As Mike came out from the Light Devils faction headquarters after registering for the hunt, Mike was now wondering what he could do before the hunt because now he had one day gap. It was already afternoon on the present day, so Mike decided to take a day off today because he was feeling exhausted. So Mike had something to eat and went to his home for rest.
The following day, Mike got up and decided to go to a training hall to test his skills again. Mike was now back in the training room, eager to train again with his ability. First, Mike practiced some basic hand movements like punches and kicks. He focused on straight punches, low kicks, quick jabs, roundhouse kicks, and elbow strikes—each movement designed to improve his balance and fluidity.
After that, he practiced the same moves using his ability. Soon, Mike's hands up to his wrists were covered with a yellow aura, and this time Mike felt no strain in activating his ability—it came naturally to him. He began striking the training dummies using these empowered moves. The dummies, made of reinforced plastic-like synthetic material, began to show wear. Minute scratches and dents slowly appeared as he repeated his strikes.
Switching tactics, Mike grabbed a sword. Holding it firmly, he coated his internal energy as a protective layer along the blade. Then he tried to layer his chaos ability onto the weapon. At first, Mike disabled his ability to simulate a more realistic combat scenario—preparing to coat the sword as quickly as possible. Because in actual battle, any delay could result in injury or worse.
He timed himself. The first activation took fifteen seconds. Too slow.
Mike repeated the motion over and over—coating and retracting the aura, again and again. After forty minutes of repetition, he finally brought the time down to five seconds. It still wasn't perfect, but it was usable. Breathing heavily, Mike collapsed onto a bench nearby and took a moment to recover.
After a few minutes, Mike stood again, clearing his mind from relaxation back into training mode. Now he had another question: how far could he extend the range of his ability? Most 0-star abilities had limitations—basic fire users, for example, could only conjure small fireballs the size of a cricket ball, whereas 1-star users could create ones larger than their own hands.
Mike focused, trying to push his aura out further.
When he opened his eyes, his palms and hands were completely engulfed in his yellow chaos aura. That seemed to be his current limit. He wondered—could he shape it?
He tried.
Nothing happened.
But as he focused again and again, something unusual began to occur. His aura didn't shape—but it condensed. The glow on his palms shrank slightly, but thickened. It was no longer a thin coating. It had become dense. A concentrated layer, almost like a second skin.
Mike was puzzled. He hadn't managed to shape the aura, but something had changed. That density... that might be worth exploring later. For now, he dismissed the shaping attempt and returned to his drills.
Another thirty minutes passed. Mike attacked the dummies again, went through reflex response tests, and finally ended with a short cultivation session, absorbing energy from a beast crystal placed at the core of the training pedestal. With that, he wrapped up his day.
---
The next morning...
The outskirts of Pearl City were a blend of silence and strength—rolling fields of tall, golden grass stretching into the horizon, broken only by the looming presence of a towering fortress. This was the domain of the Light Devils faction. Unlike the scattered guild halls or private military stations Mike had seen before, this was something far more disciplined. Far more powerful.
A massive metallic wall rose from the earth, encasing the entire faction in a barrier of security. Energy nodes shimmered faintly along the edges, pulsing with enchantments forged from beast cores. Inside the walls, a long stone pathway stretched forward through the inner courtyard, leading to three buildings that stood like guardians of the faction's core.
Two buildings—low and wide—flanked the path, while a third towered over them, standing proud and tall in the center. Painted in stark white with sky-blue accents, it was elegant yet formidable. Atop this central structure shimmered the Light Devils crest: an angel with outstretched wings, radiant light beaming from its back, casting a protective glow over all who entered.
Behind these buildings, Mike glimpsed two colossal dome-shaped structures—training halls large enough to house simulated battlefields. Farther back, the docking bay stretched wide, filled with parked ships—medium and small, all gleaming under the early sunlight.
Mike took a slow breath.
"This isn't just a faction. It's a damn stronghold."
He walked the path to the central building, scanning the faction crest once more before entering. Inside, the lobby was busy with quiet activity—recruits checking in, officers tapping away at holographic terminals, and support staff managing logistics.
A curved reception desk stood at the center, where Mike stepped forward and raised his wrist to display his temporary ID.
The receptionist scanned it, nodded politely, and tapped a key on her pad.
"Temporary hunter for the joint hunt, correct? You're cleared. Head through the left corridor—first building on that wing. Hunter David Trueman is expecting all recruits for final deployment briefings."
Mike gave a small nod, thanked her, and walked toward the east wing. The walls gleamed under cold light, lined with banners depicting the Light Devils crest and mottos of unity, precision, and order.
As he stepped through the glass doors, he entered a modest deployment hall filled with around fifty recruits—men and women of varying ages, all clad in standard gear. Some stood in nervous chatter. Others quietly checked weapons or armor.
Two figures stood at the front. One was tall with dark brown hair, sharp eyes, and a commanding posture—David Trueman, C-rank hunter and the squad leader for the mission. Beside him stood an identical man with a slightly more relaxed aura and a crooked smirk—his twin brother, Bron.
David raised his voice as he tapped his wrist interface, projecting a hologram into the air above.
"Everyone, eyes up. This is what we're hunting."
A massive feline silhouette emerged in glowing blue light—a sleek, panther-like beast surrounded by crackling lightning.
"This is a Thunderclaw Panther—Commander-tier. Its speed is devastating, and it can summon hordes of basic-tier panthers in the heat of battle. So we must be careful at all times."
The image shifted again—now showing a simulation of the horde: over a hundred basic-tier panthers charging like a living wave.
David pointed to the display.
"Here's how we're deploying. Myself, Bron, and two D-rank hunters will engage the Commander-tier beast directly. Ten E-rank hunters will control the battlefield perimeter and lead the defense line. All F-rank hunters—you'll back up the E-rankers and cover the flanks during the horde engagement. Our goal is not just to survive, but to destroy the Commander-tier beast before it summons too many reinforcements."
Mike's fists clenched slightly at the intensity in David's voice. This was real. This was war. "Everyone do your best."
After the briefing, David led the squad to the storage bays behind the main buildings, where a medium-sized vessel stood ready—a dark metallic hull with glowing runes along its frame and the Light Devils crest emblazoned across its side.
Before boarding, David gestured to a nearby equipment room. The doors opened, revealing rows upon rows of beast crystal-forged armor and weapons. Chestpieces, armguards, leg armor, boots—all designed for protection. Weapons of all types lined the opposite wall: swords, daggers, spears, spiked whips, and even a few heavy blasters.
"Choose your gear. These are basic-tier crystal-forged sets. Durable enough to handle basic-tier beasts. Once you're equipped, board the ship."
Mike made his way in, selecting a solid chestpiece, light metal gauntlets, leg pieces along with a few metal plates covering his open hands, shoulders, and thick boots. He chose a steel-colored sword with a clean edge and a curved dagger for close-range support. He sheathed his sword at his back and dagger on his side.
The other hunters geared up similarly. Most wore partial armor. A few opted for full suits. But all of them looked ready—or at least tried to appear that way.
With weapons and armor secured, the group filed onto the ship.
Mike stepped through the rear ramp into the east wing of the vessel. Inside, metal benches lined the walls and safety harnesses clung to the ceiling. The ship could carry 75 occupants, including pilots and technicians, and nearly every seat was now occupied.
He walked quietly to the last row and sat near the back.
As he adjusted his gauntlets, he felt eyes on him.
Two seats away, a blond-haired man stared at him with faint surprise. His build was muscular—slightly bulkier than Mike's—but his frame was shorter. His bright blue eyes locked onto Mike with familiarity.
"…Michael Jason?" he asked, leaning forward.
Mike turned.
"Yeah?"
The man smiled. "Alex Brenden. A student of Pearl University. Actually, I had seen you quite a few times in the weapons hall and training grounds. We never spoke, but I recognized you from our combat training rotations. You always trained solo. The instructors used to call you the Lone Nerd."
Mike blinked, then gave a small grin. "Didn't know that name stuck."
Alex chuckled. "Hard not to notice someone who shows up to every drill and never says a word."
The two shook hands briefly.
"Guess we're both here now," Mike said.
"Yeah," Alex replied. "First hunt. Hope we make it back with a few stories to tell."
The ship's engines rumbled beneath their feet. Lights dimmed slightly as the vessel began pre-launch protocols.
From the intercom above, David's voice crackled through.
"Mission team, prepare for lift. Destination: Planet Khalis. ETA: Ninety-two minutes. Get ready."
Mike leaned back against the seat, fingers curled slightly around the grip of his sword. His armor felt tight but solid, the weight reassuring. Around him, a chorus of nervous breathing and last-minute checks filled the air.
This was it.
The start of something real.
He wasn't just Mike from Pearl University anymore. He wasn't just the cultivator who tested his stats and tried to understand his energy center.
He was a hunter now.
And the battlefield awaited.