[ Sunday, June 5th 2022 ]
[ 11:09 a.m ]
" What in the? " Aidan sits on his working chair, seeing the news right before the Tournament Day begins.
[ S-Rank Hunter Fubuki Yukino has been chosen as the new 1st Position. ]
" Lord Loki alongside the Hunter Association Leader, Hayden Wayne..., had collaborated to make a public announcement this day at 8 a.m. "
" As the two publically announce that the vacant seat of the 1st S-Rank Position will finally be taken, announcing to us that the seat had finally been selected its successor. " said the reporter as they told the journalist to give them more info regarding this.
" As you can all see, the revered god and rich mortal had made their statement on this day at 8 a.m. "
" Now in the Hunter Association Building, the new 1st S-Rank Hunter will show herself to the camera as she was given this position, and the new successor of this position is none other than the 4th S-Rank Hunter of Trinia, the Daughter of the Fubuki, the White Blizzard herself... "
" Fubuki Yukino. " said the journalists as the cameramen around immediately took pictures of the succession process they all took the shot as Lord Loki gave Yukino some weapons. Certain weapons.
[ Darksteel Armament: Shifting Hand ]
[ Divine Decimation Dagger ]
" My Lord, this is... " Yukino asks.
" This is the last weapon the 'First Hunter' ever hold... "
" Before he finally met his grave in the Dungeons, he passed these weapons to me to give them to his successor. "
" To you..., my dear 'White Blizzard'. "
" Use it now. " Loki tells Yukino to take hold of those weapons, equipping the 'Darksteel Armament' in her arms and holding the handle of the 'Divine Decimation' in her very arms.
" I felt..., nothing. "
" If the 'Dagger' is the 'First Hunter's weapon..., shouldn't at least this thing be filled with power? " Yukino asks Loki but Loki waves his hands, ordering the cameramen to take a photo, he even places his hands over Yukino, turning her around to see the camera.
" Smile for the camera... "
" Don't worry 'White Blizzard', this quick ceremony will surely raise the people's hope against the White Demon. "
" For the people finally had someone to lean on..., a 'Hero' chosen by the Gods, hehe... " Loki says the word, but suddenly Yukino feels a headache, a stream of memory suddenly comes, which sounds like.
" Grandma..., I wanna be a Hero... "
" Grandad, I... Hero... " Yukino could hear it, her head was aching again.
"( Is 'Shiro Oni' here? )" Yukino asks for this kind of headache* which is always present when the White Demon is around.
While inside her body, Lord Sal could sense the disturbance too, realizing what was going on.
" I see..., Ragna Kent. "
" After your First Contact, you slowly Awakened* her. "
" All of this, all of the conflict you did. "
" Now, more words will become her trigger..., I see now how you do it. " Sal says within his realm while outside, Yukino finally holds her headache while still maintaining a good face.
"( Those voices again? )"
"( Why does it have to happen on this Memorial Day of mine? Why? )"
"( I'm supposed to be happy..., but- )" Despite her being proud of her current achievements, something inside her told her that this 'achievement' of hers is just the beginning of something she will experience, something more...
...
( Hours Later. )
[ Hunter Association Meeting Room. ]
" We're short on Hunters, Lady Fubuki... " Mr. Hayden says in his chair while Lord Loki looks at the window behind him, seeing the view.
" The reason why we chose you..., is because. "
" You have no option left and I'm the only existing top choice you could ever have. " Yukino says this, she understands the answer.
" It makes sense you will use the 4th Position to lead the battle, whilst the 2nd Position will never be strong enough to put up a fight. "
" Besides, more S-Ranks had died before the Tournament started, so you need to re-evaluate their competencies, isn't that right? "
" Well, we need to choose their successors and in Trinia, we need to look more from the A-Ranks to fill the vacancies. "
" If they are competent enough..., which is also bad news... " Hayden tells her while shivering.
" That is? " Yukino asks as the room's door is being knocked.
" Come in. " Loki tells the guest to open it as the guest enters the room.
" You summoned me? " the guest asks, it was Aidan Adler, the new 1st A-Rank.
" Yes Aidan, take a seat. " Mr. Hayden offers Aidan one of the empty seats near Yukino where Aidan immediately sits and sees who is also here with him as a Guest.
" Yukino-Senpai? " Aidan calls her, immediately making Yukino confused.
" Pardon? " Yukino asks him back.
" Oh...! " Aidan quickly realized his mistake.
" Sumimasen, Yukino-Senpai! "
" My name is Aidan Adler, I'm your junior at Trinia's National School. "
" I often see you when I have to go to the Senior High's building with my friends during my Junior High days. " Aidan explains it.
" Oh, I see..., nice to meet you too..., Adler... " Yukino replied to him while still trying to remember which of her juniors Aidan was.
"( I swear I have a bad memory when remembering those from the Junior High... )"
"( Also, is it just me, or this guy's too young to be here, how old is he? )" Yukino wonders about Aidan's age after seeing him.
"( After all, I only went there just a few times, and not much I like to remember because of how unimportant the visit was... )"
"( The last thing I remember is that 'Ardan Incident'..., wait! )"
" Adler...? " Yukino says it.
" Are you happened to be- "
" Yes, Senpai, the 'Blue Blaze', Ardan Adler is a hateful cousin of mine. "
" You surely remembered saving me and my friend from his flames, did you not? " Aidan asks Yukino which makes her remember a bit about the moment he saves a blonde boy with glasses as she see him being protected with a barrier alongside a brown-haired boy who also wears glasses when she froze in the azure inferno.
" Ah yes..., you were actually with that friend of yours..., what's his name? " Yukino asks Aidan.
" Oh, it's Ragna..., Ragna Kent... "
" The 'Ungifted One'..., 'Andrew K.'s nephew..., remember? " Aidan asks while Yukino begins to have some headaches when hearing the name.
" Ragna... " the voice says it in her head.
" Wow, what a coincidence!? " Loki claps his hands when hearing the conversation.
" It seems calling you here was a great move, Aidan. " Loki tells him, making Aidan confused.
" Pardon me, Lord? "
" Of course, it's a great move... " Loki says it.
" To think you two will be so connected in the past is a great coincidence I never expected to happen, I like that. "
" Since you, Aidan, we're meant to collaborate with your Senpai here during the Tournament in the future... " Loki tells him.
" What? " Aidan asks in his surprise.
" But, I'm an A-Rank? " Aidan asks.
" Not anymore. " Mr. Hayden says as he shows a table he made, showing the new names for the Top Three S-Ranks.
[ 1st Position: Fubuki Yukino ]
[ 2nd Position: Liao Mei ]
[ 3rd Positon: Aidan Adler ]
" Wait, wait, Mr. Hayden! " Aidan tells him.
" Wasn't I being promoted to the First A-Rank Position, that was just weeks or months ago? " Aidan asks if this promotion was serious or just the higher-ups dumping the responsibility on him.
" Yes, it's true. " Loki adds it.
" But don't worry..., with the great responsibility you were given..., of course, you will also be given greater authority over it... "
" Right? " Loki asks as fire suddenly appears inside the room, showing a fiery figure that Aidan immediately recognizes, which is.
" That fire..., it can't be? " Aidan asks the fiery figure replied.
" It is..., son of Adler. "
" I am what you thought I am. "
[ Name: The Flames of Purifying and Healing, Divine Flame Lord, Agni ]
_________
Extra:
* headache....
Read Chapter 213: Volume 3 Extra Part 1.
* Awakened.
Read Aux Chapter: What is going on? Part 1.