A cold breeze slipped through the narrow alleys of Novara, carrying the scent of damp earth. Dim street lamps cast faint light on cracked walls while shadows stretched between the buildings.
Milo stood still, staring at the stranger before him the man with striking green hair. In his hand, a scythe glowed with an eerie green light.
The silence between them felt tense, as if something was about to break.
Milo kept his eyes fixed on the weapon, preparing for an attack.
But suddenly, the scythe vanished from the man's hand as if it had never existed.
The stranger stepped forward and placed his hand on Milo's shoulder, pulling him closer until their faces were inches apart.
A sly smile appeared on his face.
"Did you really think I was going to attack you?" he whispered mockingly.
Milo tried to push him away, but the man moved lightly aside, his movements smooth and effortless.
He stepped back calmly, green eyes gleaming.
"Wait… wait…" he said.
Milo frowned.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly.
"You'll know soon enough… because you're going to join us anyway."
He walked past Milo and disappeared into the darkness.
Milo remained standing there, staring at the empty alley.
It was too late to follow him.
He turned and began walking home, his mind full of questions.
The sounds of the city slowly surrounded him again markets, voices, and distant laughter.
Soon he reached his home and pushed the door open.
"I'm back…"
Before he could finish the sentence, a flying slipper shot toward his face. Milo tilted his head and dodged it.
Melina's angry voice echoed from the hallway.
"You idiot! Where have you been all this time? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Sorry for being late… I got held up," Milo replied.
Melina sighed.
"Alright… anyway, your dinner's ready."
But when she turned back, Milo had already gone upstairs.
Lying on his bed, Milo stared at the ceiling.
"You'll join us anyway…"
The words echoed in his mind.
Morning came quickly to Novara.
Across the city, academy graduates were preparing for the coming month, the final step before choosing their paths hunters, agencies, or the city guard.
The Hunters' Agency had opened free training rooms for beginners, attracting many new graduates.
Milo woke with the morning light, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and prepared a simple breakfast bread, an egg, and hot tea.
Melina soon joined him at the table.
"I have work today; I can't be late," she said.
Milo replied,
"The agencies have actually opened training rooms now private ones for beginners."
He added confidently,
"Hyrax will probably come and tell us to go train."
Melina laughed.
"Yeah, that's so like him."
Milo stood up.
"Anyway, I'll go get ready."
He smiled.
"Enjoy your break fast sis."
A little later, Milo left the house wearing his necklace.
Melina noticed but said nothing.
Outside, he saw Hyrax standing at the corner, waving excitedly.
"Miiilo! Meeeeelo!"
Hyrax ran toward him and pulled him into a crushing hug.
"I missed you, broooo!"
"Hyrax, stop it! You're embarrassing us," Milo muttered.
Then he added with a smirk,
"Anyway… I just saw you yesterday at the graduation, so don't overdo it."
Hyrax laughed.
"You're heading to the agency, right?"
"That's right. I'm heading there."
They shook hands firmly.
"Let's go then!" Hyrax said.
As they walked through the city, Hyrax spoke enthusiastically.
"One day, just remember this. Everyone will call me the Hero of Novara. I will become the Hero of Novara."
He looked at Milo.
"What about you?"
Milo touched the pendant around his neck.
"I want to explore the world. I want to face monsters and defeat them… that's why I want to join the guilds. I want to know what this world is hiding. For me, that would be really exciting. I'll reach the top that way."
Soon they arrived at the Guild Agency, where many new graduates had gathered.
Inside, a hostess greeted them and explained the training rooms.
The rooms were magical spaces accessed by special keys that opened gateways to other dimensions created purely for training.
Milo held the key tightly.
As he turned it, a glowing door appeared.
He opened it and stepped inside with Hyrax.
The space was vast, its walls glowing faintly with energy.
Suddenly a screen appeared before them, displaying the digital face of a girl.
"Welcome. I am Nova, the assistant system of the Guild Agency."
She explained the training options available.
"You can fight monsters, customize their difficulty, perform exercises, or spar with each other."
Milo and Hyrax looked at each other.
At the same time they said,
"Let's fight!"
Nova frowned.
"You idiots, out of all the advanced and unique options, you choose only to fight each other?!"
Milo smiled.
"Yes."
Nova sighed.
"Very well."
The room transformed, and a screen appeared showing:
MILO VS HYRAX
"Oh wow!" Hyrax laughed.
"This is beautiful," Milo said.
Nova cleared her throat.
"Alright, young men… get ready."
Milo took a fighting stance.
Hyrax smiled.
"go!"
Milo immediately charged his energy and dashed forward.
Hyrax released his own energy and stood firm like a mountain.
Milo struck his stomach, but Hyrax didn't move.
"Come on, show me what you've got," Hyrax said.
Milo flipped upside down and kicked toward Hyrax's neck.
Hyrax blocked the kick easily.
Milo used his hand on the ground to slide away from Hyrax's counterattack.
Then he launched himself upward and kicked Hyrax in the face.
"Awesome!" Nova shouted.
Hyrax grabbed Milo's foot.
"Damn!" Milo muttered.
Hyrax threw him aside and rushed forward with a punch.
Milo dodged and struck back with an elbow.
"you're Slow bro!"
"Damn, you got me!" Hyrax admitted.
Nova cheered loudly.
"You're amazing! Yay yay yay!"
Milo rushed forward again.
"Stop holding back!"
But Hyrax grabbed his hand.
"Hehehe, I got you, you loser."
Hyrax punched him in the stomach.
"This is really fun!" Hyrax laughed.
"Yeah!" Milo replied.
They exchanged blows rapidly punches, grabs, and kicks.
Finally Milo headbutted Hyrax, then struck him with a knee.
Hyrax fell onto his back.
Milo extended his hand.
"Get up."
Hyrax smiled.
"Thanks."
They stood again and charged their energy.
Both rushed forward and punched at the same time.
"Haaaaaaa!"
Elsewhere in the city, Lilithia sat quietly drinking water in sportswear.
"It's time for me to go."
Meanwhile, Ryo walked through the busy streets, smiling and flirting with passing girls, clearly enjoying the city more than training.
Back in the training room, Milo and Hyrax finally collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
Nova announced happily,
"Yyyou tied! Great job!"
Hyrax laughed while catching his breath.
"That was really awesome, bro."
"You're right," Milo replied.
Hyrax looked at him.
"But you didn't use your special ability."
Milo answered calmly,
"That ability is meant to protect those I care about, not for just trying it out. Also, I still don't have full control over it."
In another room of the agency, a man watched the training through cameras.
He wore a cap, thick brown hair visible beneath it, and a cigarette hung from his mouth.
He exhaled slowly.
"Well… it seems we have a lot of interesting beginners this year…"