The night after Lunaria's first solo extermination mission passed without dreams.
That, in itself, was unusual.
He usually dreamed—soft, fragmented memories from a life that no longer belonged to him, faces without names, warmth without context. But this time, sleep took him cleanly, like sinking into still water. When he woke, the world felt sharper, quieter, as though something inside him had aligned.
Lunaria sat up slowly, moonlight hair sliding down his back, ribbon still neatly tied at his neck. Dawn light filtered faintly through the window, painting the small apartment in pale gold.
"…Good morning," he whispered.
[Sleep quality: acceptable.]
"That's enough for me," he replied gently.
He rose, stretched with careful elegance, and went through his routine with almost meditative precision. Washing his face. Brushing his hair until it lay smooth and straight. Adjusting his uniform until every seam rested exactly where it should. When he finally picked up his sword, the familiar weight grounded him.
He paused, looking at his reflection.
Bronze-ranked.
Still.
"…It won't be for long," he murmured.
[Your probability of advancement remains high.]
"I'm glad," Lunaria said softly. "I don't like standing still."
---
The mission hall was louder today.
Hunters clustered around the boards in groups, voices overlapping as new dungeon activity reports flickered into existence. Several gates had destabilized overnight—minor breaks, nothing catastrophic, but enough to keep bronze and iron-ranked hunters busy.
Lunaria entered quietly.
Still, the room shifted.
Not dramatically.
Subtly.
Eyes lifted. Conversations slowed. A few hunters glanced at the mission results display where yesterday's completions still lingered faintly—and then back at him.
Solo extermination.
Twenty targets.
F Rank.
Completed.
He ignored the attention and approached the counter.
The receptionist this time was different—a young man with neat hair and a professional expression. He smiled politely when Lunaria placed his badge down.
"Good morning, Hunter Vale."
"Good morning," Lunaria replied.
"Looking for another mission?"
"Yes, please."
The man scanned the badge. "Coin balance: five hundred and twenty. Rank: bronze. Mission eligibility remains limited to F-rank and select E-rank support requests."
"That's fine."
"There's a new extermination cluster," the receptionist continued. "Multiple F-rank sub-dungeons in the southern residential ruins. Lower monster density, but spread across several locations."
Lunaria considered briefly. "…How many targets?"
"Varies. Each mission pays between one hundred and one hundred fifty coins."
"…I'll take two," Lunaria said softly.
The receptionist paused. "Back-to-back?"
"Yes."
"…Very well."
The badge glowed as the missions were imprinted.
[Mission accepted: Extermination – F Rank (x2).]
[Estimated Total Reward: 250 Coins.]
[Silver Rank Eligibility: Locked.]
[Requirement: 1000 Coins.]
Lunaria nodded. "Thank you."
As he turned to leave, a hunter stepped into his path.
He was taller than Lunaria, broad-shouldered, his bronze badge worn and scratched. His expression was not hostile—but not friendly either.
"You really do everything alone," the hunter said.
Lunaria blinked. "…Is that a problem?"
"No," the man replied after a moment. "Just… unusual."
"I'm used to it."
The hunter studied him, gaze lingering for a second too long before he cleared his throat. "Be careful out there."
"I will," Lunaria replied sincerely.
He stepped past without another word.
[Social tension detected.]
"I don't mind," Lunaria whispered. "As long as no one gets in the way."
---
The southern ruins were quieter than the industrial sector.
Collapsed apartment buildings stood like skeletal remains, streets choked with debris and overgrown with distorted plant life. Warning pylons hummed faintly at each dungeon entrance, their glow reflecting off broken glass and rusted metal.
Lunaria approached the first gate alone.
As before, he knelt and pressed his badge to the activation sigil.
[Hunter badge verified.]
[Mission imprint complete.]
[Entry authorized.]
The dungeon pulled him in.
---
This one was darker.
A narrow, winding structure resembling the interior of a collapsed building, corridors twisted unnaturally by dungeon influence. The air smelled damp, heavy with decay.
[Hostiles detected.]
"…I hear them," Lunaria murmured.
F-rank goblin variants lurked here—smaller than orcs, quicker, more opportunistic. They scurried through the shadows, whispering and chittering as they circled.
Lunaria exhaled slowly.
He did not remove his ribbon.
Not yet.
When the first goblin lunged, Lunaria stepped aside and cut cleanly through its neck. The body fell without sound. He moved immediately, blade flashing in tight, efficient motions.
No wasted steps.
No hesitation.
The corridor filled with brief flashes of steel and falling bodies.
[Targets eliminated: Goblin x7.]
"…They're nervous," Lunaria observed.
[They recognize danger.]
"That's good," he replied. "It makes them careless."
The dungeon ended quickly.
Too quickly.
By the time Lunaria exited, not a single goblin remained.
[Mission complete.]
[Coins gained: +120.]
[Current Coin Balance: 640.]
Still bronze.
Still not enough.
---
The second dungeon lay only three blocks away.
This one opened into a wide, open space—a corrupted playground where twisted metal frames and shattered slides stood half-buried in blackened soil. Aberrant insects crawled over every surface, wings buzzing softly in the dim light.
Lunaria frowned faintly.
"…That's unpleasant."
[Discomfort acknowledged.]
He stepped forward anyway.
The aberrant flies attacked in swarms, descending from above in chaotic patterns. Lunaria moved fluidly, sword carving precise paths through the air. Wings fell. Bodies split. Mana dispersed.
One fly managed to graze his sleeve.
Lunaria reacted instantly—twisting, cutting it down before it could retreat.
[Damage: superficial.]
"I know," he said quietly.
As the swarm thinned, larger shapes emerged.
Mutated beasts—still F-rank, but sturdier.
Lunaria paused.
Then he reached up.
He untied his ribbon.
The fabric slipped free, drifting to the ground.
His hair fell loose.
The shift was immediate.
His movements sharpened, elegance turning lethal. He advanced without hesitation, sword flashing faster now, cuts deeper, angles more decisive.
The beasts did not last long.
When the final monster collapsed, silence reclaimed the playground.
[Mission complete.]
[Coins gained: +130.]
[Current Coin Balance: 770.]
Lunaria stood still for a moment, breathing steady.
"…Seven hundred and seventy," he murmured.
[Progress remains acceptable.]
"Yes," he replied softly. "But I need more."
---
By the time Lunaria returned to Hunters College, dusk had fallen.
The mission hall was quieter now, hunters filtering out after long days. He reported his completions efficiently, accepting the coin transfer without comment.
A few instructors watched him from a distance.
They did not speak.
Lunaria did not look at them.
He returned to the sparring field instead.
Alone.
He practiced until the lights dimmed, movements slow and deliberate, refining balance and flow. His sword sang softly with each motion, a whisper of steel and intent.
"…I'm not there yet," he whispered.
[You are approaching a threshold.]
"That's alright," Lunaria said gently. "I'll reach it properly."
When he finally stopped, his body was warm but not tired, his breathing calm.
He retrieved his ribbon and tied it back neatly.
---
That night, Lunaria sat by his window, badge resting in his palm.
Bronze.
For now.
"…One more day," he murmured. "Maybe two."
[Silver rank remains contingent on coin total.]
"I know," he replied softly. "I'll earn it."
Outside, the city lights flickered like distant stars.
Inside, Lunaria Vale smiled faintly.
He was still bronze.
Still underestimated.
Still quiet.
But step by step, coin by coin, he was approaching the shadow of silver—and when he reached it, the world would no longer have the luxury of overlooking him.