The nameless village, or what passed for one, held nothing for me anymore. It was a cage of poverty and despair, a breeding ground for weakness and betrayal. My evolved Rare Gauntlet, now a smooth, obsidian band on my wrist, thrummed faintly, a constant reminder of the power I had seized. The Carrion Crawler Card lay safely within its core, a trump card I could unleash when the time was right.
My twin brother, still just a wide-eyed child, was easily convinced to leave. He saw the journey to a real city as an adventure, a chance for a better life, oblivious to the cold calculation in my eyes. He chattered excitedly about proper food, sturdy shelter, and the legendary hunters he hoped to see. I let him dream. His innocence was a shield for now, a way to mask my own ruthless intentions.
The walk was arduous. The dusty path wound through barren fields, the harsh Philippine sun beating down on us mercilessly. We scavenged for what little food we could find – wild berries, tough roots – a stark contrast to the feasts I once commanded. My brother complained of hunger and fatigue, his childish enthusiasm slowly waning. I ignored his whimpers, focusing on the destination.
I knew our target city from my past life – Vigan City. It was the nearest significant urban center, a walled city steeped in history and controlled by powerful hunter clans. It was a place of opportunity, but also of strict rules and harsh judgment for outsiders, especially ragged orphans like us.
After days of relentless travel, the imposing stone walls of Vigan finally rose into view. They were taller and thicker than I remembered, a testament to the constant threat of powerful monsters lurking beyond the city's borders. The city exuded an air of order and prosperity, a stark contrast to the squalor we had left behind.
Hope flickered in my brother's eyes as we approached the towering gates. Two guards, clad in sturdy leather armor and bearing the insignia of the Vigan Hunter's Guild, stood watch. Their expressions were hard, their eyes scanning every approaching traveler with suspicion.
As we drew closer, the guards raised their hands, halting our progress. "State your business," one of them barked, his voice rough and impatient.
My brother, ever the hopeful one, stepped forward. "We are travelers from a… small village. We seek entry to the city. We are hoping to become hunters."
The guards exchanged a look of disdain. "Orphans, more likely," the other guard sneered, his eyes lingering on our tattered clothes and gaunt appearances. "Vigan has no need for more beggars and street urchins. Turn around and go back where you came from."
"But… we are willing to work! We can do anything!" my brother pleaded, his voice trembling slightly.
The first guard scoffed. "Work? The only work you'll find here is sweeping the streets, and there are plenty of our own who need that. Do you even have a Hunter's License? An artifact?" His gaze fell on the common-looking gauntlet on my brother's wrist and then on my obsidian band. He paused for a moment, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes before dismissing it. "That worn-out thing? And what's that on your arm, boy? Looks like a fancy bracelet."
I remained silent, observing. Arguing with these low-level gatekeepers was pointless. Their orders were clear, and their minds were closed. I had anticipated this. Vigan, like most fortified cities, controlled its population tightly. Resources were precious, and they wouldn't readily accept more mouths to feed, especially those without any visible means of support or proven hunting abilities.
"Please, sir," my brother persisted, his voice cracking with desperation. "We are strong. We can learn. Just give us a chance!"
The guard's patience ran out. He shoved my brother roughly, sending him stumbling back. "Get lost, you pests! Before I decide to throw you in the stocks for loitering."
Tears welled up in my brother's eyes. His dream of a better life within those walls shattered in an instant. He looked at me, his face a mixture of fear and disappointment. "What do we do now?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I met his gaze, my own expression devoid of any sympathy. "We don't beg," I stated coldly. "We take."
His eyes widened in confusion and fear. He still clung to the naive morality of a child, a weakness I had long discarded.
"But… they won't let us in," he stammered. "Where will we go?"
I looked at the imposing walls of Vigan, not with despair, but with a calculating gaze. The city was a treasure trove of resources, powerful cards, and skilled hunters. I needed access. And if the front gate was closed, I would find another way.
I remembered whispers from my past life, rumors of smugglers and hidden passages, of a seedy underbelly that thrived in the shadows of Vigan's grandeur. The city guards might control the gates, but they didn't control everything.
"There are other ways into a city," I said, my voice low and steady. "Ways they don't expect."
My brother shivered, unsure whether it was from the cold or the unsettling tone in my voice. He was a child who longed for security and acceptance. I was a reborn hunter who understood that the world offered neither freely. You had to seize them, no matter the cost.
I turned away from the imposing gates, my mind already formulating a new plan. Begging for entry was a waste of time. I needed leverage, a reason for them to want me inside. And the only leverage this world understood was power.
The wilderness surrounding Vigan was known for its dangerous monsters, creatures far more powerful than the ones near our nameless village. It was a risky proposition, but also a potential shortcut. If I could hunt and defeat a significant monster outside the city walls, perhaps the Hunter's Guild would take notice. Perhaps they would see value in someone who could survive where others perished.
I looked at my brother, his face still etched with disappointment. He was a burden, a vulnerability. But he was also my twin, and in this life, that connection might prove useful, at least for now.
"Come," I said, my voice firm. "We are not leaving. We are simply taking a different path."
I led him away from the main road, towards the dense forest that bordered the city. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with danger. But for me, it was also filled with opportunity. The gates of Vigan might be closed, but the hunt was on. And I was a hunter reborn.