Standing behind Leo was a tall, beautiful young woman, her skin so smooth and lustrous that it seemed almost untouched by blemish or scar. She had bright green eyes that resembled polished emeralds more than ordinary pupils, sharp and vivid even in the muted light of Hellscape.
Her long black hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, revealing a face that was calm, composed, and impossibly distant. She wore a well-fitted battlesuit of awakened tier— Leo could tell at a glance. It covered her upper body snugly, reinforced at vital points, clearly designed for both mobility and protection. Dark leather pants and hardened boots completed the outfit, each piece bearing faint signs of use. Resting at her waist was a long steel sword, its presence quiet yet unmistakably lethal.
She looked down at him with eyes filled with cold disgust, though something deeper flickered beneath it— something restrained.
"It's infuriating how you keep redefining how low you can fall," she said flatly. "So, what's the story this time?"
Leo hesitated before answering. Telling her the real reason he was there would be no different from announcing to the world that he had finally gone mad. He couldn't bring himself to do that— not to her. So he followed his instincts.
"I couldn't kill a single beast to pay the gate fee," he said casually. "So I slept out here in the wild."
He rose to his feet, suddenly aware of how torn and filthy his clothes were compared to her immaculate gear. Swallowing the embarrassment, he shifted his tone and forced a trace of charm into his voice.
"You know, when you think of it as camping, the conditions out here really aren't that bad."
Her lips twitched— just barely. For a fleeting moment, it almost looked like she might smile. Almost. Then the expression vanished before it could fully form.
"Come with me," she said after a pause, her voice settling into composed confidence. "I'm on a morning hunt. I'll give you a small share of the beast cores, unless you want to help."
She stared at him with cold, unreadable eyes, as though she were genuinely testing him, waiting to see what he would choose.
Leo didn't hesitate to answer, choosing honesty over pride.
"Not really," he said. "I'd rather hide behind a tree while you do all the hard work."
He caught the instant her gaze hardened. Without another word, she turned and began walking away.
It wasn't that he didn't want to join her. But Cassandra Hearth was the strongest awakened hunter in the entirety of Glory Base and his senior back when they were still in the academy. Following her into battle would only invite more humiliation.
Watching from a safe distance, however, had its merits. He might even pick up a move or two to copy for his next hunt assuming he survived long enough to try.
Cassandra Hearth was, in more ways than most, a childhood friend— though that fact remained a secret known only to the two of them within Hellscape. She had been there when he lost his mother. Her family had been close to his, long before the world fell apart. She was a year ahead of him in the academy, right up until she crossed into Hellscape.
From there, she rose relentlessly-- becoming the strongest in Glory Base, even surpassing Goliath, the former number one. She was eventually scouted by the Military Surge faction, one of the most powerful forces in the waking world. It was also well known that she preferred to hunt alone, despite her status.
She had been affected by the Song of Shadows almost a year after Leo, which delayed her arrival in Hellscape. Yet even that hadn't stopped her from surpassing everyone who came before her. After learning of Leo's title and just how weak he was she gradually lost interest in him.
And how could he blame her?
How was he supposed to compete with someone who had been trained, refined, and nourished since childhood to become a superhuman?
Leo sighed softly and followed behind her without shame. His gaze drifted to her waist, locking onto the small silver badge attached there. The insignia of Military Surge caught the light as it swayed with her steps, momentarily pulling him into a quiet trance.
He forced himself to look away.
'Curses… why can't I focus right now?'
He clenched his fists. 'I need to think about what's happening to me without distractions.'
After several minutes, they reached a clearing. Cassandra gestured for him to stay back while she advanced alone toward a herd of awakened beasts.
What Leo witnessed next made his breath catch.
It was one thing to see an awakened-level superhuman fight a single awakened beast. It was another entirely to watch someone willingly face an entire horde.
That kind of choice bordered on madness.
Or courage.
Sometimes, it was both.
But Cassandra Hearth was different. She was a living powerhouse, capable of unleashing the force of a small battalion from within such a slender frame.
For Leo— who had only ever glimpsed awakened superhumans in action, this was a rare opportunity. He opened his mind, committing every movement to memory.
The beasts before her were Blood Stingers, a species infamous among hunters. Taking them on without a full party was nearly suicidal, and only teams with skilled archers usually stood a chance.
Blood Stingers were fast, flying beasts— one of the most despised types in Hellscape. They excelled in both speed and aerial combat. Their defense was weak, but they compensated with overwhelming offense.
Their bodies resembled enormous black dragonflies several meters long, with four wings that beat faster than the human eye could follow. Eight insect-like legs clung beneath them, their forms covered in soft tissue and coarse fur. Massive dark compound eyes allowed them to see from every angle. From their base extended a long red stinger, similar to that of a bee.
That stinger was the true source of their terror. A single graze could paralyze prey within seconds, thanks to a potent toxin.
Leo counted nearly a dozen of them buzzing through the air in a strange, rhythmic pattern-- until the dance was interrupted by a lone young woman approaching them with slow, deliberate steps.
His eyes widened, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was about to witness.