The voices, the offers, the curious stares—
I slipped away from all of it.
The streets near \[Green Paradise] were loud and alive, but a ten-minute walk into the old industrial district brought me silence. Rusted warehouses, broken windows, and an empty lot—perfect. No prying eyes, no questions.
I drew a deep breath and summoned a fireball.
The familiar warmth pulsed in my palm. Normally, it hovered as a flickering orb, eager to launch in a straight path. But this time, with \[Flame Control] humming faintly in my mind, the fire felt… pliable.
"Alright… let's see what you can do."
I flicked my wrist, and instead of shooting forward, the fireball hovered in the air like a tame bird. My pulse quickened. With a thought, I curved it left, then right. The flames obeyed, tracing arcs like a comet under my command.
It felt like painting with fire.
I sent it hurtling toward a pile of discarded crates. At the last second, I slowed it down, making it crawl through the air before slamming into the wood with a delayed explosion. Ash drifted lazily upward.
I grinned.
Another fireball. This one, I split into two fragments, twisting them around each other before colliding them midair. The impact was louder than I expected, a booming pop that rattled the metal siding of the warehouse.
\[System Notice]
*Proficiency with \[Flame Control] has increased.*
"Already?" I whispered. My mana never drained—so every cast was practice. Unlimited attempts. Unlimited refinement.
I experimented for hours. Fireballs that curved like boomerangs. Orbs that floated above my shoulder like fiery guardians. Tiny flames that shot out in rapid bursts like arrows.
The more I tested, the more dangerous possibilities surfaced.
But there was a darker realization, too.
If other hunters saw what I could do, they wouldn't just see a lucky rookie anymore. They'd see a threat. A resource. A weapon.
I clenched my fists, extinguishing the flames.
No one could know—not yet.
I pulled up my status once more.
\[Status Open]
\[Name: Logan Reed]
Level: 6
\[HP: 20/20]
\[MP: ∞ ]
\[Strength: 15]
\[Defense: 15]
\[Agility: 16]
\[Trait: Infinite Mana]
\[Skills: Fireball (F), Flame Control (C)]
Just one day as a hunter, and I'd already changed.
Tomorrow, I would need to decide: keep experimenting alone, or step into the world of hunters where squads, rivals, and stronger monsters waited.
For now, though, I let the flames die out and walked back toward the city lights—unseen, unknown, and quietly burning brighter than ever.