Ferma's Change of Heart
Ferma hated Zien's party.
He figured a bunch of inexperienced students challenging a 5th-rank gate wasn't about skill—it was all star power. And in the train exam, everyone except Zien had basically flunked his strategy.
'But...'
Still, after watching the gate battle unfold, Ferma had no choice but to acknowledge the assault team. Chris risking his life for his comrades. Demona fighting until she was on the brink of death. And Lucia's prowess.
"Impressive."
Ferma muttered.
Dotton and Kella felt the same.
"Indeed."
"Yeah."
Zien's assault team was stronger, more seasoned, and utterly sincere than they'd imagined. As the mood shifted, Marceline—who'd been rooting for them from the start—slyly lifted the corner of her mouth.
'Heh heh, sales pitch over?'
She couldn't wait to see Zien make his entrance. With his performance on top of all this, Marceline was convinced even Ferma would become a fan.
'It's really something.'
Zien's party had this magnetic pull. A force that made even haters cheer without thinking. Marceline gazed at the screen. She genuinely hoped for Zien's victory.
Trait.
The inhuman power possessed by hunters.
Zien already knew the trait held by Rebellion's leader. Its terror, and how badly it matched up against him.
'No chance fighting in tight spaces.'
He had to lure the enemy into an open area somehow.
Clank.
The rooftop iron door was locked. But to Zien, doors were no obstacle.
Slash.
In one stroke, he cleaved the iron door apart.
The pitch-black sword. Black Fragrance. A magic tool evolved in power as the saber’s mana grew. Plus Zien's stigma assimilation rate was 97%. The blade's destructive force was immense.
"Whoa, what the hell are you... Wait! T-take me with you!"
Yume gawked at the sight.
She was fully dependent on Zien now. It made sense. Rebellion members in this auction house were after her life, and Zien was the only one protecting her. Their roles had reversed.
"Listen up, Yume."
At the rooftop, before opening the door, Zien turned to her.
"No matter what, don't get involved."
His voice was calm and cold—more warning than concern. If Yume died, the quest would seal Zien's mana, dooming the gate clear.
"Your life comes first."
Truth be told, Yume's skills would just get in his way. But.
"You..."
His attitude shook her voice.
Bloodshot eyes.
Romina and Karsen had only catnapped for about three hours. The stakes were huge. Students tackling a 5th-rank gate clear. And the participants? None other than Zien and the Arcana party. Amid the tension, neither could sleep.
"What the hell is with her?"
Romina rasped.
"What now?"
Karsen replied listlessly.
Romina pointed at Yume on the screen.
"She was all sassy at first, but now she's way too obedient. And those eyes—what's up with them?"
"What's wrong with her eyes?"
"Ugh, you're clueless."
Romina wasn't an examiner.
She and Karsen weren't at the Gate Management Bureau either—they were at home. So instead of monitoring the raid, she was kicking back like it was a drama binge.
"It's so weird."
Romina crunched on snacks.
Then chugged a drink. Only then did she continue.
"Ugly guys misunderstand, and hot ones are oblivious?"
While Romina got lost in the "drama," Karsen's focus was the raid's difficulty.
'...Top-tier among 5th-rank gates. Too tough.'
Rebellion.
Their hunters were all powerhouses. Especially Iruka—even Demona, a top hunter, couldn't touch him.
'And if Rebellion's leader joins in...'
No matter how he sliced it, this was unfairly brutal for a 5th-rank gate. Karsen sighed.
'...It all comes down to combat in the end.'
They'd shown everything else. Now it was time to prove raw saber fighting power—the core of it all. The gate's fate hinged on Zien's battle.
'I'm counting on you, Zien!'
Karsen couldn't calm his pounding heart.
Crimson Blood
No one knew his real name. He was known only by his moniker. That's why the nameless hunter built Rebellion—and only its members, sharing his pain, knew the true reason.
"Contact's late."
No word yet from his comrades. By now, Bruno and Iruka's sides should be done.
"...Damn, this guy's insane."
Sin Ha-seong's cracked voice.
At Jeokhyeol's feet lay Sin Ha-seong, drenched in blood.
"Shit."
Gripping his broken spear, Sin Ha-seong glared.
"Not even using your trait..."
A humiliating defeat for him.
But Jeokhyeol passed by without a word, as if he wasn't worth responding to. Frustrated, Sin Ha-seong asked.
"Why not kill me?"
"You're just a chess piece."
Like she had been.
Jeokhyeol stared at his hand with a stony face. The memory surfacing was a nightmare.
[...It's too late now.]
A vivid voice echoed suddenly.
Jeokhyeol didn't shake it off. Even a nightmare was why Rebellion played its dirge. Forgetting it terrified him more than the torment.
"...Nice weather."
He murmured habitually.
He approached the wall. The auction house's stunning glass facade. Beyond it, Rain City's skyline. He liked the rain washing the gray city.
'Victory's already decided.'
Climbing the auction house stairs, Iruka pocketed the Blood Jade. The moment it reached Rebellion leader Jeokhyeol's hand, it was over.
On the 6th-floor stairs, two figures awaited: a man and a woman.
"Told you. He'd come this way."
One was Isabel, red gloves on.
"Amazing! If not for you, Isabel, we'd have failed the quest."
The other was grinning Kua beside her.
"Those clothes—you with the Hunter Association?"
At Iruka's question, Isabel conjured a fireball.
"Eh, something like that."
With her answer, she wound up like a pitcher. Then hurled it full force. The fireball screamed toward Iruka with deadly whoosh.
Whoosh!
"I see."
But.
The fireball halted before Iruka. His trait, Telekinesis, didn't just handle objects.
"Then let's test your skills."
The fireball flew back at Isabel—faster than her throw.
"Danger!"
Kua dashed in, deploying a water barrier. An explosion boomed, steam billowing.
Boom! Hiss!
"No talent at the Association, I suppose."
Two-on-one, but Iruka was confident. A 5th-rank hunter. Telekinesis was just one trait—not his all. His second, oddly fitting, was Hand-to-Hand Combat.
"Sending kids like you."
If Sin Ha-seong got spear bonuses from his trait, Iruka had full buffs for bare-knuckle fighting.
Thud!
Iruka kicked off the ground in a flash, clocking Kua's jaw. No Bruno-level power, but blinding speed. Kua's head spun.
"Gah! Mmph! Blegh!"
Iruka's concussion shot hit dead-on.
"You!"
Isabel aimed her index finger at Iruka. No throws? Fine—explosive magic tool it was.
"Too slow."
Iruka grabbed her wrist, twisting it aside.
"Give up. You're 4th-rank at best. You can't beat me."
Even as Isabel struggled against his warning grip, Iruka slammed her down.
Thud.
This was Zone 1, home of the martial arts Zien taught Isabel and Kua. And Iruka had a close-combat trait. Fighting him up close was suicide.
"Isabel!"
Kua screamed as Isabel writhed from the impact.
"Nngh!"
Experience gap and bad matchup.
No path to victory for Isabel and Kua.
'But we can't back down...'
Kua bit her lip hard.
Letting Iruka go here wasted the whole assault team's efforts.
'If only that skill would... activate.'
Rare among sabers, some had innate skills. Kua was one.
But unlike magic tools, skills weren't user-friendly.
Great power demanded great cost—and Kua couldn't control hers freely. Even the trigger was vague.
'Hunter's trait.'
Kua's mind raced calmly.
'The situation hunters dread most!'
In Battle Survival, she'd once purged a witch with Lucia. A rampaging ability user. Mana overload from power surge—the hunters' worst nightmare.
"Got it."
Decision made, Kua summoned water. If he controlled objects, overwhelm him with sheer volume.
Splash!
She wrapped Isabel in a water orb, then surged a mini-tsunami at Iruka. But Kua misjudged.
"Kua!"
Isabel sensed danger and yelled, but too late. That scale was within Iruka's range.
"...Just this much."
The onrushing wave halted like a dam, then crashed back at Kua. Life-or-death moment. Everyone inside and monitoring outside held their breath.