As he sped forward, his mind drifted back to the conversation he had with his father before leaving.
"Simon, are you really going out to hunt?" His father's sharp eyes studied him from across the dining table.
"Yeah, its part of the job." Simon kept his tone casual, taking a sip of water to mask any hesitation.
His father frowned. "You're not going alone, are you?"
Simon exhaled, forcing a reassuring smile "of course not. The company paired me with a team. You know how they are about rookies -they won't let us run off solo."
His father's gaze lingered, searching for any cracks in his words. "Good. I know you're strong, but the wilderness isn't a playground. Stay with your team. Watch each other's backs."
Simon nodded. "Yeah, I will."
But even as he said it, he knew the truth.
He was going alone.
As he neared his destination, he made small smile to himself.
"Sorry, Dad."
Saying that he stopped the Falcon off-roader in the wilderness, putting away the Falcon in his Space belt.
Now, it was just him and the wild.
Reaching into his space belt, He pulled out the Ignis fangs and secured them at his waist. The weight was reassuring, a reminder that he wasn't stepping into this unarmed.
The ground beneath his boots was uneven, a mixture of cracked earth, scattered leaves, and exposed roots. The air was different there -thicker, wilder, carrying a faint scent of death.
With each step his senses sharpened. The rustling of unseen creatures in underbrush, the occasional distant roar if Dreadbeast, the whisper of the wind through the trees -all of it painted a vivid picture of just how alive and unforgiving this place was.
Simon couldn't help but grin.
This was nothing like the city. No walls, no controlled environments, no safety nets. Just raw, untamed land where only the strong survived.
His fingers brushed against the hilts of the Ignis Fangs, his grip tightening around the familiar steel. His weapon was ready. His body was ready.
Taking a deep breath, steadying his pulse.
His first solo hunt had officially begun.
To welcome him into wilderness, a giant wolf emerged from the shadows of the dense forest.
Its fur was a mix of charcoal and silver, with dried blood and scars from countless battles on its body. Glowing amber eyes locked onto Simon, unblinking, calculation. Each step it took was deliberate, muscles rippling beneath its thick coat, its claws sinking into the earth with silent menace.
A Dreadbeast.
Simon's grin widened. "Well, that didn't take long."
The wolf growled, a deep sound that vibrated through the air. Its breath was hot, misting in the cool wilderness air. It wasn't just any wolf -it was a Steelfang Lupine, know for its nearly indestructible fangs and powerful leg muscles that made it a relentless hunter.
Simon exhaled slowly, his finger tightening around the hilts of his Ignis Fangs, slowly unsheathing it. His heart pounded -not with fear, but with exhilaration.
"Let's see who's the real hunter here."
The wolf lunged, a blur of muscle and fury.
Simon moved; his body surging forward with explosive speed, propelled by his Reinforce Muscle.
Ignis Fange in his grip heated up, their edges glowing a bright red, sharpening with each passing
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between himself and the Steelfang lupine.
Aerial.
With a precise step, Simon formed a thin block of air beneath his foot, launching himself high above the beast. His body twisted mid-air, adjusting his position before summoning another platform beneath him. Using it as foothold, Simon dashed around the Steelfang, his movements swift and unpredictable.
To the Dreadbeast, he was a blur -a phantom circling it from every angle, vanishing and reappearing in an instant.
Simon smirked as confusion flickered in the Steelfang's glowing amber eyes.
"Let's dance."
Each step increasing his speed.
Seizing the Steelfang's confusion, Simon dashed behind it, Ignis Fangs slicing cleanly through the tendons of its legs.
With both of its leg's tendons cut Steelfang lost its balance, its massive body collapsing sideway. Simon not wanting to waste any more time appeared right beside Steelfang's eye.
A platform of air formed beneath his foot, launching him forward.
With deadly precision, he drove his dagger straight into the Steelfang's eye, Blade piercing through its skull and into its brain instantly killing it on the spot.
Simon took a steady breath, his sharp eyes scanning the lifeless body of the Steelfang. The fight was over, yet instead of satisfaction, a sense of urgency settled in his mind.
He replayed every moment, analysing his movements. His attacks were clean, his execution precise – "But too slow." He said in his mind.
Even though the battle had ended in under a minute, to Simon, it felt like an eternity.
"What if there were more?"
This thought hit him hard. If he had been surrounded by multiple Dreadbeasts instead of facing just one, taking this long would've been a death sentence.
He clenched his fist, frustration flickering in his eyes. The wilderness wasn't forgiving. Hesitation, inefficiency -these were weaknesses that could get him killed.
"I need to be faster, sharper… A hunter who finishes battles before they even begin."
His fingers tightened around the hilts of the Ignis Fangs, the blades still radiation heat from the battle. He needed to refine his technique, to strike with deadly efficiency. His Aerial movements had given him an advantage, but they weren't enough.
"A real hunter doesn't waste time"
Simon exhaled, his gaze hardening. This was just the start. He had entered the wilderness alone, and he would make sure he walked out of it stronger than ever.
As if the universe approved his thoughts, Steelfangs emerged from the forest, their glowing eyes locked onto him, fangs bared.
Simon counted -six. A pack.
Instead of fear, a grin spread across his face. Good.
Heat surged through his veins as he raised his Ignis fang, summoning flaming spears around him, as if the god of fire have descended.
It he had taken this long against one, what would happen if he were surrounded?
No time to think -only act.
He lowered his stance, flames flickering around him.
"Come on then," he said, voice steady. "Let's begin."