The road to Blackwood Hills was quiet.
Too quiet.
Emil walked alone beneath the afternoon sky, his cloak moving gently with the wind. His hunter badge rested on his chest, showing the world that he belonged to the Hunter Association.
But the badge did not change his instincts.
The forest still spoke to him.
The shifting leaves.
The distant footsteps of animals.
The movement of air.
Every sound carried information.
---
Years ago, he had entered the Forbidden Forest as a helpless child.
Blind.
Weak.
Without anyone.
Now, he walked through dangerous lands as a hunter.
Yet Emil knew something important.
Surviving one forest did not mean he understood the entire world.
Galant was different.
Here, danger did not always reveal itself with claws and fangs.
Sometimes...
It wore a human face.
---
After several hours of travel, Emil reached the outskirts of Blackwood Hills.
The area was beautiful.
Tall trees covered the hills.
Small rivers flowed between rocky paths.
Birds flew above the branches.
A peaceful landscape.
But Emil immediately noticed something unusual.
No travelers.
No merchants.
No hunters.
No signs of activity.
---
He stopped.
His fingers lightly touched the handle of his sword.
"The report was correct."
Something was wrong.
---
Emil entered deeper into the hills.
He searched the area where the missing caravan was last seen.
Broken wheels.
Scattered supplies.
Damaged crates.
A battlefield without bodies.
---
He crouched down and touched the ground.
The marks were fresh.
Several people had passed through here.
But they were not walking normally.
They were dragged.
---
"Interesting."
Emil followed the trail.
The tracks led away from the road and toward a hidden valley.
---
As he moved, the system appeared.
Ding!
Mission Progress Updated
Objective:
Investigate the disappearance of Blackwood Hills caravans.
Current progress:
30%
---
Emil continued forward.
The deeper he went, the stranger the atmosphere became.
The monsters were quiet.
The animals had fled.
Even the wind seemed weaker.
---
Suddenly...
A faint sound reached his ears.
A heartbeat.
Fast.
Fearful.
Human.
---
Emil changed direction immediately.
He moved through the trees silently.
Soon, he found the source.
---
A young girl stood surrounded by several creatures.
They were not ordinary beasts.
Their bodies were covered in dark scales, and their movements were coordinated.
Monster wolves.
But different.
Stronger.
Their eyes carried intelligence.
---
The girl held a broken dagger.
Her breathing was unstable.
She was injured but still standing.
---
One of the monsters moved closer.
Emil stepped forward.
"Enough."
---
The creatures turned.
For a moment, everything became still.
---
The monsters looked at him.
A blind boy.
A young hunter.
Someone who appeared easy to defeat.
---
One charged.
---
Emil moved.
Not with Sun Step.
Not with his full strength.
Just enough.
---
His hand touched the sword.
A flash of steel.
---
The monster stopped.
A line appeared across its armor-like scales.
It collapsed.
---
The remaining creatures hesitated.
They sensed something was wrong.
This human was not prey.
---
Emil advanced.
His movements were calm.
Precise.
Each strike ended a battle before it could begin.
Within moments, the monsters had fallen.
---
The girl stared.
"You..."
Her voice trembled.
"Who are you?"
---
"An E-rank hunter."
---
She looked at his badge.
Then at the defeated monsters.
Her expression became confused.
"That doesn't make sense."
---
Before Emil could answer...
A powerful pressure descended.
The entire valley changed.
---
The air became heavy.
The surviving animals fled.
A figure landed nearby.
An elderly man wearing a simple black coat.
His presence alone showed years of battle experience.
---
His eyes moved from the fallen monsters...
To Emil.
Then to the girl.
---
"Are you hurt, Lyra?"
The girl shook her head.
"I'm fine."
She pointed toward Emil.
"He saved me."
---
The old man looked at Emil carefully.
"So you are the one."
---
Emil tilted his head.
"The one?"
---
The old man smiled slightly.
"The blind E-rank hunter who defeated opponents far above his rank."
---
Emil remained silent.
He already suspected this man was not ordinary.
---
The system appeared.
Ding!
Target detected.
Name:
Kael Draven
Rank:
A-Rank Hunter
Title:
Iron Fang Hunter
Danger Evaluation:
Extremely High
---
Emil's expression remained calm.
An A-rank hunter.
One of the strongest people he had encountered since leaving the Forbidden Forest.
---
Kael studied him.
"Your swordsmanship is excellent."
"But..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your body is lacking."
---
Emil frowned slightly.
"My body?"
---
Kael nodded.
"You rely too much on your sword."
"A sword can break."
"A weapon can be lost."
"But a true warrior..."
He tapped his chest.
"Carries their strength with them."
---
Emil understood the meaning.
Close combat.
---
Lyra looked between them.
"Uncle Kael, what are you saying?"
---
Kael smiled.
"I'm saying this boy has talent."
"Rare talent."
"But he has only polished one blade."
---
He looked directly at Emil.
"A sword."
---
Emil did not deny it.
Kael was correct.
His swordsmanship was his greatest weapon.
But if he lost his sword...
His options became limited.
---
Kael turned toward the valley.
"The monsters here are not natural."
"The caravan disappearances are connected to something bigger."
---
Emil listened carefully.
---
"Something is controlling these creatures."
Kael's voice became serious.
"And whoever is behind it..."
"Is strong enough to threaten this region."
---
The mission had changed.
It was no longer a simple investigation.
---
Emil looked toward the dark valley ahead.
A mystery.
A hidden enemy.
And an A-rank hunter standing beside him.
---
Kael started walking.
"Come."
---
Emil followed.
"Where?"
---
The old hunter smiled.
"To find the answer."
---
Then he added:
"And perhaps..."
"To teach you something your sword cannot."
---
The two hunters entered Blackwood Hills together.
One was a veteran who had survived countless battles.
The other was a young hunter carrying the power of the Sun God.
Neither knew it yet...
But this encounter would change Emil's path forever.