Now we were at the ceremony. Everyone stood in silence, shoulder to shoulder, staring straight ahead. The air was thick with tension. The moment felt heavy. We were told that we were the next line of defense against the demonic attacks. We were humanity's last chance, the only shield standing between what was left of the world and complete destruction.
Some people around me looked proud, standing tall like they were already heroes. Others looked scared, pretending not to be. I just stood there quietly, not knowing how to feel. Was I proud? Was I scared? Or was I just tired? Maybe all of it. Maybe none.
After the orientation ended, they began assigning us to groups. No more solo training. This time, we were heading out on real missions—starting with hunting down lower-rank demons. It was the real thing. No more practice fights. No more wooden weapons. No more dummies. Just us and real monsters.
They put me in a group with four others.
Julian was the first one I noticed. He looked like a walking wall. Muscular, tall, and full of energy. Maybe seventeen or so. His eyes were always burning with this fire to prove himself. He wanted to be the best. No, he wanted to be the greatest hunter of all time. He kept talking about it. How he'd become a captain someday. How he'd be remembered in history books. He was annoying sometimes, but he was also brave. Too brave maybe.
Then there was Liam. Liam wasn't like Julian at all. He was quieter. Slim. Calm. He didn't look strong, but his control over nature manipulation was amazing. I once saw him grow a full tree in under a minute just to block a collapsing wall during training. He didn't show off, but you could tell he knew exactly what he was doing. I liked being around Liam. His presence made things feel a little more grounded.
Iris, on the other hand, was… complicated. She was wild. Loud. And she didn't give a damn about anyone's authority. She had a mouth on her, and she wasn't afraid to use it. She argued with the instructors, challenged the captains, and insulted her teammates like it was a sport. But damn, she was fast. I had never seen anyone move like that. Her reflexes were insane. One time, she dodged six flying daggers during a drill without breaking a sweat. Still, her attitude made it hard to work with her. She didn't respect anyone, and I mean anyone.
Carlos was probably the flashiest of all of us. A bit muscular, yeah, but more than that, he was the fastest in our rookie training. Not just physically, but also in how fast he liked to talk about himself. Everything had to be about Carlos. If we killed a demon, Carlos would say it was because of his brilliant distraction technique. If we won a match, Carlos would say it was because of his plan, even if he didn't have one. He was a narcissist, no doubt, but he wasn't useless. He had skills. And he knew it.
And then there was me. Just… me.
The average guy.
Not the strongest. Not the fastest. Not the loudest. I didn't have amazing powers or some dramatic backstory that made me a hero. I didn't care about fame or glory. Honestly, I didn't even want to be here in the first place. If life hadn't gone the way it did… if my village hadn't been burned to the ground sixteen years ago… maybe I'd be living a different life.
But I was here.
I didn't want to become some lab rat for the higher-ups to study, so I joined the hunter organization. I didn't dream of saving the world. I just didn't want to die helpless. Maybe that made me a coward. Or maybe that made me human.
"Alright rookies!" our captain shouted, breaking the silence. "This is not training anymore. This is real. You will be fighting demons out there. Even if they're lower-rank, they will try to kill you. They don't care how young you are. They don't care if you're scared. They'll rip you apart if they get the chance. So, stay sharp. Stick with your group. Watch each other's backs."
Julian grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "I was born ready, sir!"
Iris rolled her eyes. "Try not to die on the first day, muscle-head."
Carlos laughed. "With me on the team? Please. We're untouchable."
Liam just nodded quietly. He was already checking his gear.
I didn't say anything. I just adjusted my gloves and stared down at my boots.
We were given maps, weapons, and communication crystals. Everything felt so official now. No more pretending. We were stepping into the world we had only trained for. A place where people actually died.
As we left the base together, I could feel the wind brush against my face. The ground beneath my boots felt harder than ever. The sky looked cloudy, like it knew what we were walking into.
We didn't talk much on the way. There wasn't much to say.
Carlos finally broke the silence. "So, what's our plan when we find this thing?"
Julian shrugged. "We fight it. Duh."
Liam spoke up, voice low but clear. "We need to trap it first. These lower-rank demons are fast. If it escapes, we might lose track of it."
"I can chase it down," Iris said, stretching her legs. "It's not escaping from me."
Carlos smirked. "And I'll handle the finishing blow, naturally."
I almost laughed. Almost.
"Let's just not die," I said quietly.
Iris glanced at me. "Well, at least he's realistic."
We made our way through the forest, each step heavier than the last. The trees felt taller, darker, and somehow more alive than before. Liam kept his eyes on the plants. Julian walked ahead, shoulders tense. Iris kept looking around like she was ready to bolt in any direction. Carlos hummed a tune. I walked behind them, heart pounding.
Suddenly, Liam raised his hand. "Wait."
We froze.
"There's something ahead," he whispered. "I can feel the plants reacting to it."
Julian grinned. "Finally."
We moved slowly. Every rustle in the bushes felt like a threat. Then we saw it. A demon, low to the ground, its skin dark and rough like dried blood. Its eyes glowed yellow. It snarled.
"Positions!" Julian shouted.
The demon lunged.
Everything happened fast. Iris darted forward, distracting it with her speed. Carlos threw a dagger, aiming for its leg. Liam raised a wall of roots to block its path. Julian charged from the side, fists glowing. I stood frozen for a second, then forced myself to move.
The demon was strong. Even as a lower-rank, it fought hard. It knocked Carlos down, slashed through Liam's wall, and nearly caught Iris by the arm.
Julian tackled it, shouting. "I've got it!"
"No, you don't!" Iris snapped, jumping in.
It was chaos.
In the middle of the fight, I saw Liam bleeding. Carlos was struggling to stand. Iris had a cut on her cheek. Julian was still pushing forward, refusing to back down.
I looked around. No one was watching my back. So I did.
I gathered every ounce of strength I had. I forced the ground beneath the demon to rise, trapping its legs. It roared. Iris used the opening to slash across its face. Julian punched it hard in the chest. Carlos finally landed a hit with one of his blades.
And then it stopped moving.
We stood in silence, breathing heavily.
"We… we did it," Julian said, voice shaking.
Carlos wiped his forehead. "Told you I'd finish it."
"No, you didn't," Iris muttered.
Liam sat down, clutching his side. "We almost died."
I stood there, still trying to catch my breath.
For the first time, I didn't feel like a clerk pretending to be a hunter.
I felt like I belonged.
The others looked at me differently now. Even Iris gave me a small nod.
That night, as we set up