The wind that morning carried the smell of rain and metal.
Leroy stood by the transport truck, tightening the straps of his gear as the rest of the squad gathered. It was his first official mission as a C-rank, and the Association had paired him with one of the strongest independent guilds around—the Taka.
They weren't known for mercy or small talk.
"Fifi, right?" a voice called.
He turned to see a tall woman with short black hair and a sharp expression striding towards him. Her presence was heavy enough that the other hunters shifted without realising it.
"Yeah. Leroy," he said.
She stopped a few feet away, folding her arms. "Aja Cyril. Leader of the Taka for this run. You've heard the name, I assume?"
"Who hasn't?" he said, trying not to sound awkward. "You took down that twin phantom last month, didn't you?"
A faint smirk tugged at her lips. "That one screamed too much. Let's hope this job's quieter."
Behind her, four hunters were loading weapons and checking scanners. Each wore the Taka insignia—a red hawk streaking across a grey background. Leroy felt out of place in his old Dawnlight coat, but Aja didn't seem to mind.
"Intel says the dungeon's crawling with Ursan-types," she continued, glancing at her wristband. "Mostly D-ranks, but the boss could be C, maybe worse. We're to exorcise everything that moves and destroy the core if possible."
"Got it," Leroy said.
She eyed him briefly. "Stay close, don't get cocky, and don't run ahead unless I tell you. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Let's move."
The Ironwood Dungeon sat at the edge of the city's exclusion zone—a half-collapsed factory overtaken by black vines and fog. D-rank phantoms had been nesting there for months, and civilians nearby had started vanishing. It wasn't the kind of job most hunters volunteered for.
The moment they stepped through the entrance gate, the air changed. Cold, heavy, wrong.
"Phantom activity confirmed," one of the Taka members muttered. "Reading at least eight D-rank signatures."
"Then we start cleaning," Aja said. "Tight formation."
Leroy drew his dagger and followed the group in. Shadows moved along the walls. One of the Ursan phantoms appeared—a bulky, bear-like shape with glowing white eyes—and roared.
Aja didn't even blink. Her twin blades blurred, cutting through it before it could lunge. The creature's body dissolved into mist.
"Next," she said.
The Taka fought like machines—clean, fast, efficient. Leroy stayed near the rear, striking when needed. His movements were smoother than before, faster. Every time his dagger connected, the phantom core cracked easily. The Diablo Cross, hanging at his side, pulsed faintly—as though it recognised the phantom energy around them.
They cleared the first floor within minutes.
One of the hunters, a broad-shouldered man called Juno, whistled. "You weren't kidding about the rookie, Aja. He's quick."
"Focus," she said flatly, though Leroy noticed the faintest hint of approval in her tone. "We've still got the boss level to deal with."
They descended the rusted stairs into the lower chamber. The deeper they went, the thicker the fog became. Every sound echoed strangely. Leroy's system kept flickering—brief, unstable readings like something was jamming the signal.
"Reading multiple phantoms ahead," one of the scouts whispered. "Could be protecting the core."
Aja gave a sharp nod. "Juno, cover left. Mara, take right. Leroy, you're with me."
They moved swiftly through the corridor. The smaller phantoms came in waves—shapes made of shadow and teeth—but were swiftly cut down. Aja's attacks were frighteningly precise. She fought like someone who'd seen too much, with no wasted motion or hesitation.
Leroy matched her pace as best he could, his breathing steady, his focus narrowing to the rhythm of the fight. When the last phantom faded, the path to the final chamber opened.
A massive metal door stood ahead, warped and bent outward as if something had forced its way through from the inside.
"Boss room," Aja murmured. "Keep your guard up."
They stepped inside.
The space was vast—old machinery scattered across the floor, steel beams hanging from the ceiling like bones. In the centre, a huge figure crouched over a cracked core, feeding on it.
An Ursan-type, but larger—twice the size of the others, its fur blackened and its form more human than beast. Its eyes glowed with a sharp blue light.
"C-rank confirmed," Aja said quietly. "I'll handle it. Cover me."
Before anyone could respond, she was already moving. Her blades cut across the air in silver arcs. Sparks flew as she met the phantom head-on.
The thing roared and swung a massive claw. She ducked, countered, and drove both swords into its chest—but it barely flinched. The blow sent her flying back, slamming into a steel pillar with a dull thud.
"Aja!" someone shouted.
"Stay back!" she snapped, pushing herself upright. "I can still—"
But Leroy saw it before she did—the phantom's aura flaring unnaturally, the air itself vibrating. His system screamed a warning.
[Caution: Energy reading exceeds C-Rank threshold.]
He didn't think. He just ran.
The phantom turned just as he arrived, eyes locking on him. Its claw came down like lightning. Leroy barely managed to raise his dagger, the impact sending a shock through his arm. Sparks burst from the clash.
The force threw him back several feet, boots skidding against the concrete. He caught his breath and charged again, this time faster. He ducked under the next swipe and slashed upwards, cutting across the creature's arm. It howled in pain—finally bleeding light.
"That got your attention," Leroy muttered.
He drew the dagger back and hurled it. The blade spun through the air and buried itself deep in the phantom's shoulder. The creature staggered, screeching.
Aja pushed off the wall, rejoining the fight. "Nice throw!"
"Don't thank me yet," Leroy said, eyes narrowing.
The phantom roared again and lunged. Its speed was almost blinding. Leroy barely had time to react. He sidestepped, but its claws grazed his side, tearing through his coat. Pain shot up his ribs, but he didn't slow.
He reached for the Diablo Cross.
The sword slid free with a hiss, black and red energy sparking along its edge. The moment he gripped it, something inside him shifted—his pulse syncing with the hum of the blade.
The phantom swung again, but this time Leroy moved faster—unnaturally fast. The sword cut through the air and met its chest with a thunderous crack.
He twisted the blade, driving it deeper until the light within the phantom's body began to fracture.
"Go to hell," he muttered, then pulled the sword free and stabbed straight through its core.
The creature froze, its entire body trembling as the light inside shattered completely. Then it collapsed into dust, the echoes fading into silence.
Leroy stood still, breathing hard, the Diablo Cross humming quietly in his hand.
Aja approached slowly, wiping blood from her cheek. Her expression softened—something rare for her.
"Well," she said, exhaling. "That was unexpected."
Leroy gave a half-smile. "You looked like you could use a hand."
She laughed quietly, shaking her head. "I won't argue. That thing was stronger than the brief suggested. The Association will need to check their intel."
"Wouldn't be the first time," he said, sheathing the sword.
Aja studied him for a moment. "You really are something, you know. The rumours don't do you justice."
He looked surprised. "Rumours?"
She shrugged. "Every guild's been talking about you. The 'E-rank survivor' who took down a C-class phantom alone. Some call it luck, some say it's nonsense. After seeing that—" She gestured at the empty space where the boss had fallen. "—I'd say it's neither."
Leroy didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded.
"Let's finish up," she said after a pause. "We'll take the core fragments for verification. You've earned your share."
As the team moved to gather the remains, Leroy glanced down at the Diablo Cross. Its surface still glowed faintly, almost like it was breathing. He sheathed it quickly, trying to ignore the unease creeping up his spine.
Aja caught the motion. "That sword," she said, curious. "It's not standard issue."
"It's… new," Leroy replied, avoiding her gaze. "Gift from the system, I think."
"Gift, huh?" She smiled faintly. "You might want to keep an eye on what kind of gifts it's giving you."
He didn't answer. There wasn't anything to say.
An hour later, they emerged from the dungeon, the grey morning light breaking through the mist. The Taka squad looked tired but satisfied. The mission was a success, the report already uploading to the Association network.
Aja walked beside him as they reached the trucks.
"You did well, Leroy," she said quietly. "For a first mission with us, that was impressive. I wouldn't mind having you on the Taka again."
He glanced at her. "You mean that?"
"Of course. You've got instincts most hunters spend years trying to build. Whatever you're doing—keep at it."
He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Aja."
She nodded once, then turned to speak to her team. The wind caught her hair as she walked ahead, and for a brief moment Leroy thought he saw something flicker across her back—a faint, white shimmer of phantom residue—but when he blinked, it was gone.
He pushed the thought aside.
As they loaded the cores into containment cases, the Diablo Cross at his side pulsed once, just faintly. Leroy glanced down at it, feeling that strange energy stir again, something deep and restless.
He muttered under his breath, "Guess the day's not done yet."
But for now, at least, the Ironwood was silent.