The quiet in the hospital was unsettling.
Akira stepped into the white-lit hallway, expecting the usual distant laugh of his father echoing through the walls or the sound of nurses humoring him. But not today.
The corridor was dead silent.
He pushed open the door slowly, and there he was—his father, eyes closed, chest rising and falling steadily. Asleep. That was rare. Even in his condition, the man always had energy, always talked. Always smiled.
Akira stayed a while, watching over him in the stillness. He placed the bills at the foot of the bed, adjusted the sheets, and whispered, "Rest well, old man."
Elsewhere, tension was building.
At the Souka Guild headquarters, a buzz shook the command floor. A delegation from another elite guild had arrived: Steel Halo, a respected guild from the northern region of the country.
"We need your help," the lead officer from Steel Halo said, his voice grim as he stood in front of the Souka command board. "A Level 2S monster has emerged from a gate break. We tried containing it, but the gate… it wasn't stable."
The screen behind him flickered to life, showing grainy footage of the enormous monster. Its skin glowed with molten cracks, dozens of crimson eyes blinking across its face. It was the size of a cathedral and had already smashed through a military blockade.
"It's closing in on the edge of Ishera City," the officer said. "If it crosses that barrier, we're looking at mass casualties."
The room fell into a deep silence.
Then the order was given.
Eight of Souka's elite fanged hunters would join the mission.
A convoy of armored vehicles sped across the eastern highway, carrying the merged force of Souka and Steel Halo. Cameras followed from overhead drones. The event was being streamed live. News anchors buzzed excitedly:
"Breaking: Joint force between Souka and Steel Halo has mobilized to face an unprecedented threat. Citizens are advised to remain indoors..."
The battlefield was chaos. Ash rained from the sky as the monster's roars split the air. Souka's elite landed first, dispersing in practiced formation. The fanged hunters moved like blades, coordinated and efficient.
A massive tail came swinging.
One of the Steel Halo hunters leapt in the way, his barrier shielding the impact but shattering in the process. He coughed blood, but stood tall.
"Don't fall back! We hold the line!" shouted Kaien, one of Souka's most renowned fighters.
The air shimmered with Zeir energy. Bursts of lightning, wind blades, and stone walls clashed with the monster's elemental onslaught. Fire erupted from the beast's mouth, incinerating part of a nearby hill.
Two fanged hunters moved in from the flank, slicing through the tendons at its legs.
"NOW!" someone shouted.
Steel Halo's vanguard drove a massive spear of earth through the creature's chest.
It roared, stumbled—and finally fell, taking part of the ground with it.
Dead.
The cameras zoomed in on the fallen body, smoke still rising from its cracked hide. The battlefield was scarred and steaming.
Akira leaned on the backrest of the couch, eyes fixed on the screen. His shirt clung to his back with sweat.
Yuna had already left for school.
The television showed slow-motion replays of the finishing strike, then shifted to a live interview.
"This collaboration was critical," one Souka guild rep said. "It proves what unity can accomplish."
Steel Halo's commander nodded. "We thank Souka Guild for answering the call without hesitation."
The reporters surrounded them.
Akira took notes in his old notebook, scribbling details of footwork, Zeir channeling, and strike timing.
"One day, I'll be among them," he whispered.
He closed the book, eyes burning with quiet determination.
"That's why I must keep getting stronger."