Chapter 11
"W-Who are you…?"
The woman touched her chin slowly, her gaze piercing through him — eyes as beautiful as they were cold, like snow that knew no mercy.
"My name… is Velista."
That smile bloomed — perfect, deadly.
Beautiful, like a flower blooming upon a grave.
"But I'm not as kind as you might think, darling."
Without hesitation, she grabbed the hair of a soldier still breathing nearby.
With a calm, almost elegant motion — cruel beyond words — she slit his throat right before Sai's eyes.
Blood sprayed, warm against Sai's face.
He froze. Breath caught in his chest. The world seemed to stop spinning.
"How pitiful you humans are…" Velista whispered, followed by a soft laugh that sounded eerily like a hymn for the dead.
But in an instant, her gentle expression vanished.
Her smile faded into something cold and empty — eyes hollow, soulless mirrors.
She seized Sai by the hair and — thud! — smashed his head against the ground, again and again.
The wet earth quivered, soaked red.
The sound of skull and soil collided in a gruesome rhythm.
"Hahahahahaha…"
Velista's laughter echoed across the night sky, gliding through fog and ruins.
The heavens seemed to mourn with her.
---
Monster Hunter Training Grounds
"Tiimeee! Training's over!"
Jake's voice cut through the air like a blade. Instantly, his summoned magical monsters froze in place.
Ryu gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face — his eyes still burning with unyielding fire.
Everyone returned to their formation, struggling to steady their breathing.
"We move to the second stage of training," Jake commanded, his voice echoing across the vast field. "We must finish this program quickly. We can't afford to linger in this… uncertain peace."
His gaze sharpened, slicing through the air.
"For the second drill — begin!"
"Sir, yes sir!" the entire unit roared in unison, their voices shaking the ground beneath their feet.
They moved as one, mimicking Jake's every punch and kick.
Dust rose with every synchronized step. Commander Ken paced among them, observing closely, occasionally tapping a shoulder or correcting a stance.
"Focus your weight!" he barked — firm, yet patient. "A strike isn't just from the hand, it's from your intent!"
Time blurred. An hour passed like seconds. Their breathing grew ragged, muscles trembled, yet their eyes burned bright.
"Thirty minutes left!" Jake shouted. "Now, sparring practice! Show me what you've learned. You've got thirty minutes — begin!"
"Sir, yes sir!!" the recruits replied, voices ringing like thunder.
The field erupted into chaos — the sound of shouts, footwork, and clashing bodies filled the air.
Ken watched from the sidelines as Jake approached a group of Indosvara instructors.
"Hey, you there!"
A short man, barely 163 cm tall, called out to Ryu.
Ryu turned. "Oi! Ryu!" Elias waved with a grin.
Ryu smiled faintly. Everyone already had a sparring partner — except him. Evelyn watched from afar, arms folded across her chest.
Kael patted Leon's shoulder. "Come on, spar with me. Relax, it's just training, not a duel to the death."
"R-Right…?" Leon gulped, face pale.
Meanwhile, Elias jogged up to Ryu. "So, want to spar with me?"
"Of course. Let's see what you've got."
Ryu lowered into a stance. Elias smirked and mirrored him. "Alright then, let's go!"
Elias moved first — fast, but predictable. Ryu slipped aside, spun behind him, and threw him to the ground in one fluid motion.
Thud!
Elias blinked up at the sky. "Whoa… not bad. Didn't see that coming!" he said, chuckling.
Ryu reached out a hand, but Elias grinned mischievously, yanking him forward and attempting a counter-kick. Ryu dodged just in time.
"Careful, Ryu! Never give your opponent an opening!" Elias teased.
"Oh yeah?" Ryu smirked.
They exchanged blows, fast and fierce.
Fists and kicks sliced through the air.
Elias caught Ryu's leg — "Got you!"
"Not so easily!"
Ryu twisted midair, using the momentum to kick with his other foot. Elias dodged but stumbled backward, falling again.
He laughed and raised a hand. "Alright, I give up. You win."
Ryu smiled faintly.
"He's not as soft as his face looks," Elias muttered.
"You said something?" Ryu squinted.
"N-Nope, nothing at all!" Elias said quickly, feigning innocence.
Then his gaze drifted — locking onto Ami.
The woman was fighting three opponents at once.
In one fluid, graceful motion, she knocked all of them down effortlessly.
"Look at her," Elias whispered, eyes wide. "You have to fight her."
Ryu followed his gaze, hesitated, then smirked.
"Oi! You! Fight me!"
Ami glanced at him — once, from head to toe. Cold, unimpressed.
"Tch…" She turned away, ignoring him.
Ryu's pride burned. "What's wrong? Afraid?" he shouted.
In a blink, Ami spun — her kick connecting with his head.
Whack!
Ryu hit the ground hard.
"Holy— She's crazy!" Elias yelped, rushing over.
Ryu wiped the blood from his lip and stood again. "Damn it…"
He lunged forward. Ami calmly swept his legs, slammed a fist into his chest, and sent him sprawling again.
From a distance, Evelyn's eyes narrowed. She ended her own match swiftly and stepped forward.
"How dare you hit him," she said coldly. "Fight me."
Ami stared back — silent.
Their auras collided, tension thick as steel.
Leon, Kael, and Elias froze.
"Uh oh… this is about to get interesting," Elias muttered.
But before a single move was made, Ken's voice thundered,
"Enough! Training's over! Back in line, now!"
Everyone stopped. Evelyn and Ami locked eyes for a moment longer before retreating to their ranks.
Evelyn bit back her fury, thoughts swirling.
How dare she hit Ryu… only I'm allowed to hurt him.
Jealousy and worry twisted in her chest.
Ken faced the recruits. "The third stage of training will be held another time. Magic training takes both time and talent. For today — we're done."
Jake stepped forward. "Out of forty participants, all have passed. But you'll be divided into three units:
Frontline Hunters — who fight monsters head-on.
Support Units — ranged and logistics defense.
And Medical & Supply Units — healers and couriers."
The air grew tense.
"Tomorrow," Ken continued, "the divisions will be announced. Prepare yourselves — because tomorrow, we begin a major operation."
Silence. Then —
"For humanity! For Indosvara!"
The recruits shouted in unison, their cries echoing into the night.
Afterward, they slowly dispersed.
---
Ken approached Jake. "Now?"
Jake nodded, his face grim. "We search for Sai and the other Indosvara troops."
They mounted their horses, riding through the torch-lit streets of Sena. Townsfolk whispered as they passed.
"Where are they going this late?"
"Probably on patrol…" someone murmured.
The city gates opened for them.
Jake, Ken, and their trusted riders galloped out into the night — toward the shattered ruins of central Indosvara.
The air was cold. The ground still damp, the scent of rain mixed with mud and ash.
Jake's eyes fell to the ground — footprints pressed deep into the puddles. "Looks like their trail… follow it."
They rode through the trees and ruins.
Jake's heartbeat quickened.
Please… let them be alive… he thought.
"This place feels… wrong," Ken whispered.
Then — they stopped.
Their eyes widened.
Bodies of Indosvara soldiers lay scattered across the ground — no longer human, just torn flesh and fragments of armor.
Blood mixed with rainwater, running through the blackened earth.
The air stank of iron and death.
"N-No… this can't be…" Jake's voice trembled.
Ken and the others covered their mouths, faces pale.
Jake dismounted, his knees weak.
He stepped forward — toward Sai.
Still alive. Barely. His face shattered, breathing shallow.
Tears welled in Jake's eyes.
"Sai…" he whispered, pressing his hand to Sai's chest.
A faint heartbeat. Weak, but there.
"He's alive!" Jake shouted.
Ken turned sharply. "Move! Get him to the infirmary — now!"
---
Two hours later — 2:00 a.m.
Sai lay in bed, his body wrapped in bandages. Jake sat beside him, eyes red from exhaustion.
Suddenly, Sai's fingers twitched. Jake straightened instantly.
"He's waking up… Sai!"
The man's lips parted, voice hoarse and broken.
"Ve…lis…ta…"
Jake and Ken exchanged glances.
"Velista? Who is that?" Jake pressed quickly.
No answer. Sai's eyes closed once more.
Jake sat back, tension weighing heavy on his face.
"Velista…" he whispered. "Is she… the one behind this?"
The camera seems to pan toward the window — the dark night outside. Rain begins to fall again.
Lightning flashes — revealing the silhouette of a woman standing atop a distant tower.
A faint smile curved her lips.
"It has begun," she whispered.
To be continued...