Ferdinand strode down the dirt road leading to Hunter Hall, his steps steady yet purposeful. The morning sun cast golden hues over the treetops, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air. He adjusted the strap of his hunting gear, lost in thought, when suddenly, he spotted a group of five hunters approaching from the opposite direction.
Leading the group was a tall man, about 182 cm in height, with tanned brown skin. His entire body bore the marks of countless hunts—scars crisscrossed his arms, and old wounds decorated his hardened face like a warrior’s testament. His piercing eyes locked onto Ferdinand, a smile forming on his lips.
"Mardoc," Ferdinand greeted with a smile and nod.
"Ferdinand," Mardoc replied, his tone both casual and curious. "What brings you here? I heard some interesting news—you’re a candidate for becoming an Elite Hunter now."
Ferdinand blinked in surprise, then quickly shook his head. "What? No, that’s not true! Who told you that?" he said, feigning ignorance.
A female hunter among the group chuckled before stepping forward. "We also heard that you caught an Alpaca," she said, her voice playful yet filled with admiration. The rest of the group nodded, clearly impressed.
Ferdinand felt his face heat up. "It was just luck," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. But deep inside, he swelled with pride. He had worked hard for that hunt, and the recognition felt rewarding.
"Luck?" one of the hunters, Yato, scoffed. "Ferdinand, there’s no such thing as luck in hunting. Either you have the skill, or you don’t."
Ferdinand chuckled, shrugging. "Maybe you’re right. But enough about me—what are you all doing here?"
"We have a new assignment," Yato said,right Mardoc glancing at Mardoc.
Mardoc nodded. "That’s right. Elder Gido gave us a mission earlier today."
"And what about you?" Mardoc asked.
"Henry came to see me this morning," Ferdinand explained. "He said Chief Elder has a reward for me."
"A reward?" Yato grinned, nudging him playfully. "Well, if you’re becoming an Elite Hunter, I’d say you deserve it."
"Haha," Ferdinand laughed, shaking his head.
"We can go together," Mardoc suggested.
Ferdinand nodded in agreement, and the group continued toward Hunter Hall.
Hunter Hall was a grand structure, built from massive timber logs reinforced with iron beams. Inside, the air smelled of aged wood, leather, and faint traces of blood from freshly hunted game. The hall was filled with hunters, some resting after missions, others discussing new assignments.
At the far end of the room, seated at a long wooden table, was Chief Elder Oxor. A man of immense presence, he had a thick, graying beard and piercing eyes that had seen decades of battles. Beside him sat a woman in her 30s, dressed in a dark hunter’s robe. She was sifting through documents, her expression unreadable.
The group, including Ferdinand, approached and stood at attention, raising their right fists to their chests in salute.
"Thank you all for coming," Chief Elder Oxor said, his deep voice commanding respect.
"Yes, Chief Elder," they replied in unison.
"Mardoc, step forward," Chief Elder Oxor ordered.
Mardoc did as instructed, standing at attention.
"Your assignment is to track down two missing people," Chief Elder Oxor stated. The woman beside him handed Mardoc a document sealed with a wax stamp.
"Inside are the details regarding their last known location and possible dangers you may face," Chief Elder Oxor added. "Be careful. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Chief Elder!" the group responded in unison.
One by one, they exited the hall, leaving only Ferdinand behind He was quite nervous and excited at the same time.
Chief Elder Oxor turned his gaze toward him. "Ferdinand."
Ferdinand stepped forward. "Yes, Chief Elder."
"I am impressed with your achievements," Chief Elder Oxor said, his voice carrying weight. "According to the reports, you managed to kill an Alpaca—a feat not many hunters can claim."
Ferdinand bowed his head slightly. "Yes, Chief Elder."
"Good. As of today, you are officially a candidate for Elite Hunter," Chief Elder Oxor declared.
Ferdinand inhaled and exhale sharply, his chest swelling with pride. He had dreamed of this moment, and now it was finally happening.
"According to the report, your weapon of choice is a spear, correct?"
"Yes, Chief Elder."
Chief Elder Oxor gestured to his assistant, who stepped forward and opened a long wooden box on the table. Inside, resting on black velvet, was a magnificent spear. It was crafted from the bone of an unknown beast, its shaft carved with intricate symbols glowing faintly in the dim light. The weapon radiated power, exuding an aura that made Ferdinand’s skin prickle.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
"This is an enchanted weapon," Chief Elder Oxor said. "Take it—you’ve earned it."
With trembling hands, Ferdinand reached out, gripping the spear’s shaft. The moment he touched it, a strange energy pulsed through him, as if the weapon was recognizing its new owner. He lifted it gently, turning it in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship.
"From this day forward, this spear belongs to you," Chief Elder Oxor declared.
Ferdinand clenched his jaw, emotion welling up inside him . "Thank you, Chief Elder! I promise to cherish and wield this
"Good, you may go now" Chief Elder Oxor
Ferdinand bowed with respect and his right hand on his left chest as he salute. Then he leaves the room with pride and confident.
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Meanwhile, Lucy and the two people behind her hid inside the bushes. Only the chirping of birds and insects could be heard, along with the rustling of the wind as it brushed against the tree branches.
A few meters away from them was a group of Three-Eyed Toads—nine in total—basking in the sunlight. They were huddled together, seemingly relaxing under the warmth of the sun.
"Lucy, is this going to take much longer? I'm getting itchy here," a girl whispered behind her.
"Helga is right, Lucy. When are we going to attack?" another girl chimed in. "The mosquitoes are eating us alive!"
"Wait a minute, Kate. I'm coming up with a plan so we can take them all out in one go," Lucy replied.
Kate and Helga exchanged glances before sighing. They had been waiting patiently for almost half an hour, enduring mosquito bites that they feared might turn into bruises. Truthfully, they lacked the motivation to join this competition because they knew their chances of winning were slim.
Lucy carefully took out five knives from the bag strapped over her shoulder. Steadying her aim, she hurled the knives with precision. With a sharp whoosh, three of the Three-Eyed Toads were struck, while two knives missed their mark. The remaining six toads froze in shock, unable to react in time.
"Now!" Lucy shouted.
Like lightning, she and her group darted toward the remaining toads. With precise and deadly strikes, they swung their weapons, taking down three more toads. The last three retaliated, lashing their long tongues at them.
"Be careful!" Lucy yelled as she swiftly dodged an attack.
Unfortunately, Helga was hit by one of the toads' tongues. She let out a yelp of pain, clutching her wrist where she had been struck.
"Helga!" Lucy called out in concern.
The three remaining toads charged at Kate. She managed to block two of their attacks, but the third struck her arm.
She gasped in pain but, with determination, swung her weapon and struck the Three-Eyed Toad. Blood splattered onto the ground.
With a sweeping motion, Lucy hurled her last two knives with precision, hitting the remaining toads. More blood splattered as the beasts collapsed—dead.
Lucy let out a sigh of relief. "Is everyone okay? Are your wounds serious?" she asked.
Kate inspected her arm. "Just a scratch, but Helga got hit pretty bad," she said, bending down to check the swelling on Helga’s wrist.
"We need to get back to camp before the wound gets worse," Lucy said. "Kate, can you take Helga there?"
Helga's face was pale as Kate helped her up. "I can manage. The camp isn’t far from here," Kate reassured her.
"Thank you. Be careful on your way," Lucy said before stuffing the dead Three-Eyed Toads into her bag.
Suddenly, a young girl emerged into view, her face smeared with blood. Her breaths were ragged, her body trembling as if she had been running for his life.
Lucy and Kate froze, their eyes widening in shock. The sight of him
" What happened?" Lucy asked, her voice laced with urgency.
The girl staggered closer, her legs trembling beneath her. Her wild, panicked eyes darted between them as she gasped for air.
"Help…" she wheezed, barely able to force the words out. "Help… please!"
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed forward, bloodstained hands reaching out as if to grasp something unseen.
"Run..." she whispered weakly.
Lucy’s eyes widened, a cold sense of dread creeping over her. A foreboding chill ran down her spine—something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation, she hoisted Daisy onto her back.
"We need to run," Lucy said, turning to Kate.