The young boy, Noah, didn’t move. He simply stared at the incoming mace with hollow, defeated eyes. "I’m sorry... Father. I tried. But no one would believe me... And I’m not strong enough to come save you either..." He murmured, his voice so faint it was barely audible even to himself.

Jasper burst forward toward Noah, ready to tear the humanoid boar apart with his bare hands. But the distance... It was too great.

All he could do was watch as the spiked mace cut through the air, closing in.

Just when Jasper thought it was over...

Just when Noah closed his eyes and accepted his fate...

Something happened.

A figure dropped from above. Both legs slammed into the boar’s chest in a crushing double kick. The beast staggered backward, its body dragged along with the force, the mace veering off course.

From afar, Jasper exhaled sharply in relief but pushed his speed even further.

The two female hunters and the man fighting beside Noah also felt the tension fading away. They had wanted to reach him but they were completely tied down. For a moment, they had truly believed Noah was dead.

But then... Someone had arrived.

The figure flipped once in midair and landed lightly on the ground.

Leon.

"Damn... I thought I could take it down in one hit now that I’m at least an E-class knight," he muttered casually. "Guess I overestimated myself."

His voice snapped Noah out of his daze. The boy’s eyes widened. "Monster... you can talk?"

Leon blinked. He glanced over his right shoulder. Then his left. Then back at Noah.

"Me?" he pointed at himself, stunned. "You’re calling me a monster?"

Instead of answering, Noah scrambled backward on the ground. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Leon frowned, then let out a short laugh.

"What the hell? Aren’t you supposed to say something like ’thank you for saving my life’? Show a little gratitude?"

Before Noah could respond.... The boar roared and hurled its mace again.

This time... At Leon.

Leon flipped into the air without even looking back. "System... sword," he whispered, low enough for only himself to hear. A hilt materialized out of thin air — or at least, that’s how it appeared to others.

Leon grabbed it mid-motion and shot forward. The boar swung again.

Leon ducked. Slipped past the chain and closed the distance in an instant. He slashed. A narrow gap between the creature’s armor. His blade slid through it. A spray of dark, foul blood burst out.

Without stopping... Leon thrust upward.

The tip of his sword found another opening and pierced straight through the boar’s chin.

The creature froze.

Leon yanked his blade free.

The massive body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Dead.

Jasper finally arrived. Without slowing down, he rushed straight toward Noah, but as he passed, his gaze briefly flicked toward Leon from the corner of his eye.

"Noah. Are you alright?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

Noah said nothing. He only lowered his head. Jasper let out a quiet sigh. "How many times have I told you not to act recklessly, Noah? Why won’t you listen to me?"

Noah’s head snapped up, his eyes brimming with tears. "And why won’t you believe me? Father is in there! We have to save him!" he shouted.

Jasper fell silent for a moment... then exhaled. "Meredith, take him to safety." The girl in the witch hat had just arrived when he gave the order. "Yes, Guild Master." The other two hunters had already finished off the remaining monsters and also regrouped.

Noah didn’t argue anymore.

Jasper then turned to Leon. "Thank you, young man. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, my brother would’ve been in danger."

He extended his hand for a handshake.

"I just did what I had to. Nothing special," Leon replied and returned the gesture, trying to sound calm, but his heart was pounding.

After all... this was an S-class hunter.

Someone he could only admire from afar.

"I’d like to talk more," Jasper said, "but my guild needs me right now. Get to safety first."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and dashed back into the battlefield.

The monsters were still pouring out of the gate without end. Leon watched his retreating figure. "My system... can it make me as strong as him someday?" he murmured.

A hand suddenly clapped onto his shoulder.

"Thanks, buddy. We almost thought we lost Noah," the male hunter said with a grin. The two female hunters helped Noah to his feet. Their voices echoed behind the male hunter.

"I’m glad I could help," Leon replied.

"By the way, what’s your name? Which guild are you from?" the man asked. "That ability of yours... It’s impressive. Summoning magic is pretty rare."

"Summoning magic?" Leon frowned slightly, confused. Then realization hit. "Oh... right. It’s not that advanced. I can just summon a few weapons, that’s all."

"No, no. You were great out there. With some training, you could go far."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

The man suddenly tilted his head. "By the way... what’s with that look?"

"What look?"

"Your face. Your clothes. And, uh... don’t take this the wrong way, but... you smell pretty bad."

"What?"

Leon looked down at himself. Blood and thick, pus-like fluid covered his entire body.

Now that he noticed it, a foul stench rose from him.

He glanced at Noah. "So that’s why... that’s why he called me a mon..." He started speaking but then suddenly froze. Something felt wrong.

The space behind the two female hunters, where they were helping Noah began to distort.

Leon’s eyes snapped toward it instantly.

"Watch out!" he shouted.

The air tore apart. A rift split open and rapidly expanded into a gate. Lightning crackled across its surface, its interior pitch-black and impossible to see through.

The two female hunters turned at Leon’s warning. They tried to push Noah away...

But it was too late. The gate slid forward.

It swallowed the two women whole.

Then Noah. "Wai...!" he shouted but his voice vanished with him. The male hunter and Leon reacted instinctively, trying to leap away...

But the gate continued ahead and consumed them both.

Right after that, the gate disappeared as if it had never existed.

Silence. Absolute silence.