Nanatsuki quietly studied the three Quincy emerging from the forest of stone pillars.
The one in front was strong—he even introduced himself as an instructor from the Military Police.
But the one who really caught Nanatsuki's attention was the girl skipping out from behind him, all smiles and sugary innocence.
She wore a skirted coat over black tights and white boots. Small and dainty, she looked like the kind of girl you'd find posing for a magazine cover. But it was that overly distinct appearance that jogged his memory.
Sweet smile. Long, straight black hair. And those two strands of hair bouncing like antennae above her head made her look like some twin-tailed fae creature.
Giselle from the girl group—the pretty boy in drag!
[Giselle Gewelle]
[Talent: S]
[Reishi Convergence: |v55]
[Reputation Level: Stranger]
Nanatsuki glanced at his Status Interface. Bingo.
"A promising candidate… shame it's not the right time."
There were five members in the girl group. He'd already taken four under his wing.
Just a few days ago, while wandering the city, he'd gone looking for Giselle and other Quincy with potential for the Sternritter. But perhaps he'd used up all his luck earlier in the week—none of the new faces he encountered since had shown promise.
"Want to join us? Instructor Flake is really strong!" Giselle beamed with innocent delight.
"Yeah," added another Quincy, gentler in tone. "He might be strict, but he's dependable. With him around, we'll make it through the hunting grounds if we work together."
"Splitting up the tasks will help us hunt Menos more efficiently," Instructor Flake nodded. "We'll divide the points based on contributions. You won't be cheated."
They sounded sincere—but Nanatsuki had no plans to team up.
"No need. I still have companions to regroup with."
He still had to rendezvous with two of his disciples. He politely declined.
"Then we won't press," Flake said courteously. "But if you change your mind after finding your team, you're welcome anytime."
They had seen how effortlessly Nanatsuki had dispatched a Menos. They weren't about to risk clashing with someone like that.
"Understood."
With a nod, Nanatsuki left.
Once he was out of earshot, Instructor Flake turned to the others with concern.
"Let's move. We need to regroup the Sixth Military Police."
He had a bad feeling about all this. His plan had been to keep his division together for safety—but command had shot that down.
Each division could only send ten people into the hunt. The organizers had deliberately scrambled rival teams, forcing them into chaotic, unfamiliar units.
It didn't take long for Nanatsuki to locate Meninas. She was holding her own against two Gillian-class Menos.
In just ten days of training, she'd transformed completely.
Using her speed advantage, she darted and weaved through the two Gillians' attacks with practiced ease.
"Standard Punch!"
Blue lines lit up along her right arm.
Blut Arterie.
She had spent seven days mastering all five modes of her gauntlet-type spiritual gear.
Now she'd begun training in Blut—though it only extended to her arms for the moment.
Still, the power boost from Blut Arterie, combined with her natural strength, made her punches several times more devastating.
Boom!
Her fist struck the Gillian's mask—shattering it cleanly.
"!!!"
The Menos roared in fury.
For Hollows, the mask was sacred. It couldn't be regenerated.
Once broken, evolution was no longer possible.
A Cero began to charge in its throat.
"Too slow!" Meninas shouted, her fists blurring into a storm. "Flurry of Standard Punches!"
Bang bang bang— her fists pummeled the top of its head, bursting blood mist from the impact. The Cero fizzled before it could form.
But before she could land the finishing blow, another Gillian loomed behind her.
She kicked off with a burst of Hiryūkyaku, narrowly evading its attack.
"Damn it. They're multiplying!"
She looked back—the one she'd wounded was already regenerating at alarming speed. Her attacks hurt it, yes, but killing one outright was no easy task. Gillians were tanks with brutal healing.
Dragging this out would only attract more Menos with their howls.
Better to retreat while she still had momentum—to regroup with her teacher and Candice.
She quickly made the decision.
"You did well. Tactical retreat is a smart call."
"Teacher!"
Her eyes lit up as she spotted Nanatsuki standing atop a nearby stone pillar.
She wasted no time disengaging and racing to his side.
"When did you get here?! I didn't notice at all!"
"Just now."
Nanatsuki raised a hand, fingers forming a gun gesture.
Bang bang bang—
Three beams of condensed Reishi shot from his fingertips, blasting through the heads of the Gillians chasing her. Their massive bodies collapsed with a crash.
"Amazing! Teacher, you're incredible!!"
Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
She knew just how dangerous three Gillians were. Two, she could still dance around. But three had pushed her to the limit.
And her teacher had erased them in a blink.
"Just basic technique. Keep training—one day, you'll do the same," Nanatsuki said with a chuckle.
The vibrant markings on the shattered masks dissolved into Reishi and flowed into the scoring wristband.
"When facing these lumbering Gillians, if you don't have enough firepower, use their own Cero against them."
He offered advice. "You disrupted it too early. Wait a little longer, and it'll explode in their mouths."
"It was my first time facing Menos... I panicked a little," Meninas nodded. "I'll be more careful next time!"
"Good. Let's find Candice."
"You can sense her?"
"She's southwest of here. Far, but within range. We need to move."
"Your spiritual sense is huge, Teacher!"
Without wasting time, they soared into the sky.
"Random teleportation... figures."
Candice knew something was wrong the moment she landed in the hunting zone.
She'd been separated from Nanatsuki and Meninas.
"Damn it… the hunting ground is massive. I can't sense them at all!"
Her frustration deepened.
What she could sense, though, was the overwhelming Reiatsu of Hollows.
Gillian-class Menos. Everywhere.
"This place is a nightmare..."
"Teacher was right—this recruitment's anything but normal. It's way too dangerous—Menos Reiatsu all over the place!"
"...Wait, that's the Sergeant Major's Reiatsu?"
Candice locked onto a familiar presence.
The Sergeant Major was her squad leader, in charge of over a dozen soldiers.
If it weren't for her teacher, Candice would have entered the hunt under that squad.
Now, with no sign of Nanatsuki or Meninas, heading toward the Sergeant Major was her best bet.
She flew across a few hundred meters and reached the location.
The Sergeant Major—Lita—was a large, stocky woman, flanked by two unfamiliar Quincy.
They were engaged in battle with a Gillian.
"Candice! You're just in time—get over here!"
Lita's face lit up at the sight of her.
"You still love barking orders, don't you, Sergeant Lita?"
Candice smirked.
She hadn't come to bail Lita out.
She came to show off.
She and Lita never got along. The woman had always been jealous of her looks and made things difficult.
When news of the Sternritter recruitment broke out, soldiers began prepping immediately.
Candice had tried to take leave for extra training—but Lita had blocked every request, citing patrol duty.
Meanwhile, soldiers close to Lita got assigned easy warehouse shifts, free to train as they pleased. Only Candice was stuck patrolling daily.
Thankfully, Quincy were built tough. Candice had shortened her rest hours and trained hard under Nanatsuki's guidance.
Her progress had skyrocketed.
Sensing Lita nearby, she couldn't resist the urge to make a scene.
"What are you waiting for? Help us! More Menos will show up if we don't finish this quickly!"
Lita snapped impatiently.
She wasn't worried Candice wouldn't comply.
This hunting ground was crawling with Menos. A rookie like Candice wouldn't last long solo.
Sticking together was her only shot at survival.
"Of course, dear Sergeant."
Candice raised her right hand.
Four Silver Capsules appeared in her palm—gifts from her rich friend, Liltotto.
Reishi gushed from the capsules, forming crackling arcs of lightning.
In moments, she was surrounded by pulsing electric currents. They converged into her palm, bound together by spiritual pressure.
Lightning-based techniques were Nanatsuki's specialty. He'd taught her well.
Before, her control was crude. Now, under his tutelage, her grasp of her own power had reached a new level.
Crackle—
The lightning condensed into a long spear.
Blue lines appeared on her right arm.
Blut Vene.
She still lacked the skill to wield raw lightning safely, so she relied on Blut Vene to shield herself.
The violent energy drew everyone's attention—including the Gillian's.
"Too unstable… using four capsules at once is pushing it," sweat beaded on her brow.
Even with her recent training, controlling power of this magnitude was a stretch.
Without completing the gauntlet regimen, she wouldn't have managed at all.
"Eat this!" she shouted, hurling the lightning spear.
It fell like a meteor—
BOOM!
The bolt struck the Gillian dead-on, splitting it in half.
Its massive body collapsed with a thud.
"Hah!" Candice laughed in exhilaration. "How's that for a technique?"
"What the hell was that?! Since when are you this strong?!"
Lita and the others were dumbfounded. They'd never seen anything like it.
"Just a little trick my teacher taught me." Candice wiped her forehead and descended.
"Your teacher…?" Lita's eyes shifted as she forced a flattering smile. "He must be quite the powerful Quincy."
Candice had once mentioned training under a mentor. Lita had assumed she'd just hired a private coach with merits and had shot her down without a thought.
Now, it was clear that teacher was far from ordinary.
Candice chuckled at Lita's sudden humility.
"Candice, I was wrong before. I'll make it up to you once we get out of here!"
"You've noticed too, right? This place is dangerous. Menos Reiatsu is everywhere. We'll never get out solo. Come with us."
Lita could adapt when needed. She realized the situation was dire and wanted Candice on her side.
Her soldiers had entered with her, but teleportation had scattered them.
Reuniting them would require help—and Candice was key.
"It is dangerous here," Candice admitted.
She couldn't sense Nanatsuki or Meninas. Going it alone was reckless.
And she didn't have many more lightning spears in her.
Grouping up was the best option.
Lita might be unreliable, but if things went south, all Candice needed to do was run faster than the rest.