As the sword crackled, it was clear that a tremendous and powerful energy was contained within it. At that very moment, a powerful, lightning-like rift opened in the sky. Isaki, who was standing nearby, said:
Isaki: "Hey, Teo, you've done well with your training so far. Come here."
Teo, happy and smiling, responded: "Okay!"
The puppet-like creatures with sharp teeth fell silent. Teo leapt through the rift, and Isaki and Lisa were waiting for him. Lisa smiled and said, "Finally, you made it out! I already prepared breakfast; now we can eat."
Teo was extremely happy, feeling as if he were a fish flying in the sky. He was the first to dive into the food, eager to start eating. As he ate, he remembered how peaceful his previous life had been, and how suddenly everything had changed, throwing him into a world full of difficulties. He began to cry.
Isaki: "Hey, Teo, it seems you're lost in thought. Is that why you're crying?"
Lisa: "I think Teo is remembering his mother's cooking. Am I right?"
At that moment, Teo remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he became serious and said:
Teo: "I... never got to see my mother."
He pointed to the mark on his neck.
Teo: "This mark... is a curse. Because of it, my family turned their back on me. We are from the Oksotch family, one of the four great families, but it seems I've shamed them."
Teo: "In our family, everyone else has white hair, except me."
Lisa: "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I hope I didn't hurt your feelings."
Teo: "It's fine."
Isaki thought to himself:
Isaki: "Teo is much more open-minded than most young people. If anyone else were in his place, they'd be seeking revenge on their family, but Teo is different. He accepted the truth and was able to change."
Teo and Lisa's friendship began to grow stronger. At that moment, Teo suddenly smiled and said:
Teo: "By the way, Sensei, where is Akira-senpai?"
Isaki thought for a moment and replied:
Isaki: "He's at the Hunter Guild's headquarters because of a certain mission. He'll be back soon. When he returns, I'll teach you how to use your Hunter weapon."
Meanwhile, Akira:
At that very moment, Akira was in front of the Special Hunters' Guild, known as Garden. This was the place where the top 9 strongest hunters gathered once every month to carry out special missions for the government, such as exploring new territories or discovering new species.
Akira stood in front of the gate of the Guild, where Rane, one of the powerful gatekeepers, awaited him.
Akira: "Hello, I'm Akira from the 9th Division. I've come in place of the captain for the Guild meeting."
Rane: "The 9th Division's vice-captain, Akira. I'm glad to welcome you. Walk with me."
Rane was a serious and imposing figure, dressed in formal trousers and a white shirt without the usual hunter costume. His full name was Rane Freles. As they walked down the hallway, Akira could see that the Garden Guild had changed a lot. On the outside, there were four gates, and in front of the main meeting building stood a massive rock formation, bent like a huge serpent, with a pearl tree growing at its peak. This tree was essential, as it balanced the guild's solar aura, distributing energy evenly to prevent any one hunter from overwhelming the others.
Akira: "Mr. Rane, why have the main and external routes to the Garden been closed off?"
As they walked, Rane answered his question:
Rane: "The main sea and land routes are still open, but the sky pathways, Enel and Line, have been closed. The teleportation paths have also been closed for some time now. Skyfall hasn't split in two for a while, and the connection with Enel Line was severed."
Akira: "I see… And what's the reason for the severed connections and closed routes?"
Rane: "At the moment, the cause is still unclear, but we have a theory. We suspect a mafia group is involved."
Akira: "A mafia group?"
Rane: "Yes, but not an ordinary mafia group. These are different."
To be continued...