Leon was having a dream.
In the dream.
He was standing on the scorched earth of the Ancient Forest, surrounded by raging flames and skeletal remains, while that high-rank Anjanath stood proudly amidst the fire, like an eternal, unyielding monster.
Leon charged, raising the blood-stained Flower Dagger high, swinging once more for that strike that would cleave through destiny—
But this time, the dagger snapped like paper.
'I...'
'...am too weak...'
Leon snapped his eyes open, his heart still pounding violently as if the nightmare within the flames hadn't yet ended.
Above him was the pale yellow fabric of a tent; he could smell the faint scent of medicinal herbs and roasted meat.
He instinctively tried to clench his fist, but his hand was empty—no dagger, no monster, only the pain in his chest to remind him.
It hadn't been a dream. It was a battle that had actually happened.
"Meow!! You're awake! You're awake!" Dumpling's shrill voice cried out nearby. "You're finally awake!! Rookie, you've been unconscious for a whole day, meow!"
"A whole day... What about the quest..." Leon struggled to sit up, a dull ache radiating from his chest.
He couldn't help but frown. Looking down, he saw his body was wrapped in bandages. His hunter breastplate had already been removed, and a warm medicinal pack was pressed against his chest, with several green bottles of Potion sitting nearby.
"Don't move around. You have three broken ribs and extensive second-degree burns."
A deep male voice spoke as the tent flap was pulled back. A hunter wearing a steel helmet entered with a longsword on his back; it was the man who had rescued them.
Now, Leon could see him clearly and immediately recognized his identity—the Sword Master.
As a member of the First Fleet, the Sword Master possessed incredible hunting skills and was an enigmatic figure; few had ever seen the face beneath his helmet.
"Rookie, why didn't you run? If I'd been even a few seconds later, you'd be nothing but ashes." The Sword Master looked down at Leon, his cold tone carrying a sense of scrutiny.
"Thank you..." Leon's voice was hoarse. He braced himself and nodded to the man. "If I had chosen to run, none of us would have made it."
After a moment of silence, the Sword Master spoke slowly. "I've seen your hunter application..."
"The deadline for the fledgling hunter quest has already passed. According to regulations, your candidacy is considered forfeited."
Leon started, a small frown appearing on his face. He didn't argue, knowing that rules were rules, but he wondered if there was any chance for a remedy.
"However—" The Sword Master glanced toward the tent exit. "Someone pleaded for you."
A second later, the tent flap was pulled open once more.
Flora walked in.
She wore light attire that accentuated her toned figure. Though her shoulder was still bandaged and she looked a bit worse for wear, she stood tall with a resolute gaze.
Flora stood beside the Sword Master and said to Leon, "I've vouched for your hunter certification."
"Indeed. So, I will go speak with the Commander on your behalf." The Sword Master gave a short huff. "Besides proper preparation, courage is indispensable for a hunter. I believe you have the courage to be a hunter—you simply lack discipline."
Flora looked at Leon and said sternly, "That said, you must remain at the base and undergo training first. You'll only begin hunting once you've earned my approval!"
"I accept." Leon nodded without a trace of hesitation.
He understood how dangerous the world of Monster Hunter was. Bravado and a system wouldn't be enough to survive.
As soon as he spoke.
Dumpling suddenly hopped onto the bed, waving his short paws excitedly. "That's my master, meow!! That's how desperate and cool you should be, meow!"
"Give it a rest." Coco entered the tent, setting down a platter of roasted meat while grumbling, "You can't survive on hot-headedness alone. You're lucky to be alive this time."
"You cold-hearted cat, can't you say something encouraging? Meow!" Dumpling put his paws on his hips, huffing. "You saw it too! The rookie almost got eaten by that Anjanath to cover our escape, meow!"
"I'm just speaking the truth." Coco glanced at Leon and said calmly, "Just because you survived doesn't mean you're worthy of the title 'Hunter' yet."
"So mean..." Dumpling shrank back, muttering softly, "He really is just like his owner, meow."
"I heard that." Coco's tail flicked as he warned, "Say another word, and I'll tie you to a pile of Wyvern Droppings."
"No, no, no! I'm shutting up, meow!" Dumpling immediately crouched down with his hands over his head like a surrendering soldier.
"Enough, stop bickering." The Sword Master interrupted the two cats. He turned to Leon. "Just follow Flora for now. Once you have her approval, come find me, and I will personally certify you as a 1-star hunter."
Flora walked to Leon's bedside, crossing her arms. "First, you must learn monster identification, emergency medical care, trap setting..."
As she rattled off the list, Leon endured the pain in his chest and replied, "Understood..."
His head was spinning, but he knew that without improving his strength, he wouldn't survive long in this world, let alone find a way back home.
Flora nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes, though she kept her voice cold. "If you dare slack off, you'll never hunt again as long as you live!"
Hearing this, Dumpling wiped some sweat from his brow.
"You need training too." Coco shot a cold glance at Dumpling. "And I'll be the one teaching you."
"Huh?! I-I'm a Felyne, meow!" Dumpling's tail stood straight up in protest. "Aren't we just supposed to be cute and handle logistics?"
"You are a Palico now!" Coco said coldly. "What use is a hunter's cat if it just runs away? You need to learn how to set traps, use items, play the horn..."
Dumpling froze on the spot.
The Sword Master seemed accustomed to this dynamic. He pulled back the tent flap to leave, pausing for one final word. "Rest up. Report to the training area as soon as you've recovered."
He paused for half a second before stepping out. "Don't let your guard down. The battles ahead will only get harder."
Leon replied solemnly, "Yes, Senior."
The tent fell into a brief silence.
After a moment, Flora looked at Leon quietly and suddenly asked, "Do you have any regrets?"
"Hmm?" Leon looked up. "Regret saving you? Or becoming a hunter?"
"You could have run, but you chose to stay." Flora's voice wasn't heavy, but she was incredibly serious.
After a short silence, Leon answered softly, "I don't regret it. Because more than death, I fear... running away."
"Thank you." With that, Flora turned and left the tent, leaving Leon alone with Dumpling.
Shortly after, the medical team from Astera brought Leon back to his quarters.
A detailed examination by the doctors revealed over ten fractures and extensive burns across his skin.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Leon didn't plan on using his points as long as conventional treatment worked.
He didn't want to rely on the system; he wanted the recovery process to serve as a reminder that hunting was no game.
Though his injuries were severe, the Astera medical team was capable, and the addition of Potions accelerated the healing process.
Still, Leon was confined to bed for a week.
During his recovery, Leon became somewhat withdrawn. No matter how much Dumpling tried to be funny, Leon remained pensive, giving only distracted responses.
Escaping the jaws of a monster often left hunters with a lasting trauma, driving many to lay down their weapons for good.
Flora had been worried, but every time she visited, she saw no hesitation in Leon's eyes.
It turned out Leon hadn't wavered. The very first thing he did when he could finally walk was find Flora and request that his training begin immediately.
Now, Leon only wanted to become stronger—strong enough to feel secure in this strange world, strong enough to fear no monster, and strong enough to find his way back home!