Night had fallen over the city, but the glow of mana painted the streets in hues of deep blue and violet. Sung Jinwoo stood on the edge of the tallest building in the industrial district, shadows pooling around him like silent guardians. Beside him, the boy's aura pulsed steadily, brighter than before, responding to every shift in the surrounding energy.
Igris hovered at his side, eyes scanning the increasing mana fluctuations. "Master, the ES Rank beasts are expanding their movements. Their coordination with the S Rank clusters is now more refined. They are learning from the hunters' positioning and adapting in real time. This is a deliberate test, not random aggression."
Jinwoo's gaze swept across the streets below. Emergency personnel and civilians had been evacuated, guided by hunters who remained vigilant. His friends, fellow hunters who had fought alongside him in countless battles, were stationed strategically across the district. Kim Sang-ho, Cha Hae-in, and other trusted hunters coordinated defensive positions, aware that the true threat lay not in immediate attacks but in observation and testing.
"Everyone is in position?" Jinwoo asked quietly.
Sang-ho responded from a rooftop across the street. "Yes, Jinwoo. Everyone is ready. The ES Rank swarm is spreading, but we're holding formation. Civilians are safe. Your command will be followed."
Beru hovered beside Jinwoo, wings tucked close, eyes glowing faintly. Even the shadows beneath him shifted, forming defensive patterns that extended across the district.
From the south, the ES Rank Ember Warden Squadron advanced with intelligence and precision. Its molten eyes scanned for the boy's aura, subtly testing the hunters' reactions while avoiding unnecessary confrontation. It moved alongside two new ES Rank entities, each radiating a unique, oppressive energy that distorted the air around them.
System Message: Detected Entities – Ember Warden Squadron Reinforced, Type ES Rank Beasts
The boy stirred, sensing the intelligence and coordination of the creatures. "Master, they are analyzing us… learning faster than before. They are anticipating hunter positions and predicting movements."
Jinwoo crouched beside him, hand resting lightly on his shoulder. "Exactly. This is why patience and observation are crucial. Every adjustment they make is data. Every step is preparation. ES Rank mastery is about understanding, not immediate combat."
Igris added, "Master, the S Rank hunters are maintaining formation, but the ES Rank beasts are testing the limits. They are learning coordination faster than expected. Agnorath's influence is subtle but evident in their behavior."
"Good," Jinwoo murmured. "Every movement strengthens our knowledge and prepares us for escalation. Shadows, monitor every action. Beru, track all anomalies. We act only when the timing is perfect."
In the industrial district, Jinwoo's family and closest allies observed from secure positions. His sister and her children were safe within a protected zone, shielded from the mana surges by temporary barriers created by other hunters. Cha Hae-in remained beside Jinwoo in a hidden rooftop position, ready to assist or protect the boy if needed. Friends who had fought alongside him, from seasoned hunters to younger allies, maintained their focus, respecting the master's strategy and anticipating the eventual engagement.
Even the boy's aura responded to the presence of the ES Rank beasts, growing stronger as he instinctively drew power from the area. Each flicker of energy reinforced Jinwoo's own ES Rank abilities, awakening dormant potential in his shadows.
Far away in his shadowed realm, Agnorath's presence stirred. He had already reached X Rank, but the energy waves emanating from the coordinated ES Rank beasts fed his growing power.
System Message: Agnorath – Current Rank: X Rank → Gradually Progressing Toward XX Rank
He extended influence over the reinforced Ember Warden Squadron, fine-tuning their coordination while analyzing Sung Jinwoo's response. Every hesitation, every defensive shift, every small adjustment from Jinwoo's shadows provided new insight. Agnorath's progression was deliberate, slow, and precise. The leap to XX Rank would come only after meticulous preparation, just as Jinwoo had anticipated.
Back in the city, the ES Rank beasts began small, controlled skirmishes. S Rank clusters tested their reactions, but Jinwoo's shadows moved instinctively, intercepting attacks before they could escalate. The boy's aura pulsed in harmony with the ES Rank entities, subtly counteracting their movements and providing Jinwoo with an almost intuitive understanding of their next actions.
Jinwoo spoke quietly to his allies. "Observe and adapt. Every action, every pattern, every interaction is a lesson. ES Rank mastery is not about immediate victories but understanding all variables. We are preparing, and timing is everything."
By midnight, the district was alive with energy currents. ES Rank beasts moved in precise formations, testing hunters while remaining aware of civilian safety. Jinwoo's shadows expanded, probing every energy fluctuation. Beru hovered silently, observing, while the boy's aura pulsed steadily, signaling awareness and preparation.
Jinwoo whispered to himself, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Patience. Every pulse, every shadow, every alignment is preparation. The ES Rank threshold has been crossed, but mastery is not complete. Agnorath grows, and so must we."
In the distance, the Ember Warden Squadron adjusted formations, intelligence increasing, testing the limits of the hunters' strategy. Sung Jinwoo's path toward full ES Rank mastery continued, deliberate, measured, and ready for the challenges yet to come.