At the Monster Hunter Training Camp.
Morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist hanging over the training grounds. Golden rays touched the faces of young recruits standing tall in formation—the future Monster Hunter forces, humanity's last hope.
The sound of birds slowly faded as the heavy footsteps of Jake Hill echoed across the damp earth.
He stepped onto the stone podium and looked into hundreds of waiting eyes. The wind blew fiercely, causing the Indosvara flag behind him to snap and wave.
Jake took a deep breath and shouted:
"Listen!! You are the future Monster Hunter forces! You are humanity's hope!"
His voice echoed against the stone walls, striking the hearts of everyone present.
"This is where we stand united. We share one purpose—to protect humanity and to eradicate every monster for the peace that was stolen from us!"
He stepped forward. His gaze was sharp, yet behind it lingered wounds that had never truly healed.
"Today is your first day. I expect you to train well—and to know each other as comrades."
The wind circled around him, as if honoring his words.
"For two months, you studied theory—monster weak points, anatomy, battle strategy. But now…" "Now it's time for real training. You'll be divided into squads, and you will carry out missions together."
He scanned their faces one by one.
There, he saw small flames—hope, fear, and imperfect resolve burning together.
---
At the corner of the field, Sai leaned against a wooden post beside several senior Indosvara soldiers. A light rain began to fall, tapping softly against their armor.
Sai observed the recruits with cold eyes.
"Do you see it?" he murmured. "Their faces tell everything—how terrifying the monsters are. How deep the wounds they carry."
He pointed toward the line where Ryu, Evelyn, and Leon stood—the faces of those who had witnessed hell in central Indosvara.
"Unlike the others," Sai continued quietly, "those who have never seen a monster with their own eyes will never understand how frightening they truly are."
He shifted his gaze to another row of younger, more innocent faces.
"For some of them, becoming a Monster Hunter is just a way to eat. To survive the food crisis."
One of the soldiers beside him glanced at Asta.
"Does that mean they won't last long?"
Sai shook his head slowly.
"Who knows? Change… and intention… can shift at any moment."
His words lingered in the damp air like a subtle curse.
---
On the field, the sky began to change.
Dark clouds rolled in quickly, swallowing the sunlight until the training grounds fell into shadow. Distant thunder rumbled.
Jake looked up, frowning.
"The weather's turning… not ideal."
The wind carried the metallic scent of rain and wet soil.
"Everyone! Since the weather shows signs of heavy rain, training is postponed! The wind is too strong. Return to your quarters and wait until it clears!"
"Yes, Commander!" hundreds of voices answered in unison.
The formation dissolved in orderly haste.
Jake stepped aside as rain began to pour harder.
Sai approached him.
---
"Jake," Sai said quietly. "Do you think… all of this is connected to Rei?"
Jake's eyes widened slightly.
Sai continued in a serious tone.
"Doesn't it make sense? If these disasters originated from Rei." "She's the only one capable of awakening monsters."
His voice grew heavier.
"You remember, don't you? How Rei once summoned two monsters to save us?"
Jake fell silent.
"Are you saying… Rei is hiding somewhere?" he asked.
Sai nodded.
"Yes. There's no one insane enough besides her who would want to destroy humanity."
Jake stared at the darkening sky.
"Then… we must stay alert."
Lightning split the sky, illuminating their faces.
"Even though I don't sense Rei's energy," Jake thought, "this is too complex to be coincidence. Someone is pulling the strings… and that someone is Rei Celestia."
He raised his voice.
"Sai! Patrol outside Sena City with the Indosvara troops. The monsters have been unseen for two months—too suspicious to call it peace."
Sai nodded.
"I'll leave immediately."
He mounted his horse and rode into the heavy rain, leaving Jake standing alone, soaked beneath the storm.
"Rei… where are you?" Jake whispered.
---
Inside the Monster Hunter dormitory.
Ryu and Leon shared a modest room with two bunk beds. The wooden walls were damp, and rain hammered against the metal roof outside.
Two other young men were organizing their gear. One was tall and lean; the other medium-built and muscular.
"Hey, what are your names?" the tall one asked, offering a hand.
"Ryu."
"Leon."
"Nice to meet you," they said simultaneously.
The muscular one smiled.
"I'm Kael. And this is Elias."
They sat on the lower bunk, conversation flowing easily.
"So," Elias asked curiously, "are you from central Indosvara? The city destroyed by the meteor and monsters?"
Ryu paused before answering flatly.
"Yes."
Leon nodded grimly.
"And you?" Ryu asked. "You don't seem like locals."
Kael chuckled.
"How'd you know?"
"Your aura," Ryu replied. "And your features," Leon added. "Not typical Indosvara."
Kael nodded.
"We're from beyond the island. Small merchants. After the disaster… everything was gone."
Elias lowered his gaze.
"We came as three. Our friend… didn't survive. We failed to save him."
Silence filled the room.
"We joined the Monster Hunters," Kael continued, "because we don't want to fail again. We want to protect others."
Ryu stared at the floor.
Memories surged—his sister's torn body, blood, screams, the smell of burning flesh.
His body trembled.
Leon quickly handed him a small bag.
"Ryu—"
Ryu bent forward.
"Ugh—"
The sound of vomiting echoed.
Leon spoke gently.
"Kael, Elias… we lost family too. Slaughtered. We know the pain."
Kael bowed his head.
"I'm sorry."
Ryu lifted his head slowly, eyes red.
"The monsters… aren't terrifying."
They looked at him in confusion.
"I'm just… feeling sick."
Leon turned away, holding back tears. He knew Ryu was forcing himself to look strong.
"I joined the Monster Hunters," Ryu declared firmly, "because I will kill every monster. Until none remain."
Kael suddenly wrapped an arm around both of them.
"Then we're comrades. Our goal is the same."
---
Outside Sena's gates.
Rain poured mercilessly. Sai and the Indosvara troops rode across muddy ground and ruined streets. Thick fog blurred their vision.
"Don't split up! Maintain formation!" Sai shouted.
Lightning flashed—
And Sai saw her.
A woman's silhouette standing atop rubble, cloaked in black. Long hair flowing in the wind.
She did not move.
Only watched.
Sai held his breath.
"Who… is that?"
He shouted.
"Hey! Who are you?! Why are you there?!"
The soldiers looked confused.
"Sai, who are you talking to?"
Sai pointed.
"The woman—on the rubble!"
But when he looked again—
She was gone.
"Where…?"
The others saw nothing.
"There's no one there. You're imagining things."
"No! I'm certain!" Sai insisted.
He stared at the ruins now cloaked in fog.
A strange feeling crept into his chest—cold, yet familiar.
"Who are you…?" he whispered.
Lightning struck again, briefly revealing a glowing purple symbol etched into the stone where she had stood—an ancient magical sigil.
The wind stopped.
The world fell silent.
And in that silence… a faint whisper emerged. A woman's voice.
"…Sai… it's been a long time…"
Sai stiffened.
"…Rei…?"
Another flash of lightning.
The voice vanished.
Rain poured once more.
"Sai! Move out!" the soldiers called.
But in his mind, the whisper lingered:
"What you saw… is only the beginning of the awakening."
Sai looked up at the storm-dark sky pulsing with violet lightning.
For the first time since the great war two months ago—
He felt fear.
To be continued…