Grind and his companion Denko stood before the great gate of the Hunters' Citadel in the heart of Perion City. The wall was towering, dotted with tall towers that reflected the sun's rays, while the guards stood solemnly at the entrance. They were not ordinary soldiers, but hunters carefully selected by the Chief of the Hunters himself.
Denko watched the scene with apparent tension, his eyes darting between the guards and the gate. He muttered in a barely audible voice, "I don't know... but I'm never reassured."
Grind remained unmoving, his expression calm and his stern expression awe-inspiring. When the guards gave them permission to enter, the heavy golden gate opened with a deep creak, and together they entered the castle.
The long stone corridor led them down into the basement, where the assembly room was located. The space was shrouded in shadow, lit only by scattered torches that cast a dancing light that cast an awe-inspiring shadow over the stone walls.
At the head of the hall sat the Chief Hunter, Marcus Henry, beside his deputy and eldest son, Zeo Henry. King, one of the senior commanders, was also present. Grind and Denko sat before them, and as soon as Denko laid eyes on the Chief, he felt a suffocating sensation, as if the air in the hall had become heavy. The aura emanating from Marcus was overwhelming, an invisible force that nearly brought down the soul. Denko's body couldn't bear it, while to Grind it seemed ordinary, as if the force hadn't found a way to his heart.
Marcus was an old man in his sixties, but his body knew no weakness. His bulging muscles betrayed a long history of hunting and fighting. Yet his presence was more than just physical strength.
He wore a long, regal robe of purple velvet, the edges of which shimmered with gold threads weaving star-like patterns. Around his shoulders was a black silk sash, emblazoned with mysterious symbols that flickered in the torchlight. From his chest hung a dark silver necklace embracing a deep blue stone, like a sliver of the night sky. His right hand was adorned with rings studded with various stones, radiating a mysterious light whenever he moved his fingers.
His pants were made of sturdy dark cloth, held together by a wide, intricately carved leather belt. On his feet were black leather boots with gold lines. His staff was a polished black mace topped with a massive stone that pulsated with a faint glow, giving him the majesty of a king and the magic of a sorcerer.
Marcus gazed at Grind with a penetrating gaze and said in a deep tone,
"Did Raven tell you anything?"
Grind lowered his head sadly as he replied,
"I don't know, Mr. President... I don't recall Raven telling me anything.
The only thing I remember from my childhood was competing with him in the forest, killing monsters to see who was stronger. But... after we grew up, he never told me anything."
Then he suddenly raised his eyebrows as if he'd noticed something.
"Wait... Why do I feel like I'm asleep?! Is this a Crystal ability? What's the point of seeing my memories? I don't remember anything..."
At that moment, Denko was terrified to wake him up, while everyone was staring at Grind. Marcus smiled mysteriously and said,
"What is this power, Grind? When I entered your memories, you blocked me. This is the first time anyone has ever escaped my power."
Grind looked at the chief's hands and saw burn marks on them. He was startled and said,
"Why are your hands burned, sir?"
Marcus gave a short laugh.
"Did you hear the story of the man who wanted to reach the sun?"
Grind's pupils rose as he answered coldly, "Yes... he was burned."
After the discussion ended, everyone left the vault, and Marcus advised Grind to stay close to his companions. Outside the castle gate, a carriage was waiting for King, who ordered them to move toward Roris Village to destroy a mysterious portal there. They used the Blue Division Gate to move through, and upon arriving, they were surprised to find the village destroyed, its houses locked, and its alleys as silent as a graveyard.
Denko said anxiously, "Grind... Look! There's no one here... and there's no gate. Can you hear me?"
Grind shook his head absentmindedly.
"Yes... but what do we do now?"
Suddenly, Denko pointed to a body lying on the ground.
"There... a fallen man! Let's go!"
They approached, and there was an old man with a mangled body, covered in blood, his eyes cast far away, and his hands and feet amputated. They agreed to separate: Denko heading west, Grind heading east.
As Grind wandered among the closed houses, he heard a muffled sound from inside a small house. He cautiously pushed the door open and saw a black shadow crossing a magical portal that disappeared immediately after he entered. He searched the other houses, finding no one, then returned to the agreed-upon point where he met Denko again. They exchanged news, each telling the other what they had seen.
Denko said,
"Then we must report to the Field Investigation Team."
But Grind suddenly stopped, staring at the ground.
"Wait a minute... Where did that old man's body go?"
A gruff voice boomed behind them.
"Are you looking for me... you thugs?"
They turned quickly, and a red-skinned, humanoid creature stood before them, its eyes blazing with hatred.
Grind drew his sword and charged, but froze when he discovered the monster was manipulating humans like puppets for combat. The screams of women and children filled the air, and corpses moved as if their will had been taken away.
The monster sneered, "Have you gained humanity, human? Is that your weak point?"
Grind roared with determination.
"Do you think I'd show mercy to someone who destroys humans? Even if he's a god himself, an enemy of humanity... I'll destroy him!"
The monster laughed mockingly.
"What good are words without action? You're the ones who killed my kind... and now I'll kill you, you vile human."
The human puppets rushed toward him, and Grind grasped his sword with both hands and unleashed his deadly blow, "Soul Severer," slicing them all apart in one fell swoop, their bodies falling like burning leaves. The monster tried to escape, but Grind's sword, infused with a mysterious energy, flew as if possessing a will of its own, severing its head in a flash.
Silence fell again, and all that remained was Grind's ragged breathing and Denko's terrified eyes.