Kyron sprinted through the forest path, his heart hammering with a mix of pride and adrenaline. The air felt lighter, as if the trees themselves were celebrating his progress.
Three techniques. He had finally unlocked three Anger Style moves. That meant one thing:
He was ready.
The moment he spotted the mansion, he didn't slow down. The double doors crashed open with a bang as he burst into the main lobby.
"GUYS! I DID IT—"
CRASH!
Kyron's foot caught on the edge of a carpet, and he tumbled forward like a thrown sack of potatoes. His shoulder hit the table. Plates flipped. A bowl of spaghetti launched into the air in glorious slow motion. Riya and Arnav, mid-chess game and mid-lunch, barely had time to blink.
Noodles slapped across Riya's face. Sauce dripped onto Arnav's lap. The chessboard flew in every direction like shrapnel.
For a few seconds, nobody said a word.
Then—
"KYRON!" Riya roared, spaghetti sliding off her cheek.
She stood up, furious, marched straight to him, and punched him on the top of his head.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!? You just ruined lunch. And our game. You absolute menace!"
Kyron winced, holding his head. "Ow—sorry! I was just… I got excited!"
Arnav calmly picked a chess piece off his sleeve, then glanced at Kyron, deadpan. "You could've just used the door."
"I did use the door!"
"You exploded through it."
Riya grabbed a napkin and wiped her face, still fuming. "There was spaghetti in my nostril, Kyron. You're lucky I don't set you on fire."
Kyron stood up, brushing himself off. "Okay, okay. My bad. But listen—I unlocked three Anger techniques. I'm eligible for the Hunter exam!"
That made both of them pause.
Arnav raised an eyebrow. "You serious?"
Kyron grinned, eyes sparkling. "Dead serious."
Arnav gave a small, rare smile. "That's… impressive."
Riya sighed, crossing her arms, but a proud smile tugged at her lips. "Well… congrats, idiot. Next time, though, try not to deliver good news like a wrecking ball."
"Duly noted."
Kyron rubbed the back of his neck. "So… how do I take the exam? Where is it?"
Arnav stood and dusted his pants off. "Every night, just past sunset. Kamino Village's western exit. There's a forest—Smiler territory."
"Most of them are weak," Riya added. "You'll handle it. But…"
Kyron tilted his head. "But?"
"There's a blue Smiler out there," she said quietly. "Big. Four arms. Hulking freak. Fast as hell. When we took our exam, we saw it. A few of our group tried to fight him…"
Her voice trailed off.
"They didn't make it," Arnav finished.
Kyron's confidence faltered just a little. "So… how strong are we talking?"
"Upper Beast Class," Arnav said. "Your sword won't help much if you engage it head-on."
Kyron nodded slowly. "Alright. Sounds terrifying. I'll just… not go near it."
"That's the smartest thing you've said all day," Riya muttered, still wiping sauce off her shirt.
"Oh, and how do I even get to Kamino?" Kyron asked, already halfway to the door.
"Exit the mansion, head west," Riya replied. "You'll hit the village in no time."
Kyron gave them a thumbs up. "Thanks, guys. Sorry again for the spaghetti bombing."
"Don't come back unless you pass," Arnav said dryly.
"And bring us snacks on your way back!" Riya shouted.
---
Kamino Village was peaceful, with cobbled streets and smiling vendors under the orange glow of sunset. The warmth of the place made it hard to believe monsters lurked just beyond the mountains.
Kyron walked up to a spice vendor. "Excuse me, sir—do you know where I can register for the Hunter exam?"
The old man gave him a long look. "You sure about that, son?"
Kyron nodded. "I'm sure."
The vendor sighed. "Alright. Head up that hill. There's an old stone mansion. That's the place."
"Thanks!" Kyron said, then jogged up the slope.
The mansion at the top was silent and imposing. As he stepped inside, the wooden floor creaked under his feet. A man in a black suit and mask stood by a desk, still as a statue.
He asked Kyron about his details and after he noted them and then without looking up, the man said in a low, measured tone:
"Go inside and rest. The exam begins after sunset. But before that, hear this—because your life depends on it."
He set down his pen, lifted his head, and spoke with grim weight:
"It's a gamble of life and future. The chance of surviving is very low. You will be thrown into the forest for four days—four days where death lurks in every shadow. That place is crawling with Smilers. Most are weak, but never underestimate them. Overconfidence kills faster than fear."
The masked examiner leaned closer.
"Smilers hunger for emotions and flesh. The more emotions and virus they consume, the stronger they become. Some among them… develop special powers called Laughter Skills. These are remnants of their past lives—abilities twisted into nightmares. Those Smilers are cunning, they fight with skill, not reckless hunger. Avoid them… or be prepared to die."
His voice dropped darker.
"Remember this: sunlight is their curse. By day, their skin burns and the virus weakens. That's why they rarely leave their dens until nightfall. But once the sun is gone, they will hunt."
The masked man paused, letting his words sink in.
"That's all, kid. Best of luck. Survive—if you can…"
Kyron bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir. This will help me in the exam."
He walked into the waiting room, where dozens of other hopefuls sat in tense silence. Kyron didn't intend to speak, but suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey."
Turning around, he saw three figures: a confident black-haired boy, an anxious orange-haired boy, and a girl with long dark-blue hair and wide, piercing eyes.
The black-haired boy smiled and spoke first.
"Wanna join our team? We figured teaming up gives us higher chances of surviving. I'm Ali. And these two—well, they can introduce themselves."
The orange-haired boy swallowed hard, his voice shaky.
"U-u-uhh… I'm L-l-luca… Just call me Luca."
The girl spoke quietly, almost in a whisper.
"My name is Neelam."
Kyron gave a small grin. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kyron. And hey Luca—love the hairstyle."
That small joke broke some of the tension, and soon the four began sharing their abilities.
Luca revealed his Anxiety Emotion: Falcon Style—orange lightning coursing through his body, granting him insane bursts of speed. But if his focus faltered, his power would collapse.
Neelam explained her Fear Emotion—mist illusions, afterimages, and cold blade techniques, perfect for stealth and confusion. But in direct combat, her strength lagged.
Ali spoke proudly of his Bravery Emotion: Bear Style—raw physical power, endless stamina, and the ability to wield two massive blades without tiring.
Finally, Kyron shared his Anger Emotion: Bird Style, with its blazing flames and deadly speed, but warned of its heavy toll on his body if he lost control.
The room grew heavier as the sun dipped toward the horizon. When sunset finally arrived, the black-masked examiner led all 78 contestants to the towering iron gates of the forest.
The forest loomed before them—dark, twisted, and alive with sinister whispers.
"There are seventy-eight of you," the examiner announced. "But only a handful will walk out. Do whatever it takes to survive. Show no mercy. Smilers can strike at any time… even now."
The gates creaked open, and the contestants stepped into the black maw of the forest.
Inside, the world was suffocating—thick shadows, rustling leaves, distant howls. Within minutes, Kyron was separated from the others. His pulse quickened, fear tugged at him—yet he pressed forward, gripping his blade tightly.
A low growl cut through the silence. Two Smilers staggered from the darkness, their bodies pale as corpses, skin stretched so thin it seemed bloodless. Their mouths gaped into monstrous grins, virus drooling like tar.
But Kyron didn't flinch.
He roared back:
"Anger Emotion: Bird Style — Flame Rush!"
With a blazing slash, both Smilers' heads flew, their twisted smiles ending in silence.
Kyron exhaled, then laughed under his breath.
"Back then, I cut down Smilers without knowing a single technique. Now, after my training… you things don't stand a chance."
He moved deeper into the forest, determined to face something stronger.
Suddenly, the air whistled. A barrage of blood-red spikes erupted from the trees, narrowly missing him. Kyron rolled aside, sparks flaring from his blade.
From above, perched on a branch, a Smiler stared down at him—its body pulsing with veins of crimson, its hands dripping with blood that hardened into fresh spikes.
It grinned wider, preparing its next strike.
Kyron tightened his grip.
The real exam had just begun.
To Be Continued…