The medical tent smelled of herbs and mana potions sharp, bitter, familiar to any tournament fighter.
Alto lay on a cot, eyes open but staring at nothing. His side throbbed where the kick had landed a dull, deep ache that no healer had fully erased yet.
The medics said nothing was broken, just bruised muscle and drained aura reserves.
But the real bruise was deeper.
Yuuki sat on a stool beside him, armor off, greatsword propped against the wall. Her usual confident grin was gone, replaced by tight lips and worried eyes.
Nano hovered nearby, fiddling with her staff, occasionally glancing at Alto like he might vanish if she looked away.
"You gave 'em hell out there," Yuuki finally said, voice low. "That cat-girl was Rank 7. You took her down with everything you had. The crowd saw it. They know you're the real deal."
Alto didn't answer right away. His fingers curled into the blanket.
Real deal.
He turned the words over in his mind, tasting the bitterness.
I poured everything into beating Tina. Every skill, every combo, every drop of Predator I could chain. I barely won. And then…
His jaw clenched.
One kick.
One casual, lazy kick from a guy who hadn't moved the entire match.
And I was out.
Nano stepped closer, voice soft. "Alto… you okay?"
He forced a breath, sat up slowly despite the protest in his ribs.
"Yeah. Just… thinking."
Yuuki leaned forward, elbows on knees. "That silver-haired bastard 'Sora' he's gotta be hiding something big. No way someone that strong just stands there doing nothing. Probably some noble brat playing games."
Alto shook his head slowly.
"No. It wasn't a game."
He looked at his hands the same hands that had ignited flames, channeled telekinesis, driven his sword to Tina's throat.
Those hands couldn't even react.
"I felt it," he said quietly. "The gap. It's not just rank or skill. It's… everything. Like standing in front of a mountain and thinking you're a boulder."
Nano frowned. "But you're the hero candidate. The Crimson Moon chose you. Predator responds to you like no one else. You're supposed to....."
"Supposed to what?" Alto cut in, sharper than he meant.
The tent went silent.
He looked away, shame creeping in.
"Sorry. I just…"
He rubbed his face.
"Everyone keeps saying it. 'Hero candidate.' 'The one who'll face the darkness.' 'The hope of the kingdom.'"
His voice dropped.
"But today… I used everything. Everything I've trained for, bled for, pushed past limits for… and it wasn't enough. Not even close. One guy who didn't even try ended it like swatting a fly."
Yuuki reached out, put a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Hey. You beat a Rank 7 beastkin in a straight duel. That's not nothing. That's legendary for someone your age."
Alto gave a hollow laugh.
"Legendary until the next second."
He stared at the tent wall, seeing the arena again the sand, the crowd, the calm golden eyes looking down at him right before the world went black.
"What if…" he whispered, almost afraid to say it. "What if I'm not the hero everyone thinks I am?"
Nano's eyes widened. "Alto…"
"What if the prophecy, the skills, the title… what if it's all just… setting me up to fail? To get crushed by someone actually strong?"
Yuuki squeezed his shoulder harder.
"Listen to me. Doubt's normal. Every fighter gets hit with it. But you don't quit because of one loss. You get back up. You train harder. You close the gap."
But Alto's gaze stayed distant.
Close the gap?
That wasn't a gap. That was an ocean.
He thought of the 9th General waiting in the later rounds the monster even kingdoms feared.
If one lazy teammate can do this to me…
What chance do I have against a real General?
The doubt settled in his chest like cold iron.
For the first time since receiving Predator… Alto wondered if the hero's path was truly his.
Or if he was just a boy carrying a burden too heavy for his shoulders.
Outside the tent, the tournament cheers echoed faintly.
Inside, the hero candidate sat in silence.
The 333 Inn was alive with the afternoon crowd sunlight streaming through open windows, mixing with lantern glow as the day eased toward evening.
Adventurers swapped stories over late lunches, merchants sealed deals, and the kitchen sizzled with fresh batches of food.
Anuver and Tina had snagged a worn wooden table near the back, far enough from the rowdiest groups but still bathed in the warm light.
Bruises bloomed purple on Tina's arms, a thin scratch marked her cheek, and she moved stiffly as she dropped into her chair.
"Ahh, it hurts," she grumbled, rolling her shoulder with a hiss, tail flicking irritably. "But gotta eat something first. Can't heal on an empty stomach."
She jabbed a finger toward the bar. "Those medic bastards didn't even look at me. Ran straight to that hero boy like he was the only one who fought."
Anuver leaned back, calm as ever, golden eyes scanning the chalked menu on the wall.
"They prioritize the favorite," he said simply. "Makes sense for the tournament."
Tina snorted, fangs flashing. "Yeah, well. And you " She pointed her fork at him accusingly. "You're actually strong. Without a mana sea or aura… you knocked him out with one kick. How the hell did you train for that?"
Anuver paused, chopsticks halfway to his mouth.
Of course playing games all day. I just tried one of those moves from the novels. Held back like crazy so I wouldn't accidentally kill him, and yet it still sent him flying.
He set the chopsticks down, expression neutral.
"Well… I trained my body under a grandmaster," he said smoothly. "That's why I'm strong even without mana or aura."
Tina's ears shot straight up. Her golden-slit eyes widened in shock.
She bolted to her feet, tail puffing, chair scraping loud enough to turn a few heads.
"A grandmaster?!" she half-shouted, then caught herself and dropped her voice, leaning in.
"Isn't that… Rank 8 aura holders? Even this kingdom only has three! Which country are you from, anyway? Yesterday you just said you were some noble's useless son you never gave details!"
Anuver took a calm sip of tea, unfazed.
"I'm from the eastern lands of the Crimson Moon Kingdom," he replied. "My father is a grandmaster. Our family… we don't show ourselves much. Most people don't even know we exist."
Of course that's a lie, he thought, amused. The eastern lands are a wasteland gate to hell, half-claimed by the 1st Domain. No one lives there. Perfect cover.
Tina sank back into her seat slowly, staring at him like he'd sprouted wings.
"Whoa… I thought that place was extremely dangerous. Like, whoever enters never returns."
She leaned forward over the table, elbows planted, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Anuver shrugged lightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Yes, it's extremely dangerous. But my family is there, so I trained there. Still got called useless, though."
Tina barked a laugh. "Useless? You one-kicked the hero candidate!"
Right on cue, the waiter arrived with loaded trays steaming cocogoat meat skewers glazed in spicy sauce, roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and bowls of fragrant soup.
Tina's mood flipped instantly. She snatched a skewer and bit in.
"This meat is really delicious," she mumbled around a mouthful, tail swishing happily. "I think I'll get addicted to it."
Anuver ate more slowly, savoring the flavors with that quiet, mundane enjoyment.
Around them, whispers began drifting from nearby tables.
"Hey, hey isn't that Tina and Sora?"
"The beastkin girl and the guy who finished the hero with one kick?"
"See how shamelessly he's eating after that cheap shot…"
A cluster of girls nearby giggled.
"But… isn't Sora kinda handsome? That silver hair and those eyes…"
"Tina's lucky to have a handsome guy on her team."
Tina's ears twitched beastkin hearing caught every word. Her chewing slowed. A faint red tint crept across her cheeks, barely visible under the fur, but her tail flicked faster, betraying her.
Anuver noticed immediately.
Would you look at that, he thought, smirk deepening just a fraction. Our cat is blushing.
He said nothing aloud just took another calm bite, golden eyes glinting with subtle amusement.
The whispers continued.
The afternoon carried on.