Six Years Later…
Alex was now 14 years old, standing at 5 feet tall with narrow eyes that seemed to always be calculating the world around him. Today was the day of the final test, the test that would mark his transition from a rookie to a full-fledged hunter. After four years at the Hunter Academy, he was prepared. Here, they taught everything a hunter needed to know, preparing them for the dangers of the world.
The day was shrouded in a dense fog that clung to the sky, casting a muted pall over the field. Despite the numerous rookies scattered around, there was a heavy, eerie silence hanging in the air. Each rookie wore different expressions—some laced with fear, others with excitement. But Alex's face was unreadable, his eyes sharp and focused. He clutched his sword tightly by his side, murmuring to himself:
"This is the day you've been waiting for, Alex. Make it happen. Win, no matter what it takes. Win, Alex. Because that's what you were meant to do. That's what you've lived for."
In the distance, Clara Moles—a 15-year-old girl with long hair and a round face—stood confidently. She hailed from the prestigious Moles family, known for their contributions to the Hunter Association. Clara had always enjoyed mocking Alex, and today, she spotted him in the field, preparing for the test.
Clara sneered, her voice cutting through the silence. "What? What the hell? Alex? What the hell are you doing here? Oh, I see. This boy never knows his bounds."
She then shouted for everyone to hear, "Hey, everyone! I can't believe what I'm seeing right now! The 'bonus' is also taking the Hunter test!"
Laughter erupted from the crowd, the kind of laughter that seemed to light up the air. It was as if they had just heard the best joke of their lives. Some who had doubted themselves now gained a shred of hope, imagining that if Alex could survive, perhaps they could too.
"Go home, moron!" One of the male attendees shouted, directing his words toward Alex.
Alex's face burned with humiliation, but instead of letting it break him, the anger only fueled the fire within him. He tightened his grip on his sword, swearing to come out of this alive.
As the minutes dragged on, an uneasy wind blew out of the forest, its chill creeping over the field. A haunting howling sound came from within the thick woods, sending shivers down the rookies' spines. Some collapsed, their legs giving way to the sheer pressure of the moment.
"Today is the day of the final test," the instructor barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. Silence fell over the field, heavy as a sack of sand. Every rookie inhaled deeply. "This is the day you've all been training for. It's time for you to prove yourself. Prove your worth. Prove that all you've been taught is not in vain!"
The instructor's gaze sharpened. "Yeah, we all know. Despite everything, only forty percent of you will make it out alive. But none of that matters. What does a man live for if he doesn't have something worth dying for?"
"Rage! Yes, you must! Fight!" The instructor's voice rang out. "You must never fall to fear! Never fall to defeat!"
With that, the rookies surged into the forest, their movements fueled by a fury that had been building for years. The abominations, sensing the rush of human presence, did not retreat. Instead, they waited—relaxed, confident, biding their time for the perfect moment to strike.
As the battle raged on, blood stained the forest floor. Many rookies lost their lives, and only a few abominations were felled. The most terrifying aspect of the abominations was their ability to heal at an unnatural speed. Even a grievous wound wouldn't last long; they could mend their bodies within moments.
Amidst this chaos, Alex pushed forward, determined to reach the exit. The goal was simple: pass through the portal at the end of the forest. That's why it was called the Dead Forest Trial.
Breathing heavily, Alex sprinted through the woods, his legs aching but his resolve unwavering. Suddenly, a massive figure appeared before him. At first, he didn't realize what he was facing, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The creature before him was unlike anything he had encountered. It stood over thirty feet tall, with six eyes—four of them situated unnaturally on its shoulders.
Alex's body tensed. His muscles bulged as he clenched his sword with all his strength.
"Sorcery Liquid: Elite Stance: Mist Style, Fifth Form: Haze Cloak." He muttered under his breath, each word firm and precise, his mind clear and focused.
With a burst of speed, Alex leaped high, his body shrouded in mist, and slashed at the abomination with a swift, calculated movement. The abomination attempted to dodge, but Alex was too fast. Before it could react, Alex's sword cleaved through its body, cutting it clean in half.
The abomination's scream was full of rage and terror. "Ahhh! A human kid?!" it roared, its thick black blood gushing from the wound.
Alex landed on the ground, panting, but a sense of satisfaction washed over him. "It's alright," he muttered to himself. "Still got a long way to go."
He continued forward with renewed confidence. Along the way, he found the bodies of his fellow rookies—lifeless, their expressions frozen in horror. He stared at them, feeling the familiar sting of loss, but he didn't let it weigh him down as it once would have. With a somber bow to the dead, he pressed on.
Hours passed, and the night began to fall. Then, in the eerie silence, Alex heard a whisper. A voice, soft and pleading. As he moved closer, he saw a figure on the ground—a girl. It was Clara Moles, the same girl who had once mocked him. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide with terror. She was sobbing.
"Someone help…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Just as her hope seemed to flicker out, Alex stepped into the clearing. She looked up, and relief flooded her face. "Oh, thank you! Save me! Please, save me!" she cried out, her voice thick with desperation.
However, when Clara realized it was Alex who had come to her aid, a wave of despair washed over her. Why? Because Alex was known as the weakest rookie in the academy. The only reason he had survived up until now was because he could calculate his every move and anticipate his enemy's attacks. And that was not something Clara ever expected would save her.
But Alex, undeterred, tightened his grip on his sword, his body steeled with purpose. He wasn't about to let this abomination claim another life.
"Elite Stance: Mist Style, Fifth Form: Haze Cloak," he whispered to himself.
In a blur of motion, Alex lunged at the abomination, his sword moving like lightning. With a swift strike, he pierced the abomination's core, tearing it apart with brutal efficiency.
Alex turned to Clara, his expression unwavering. "Are you alright, Clara?" he asked, his voice cold but steady.
She nodded, still shaken, but grateful. "Yes… I'm fine. Thank you." Her voice was barely a whisper, tinged with shame.
They continued forward together, but before they could make much progress, another abomination appeared. This one was different. Its aura was immense, far stronger than anything Alex had ever faced before. The air grew heavy as Alex and Clara froze, both feeling the weight of its presence.
However, as he regained control of his body, a sudden chill coursed through him. His legs buckled beneath him, his limbs trembling uncontrollably. His grip on his sword tightened instinctively, but a sharp pain seared through his abdomen. Clara's sword had struck, its cold edge piercing deep.
Alex's breath hitched. He looked at her, disbelief and pain in his eyes.
"Clara… why? Why did I save you? I saved you... filthy killer..." His voice barely a whisper, the words heavy with betrayal.
Clara's face was cold, her eyes hard as she looked down at him. "I had no choice, Alex. Survival is the most important weapon in the life of a hunter." Her words were as icy as her gaze, without a shred of remorse.
Alex found himself in a realm—dark and cold, where only a faint light flickered in the distance. His breath quickened, panic seizing him as confusion set in.
"What… am I dead? No, no, no!" His thoughts raced, desperate for an answer. "Mom… everyone… are you here?" His voice echoed in the void, swallowed by the emptiness.
Then, from the shadows, he saw something—a figure. It was him. His own likeness, glaring at him coldly, a haunting reflection. Alex froze, startled by the sight of his doppelgänger.
"What? Who are you?" Alex's voice shook with fear as he took an involuntary step back.
The figure spoke, its voice chillingly familiar. "Me? Oh, I'm you. You are me. What do you think of that?"
Alex's mind spun. "What… how? What do you mean by that? Where am I? Am I dead?" His voice cracked, desperately searching for answers.
The figure gave a sinister smile. "No, boy. If you were dead, I wouldn't be here in front of you."
A surge of confusion washed over Alex. Was this real? Could it even be possible? Before he could respond, the figure's words cut through the air like a sharp blade, each syllable burning into his mind.
"Do you want to be strong? Do you want power? I have the power to turn reality on its head. All you have to do is accept me, Alex. Accept the power, and we can rise above all of this!"
Without a second thought, Alex's response came—impulsive and without hesitation. He accepted. In that moment, everything within him changed. A torrent of power surged through his veins, merging with the figure, fusing their wills. It felt like an explosion of strength, a force beyond comprehension.
As the fusion took place, Alex's wounds healed instantly. His body pulsed with energy, glowing with a halo of light, and every abomination that had surrounded him was wiped out in an instant. He was resurrected—stronger than ever before.
"Fight them all! Kill them all! Rise above them all!!" His look-alike's voice rang out in his mind, urging him on.