The end of the world did not occur when Shaun Verma vanished.
The end of the
It just adapted.
The faces of the fugitive were broadcast endlessly on the news networks. Analysis was offered. Speculation abounded. Hunters whispered the name in awe.
However, Shaun did not witness all of these events.
He was far too busy learning how to breathe again.
Outside the Cage
"The forest was quiet in a way that cities never were. "
No sirens.
No mana scanners.
No eyes peering from hidden monitors.
Shaun stood on the edge of a clearing, the early morning mist curling around the bottom of his boots. He had spent his first night under the stars since regaining consciousness as a hunter. There were no fortified walls or suppression fields here.
Only cold ground and wind.
"It felt real," I
Reina crouched nearby, scanning the perimeter with expert swiftness. She'd dampened her moonlight energies, keeping them low-key so as not to be detected.
Daichi sat on a log that had fallen, munching on a ration bar with clear distaste.
"I hate this," he muttered. "No showers. No beds. No decent food."
Reina did not look at him.
"You dislike being alive and uncomfortable."
"Daichi shrugged
"I like surviving comfortably."
Shaun smiled weakly and then looked down at his hands.
"You're so impatient
They didn't glow.
They weren't shaking.
It was the first time in what felt like an eternity that the warmth inside him felt.
settled.
Not silent.
Just patient.
The New Rules
"We stay mobile," Reina said softly. "No towns. No guild zones. No open mana use unless necessary."
Daichi nodded.
"The Authority will send scouts first. B-ranks, perhaps low A-ranks. Feeling out the water."
Shaun scowled
"Sランクを遣らないの
Reina shook her head.
"Not yet. They don't know what you are. They'll want data."
"Which means," Daichi added, "they'll underestimate you."
Shaun breathed slowly.
"I don't want to fight hunters."
"Reina looked at him sharply."
"Then don't
"A pause."
"But if they force it," she went on, her voice turning harder, "you survive. No hesitation."
Shaun nodded.
He had made his choice.
Secondly, "Hebrew" was a term very much alive at the
Learning Without Chains
Later in the day, Shaun stood by himself beside a stream.
He squatted down; he put his hands into the cold water.
His internal warmth stirred—not raging, not pressing.
Flowing
Shaun closed his eyes.
"Okay," he whispered. "Let's try this. gently."
He did not propagate his mana.
He listened.
The warmth moved, synchronizing with his respiration. Golden strings whispered through his veins, measured and accurate.
Shaun raised his hand.
In order to
The water rippled.
Not violently.
Perfectly
A tiny sphere of light appeared above his cupped hand — steady, tranquil, with no strain.
Shaun's eyes went wide.
"So this is what it feels like. Without repression."
The light did not deplete him.
It didn't hurt.
There
It felt. right.
Behind him, Reina stood in silence.
"She had never seen power exercised in that way before."
absolutely voluntary.
Not aggressive.
Balanced.
"That isn't healing mana," she said quietly.
Shaun lowered his hand.
"No. But it's not destruction either."
Daichi whistled from behind a tree.
"Whatever it is, it's frightening in the 'this-shouldn't-exist
Shaun smiled weakly.
"Yeah. I know."
The First Shadow
A sudden change occurred in the warmth felt within Shaun.
Not fear.
Alertness.
Shaun stood up.
"Someone's close," he said.
Reina was already in action, her sword not yet fully
"How many?"
"Two," answered Shaun. "H
Daichi snapped his knuckles.
"Guess the scouts didn't waste any time,"
They didn't have to wait long.
Two figures emerged into the clearing; both of them wore hunter clothes, with Authority marks on display but not prominent.
B rank tracker.
A suppression expert specializing in A-rank
The A-Rank raised his hand.
"Shaun Verma," he said calmly. "By order of the International Hunter Authority, you are requested to return for reassessment."
Demanded
"Reina snorted softly
Shaun moved ahead of her before she even got a chance to speak.
"I'm not going back," he said.
The tracker scowled.
"You don't understand the situation— "
"I do," Shaun said. "Perfectly
The A-ranked person's aura tensed.
"Then don't make this difficult."
Shaun felt the warmth rise — calm, focused.
He didn't attack.
He merely let out a splash of presence.
The air changed.
The two hunters straightened up.
Their mana flows wavered, destabilized—not suppressed, not drained.
Unbalanced
The tracker took a stumbling step backward.
"What. what did you do?"
"Oh no," said Shaun.
"
"I didn't do anything to you," he whispered.
"Just saved the world from being favorable to you."
"The A-rank swallowed hard,"
"This isn't in the data…"
"Reina stepped beside Shaun."
'He gave you an opportunity,' she said icily. 'You'd better take it.'
The hunters looked at each other.
And then, wisely, they stepped back.
"This isn't over," the A-rank said.
Shaun met his eyes.
"I know."
They vanished into the trees.
The Path Forward
Daichi took a deep breath.
"Well. That could've been worse."
Reina studied Shaun carefully.
"You didn't strike. You didn't overpower."
Shaun looked at his hand.
"I didn't need to."
The warmth inside of him thrummed softly – approval.
Seeing this, Reina's face eased up,
"You're learning
Shaun nodded.
"But they'll come back," he said. "Stronger. Smarter."
Reina sheathed her blade.
"Then we keep moving."
Daichi grinned."Guess we're officially off the grid."
Shaun looked toward the horizon, where the forest thinned and mountains rose.
Somewhere out there were monsters growing stronger.Guilds sharpening knives.A world afraid of what it couldn't label.
He wasn't running from it.
He was preparing.
"I won't hide forever," Shaun said quietly.
Reina met his eyes.
"Good."
Because when you return," she said,"you won't be asking permission."
The warmth inside Shaun settled deep and steady.
For the first time since awakening—
He wasn't a weapon.He wasn't an asset.He wasn't a threat.
He was free.
And the world had just taken its first step toward fearing that freedom