Chapter 33 – Shadows of the Elite
The city had fallen into a restless calm after the convergence, but Biro Kael could feel that the balance was temporary. The fragment pulsed faintly, urging vigilance. Lyra walked beside him, her light orb shimmering softly as they moved through the bustling streets, now eerily quiet in places where the rifts had recently torn through reality.
"We handled the convergence," Lyra said quietly, eyes scanning the surroundings. "But something tells me it wasn't random. Someone is testing us… or preparing us."
Biro nodded, his senses still on high alert. "The fragment agrees. The energy signatures left behind were deliberate, orchestrated. These rifts… they aren't just monsters. They're lessons."
Their path led them toward the elevated districts, areas reserved for families and individuals of high talent. As they approached, the aura around them shifted subtly; it was thicker, denser, and infused with a quiet, pressing power. People here moved differently, instinctively aware of each other's presence. Eyes followed them, faint whispers trailing behind.
Biro's fragment hummed with recognition. Even at F-grade, he could sense the aura of multiple S- and SS-level individuals nearby. These were hunters, protectors, and scholars of the rifts, wielding powers that would have crushed him in his first life. Now, he observed, learned, and adapted. Every gesture, every movement, every subtle shift in energy became data, information to file away.
From a rooftop, a figure descended, landing gracefully before them. He was tall, slender, with a calm, confident presence that radiated authority. His eyes glimmered faintly with an internal aura, and Biro instinctively felt the power of an elite S-grade hunter.
"You survived the convergence," the figure said, voice smooth but edged with steel. "Impressive… for a novice."
Biro instinctively assessed him, fragment energy pulsing subtly in response. "Who are you?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral but firm.
"I am Cael Dorn," the hunter replied, a faint smirk appearing. "One of the city's elite rift guardians. And you… are a new anomaly. I've heard whispers—an F-grade fragment capable of handling a multi-rift convergence. You've drawn my attention."
Lyra stepped slightly in front of Biro, protective instinct flaring. "We don't want trouble," she warned, orb glowing brighter.
Cael's eyes softened, just slightly. "I mean no harm… for now. But the elite watch. We test newcomers not for cruelty, but to see if they can survive the escalating threat of rifts. If you can endure, if you can adapt, you may rise to walk among us."
Biro felt a thrill of excitement mixed with caution. This was the first true test from the upper echelon of the city's hunters. "Then we accept your observation. Show us the way," he said, fragment pulsing with anticipation.
Cael nodded, and with a swift motion, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving a subtle trace of energy for them to follow. Biro and Lyra exchanged a glance, then moved quickly, carefully tracking the faint trace. The journey led them to a secluded training zone, hidden above the city, where distorted rifts flickered faintly along the edges of reality. Here, elite hunters trained constantly, refining their powers and testing their instincts against monsters of rising strength.
"Here," Cael's voice echoed from above, though he was barely visible, "you will learn, adapt, and survive. But understand—this is no mere practice. These monsters will challenge you, and each encounter will push your fragment to respond in ways you cannot yet imagine."
Biro's pulse quickened as the first rift creature emerged—a quadrupedal beast, larger and more intelligent than any F-grade spawn. Its eyes glowed faintly, and Biro could feel it assessing them, calculating attack and defense. Instincts kicked in, fragment pulsing sharply. This was his first encounter under elite observation. Failure was not an option.
The battle was fierce. Biro dodged, rolled, and struck with fragment pulses that were more controlled than ever. Lyra provided support, illuminating vulnerabilities, coordinating movements instinctively with him. Every attack, every dodge, every surge of energy was analyzed, understood, and adapted.
After the monster collapsed, dispersing into shards of light, Cael descended, landing softly beside them. "You survived. But survival alone is not enough. Strategy, coordination, perception, and controlled adaptation… these are the marks of someone who can ascend. Keep training, keep hunting, and your fragment will respond."
Biro nodded, satisfaction mingled with determination. The fragment's hum was stronger now, responding to the elite lessons and the adrenaline of survival. Each step forward, each monster defeated, was a step closer to mastery.
Lyra smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're growing faster than I expected," she whispered, eyes shining with pride.
Biro glanced at her, warmth rising within him. "We grow together. The fragment… the monsters… the city… it's all part of the journey."
From the shadows above, Cael watched silently. A faint smirk lingered on his lips. "Interesting," he murmured. "The anomaly may yet become extraordinary. Let the rifts rise. Let the hunters observe. This fragment is only beginning to awaken."
The city breathed around them, alive with hidden energy, and Biro felt it all—the pulse of rifts, the presence of monsters, the whispers of elite hunters, and the latent potential of the fragment within him. He was no longer just a survivor. He was a rising hunter, a fragment of omniversal power in a world that would soon know his name.