James got up in the morning to the sound of the birds chirping and the sun shining in through the window .
He soon heard footsteps coming towards the room and then miss Mary came running in ." James you're going to be late for the ceremony, I've been calling you for an hour already get up ,get ready and run to the town square " she said. James hurriedly came to his senses and immediately rushed to wash up and bolted out of the door , while she called out from behind "good luck for the ceremony ", as she saw him running into the distance.
As james made his way towards the town square . The streets were eerily empty . But as he got closer , he saw a sea of people –hundreds, maybe more–gathered around a towering violet crystal, its surface covered in intricate markings. He made his way through the crowd which was murmuring in hushed tones, with crystal flashing faintly with different colours.
Towards the center of the crowd, a dozen or so youths huddled together, chatting amongst themselves. As James approached , they glanced at him–just for a moment–before turning away, as if he were invisible.
A sharp crack of a whip echoed through the air . A luxurious carriage barreled down the street , its polished frame caught the light and its ornate carvings gleamed under the sun. The crowd parted without hesitation, making way as it thundered past.
Then, with a sudden jolt , it came to a halt.
The door swung open . A boy dressed in navy blue stepped down, his movements measured and deliberate . Behind him two muscular men followed, their presence imposing. Decked in gleaming armor that caught the sunlight , the two men strode forward , their large swords strapped to their backs like silent warnings. The air grew heavy with the metallic scent of blood as the men approached. One of them stepped foward , his sword drawn, the blade catching the light as its hovered inches from James . His voice was cold and commanding as he growled , " Boy do you have a death wish ? Blocking the mayor's son like that –get out of the way". " But I was here first " , James said , his voice firm. "He can stand somewhere else if he wants ".
The crowd fell into a deathly silence. Every head turned , eyes fixed on the unfolding commotion . One of the guards flew into a rage,his voice booming . "How dare you speak of the young master with such insolence!" he bellowed. At the same time , the boy's expression stiffened,his eyes darkening ever so slightly.
A hushed murmur rippled through the crowd ." This boy is asking for death" , someone whispered." Young master Leon is is said to have a bad temper– he'll kill anyone who slights him. With his father as the mayor, and the only Level 15 hunter in town, he's grown truly arrogant ,acting however he pleases. No one dares to touch him ". Someone in the crowd whispered hurriedly, their voice trembling. " Be quiet, or you'll be the one getting killed if he hears you". Leon turned to james, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Kneel and apologize for your insolence," he commanded, his voice laced with disdain. "I might spare you ...or else ".James frowned,but before he could respond, a figure in black robes descended from the skies . And landed gracefully at the base of the towering crystal , his presence commanding and unsettling . An invisible pressure radiated from him , settling over the crowd like an unspoken command. The restless murmurs died down in an instant. Seeing that all eyes were on him , he spoke , his voice calm yet absolute .
"I am the examiner sent by the academic federation to oversee the awakening ceremony, which will commence shortly . But before that, there are matters to discuss –so pay attention. I will not be repeating myself." The crowd watched him with rapt attention as he continued ," . After you awaken, you will be able to absorb energy from monster cores –the concentrated life essence of beasts . The higher the rank of the crystal, the more concentrated the essence. However , if you attempt to absorb energy from a crystal beyond your rank , exercise caution–as you might explode and die .To aid your journey, you will receive a basic cultivation technique, along with armor and weapons suited to your class . These can be upgraded as you rise in rank. Additionally, each of you will be granted a common–ranked crystal card containing 100 credits . The cards are ranked in this manner: Common –> Bronze –> Silver –> Gold –> Diamond –> Platinum. This is the official currency of hunters, established by the Royal Parliament. The rest , you will experience for yourselves as you set out on your journey."
He cleared his throat , his voice steady as he addressed the crowd. "Now then , all those who have reached fifteen years of age–step forward. The ceremony is about to begin.