After accepting the elegant man's proposal, we shook hands to seal the deal and then… well, I closed my eyes for less than a second, and when I opened them, the pier was gone. In its place, I stood in a dark place, full of rocks and strange smells.
"Is this… a cave?"
I tried to get my bearings, but it was so dark it was almost impossible to tell where I was heading, so I walked cautiously.
"Welcome to your first day."
That voice… it was the elegant man.
"You… you… Lucius?"
"That's my name."
"Where are you? I can't see anything."
"Relax, kid, give me a second."
After his poor attempt to calm me down, a strange light appeared in the distance. It drew closer, slowly, illuminating the outline of the cave.
"Wait, is that… a cube?"
Yes, it was a glowing cube, about the size of an apple, floating at chest height.
"… Lucius! What the hell is this thing?!" I shouted, not knowing where to look.
"That's your tool. Use it to complete your missions."
"What missions?"
"I already told you: exterminating parasites. There's one in this cave. You have to kill it."
"I see… and for that, I'm supposed to use this cube?"
"Correct."
"Right… got it."
I guess I'll have to use this cube like a flyswatter.
"Hey, where are you?" I asked.
"I'm far away. I'll be watching your progress without interfering… and I'll collect your remains if you fail."
Collect my remains… damn, he was basically telling me there was a good chance I'd die on my first day.
"Okay then… which way should I go?"
"Use the cube. It'll guide you."
"How do I do that?"
"Its controls are intuitive. You shouldn't have much trouble using it. I won't answer any more of your questions. My job is to observe, not reply. From now on, you're on your own."
After that declaration, I was surrounded by a crushing silence.
Lucius's words were clear: I was now in a situation where my life was at risk, and the only thing standing between me and death was this cube.
"Mmm…"
"Shit…"
I was scared out of my mind. Not only because this cave was the perfect definition of terror, but also because I could hear noises in the distance, hidden in the darkness, staying just outside the cube's light.
"… Come on… calm down… stop shaking."
SLAP.
I couldn't stop trembling, so I slapped myself hard across the face. This wasn't the time to be afraid.
"I asked for this… I'm going to live."
I looked at the cube. It was still floating in front of me.
"Intuitive controls…" I repeated Lucius's words.
I raised my hands and brought them closer to the cube.
Beep.
When I touched it, it emitted a strange noise.
[Initiating analysis of novice hunter]
A screen appeared above it.
"Is this… a hologram?"
[Welcome to your first day of work, Mr. Robert K. Demigurus.
Your missions for today are:
—Find the Ka'li hiding in this cave.
—Exterminate it.
—Collect genetic material samples.
—Locate the fictitious ether core.
—Seal its rifts with the stigma patch.
Extra condition:
—Under no circumstances allow the Ka'li to infect the core.]
"…"
I didn't understand a thing. The screen was full of words I had never even heard before.
"Find the Ka'li… is that the parasite I'm supposed to kill?"
Strange name, but by now I had the feeling that whatever I was looking for wasn't some ordinary parasite.
"All right… cube, what else can you do?"
Bip.
[Robert K. Demigurus
Rank: Novice
ID: 56973226J
Age: 16
Species: Human
Grade: Undefined
Achievements: None]
"Mmm…"
This thing was like some kind of computer.
"So, this is my introduction card."
If I were anywhere less terrifying, I might have felt happy to be entrusted with something so advanced on my first day. But I would have handled it carefully anyway, because honestly, it looked ridiculously expensive.
"… Hey cube, can I ask you something?"
I still had a burning question inside me, one that directly tied to my chances of surviving this mission.
[Of course, you may ask anything. However, due to your rank as a novice hunter, I can only provide limited answers related to today's mission.]
"The parasite… or the Ka'li in this cave, how dangerous is it?"
[I cannot give you a definitive answer. The Ka'li's danger level has not yet been determined, nor its size. However, since it hides within this cave, we can estimate its dimensions by calculating the ceiling height and the corridor walls where you currently are.]
The corridor was about eight meters wide, but the ceiling… I couldn't see it. The cube's light didn't reach that far. Maybe it was over ten meters high. If that was the case, then worst-case scenario, I was about to fight a parasite the size of a bus.
"Haa… I'm really screwed."
[Would you like a weapon?]
"…What?"
That was sudden. The cube's message could completely change my current situation.
"Yes, I'd like a weapon."
[As a novice hunter, you have access to a small selection of weapons:
—Short sword of necronian steel.
—Axe of necronian steel.
—Dagger of necronian steel.
—Revolver with necronian steel ammunition.]
Now this was interesting. The way the information was displayed made it feel exactly like a videogame.
"And that… what is necronian steel? That mineral doesn't exist—at least not on this planet."
[That information is classified. Novice hunters are not authorized to access it.]
"… To hell with it."
I was already getting tired of knowing nothing. From now on, I'd just focus on what I did understand.
"Kill the parasite and seal the core."
If I focused on just those two things, I'd be fine. Or so I hoped.
I could choose any of the weapons, but I didn't know how to use any of them. I didn't have the strength to swing an axe or a sword, nor the skill to handle a dagger. My only option was the revolver—it seemed the easiest to use.
"I'll take the revolver."
[Revolver with five rounds of necronian steel ammunition: Equipped.]
The moment I chose the weapon, it instantly appeared in my hands.
"…Wow."
I was stunned. Not just by how it appeared, or by the fact that firearms hadn't been manufactured in over five hundred years and this one looked brand new. What really shocked me was how heavy it was.
"AAAAGH!"
I groaned, struggling just to lift it.
"Why the hell is this thing so heavy?!"
I had neglected my physical condition ever since I was infected with *gravism*, but even if I had been in peak form, aiming this weapon would've been difficult. I barely managed to hold it at chest height.
For a moment, I thought the problem was my grip. I adjusted my hold on the handle, trying to mimic the stance before firing. That was when my finger brushed against the trigger, and the gun…
BANG!
It fired, with such force that it sent me flying several meters backward.
The bullet glowed purple as it shot down the corridor, lighting up the walls, until it disappeared into the darkness.
Crash.
A distant noise followed, like a massive collapse. But there was something else… I wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded like… a scream?
Aaaaargh!!
No… not a scream. A roar.
ROAAAARGH!!
[Congratulations, you have completed your first mission:
—Find the Ka'li hiding in this cave: Completed.]
I think it would be more accurate to say… it found me.
The beast's roars grew louder, closer. There, in the darkness, I saw them—two glowing red eyes.
[Ka'li located: thirty-seven meters ahead.]
"No kidding…"
Bip.
[Species identified:
—Salamander.]
"Sala… what's a salamander?"
GROAAAARGH!!
The beast roared again, spewing a huge flame from its mouth, lighting up the corridor. For a split second, I saw its face—scales, a long tongue, reptilian features, and an unmistakable rage.
[According to the Coalition Global Defense League's Monster Bestiary, a salamander is a subspecies of dragon-type monster, usually possessing elemental fire affinity.]
"…"
Out of that entire explanation, I only caught one word, dragon.
"…I'm going to die… again."
GROAAAARGH!!
I turned around and ran, as fast as I could, while the parasite, monster—whatever that salamander was—chased after me.
***
"What a disaster."
Those words perfectly described the situation.
The battle in Regulus City had ended, but the results were catastrophic, the areas surrounding the Elarion Portal Station were completely destroyed, and the death toll exceeded a million.
At the center of all this destruction stood the heroes, exhausted after confronting the monstrous serpent. It lay dead before them, yet even in death, its skin showed hardly any damage.
"Haaa… my whole body hurts."
said Niha.
"Stay still. If you move too much, your wounds will reopen."
In a group of heroes, each superhuman has a specific role during battles. The responsibility of monitoring each other's health falls on the specialists, a type of hero skilled in a wide range of techniques, not just combat.
The heroine Lara, true to her role as a specialist, used magic to heal her companions' injuries. But her techniques always had the same consequence.
"¡¡Ouch!! Damn it!"
"Stay still!"
The pain was often worse than the wounds themselves.
"Hmm? Hey, Luck…"
While Lara was tending to Niha, something caught his attention.
"…! What is it?" —asked the gray-caped hero, surprised.
"What's wrong with you? You look… creepy."
Niha teased, but his companion's reaction was not what she expected.
"I… agh… I'm… I'm fine."
Luck struggled to form words. His mind was clearly elsewhere.
"I just need some air."
he said, walking away from the group.
"What's happening with him?"
It was the question everyone had, though only one person knew the answer.
"I'll go talk to him."
The one who spoke was the hero in white armor.
"Squad leader, what's going on?"
"Nothing you need to know."
He gave no further explanation and moved with firm steps to find his companion. For a moment, he exchanged glances with the masked hero.
"You're in charge while I'm gone."
"…."
The masked hero responded with a deep silence.
The squad leader walked a short distance until he found Luck sitting atop a pile of rubble.
"…! It's you, squad leader. I apologize for my behavior."
When Luck realized his superior was there, he spoke respectfully, as he held him in deep admiration.
But the armored hero did not acknowledge the courtesy. Instead, he climbed the rubble and stood beside him.
"What are you observing?"
"…Everything."
Luck replied.
"This attack… how many people must have died…? And… how many humans?"
"Mmm… your sister, were you able to contact her?"
asked the leader.
"No."
Luck answered weakly.
"B-but… she was supposed to visit a friend today in the human district… so she should be fine, right?"
It was a question the hero didn't know the answer to, but he still tried to reassure his companion by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax, she'll be fine."
Those words resonated with Luck, who nodded in acknowledgment.
"Gra…"
Before he could thank him, a shout interrupted them.
"LEADER OF THE GROUP!"
It was Lara's voice.
Facing imminent danger, both heroes moved at a speed imperceptible to the human eye, reuniting with the rest of the team. But none of them were prepared for what they saw.
"Damn it…"
Among the rubble, the group found a critically injured person.
"He lost too much blood."
"Maybe we can heal him."
"His wounds are severe. He could die from the pain of the healing process."
"Then what do you suggest I do?"
"I… I can't…"
These young heroes didn't know what to do. Understandably, they were novices with little experience. Only two of the five present could be considered professionals, and it was their duty to teach the newcomers all aspects of the job. But what they were about to show… could leave a permanent mark on them.
"It's too late for him."
said the squad leader, addressing the novices Luck, Niha, and Lara.
"We have to let him go."
His voice invoked a heavy silence. The young heroes understood what he meant, though none dared to say it aloud or protest.
Then the masked hero stepped forward.
"We have to kill him."
And he spoke aloud what everyone was thinking.