After Alex finished dressing up, he rushed outside to meet his comrades, who were waiting for him. Just then, the memory of what happened earlier flashed in his mind, and his face flushed red with embarrassment.
He startled, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Ahm... I'm done. I guess it's time to go," he finally managed to say, mustering some courage.
Zeke gave a crooked smile. "Yeah, sure. Just don't get carried away, new Hunter."
They both laughed. Seraphina smiled softly as she walked beside them.
Alex chuckled and nudged Zeke playfully. "Sure. Watch yourself, old-timer."
The trio burst into laughter.
Seraphina tilted her head, smiling playfully. "Hope you boys remember where we're headed?"
Alex and Zeke chimed in at once, like synchronized performers. "Yeah, sure!"
A brief silence fell over them, growing thicker with every step.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination—the lecture hall. As new Hunters, they were required to attend lessons to understand more about abominations.
Inside the hall were rows of brown-polished chairs and round tables, each row slightly elevated above the last. In the center stood a stage where lecturers addressed the Hunters. The walls were decorated with diagrams and portraits of their leaders—both the fallen and those still alive.
Dozens of Hunters had already gathered. Those familiar with Alex glared at him with visible disdain. On his left sat someone familiar—Clara.
Alex's gaze turned cold. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered what she had done.
What if I had died? This... evil would still be living.
He muttered the thought under his breath.
Clara locked eyes with him, her expression devoid of remorse. This time, she didn't mock him—but her stare was venomous.
"You freak," she whispered harshly. "I know what you are now. We'll get you... soon enough."
Alex's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Seraphina caught the tension between them.
She flushed slightly. "Alex... do you know her?"
"Yes," he replied flatly. "She was once a comrade. We trained together."
"Oh... then it's good seeing her again—"
"No," Alex interrupted. "She's no longer a comrade. We're not on the same side anymore."
Seraphina's gaze dropped, disappointed. "I shouldn't have asked..." she murmured.
At the center of the hall, the lecturer—Mrs. Amara Peak—was already speaking, revealing long-held secrets about the nature of abominations. The hall grew still as every Hunter listened with focused intent, knowing that knowledge could mean survival.
Eventually, Mrs. Peak stepped off the stage.
"Class dismissed."
And just like that, the room emptied into the mist.
Zeke stretched. "That was really something."
"What was?" Alex asked.
"The lecture, of course... what else?" Zeke shrugged.
They walked onward, scouting the area for any signs of danger. Their path led into the forest, heading toward a village long known as a haven for abominations. It was nestled along the eastern edge of the city and appeared like a valley from afar. The true name of the place was Downtown, home to roughly two hundred souls.
As they neared the village, something strange happened. Each of them felt a pull—something gripping their wrists. Their Watchers had activated, radiating with light. The pointers all aimed toward the village.
Without hesitation, Alex launched forward at incredible speed, his hand tightening around his sword.
Zeke and Seraphina stood stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality and following close behind.
In the distance, chaos raged. Villagers wept, and several Hunters were already on the scene—though clearly terrified by whatever creature they'd encountered.
Zeke and Seraphina struggled to catch up, but Alex's speed was inhuman.
At the village's edge, people cried out in pain and loss. One woman screamed hysterically, claiming her son was trapped inside the ruins.
The once-thriving village now looked like a scene from hell. Fog covered everything, so thick you could barely see ten meters ahead.
"Help me!" the woman wailed, reaching out, desperate to break free and save her child. But others held her back.
"Let me go!" she cried again, tears streaming down her face. Every second felt like another chance lost.
Zeke and the others approached. The woman, though distraught, managed to give a vague description of where her son had last been seen.
With no hesitation, Alex and his comrades charged into the mist.
The ruins were littered with debris—broken bricks, shattered wood, fragments of once-whole homes. Fury surged through Alex's veins. He gripped his sword tighter and shot forward again.
"Oh damn," Zeke muttered. "They said he was the weakest Hunter in our batch?"
Seraphina responded, eyes wide. "I heard that too. They said he's weak, but... strategic."
"What kind of strategy increases speed like that?" Zeke whispered.
Meanwhile, Alex veered left, sensing the overwhelming stench of blood.
"You filthy monsters... you'll regret ever stepping here!" he growled, his steps gliding like wind, faster and faster.
Zeke and Seraphina lost track of him.
"Never mind," Zeke said firmly, though worry laced his tone. "He'll be fine."
Seraphina whispered, almost pleadingly, "He'll be safe... right?"
At that moment, Alex was surrounded by five abominations—each with distinct forms. One had four arms and used Earth Sorcery far different from any human. A single stone flung from him could consume a target, absorbing their essence to power his own abilities.
He was the leader. The others paled in comparison.
Alex steadied his breathing, sword gripped tightly.
"You damn monsters... I'll end you today. I swear it."
The lead abomination sneered. "You've got guts, boy. I'll show you despair like nothing you've ever imagined."
Four of them lunged at once.
Alex's breath grew still.
"Sorcery Liquid: Elite Stance – Tide Style: Second Form – Backwash Blade!"
Currents of water surged out in blade-like waves, slicing through the air, parrying their strikes like they were nothing.
The air grew cold. Fear seeped into the hearts of the abominations.
"Sorcery Liquid: Elite Stance – Eighth Form – Chill Drift!"
Their bodies weakened as the chill wrapped around them. With a single, elegant motion, Alex's blade danced.
Four heads flew. Four bodies vanished into vapor.
"What...?!"
The final abomination trembled as he faced Alex alone. They clashed—steel and stone colliding in thunderous fury.
Alex slid back, panting, but the abomination's wounds healed instantly.
"You think you can defeat me? You're hilarious!" he roared. "This is the funniest thing I've seen in centuries!"
Alex grounded his feet.
"Sorcery Liquid: Elite Stance – Tenth Form – Sea Mist: Roaring Wave!"
Water burst in every direction, encasing his sword in the shape of an ancient beast. His eyes glowed an ethereal blue as he dashed forward like lightning. The roar of the sea echoed behind him.
The abomination prepared for a final stand.
"If I die, you're coming with me!" he growled.
But Alex soared into the air mid-sprint, twisting, inhaling sharply—
"Core locked on!"
He came down like divine judgment, cleaving through the abomination's core.
THUD.
The creature hit the ground—dead. Alex stood like a god of war...
Without wasting a moment, Alex darted toward Zeke and Seraphina's location. His sharp senses honed in instantly—he could feel them, even through the chaos.
Zeke: "You fool! Why the hell are you transforming, you bastard?!"
The abomination erupted into thunderous laughter, its voice echoing like the rumble of a collapsing mountain.
Abomination: "Blame your weakness, not me. If you were strong enough, you'd shape the world to your will. Power defines right and wrong. Remember that!"
Zeke clenched his fists, fury blazing.
Zeke: "Sorcery Flame: Elite Stance – Fifth Form: Thunderous Flicker Flame!"
A burst of fire roared through the air, the blast shaking the ground beneath them.
But instead of fear, the abomination grinned wide—mocking, twisted.
Abomination: "This? You call this a flame? It's barely a spark."
And with that, his body dispersed—splitting into a swarm of venomous mosquitoes. Each one deadly. A single bite could rot flesh to the bone. And worse—if even one survived, it could evolve back into the full abomination.
Just as despair began to take hold, a blur cut through the chaos—Alex.
He slashed with brutal precision, ripping through the swarm like a tempest. But the abomination merely flicked a finger, and once again, his form scattered into mosquitoes.
Alex stood frozen—just for a second. Then his expression hardened.
Alex: "Sorcery Liquid: Elite Stance – Torrent Style: Berserk!"
Water surged violently, swirling around him in a furious spiral. The battle reignited—Alex clashing with the abomination again and again. The creature could barely recover—every time it tried to regenerate, Alex was already there, striking again with greater force.
The abomination roared in frustration.
Abomination: "AHHHHH! What ARE you, kid?!"
It was the question on everyone's mind—even Zeke and Seraphina, who had been watching from a distance, wide-eyed. Alex's movements—too fast, too sharp—they couldn't keep up.
But something about that gave them hope.
Alex: "Core... LOCKED!"
With a blinding flash, Alex lunged. His sword surged with raw energy—his movements honed to a deadly art. In one final blow, he ripped the core from the abomination's chest.
The creature let out a bone-shaking screech, collapsing to the ground with a thunderous THUD—its body disintegrating into mist and ash.
Alex stood tall, drenched in sweat and blood, his sword trembling in his grasp. Then, slowly, his knees buckled. His vision blurred.
And he collapsed.
His light dimmed. His body hit the ground with a soft thump.
Silence.