On the third floor of the Hunter Hall, a secluded room was adorned with sketches and paintings of various creatures, their lifelike forms capturing the essence of beasts both known and unknown. The dim candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across the images, making them seem almost alive.
At the center of the room stood a wide wooden table, its surface covered with maps, reports, and a few aged tomes bound in leather. At the head of the table sat an elderly man—Vetron, a seasoned hunter whose years of experience had turned him into a respected mentor. His silver-streaked beard and sharp, observant eyes hinted at wisdom gained through decades of perilous hunts. He was deeply engrossed in writing, his quill gliding smoothly across the parchment, the faint scratching of ink against paper the only sound in the still room.
Knock, knock. Then, a knock at the door broke the silence.
The sound echoed off the wooden walls, but Vetron didn’t so much as flinch. His focus remained unshaken, as if the world outside his thoughts did not exist. Another knock followed, firmer this time, but still, he did not look up.
"Enter," Vetron finally said, his voice steady and commanding. He didn’t bother to see who had stepped in, his eyes still locked onto his work.
The door creaked open, and two figures stepped inside—Lucy and Henry, both young hunters-in-training, their posture straight but their expressions laced with curiosity. They had been summoned by Vetron after their most recent hunting missions, though neither knew the exact reason why.
"Sit," Vetron instructed, gesturing vaguely with a hand while continuing to write. The two exchanged glances before nodding and taking their seats, Henry on the left, Lucy on the right.
A brief silence followed before Henry, eager to prove himself, leaned forward slightly. "Teacher Vetron, what are your orders?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Vetron let out a quiet sigh but didn’t lift his head. "Wait. Let me finish first," he said curtly, his focus still on the parchment before him.
Henry nodded quickly, though his initial enthusiasm faltered. He cast an awkward glance at Lucy, who met his gaze with a knowing smirk. She arched an eyebrow, as if to say, Impatient, aren’t we? Henry shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware that he might have spoken out of turn. Perhaps the success of his recent hunt had gone to his head—an unspoken arrogance creeping into his actions.
The room fell silent again, save for the rhythmic scratching of Vetron’s quill. The two trainees waited, their anticipation growing with each passing moment, uncertain of what their mentor had in store for them.
Lucy, on the other hand, was the daughter of Rommel, a former Top Elite hunter who had been injured by a beast five years prior. At 17 years old, Lucy had long black hair, thin lips, beautiful almond-shaped eyes, and stood tall at 170 cm, towering over Henry. Despite her petite frame and brown skin, she had noticeable hips and a tomboyish personality.
The two apprentices fell into silence, watching as Vetron continued to write his letter. After a few minutes, he finally completed it.
"The two of you, I have a very important task for both of you. Do this task tomorrow," Vetron said, his tone serious, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
"Each of you will receive a letter; deliver it to the Village Hall and the Medicine Hall separately," Elder Vetron commanded, handing a letter to each of them.
"Lucy, you must deliver this letter to the Village Hall," Vetron instructed, ensuring she understood the importance of the task.
"Don’t worry, Teacher Vetron, I’ll make sure it gets there," Lucy reassured him confidently. Vetron nodded in acknowledgment and then turned his attention to Henry.
"Henry, deliver this letter to the Medicine Hall," he commanded.
"Yes, Teacher Vetron," Henry replied with a smile, eager to fulfill his duty.
"Also, Henry, go to Ferdinand’s house and inform him that he needs to come to the Hunter Hall for a reward," Elder Vetron added, issuing another directive.
"A reward?" Henry asked, his curiosity piqued, while Lucy stared at Elder Vetron with interest.
"It’s a reward given by the Chief Elder to Ferdinand for being the next candidate for the Top Elite," Elder Vetron disclosed, revealing the purpose behind the Chief Elder’s order.
Henry and Lucy were shocked to learn that another Top Elite would soon be crowned. Both of them harbored a deep desire to attain that prestigious title, not only for the wealth and prestige it brought but also for the invaluable benefit of receiving a monster weapon suited to them. With such a weapon, they would become virtually invincible during hunting missions, capable of effortlessly subduing even the most formidable creatures. It would greatly enhance their chances of survival and enable them to venture deep into the treacherous Wiccan Forest to hunt rare creatures.
As Henry couldn’t help but feel envious of Ferdinand, Lucy found herself admiring him.
"That’s all for now. Both of you are dismissed," instructed Elder Vetron hurriedly. Henry and Lucy immediately rose from their seats, not daring to ask for further details, fearing Elder Vetron’s possible scolding. They opened the door and stepped out to fulfill their teacher’s commands.
"I hope it doesn’t happen again," muttered Elder Vetron to himself in a stern tone, then he recalled Ferdinand.
"After the misfortune and tragedy that befell Ferdinand, it seems that his fortune has finally come," muttered Elder Vetron, reflecting on Ferdinand’s impending reward as he remained seated in his room.
In the early hours of the morning, in a vast open field, a group of young men and women—ranging from 17 to 21 years old—gathered with anticipation. Their voices filled the air with excited chatter as they discussed the upcoming hunt. Among them was Marlon, a trainee under Rommel, who fidgeted nervously, his excitement barely contained. This was his first-ever hunt, and the thrill of the unknown sent a rush of adrenaline through him.
The youths speculated about the kind of beasts they would encounter, how many they could take down, and who would claim the most kills. Their discussions were lively, each trainee eager to prove themselves.
Before long, Vetron arrived, accompanied by Elder Gido and Joba.
"Listen!" Vetron bellowed.
At once, all the scattered conversations ceased, and every trainee turned their full attention to him. A serious look crossed Vetron's face as his sharp eyes swept across the group, ensuring they were paying attention.
"Whoever hunts the most today will be awarded special points," he announced. "These points can be exchanged for rewards at the Hunter Hall."
A murmur ran through the crowd, but Vetron continued.
"I expect you all to work together and not be selfish, even though this is a quantity-based hunt." His voice grew sharper. "Remember, do not make enemies of your teammates. If anyone is found violating the rules, I will personally see to it that they receive an appropriate punishment."
"Do you hear me?"
"Yes!" the trainees responded in unison, their voices filled with determination.
Vetron nodded in approval. "Lucy, count how many of you are here. I want to divide you into groups."
Lucy quickly scanned the crowd and shouted, "Teacher, we have 39 trainees!"
"Good. With 39 of you, I will divide you into three groups, each with 13 members. The leaders will be Henry, Lucy, and Daisy."
"Yes!" the three responded firmly.
"Now, Joba will explain the details of today's hunt," Vetron declared.
Clearing his throat, Joba stepped forward. "Ahem. This is your first hunt as trainees, and I hope it will be a productive one. Make the most of this opportunity, and remember, this hunt is meant to teach you the true value of being a hunter."
"Yes!" the trainees shouted in unison.
"Now, let’s talk about your prey," Joba continued. "You will be hunting a creature known as the Three-Eye, a low-level enchanted beast."
At this, the trainees reacted with shock.
"What?!" Many of them gasped in confusion and disbelief. They had expected something more challenging. The Three-Eye was considered weak, sometimes even classified as a mere wild beast. How could such a low-level creature be suitable for their training? Even ordinary villagers could kill them.
"I know what you're all thinking," Joba said, raising a hand to silence them. "But do not underestimate these beasts. They reproduce quickly, and more importantly, they sometimes hunt in groups. Each one possesses a unique ability that could be deadly if you're careless".His words sent a wave of unease through the crowd.
"To make things more interesting," he added, "whichever group slays the most Three-Eyes will be rewarded with an enchanted weapon."
At this, the atmosphere shifted. The trainees' eyes lit up with excitement, their expressions turning eager. Some clenched their fists, feeling that this hunt had suddenly become a competition. Their gazes flickered toward one another, as if silently sizing each other up as rivals.
At that moment, the atmosphere shifted. The trainees' eyes lit up with excitement, their expressions turning eager. Some clenched their fists, sensing that this hunt had suddenly become a competition. Their gazes flickered toward one another, silently sizing each other up as rivals.
"But remember, you don’t need anything external source to succeed in this hunt—just rely on yourselves," Vetron said firmly.
"If anyone is caught using outside help, like magical items, pet, or anything that gives you an unfair advantage, they will be disqualified," he added, his tone sharp.
"Now, find your groups and prepare yourselves. We set off in one hour and also You only have two days for the hunt," Vetron ordered.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, accompanied by Joba and Elder Gido.
The trainees wasted no time forming their groups, their anticipation building. The hunt was about to begin.
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