The corridors of the Hunter Institute buzzed with subdued activity as dusk crept in through the glass-panelled windows. George leaned casually against the wall, chatting with Saya and two other B-Class hunters—John and Joan.
"I still can't believe you're already one of us," Joan said, raising a brow as she studied George. "You just joined, and you're already B-Class?"
John nodded in agreement. "Yeah… It took the two of us three months to hit B-Class. And we're considered prodigies."
George chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I just got lucky. Heh…"
"So how many missions have you even been on?" Joan asked, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Only one, officially," George replied. "And according to Saya, those were B-Class Phantoms."
"He's right," Saya confirmed. "Ryan and I were with him. He handled himself well."
"Oooh, B-Class phantoms already?" John whistled. "Man, you're something else."
Before the conversation could continue, a commanding voice interrupted them.
"Good. I was hoping to find you all in one place."
They turned to see Hyde Wirtz, his presence instantly drawing attention as he approached.
"I need the four of you for a mission," he said. "I sensed a surge of ominous Lixar near the lake not far from the institute. Likely a cluster of hidden Phantoms. I'll be supervising the mission directly."
The casual atmosphere evaporated. Hyde's tone meant it was serious.
"It's already getting dark," he continued. "So move quickly. I'll brief you on-site."
The Lakeside Forest shimmered beneath the moonlight. Frogs croaked in the distance, and fireflies flickered across the misty underbrush. The lake glistened like a pool of silver under the moon's gaze.
Hyde stood still, eyes half-closed, focusing his Rei outward into the night.
"They're cloaking their Lixar well," he muttered, "but not well enough."
He opened his eyes.
"There are ten Phantoms nearby," he announced. "Four are C-Class. Three are B-Class. Two are B+. And one is A+."
Saya's expression tensed. "A+?"
Hyde nodded. "Yes. Joan and George—you'll take care of the C-Class. John and Saya, you handle the B-Class. I'll handle the rest."
He turned toward the trees, the wind gently moving his coat.
"If you finish early, feel free to assist… or enjoy the show. Now move out."
All four replied in unison, "Yes, sir!"—before vanishing into the darkness in flickers of motion.
Joan's Whip of Lixar cracked through the trees, releasing sparks of violet energy. She faced two grotesque Phantoms—one a hulking beast with bioluminescent eyes and clawed limbs like deep-sea creatures, the other a humanoid figure devoid of a face.
They attacked simultaneously.
The faceless one fired a Phantom ray from its blank visage, while the beast lunged with its claws.
Joan dodged gracefully, flipping backward as the trees behind her exploded from the impact. She retaliated with precision—Wham!—her whip severed the beast's arm clean off. The faceless Phantom charged again, but she struck its head with a swift lash, decapitating it. Then, wrapping the whip around the remaining beast's torso, she flung it into the air and finished it with a devastating mid-air slash.
George faced his own pair—Phantoms cloaked in dark, shifting Lixar. As they lunged, he channeled energy through his legs and delivered a Ko Kick that sent both creatures flying into each other. The impact knocked them out cold, easy targets for exorcism.
John, his gear infused with Gill—a muscular enhancement Lixar—leapt from tree to tree, chasing a Phantom with a serpentine tail. When it swung toward him, he grinned, clenched his fist, and punched down an entire tree, sending it crashing into the creature. It screeched in pain. John followed up with a gut punch so hard it snapped the Phantom's body in half.
Saya, ever composed, made short work of her targets. Her sword gleamed in the night as she dashed through the forest like a phantom herself. With two swift, clean strikes—swish, swish—her opponents vanished in clouds of dispersed Lixar.
At the lake's center, Hyde stood ankle-deep in water. Ripples circled outward around him as two B+ class Phantoms lunged from opposite sides. Before they reached him, an invisible pressure crushed them to the ground. The weight of Hyde's Rei was suffocating—so overwhelming that it paralyzed the Phantoms where they stood.
"Pathetic," Hyde muttered, raising a hand. A pulse of his Lixar burst outward—fwoosh!—and they disintegrated in an instant.
From the trees, the A+ Phantom stepped out, trembling.
"F-Finn," it introduced itself shakily, claws trembling at its side. "I… I can bargain with you, S+ Hunter Hyde."
Hyde turned his head slowly. "Oh? You know me?"
"Of course," Finn stammered. "Every Phantom does. You're… you're the strongest in the Association."
He gulped, visibly sweating despite the cool night.
"If you spare me… I'll tell you what the others are planning."
Hyde raised a brow. "Go on."
"But you have to promise not to kill me!"
Hyde smirked. "Are you in any position to bargain?"
Finn panicked. "Okay! Okay! A massacre is being planned. Three days from now—during the Crane Festival. Hundreds of Phantoms. Most are weak, but around ten… ten are strong. Like me, or stronger. They're planning to harvest the souls of the townspeople while the barrier is weak during the event."
Hyde was silent for a long moment.
"A large-scale assault… and we've only got three days to prepare."
He looked over his shoulder.
"Well… thank you for the information," he said calmly. "As for your life… don't worry."
Finn sighed in relief—only for Hyde to gesture into the trees.
"I won't kill you. But I'll let my subordinate handle it. George… you can come out now."
From behind the brush, George stepped out with wide eyes. "How…? I was concealing my Lixar."
"I don't need Lixar to sense someone hiding behind leaves. Now then… I heard from the Chairman that you awakened your Affinity recently."
Hyde gave him a look both challenging and approving.
"So? Let's see it in action."
George clenched his fists, stepping forward as Finn backed away in terror.
"No… no wait—!"
To be continued….