I stayed on one knee for a moment, catching my breath. My body was still recovering—Adaptive Growth working in the background, dulling the pain, reinforcing my muscles. But it wasn't enough to change the truth.
Sienna had utterly dominated me.
The gap between us wasn't just skill—it was raw, overwhelming power. I had barely lasted a minute before she decided the fight was over.
I clenched my jaw, my fingers digging into the cold floor of the arena as I hated the feeling of weakness.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the silence. I looked up to see Leon standing near the edge of the arena, arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression.
"You good?" His voice wasn't mocking, but it wasn't entirely sympathetic either.
I forced myself up, shaking off the lingering pain. "Yeah."
Hale, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "The results are clear." His sharp gaze met mine. "You have potential, Ryzen Kael. That much is undeniable."
Leon exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you're alive. That's something."
I shot him a glare. "You sound disappointed."
"Just surprised you're still standing." His smirk was back. "She wasn't even serious, you know."
I already knew that. That was the worst part. Sienna had held back. She hadn't even gone all out. If this had been a real fight, I wouldn't have lasted seconds.
Hale checked his watch before turning toward the observation deck. "The President will have his verdict soon. For now, you should rest."
Rest? Like hell I would.
But before I could say anything, a deep voice rang through the arena speakers.
"Bring him up."
Silence fell.
Hale nodded. "Understood, sir.
The arena was silent. The weight of those three words—"Bring him up."—settled over me like a storm cloud.
Leon let out a low whistle. "Well, that didn't take long."
Hale adjusted his cuffs, already turning toward the exit. "Let's go."
I exhaled through my nose, pushing aside the lingering ache in my muscles. Adaptive Growth had dulled most of the pain, but it didn't erase the frustration boiling inside me. The fight had been one-sided. Humiliating, even. But I wasn't done yet.
Without another word, I followed them out of the arena.
We moved through the Association's corridors, our footsteps echoing against the polished floors. The halls were quieter up here—this wasn't an area meant for regular Hunters.
I knew where we were headed before we even reached the elevator. The President's office again.
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside. Hale pressed the button for the top floor without hesitation.
As the doors shut, Leon leaned against the back wall, arms crossed. "You nervous?"
I met his gaze. "Should I be?"
He smirked. "I don't know. You tell me."
I didn't answer. Instead, I focused on steadying my breathing. Overthinking wouldn't help me now.
The elevator ride was smooth, almost unnervingly quiet. Then, with a soft chime, the doors opened.
The President's office was just as I remembered it—vast, sleek, and intimidating in its simplicity. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city beyond, while the polished black desk at the center of the room felt more like a judge's bench than an office workspace.
And behind that desk, sitting with the same calm authority as before, was him.
The President of the Hunter Association.
His piercing dark eyes locked onto me the moment I stepped in.
Same as last time, he didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"Sit."
His tone wasn't harsh, but it left no room for argument. I moved forward, lowering myself into the chair across from him. Leon and Hale remained standing behind me.
For a long moment, the President simply studied me. His expression was unreadable, his fingers steepled together on the desk.
"You lost."
I clenched my fists. "Yes."
The President leaned back slightly. "How does it feel?"
I exhaled slowly. "Frustrating."
His lips curved—not quite a smirk, but something close. "Good."
I blinked.
He gestured toward me. "You understand what it means to stand at the bottom now. That's the first step to climbing higher."
I frowned slightly, but I didn't interrupt even though I already know what does it feel to be at the bottom. I was always at the bottom.
The President's gaze was razor-sharp. "Sienna is one of the strongest Hunters in the world. And yet, she didn't even take you seriously."
I already knew that. It still burned.
"Despite that," he continued, "you showed promise. Your instincts are sharp. Your adaptability is notable." His eyes narrowed slightly. "But raw potential is meaningless without refinement."
I stayed silent, absorbing his words.
"You will relocate to City A."
The decision was made before I even had the chance to respond.
Leon let out a low chuckle. "Told you."
I shot him a quick glare before refocusing on the President. "And if I refuse?"
The President's expression didn't change. "You won't."
I could argue. I could question why he was so certain. But deep down, I already knew. This was the next step. The only step. I had no choice but to keep moving forward.
The President clasped his hands together. "Your real evaluation begins now, Ryzen Kael. The Association will oversee your growth. And in time, we'll see just how far you can go."
Leon's smirk didn't waver as he leaned slightly against the chair behind me. "Well, that saves me some paperwork."
He shot a glance at the President. "I was already working on getting Ryzen relocated to City A. Sorting out his transfer, housing, clearance—the whole deal."
The President barely reacted. His sharp gaze remained fixed on me as if weighing something far more important. Then, with the slightest tilt of his head, he spoke.
"That won't be necessary."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
The President leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "The Association will handle it directly."
I tensed slightly at the sudden shift in control. "What do you mean?"
The President's tone remained calm, but it carried the weight of an undeniable command. "Your relocation, accommodations, and clearance will be arranged by my men. Everything will be prepared within the day."
Leon casually stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that makes things easier."
The President raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
Leon smirked. "Actually, I was already planning to have Ryzen come with me. He can stay at my place in City A—saves you the trouble of setting up accommodations."
I glanced at him, a little surprised. He hadn't mentioned that before.
The President studied Leon for a moment, then shifted his gaze to me. "You're comfortable with that arrangement?"