Chapter 7 – A Strange Face-Off
The silence between Zarion and Valen weighed like an anvil.
Lya, standing beside them, hesitated — should she draw her weapon or call an ambulance for one of them?
Then Valen broke the calm… with a smile.
A smug, almost provocative smile.
> "You. Yeah, you. Mind if we talk?"
Zarion raised an eyebrow, not answering right away.
> "Who are you?" Valen leaned in slightly. "A hunter? A tourist? Some guy who forgot his cosmic arena badge?"
> "And you?" Zarion replied, unflinching. "A cosplay fan who fell through a portal?"
Lya almost burst out laughing but held it in.
She could feel the tension slowly building.
Valen began circling Zarion, eyes scanning him from head to toe.
> "I wanna test you. Just to see if your look matches your level. 'Cause honestly, you've got this weirdly clean vibe for someone who's supposed to come from the frontlines."
Zarion stayed calm. Too calm.
> "Maybe I just don't like pointless displays."
> "Interesting… I like breaking stuff to learn. Educational purposes."
Their gazes locked — two powers hiding behind casual expressions.
The tension grew, but neither moved. Not yet.
One of the onlooking hunters whispered:
> "Uh… can someone tell them this isn't a tournament? We're supposed to be filing a report."
Finally, Valen took a few steps back, still smirking.
> "Another time. Don't feel like doing paperwork after folding you."
He turned and walked away, hands in his pockets.
Zarion watched him go in silence.
Lya sighed.
> "Seriously… that's the Divine Hunter? He talks like a guy who's watched too many anime."
Zarion replied quietly:
> "Maybe. Or maybe he's just a human who's seen too much… and still tries to act normal."
---
Chapter 8 – The Maw of Chaos
A rank S portal had appeared among the ruins of an old city to the north.
It pulsed with a sickly crimson glow, beating like a diseased heart.
The HQ immediately deployed an elite squad — a mix of rank A, S, and one S+ for reinforcement.
Zarion, still in civilian clothes — white tank top, black jacket — was dragged along by Lya and her team. Officially, he was "just observing." Unofficially… everyone knew he wasn't.
> "Alright," Lya briefed while gearing up, "we go in, secure civilians, neutralize anything that moves, and for the love of sanity, don't blow everything up this time."
Her pointed stare landed on Drake, an S-rank hunter.
> "That was an accident, okay? Nobody told me the thing exploded when it died!"
Zarion walked silently at the rear, hands in his pockets.
He watched the team — the nervous habits, the tension, the human emotion in motion.
The portal rumbled open.
Inside, shadows twisted across the floor. The air was heavy, almost unbreathable.
They had taken only three steps when the first creatures leapt out — twisted hybrids of demonic hounds and statues of flesh.
Battle erupted instantly.
Lya sliced through enemies with precise, glowing blades.
Drake blasted one apart with an explosion that shook the ground.
> "See? That one was on purpose!" he shouted with a grin.
Zarion dodged a strike, then sent a lazy kick.
The monster flew backward at absurd speed, smashing into stone with a thunderous crack.
> "...Is he really just an observer?" muttered a rank A hunter.
Then the ground shook. A massive rift tore open farther ahead, spewing out a colossal being — a Time Devourer, an entity even S+ hunters avoided.
> "No way," Lya hissed. "A SSS-class in a rank S portal?!"
That's when Valen showed up.
Out of nowhere, as always — eating an apple, sword resting on his shoulder.
> "Hm. Bad day for a stroll. Guess you'll all die if I don't step in."
Drake glared.
> "Nobody asked for your opinion, Mr. Last-Minute Showoff."
Valen said nothing. He drew his blade — an ordinary sword that shimmered faintly at his touch.
One horizontal slash.
The Devourer split clean in two.
Silence.
Lya blinked. A hunter nearly fainted. Zarion just smiled faintly.
Valen sheathed his sword, then looked straight at Zarion.
> "I wonder what you're hiding."
Zarion shrugged.
> "Maybe nothing. Maybe more than you."
Their eyes met. This time, neither smiled.
> "...Alright," Lya sighed. "Let's head back before another end-of-the-world monster pops up."
> "Or another oversized ego," added Drake.
Zarion exhaled softly.
> "You really are… human, all of you."
---
Chapter 9 – A Small Reputation Problem
Back at HQ, the air was thick.
After the incident, an emergency meeting had been called.
Valen slouched at the back, half-lying on a chair.
Zarion stood against the wall, silent.
At the front, Director Helios — strict, sharp, terrifyingly calm — tapped her fingers on the desk.
> "Let's summarize," she began. "A SSS-class anomaly appeared in a rank S portal. An unregistered civilian"—she pointed at Zarion—"joined the fight. And a hunter"—she glared at Valen—"slaughtered an apocalyptic creature with an unenchanted sword. Without authorization."
She took a deep breath.
> "That's… a lot for one day."
Valen raised a brow.
> "Yeah. Pretty good day, huh?"
A few hunters chuckled quietly. Helios did not.
> "You were supposed to intervene only as a last resort, Valen. Not— not slice a temporal entity like a birthday cake!"
> "I was hungry," he lied flatly.
Zarion watched the exchange silently, secretly amused.
A man that powerful who still didn't take himself seriously — that was rare.
> "And as for you," Helios turned back to Zarion, "your presence on-site remains unexplained. No division, no record, no complete biometrics."
She slammed an empty folder onto the desk.
> "Who are you?"
Zarion folded his arms.
> "Just someone curious."
Silence. Long, heavy silence.
Then Valen suddenly stood up, chair screeching.
> "If it's a problem, I'll take responsibility for him."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Helios frowned.
> "...Why? You hate following rules."
> "Exactly. He doesn't seem interested in yours either. Kinda refreshing."
Helios sighed as if aging ten years in one breath.
> "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, Valen, it's on you."
> "No worries, boss. I've survived worse than meetings."
He winked and left, dragging Zarion with him.
In the hallway, Valen muttered:
> "You're not normal, you know that?"
"Neither are you," Zarion replied calmly.
Valen chuckled.
> "This is gonna be fun."
---
Chapter 10 – Dual Carnage
An alarm echoed through HQ.
A new rank S portal had appeared on the city's outskirts — unstable, dense, pulsing with anomaly energy.
Valen and Zarion, now officially partners, stood ready with a small squad of A- and S-rank hunters.
> "Alright," Valen said with a playful grin, "game time. Whoever kills the most doesn't pay for dinner tonight."
Zarion raised an eyebrow.
> "And if I win?"
> "Then I owe you two dinners. But don't get cocky, rookie."
A hunter behind them, Kael, groaned.
> "Not the time for jokes. The portal's flux is unstable — feels like an ambush."
> "Even better," Valen replied. "I love surprises."
The portal erupted, spewing purple energy that shook the ground.
Dozens of twisted creatures poured out — some running, others floating with spiral limbs, all shrieking.
> "Form up!" Kael shouted.
But Valen and Zarion were already gone.
Valen moved like lightning, his ordinary sword humming with unseen power. A single slash erased three monsters at once — no blood, just clean disintegration.
Zarion, almost lazy, lifted a finger.
A shockwave crushed the ground and flattened a rank S creature instantly.
> "Come on," Valen called between strikes. "You said no cheat powers!"
> "I just breathed," Zarion said innocently.
> "Then breathe somewhere else!"
The other hunters did their best to keep up, but then — a massive creature emerged from the portal.
A reptilian colossus covered in eyes and spikes, its scales pulsing with violet energy.
> "SSS-class…" Kael gasped. "A reality-eater."
> "Ugh. Ugly," Valen muttered. "Can I take it?"
> "You already had your turn," Zarion replied, charging forward.
He leapt skyward, kicked off floating debris, and struck the creature's jaw with seismic force.
It roared, the sound shaking their very minds.
Valen appeared behind it, sword in hand.
> "Alright, combo time!" he yelled.
Zarion nodded. They attacked in perfect sync — Zarion striking to distract, Valen targeting vital points.
With every blow, the monster's body unraveled.
Finally, Valen plunged his sword into its core and unleashed a shockwave that disintegrated the beast entirely.
Silence.
The remaining creatures fled back into the portal, which closed behind them.
Valen turned to Zarion, panting but grinning.
> "Alright… I counted 37. You?"
> "Thirty-nine. Sorry about dinner."
> "You're a cheater. Knew it."
Zarion shrugged. Valen laughed.
---
Chapter 11 – Suspicions and Revelations
HQ was buzzing.
Reports piled up, hunters rushed about with bandages, sighs, and nervous laughter.
Valen lounged on a couch, chewing an energy bar.
> "Seriously… for a rich organization, no ramen dispenser? Disgraceful."
Zarion, sitting on the armrest, skimmed a report — not really reading.
> "You should rest."
> "I am resting. Passive protest mode."
A serious voice cut through the calm.
> "Valen. Zarion. The Commander wants to see you. Now."
It was Liora — veteran hunter, sharp tone, icy stare. No sense of humor.
Minutes later, in the Commander's office:
> "I'll be direct," he said. "What happened today exceeds what a rank S portal should contain. And you two… acted like it was a walk in the park."
Valen raised a hand innocently.
> "I swear, I was scared. Deep down. Way deep."
> "Enough. We analyzed the footage. Zarion, you used gravitational pressure of an unknown level. Valen… your sword disintegrated a SSS-class entity without visible magic."
Zarion stayed silent. Valen lifted an eyebrow.
> "So… we're here to get medals?"
> "You're here because people are asking questions. Who you are. Where you came from. And why you're too efficient."
Silence.
> "You're good, both of you," the Commander continued. "But too unusual. Some hunters think you're hiding something. Others think you're disguised anomalies."
Zarion finally spoke.
> "Let them think what they want. I'm here to protect this world. Not to please them."
Valen grinned.
> "This is gonna stir the pot. Love it."
As they left, Valen tapped Zarion's shoulder.
> "So, they're onto us. Wanna vanish in a puff of smoke? Always wanted to do that."
> "No," Zarion said calmly. "We prove we're useful. That only we can handle what's coming."
> "Yeah… but I hope we don't have to save the world every Friday. I've got a life, y'know."
---
Chapter 12 – Threats and Black Coffee
In an almost empty training hall, Valen lazily flipped his sword between his hands, sitting on a bench.
Zarion leaned against the wall, sipping black coffee, lost in thought.
> "You know," Valen began, "these higher-ups are really starting to piss me off."
Zarion raised a brow.
> "More rumors?"
> "Rumors, stares, whispered crap. I'm the Divine Hunter, right? Should I… threaten them a little? Subtly. With class. Small smile, light cosmic pressure — you know, professional intimidation?"
Zarion took another sip, saying nothing.
> "Or maybe I shouldn't?" Valen asked, suddenly serious.
Zarion shrugged.
> "Would be entertaining. But counterproductive. If they fear you, they'll try to control or eliminate you."
> "Ah, right. Classic human paranoia. I forget I'm still supposed to be one of them…"
The silence that followed was heavier. Then Valen smirked again.
> "Honestly, I think I prefer working with you. You're… calming. You don't talk much, but I bet your brain's a warzone."
> "Maybe," Zarion replied simply.
> "You doing that mysterious thing on purpose or is it just your natural vibe?"
> "Both."
Valen burst out laughing.
> "Alright, I'll let you keep your mystique. But one day, I'll find out if you drink that coffee just to look cool — or because you actually like it."
Zarion smiled faintly.
> "Both."
Suddenly, their comms lit up — a new S-class mission to the north.
Several A and S hunters had already been dispatched.
And one name stood out: Liora.
She had specifically requested Valen as direct support.
Valen raised an eyebrow at the message.
> "Huh. She's calling for me? The same woman who wanted my head two days ago? Think she likes me now or hopes I die on the job?"
> "Again — both."
> "You're a poet, Zarion."
Valen stood, stretched, and picked up his sword.
> "Alright then. Time to remind them why they call me Divine. No threats this time… just a polite demonstration."
---
Chapter 13 – I Got This
The northern sky was gray, trembling with distortion.
The portal's energy rippled through the air. Hunters were struggling to contain waves of monsters.
Yet, the moment word spread that he was coming, panic turned to awe.
Valen arrived, hands in his pockets, sword slung casually on his back.
He stopped for a moment, turning to Zarion, who had followed him to the evacuation line.
> "Don't worry, Zarion. I got this."
Zarion said nothing, only gave a small nod and a faint, knowing smile — as if curious to see what Valen would improvise this time.
> "Seriously, you don't have to worry," Valen continued, stretching his shoulders. "Portals like this… they're warm-ups for me."
He dashed forward.
At the unstable gateway, Valen raised his hand.
A silver blade shimmered into being — not divine, not ancient. Just a simple sword.
But in his grasp, even steel felt godlike.
A horde of dimensional beasts burst out of the rift.
Valen sighed.
> "Really? This is your big threat?"
In a flash, he was among them — slashing with surgical precision.
No wasted movement. No theatrics.
Every strike flowed perfectly, almost too fluid for a human.
Hunters watching from a distance froze.
> "That's… him? The Divine Hunter?" one whispered.
> "He looks like he's having fun…"
Valen overheard them.
He looked up, wiped his blade on his sleeve, and said:
> "Relax. You can take what's left… if there's anything left."
Then he stepped right into the portal.
Zarion, still watching from afar, didn't move.
The wind tugged at his jacket as he stared at the place where Valen vanished.
> "...Impressive."
An agent beside him asked:
> "You know him?"
Zarion looked over, then shrugged.
> "He told me not to worry. So I won't."