The sun hadn't reached above the underground base, but artificial lights flickered with their usual sterile glow. Rael stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to his damp hair. He threw on a loose oversized white t-shirt and black pants—simple, clean. He didn't bother fixing his hair, letting it fall naturally as he exited his room and headed to the training hall.
As expected, Mr. Old Man's voice was already blaring across the room like a war horn.
"Line up properly! You swing like wet noodles!" he barked, veins popping from his neck.
Rael quietly took a seat, watching the morning chaos. A moment later, the doors creaked open.
Ethan swaggered in, wearing a thick hockey jersey.His hands were tucked into his pockets, black pants sagging slightly. Behind him, Seth strolled in with her signature sleepy expression. She wore a cropped top under a long coat that brushed the floor, her boots clicking with each step. Her silver hair was tied in a low, messy ponytail.
They plopped down beside Rael like it was their living room, legs spread, arms crossed, utterly ignoring the presence of a yelling adult. The three looked like a gang more than trainees.
Mr. Old Man snapped, his voice cracking like thunder.
"Ey! You three brats in the back! Seventh floor! Someone called you!"
Seth groaned, rubbing her eye. "Ehh? This early?" Her tone was annoyed and lazy.
The trio stood up, dragging their feet as they headed to the elevator. It was strange—being summoned to the 7th floor. That level was still part of the underground facility, but it felt... different.
The doors slid open.
Unlike the lower floors, which were filled with rusted metal and the smell of sweat and blood, the 7th floor was almost luxurious. The floors gleamed with a smooth graphite finish, and soft blue light panels ran across the ceiling. It was quiet. The air smelled of leather and ozone. This was the territory of higher-ups—where rank mattered.
At the end of the hallway stood a familiar figure. Ris, dressed in a brown leather jacket, was leaning against the wall, smoke curling from her lips. She looked bored, but her eyes followed them sharply.
Seth wrinkled her nose. "Oi, old man Ris. Smoking's not allowed here, y'know?"
Ris flicked the ash from her cigarette with a smirk. "And you, where are your manners, Ms. 15 years old?"
"Tsskk," Seth clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.
They walked down the hall until they reached a wide room. Inside was a massive black sofa, and beside it stood a towering figure—6'5" at least—dressed in a sleek, dark leather coat with silver linings. His presence was hard to ignore, but what stood out most was the gas mask strapped to his face. A large black "H" was etched across the front.
"Ah, kids. You're here," he said with a surprisingly friendly tone, gesturing toward the sofa. "Sit."
They obeyed, sinking into the cushions. Ris remained at the door, arms crossed.
Ethan leaned close and whispered, "Why the hell is he wearing a gas mask?"
Seth whispered back, "Probably ugly as sin."
The masked man chuckled, seemingly hearing them. He sat across from them, posture relaxed.
"My name's Dominic," he began. "I called you here because I wanted to offer you something. After seeing your performance yesterday…"
The three blinked, surprised.
"Huh?" Ethan said. "What do you mean… seeing?"
Dominic tilted his head. "I was there."
"Huh?!" All three exclaimed in unison.
He let out a hearty laugh. "I don't just kill remnants, you know. One of my duties is observing how young recruits perform during missions—especially ones placed in high-risk classifications."
Ethan and Seth exchanged glances.
If he was assigned to assess us…
Then he's above even Ris.
Dominic continued, voice steady. "I don't know who placed you three in a black-level mission on your first outing, but whoever did… saw something. You barely knew each other. Yet in the field, it was like watching a team with years of bond."
He stared directly at them. His gaze, even behind the mask, was sharp and piercing.
"Tell me… Do you want to be Black Level?"
The three answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Dominic nodded. "Good. From now on, you're officially a team. I'll be assigning you black-level missions—when you're ready. Until then, continue your training. Your teacher will inform you when it's time."
Rael felt something stir in his chest. Excitement. Maybe… purpose?
As they exited the room, their energy was buzzing.
Ris remained behind. She looked at Dominic.
"They're still 15, Dom."
Dominic leaned back in his chair. "Ris… you were 14 when you killed a Black-Level solo."
Silence passed between them.
As the sun dipped into the horizon, casting a soft gold over the vast training area, the three walked in with new fire in their eyes. Their earlier mission had been a spark—one that lit a roaring ambition in their hearts. They had officially stepped into the Black-level tier. From this moment on, everything would change.
Ethan stretched, his hands resting behind his head, "Since we're moving into black-level missions now... why don't we focus on what part of our skills we want to sharpen?"
"Good idea," Seth nodded, her lips curled into a playful smirk. "I want to focus more on my myre. If I can conjure a stronger hammer, I'll be a better frontliner."
Rael grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Same. I want to improve my myre too—specifically my punches, and strengthen my martial arts."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, mischievous. "Sounds like you two are a perfect match. Why not spar?"
Seth's eyes lit up. "Ohhh yes, we should! Let's go!"
Rael nodded, stepping into the center of the arena with a determined smile. "Don't hold back."
The training area stretched wide and empty—just the three of them. A silence fell for a second as if the space itself was holding its breath.
Then Ethan raised his hand.
"Begin!"
In an instant, Seth's hammer conjured in a flash of blue flame—massive, glowing, and etched with rune-like patterns pulsing with energy. She charged forward, swinging it with thunderous strength.
Rael teleported—snap!—and appeared to her side, skidding low. Seth reacted quickly, twisting her body and slamming the hammer down with enough force to crack the stone floor.
Rael dodged again, vanishing and reappearing like a blur, trying to close the distance. Seth roared and kept swinging her hammer like a whirlwind, each swing heavy with intent, like a comet crashing down from the heavens.
Suddenly, Rael rushed straight in. Instead of dodging, he threw up both arms and blocked the hammer.
A shockwave exploded through the room.
The hammer trembled against his arm, and he was pushed back—but his feet dug in. Rael grunted, muscles burning, veins glowing faintly with crimson myre.
Seth laughed in surprise. "You blocked that?!"
Rael's gaze sharpened. "Let's level this up."
His body began to hum—red energy swirling in spiral lines across his arms, veins lighting up like molten cracks. He focused hard—breathing slowly as if taming a wild flame inside him.
His fist started to glow red, slowly shifting into a radiant heat like a burning ember.
Ethan's eyes widened. "He's doing it—he's awakening it mid-fight...!"
Rael inhaled deeply, aura surging.
Then—
"HRAAAAAHHHH!!!"
His burning punch collided with the head of Seth's hammer.
BOOOOM!!!
A fiery explosion erupted, cracking the air like a bomb. Dust and wind spiraled outward in a red-gold burst, pushing Ethan a few steps back.
The ground beneath them split slightly, smoke curling up around Rael's outstretched arm.
Seth blinked in awe, her hammer… shattered.
Rael exhaled, panting—but grinning wide. "YESSS!!" he shouted in triumph, laughing. "That was—!"
Suddenly, a humming pulse echoed behind him.
WHUMMMMM...
The fragments of Seth's hammer floated in the air—glowing.
Ethan muttered, "Regeneration?"
The pieces swirled and reformed—twice the size and glowing brighter than before. Seth's hand moved as if controlling it by will alone.
The massive hammer reappeared in her grasp with a flash.
"Surprise," she said with a wink.
Before Rael could react—
WHAAAM!!!
The hammer smashed into him, sending his body soaring across the room like a cannonball. He slammed into the wall, leaving a small crater.
Rael groaned, peeling himself out of the wall slowly. "That was… cheating…"
Seth twirled her hammer and grinned. "Nope. That was strategy."
Ethan just laughed from the sidelines. "You two are monsters. Black level suits you."
Rael stood, brushing dust off his shoulders. He looked at his fist, still smoldering faintly red with heat. Despite the ache in his body, he smiled.
That was the first time he had ever felt that alive.