he screamed.
— Why?! Why won't I die?! I need to be human... I need to!
The wounds kept regenerating. That had never happened in his life.
The golden lizard watched him. Firm. Silent. Her eyes without compassion.
From above, the mage stared at him. So did the other teenagers.
Yuta, the first to fail.
He knew. If he didn't succeed...
... it would be the end of his greatest dream.
And of his life.