Everyone was eagerly waiting for Hayato to explain more about quartz energy. Among them, Jiro, Akihiko, and Hilary were especially interested.
Hayato: "Let's begin. First, let me explain what quartz energy is. Think of it as something comparable to your DNA. Each of you possesses energy that helps you function, survive, and adapt. Quartz energy is that same internal force, but externalized. It's inscribed in your soul—a decomposition of your natural energy into a simpler form that only you can manipulate. But theory means nothing unless you witness it yourself."
As they focused on him, a white light began to envelop Hayato's body. It grew wilder by the second, pulsating with such intensity that it seemed to pierce through their very souls, sending shivers down their spines.
Samuel: "Master… Please stop, that's too much…"
Hayato: "Oh—right. Sorry about that."
Everyone, except for Daphne, stared at him in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Hilary: "What the hell was that…? I learned quartz energy at a young age, and even now I've never seen anything like this!"
Hayato: "Then you've been wasting your time all these years. If this were a real battle, just projecting that level of energy would've been enough to kill. On the battlefield, you don't get second chances. The slightest mistake could mean death. Don't expect your opponents to show mercy unless they're toying with you. In simple terms—kill or be killed."
Akihiko: "So we're gonna learn how to do that too?"
Hayato: "Slowly but surely, hysterical kid. There's also a quieter version of quartz energy—one used by assassins. It'd be useful for you to master that, considering your background."
Akihiko: "Wait—how do you know that? Did you seriously study each one of us?"
Hayato: "Your father's a hunter, isn't he? A trustworthy man. Now, everyone—get changed and meet me outside. We're starting with hand-to-hand combat."
Everyone changed into more comfortable clothes suited for training and joined Hayato outside.
Hayato: "Looks like everyone's ready. Alright, all of you—attack me as a team."
Hilary: "All of us? Are you sure?"
Hayato: "Who do you think you're asking, small fry? Now go."
Daphne was the first to move. She lunged at Hayato, engaging him in a flurry of fists, which he effortlessly blocked. She followed up by leaping into the air, aiming a kick at his head. Hayato reacted quickly, grabbing her by the ankle mid-air and hurling her in the opposite direction.
Daphne: "Jiro! Go for it!"
Hearing her call, Jiro dashed toward Hayato with the same ferocity he had shown during the entrance exam. He sprinted at full speed toward the calm and composed Hayato, attempting a sweeping kick—but Hayato jumped over it with ease, landing with perfect balance.
Samuel came at Hayato from behind, throwing a punch with all his strength. But before it could land, Hayato spun and struck him with a swift kick to the side. As Samuel hit the ground and tried to recover with a kick aimed at Hayato's waist, Hayato blocked it effortlessly and seized Samuel's leg.
At that moment, Hayato's sharp reflexes picked up another presence—Akihiko, coming in from behind with his fingers extended like claws. His nails were unnaturally sharp—too sharp for any human. Hayato narrowed his eyes.
"He's using quartz energy unconsciously?" he thought.
Dodging three rapid thrusts from Akihiko, Hayato smirked.
Hayato: "You're tanking for them, huh? Reckless."
He suddenly grabbed Jiro's leg with both hands—Jiro had charged back in, but had no room to move—and swung him with force, slamming him straight into Akihiko. Both were stunned by the impact.
Without hesitation, Hayato followed up. He drove a solid kick into Jiro's stomach, sending him flying, then pinned Akihiko to the ground with his right foot. Neither could continue.
At this point, everyone except Hilary and Daphne had been taken out. But Hilary wasn't moving—not because she lacked the will, but because her body had locked up. The lingering trauma from her examination against Hayato was still weighing heavily on her.
Hayato: "What's wrong? Attack me. Weren't you the one worried about all of you attacking me at once? You're the only one who hasn't even tried."
Hilary: "I… I can't move…"
She was frozen in fear, unaware that Hayato had unintentionally overwhelmed her spirit.
Hayato approached her slowly, then without warning, delivered a punch to her stomach—not hard enough to injure, but strong enough to shock.
Hayato: "Just because you're making a pathetic face doesn't mean your opponent will let you go. A predator doesn't abandon its prey out of pity. Never forget that."
Hilary collapsed to the ground, not from the hit, but from the weight of her frustration. Still seething at herself, she watched as Hayato turned away and walked toward Jiro, who was lying flat on the ground.
Jiro: "Teach… That was a dirty move."
Hayato smiled, placing a hand over his heart.
Hayato: "The whole point of this was to show you that there's no chivalry or honor in a real fight. If you come up with a way to defeat your opponent—even if it's underhanded—you do it. I'd rather see you all walk away with guilt than not see you walk away at all."
The group, still sprawled across the ground, looked up at him. Despite the pain, they couldn't help but smile.
Daphne: "What about me? Won't you fight me now?"
Hayato: "Hmmm… I don't feel like it."
Daphne: "Yeah, I expected that… Since when did you ever make time for me, anyway?"
She folded her arms and looked away with a huff, the corner of her mouth twitching into a barely visible pout.
Hayato: "Is that so?"
Without warning, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of her. Before she could react, he scooped her up into a princess carry with zero hesitation.
Daphne: "Tch—seriously? What the hell are you doing? Put me down!"
Hayato: "Just because I can't feel anything... doesn't mean I don't notice."
Her cheeks flushed instantly—not from embarrassment, but from sheer irritation. Being carried like this, especially in front of everyone, was infuriating. She lightly smacked his chest with the back of her hand, trying to keep her composure.
Daphne: "You idiot! You're doing this just to mess with me, aren't you?!"
Hayato, completely unfazed, stood there as if her hits were part of a breeze. He looked far too amused by her flustered state.
Meanwhile, Hilary, still sitting on the ground, pointed an accusatory finger.
Hilary: "Hey! So that's where all that attitude went, huh? You let her smack you around, but you kicked us like rag dolls? Samuel! Get over here!"
Samuel: "Just let me die in peace…"
Hilary: "Nope! Death is too easy. You're stuck with me!"
She leapt on top of the already drained Samuel, clinging to him like a child demanding attention. He groaned in defeat, sinking deeper into the dirt.
As the chaos unfolded, Hayato casually walked toward the mansion, still carrying Daphne.
Hayato: "Alright kids, once you're done with your little soap opera, join us inside."
After a short break, everyone gathered again. Just as planned, Hilary paired up with Daphne to begin their quartz energy training, while the boys worked with Hayato.
Hayato: "Jiro, Akihiko—I want you both to relax your bodies completely and focus on your soul. It might sound strange at first, but your body should respond naturally since it's already come into contact with quartz energy."
Akihiko squinted skeptically.
Akihiko: "Since when did we come into contact with quartz energy?"
Hayato: "You haven't noticed it, but when you sharpen your nails, you unconsciously apply quartz energy to your fingers. It's a basic application—we call it metamorphosis."
Jiro: "Metamorphosis? Isn't that, like, turning into a monster or something?"
Hayato: "I get why you'd think that. But for us, metamorphosis means doing something that breaks the boundaries of normal human capabilities."
Jiro and Akihiko sat in focused silence, their breathing calm as they slipped into meditation. Meanwhile, Hayato and Samuel stood behind them, gently applying quartz energy to their shoulders. Moments later, both boys began to glow with a soft white light that steadily grew stronger.
Hayato: "Now, channel it. Don't let it run wild—guide it through your body from the inside out. Once it spreads evenly, suppress its external flow. Contain it."
Under normal circumstances, it would take a hunter several hours to stabilize their quartz energy. But Jiro and Akihiko grasped the sensation in less than ten minutes.
Akihiko: "My body… it feels so light. I've never felt this kind of peace before!"
Jiro: "You're right, Akihiko! This is incredible!"
Hayato: "Don't get too excited. Now, try doing it again—this time without our help."
They nodded and closed their eyes. Within seconds, the same white glow returned—this time summoned entirely on their own.
Samuel's jaw dropped.
Samuel: "Prodigies! I've never seen anyone master it in a day…"
Hayato: "All my strongest students have done it in a day. The key is pushing the body to its limits—forcing it to feel weak so it becomes more receptive. Of course, raw potential also matters. Quartz energy isn't something that's passed down genetically… it's awakened."
Jiro and Akihiko looked at each other with gleaming eyes, their expressions full of wonder. For a moment, they resembled two kids who had just unwrapped their first real gift.
Hayato: "Now that both of you have access to quartz energy… let's move on to the fundamentals."