New Arc: Grade B
A Bright Morning
Morning sunlight pierced through the curtains of Dzeth's room, gently warming his still-sleeping face. He slowly opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and rose from his bed. His footsteps were heavy but steady as he headed to the bathroom to freshen up. After showering, he made his way down the stairs to the kitchen, his hair still slightly damp.
Opening the refrigerator, he stared inside with a confused expression. "What should I eat this early…" he mumbled to himself. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
"What's wrong?"
Dzeth turned and saw Syafi leaning casually against the kitchen wall.
"Aren't you going to the Academy today?" Dzeth asked.
"Oh, I'm off today," Syafi replied with a small smile.
Dzeth sighed softly and resumed his search for food. Syafi stepped forward and pointed toward the table. "I already cooked some rice earlier."
Dzeth nodded with a small grin. "Oh, nice. I'm starving."
They ate in silence, the morning quiet and peaceful. A few minutes later, Syafi mentioned he was going out for a while. Dzeth nodded, still focused on his meal. Then, his phone buzzed.
[Notification: Hunter Mission – Grade B.
Team of six Grade B Hunters assigned to investigate cursed activity in Shizaku Cave. Depart immediately.]
Dzeth looked at the screen for a moment, eyes narrowing. "A Grade B mission? Huh… I guess this is where my new path begins."
-
At Shizaku Cave
Upon arriving outside the cave, Dzeth noticed five others already gathered. They all seemed fairly new, their faces showing a mix of eagerness and nervousness. One of them a tall blond guy with a confident smile stepped forward.
"I think I should lead this mission," he said loudly. "Who agrees?"
A few hands went up reluctantly, including Dzeth's not out of agreement, but more from a desire to avoid arguments.
Without wasting more time, they entered the cave. At first, the enemies they encountered were basic cursed beings typical training-level threats. The group managed to dispatch them easily, although their teamwork was clearly unrefined.
Things took a sudden turn as they moved deeper into a large chamber. The walls grew darker, the air heavier. Waiting ahead was a horde of Grade C Curses numbering in the dozens.
Screams erupted. Chaos followed. Two team members were already injured one in the shoulder, the other on the arm. Dzeth observed the panic around him, eyes sharp. He hesitated should he keep hiding his strength or step in?
"If I hold back… someone might die," he whispered.
Raising his hand, he muttered, "Exchange… Divine Summon."
A black mist surged behind Dzeth. Two Divine soldiers emerged from it, radiating terrifying power. In a flash, they charged forward and annihilated every Curse in their path.
The others stood frozen.
"He… he's Grade B?"
In less than a minute, the entire threat had been neutralized, leaving no trace of the once overwhelming horde.
-
Outside the Cave
Back outside, their instructor was already waiting. A man in his late 30s held a tablet, reviewing mission data.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Dzeth… you took down 90% of the total curses during this mission?"
Dzeth nodded quietly, not showing any pride. Suddenly, one of the teammates spoke up.
"He's strong, sir. We barely had a chance to help… But we're honestly thankful. If he hadn't stepped in, we might not have made it."
The instructor nodded. "You're impressive, Dzeth. So far, no one this month has achieved a mission-clear rate like that."
Dzeth offered a modest smile. Inside, though, he muttered:
"(Lethal threat? That was just basic-level curses…)"
-
Evening – City Streets
They were dismissed. As Dzeth walked through the city streets, his phone buzzed with messages from Hwang, Syiro, and Akanza.
"Dzeth, why didn't you come to class today?"
He replied, "Sorry… I've dropped to Grade B. I'm not in the same Grade S class as you guys anymore. I'm in the Grade B section now."
Their replies came fast.
"What? Dropped a Grade?"
Dzeth didn't reply. He just turned off his phone and slipped it into his pocket. Walking through a narrow alley lined with shops, he looked up at the reddish-orange evening sky.
"(I just realized… the stronger I become, the heavier the burden I carry. The more power I have, the more lives depend on me… and the more blood I'll have to witness.)"
He stopped in front of a shop window, his reflection staring back at him. His right hand clenched into a fist.
"(But… I have a purpose.)"
He closed his eyes briefly.
"(I can't stop now. I have to keep moving forward… for my family… for this world… for those who believe in me.)"
He opened his eyes. His gaze was calm but filled with determination.
"(I must keep moving forward.)"
To be continued...