Chapter 9
At the Monster Hunter Training Camp.
The morning sun pierced through the gentle fog that hung over the training fields. Golden light brushed across the faces of the young recruits standing in formation—future Monster Hunters, humanity's last hope.
The birdsong slowly faded as the heavy footsteps of Jake Hill echoed on the damp earth.
He stood upon a stone podium, staring into hundreds of expectant eyes.
The wind blew hard, tugging at the Indosvara flag that fluttered behind him.
Jake drew a deep breath, then shouted with commanding force:
"Listen!! You are the future Monster Hunters! You are the last hope of mankind!"
His voice thundered across the stone walls, echoing deep into every chest that heard it.
"Here, we stand together as one. We share a single purpose—to protect humanity, and to annihilate every monster that stole our peace!"
He took a step forward. His gaze was sharp, but within it lived an old wound that never healed.
"Today marks your first day. I expect you to train well—and to know each other."
The wind swirled gently around Jake, as if paying respect to his words.
"You've studied theory for two months—monster anatomy, their weak points, and combat strategy. But now…"
His voice deepened.
"Now comes the real test. You'll form groups—and carry out missions together."
Jake scanned their faces one by one.
In each of them, he saw a flicker—of hope, fear, and an unfinished resolve.
At the corner of the field, Sai stood leaning against a wooden post with several senior Indosvara soldiers.
A fine rain began to fall, soft against their armor.
Sai watched the recruits with cold, distant eyes.
"Do you see it?" he murmured. "Their faces tell the story already—how terrifying the monsters truly are. How deep the scars they carry."
He pointed toward the line where Ryu, Evelyn, and Leon stood firm—faces that had once witnessed the hellfire that devoured Indosvara's capital city.
"They're different," Sai continued quietly. "Those who've never seen monsters up close… will never understand what kind of horror they are."
He turned to the others—young faces still unscarred by death.
"To them, becoming a Monster Hunter is just a way to eat, a means to survive the famine."
One of the soldiers beside him frowned.
"Then… they won't last long, will they?"
Sai shook his head slowly. His eyes were calm, but razor-sharp.
"I don't know. Intentions can change. So can people."
The words lingered in the air, like a faint curse carried by the wind.
Back on the field, the sky began to shift.
Dark clouds rolled in fast, devouring the sunlight until the ground turned gray. Distant thunder rumbled.
Jake glanced up at the sky, brows furrowing.
"The weather's turning… not good," he muttered.
The air grew heavy. The wind carried the scent of iron and wet earth—a warning of a coming storm.
"All units!" Jake shouted. "The storm's building fast—we'll postpone training! Fall back to your shelters and wait it out!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The synchronized voices of hundreds roared back.
The formation broke apart in orderly haste.
Jake stepped aside, walking beneath the strengthening rain, until a familiar figure approached him.
"Jake," Sai said quietly, his tone grave. "Do you think… all of this could be connected to Rei?"
Jake's eyes narrowed.
He froze, startled by the name.
Sai stepped closer, voice low and steady.
"Doesn't it make sense? If all these disasters trace back to Rei?"
"She's the only one who ever had the power to raise monsters."
His tone darkened with bitterness and old pain.
"Remember? Rei once summoned two monsters… to save us."
Jake fell silent. His thoughts raced like lightning.
"You're saying Rei might still be out there… somewhere?"
Sai nodded. "Yes. No one else would be insane enough to want to destroy humanity."
Jake looked up toward the storm-black sky.
"Then… we can't afford to relax."
Lightning tore across the heavens, illuminating their faces for a split second.
Rain poured harder—like heaven's wrath unleashed upon the earth.
"Even if I can't feel her energy…" Jake thought, "…this is too deliberate to be coincidence. Something—someone—is moving the strings. And that someone… is Rei Celestia."
He raised his face to the sky, rain streaming down his cheeks like tears.
"Sai! Take a patrol beyond the walls of Sena City with the Indosvara squad. We haven't seen monsters for two months—it's far too quiet."
Sai nodded firmly.
"Understood. I'll leave at once."
He mounted his horse and disappeared into the downpour, leaving Jake standing still, his coat and hair drenched in the storm.
"Rei… where are you?" he whispered.
Inside the Monster Hunter dormitory.
Ryu and Leon sat in their modest room with two bunk beds. The wooden walls were damp with humidity, and the sound of rain drumming on the tin roof filled the air.
Two other men were unpacking their belongings. One was tall and lean; the other shorter, muscular. They turned and smiled warmly.
"Hey, what are your names?" the tall one asked, offering a hand.
Ryu looked at him briefly.
"My name's Ryu."
Leon added, "I'm Leon."
Both men nodded.
"Nice to meet you," they said in unison.
The shorter one grinned.
"I'm Kael. And this is Elias."
They sat on the lower bunks, the air quickly filling with easy camaraderie.
"So," Elias asked curiously, "are you two from the Indosvara capital? The one destroyed by the meteor… and the monsters?"
Ryu's eyes dimmed for a moment before he replied flatly,
"Yes."
Leon nodded, his face shadowed.
Ryu asked in return,
"What about you? You don't seem local."
Kael chuckled softly, scratching his head.
"How'd you know?"
"Your… aura," Ryu said simply.
Leon added, "Your faces aren't like the Indosvara tribes."
Kael nodded slowly.
"We came from far beyond this island. We were merchants once. But after the cataclysm… everything was lost."
Elias lowered his head.
"There were three of us. Our friend didn't make it. We failed to save him."
The words were soft—but they struck deep.
Ryu and Leon exchanged a glance, silent understanding between them.
"We joined the Monster Hunters," Kael continued, "so that failure would never happen again. To protect others… so they wouldn't share our fate."
Silence filled the room.
Ryu stared at the floor.
Memories surged like a black tide—his brother's torn body, the screams, the smell of burning flesh—everything returning with merciless clarity.
His body trembled.
He covered his mouth, trying to hold back the nausea rising from within.
Leon noticed. He quickly reached under the bed.
"Ryu! Here—"
Ryu bent forward, shaking violently.
"Ugh—"
The sound of retching filled the room.
Elias and Kael looked on, alarmed and speechless.
Leon said softly, "Kael, Elias… we've lost family too. Slaughtered by monsters. We know that pain."
Kael lowered his head.
"I'm sorry for your loss…"
Ryu slowly lifted his face, his eyes red.
"No. Monsters aren't terrifying."
The others turned to him, confused.
Ryu forced a weak smile.
"I just… caught a cold, maybe."
Leon turned away, hiding the tears in his eyes. He knew—Ryu was forcing himself to stay strong.
"I joined the Monster Hunters," Ryu said louder, voice firm, "because I'll kill every single monster that walks this earth—until none remain."
Kael suddenly grinned and threw his arm over Ryu's shoulder.
"Then we're comrades. Same goal, same fire."
Beyond the gates of Sena City.
The rain fell mercilessly. Sai and the Indosvara riders pushed through mud and shattered ruins, the world drowned in gray fog.
"Stay close! Maintain formation!" Sai shouted, his voice nearly lost in the storm.
Lightning flashed—revealing fleeting silhouettes of broken towers and crumbling stone.
Then Sai saw it.
A figure.
A woman, standing atop the ruins.
A long black cloak hid her form, her hair streaming wild in the wind.
She didn't move.
She simply watched them from afar.
Sai's breath caught.
"Who… is that?"
He raised his voice.
"Hey! You there! Who are you?! What are you doing out here?!"
The soldiers behind him turned, confused.
"Sai, who are you yelling at?"
Sai pointed toward the ruins.
"That woman—on the rocks—"
But when he looked again—
She was gone.
"What…?" He frowned, scanning the haze.
"Where did she—?"
The others exchanged uncertain glances.
"Sai, there's no one there. You're seeing things."
"No! I'm sure I saw her!" Sai barked. "Something was there."
He stared at the ruins now cloaked in fog and flickering thunderlight.
A chill crawled into his chest—cold, but strangely familiar.
"Who are you…?" he whispered.
Another bolt of lightning ripped across the sky—
and for a brief instant, he saw it:
a glowing purple sigil etched upon the rock where she had stood.
The wind died.
The world went silent.
And within that silence… a faint voice—soft, feminine, almost impossible to hear:
"...Sai... it's been a long time..."
Sai froze, eyes wide.
"...Rei...?"
Lightning struck again—and the voice vanished.
Rain crashed down once more.
The soldiers called out to Sai, who stood motionless, face pale.
"Sai! Let's move!"
But inside his mind, that voice echoed on—gentle yet filled with dread.
"What you've seen... is only the beginning of the awakening."
Sai looked up at the storming sky, where purple lightning pulsed like a heartbeat.
And for the first time since the great war two months ago—
he felt fear.
To be continued...