Jiro and Akihiko sat with quiet anticipation, ready to hear everything Hayato had to say.
Hayato said, folding his arms: "Let's start with the basics. The most essential use of quartz energy is what we call body application. When activated, quartz energy wraps around your body like a protective field. You'll see it shimmer faintly — that glow is concentrated quartz energy. Once it's active, it reinforces your muscles, heightens your reflexes, and makes you far more durable. A sword strike or even an explosion wouldn't kill you."
Jiro asked, eyes wide with interest: "That sounds incredible! If it's that powerful, why don't we teach it to everyone? Wouldn't it make the world safer?"
Hayato's face hardened as he replied: "It would — if defense was the only thing quartz energy could do. But it's not. It can also be used to attack. And that's where it becomes dangerous."
He stepped forward, his voice growing heavier.
Hayato continued: "You need to understand something. Power, no matter how pure in theory, becomes a threat when it's distributed unevenly. Not everyone is born with the same amount of quartz energy. Some people awaken massive reserves. Others… barely anything."
Jiro frowned, confused: "So that means some people are just… weaker? Isn't that unfair?"
Hayato nodded: "It is. But it's real. You've probably noticed it already — not just in energy, but in life. Some people are born into privilege. Some struggle every day. And when people with power face those without, not everyone makes the noble choice."
Akihiko muttered quietly, almost to himself: "So giving quartz energy to everyone might make things worse…"
Hayato replied: "Exactly. If everyone had access to it, there'd be chaos. Fighting. Violence. And it wouldn't be the strong protecting the weak — it'd be the strong dominating them."
He held up one hand.
Hayato said: "Now, let me show you something."
Quartz energy flared around his entire body — a full, even layer. The glow pulsed faintly. Then, after a breath, the energy condensed, narrowing entirely around his right arm. The rest of his body dimmed.
Jiro leaned forward: "Wait... you focused all the quartz energy into your arm?"
Hayato nodded: "Correct. With practice, you can direct it to wherever it's needed — fists, legs, even your core. It's a crucial part of body application."
He dropped his hand and let the glow fade.
Hayato continued: "But that's just the physical side. What really matters… is what kind of energy flows through your body."
Akihiko raised an eyebrow: "Wait. There are types of quartz energy? I thought it was the strongest energy out there."
Hayato scoffed: "Whoever told you that was either an amateur… or a fool."
He stepped closer, tone low and serious.
Hayato said: "What most people call 'quartz energy' is actually neutral energy. It's the default state — the one most humans can access. But there are two others: negative and positive energy. And they change everything."
Jiro asked cautiously: "Are those real? I've never heard of them…"
Hayato replied: "They're real. Rare, but real."
He paused a moment, as if remembering something unpleasant.
Hayato said: "Negative energy usually appears in demons, vampires — non-human entities. But sometimes, very rarely, a human can awaken it. It happens when someone is overwhelmed by emotions like hatred, grief, or rage — when their spirit fractures, and the darkness floods in."
Akihiko narrowed his eyes: "Sounds like a curse."
Hayato shrugged: "Sometimes it is. Other times… it's a survival instinct. A dangerous one."
Jiro asked quietly: "And the positive kind?"
Hayato answered: "Now that's a mystery. Humans can't normally produce positive energy. No one knows why. It's said to be linked to clarity, purpose… maybe even sacrifice. I've only seen one person use it — and she was anything but ordinary."
Akihiko frowned, arms crossed: "So you're saying that even if we master quartz energy, we still can't beat demons or vampires? That's crap."
Jiro added, disappointed: "Yeah… I thought hunters were supposed to be the strongest. What's the point if we're always playing catch-up?"
Hayato gave a dry chuckle: "You can call it unfair. You can call it crap. Doesn't change the truth."
He stepped closer, his tone sharpening.
Hayato: "If we're talking pure energy — no tactics, no weapons, no thinking — then yes, a negative energy user has a clear edge over a quartz energy user. That's just the nature of the energy types. But listen carefully: real fights aren't won by raw power. They're won by the one who adapts faster and thinks sharper. If you want to survive out there, drop the kid mindset and start thinking like hunters."
Akihiko and Jiro both stayed quiet. The news had clearly stung. The idea that being a hunter didn't guarantee dominance was hard to swallow. But Hayato had no intention of coddling them — not when their lives might depend on what they understood today.
Hayato: "Here's the hard part: quartz energy is the weakest of the three types. It's neutral, which means it doesn't naturally counter either positive or negative energy. That means if you go up against a skilled negative energy user, your only option is to dodge. And let's be honest — no one dodges forever."
He let that sink in, watching their faces.
Hayato: "Unless… you've got something special. And we'll get to that eventually. But for now, let's talk about something that can actually shift the balance in your favor — invocations."
Jiro: "Invocations?"
Hayato: "Think of them as powerful spirits, avatars, or monsters you can summon in combat. Each one is unique. Some take the form of warriors, others resemble beasts. A well-matched invocation can completely change the outcome of a fight."
Akihiko: "So they fight with you?"
Hayato: "Exactly. And like us, they have ranks — from Class C to Class Z. But here's the important part: a hunter's rank doesn't determine their invocation's rank. A Class C hunter can theoretically summon a Class A invocation… if they're lucky, smart, or reckless enough."
The boys exchanged a look. That possibility added a layer of intrigue — and danger.
Hayato: "You're both Class C hunters, which means you're still green. That's why I want you working in pairs — don't challenge anything serious alone. Now let's see if you're actually thinking. There are two ways to get an invocation. Any guesses?"
Akihiko leaned back, smug: "I heard it's all innate. Either you're born with one or you're not. You don't get to choose."
He said it like a challenge — not just to Hayato, but to everything he had said so far.
Hayato stared at him flatly: "…Right. And I heard carrots can give you psychic powers."
Jiro laughed, then raised his hand: "What if… you earn one by defeating something powerful — like a monster — and then binding it to you?"
Akihiko glanced at him, surprised. Even Hayato's eyebrows lifted in mild approval.
Hayato smirked: "Akihiko. Check his pulse. I think he just had a bright idea."
Akihiko: "Miracles happen, huh?"
Jiro: "Oh come on! I'm not always dumb, you know!"
Hayato and Akihiko both laughed. For a brief moment, the tension broke — a rare glimpse of levity in the heavy world they were trying to survive in.
Hayato crossed his arms and looked at the boys: "That being said… our idiot's actually right for once."
Jiro blinked. "Wait, really?"
Hayato continued: "In a hunter's life, anything—or anyone—can be made to submit. Sounds cruel, sure, but it's just how the world works. Animals, monsters, humans… even demons. If you're strong enough, you can bind them to your will. But for an invocation, you'll need a receptacle—preferably a jewel."
He pulled a small crystal shard from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers.
Hayato: "After you defeat your target, you trap its soul in one of these. Later, you can summon it in physical form when needed."
Jiro's eyes widened: "That's insane."
Hayato gave a half-smirk: "And that's just the start."
He went on, voice calm but sharp: "Now for materialization. It's powered by imagination. Picture the form, the shape, the function—and quartz energy will handle the rest. And yes, body application extends to weapons too. Reinforce your sword, your fists, your gear—whatever helps you survive."
He paused briefly, then nodded.
Hayato: "Finally, there's metamorphosis—but we already touched on that."
He looked at both of them: "Any questions?"
Jiro and Akihiko blurted out in unison: "We'll be learning all of this right now?!"
Hayato shook his head: "Not quite. Even though we call them 'fundamentals,' only two are required early on—body application and summoning. Every hunter must have those. The other two—materialization and metamorphosis—depend on your affinity and style."
He gestured toward them: "Some fighters are raw, straightforward—they focus on body reinforcement. Others fight with creativity, using illusions, tools, or constructs. Their minds are their weapons."
Akihiko raised a brow: "Is that why you mentioned imagination earlier?"
Hayato nodded.: "Exactly."
He leaned against the wall and folded his arms.
Hayato: "There's one last thing. You saw it briefly during the hunter exam—techniques. Advanced-level hunters develop custom techniques that boost them in combat. Hilary tried one against me—based on water manipulation. But I'll be honest, that wasn't even close to a finished version."
Jiro raised a hand: "I've been wondering—does a technique always have to be tied to an element?"
Hayato: "Not at all. Techniques reflect your fighting style. For some, it's elemental. For others, it's purely physical, mental, or even spiritual. People say techniques are innate… and to a certain degree, that's true."
Akihiko looked intrigued: "To a degree? So… we can learn other techniques later?"
Hayato nodded: "If you're strong enough, yes. You can even master techniques outside your natural affinity. But that takes time—and pain."
He glanced at the clock, then turned to leave.
Hayato: "Now—memorize everything we discussed and spend the evening practicing energy exteriorization. Tomorrow, we'll see how your bodies respond under real pressure."
Akihiko smirked: "Got it. We won't let you down."
Jiro grinned: "Count on us, teach! We're gonna train—"
Hayato cut him off: "Didn't ask."
Jiro clenched his fists: "That's just mean, you old—"
Before he could finish, Hayato casually flicked him on the forehead—hard.
Jiro yelped: "THAT HURT!"
Akihiko laughed: "Then maybe next time shut the hell up."
As Hayato's team continued their intense training, a sealed letter arrived at the royal palace in Dustrik, the capital of Lenquartika. The envelope was weatherworn, its edges frozen and its ink blurred by the cold — a clear sign it came from deep within the snow-covered mountains of the west.
The message inside was brief. Anonymous. A single sentence requesting urgent assistance.
Rose Dustrik, standing in her war office draped in the royal colors, read the letter in silence. Her violet eyes lingered on the final word before she folded the parchment with gloved fingers.
Rose: "Contact the leaders of the four hunter teams. Prepare an expedition into the mountains."
She turned to her advisors, her voice calm but commanding.
Rose: "This might get interesting."
As Princess of Lenquartika and the supreme commander of its military forces, including the hunter corps, Rose Dustrik didn't waste words — and when she gave an order, the nation moved.