"There's no stench of human blood on you. That's rare."
The dispirited man looked up, astonished, to see a young boy with a somewhat lazy air seated atop the massive black dog. The boy was studying him curiously, as if examining some oddity.
"So, even though you don't prey on humans, why were you running with that bunch? Didn't you know that your kind isn't on our kill list?"
"I… I had no idea. If I'd known, I wouldn't have run," the man stammered, surprised but also relieved that he might survive this hunt after all.
"Go on, I won't kill you," Muria said with a dismissive wave.
"Thank you, thank you!" The man's gloomy expression shifted to one of joy, his previous despair vanishing in an instant.
"Oh, and one more thing—don't ever associate with those who harm humans again. If I catch you with them a second time, I'll kill you, blood on your hands or not."
"I understand! I'll live a decent life from now on, I swear!" The man slapped himself as if to punctuate his promise. He was just an ordinary human whose genes had mutated one day, leaving him with features that set him apart. Afraid that Star Armor users would hunt him, he'd joined a ghoul organization, hoping to survive.
Yet each time he fought for the organization, he barely put in any effort, doing the bare minimum. Now, ironically, he was the only survivor of this purge—a twist of fate he hadn't anticipated.
…
Meanwhile, on a distant high-rise, a group of young people in white uniforms watched the hunt led by Muria and his beasts. They exchanged glances, their expressions filled with intrigue.
"The Night Hunter—Gelos. Quite a bold nickname."
"And fitting, considering the packs of wild beasts he's tamed. They're basically his hunting hounds."
"Man, it must be nice to have wealth and power like that! I'd shave ten years off my life just to live like him."
"Dream on! If I could join a family like his, I'd give up half my lifespan."
"Yeah, right! You're not exactly top-tier family material. Go back to bed."
"By the way, have you noticed that Gelos' strength seems to grow every few months, like he has no limits?"
"Doesn't matter to me. No matter how strong he gets, he still beats me single-handedly every time."
"Instead of talking about his power, maybe we should be figuring out how to slow him down. If he keeps this up, there won't be any aberrants left in the city, and we'll have no missions to complete!"
"Well, what can we do? He's strong, and his pets have big appetites."
…
"Gelos Douglas, over the past year, you've proven your combat talent through real experience. So, from today, you're allowed to return to school and resume your Star Armor studies."
"What about my position at the Security Bureau?"
"You'll be demoted two ranks, and your current rank will be archived in your records."
"So, am I being dismissed?" Muria raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly. It's just that… you've killed so many aberrants lately that if you keep this up, there won't be any left in the city by the time you finish middle school. Give the younger students a chance, will you?"
"Fine, I understand."
And so, the Night Hunter who had left behind countless urban legends in Dovaril formally stepped down, never to be seen again. Muria returned to school, focusing on his studies and martial training, building his foundation in preparation for greater achievements.
…
As Muria neared high school, the Golden Dragon Lady, now more prosperous than ever, reclined lazily on her sofa, casually asking him, "Any plans for high school?"
"Nothing special. I'll just continue my training. Once I reach a certain level, I'll know what I need to know."
Muria's expression was calm. Over the years, he had pieced together enough information to understand the world's hidden troubles. One of the three main aberrant branches, the Heavenfall species, lay at the root of these tensions. Just their name hinted at their origin—they were an alien race that had descended with a meteor shower three centuries ago.
Though the Heavenfall territories didn't border the Purple Thorn Federation, they did border the Silver Spark Empire, one of humanity's three major powers in the Star Armor world. The Silver Spark Empire held a critical position in the human alliance as the first line of defense against the alien aberrants. Meanwhile, the Purple Thorn Federation, far from the frontline, lived in relative comfort, leading its Star Armor warriors to lag in combat prowess compared to the other two superpowers.
"Your mindset is way too passive!" the Golden Dragon Lady sighed. "In your prime, and all you want is to drift along!"
"Oh, really?" Muria replied with a cold laugh. "You think you're in a position to criticize me? When was the last time you even left the house?"
She coughed, avoiding the jab. "Alright, let's skip that. The real question is how to plan your high school years."
"Just continue as I am. No need for drastic changes," Muria said. He knew he wasn't strong enough yet; better to stay under the radar and bide his time.
"That won't do."
"Why?"
"During your high school years, there will be a National Star Armor Tournament. It's a triennial event organized by the government to cultivate Star Armor talent, and any high schooler can participate."
"So?"
"This is your best chance to raise your status within the Douglas family. Winning the tournament would earn you access to resources on an entirely new level."
"Understood," Muria nodded.
"Don't think it'll be easy to win. Each family sends its top talent, many with compatibility levels over 80%, and even a few over 90%."
"High compatibility just means they can use more Star Armor equipment than I can at my level. It doesn't necessarily mean they're stronger."
"I'm only saying not to underestimate them."
…
Back home, Muria mulled things over and called Butler Pace. He'd gotten into the habit of calling the elderly butler when he needed resources or advice.
"Butler Pace, if I compete in the next Star Armor Tournament and take first place, how much will my family's resource support increase?"
"Master Gelos, such confidence!" The old man paused in surprise, then laughed heartily.
"I'm a Star Armor warrior and a martial artist. As a martial artist, I believe in pushing forward and overcoming all obstacles," Muria replied calmly, unfazed by the boldness of his statement.
"Master Gelos, if you were to win the tournament, your resource allocation would increase to at least ten times what it is now."
"That's better than I expected."
"But don't get complacent. Each tournament attracts top talent from every major family and school, and past winners have had compatibility levels of over 85%. If you win, you'd make history."
"Making history, huh? Sounds appealing."
"By the way, I should remind you of something. When you participate in the tournament, you'll likely be in your second year, and your younger sister, Daisy, will be there as well. She skipped two grades, so she'll be competing alongside you."
"Oh." Muria's expression didn't change. To him, his half-sister Daisy was practically a stranger.
"If we end up facing each other, I won't hold back."
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]