At the same time, somewhere on earth, news about seven new SS rank licensed ethereal hunters took the world by storm, as their unparalleled skills and abilities surpassed all previous records. The global ethereal hunting community was abuzz with excitement and anticipation for what these powerful hunters would accomplish. The seven haven't even stepped out of the Ethereal Association Assessment build. A dozen guilds were already flocking the area, wanting to get the chance to hire even just one of the new SS rank hunters. The Ethereal Association was forced to lock the entrance as news reporters and guild representatives were forcing themselves to meet the seven. They were saddened when the Silver Rank Ethereal slipped away from them.
Signing the white haired devil could propel their guild to new heights of success and recognition in the hunter community. The Ethereal Association knew they had to act quickly to prevent chaos and maintain order in the bustling area.
A conference was provided as new reporters determined that they would gain detail on these huge unprecedented events. The seven new SS Rank Ethereals were seated and waiting. Reporters all over the world were setting up their cameras and preparing to broadcast this to all the viewers when a few well-established establish Guilds entered and forced their way to personally invite these unaffiliated Ethereals, hoping to sign under their guild name.
The Ethereal Association personnel conducted safety and personal privacy procedures to ensure the seven were protected from any potential threats, both physically and socially, or any form of disruption during the event. The tension in the room was obvious as everyone awaited the new SS Rank Ethereals' decisions on which guilds they would align themselves with.
A table was provided to the top guild representatives to give them the opportunity to talk to them and hear their interests, and hopefully they could offer them a reasonable partnership that would benefit both parties. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the fate of each of the top guilds hung in the balance, waiting for the SS Rank Ethereals to make their official announcement.
The Red, which was formerly managed by Guan Yu Liu Chen, never participated in this recruitment process, making the guild hate them for showing that they were above this kind of head recruitment. The Red Dragon is now under the leadership of Ya Zuo, husband of Lin Siniang human resources director of the Fu Xi Shi Corporation main branch.
They were seen by other guilds to be obnoxious and full of pride. The Red Dragon's reputation took a hit as they were perceived as arrogant and elitist by other guilds in the community. Despite this, the members of this guild never got swayed because they had their own reasons. The official number of the Red Dragon Guild was listed to be only around twenty, but this was wrong because they hardly showed any social interest or wanted to gather fame and acknowledgement from the community. The Red Dragon Guild preferred to keep a low profile and focus on their own goals rather than seeking recognition from others.
But they are among the top guilds out there, even their headquarters. Location remained a mystery to most outsiders, adding to their air of mystery and intrigue. Despite their small numbers, the Red Dragon Guild is known for their formidable skills, which were unwavering and have proven many times that they were merciless hunters against any dimensional monster attack.
But this one member was seen entering the Ethereal Association conference room and just sitting on the last remaining chair. The seven were waiting silently, and many were super intrigued by them as they looked absolutely unfazed by the tension in the room. Their line up and age bracket were a completely mixed match from a huge towering figure to a small looking teen girl. Even the females who were part of the seven were gorgeous and were absolutely stunning by human standards.
Some reporters wanted to get their real names, but they were unresponsive; some would even use trickery to gain even a small hint of information about them. The Ethereal Association official staff personnel walked toward the stage podium and announced that the conference was about to begin.
" good morning to all reporters and Guild representatives , I am The Ethereal League Western branch chairman. You may all address me as Chairman Elliot Dean."
"First, let me brief all of you about these seven new SS rank ethereal hunters,"
"All seven came to an agreement that they refuse and withhold any private and personal information., so before this conference they already decided to use pseudonyms during any public appearances or interviews. This decision was made to protect their identities and maintain a level of privacy. We ask that you respect their wishes and refer to them by their chosen pseudonyms throughout the conference."
"First, let's start on the left, introducing Gamma. Standing seven feet tall and weighs around 300 lbs.
One by one, they were properly introduced, and many reporters could not believe seeing the youngest SS rank was around the age of 15; this was Echo; she was just acting 15 but actually, among them, she was as old as Beta , as they both lived and died when the Sovereign War even started and the 12 realms were still whole.
Each guild representative introduced themselves and gave a brief introduction of what they could give to their prospect hunter. This went on even though they were only given 5 minutes to speak,
Chairman Elliot Dean was a firm man but a very considerable person. Certain mistakes and rough attitude when he was young were now toned down. The seven just sat at their seats and talked among each other when a few reporters noticed they were comfortable interacting with each other as if they already knew each other prior to getting their individual Ethereal license exam.
Everybody was perplexed by the way they remained silent as news reporters continued to ask them questions but their answers were so generic as if they were given a script to memorize. One reporter named Duncan Everet raised his hand and asked a single question that broke the sevens of silence.
"Are you related to or somewhat connected with the mysterious Silver Rank ethereal hunter called the white haired Devil?"
"The expression on the seven suddenly changed. ,"
It was now obvious that they were hiding something, and their eyes darted nervously between each other before one finally spoke up, "We have no comment on that matter at this time." The tension in the room grew evident as the reporters sensed they were onto something big.
The reporters could no longer hold their patience as they all simultaneously gave their questions, demanding answers about the real reason why they came in and took the test, and more speculation arose as the reporters speculated about potential scandals or cover-ups involving the seven individuals. The atmosphere in the room became charged with anticipation as everyone waited for a response that never came. So the guild representative just stood up and demanded to get some answers; the coincidence of gaining seven double S ranks in one day was too suspicious to ignore. When something rushed inside the conference room it was a fury creature with six feet and four wings, but it hardly flew because the wings were too small to lift the faceless creature. It was the Dijiang. As soon as the seven saw this, they knew who would soon come.,
So the seven stood up and walked in front of the stage, and waited for him to appear, and moments later they were right. The mysterious white haired Devil came, and even Elliot Dean was surprised to seeing the youngest Silver Rank, Was he going to enlist one of the seven? Chaos broke as more people started to ask questions , but the Guild representatives had a different plan in mind. They calmly approached the stage and began to address the crowd, silencing the chaos with their authoritative presence. The Guild representatives then proceeded to directly ask the purpose of the mysterious Lā mǐ'ěr the white-haired Devil appearance and how it would impact the future of the seven standing before them.
All those who were representing their guilds released their energy , showing off their capabilities. To the seven person they dream of having under their flag, but seeing him here means he wants something from the them also.
The Dijiang was no longer energetic and was actually well behaved the moment Lā mǐ'ěr entered the conference room; it was like a normal friendly but faceless dog. This was the only moment that news reporters could capture his real look. Viewers were blackly staring at their TV screens, lap tops, and smart phones as the broadcasted video of him wearing his signature half mask was now zoomed in close up and finally confirmed the mask to be moving, and it was like a metallic liquid ink.
Many believe it's a new technological development to have defensive equipment or even a weapon using gallium, but nothing has been confirmed by official sources. As the sound of clicking key boards was heard, the mysterious mask and some parts of his very attire added an air of intrigue to his public persona, leaving many wondering if this mask was the new product developed when the dimensional rift started to open on earth and new raw, unknown materials from other worlds started to seep through, including the mysterious metallic liquid ink.
Duncan Everet was the only person that approached Lā mǐ'ěr and greeted him with a bow, The seven were impressed to see a lowly human being respecting their master, unlike the others, As a reporter, his father was American and his mother, so instinctively doing this was clearly a common thing for him, but sadly this was not the case he was just in panic mode, especially when he was actually so nervous in front of so many high profile news reporters, versus him being a free lance journalist.
But one guild representative sees Lā mǐ'ěr carefree and domineering attitude as annoying and rude to veterans like him who take pride in gaining respect through hard work and dedication. So when Lā mǐ'ěr tapped Duncan Everet on the shoulder he was already acknowledged by the collective and the seven. Duncan Everet nodded and said nothing while Lā mǐ'ěr casually walked toward the stage. Some guards wanted to stop him, but felt a sudden chill as a wild hungry beast was looking at them.
The person who saw this act was the same guild representative who wanted to gauge him. What's the big deal about his sudden appearance and having a silver rank? He looked like he was just an average guy. He wanted to show off his power toward the seven, who were reluctantly acting out of character. So without even thinking twice, he just released his power and announced that Lā mǐ'ěr was disrupting the conference meant for the new seven SS rank Ethereal.
The place shook, and the energy he emitted was strong enough to make the electricity fluctuate. But Lā mǐ'ěr raised his hand and snapped, and the vibration of his snapping fingers was more strong and focused. The sound waves were like a light jab toward his face as the guild representative felt it on his face, as his head tilted backwards and nearly lost his balance in the process, The force of the snap caused a ripple effect that reverberated throughout the room, causing everyone to pause and turn their attention towards Lā mǐ'ěr. The guild representative quickly regained his composure, but the tension in the room was clearly felt as all eyes were now on him.
"How dare you attack me? I am the representative of the feared Flying Demons."
"Way, you guys are so fixated on having the titles of demons."
"You are the one who was flexing your power, just to gather the new seven SS rank's attention."
"If you wish to challenge me, just ask."
Is it common knowledge that pride and ego are such universal motivators that humans, or any other sentient or nonsentient living being, inevitably turn to dominance to establish superiority within a group? Nature is full of dominance and power struggles, and it doesn't seem that creatures like the Flying Demon Guild are immune to them.
Lā mǐ'ěr just continued to walk, and the guild representative announced his name and challenged the white haired devil to a spar.
"I am Tryfon, a rank-A hunter, and…"
But even before he could add more to his sentence, he stopped, and to their surprise, Lā mǐ'ěr who was a few feet in front of him istantly appeared behind him, effortlessly grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back in a swift motion. The sudden display of skill and speed left the guild representative speechless, realizing he had underestimated the white haired devil before him. Tryfon's eyes widened in shock as he felt the strength and agility of Lā mǐ'ěr, realizing he was in over his head. The guild representative quickly understood that this spar would not be as easy as he had initially thought.
But pride is a very annoying thing to have in a person. Even if they already saw that death was stringed at them and wouldn't hesitate to take their life, this pride will still give them false hope and even assure the person's chance to win,
ultimately leading to their downfall. It was a hard lesson learned for the guild representative, who now knew to never underestimate an opponent based on appearances alone. Tryfon was humilated and could not even break away from Lā mǐ'ěr grip, even when he was already using his ethereal powers, realizing that strength and power were not always enough to secure victory, Because reporters were already pointing their cameras at the situation, Tryfon had no choice but to act; he wasn't impres, and what Lā mǐ'ěr was doing has no consequences. Over him at all,
So he swung his free hand back and struck with his elbow. But it suddenly stopped as he felt pain jolt up to his brain and go toward his other arm, causing him to momentarily lose focus. This unexpected turn of events left Tryfon vulnerable and exposed, his confidence shaken as he struggled to regain control of the situation. When Lā mǐ'ěr just let go and stepped back, Tryfon still hadn't realized he had underestimated his opponent's strength. Were Lā mǐ'ěr spoke
"You are just a nuisance now."
The statement Lā mǐ'ěr made cut through the tension in the room like a knife. His words echoed in the silence, leaving everyone speechless. Even Tryfon and another guild representative because thick raw energy was swirling all over Lā mǐ'ěr body, it was clear that he was not to be trifled with. The air seemed to crackle with his power; it was making the Guild representative and the news reporters hard to breathe.
" I assume that after we were given the opportunity to grasp just a small portion of controlling magical energy, this human would be wise to reconsider their stance on our capabilities,"
"I understand that you want to exert your dominance and proclaim that you are truly strong, but you all are wasting your effort, as these seven are already under a guild,"
"What do you mean they are already part of a guild?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, as of today, these seven are part of my Hellguard team."
Lā mǐ'ěr declared, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. As he spoke, his eyes glowed with an intensity that made it clear he was not to be underestimated. The Guild representative and news reporters exchanged nervous glances, realizing they were in the presence of a being of immense power.
The conference room burst into chaos as reporters were still broadcasting all this to the public.
"These seven are mine; they are my family."
The Guild representative tried to regain control of the situation, but Lā mǐ'ěr's aura of authority was undeniable. The news reporters scrambled to capture every word for their broadcasts, knowing they were witnessing a momentous declaration.
"They are the Hell knights, and I shall be their king."
"These seven will represent the seven continents, and for those who still see me as a threat, let them come forward now."
The tension in the room was obvious as Lā mǐ'ěr made his bold statement, solidifying his position as the leader of the Hell Knights. that I am lacking the ability and power, you may challenge me anytime.
" Lā mǐ'ěr, why did you establish a guild?"
"And what are your true reasons?"
"War is inevitable, and more innocent lives will be lost; we are the Hellguards, and we will bring order to this chaos." "We will protect the innocent and restore balance to this world."
"It is an arrogant and bold statement , but it was necessary in order to instill fear in our enemies and ensure the safety of those we protect. Our mission is clear, and we will stop at nothing to achieve it."
"Like everybody here, and those who are watching , we all have families and loved ones to protect; we have spent many days and nights to enhance our skills beyond human limits."
"The pain and suffering we all shared gave way to what we have become today. Our dedication to our cause is unwavering, and we will not rest until everything is restored."
Lā mǐ'ěr speach was heard and received mixed reactions. reaction, many felt he planned this since the beginning; his actions were unrelated, but now it seemed calculated and strategic. Some viewed him just like the rest of the awakened Ethereal,
Stating that he's just like the rest, who have worked tirelessly to improve themselves and achieve their goals, Others, however, saw him in a different light, questioning his motives and intentions. Despite the mixed reactions, one thing was clear: Lā mǐ'ěr's speech had sparked a new level of intrigue and curiosity among those who listened. while others saw him as a dangerous threat to society. Regardless, his message had ignited a spark that could not be easily extinguished.