"W-who… who are you…?"
The woman slowly touched her chin, gazing down at him with a pair of beautiful eyes—cold as merciless snow.
"My name… is Velista."
That smile appeared—perfect, lethal.
Beautiful like a flower blooming above a grave.
"But I am not as kind as you think, darling."
Without hesitation, she grabbed the hair of a soldier who was still breathing nearby.
With a calm motion—almost elegant, yet indescribably cruel—she slit his throat right before Sai's eyes.
Blood burst forth—warm, splashing across his face.
Sai froze. His breath caught. The world seemed to stop spinning.
"How utterly pathetic you all are…" Velista whispered, followed by a soft laugh that sounded more like a hymn of death.
But in an instant, her gentle face changed.
That smile faded into emptiness, her eyes hollow like a soulless mirror.
She seized Sai's hair and—slam!—smashed his head against the ground repeatedly.
The wet earth trembled, turning red with blood.
The sound of bone and soil merged into a symphony of chaos.
"Hahahahahaha…"
Velista's laughter echoed across the night sky, gliding between fog and ruins.
Even the heavens seemed to mourn.
---
At the Monster Hunter Training Field
"Stooop! Time's up!"
Jake's shout cut through the air. Instantly, the magical monsters he had created stopped moving.
Ryu panted heavily, sweat dripping down his face, his eyes still burning with unextinguished spirit.
Everyone returned to formation, steadying what breath they had left.
"We move on to the second training," Jake said firmly. His voice echoed across the vast training ground. "We must complete this as quickly as possible. We cannot linger in a peace that is… uncertain."
His gaze was sharp—cutting like a blade.
"For the second exercise—begin!"
"Sir, yes sir!" the Monster Hunter candidates shouted in unison, their voices shaking the ground.
They began moving, imitating every punch and kick Jake demonstrated.
Dust rose. Their steps synchronized. Among the rows, Commander Ken walked around, observing each movement carefully. Occasionally, he adjusted someone's stance or corrected their balance.
"Watch your center of gravity!" he called out, firm but patient. "A punch is not just your hand—it's your intent!"
Time passed quickly—an hour vanished in what felt like moments. Their breathing grew heavy, muscles tightened, yet their eyes still burned brightly.
"Thirty minutes left!" Jake shouted. "Now, sparring practice! Show me what you've learned. Thirty minutes—begin!"
"Yesss!!"
Shouts, stomping feet, and the sound of bodies colliding filled the air.
Ken watched from the side, while Jake approached the Indosvara instructors.
"Hey, what's your name?"
A short man, about 163 centimeters tall, called out to Ryu.
Ryu turned. "Oi, Ryu!" Elias waved at him.
Ryu smiled faintly. Everyone already had a sparring partner—except him. From a distance, Evelyn watched him with her arms folded.
Kael patted Leon's shoulder. "Come on, spar with me. Relax, it's just training—not serious."
"Ah… r-really?" Leon swallowed nervously, his face pale.
Meanwhile, Elias approached Ryu. "So? Want to spar with me?"
"Of course. Let's prove it."
Ryu adjusted his stance. Elias grinned and mirrored him. "Let's go!"
Elias launched first—fast. But Ryu read the movement, sidestepped, slipped beside him, and with one fluid motion, slammed him to the ground.
Bang!
Elias hit hard, eyes wide. "Wow… you're amazing. I didn't expect that!" he laughed.
Ryu offered his hand. But Elias smirked mischievously and pulled him instead, attempting a counter-kick. Ryu reflexively dodged.
"Careful, Ryu! Never give your opponent an opening!" Elias warned.
"Oh? Is that so…" Ryu smirked.
They exchanged rapid blows—punches and kicks slicing through the air.
Until finally, Elias caught Ryu's leg. "Got you!"
"Not that easy!"
Ryu spun midair using his momentum and kicked with his free leg. Elias had to dodge—falling once again.
He laughed and raised his hands. "I surrender. You're incredible."
Ryu smiled slightly.
"Turns out he's not as soft as his face looks," Elias whispered.
"Did you say something?" Ryu asked suspiciously.
"Ah, no, no…" Elias shook his head innocently.
Then his eyes shifted toward Ami—a woman currently fighting three opponents at once.
With a single graceful movement, she brought them all down effortlessly.
"Look at her," Elias whispered excitedly. "You should fight her."
Ryu stared at Ami, thought for a moment, then smiled challengingly.
"Oi! Fight me!"
Ami glanced at him from head to toe. Disdain. "Tch…" She turned away as if uninterested.
Ryu's pride flared. "What, are you scared?"
In a split second, Ami spun and kicked him in the head.
Whack!
Ryu's body crashed to the ground.
"Holy—she's insane!" Elias panicked, trying to wake him.
Ryu wiped blood from his lips and stood again. "Damn it…"
He charged. Ami coldly swept his leg, making him fall, then struck his chest hard. Ryu coughed violently and was thrown back to the ground.
From afar, Evelyn narrowed her eyes. She ended her own match quickly and stepped forward.
"How dare you hit him," she said coldly. "Fight me."
Ami stared back, expression flat. Silence. Their auras clashed.
Leon, Kael, and Elias fell silent. "Uh-oh… what are we witnessing…" Elias muttered.
Before the fight could begin, Ken's voice thundered:
"Enough! Training is over! Return to formation now!"
Everyone stopped. Evelyn and Ami exchanged sharp looks before stepping back into line.
Evelyn suppressed her emotions, thoughts swirling.
How dare she hit Ryu… Only I'm allowed to hurt him… she muttered inwardly, jealousy and concern tangled together.
Ken faced the entire group. "The third training will be conducted another time. Magic training requires time and special talent. For today—dismissed."
Jake stepped forward. "Out of forty participants, all of you pass. But you will be divided into three divisions:
The Hunter Squad—frontline monster combat.
The Support Squad—long-range shooters and logistics guards.
And the Medical & Supply Squad—healers and equipment carriers."
Everyone swallowed nervously.
"Tomorrow, the divisions will be announced. And prepare yourselves—because tomorrow we begin a major mission," Ken added heavily.
Silence. Then the entire force stomped in unison.
"For humanity! For Indosvara!"
Their cry echoed.
---
Ken approached Jake. "Now?"
Jake looked at his team. "We search for Sai and the other Indosvara patrol."
They mounted their horses, riding through the torch-lit streets of Sena City. Citizens whispered as they passed.
"Where are they going this late?"
"Probably patrol…" another replied.
The city gates opened.
Jake, Ken, and their trusted soldiers rode out toward the ruined center of Indosvara.
The air was cold. The ground damp, smelling of rain and mud.
Suddenly Jake looked down. Footprints cut through puddles. "These look like theirs… follow them!"
Their horses sped through trees and debris.
Jake's heartbeat quickened.
Please… let them be safe…
"This place… feels ominous," Ken muttered.
Then they stopped.
Their eyes widened.
Bodies of Indosvara soldiers lay scattered—not human anymore, just torn pieces of flesh.
Blood mixed with rainwater, flowing across blackened soil.
The air reeked of iron and death.
"Th-this can't be… what happened here…" Jake's voice trembled.
Ken and the soldiers covered their noses, faces pale.
Jake dismounted, knees shaking. He walked slowly toward Sai—still breathing faintly, his face crushed but not yet dead.
Tears fell freely.
"Sai…" he whispered.
He pressed his palm to Sai's chest.
A heartbeat. Weak—but present.
"He's still alive!" Jake shouted.
Ken barked orders. "Quick! Take him to the medical center!"
---
Two hours later. 2:00 AM.
Sai lay in bed, his body wrapped in bandages. Jake sat beside him, eyes red.
Suddenly, Sai's fingers twitched. Jake jolted upright.
"He's awake… Sai!"
Sai's lips moved slowly. His voice was hoarse, broken.
"Ve… lis… ta…"
Jake and Ken exchanged glances.
"Velista? Who do you mean?" Jake asked urgently.
Sai did not answer. His eyes closed again.
Jake fell silent, face tense.
"Velista…" he whispered. "Is she… the one behind all this?"
The scene shifts beyond the window—the dark night, rain beginning to fall again.
Lightning strikes, illuminating the silhouette of a woman standing atop a distant tower.
A faint smile curves her lips.
"It has begun," she whispers.
To be continued…