She reached the door to the surveillance room, placed her hand on the handle, and pushed it open with a smooth motion. The room was dimly lit, screens flickering with the various training rooms below.
The Guild Agency's lower floor buzzed with excitement. From behind the shimmering magic doors came the sounds of strikes and cheers. Beginners clashed one-on-one while teams practiced coordinated assaults. Flashes of energy and the thud of footsteps filled the air.
Amid the chaos, a woman walked past. Her long black hair, with a hint of deep violet, was tied neatly behind her head. She wore a long coat and high heels, each step echoing confidently. Without looking at the trainees, she moved calmly toward the surveillance room.
She let out a slow sigh.
"Ah… so much noise down here."
Behind the main console sat Kryne, his brown hair peeking from under his cap, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he exhaled a thin trail of smoke.
She stood behind him, eyes on the screens, taking in every movement below.
"Still watching the kids?" she asked, calm but with a hint of mockery.
Kryne smiled, keeping his eyes on the monitors.
"Kids? They are of legal age now."
Finally, he looked up and called her name:
"Celestine."
Celestine stood behind him, her eyes carefully scanning the screens.
"So, what's the matter with the legal ones?" she asked calmly, referring to the beginners in the training rooms. "Have you noticed anything unusual among them?"
Kryne lifted his feet off the table and sat upright, regaining his composed posture.
"Yes… I'm truly surprised," he said calmly, his eyes still scanning the monitors. "There are a lot of interesting abilities."
Celestine tilted her head down slightly to get a closer look at the screens, her sharp eyes scanning every movement on the lower floor.
"Damn… I didn't bring my glasses today," she muttered in a calm voice, though with a hint of mild frustration.
Kryne pointed to one of the screens as an example.
"Look at these two," he said.
On the screen, Milo and Hyrax were talking and laughing, their camaraderie clear even through the monitors.
"I watched their fight," Celestine said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It was really impressive… especially the one called Milo."
Kryne pressed a button on the console, and detailed statistics about Milo appeared on the screen.
"His movements are extremely coordinated," he observed, scrolling through the data. "He reminds me of someone…"
Kryne was visibly shocked.
"Wow… what a surprise. I didn't expect him to have grown up this fast," he said, leaning back in his chair.
He let out a long sigh, resting comfortably against the back of the seat.
"Ah… time really flies."
Kryne pointed to another screen.
"Look at this one as well."
On the screen appeared a boy with medium-length brown hair styled in shaggy waves, his locks gently swaying with every movement, giving off a youthful and lively impression.
Celestine hummed softly, observing the boy.
"Hmm… he's training alone. So, what's his deal?" she asked.
Kryne replied without looking away from the screen.
"His movements are incredibly fast. He fought the test monsters and defeated them with remarkable ease."
Celestine's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh… it seems you were right about the kids. They really are talented."
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on another screen, and her expression changed to shock.
"Wait… wait a minute… isn't that Korushin Koruka's son??"
Kryne stood up from his chair, shock evident on his face.
"What?? What is his son doing here, for heaven's sake??"
On one screen appeared a boy with long, sleek black hair falling past his shoulders, giving him an elegant, mysterious aura.
He sat still, watching the training rooms with a calm, detached expression. His dark eyes tracked every movement with sharp precision, yet he made no move to intervene, as if existing in a world apart from the chaos below.
While the boy sat quietly, Nova appeared on her screen and spoke to him.
"Are you… just going to sit there without doing anything?"
But the boy didn't respond at all, as if he hadn't heard her or had chosen to completely ignore her.
The scene returned to Kryne and Celestine.
Kryne pressed a button, bringing up the boy's statistics to gather information about him.
Celestine spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Koruvian Koruka… the son of the Koruka family's leader."
She paused, her eyes still scanning the screens.
"Korushin Koruka, also known as the Black Dragon."
"It's truly an honor that he has come here," she continued. "Especially considering that family possesses advanced training methods, being wealthy, famous, and highly respected in Novara."
Kryne said, "Look… he's standing!"
Celestine tilted her head, studying the camera feed. Her sharp eyes caught every subtle movement of the boy, curiosity flickering as she remained poised, radiating calm authority.
The view shifted to Koruvian. He stood still, eyes closed, every muscle ready yet relaxed. The silence around him was striking, his presence alone commanding calm and power.
Nova spoke through her screen, her voice calm but encouraging.
"So… have you chosen the training you want to do? Personally, I would suggest"
Koruvian interrupted her abruptly, his voice quiet but firm.
"Training against monsters. Now."
Koruvian's choice was clear: he meant the monsters created by the system harmless, yet programmed to attack.
Nova responded, trying to guide him.
"Alright… then, how..."
He interrupted her again, his voice calm and decisive.
"The highest level."
The scene returned to Kryne.
"Oh… choosing the highest level? This will really show his strength," he muttered, eyes fixed on the monitors.
Celestine remained silent, her sharp gaze on the screens, analyzing every detail.
Suddenly, five large monsters appeared in the training room, moving with precise, imposing steps. Behind them, a slightly larger one dominated the group, like their leader.
"Alright… begin," Nova commanded.
The monsters charged at Koruvian. He stayed calm, eyes closed, studying them. As the first swung a powerful punch, he dodged effortlessly, standing still as if anticipating every move.
Koruvian advanced steadily while the others attacked in turn, but every strike passed harmlessly. His movements were precise, perfectly synchronized with their attacks.
Then he opened his eyes, and a surge of black energy erupted from him, winds swirling violently around his aura.
Kryne, watching from the surveillance room, was visibly shocked.
"So… this is the Koruka family's aura!" he muttered, awe in his voice.
Celestine stayed silent, but her widened eyes betrayed her astonishment at the display of power. Koruvian's black hair whipped in the gusts of his swirling aura.
Nova appeared on her screen, stunned.
"Wow… incredible!"
Koruvian ignored the five smaller monsters, focusing on the largest. In a flash, he struck its stomach with a dense sphere of black energy, sending a shockwave through the area. He leapt, forming another sphere, and smashed it into the creature's head. The monster collapsed, defeated.
"It's not even worth my time," he muttered, calm yet slightly disappointed.
Celestine, Kryne, and Nova watched in stunned silence.
Back in the surveillance room, Kryne leaned back, eyes on the screens.
"Well… that's to be expected from Korushin's son," he said calmly.
Celestine remained standing beside him, her expression a mix of astonishment and admiration.
The other five monsters charged toward Koruvian, moving with incredible speed.
Koruvian let out a calm sigh, preparing himself for what was coming.
"Alright… looks like I'll have to deal with the rest of this filth," he muttered in a quiet yet firm voice, as he readied himself to face them.
Celestine's phone suddenly rang.
"Oh…" she said calmly.
Kryne looked at her with curiosity:
"What? Who…?"
Celestine replied quickly,
"It's the Director."
She picked up the phone and said,
"Hello? Is there a prob.. "
But the Director's voice came through, firm and serious:
"That person has appeared…"
Shock spread across both Kryne and Celestine's faces at the same time.
Kryne muttered in surprise,
"Ah… what is this day? Full of shocks."
Celestine quickly ended the call.
"Let's head to the upper floor quickly," Kryne said firmly.
He asked her hurriedly,
"What about the surveillance?"
Celestine interrupted,
"Come on… there's no time to waste."
They left the room, their steps quick, reflecting urgency and concern at the same time.
Kryne and Celestine rode the energy-powered elevator, its hum and subtle vibration marking their ascent. The doors slid open, and they moved quickly down the wide corridor, passing staff who greeted Celestine with polite nods. She acknowledged them briefly, her pace unbroken.
They climbed the final staircase to a reinforced door labeled: "Restricted Access – Special Clients Only." Without hesitation, they entered.
Kryne sighed.
"I'm not a special agent, Celestine. I'm just a guard watching cameras."
Celestine shot him a sharp look.
"Stop with that. Everyone knows your worth."
Inside, a long table stretched before them, surrounded by seven chairs. At the head sat the Director. On one side, a large man with curly hair; opposite, a woman with slicked-back white hair and piercing red eyes; next to her, a man with neatly combed hair and a single strand over his forehead; against the wall, a blond man leaned casually.
The Director spoke warmly:
"Welcome, Celestine… and you, Kryne."
Celestine stepped forward calmly and sat beside the large man, hands lightly on the table, eyes fixed on the Director. Kryne remained near the door, cap removed, surveying the room with focused respect, every line of his posture reflecting awareness of the meeting's importance.
Celestine looked at Ravena, the Director of the Guild Agency.
She was a woman with long black hair, her eyes black with a small red dot at the center.
Her personality was commanding, strict, and fair one could feel her authority without her needing to speak.
She was in her late thirties but still maintained her youthful appearance and elegance.
As Director, Ravena oversaw all guild operations and activities, ensured order, enforced the rules, and made high-level decisions that shaped the balance of power in Novara.
Celestine stood calmly, her gaze sweeping across the meeting room. Her eyes first fell on Selvara, immediately recognizing her authority over the testing chambers. Her long white hair fell gracefully to her shoulders, neatly styled back, and her sharp eyes reflected her calm, analytical mind. Strict and composed, she relied on logic for every decision. Her slender yet well-defined figure hinted at discipline and endurance.
Celestine then shifted her attention to the massive man beside her, Bran. His broad frame, short curly hair, and the scar on his neck spoke of years of experience and resilience. Stern and serious, yet inherently kind, he oversaw the training of newcomers and monitored them in the large training rooms. His solid build and commanding presence conveyed strength and authority, even in his forties.
Celestine's eyes fell on Ryen, a man in his late twenties with messy brown hair, a rogue strand falling over his forehead. Impulsive and hot-headed, he despises weakness, yet he fulfills his role efficiently, ensuring the agency's systems run smoothly and fixing any errors that arise. His presence radiated constant energy, reflecting his drive and intensity in every action within the agency.
Then Celestine shifted her gaze to the young man leaning against the wall, the leader of Guild Number 8. In his late twenties, tall and slender, with a playful and humorous personality, he sat relaxed, hands clasped behind his head and eyes closed as if napping. Yet his presence in the room was undeniable, bringing a sense of lightheartedness and ease amid the seriousness of the others.
Celestine sat beside Bran, overseeing monitoring rooms, tracking threats to Novara, analyzing dangers, and coordinating guild missions with the Director.
Kryne stood near the door, brown hair peeking from under his cap, sharp eyes scanning the room, managing the trainee surveillance rooms and compiling reports for the Director.
Ravena sighed, her tone calm but firm.
"Now that we're here, let's discuss the situation within the agency and beyond."
Her eyes flicked to the table.
"A red-haired individual linked to the Talented Gang infiltrated the agency. He clearly harbors malicious intent."
Selvara spoke steadily, her composed gaze commanding attention.
"We already know him… he is their leader, Tavian."
Kazhaya, leader of Guild 8, straightened in his chair, and all eyes turned to him in anticipation.
Meanwhile, Milo and Hyrax finished training, leaving with tired but satisfied expressions. Koruvian exited his room, navigating the light crowd, when a red-haired figure blocked his path.
"Can we talk?" the man asked, his calm voice carrying weight.
At the corridor's far end, another figure appeared green-haired, hooded, standing confidently. The wind played with his long strands as he revealed his face, sharp green eyes gleaming, a sly, unsettling smile on his lips.