Chapter 08

“So, where exactly are we going? Mr. Goto looked a little concerned,” Kaede mused, watching the empty streets blur past as Kanae drove.

“Who knows how the Guild Master thinks?” Kanae replied with a smirk. “I’m taking you to a B-Rank Gate.”

Kaede perked up. “Oh? So soon? Aren’t there procedures… rules?”

Kanae let out a laugh. “Of course there are. But you’re an S-Rank Hunter now, rules don’t apply to us.”

Kaede grinned. “That sounds so badass. But why a B-Rank Gate? Isn’t that too low for us?”

Kanae chuckled. “Do you know how many Gates appear daily across Japan?”

Kaede shook her head.

“About a hundred and thirty,” Kanae answered, her expression darkening slightly.

Kaede’s eyes widened. “That many?”

Kanae nodded. “Most of them are E to D-Rank, with C, B, and A-Rank Gates being less frequent. But if Hunters only tackled Gates at their level, how many innocent people would die from dungeon breaks?”

Kaede’s expression grew serious.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re S-Rank,” Kanae continued. “If a Gate is becoming too dangerous to leave open, or if it passes the three-day mark, it must be cleared, at all costs. Even if it means calling in an S-Rank Hunter.”

Kaede nodded, the weight of her new role settling in. “I think I get it now.”

“Good.” Kanae smiled before shifting gears. “I asked around and found a dungeon that fits the specs for your training.”

Kaede blinked. “Training?”

Kanae smirked. “Yeah. You might just be the most durable person I’ve ever met, but you’re slow, even slower than A-Ranks.” She glanced at Kaede. “We’re going to fix that. You’re gonna use all of your S-Rank power.”

---

By the time Kaede and Kanae arrived at the glowing blue Gate, a group of Hunters was already gathered in front of it.

Kaede quickly counted, eleven in total.

She walked alongside her sister, her gaze sweeping over the group. Some were engaged in light conversation, while others quietly checked their gear.

"Ah, you made it. I was starting to think you'd be a no-show," a tall, dark-skinned woman with brown hair remarked as Kanae approached.

Kanae smirked. "Hey, Korra. Say hi to my sister. She’s the one I told you about."

Korra tilted her head slightly, shifting her gaze to Kaede. "Sup. So you reawakened yesterday, huh?"

Kaede nodded. "Hi! I'm Mapl... uh, Kaede. Kaede. And yep, I reawakened. I haven't taken the reassessment tests yet, but everyone seems to think I’m S-Rank now, so I’m here to make sure I actually deserve the title."

Korra grinned. "Alright, girl's got spunk. I'm Korra, A-Rank Battle Mage. Nice to meet you." She extended a hand.

Kaede took it, shaking firmly. "Likewise. It’s nice to meet you too."

---

Would you like to add Korra Kugisaki to your party?

||Yes||No||

Party members: 1/9

---

Kaede blinked. ‘Huh? No.’ She answered internally, dismissing the prompt.

Her thoughts raced. ‘It seems I can only add nine members to my party… And I already added Vivi back in the dungeon. She even had a level, which means my party members can level up too. I'll have to keep an eye out for unique Hunters, just like Maple Tree.’

She glanced at the other Hunters. They were murmuring among themselves, their focus shifting toward Kanae. It wasn’t every day an S-Rank Hunter raided a Gate alongside them.

Kaede frowned slightly. "When I take my reassessment test, everyone will know I reawakened."

A firm yet reassuring hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see Korra standing behind her.

"Don't worry about it," Korra said. "You'll get used to the attention. Everyone does."

Kaede chuckled nervously. "Sure… I guess." She sighed inwardly.

‘Even in the game, Maple always stood out… and all she did was play normally.’

Once everyone was ready, they stepped through the gate.

Kanae was the first to enter, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings as the dungeon materialized around them. The interior was a vast, dimly lit cave, its jagged stone walls slick with moisture. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like fangs, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern.

Kaede followed close behind, her boots crunching against the damp ground as the rest of the group emerged. She could already see her breath before her. 'It's cold.'

Korra took a deep breath and turned to the team. “Alright, everyone, form up! Tanks in front, healers and mages in the middle. Fighters, you know your positions.” She paused, then glanced at Kanae with a smirk. “And you, Kanae, you’ll bring up the rear.”

Kanae shrugged, a relaxed smile on her face. “Fine by me.” With a practiced motion, she unsheathed her twin katanas, the polished steel gleaming in the dim light.

Kaede took her place among the group, feeling a surge of anticipation. This was her first real raid since her reawakening. She clenched her fists, holding her black shield tightly.

As the team advanced deeper into the cavern, the air grew colder. A thin layer of frost coated the jagged stone walls, and an eerie stillness settled over the group. The only sounds were the occasional drip of water and the crunch of boots against ice-crusted rock.

Kaede tightened her grip on her shield, her instincts on high alert. Already, something felt… off. Looks like the monsters had arrived.

Korra noticed it too. "Keep your eyes open," she muttered. "They're already watching us." Small sparks raced down her arms.

The mages readied their staffs, and the fighters shifted into defensive stances. Kanae, at the rear, remained relaxed but alert, her katanas held loosely at her sides.

Then, the first scream tore through the cavern.

A hunter at the front, a swordsman, barely had time to react before a blur of motion slammed into him, knocking him off his feet. Blood sprayed against the ice-covered walls as sharp claws tore into his armor, shredding it like paper.

"Contact!" one of the tanks shouted, raising his shield just in time to block a second strike.

Kaede’s eyes darted toward the attacker, a gaunt, emaciated creature with elongated limbs and hollow, glowing white eyes. Its skin was stretched taut over its bones, and its mouth, lined with jagged teeth, twisted into a hungry snarl.

A wendigo.

More of them emerged from the shadows, their movements unnaturally fast. They crawled along the walls and ceiling, their long fingers gripping the stone with clawed hands. The air filled with a chorus of guttural hisses and chittering laughter.

Kaede barely had time to react before one lunged at her, a blur of motion. She raised her shield on instinct, BASH! The impact sent the creature flying backward, slamming it into the cavern wall with a sickening crunch.

Another wendigo came from her left. This time, she was ready. Devour activated the moment it struck her, and the creature’s claws sank into her arm… only for its flesh to begin dissolving as the skill took effect. It let out a wailing shriek, thrashing as its arm melted away, leaving only bone.

Kaede pushed forward, slamming her shield into its skull, CRACK!, before stomping down hard on its twitching body.

Around her, the battle erupted into chaos.

Korra’s hands crackled with blue lightning as she unleashed a barrage of lightning from her two fingers, striking one wendigo mid-air and sending it convulsing to the ground. The tanks held their formation, shields bracing against the relentless assault. The fighters struggled to keep up, the creatures were too fast.

Kanae, despite being at the rear, moved like a shadow. The moment a wendigo lunged at her, she twisted, dodging with ease before her twin katanas flashed. SHNK! The monster’s head separated from its body before it even realized it had been cut.

But more were coming.

Kaede’s heart pounded. She was getting excited.

A wendigo darted toward her, she tried to swing, but it was too quick. Its claws raked against her side, but her insane durability kept it from doing real damage.

Still, she couldn’t just let herself get hit over and over.

Kanae’s words echoed in her mind.

"You're slow. We’re gonna fix that."

Kaede clenched her fists. 'Fine. Let’s fix it.'

From the ceiling, a wendigo pounced.

Kaede barely had time to react before she felt the heavy thud of its body landing atop her shield. But the weight vanished almost immediately.

Her eyes widened. Too light.

A sharp pain, no, just pressure, clamped around her neck.

The wendigo had used her shield as a foothold, bouncing off the wall to strike from behind. Its jagged teeth clamped down, but they barely even scratched her skin. Then, SHLCK!, the monster’s head vanished, dissolving as Devour took effect.

Kaede exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders. 'I could blast them all away with Hydra or Machine God… but Kanae wants me to fight with only my physical strength in this dungeon. And that’s exactly what I’ll do.'

She swung her shield at another approaching wendigo, but it ducked back, dodging the strike effortlessly.

Kaede grimaced. 'Fast little bastard.'

Adjusting her stance, she reached for her dagger, gripping the hilt tightly as she held her shield in one hand. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Come on then."

The wendigo cocked its head as if it understood the taunt. Then, in a blur of motion, it lunged.

Kaede barely had time to blink before it impacted her shield.

SLAM!

The creature latched onto the metal, its clawed fingers digging into the edges as it climbed, scrambling over the surface, its elongated head stretching over the top to bite at her face.

SHNK!

Kaede didn’t hesitate. She drove her dagger up into its gaping maw, the blade piercing straight through the roof of its mouth and out the back of its skull.

---

You have leveled up.

---

Kaede smirked. ‘That’s two stat points. Into agility they go.’

A rush of energy coursed through her, subtle but noticeable. Her movements felt a fraction sharper, her reflexes just a little quicker.

Good. But not good enough.

Another wendigo lunged. Kaede swung her shield, but again, it dodged, slipping inside her guard with unnatural grace. Its claws raked across her chest. She barely felt the attack, but the sheer speed of it sent a jolt of frustration through her. She stabbed her dagger.

Before she could strike back, the wendigo grabbed her dagger-wielding hand, using it as leverage to swing itself upward. In an instant, it was crouched atop her outstretched arm, its hollow white eyes boring into hers.

Damn it, still not fast enough.

Kaede activated Devour.

The wendigo yelped as its legs vanished. Its torso, now unsupported, collapsed onto her hand, before its middle section vanished as well, splitting the monster in half.

Kaede let out a slow breath.

Around her, the cavern had gone eerily silent. The others had finished off the remaining wendigos.

The battle was over.

"Alright, everyone, gather up!" Korra's voice rang out, firm and commanding. "Healers, get to work. Fighters, check your equipment, if you need a mana potion, take it now."

The group moved swiftly, tending to minor injuries and checking their gear. A few Hunters downed mana potions, the glass vials clinking as they replenished their reserves.

Kanae approached Kaede, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on her face. "So, how was it? Fighting something faster than you?"

Kaede exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips. "A little frustrating… but I think I managed."

Kanae raised an eyebrow. "Really? Are you sure?" She leaned in slightly. "Because I counted twelve times you got hit without even realizing it."

Kaede winced. "Twelve?"

Kanae chuckled. "Your defense is insane. Most Hunters would be staggering from wounds, but you barely noticed. Impressive, but also a problem."

Kaede groaned, rolling her shoulders. "I'm trying, okay? I will get faster. That’s a certainty."

Kanae nodded. "That’s the spirit. But if you recall, I did promise to show you how to use your power properly."

Kaede's eyes narrowed. "I'm listening."

Kanae took a step back, crossing her arms as she explained.

"As you’re aware, a Hunter is basically a human who awakened due to possessing mana. That mana naturally strengthens our bodies, enhancing speed, power, reflexes. Mages channel it into spells, while close-combat types use it for raw enhancement." She glanced at Kaede. "The higher a Hunter's rank, the more mana they have. Sometimes, we even end up with excess mana, nothing immeasurable, but a surplus."

Kaede nodded, absorbing the information.

Kanae continued. "That extra mana… most Hunters don't know how to use it efficiently. But if you can learn to manipulate it, to refine and focus it, you can push beyond your limits. An assassin can make themselves faster, a fighter can make themselves stronger, a tank can make themselves tougher. You can shape that energy however you need."

Kaede’s eyes lit up with understanding. "Just like my Reinforcement skill…"

Kanae grinned. "Exactly. But instead of relying on the system to activate it for you, you take control. No skill activation, just you and your mana."

Kaede exhaled, rolling her shoulders. She closed her eyes, recalling the sensation of her D-Rank Reinforcement skill. The way it coursed through her body, hardening her muscles, making her feel sturdier.

But this time, she didn't activate the skill.

Instead, she reached inside, grasping at her mana, not just the surface flow, but something deeper, something she could barely perceive. Something, that was most definitely, not mana.

She took a breath.

And then, she pulled.