Chapter 115 — Misread Signals
Kai had been quiet throughout the speeches, his sharp mind grinding away at the possibilities. Top three hundred… I'll have to make it, no matter what. Resources like that could push me further than I've ever imagined.
After the host and a handful of government officials delivered their last rounds of empty motivation, the ceremony finally came to an end. The hall thinned quickly—some hunters still lingered in small groups, others were already celebrating or slipping away to their rooms to rest.
Moon, Tom, James, Ruby, and Minji remained. Eventually, Ruby tugged Minji's sleeve and the two headed toward the dining halls. That was when Tom leaned closer to the Moon and Kai , his tone casual:
"Come with me. Let's see what you're really capable of."
Moon cocked a brow, Kai's eyes narrowing slightly, but they didn't argue. When Tom walked toward a private training hall, the brothers followed.
James noticed immediately. "Where are you three going?"
Tom turned, running a hand through his hair as if he'd only just remembered. "Oh right. I forgot to tell you. I've offered Moon and Kai a place in the Ashveil Order. Just want to test their combat potential before I start throwing money at them."
James blinked. "Ooooh…"
But as he moved to follow, Tom closed the reinforced door in his face.
"…Huh." James muttered, staring at the sealed gate. Guess I'll wait right here then.
Inside, the atmosphere changed.
Tom unbound his hair, letting it spill freely across his chest. At eight feet tall, he already cut an intimidating figure—but with his mane loose, he looked like a walking storm.
Moon didn't flinch. He calmly summoned a spear from his storage ring. It was nothing special, just a weapon he'd picked up during his travels, but it gleamed with a promise of violence in his hands.
Kai, meanwhile, drew his blade—a short, 1.3-meter sword gifted to him by Zambandari himself. He named it, Luminis Aquae, shimmered faintly with restrained power.
Tom gave a low chuckle. "Here are the rules. I'll summon a stone barrier with my secondary element. You two will try to break it. Doesn't matter how—you just have to force it open. I won't move much… but I will defend myself. My healing will keep me safe."
The twins exchanged glances and nodded.
The next moment, Tom's figure blurred.
His massive body spun across the room at impossible velocity—fifteen percent of the speed of light. For something so large to move so fast was almost obscene.
Kai's eyes widened. That shouldn't even be possible…
Moon clenched his jaw, his green eyes burning with resolve. Doesn't matter. Keep up.
Both brothers ignited their speed, reaching ten percent of light themselves. They weren't as fast, but their zig-zagging footwork allowed them to keep Tom in their sights.
For the next thirty seconds, the hall filled with nothing but streaks of light, metal clashing against summoned stone, sparks raining like meteors.
But not once did either of their weapons land true.
Finally, Moon managed to graze Tom's summoned stone shield. His spear's tip left a faint dent—tiny, insignificant.
Tom stopped, peering at the mark. "Moon… it's very small. You'll need more force. Try harder."
Moon hissed through his teeth. Before he could retort, Kai darted in with lightning precision, his sword thrust slipping past Tom's guard. The blade carved a deeper crack than Moon's strike.
Tom's laughter boomed. "See, Moon? Kai left a bigger mark than you. You'll need to put in more effort."
Moon scowled, his pride stung.
Tom's form blurred again. The training hall rattled under the force of his movements. But Moon was no longer holding back. His emerald eyes glowed with brilliance as he closed the distance, abandoning the spear entirely.
Tom's grin widened. "Ahhh—so fast! I like it!"
Moon's fist, wrapped in raw energy, slammed directly into the stone shield. The impact detonated like thunder. Cracks spiderwebbed violently across the surface.
Tom's eyes lit up in genuine excitement. "Yes! Yes! Very good, Moon. Use your hand! See how much bigger the mess becomes when you throw your fist instead of the spear!"
Five minutes earlier, outside…
Ruby and Minji had just finished eating when Minji called James.
"Where are you three?" she asked suspiciously.
James scratched his cheek. "Training hall. Tom's… uh… testing Moon and Kai. Come over if you want."
Minji's eyes narrowed. "Testing? Don't tell me Moon picked another fight again?"
Before James could explain, she hung up and dragged Ruby along.
When they arrived, James greeted them nervously. "Relax! Nobody's fighting seriously. Tom just… wanted to check their abilities."
Ruby frowned. "Check how, exactly—"
Before she could finish, a muffled yell shook the walls:
"Moon, it's very small! You need to put more force! Try harder!"
Ruby and Minji froze like statues. Slowly, both turned to each other, eyes wide in horror.
Then another voice rang out:
"See? Kai's mark is way bigger! Moon, you have to push harder too!"
Ruby nearly choked on her own spit. Minji's jaw hit the floor.
"…Kai's mark is bigger?" Ruby whispered, horrified.
James blinked innocently. "Uh… I mean… that's not what it sounds like—"
Before he could finish, Tom's booming roar echoed:
"YES! YES! Very good, Moon! Use your HAND! See how much bigger a mess you made with your hand!"
Ruby slapped a hand over her mouth to stop a scream. Minji's eyes went so wide they looked like they'd roll right out.
"…He's… checking their abilities like this?" Minji whispered in disbelief.
Before Ruby could answer, Minji suddenly grabbed her shoulders and hissed, half-panicked, half-scandalized:
"Ruby—they're literally doing that! And not even in a soundproof hall! We're on a government spaceship! This is supposed to be official place , not—whatever THIS is!"
Ruby's face went stiff, red creeping across her cheeks. "Don't be ridiculous—"
Another muffled cheer cut her off:
"Ahhh, so FAST—I like it!"
Ruby turned scarlet, burying her face in her hands. "Nope. Nope. I'm not hearing this. I'm not."
James weakly raised a finger. "It's… uh… testing, really—"
Ruby and Minji both snapped at him at once:
"Testing?!"
The door finally burst open.
Tom strode out first, hair messy, chest heaving, face glowing with pure satisfaction. Behind him, Moon and Kai stumbled out, drenched in sweat, panting hard, clothes sticking to their bodies.
Ruby and Minji's jaws dropped. To them, it was damning evidence.
Minji planted her hands on her hips. "Wow. I really thought you were straight, Kai."
Kai blinked. "Straight? Of course I walk straight—what does that even—"
Ruby pointed accusingly at Moon. "And YOU. You didn't even deny it when he told you to use your hand!"
Moon tilted his head. "…Why would I deny using my hand? I literally did."
Ruby gasped dramatically. "HE ADMITS IT."
James facepalmed so hard it echoed.
Minji wagged a finger at Kai like an angry schoolteacher. "Listen, you didn't have to hide this from us. We support you. Love wins, okay? But next time… at least put soundproofing on the walls!"
Kai: "…"
Moon: "…??"
Tom (smiling proudly): "Honestly, I think the walls made it more fun."
Ruby shrieked. "I KNEW IT!" and dragged Minji away before either of them fainted.
James shook his head, muttering, "I'm too young for this nonsense," and stormed off.
Left alone, the three inside exchanged baffled looks.
"…So, uh," Moon said, "did we just… come out of the closet?"
Kai groaned. "What closet?!"
Tom leaned back, still grinning ear to ear. "Don't worry boys. Whatever they think… Both of you nailed it. You are selected as assassins of Ashveil order , we will do paperwork later ."
To be continued…