...
"Winner via a rare naked choke… Our new Champion, Silver!" The referee raised his hand.
Some in the crowd cheered. Some unable to process what transpired. But all were stunned.
Tired and bruised, the moment finally hit Silver.
He had faced a giant. Held his ground. and won.
He threw his fists into the air and shouted:
"YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!"
---
In the sea of faces, one man stood taller than the rest—hands cupped around his mouth, his voice cracking as he shouted:
"THAT'S MY BOY!! GO, SILVER!! WOOOOOO!!"
Alric Curtis, usually reserved and measured, had become a storm of pride. His voice tore through the chaos, rough and ragged with emotion. He clapped, he cheered, he roared, and by the end, his throat felt dry.
Beside him, Rina Curtis wiped at her damp cheeks, half laughing and half crying as she glanced at her husband.
"You okay?" she asked with care, shouting over the crowd.
Alric coughed hard, swallowing through the rasp. "I'm okay... just yelled a little toomuch."
"You think?" she teased with a watery smile.
---
Silver sat at the edge of the steps, towel hanging around his shoulders, cooling under the fading light. The pain in his body was real, but the rush of victory numbed it.
Master Toh approached silently and stood beside him.
"You surprised everyone," he said, looking out at the horizon.
"Even my dad was screaming." Silver smiled as he waived to his parents direction.
"He must be proud."
Silver nodded.
"You fought well. Controlled. Calm under pressure." Master Toh paused, then added, "But don't forget—Mr. Satan underestimated you. Others won't. Strength alone won't be enough next time. Now, you need experience."
Silver's smile softened into determination.
"I'll get it," he said.
Toh nodded once. "Then you're ready to walk your next path."
---
The house was quiet now—almost reverent.
The only sound was the soft flicker of the old kitchen light and the steady breathing of three people standing around the dining table.
Laid out in the center: a sealed envelope.
Rina moved forward and gave Silver another Hug. "You were incredible today," she said warmly.
Alric, his voice still a little hoarse, added, "My throat's wrecked. That's how loud I was shouting."
Silver laughed. "I heard you. From the ring."
Alric's tone sobered a little as he held up the envelope. "You earned this. But the path you're heading into—it's not a stage or a tournament. It's real. Dangerous."
There was silence.
Alric set the envelope in Silver's hands. "You're stronger from two yours ago. Now I believe you are ready to make your own story."
Silver carefully opened it. Inside was his signed Hunter Exam card.
His name: Silver Curtis. Bold. Clean. Signed.
Rina touched his hand. "Just promise us—come back."
"I will," Silver said. "And I'll bring CineNova back too. I'll make it shine again."
Alric nodded. "We'll be selling it soon. It's time. But if you succeed…"
He trailed off.
Silver finished the thought: "I'll build a new one. Bigger. Better. A real portal to every dream out there."
And that night, the Curtis family didn't cry.
They didn't mourn.
They simply stood together—quiet, proud, and ready for what came next.
---
The airport was bustling, filled with the whir of suitcase wheels, the blur of passengers hurrying to terminals, and the occasional intercom announcement overhead.
Silver stood at the security gate, with a modest spiderman backpack. His orange tank top peeked from under a light jacket, and he wore the same blue cargo pants and a new pair of black shoes, a gift from his parents after winning the tournament.
Behind him, the departure gate to a new life.
In front of him—his parents.
Alric Curtis wore a clean button-down shirt, his expression stiff but his eyes unreadably full. His voice was hoarse, still recovering from the shouting at the tournament two days prior.
Rina had both hands clutched over her chest, her lips pressed into a tremulous line. She looked like she wanted to say a thousand things but feared if she started, she wouldn't stop.
Silver gave a soft smile. "So… I guess this is it."
Alric stepped forward first. "Remember what we said. You've got strength. But it's your mind—and your heart—that'll decide what kind of man you become out there."
Silver nodded solemnly.
Rina walked forward and hugged him tightly. "Write to us when you can. Even if it's just a line. Just so we know you're okay."
Silver chuckled. "Come on, Mom. You know I'll be fine."
She pulled back, teary-eyed but smiling. "You'd better be. I didn't raise you just for you to get eaten by a beast or blown up by a who knows what in a cave."
Alric smirked. "Let him go, Rina. He's got worlds to conquer."
Alric gave one last lookat him. Then, slowly, he pulled out an old, slightly bent CineNova ticket stub—the kind they used to hand out during classic double features.
He pressed it into Silver's hand. "Here, a reminder of home."
Silver stared at the stub for a moment. Then nodded, jaw clenched.
Silver took a deep breath, turned, and walked toward security.
He didn't look back.
But behind him, Rina clung to Alric's arm.
"He's really gone," she whispered.
Alric gave a dry swallow and held up the stub.
"No," he said quietly. "He's just starting the reel."