Christopher Reed sat on his bed, sorting through the information he had gathered from the tavern, and muttered quietly:
"I didn't expect the Saints' influence to grow this much… Based on the information I heard, they control half of the kingdoms on the continent of Novalim in the name of the Sacred Temple. They have branches throughout the kingdoms they rule."
He furrowed his brows and continued in a low voice:
"Not only that, but they also recruit citizens from the kingdoms under their control. But from the scene I saw about the history of the continent, they hate mages, or as they are now called, Hunters. They consider them heretics that must be cleansed… If they find out I'm a Reincarnator, they'll kill me in the name of purification."
Christopher felt a strong urgency to gain power. He looked at his hand and said seriously:
"I must gain power in this dangerous world. Without it, I'll be crushed like an ant… and the only way to obtain it is through the disk in my consciousness. If I can witness another scene of that middle-aged man teaching his student and steal the information on how to become a Hunter, I will have the strength needed to escape my weakness."
He took a deep breath and began to meditate. Soon, he felt the familiar sensation again, as if his consciousness was being pulled forcefully. The feeling grew deeper until he found himself once again in that dark space.
He stood there, staring at the floating disk in front of him, and muttered softly:
"Is this space my consciousness, or is it something else inside my mind?... Doesn't matter, I must gain something useful this time."
Slowly, he stepped toward the disk and reached out to touch it, and as soon as he did, he was pulled into it.
Inside that inner space, he saw a glowing star floating peacefully in the darkness.
He watched it intently and thought to himself:
"I need information about the Hunter's path."
As he thought, he touched the glowing star. Suddenly, he felt an irresistible force pulling him, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in that familiar scene again.
The same dark room, and the man in the black robe embroidered with gold sat cross-legged on the floor. In front of him sat a young boy, no older than thirteen, with short hair and ocean-blue eyes. His handsome face bore a look of respect as he gazed at the man before him.
"They're the same two people… Will he talk about history again?"
While Christopher was deep in thought, the middle-aged man began to speak in a calm yet deep voice:
"My student, I have taught you over the past years knowledge, weapons, and how to use them, but I haven't taught you the meditation technique… Do you know why?"
The boy calmly looked at the man and respectfully said:
"Master, of course I know… Because I was too young, and my body wasn't ready to receive mana."
The man looked at his student with eyes full of praise. After all, this boy was his proud student.
"Correct answer… Today, our lesson won't be about using weapons or knowledge, but I will teach you the fundamental technique all beginners use to sense mana and begin the path of the Hunter. The technique is called [Great Sky Refinement]. But before I teach it to you, I must explain the realms of the Hunter's system."
Christopher felt internal surprise and thought:
"Is this a coincidence? When I wanted to know about the world I was transported to, the strange disk showed me that scene, and now, when I seek power and the way to become a Hunter, it shows me this scene…?"
While he was lost in his thoughts, the man continued speaking.
He raised one finger and said:
"The first realm is called 'The Seed'. It's named so because it is the first world and your foundation in the Hunter's path. The better the seed you form, the easier your path as a Hunter."
Suddenly, a question popped into Christopher's mind: "How is the seed's level determined?"
The blue-eyed boy raised his hand and asked curiously:
"Master, I have a question."
The man nodded and said, "Ask."
"How is the level of the formed seed determined?"
Christopher silently gave a thumbs-up and thought:
"Good, boy. Keep it up!"
The man answered calmly:
"The seed's level is determined by the number of elements it's composed of. If the seed is made of a single element, like fire, your mana absorption will be faster, better, and purer. But if it's composed of two elements, fire and wind for example, it'll be slower and less pure. Hunters' talents are classified according to how many elements their seed contains:
S: Single-element seed (the best). A: Two-element seed. B: Three-element seed. C: Four-element seed. D: Five-element seed. E: The worst talent, with more than five elements."
The boy hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"Then, master, how do sects choose their disciples if they don't know their talent?"
The man replied:
"Through a test called 'The Path of Gu,' which is divided into three stages, but I won't go into its details now."
He took a deep breath before continuing:
"Alright, let's return to our main topic. Now, I explained to you the seed's level, which is the first realm, but before reaching it, there's a dangerous obstacle that stopped many practitioners: absorbing polluted mana."
The boy and Christopher both looked worried, as the man continued his speech with a serious tone:
"When you absorb polluted mana and try to condense the seed, there is a risk: either you turn into a monster or explode… Simply, death. That's why the seed must be condensed within one month. If you exceed the month without condensing it, your body won't withstand the pollution, and the result will be either death or transformation into a monster."
Christopher and the boy both felt a cold shiver run through their bodies. Death was terrifying, but turning into a monster that feeds on humans was even more horrifying.
The man looked directly at his student and spoke in a strong voice that echoed through the room as if addressing his soul:
"You now have a chance to retreat and live as a human… or you can walk this dangerous, thorn-filled path. But it is also full of opportunities. Wealth, power, status—all are possible for those who walk this path. What will you choose?"
The boy hesitated, paused for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his gaze held strong determination, and he confidently said:
"I will practice!"
The man laughed heartily, as if a burden had been lifted from his chest:
"Good, good! As expected of my student!"
Then he said firmly:
"Alright, listen carefully… I will now transmit the [Great Sky Refinement] technique to you!"
Upon hearing those words, Christopher focused all his attention and thought:
"I must memorize this technique!"
Suddenly, hazy words appeared in his mind: [Do you want to copy the technique?]
Christopher was surprised but quickly filled with excitement, and muttered:
"Is this one of the disk's abilities as well?"
Then, without hesitation, he firmly said:
"Yes!"
As soon as Christopher accepted to copy the technique, he felt a strong current of information flow into his consciousness, as if new memories and experiences had been implanted into his mind. They weren't just abstract words, but a vivid sensation, as if he had lived the experience himself.
[Great Sky Refinement]
The technique seemed simple on the surface but hid astonishing depth. It relied on calming the mind, regulating breathing, then sensing the surrounding mana and slowly drawing it into the body. The first stage was sensing the mana, the second was introducing it into the body, and the third was purifying the polluted mana and condensing it into a seed.
As the information continued to flow into his mind, Christopher felt time passing quickly. When he regained consciousness, the scene before him had changed the middle-aged man had finished speaking, and the student sitting in front of him looked excited as he absorbed the technique.
Then, the man spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice:
"Before you begin condensing your seed, there are a few things you need to know about breaking through the first level."
He paused for a moment, then continued in a deeper voice:
"When you break through this level, not only will your body change externally, but you will also feel a fundamental transformation within. Your blood will evolve, your bones will become stronger, and your senses will sharpen. But that's not the most exciting part…"
The man smiled lightly and added:
"When you break through, your lifespan will increase by one hundred years."
The boy's eyes widened in clear shock, and Christopher, watching the scene, was no less astonished. "An extra hundred years? That means Hunters live much longer than ordinary humans!"
But the man wasn't done yet.
"And more importantly, upon your breakthrough, you will awaken your innate Hunter skill that flows in your blood. This skill could be a summoning technique for a companion creature, a combat technique, or even a unique ability no one else possesses."
He looked directly at his student, and his tone carried a mix of anticipation and warning:
"What you gain depends on your talent and will. Some Hunters received extraordinary skills that changed their fate completely, while others received skills that didn't help them much. In the end, this is the Hunter's path… full of the unknown and dangers, but also full of great opportunities."
"Very well, you may leave now."
When the middle-aged man finished speaking, he no longer looked at his student. He stood and went to the bookshelf behind him, pulling out a book titled [Blood Awakening Potion].
The student looked at his master, bowed to him, and left the room.
The middle-aged man took the book, placed it on the table, sat down, and began to examine it.
As the man read the book, Christopher looked at its title and contents. He immediately guessed the potion's purpose and felt excited. He thought, "Can I copy this book too?"
Words appeared in his mind in response to his thoughts: [Do you want to copy the book?]
"Yes."
The information about the Blood Awakening Potion entered his mind. Christopher thought, "Just as I expected. It's a potion that increases the chances of awakening the Hunter's innate skill."
When he finished absorbing the information, he looked at the middle-aged man. The man stood and closed the book, then said: "Alright, this will do."
As soon as he finished speaking, Christopher felt a headache and mental exhaustion, and said to himself: "Is this my limit? About half an hour… Fine, I shouldn't stay here any longer. If I don't get out, the consequences will definitely be dire."
As the headache intensified, Christopher felt his consciousness being forcefully pulled again. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on his bed in the apartment. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his calm, but he felt mentally drained as if his mind had been completely exhausted.
He held his head to ease the headache caused by staying too long in the disk, took a deep breath, and went to the water basin in the room to wash his face.
Water droplets fell from his face into the wooden basin, splashing silently on the cracked floor. He slowly raised his head, looking at his reflection in the water's surface. His red eyes held a mix of hesitation and worry.
He muttered softly, while the headache gradually subsided:
"Turning into a monster… or exploding. What lovely choices."
He smiled sarcastically, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Deep inside, he knew he didn't have the luxury of choice. He had entered this path, and there was no turning back.
"But I don't have a choice, do I?"
He sighed deeply, then wiped his face with an old towel and returned to bed with his exhausted body.
Elsewhere...
Branch of the Sacred Temple in the Kingdom of Cloud.
Inside a vast hall, white marble pillars rose, supporting the mysterious chamber. In the middle of the hall, a round table made of polished black wood was placed, surrounded by nine massive chairs, each bearing a different symbol.
But all eyes were fixed on the man seated in the ninth chair. His body was covered in a long white robe, embroidered with black symbols that slowly shifted and moved, as if pulsing with life. Strangely, a black fog veiled his face entirely, preventing anyone from seeing his features. Yet his overwhelming presence imposed silence and awe throughout the hall.
He finally spoke in a low voice, one that carried calm within it:
"Did Saint Park... succeed in tracking the escaped huntress?"
Silence fell, as if everyone was waiting for someone brave enough to break it first.
Then a young woman spoke, no older than twenty, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, and her green eyes hiding a sharp intelligence. Her name was Saintess Elene.
"No, Ninth Lord... we lost her trail near the Forest of the Greats, as if... something or someone erased her presence entirely."
The Ninth Lord slowly raised his hand and began tapping his fingers on the table's surface. The sound was soft, but it caused a noticeable tension among those present. Then he said in a low tone with a hint of threat:
"...Who helped her?"
The characters exchanged silent glances, before Elene spoke again, her voice more cautious:
"We believe... the Sect of the Shadow of Beginning is involved."
She paused for a moment, as if observing the Ninth Lord's reaction. But he said nothing. He just... continued tapping his finger.
She continued:
"Investigations indicate that this mysterious sect, which hasn't appeared in over a decade, has begun to move again. Their leader, listed on the blacklist as one of the most dangerous hunters... is known as the 'Old Shadow,' classified as an S-rank threat."
She took a slow breath, then added:
"Ten years ago, he killed three of our fourth-rank saints in the Kingdom of Sylvia while attempting to steal a rare sixth-rank herb. After that incident, he completely vanished. Some rumors claimed he was injured in a battle with Saint Elliot Carven of the fifth rank... but no one has seen him since."
The Ninth Lord closed his eyes behind the fog, as if old memories were being summoned. He murmured softly, barely audible:
"The Old Shadow... so he's the one who broke the sect's silence after all these years?"
His words echoed through the hall.
Another man spoke in a hoarse voice while fiddling with an iron ring in his ear:
"If it's him, then his movements are no coincidence... Could it be that the escaped huntress leaked the information?"
In the moment of silence that followed the ringed man's question, the Ninth Lord slowly raised his head and removed his fingers from the table.
He spoke in a deep voice, as if each word was calculated:
"If that huntress leaked the information, then we have another problem."
He took a deep breath before adding:
"Elene, send one of your most trusted members to track down the escaped huntress. I don't want any loose ends. If the Sect of the Shadow of Beginning is involved, then swift action is required."
The Ninth Lord looked at one of those seated his name was Gregor and said:
"And you, I want you to lead the elite knight division to seal off all exits in the kingdom. The kingdom is surrounded by the Great Mountains, which are difficult to climb, and the only way out is the Eastern Passage, in addition to a few small breaches that outsiders might exploit. So, I want you to seal all exits, including the Eastern Passage. No one goes out, and no one comes in."
As soon as the Ninth Lord finished his orders, Gregor rose from his seat without uttering a word. He was a large man, clad in a dark armor engraved with faint sacred symbols. His gray eyes were sharp as swords, piercing through the void as if cutting through veils.
He slowly reached for the massive sword strapped to his back, then struck it once against the ground. The floor trembled beneath them for a moment, and a light swirl of black mist rose around him, accompanied by fine silver sparks.
In an instant, he formed a portal of black mist and vanished in a blink, leaving behind a faint trail of silver sparks fading in the air.
A heavy silence filled the space.
The council members exchanged glances, most of which ranged between awe and reverence.
An elderly man with a long white beard and faded eyes spoke, gently shaking his head:
"Gregor... he never changes. Still showing off his strength in the same way."
After the old man finished speaking, silence reigned in the hall for a few moments, as if everyone was watching the Ninth Lord's reaction. The Ninth Lord slowly raised his head and cast a calm look at the gathering. Their eyes were watching his every move, as if awaiting a signal to act.
Then, finally, he spoke in a deep, steady voice:
"This meeting is over."