Chapter 3: Chapter 3- Hunters
Chapter 3- Hunters
Walking down the stairs, Zen left the apartment complex and walked into the streets of the capital, heading to school. He walked through the tight alleys, ignoring the homeless people that riddled the streets and the heaps of trash thrown everywhere around him.
The sound of people yelling filled his ears. It was vulgar, sad, and in a way... familiar and nostalgic. This was where he grew up for almost 20 years of his life. Even if he hated every single second of that time, he still thrived and adapted to this harsh environment. So, when he came back to it after all these years, he felt that connection again.
Eventually, however, the scenery started to change as he walked into the main street. Suddenly, the city comes to life in a different way. Countless people walking left and right around him, going about their lives. Cars and other kinds of vehicles filled the streets. Everywhere he looked, there were shops, stores, and all kinds of local businesses. Above were billboards and ads, introducing all kinds of goods to the masses.
The neon lights and the flashy colors of this city were one of its biggest features. It was said that there is no night in Sera, as it is always as bright as ever.
However, what caught Zen’s attention almost immediately weren’t the products, but rather... The people holding those products.
Extremely good-looking men and women were being advertised everywhere around him. They all had an immense presence and an almost mystical feeling to them.
Those were the Hunters. People gifted with supernatural abilities that allow them to fight monsters on equal grounds and defeat them.
’In this world... Monsters are the biggest enemy to humanity. They infest almost 80% of the world, and they’re an ever-evolving, ever-hostile entity that tries to end our race. That is why these Hunters are considered Gods amongst men, being revered by everyone, poor or wealthy.’
The Hunters weren’t just fighters; they were symbols of humanity’s ability to fight against all threats. They represented how strong and resilient the human race is.
’Or so were they advertised to the people.’ Zen frowned. ’In reality, most of these hunters are money-hungry, power-hungry scums who do not care about human lives. All they care about is their own personal glory.’
Looking around him, Zen saw several familiar faces. Hunters he had met across his journey, and unlike their fans, he knew who they truly were more than anyone else.
Those smiles, those flashy looks... It made him sick to his stomach.
’I wish I knew all of this the first time around... Had I been smart about it, I would’ve never let these demons destroy my life.’
Just remembering all of that made him want to vomit. But he ignored it all with a straight face and continued walking. He was going to meet these people again soon, and this time, it was going to be completely different.
After walking for 10 minutes, Zen finally emerged from the street and saw his high school in the distance. Zen was attending Soul Hearts High School, a rather decent institution built by a Hunter with the nickname ’Soul Hearts’ as a part of a ’charity’ project to improve the slums. Only the best of the best students in the slums attend this school, as it requires an insanely high score in entrance tests. Zen had no problem acing all those tests simply because he remembered everything he saw.
Today, however, the school was far more active than ever. Parents and students alike gathered around it with a large sign hanging above the gates.
’Awakening Ceremony’ in bold letters. The atmosphere was that of worry and excitement. Walking through the massive crowds, all Zen could see were tense looks and nervous eyes. Everyone knew that this was a crucial day in their lives.
If they Awaken and become Hunters, their lives are bound to change forever. They would be set for life, and be seen as true heroes.
"Just make sure you remain focused and do what they ask, ok? I heard that if you’re really focused, your chances increase." One parent said to their child while the boy nervously nodded.
"Here, drink some juice and make sure to remain calm." Another handed their kid something to drink. One could see that the parents were desperate for their children to awaken.
Zen wasn’t nervous, nor did he care. In the end, he knew the outcome, and since he knew it, everything else was irrelevant. Eventually, he pushed his way through and walked into the school grounds. There were even more people inside, gathered in groups.
"I need to head to the gymnasium first." He muttered as he turned around to walk back. However, that was when he noticed several eyes looking at him. They were mainly girls.
"Good morning, Zen~"
Before he could even react, they had already gathered around him. Their eyes filled with admiration.
"How are you? Are you excited for today?"
"Of course he is, Mia. I’m sure Zen will awaken today."
"Ehhh, I know too~"
"You can’t be this handsome and not be chosen."
Hearing the blatantly flirty lines, Zen fought to suppress his sigh. This was something he had to deal with as a kid and even after he became a hunter. His looks were always a point of interest, especially for women.
He knew that he was very good-looking, but it never truly changed anything about his life. He was still the same average boy, even if popular girls were interested in him.
"Yeah, I’m a bit excited." Zen immediately switched to his personality at the time, the shy, kind, and friendly one. "Are you girls ready too?"
"Ehhh, I’m so worried I won’t awaken, Zen." One of them said as she rolled her finger around a strand of her hair.
"I’m also stressed, Zen. Can I hold your arm~"
"Shush, you can’t do that!"
"I can do whatever I want!"
The girls kept arguing back and forth, so Zen simply turned around and left. He was not interested in their conversation.
’Kids were really that annoying at the time, huh?’ He thought to himself as he disappeared into the crowd. Eyes kept following him, some were of admiration, others of envy. Zen was considerably popular, and had he been athletic and less timid, he would’ve been even more popular.
Eventually, he reached the doors to the gymnasium, where students were already taking their seats before the Awakening ceremony began. It was oddly quiet inside as if the reality had finally weighed on them. It was now or never.
You can only awaken as a Hunter from the age of 16 to the age of 20. The older you are, the rarer it is to Awaken. It was even said that mathematically, if you don’t Awaken at the age of 16, your chances are cut by half every single year. However, during that period of time, you can only do the test once a year.
So, while it wasn’t completely impossible, today was possibly their only chance. Zen walked to an empty seat and sat down.
’Everything seems as I recall it so far. Nothing is out of the ordinary.’ He thought to himself. ’These are good signs... That also means...’
Zen’s eyes slowly wandered around, as if he were looking for someone. His eyes flashed with emotions for a second before he shook his head. ’I can’t let my emotions take control. She doesn’t know me anymore. We are now strangers.’
The person he was looking for was the most important one in his entire life. The person he loved and adored the most, and the one who stood by his side through thick and thin... His wife.
She was one of the students in the school, and ironically, her existence in that school was a miracle in and of itself. Someone of her caliber and status should never be attending that kind of school. Yet, for a reason only he knew, she was attending that school.
’She isn’t here yet.’ He thought. ’In any case, I don’t know if I should talk to her now or wait for when it actually happened... 5 years from now.’
Just saying those words squeezed his heart greatly. He yearned for her more than anything; he wanted to hug her, kiss her, and apologize for all his mistakes. But, to her, he was now merely a stranger, so none of that is possible.
Still... The desire to just walk up to her was stronger than ever.
’If I do it now, wouldn’t that change the course of the future?’ He frowned. ’Butterfly effect its called? A small change could create a massive ripple in the future.’
It felt like a huge dilemma. On the one hand, Zen wanted everything to go as planned so he could keep that advantage, but at the same time... If he kept everything going as it had happened before... Wouldn’t that defeat the point of why he was trying again?
He can’t just let things go the same way. He had to make a change... A very big change.
