At the Demon Hunter Academy, or D.H.A., preparations for the night patrol were underway. Jasmine, a mutant, snapped her fingers, and a small drone buzzed to life, its whirring a testament to her control over technology and metal. Derek, a gorgon, placed his hand on the ground, a calm focus radiating from him as the earth subtly shifted under his influence. Dash, a giant, stood off to the side, his massive arms crossed, a grin spreading across his face as he casually shifted his weight, the ground beneath him reacting to his innate strength. "Nice, our first mission as masters," he grinned, clenching his fist with satisfaction as his team recognized their growth. "Yeah, it feels like just yesterday we were newly recruited, and now we're finally Masters," Jasmine added with a smile. "Don't get too relaxed. This is our first mission as masters; we can't mess this up," Derek cautioned seriously. "Come on, Derek, don't be such a killjoy," Dash grinned playfully. "We'll be fine with Zoe in charge. Right, Zoe?" He turned to their leader. Zoe, an elf adept in light and air affinities, expert in both swordsmanship and archery, making her not only a versatile and powerful hunter, but a leader they respected for her calm and gentle demeanour, and one they could trust their lives with."
" I'll do my best," she smiled, everyone cheering in support. "On another note, we are still lacking a teammate. Any ideas?" Dash asked, his tone serious. "The elites have already assigned us a recruit. Just got the message," Zoe replied.
" Who is it?" Jasmine inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Zoe let out a sigh, and everyone's face fell as soon as they heard the name. "It's Draco," she announced hesitantly, the weight of his past hanging thick in the air; a past that would soon come back to life.
Draco changed into his uniform, feeling his power grow with the night as he followed the coordinates given to him. However, there was no one around. Maybe he had the wrong address? Just as he was about to leave, he sensed a bright light growing behind him and stopped in his tracks. The area lit up, revealing the other hunters: Derek, the gorgon; Dash, the giant; Jasmine, the mutant; and... Zoe. Draco hesitated, his breathing hitching for a moment as memories of their last encounter flickered in his mind. Zoe's hand tightened ever so slightly around her compass, the subtle tension a silent acknowledgment of their shared past. 'Calm down, calm down,' Draco thought to himself. 'You lost a year of training, along with your name as a hunter. You're back now; that's what matters. The important thing now is to catch up with them and rebuild my image. Most likely not,' Draco sighed as he regained his cool and turned to his teammates, who were staring him down like a piece of trash.
Draco glared at Zoe coldly; she couldn't hold his gaze. It was her fault after all. ''This is going to be a long night,''she muttered with a sigh.
'Okay, look. I know we all got off on the wrong foot...'
"No kidding," Draco muttered.
"- but we need Draco's help here. This is our first mission as masters, so let's try to work together, for this night at least." Draco turned to his teammates, nodding in agreement to a truce; it was time to head out. The team moved forward, Zoe leading ahead, a pale-blue compass in hand; the demon detector, a device designed to identify demons and measure their level.
In Nixara, the mastery of demon hunting is classified into distinct ranks that echo the historical episodes of valor and sacrifice. LV 1 - Cubs represent beginners, still learning to wield the powers they possess. LV 2 - Awakened are those who have unlocked their inner potential, standing on the brink of mastery. LV 3 - Masters have not only refined their skills but have proven themselves in battle. LV 4 - Elites are the veterans, renowned for their extraordinary capabilities and leadership on the battlefield. LV 5 - Alphas stand at the pinnacle, a title now shrouded by those who stand as legends etched in the sands of time. There were five demon levels as well:
Lv1- Corrupted, Lv2- Cursed, Lv3- Fallen, Lv4- Unholy, Lv5- Daraki - an ancient word for doom.
Sadly, the number of alphas in this world has dwindled to just a handful. Likewise, sightings of Unholy- ranked demons have become increasingly rare, adding to the mystery and danger that surrounds them.
Draco's heart raced as he stood with the rest of his team, the tension in the air thickening like a storm about to break. The moon hung overhead, casting an eerie glow on the abandoned construction site; every shadow a lurking threat. "Stay focused," Zoe commanded, her voice steady. Low growls echoed in the site, glowing eyes slowly coming to light, tensing the hunters even more. A pack of demons crawled out of their hiding places; the battle had just begun. "This is going to be fun." Draco snarled, before cold fury washed over him. In that moment, he caught Zoe's eye, a mixture of old resentment and a grudging respect simmering beneath the surface. Fighting alongside her was a reminder of their shared history, and the wounds that came with it. His mind waged a quiet war; part of him longed to trust her again, but the scars of the past were not easily forgotten. "You guys ready?" Zoe asked, her sword, an elegant jian, in hand. "Born ready," Dash replied, everyone readying their weapons for the battle. Demons charged the hunters from all sides, but they were more than enough to handle them. Zoe led the charge, her sword catching moonlight as she struck down the enemy. Dash's hammer crashed into the ground, his pure strength crushing the demons with little resistance. Jasmine seemed ethereal, weaving through the demons, her movements full of finesse, her daggers never missing their mark, while Derek shot his opponents down from afar, his aim exact, his power relentless. They were a formidable force, but Draco was by far the most impressive. He wasn't stronger than Dash or more precise than Derek, but he was by far more skillful, as though raised to hunt and kill the vile abominations. The fact that he was this good despite being suspended for a year only made him more impressive. Draco moved like a flood, overpowering demons like mere distractions, and flashed forward like lightning, reaping lives like a herald of death. Soon, all the demons were either dead or at its door, the hunter cohort standing triumphant over the littered corpses. Draco stood silently, his face contorted into a frown. Something wasn't right; he could feel it. But the demon detector had turned blue, showing that the area was clear. Could he be wrong?
No.
If there was one thing he had learned, it was to always trust his instincts. Draco and the others looked around the site, but everything was in place. Yet Draco couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He shrugged it off, but then he smelt it, faint but undeniable; demons, and they were close.