The injured hunter is carried away by medics.
Silence slowly settles over the street.
Maru scans the dead worms.
"…Which ones did I kill?"
Sain snorts softly.
"Whichever ones are completely flattened."
Maru blinks.
Around them, several worm carcasses are reduced to pulp.
Maru swallows.
The proof of kill.
The eyeballs.
His grip tightens around his knife.
He kneels beside one of the worms… then immediately recoils.
"I can't."
Sain is already working.
He keeps a careful distance, spear extended.
With controlled motions, he drives the tip in, twists — plucks.
One. Two. Three.
His expression doesn't change.
But he never steps closer than necessary.
He exhales through his nose.
"…I hate this part the most"
Maru approaches cautiously.
"Uh…"
Sain notices him.
Maru : "Sorry I forgot to introduce myself"."I'm Maru"
Sain : " Name's Sain"
Maru : "Actually I was thinking …can you maybe… extract mine too?"
Pause.
Sain was little surprised.
Maru gestures helplessly at the knife.
"I'll give you some of my credits."
Sain studies him.
Then returns to work.
"No."
Maru stiffens.
Then Sain adds—
"I'll do it. But I'm not taking your share."
Maru hesitates.
"…Why?"
Sain shrugs.
"Me doing this with spear is much easier than you doing it with knife "
Overjoyed Maru goes quiet.
Sain resumes plucking & Maru starts helps collect the plucked eyeballs.
Ten hunters stand openly across the street.
Watching.
Sain notices first.
His posture shifts subtly.
Guard up.
If they're here to steal the kill—
They carried a striking presence.
One steps forward.
Reva. Confident. Relaxed.
"You two working solo?"
Maru straightens immediately.
Maru:"Uh—yes! I mean...."
Sain:"Yes."
Short. Direct.
Reva's smile widens.
She gestures behind her.
The rest step into view.
Vyan flashed a feral grin
Kaal watches silently
Lily studies them like specimens
Grim looks with soul-piercing gaze.
Anya stands solid, unmoving
Maya avoids eye contact
Bete watches reactions
Fugu gives a friendly smile
Tara waves cheerfully
Reva:"We're a party."
Maru's eyes sparkle.
Maru:"A party?"
Sain narrows his eyes.
Kaal:"Solo hunting is difficult."
Anya:"Groups make more money."
Lily :"Success rates increase with mutiple people working together"
Fugu:"Team members cover your mistakes.For us, one mistake can cost a lot."
Vyan grins.
"Plus, it's fun watching teammates mess up."
Maru chuckles nervously.
Maru:"…I do that a lot."
Sain looks away.
Sain:"Thank you for asking… but I prioritize my family over everything else"
A pause.
Sain:"If it comes down to it…I'll protect them . Even if others are in danger."
Heavy silence.
Bete:"There's nothing wrong with that."
He nods.
"Most of us feel the same."
Grim (smirking):"I'd let the world burn if it kept my family safe."
The silence deepens.
Reva steps closer, eyes locked on Sain.
"You didn't fight like someone who didn't care."
He exhales slowly.
Sain:"…I need time."
Everyone pauses.
Sain meets Reva's eyes.
Reva studies him.
Then nods.
Reva:"Fair."
They exchange contacts.
Reva:"Let me know when you're ready."
Sain agrees.
Maru jumps to his feet.
"I'm in."
Everyone blinks.
Sain:"…You didn't think."
Maru:"I did!"
Tara(laughing):"I like him."
Lily :"That concerns me."
Sain leans toward Maru and whispers—
"At least discuss credit shares."
Reva laughs lightly.
"All kills are party kills. Equal split."
Sain freezes.
Sain's social awkwardness kicks in , so he leaves.
Maru watches Sain walk away.
A little disappointed.
3 days Later
Central City Guild.
Hunters move in and out. Weapons clink. Monitors flash mission alerts.
The group sits together.
Maru fidgets.
"…He's coming, right?"
Reva:"Yeah. He got caught up in a small monster attack. He's on his way."
Footsteps.
Sain stands at the entrance.
Same calm face. Same spear.
Everyone looks up.
Maru's face lights up.
"You came!"
Sain exhales.
"Sorry for the delay."
Few minutes Later.
They sit in a loose semi-circle.
Guild paperwork scattered between them.
Fugu:"So… we definitely need to come up with a party name."
The receptionist waits impatiently.
She has been asking them to decide since very long. so she won't accept any excuses this time.
Vyan:"Something intimidating."
Maru:" I am telling you guys just add something to 'Heroes'"
Anya :"No. I already told you we won't use that"
Reva:"it needs to be something unique"
Bete flips through the documents.
"…Interesting. Why didn't I notice this earlier"
He looks up.
"All of us were born in different months."
Maya tilts her head.
"…All twelve?"
Tara takes a look
"This is quite a coincidence"
Sain murmurs.
"Twelve constellations."
Reva's eyes light up.
"…Zodiac."
Maru:"That sounds cool!"
Lily :"Acceptable."
Kaal :"No complaints here"
Grim:"Cultural names always sell."
Reva stands.
"Then it's settled."
"We'll be Zodiac."
Vyan cracks his neck.
Vyan:"Perfect."
Grim studies Sain.
The Guild stamp slams onto the document.
APPROVED PARTY: ZODIAC
Maru beams.
Maru:"…Do we get emblems?"
Fugu laughs.
Fugu:"Of course — if you perform well!"
Everyone laughs.