Arc: Hidden Spot
A dimly lit laboratory hummed with the soft glow of screens and data projections. A man in a long white coat stood in front of a massive containment pod. His face was partially hidden behind his glasses, but the sinister grin on his lips was unmistakable. He had done it.
"At last," the scientist muttered, staring at his latest creation a curse unlike any before. "A Grade Ex Curse... My masterpiece."
He tapped the keyboard, and a holographic display of various hunters flashed before his eyes. Among them, one name stood out.
"Dzeth Takahashi..." He chuckled darkly. "Enjoy your little victories while they last, Hunter Grade C. Soon, all hunters especially those of Grade S will know true despair."
-
A New Beginning
The morning sun bathed the Hunter Academy in golden light as Dzeth made his way into his new classroom. Grade C. A step above his past self, but it still felt unfamiliar. He missed his old friends from Grade D, but he knew this was necessary.
As he stepped inside, the room went silent. Then, a sharp voice broke through.
"The weakest Hunter in this world? Reaching Grade C? That's ridiculous."
Dzeth turned to face the source of the insult. A young man with silver hair leaned against his desk, arms crossed. His name was Dael, a well-known hunter in the class.
Before Dzeth could respond, the teacher raised his voice.
"Dael! Enough. You should be welcoming your new classmate, not belittling him."
Dael scoffed, shaking his head. "Fine. Let's see if he's actually worthy."
Ignoring the hostility, Dzeth sat in his seat. He had dealt with worse.
-
A Dangerous Mission
At 10 AM, their teacher stood before the class, holding a mission report.
"A group of Grade C Curses has been detected in an abandoned house at the edge of town. I need a team to handle this immediately."
Dael smirked, leaning back in his chair. "How about we let Dzeth handle it alone? Let's see if he's really Grade C material."
The teacher frowned. "Dzeth is still new to this rank. Someone must accompany him."
Dael shrugged. "Fine. I'm not going."
The teacher sighed. "Alright. Any volunteers?"
Silence filled the room. Then, two hands shot up.
"I'll go," Akanza said casually.
A moment later, another voice joined in. "I'll go as well," Syiro added.
Dzeth glanced at Syiro, feeling a strange familiarity with her name.
-
The Abandoned House
The trio stood before the decrepit building. The wooden walls were cracked, and the air smelled of decay.
"I'll go in alone," Dzeth stated.
Syiro frowned. "Why? You think we're weak?"
Akanza chuckled. "Relax. Dzeth has a habit of handling things solo. Last time, he fought an Emperor Cursed by himself."
Syiro's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible."
Ignoring her reaction, Dzeth stepped inside.
The darkness enveloped him, but he could feel them. Dozens of curses lurking in the shadows.
Then, they attacked.
Dzeth moved swiftly, his Heavenly Dagger gleaming in his grip. The blade sliced through the air, cutting down curses with deadly precision. He was getting used to its weight, its power.
Outside, Syiro grew impatient. "I don't believe this. I'm going in."
She pushed open the door only to freeze in shock.
Everywhere she looked, the ground was littered with the remains of curses. Dzeth stood in the middle, unscathed, his dagger dripping with dark energy.
But it wasn't over.
A massive door creaked open, revealing human-like curses, their hollow eyes staring hungrily.
Dzeth hesitated. Were they human? No… The moment they attacked, he had his answer.
He dodged swiftly, countering with the Heavenly Dagger. Each strike was lethal. Each movement precise.
Then, a surge of power erupted from the darkness.
A Grade-A Curse.
Before Dzeth could react, it appeared behind him, gripping his throat in a crushing hold.
Syiro gasped, covering her mouth. "No…"
But Akanza didn't move. He had seen this before.
Then
A sudden shift in the air.
Dzeth's Limitless Energy activated.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the curse's grip, reappearing behind it.
The curse barely had time to register what had happened before
SLASH!
Dzeth's Heavenly Dagger tore through it. Again. And again.
The curse let out a final, agonized shriek before disintegrating.
Without pausing, Dzeth turned and annihilated the remaining curses, his movements like a storm of death.
When it was finally over, he exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow.
-
Mission Complete
As they walked back, Dzeth sent his mission report to the academy. Akanza clapped him on the back.
"You're getting even stronger."
Dzeth smirked. "I have to."
Syiro was silent, still processing what she had seen.
When they reached the academy, the teacher reviewed their report and nodded. "Excellent work. You may rest for today."
Dzeth nodded. "Let's go home."
-
A Shadow in the Dark
Meanwhile, far away in his hidden lab, the scientist stared at his screens.
He slammed his fist against the table.
"Damn it! Why did I send such weak curses?!"
He took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
"No matter. I still have 300 more…"
His grin returned, darker than before.
"Dzeth Takahashi… this is only the beginning."
Chapter 11 – End.