Ancient magic went far beyond the elemental arts people practice today. Records show that summoning once thrived as well. Mages shaped beings out of their own mana, or they awakened entities from other worlds for brief moments. A summon could never grow past the level it held at the instant of its call.
— Unpublished
The Uthean county road, usually empty and forgotten, trembled under five voitures stamped with the lion insignia.
Guards didn't stop them at the gate this time. The convoy rolled straight through until Theo and Melissa came into view. The two stood bowed, then lifted their heads when the windows slid down.
"What dragged us all the way from Slught?" Hunter Nero asked. The young blonde gyn leaned out, impatience clear on his face.
"Our mission went wrong," Theo said.
"You delivered the cores to Prince Randall, didn't you?" Nero arched a brow.
"Do you think I'd burn a favor from an AA-rank hunter on a joke?" Theo held his gaze.
"Does it have anything to do with the bandits on the roads? That's not your job is it?" Rach interjected.
"There's a beast here. It scares me more than you do. Its aura feels wrong. And it looks humanoid…"
"A humanoid beast?"
Every hunter stepped out of the five voitures. Ten in total. Black suits all around, with Nero dressed the same.
"Here's the deal," Nero said. "If this thing turns out to be a beast king, I owe you four favors and a B-rank hunter's license. If not, that old favor disappears."
Melissa gave a small nod.
…
A while back.
Valhalla appeared before Adrian and bowed. "Master, I've finished the task."
Adrian set his Excel down. "Looks like I drew quite a crowd, don't you think?"
…
"You expect me to believe one person did this?" Nero's voice cut sharp as steel.
He stood tall with his arms crossed, staring at the wreckage ahead—massive beast corpses scattered across the ground, smoke still rising from mangled limbs and glassy eyes.
Theo nodded, hands shaking. "Not a person. Something else. It said it acted for its master."
"A master—?"
Melissa pointed. "There."
Adrian stood across the battlefield, calm as if he had just stepped through a portal. His face showed nothing. No interest. No strain.
Something shimmered behind him. Valhalla stepped through, claws drenched in red, dragging a sack stuffed with broken fangs.
"I did well, didn't I?" Valhalla asked, eyes bright, hungry for praise.
Adrian didn't spare him more than a glance. "Where are the cores?"
Valhalla tilted his head and scanned the clearing. His gaze locked onto Theo and Melissa. A grin spread across his face, fangs flashing.
"They have them."
Adrian's golden eyes shifted back to him. His voice stayed smooth, but it cut. "Did I tell you to show mercy?"
Valhalla froze.
"No, my Lord."
"Then go get the cores."
Nero stepped forward before Valhalla could move. He planted himself in front of Theo and Melissa, a wall of muscle and mana.
"That's far enough," Nero growled. His aura flared, sharp and violent. "You want the cores? You deal with me."
Valhalla studied him, amused. "You smell strong."
"I am strong." A glowing sigil formed at Nero's side. "So unless you want to lose that smug head, back off."
The air tightened.
Valhalla didn't budge. Ancient pressure rolled off him—wild, predatory, the kind that felt like it had hunted gods.
Adrian watched in silence.
Then he flicked his hand. "Leave it."
Valhalla stepped back at once. His eyes never left Nero.
The AA team stayed rooted in place, unsure whether they had just escaped death or received a warning.
Adrian yawned. He turned his back on them all. "This bores me. Let's go, Valhalla."
He walked into the portal without another word. Valhalla followed, tail swaying like a cat denied its toy.
Only after they vanished did Theo drop to his knees. Melissa let out a long breath.
Nero kept staring at the empty space they left behind, jaw tight.
"What in the ever-loving hell… is he?"