After days of preparation and planning, it was finally the day before the first-ever hunt.
Some were scared.
Some were nervous.
Others were excited at the opportunity.
A mix of emotions spread through the participants, but they all understood one thing clearly—this first beast hunt would set the stage for everything that followed.
⸻
The two instructors who had been training the boys walked through the city as dusk settled in. Curfew was approaching, and students would soon be forced to leave the streets.
"So," one of them said, breaking the silence, "it's the day before. You think they're ready?"
"They've shown some improvement," the other replied, casually eating from a bag of chips he'd bought before the stores closed. "But for the most part, we haven't interfered much. They've been focusing on training on their own—using that room almost exclusively."
"Truthfully, I don't care if they win," the first instructor said flatly. "What they should be worried about is surviving. Beasts aren't common creatures. If they're careless, they'll die—and something tells me—"
"A lot of them are going to die on the first day," the second finished. "Mostly first-years."
"Exactly. Most of the first-years made the smart call and backed out of the hunt. Waiting until their first official academy outing is the right move. There's no point in rushing when your life's on the line. Being a leader doesn't mean anything if you're dead."
"True that, brother. True that." The man paused, then smirked. "So… did you bet?"
"Did I bet?" the other asked, confused.
"What, you don't know? There's a betting forum online—run by the Voss Clan themselves. Guess they're making a few units off this whole thing."
"Hm. Maybe I'll place a bet or two later."
They stopped in front of the building.
Suddenly, both instructors froze.
"Wait a minute," one of them muttered. "Something's wrong."
He frowned. "The heat… it's way hotter than last time."
"Shit. You're right." The other cursed under his breath. "Don't tell me they killed themselves. Why would they do this? That's not how the human body works—especially the day before a hunt."
One of them ran to the side of the building, while the other instantly coated himself in ice.
"Yeah," the ice-covered instructor said, gripping the door handle.
The moment he pulled it open, a massive wave of steam burst outward.
The instructor at the side immediately ducked his head as extreme heat blasted over them. The one at the door continuously reinforced the ice around his body—if he didn't, it felt like his flesh would melt straight off his bones.
"What the hell…?" he muttered.
Through burning eyes and heavy steam, he could make out six figures sitting on the floor—legs crossed, backs straight, all in meditative positions.
Their expressions were peaceful.
As if they couldn't feel the heat at all.
The instructor glanced at the temperature gauge on the wall.
180°F.
"What the hell…?" he whispered. "How are these kids even alive after staying in here this long?"
Realizing none of them had noticed him, he raised his voice.
"HEY!"
Harkel's eyes snapped open.
"Turn it off! Turn it off!" the instructor shouted, tapping his wrist.
Harkel immediately stood and rushed to the wall, shutting down the heat. The others remained in meditation, but once he tapped them, they all understood—it was time to leave.
When the second instructor stood up and looked inside, he was stunned.
Their skin was completely intact.
No burns.
No damage.
Inhuman.
"S-Sorry," Harkel said quickly, bowing deeply. "We didn't mean to scare you—or ignore you. We were too focused."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," the instructor muttered as the ice around his body dissipated. "Just get out of here."
The six boys exited the room and headed toward the elevator, ready to return to the dorms and finally get some sleep.
"How the hell are they just… okay?" one instructor muttered.
"I don't know. Maybe their bodies adapted."
"No," the other said slowly. "That heat was far beyond what they usually train in. I know the planet they're heading to has extreme temperatures—but this? They pushed past it by a long shot."
⸻
As the six walked through the corridor, excitement buzzed among them. Tomorrow would be the day the games truly began.
When they reached the pseudo-elevator, Harkel suddenly stepped in front of them, blocking the way.
"Before we go back," he said, his tone serious, "there are a few things I need to say."
Everyone stopped.
Harkel wasn't usually the serious type—which meant this mattered.
"After today, we all know what tomorrow brings," he continued. "No games. No jokes. No messing around. This isn't a game—it's life or death. Beasts won't hesitate to kill us, and neither should we."
His gaze hardened.
"I'm responsible for all of your lives. I won't let anyone die under my command. So before you move past me, I need you to promise—promise me—that you'll take tomorrow seriously. Not just for my goal, but for your own survival."
The silence weighed heavy.
Then Luka stepped forward.
He tapped Harkel on the shoulder and nodded, his expression unwavering, before stepping onto the elevator.
One by one, the others followed—each tapping Harkel's shoulder, each giving him a firm nod.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Harkel boarded last.
As the doors closed, he chuckled softly. "You know… I just realized something."
Everyone looked at him.
"We never got a name," he said. "At some point, we're gonna need one."
"We'll talk about it later," Riven replied, holding out his hand.
Harkel grabbed it, and Riven pulled him in as the elevator ascended toward the dorms—each of them heading toward sleep, knowing tomorrow would change everything.
The next day, not a single word was spoken as everyone went to their classes like it was a normal school day. The beast hunt wouldn't take place until nightfall, so all they could do was wait.
Entering his combat class, Riven grabbed a blue gauntlet, staring at it with a solemn expression.
I wonder, the boy thought, if I had kept the Level Four gemstones… could I have made a beast weapon? Or could the system have done something with them?
He shook his head.
"It's too late to think about that now."
Just as he turned to find a partner to practice with, Mr. Kaiser stepped directly in his path.
"Why are you here?" the man sighed. "You should be resting today."
"Well, it doesn't hurt to get a little practice in—"
Before he could finish, Kaiser hurriedly shoved the black-and-green-haired boy back out into the hallway.
"No. Go to your dorm and rest. That is your assignment today."
The door slammed shut, leaving Riven standing there, still holding the blue gauntlet.
"You don't have to be such an ass about it," Riven yelled as he walked away.
Still, he knew Kaiser meant well. The man clearly wanted what was best for him.
After checking the halls for any new cameras, Riven stored the gauntlet in his inventory and headed off, thinking Kaiser had a point. Instead of returning to his dorm, the boy stopped beneath a tree in the middle field and lay down in the grass, staring upward.
"So today is finally the day, huh?" he murmured.
His expression grew contemplative.
"Why do I want this?"
Questions surfaced one after another.
Am I doing this to find out why I'm seeing visions of future versions of myself? Am I doing this to evolve further? Or is it just for the thrill of the game?
"What is it, Riven?" he whispered. "What's your purpose in all of this?"
He sank deeper into thought as two figures formed in his mind.
"No," he said softly. "I'm doing this for them."
Mom. Dad.
"You sacrificed so much for me and Jordan. You never abandoned us—never walked away like most would have. You stayed."
His fingers clenched.
"We owe you. Even if you don't want repayment, you deserve more than this world. You deserve the entire universe."
A quiet resolve burned in his chest.
"And Harkel will help me give it to you. I'll get you out of that cramped space we call home. This—this is the key."
This was Riven's fire.
And it would never die until it was satisfied.
⸻
Still staring at the sky, the boy eventually drifted to sleep.
When he woke again, darkness had fallen.
Riven sat up slowly, brushing the grass from his clothes. Without hesitation, he summoned his inventory and slid the blue gauntlet onto his hand, the familiar weight settling against his arm like an extension of himself.
"Hm," was all he said.
He stood and headed toward the elevator, descending into the city. As he walked toward the designated meetup point, he could sense familiar presences moving nearby.
After a few minutes, Jordan stepped out beside him as if emerging from the shadows, two daggers resting at his sides.
They passed beneath a streetlight, where a black-haired boy with a bow strapped to his back and a blond boy carrying a short sword joined them, falling into step.
As the four neared the city's edge, a dark figure descended from above, a massive greatsword resting on its back.
None of them reacted.
They knew exactly what—and who—it was.
The creature shrank mid-step, taking on human features as the group passed. Leo walked alongside them without a word.
At the edge of the city, a blue-haired boy stood waiting, his back turned as if he'd known they would arrive together.
When they reached him, they stopped—silent, attentive.
Harkel turned, his expression serious as his eyes swept over the other participants gathered nearby.
"All right," he said calmly.
"Let the games begin."