The fluorescent lights of Hunter Academy USA cast harsh shadows across the training facility as seventeen-year-old Axel Reyes picked himself up from the concrete floor for the third time that morning. His uniform—standard-issue black combat gear marked with the academy's golden eagle emblem—was torn at the shoulder, and a thin line of blood trickled from his split lip.
"Get up, E-rank trash," sneered Marcus Wolfe, a B-rank Hunter-in-training whose earth manipulation abilities made him one of the academy's rising stars. Around him, a small crowd of students had gathered to watch the daily ritual that had become Axel's nightmare. "Your 'Fast Learner' ability should have taught you by now that you don't belong here."
The laughter that followed was like salt in an open wound. For three years, Axel had endured this treatment at America's most prestigious Hunter Academy. Every day brought new humiliations, new reminders that his E-rank ability was considered worthless in a world that worshipped power above all else.
"Maybe if he learned faster, he'd realize he should just quit," added Sarah Chen, a C-rank healer whose abilities could mend bones but apparently couldn't heal her cruel disposition. "Some people just aren't cut out for this life."
Axel wiped the blood from his mouth, his dark brown eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and stubborn determination that his tormentors had never quite managed to extinguish. At five-foot-eight with an lean build that spoke more of hunger than training, he looked nothing like the ideal Hunter candidate. His black hair was perpetually disheveled, and his Filipino features marked him as an outsider in an academy dominated by those from traditional Hunter families.
"I'm not giving up," he said quietly, the words carrying more weight than his voice suggested.
Marcus's expression darkened. With a casual gesture, he caused the ground beneath Axel's feet to shift and crack, sending the younger student tumbling backward into a weapons rack.
"Did I give you permission to speak?" Marcus stepped closer, his earth-based aura making the air around him feel heavy and oppressive. "You're nothing but dead weight in this academy. Every resource wasted on you could be going to someone with actual potential."
The truth was, Marcus wasn't entirely wrong, and that knowledge burned in Axel's chest like acid. His "Fast Learner" ability allowed him to understand concepts and techniques more quickly than average, but in a world where Hunters could summon meteors, control time, or heal mortal wounds, rapid comprehension seemed laughably inadequate.
Professor Helena Voss, a stern A-rank Hunter who specialized in lightning magic, entered the training hall at that moment. Her sharp gaze took in the scene—Axel on the ground surrounded by weapons, Marcus and his cronies standing over him with predatory grins, the other students watching with a mixture of amusement and uncomfortable silence.
"Mr. Wolfe," her voice cut through the air like a blade, "I believe your next class begins in five minutes. I suggest you don't keep Professor Martinez waiting."
Marcus straightened immediately. Professor Martinez was an S-rank Hunter whose fire magic was legendary even among the academy's elite faculty. No student, regardless of rank, wanted to face his displeasure.
"Of course, Professor Voss. We were just... helping Reyes with his combat training."
"How thoughtful of you." The sarcasm in her voice was thick enough to cut. "Mr. Reyes, report to the medical ward. The rest of you, dismissed."
As the students filed out, Professor Voss lingered for a moment, studying Axel with an expression he couldn't read. There was something in her eyes—not pity, which he'd grown to hate, but perhaps a glimmer of curiosity.
"Your ability," she said suddenly. "Have you truly explored its limits?"
Axel blinked, surprised by the question. "I... what do you mean, Professor?"
"Most students assume they understand their powers within the first few months of awakening. They categorize themselves and accept limitations that may not actually exist." She paused, seeming to weigh her words carefully. "E-rank is a classification, Mr. Reyes. It's not necessarily a ceiling."
Before Axel could respond, she was gone, leaving him alone with her cryptic words and a growing sense that there was more to his situation than he had understood.
That night, Axel sat in his cramped dormitory room, staring at a letter from his grandmother in the Philippines. The paper was worn from multiple readings, and her careful handwriting seemed to radiate warmth even across the vast distance.
"Apo ko," the letter began, using the Filipino term of endearment that always made his heart ache with homesickness. "I know life has been difficult for you in America. Remember what I always told you—sometimes the strongest trees are those that learn to bend with the wind rather than break against it."
His grandmother, Lola Maria, had raised him after his parents died in one of the early dungeon breaks in Manila. She had been the one to encourage his Hunter dreams, had saved every peso to help pay for his transport to the prestigious American academy. The thought of disappointing her had kept him going through three years of hell, but now...
Another paragraph caught his attention: "I heard from my friend Carmen about a place called Cagayan de Oro. They say there's a Hunter there who teaches the ones everyone else has given up on. They call him the God of Snakes, and his students have gone on to do incredible things. Maybe it's time to consider coming home, apo. Sometimes the journey we need isn't the one we planned."
Axel set the letter down and walked to his small window, which looked out over the academy's sprawling campus. In the distance, he could see the advanced students practicing their abilities—flashes of lightning, pillars of flame, and barriers of pure energy painting the night sky in brilliant colors.
He had dreamed of joining them for so long, but now that dream felt as distant as the stars above.
The decision crystallized in that moment, sharp and clear as broken glass. He was done being everyone's punching bag. He was done accepting that E-rank meant worthless. If there was someone in the Philippines who saw potential where others saw failure, then maybe it was time to find out what that potential really was.
Three weeks later, Axel stepped off the plane at Laguindingan Airport, the humid Philippines air hitting him like a warm embrace after years in America's sterile, climate-controlled environments. The journey to Cagayan de Oro took another hour by bus, and with each passing mile, he felt something inside his chest begin to loosen—a tension he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying.
Cagayan de Oro City sprawled before him as the bus crested a hill, a bustling metropolis that seemed to pulse with life and energy. Unlike the cold efficiency of American Hunter cities, with their towering glass buildings and sterile training facilities, CDO felt organic, alive. Street vendors called out their wares in a mixture of Tagalog, Bisaya, and English, while jeepneys painted in brilliant colors navigated streets that seemed to follow no particular urban planning logic.
But what struck Axel most was the presence of Hunters. They were everywhere—not hidden away in exclusive academies or corporate towers, but integrated into the daily life of the city. He saw a C-rank Hunter using her plant manipulation abilities to help a fruit vendor arrange his display. A young man with obvious fire abilities was working at a street-side barbecue stand, his flames dancing in perfect harmony with the cooking process.
This wasn't a city that feared Hunters or put them on pedestals. This was a city that had learned to live alongside them.
"First time in CDO?" asked the elderly man sitting next to him on the bus. His weathered face was kind, and there was something about his eyes that suggested hidden depths.
"Yes, sir. I'm... looking for someone. A Hunter teacher named Sid?"
The old man's face lit up with genuine warmth. "Ah, the Ahas Master! You're one of his new students, then. Good for you, young man. Sid has a gift for seeing what others miss."
"Ahas Master?"
"Snake Master, in your language. But don't let the nickname fool you—his students call him Sid because he insists on it. Says titles are for people who've forgotten how to connect with others." The old man studied Axel with knowing eyes. "Let me guess—you came here because somewhere else told you that you weren't good enough?"
Axel nodded, surprised by the man's insight.
"That's the story for most of Sid's students. CDO has become a haven for the ones the big academies cast aside. We call it the City of Golden Friendship not just because of our hospitality, but because here, we believe friendship and community can forge strength that individual power never could."
As the bus pulled into the central terminal, the old man stood to leave. "Sid's main academy is in the Central District. Just ask anyone—they'll point you in the right direction. And young man?" He paused at the bus door. "Don't bring your old academy's ideas about rank and power with you. Here, we measure worth differently."
The Central Hunter Academy of Cagayan de Oro was unlike any training facility Axel had ever seen. Instead of imposing concrete and glass, the building seemed to grow out of the landscape itself. Tropical plants climbed the walls, and open-air corridors allowed the warm breeze to flow through the structure. The sound of training came not from sterile gymnasiums but from courtyards where students practiced beneath the open sky.
Axel approached the main reception area, where a cheerful young woman with obvious plant-manipulation abilities—evidenced by the flowering vines that grew from small pots around her desk—greeted him with a warm smile.
"You must be Axel Reyes! Master Sid is expecting you. He's in Courtyard Five with the advanced foundation class."
Following her directions, Axel made his way through corridors lined with photographs of graduating students. What struck him was the diversity—faces from all over Asia and beyond, representing every nationality and background imaginable. But more than that, the photos seemed to radiate genuine happiness and accomplishment, a stark contrast to the rigid, competitive atmosphere of his previous academy.
He found Courtyard Five and stopped in the doorway, mesmerized by what he saw.
At the center of the space stood a man who could only be Sid. Tall and powerfully built, with shoulder-length black hair and features that spoke of mixed Filipino and Chinese heritage, he moved with a fluid grace that reminded Axel of flowing water. But what truly captured attention were his companions—two magnificent serpents, one white as fresh snow, the other deep red like freshly drawn blood, coiled around his arms and torso as if they were living jewelry.
The snakes weren't just pets or familiars. As Axel watched, Sid extended his hand, and the white serpent flowed down his arm, transforming seamlessly into a gleaming sword. A moment later, the red snake became a whip of pure energy that cracked through the air with supernatural force.
"Power," Sid was saying to the dozen students gathered around him, his voice carrying easily across the courtyard, "is not about the rank you're assigned or the category others put you in. Power is about understanding—understanding yourself, understanding your abilities, and understanding how to grow beyond the limitations that others would place on you."
One of the students, a girl who couldn't have been more than sixteen, raised her hand. "But Master Sid, what if your ability really is weak? What if you're just... E-rank?"
Sid smiled, and the expression transformed his entire face. Where Axel had expected condescension or false encouragement, he saw only genuine warmth and something that looked remarkably like excitement.
"Ah, Mei-Lin, that's the most important question anyone can ask." He gestured, and both serpents returned to their living forms, coiling around him once more. "Let me tell you about ranks. The system was created thirteen years ago by people who needed to quickly categorize newly awakened Hunters for military and economic purposes. It was never meant to define the limits of human potential."
He began to pace, his movements flowing and hypnotic. "I once knew a Hunter whose ability was classified as 'Enhanced Intuition'—E-rank, they said. Useless for combat, they said. Do you know what she does now? She's the most successful dungeon navigator in Southeast Asia. Her 'weak' intuition allows her to sense dungeon layouts, predict monster movements, and guide teams through S-rank dungeons that would be death traps for anyone else."
The white snake lifted its head, seeming to regard the students with intelligent eyes. "Or consider my own journey. When I first awakened, my ability was classified as 'Animal Communication'—D-rank at best. The American academy I attended suggested I consider a career in veterinary medicine."
He gestured, and both serpents began to glow with inner light, their scales shifting and flowing like liquid metal. "They couldn't see that communication was just the beginning. Through my bond with my serpent companions, I learned to channel their essence, to transform them into weapons and tools, to access their supernatural senses and abilities. Now they call me the God of Snakes, and S-rank dungeons request my services."
Mei-Lin's eyes widened. "So... so an E-rank really could become stronger?"
"Not just stronger," Sid replied, his gaze sweeping across all the students and somehow landing directly on Axel, hidden as he was in the doorway. "They could become legendary. But only if they're willing to let go of the labels others have given them and explore the true depths of their potential."
After the class concluded, Sid approached Axel with a knowing smile. "You must be my newest student from America. Your reputation precedes you, Axel Reyes."
Axel felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. "My reputation?"
"As someone who refused to give up despite three years of being told he was worthless. That kind of determination is rarer and more valuable than any S-rank ability." Sid extended his hand, and Axel noticed that his grip was firm without being intimidating. "Welcome to the CDO Hunter Academy system."
"System?"
"Come, let me show you around." Sid began walking, the two serpents flowing around him like living scarves. "CDO operates differently than most Hunter cities. Instead of one large, centralized academy, we have five specialized facilities, each designed to nurture different aspects of Hunter development."
They walked through a garden pathway that connected to other buildings, each structure designed to harmonize with the tropical environment rather than dominate it.
"The Northern Academy specializes in combat and physical enhancement. Students there focus on developing their bodies and fighting techniques to their absolute limits. The Southern Academy is our research and theory center—students there dive deep into understanding the scientific and magical principles behind Hunter abilities."
They passed a group of students practicing what looked like meditation, but Axel could sense the supernatural energy flowing around them like invisible rivers.
"The Eastern Academy focuses on spiritual and mental development—meditation, energy control, understanding the connection between consciousness and power. The Western Academy is our practical application center, where students learn to use their abilities in real-world situations through controlled dungeon expeditions and community service projects."
Axel nodded, impressed by the comprehensive approach. "And the Central Academy?"
Sid's smile widened, and the red serpent around his neck seemed to lift its head with what looked remarkably like pride. "Central is my personal domain. It's where I work with students who have been dismissed or underestimated by other institutions. Students whose potential lies not in raw power but in growth, adaptation, and the ability to transcend the limitations that others would impose on them."
They stopped in front of a modest building that somehow felt more welcoming than the imposing structures Axel had grown accustomed to in America. "This is where students come when they've been told they're not good enough, not strong enough, not special enough. It's where we prove that the most dangerous thing in the world is someone who has been underestimated and refuses to accept defeat."
The white serpent flowed down Sid's arm and extended toward Axel, its intelligent eyes studying him intently. After a moment, it returned to Sid with what seemed like an approving nod.
"Bianca likes you," Sid observed. "She has excellent judgment when it comes to character. Her partner, Crimson, is more skeptical, but he'll come around."
As if summoned by his name, the red serpent lifted its head and regarded Axel with what could only be described as suspicious evaluation.
"Now then," Sid continued, "tell me about this 'Fast Learner' ability of yours. But don't tell me what your previous instructors said about it. Tell me what you've discovered when you've pushed it to its limits."
Axel hesitated. "I... I'm not sure I understand. It just means I pick up things faster than normal people."
"Hmm." Sid's expression became thoughtful. "Have you ever tested how much faster? Have you tried to learn things that normal humans couldn't learn at all? Have you explored whether your enhanced learning applies only to conscious study, or if it affects muscle memory, pattern recognition, intuitive understanding?"
The questions hit Axel like a revelation. In three years at the American academy, no one had ever asked him to explore the boundaries of his ability. They had simply categorized it, dismissed it, and moved on.
"I... no. No one ever suggested that I should."
"Then we have our work cut out for us." Sid's grin was infectious, and for the first time in years, Axel felt something stir in his chest that might have been hope. "Welcome to Central Academy, Axel Reyes. Let's find out what a truly unleashed 'Fast Learner' can accomplish."
That evening, Axel sat in his new dormitory room—a simple but comfortable space that looked out over the city lights of Cagayan de Oro. The window was open, letting in the warm night air and the sounds of a city that never quite went to sleep. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear music and laughter, the sounds of a community that had learned to find joy even in a world threatened by monsters.
He pulled out a piece of paper and began writing a letter to his grandmother:
"Dearest Lola,
I made it safely to Cagayan de Oro, and you were right—this place is special. I met my new teacher today, and for the first time since I awakened, someone looked at my ability and saw potential instead of failure.
I know I have a long way to go, and I know the path ahead won't be easy. But here, I don't feel like I'm fighting alone anymore. Here, being underestimated isn't a weakness—it's an advantage waiting to be revealed.
Thank you for believing in me when no one else would, and for showing me that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is start over.
Your loving apo, Axel
P.S. - I think I'm going to like it here."
As he sealed the letter, Axel caught his reflection in the window glass. The same face looked back at him—the same dark eyes, the same unimpressive build, the same E-rank status that had made him the target of so much cruelty. But something had changed, something subtle but profound.
For the first time in three years, Axel Reyes looked in the mirror and saw not a failure, but a student. And in a place known as the City of Golden Friendship, under the tutelage of a man called the God of Snakes, that student was about to discover just how much he had yet to learn about the true nature of power.
Outside his window, the city pulsed with life and possibility, and somewhere in the distance, dungeons waited to be explored by those brave enough to face the unknown. Tomorrow, his real education would begin.