Flashback

  It all started the night Kelix first awakened his hunter power.

  Inside the academy, Lucy overheard a conversation between Eden and Arian.

  “That aura…” Arian said quietly.

  “It’s been years since we’ve felt something this powerful.”

  Eden looked serious.

  “You have to find out whose awakening this is.”

  Lucy stayed silent in the shadows, listening.

  Later that same night, every hunter felt the sudden surge of power.

  Lucy felt it too.

  She followed the direction of the aura and discovered that it came from Kelix.

  At that time, Kelix had just lost his parents and had escaped from the hospital.

  He was heading back to his home, desperate to find answers.

  Lucy knew that Eden had also sensed the power and would eventually find Kelix.

  So she decided to reach him first.

  On the road leading to his house, she finally met him.

  Lucy offered her help.

  “I can help you find your parents,” she said.

  But Kelix wasn’t in a state where he could trust anyone.

  He refused her offer and walked away.

  Later, when he joined the academy, he slowly discovered that the mysterious person who had been secretly helping him—giving him books, explaining the rules, and guiding him—was actually Lucy in disguise.

  Only then did he finally accept her help.

  And from that moment…

  they started working together.

  “I didn’t want to owe anyone,” Kelix said. “I know you have a motive. That’s the only reason you’re helping me. You even went against your own teacher to do it.”

  Lucy looked at him calmly.

  “You’re right,” she said. “I am helping you because I have a motive.”

  She paused for a moment.

  “And I knew you would understand… because we’re both in the same situation.”

  Lucy then told him about her motive and proposed a deal.

  Kelix listened silently.

  Finally, he nodded.

  “Alright. Deal.”

  He looked at her seriously.

  “I understand how it feels. I’ll help you.”

  Present Time

  After finishing his conversation with Lucy, Kelix headed to the place where his father had died.

  Over the years, the area around it had changed. Buildings had been constructed, and the town had developed.

  But the mountain remained almost the same.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  It was still a popular place for trekking.

  Kelix climbed up the trail and eventually reached the cave.

  Several people were already there—tourists resting, hikers taking photos, and others simply enjoying the view.

  Everything looked normal.

  Too normal.

  Kelix searched the area carefully, but there was nothing suspicious.

  His frustration slowly started to grow.

  Something should be here… he thought.

  Then where is it?

  How is this possible? Kelix thought.

  After so many attempts… there’s nothing here.

  He clenched his fists in frustration.

  No… there has to be something.

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.

  Calm down. I can’t let my emotions take over right now.

  Then suddenly a thought crossed his mind.

  “Huh… right. Maybe that’s possible.”

  Kelix looked around one last time before turning back.

  “I’ll leave for now.”

  He walked down the mountain and decided to wait until night.

  That night, Kelix returned.

  Climbing the mountain after dark was strictly prohibited. All trekkers and visitors were required to come down before sunset.

  A watchman stayed near the entrance to make sure no one went up.

  There were also officers patrolling the mountain paths.

  But this time, the place was almost empty.

  Kelix saw his chance.

  Moving carefully through the shadows, he slipped past the guards’ watchful eyes—silent, unseen, and undetected.

  Now the mountain was his to search.

  Kelix slipped back into the cave.

  No one noticed him.

  The cave was quiet, with only the faint sound of wind moving through the rocks.

  Kelix began carefully examining the area.

  There has to be something here, he thought.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  Using his power, he focused his senses and tried to feel any unusual presence around him.

  For a moment, there was nothing.

  Then—

  Footsteps.

  Faint sounds coming from somewhere below.

  Kelix slowly opened his eyes.

  I knew it…

  This place was already involved in a case before. That’s why the police never examined it properly.

  No one wants to attract attention to a location where a crime has already happened.

  And even if someone did try to investigate… it would be impossible.

  Every day this place is crowded with trekkers and tourists.

  People come here for trekking, taking photos, and resting in the cave.

  No one would ever suspect something hidden here.

  Kelix looked deeper into the darkness of the cave.

  A perfect place to hide something.

  Kelix knelt down and touched the ground.

  Slowly, he placed his ear against the cold stone floor of the cave, listening carefully.

  Faint footsteps echoed from somewhere beneath the ground.

  So there really is something down there…

  Kelix began moving slowly across the cave floor, trying to find a spot where no sound came from below.

  If he broke the ground directly above them, he might alert whoever was underneath.

  After a few moments, he finally found it—a silent patch of ground.

  Kelix quietly left the cave and moved a little distance away.

  He placed his hand on the ground.

  Then—

  Boom.

  With a powerful punch, he shattered the earth and created a hole large enough to enter.

  Kelix dropped inside.

  He had landed in a narrow underground path.

  It was the left pathway leading into the hidden cave system.

  No one was there at first.

  But farther ahead, he could see guards standing watch.

  Kelix moved quickly and silently.

  Within seconds, he knocked them out before they could make a sound.

  Then he activated the magic ring.

  His appearance slowly changed until he looked exactly like one of the guards.

  Kelix exhaled quietly.

  Thank God I borrowed Lucy’s ring.

  And the potion that hides a hunter’s scent.

  He looked deeper into the underground passage.

  My suspicion was right…

  This place is the perfect hiding spot.

  Kelix moved deeper into the underground area.

  Soon, the narrow passage opened into a large room.

  It looked like a hidden laboratory.

  Huge glass tubes stood in rows across the room, filled with strange liquid.

  Inside them…

  RS creatures.

  Kelix’s eyes narrowed.

  What…?

  He focused his senses again.

  Along with the RS energy, he could also feel faint human energy.

  Humans too…?

  What are they actually doing here?

  Kelix hid his reaction and continued walking like one of the guards.

  Nearby, a man wearing a lab coat was moving around the room, checking machines and giving instructions to the workers.

  He looked like the lab supervisor.

  Kelix approached him calmly.

  “Excuse me, sir,” Kelix said.

  The supervisor turned toward him.

  “What is it?”

  “Well, sir,” Kelix replied, keeping his voice steady, “there seems to be a problem above ground.”

  “What happened?”

  “There’s a hole in the ground near the cave entrance. We’re not sure how it suddenly appeared.”

  “So we thought it would be better to inform you and stay alert.”

  “For now, I’ll guard this area while another guard checks the situation and fills the hole.”

  The supervisor nodded.

  “Alright. Good thinking.”

  “Well, there’s no way a normal human could come here,” the supervisor said coldly. “Just make sure the hole is covered quickly. And if it is a human… make sure he doesn’t leave.”

  “Yes, sir,” Kelix replied.

  The supervisor walked away.

  That went smoothly, Kelix thought.

  Now I need to understand what they’re doing here.

  He looked around the lab again.

  Rows of giant tubes filled with strange liquid.

  Inside them were RS creatures, floating motionless.

  But how are they creating them?

  And why are there traces of human energy here…?

  “Hey, you! Come here!”

  Kelix quickly turned.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Go help them with taking the blood.”

  Kelix hesitated for a moment.

  “Me? But sir, I’m a guard.”

  The supervisor glared at him impatiently.

  “Just do as I say.”

  Kelix nodded.

  “Yes, sir.”

  But inside his mind, a new thought appeared.

  Blood?

  What exactly are they doing here…?

  Well… that’s exactly what I wanted, Kelix thought.

  If he gives me a task, I can see how this place actually works.

  Kelix followed the workers deeper into the laboratory.

  There were only a few human workers, but the place was filled with huge machines and complex equipment.

  The laboratory was massive.

  Soon they stopped in front of a large metal door.

  One of the workers scanned his ID card, and the door slowly opened.

  Inside, Kelix saw something disturbing.

  There were many humans sitting in rows.

  Some looked weak, others looked unconscious.

  The workers began drawing blood from them.

  The blood was collected in containers and carried to another section of the room.

  Kelix watched carefully.

  The blood was poured into a machine that connected directly to the giant tubes in the laboratory.

  Then something unbelievable happened.

  From a single drop of blood, the machine began creating more blood—filling an entire tube.

  Slowly, the blood started forming a human-shaped body inside the tube.

  At first, it was hollow—just a shape made of blood.

  Then the machine began processing the DNA.

  Little by little, the body developed skin.

  Soon it looked exactly like a real human body.

  Kelix stared in shock.

  They’re creating RS… from human blood.

  But something still didn’t make sense.

  If they’re only using human blood… then why do I sense magic from them?

  Where is that power coming from?

  Just then, a man walked into the room.

  He stood in front of the main machine.

  Without saying anything, he placed his hand on it.

  Then he cast a spell.

  A surge of magical energy flowed from his hand into the machine.

  The machines hummed loudly.

  The energy spread through the system and into the tubes.

  The bodies inside began to react.

  In a matter of seconds…

  the RS were complete.

  Kelix’s eyes widened.

  So that’s it…

  They’re combining science… with magic.