"Let's Go!" Jin shouted as he grabbed Yatagarasu's shoulder."You son of a bitch! We did it!" He shook Jin in return as the agents came over to apprehend the Uon.They both let out a sigh of relief as they both collapsed to the ground. Days after days of fatigue finally caught up to them as they simply lay there staring at the collapsing ceiling. Slowly taking in the reality they are currently in. While they understood that this incident was an anomaly, they could still not come to terms with how almost insignificant they were in the face of an adversary of this strength. The quality of 'Protect' instilled in them from a young age shook their cores as they found themselves unable to do that for half of the school population. At that moment, they both lay there in a calm silence as they slowly drifted off, not a word muttered from their mouth.. . . As the scene unfolded, the extent of the devastation became painfully clear. The monster's rampage had left a swath of destruction, obliterating entire blocks and leaving countless lives in ruin. Emergency responders and cleanup crews swarmed the area, escorting injured students to makeshift triage centres and hospitals. Agents moved swiftly to apprehend the remaining Uon, securing the scene as best they could.Helicopters hovered above, their powerful searchlights illuminating the chaos below. News helicopters buzzed in the sky, their cameras capturing the extent of the damage and broadcasting live updates to anxious families and the wider public. Reporters on the ground spoke in hushed, urgent tones, narrating the scene for viewers.At the heart of the devastation was a massive cave, its gaping maw a stark reminder of the beast's origin. The entrance loomed ominously, more significant than the creature itself, and it seemed to beckon with an eerie silence. The cave's dark recesses hinted at untold dangers, a labyrinthine network where the monster had once roamed freely. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a grim testament to the power and fury of the creature that had emerged from its depths. Truly a sight to behold.. . . Few Months Later . . .'Kana, wait up!' I said as I chased her down the street."Yonu, we are LATE!"'…Yeah…'"Who woke up late?"'Ahaha…yeah…'"That's what I thought. Now hurry up! We only have a few minutes before the fireworks start!"'You're not even a fireworks person.'"No, I am a spend some time with my boyfriend person. Now hurry the hell up!"'Ahhhh…' Kana can be very easy-going at times and very pushy at other times. I can't believe it has already been 3 months since the Queen 000 incident. Most of my injuries have healed, but the stab wound on my leg has left a scar that still throbs on occasion to this day. Since the school has been destroyed, we no longer need to attend school. Instead, I am helping out the Hinos with their mana beast subjugations.Furthermore, because now there is a bigger problem on our hands. The tunnels that the beast dug through. It seems that it left residual blood, perhaps back when the top 4 families attacked it. This residual blood evolved a multitude of different beast variants. In fact, due to the ever-expanding ecosystem growing in that cave system, the beast subjugation companies and the four great families were kept busy trying to map out the cave system and the evolved species down in the abyss.As far as we know, this cave system goes down a few layers. We've only explored up to the third, as the strength of the beasts has been growing exponentially. We needed to get stronger to keep up. Training with Kana's parents has helped me gain the necessary skills for missions. But it doesn't stop me from worrying about what's happening in Javan.The cave system provides a thriving ecosystem and a valuable source of mana cores. There's been debate about whether this resource should be shared among countries. Some argue that since Javan dealt with the beast, they should have exclusive rights to the cave system. Others believe that monopolizing the mana cores could disrupt the international market. That is because there are currently only 3 primary sources of mana cores worldwide. First would be the monsters from the Xerathian Desert, located between the borders of Javan and Yarlen. Second would be the Eldrinth Tundra, located between Torjia and Orua, and lastly, Lumoria's Forest, located between Yarlen and Torjia. These sources of mana cores have been shared amongst the countries, and should there be a fourth source exclusive to only one country, it can tip the scales of the mana core economy largely in favour of Javan.Recently, the influx of mana cores has sparked a technological revolution. Mana cores are now used in more everyday devices, acting as a mana storage unit and eliminating the need for frequent mana refills. While I don't know much about the history of our country – it's rarely described or recorded – it seems strange that such rapid technological progress is happening now, making mana even more integral to our lives.As political talks continue, Wizma supports Javan's right to the resources, perhaps as Hugo's way of repaying us. All we hunters can do for now is protect the country from the beasts that might escape from the cave system. People like Yunosuke's brother, Kami Ichizen, Yatagarasu Ichizen, Jin, and Vice have all left school to help with mana beast subjugation. Meanwhile, Yunosuke, Kana, and I will attend a different mana academy in the coming months. Still, we help with the mana subjugation missions whenever we can.During this time, there is a sort of meta-change within the raid teams. Fire manacians are now more highly favoured amongst these mana beast subjugation companies and within the minister's task force. The emergence of the ignition pill allowed fire manacians to pull off more of a front-line artillery role, which can be very impactful for missions. I got the recognition for it, something I didn't want because now people recognize me and my friends on the street, which can be annoying sometimes, I'm not going to lie.But I'm going to have to be frank: I am scared. Not for my own life, no, no…I mean, I am, don't get me wrong, but I'm afraid that I might not be strong enough to protect these people I care about. Kana, my parents, my friends…I recently got together with Kana, but I already cannot live without her… If something similar happens again, I can't keep letting Kana protect me… No, I know there is more than meets the eye for fire. As someone who awoke at quite an early age, someone who has this unique perception of mana, someone who has this drive, I should improve upon my ignition pill. I need to become so strong that no one can freaking touch me.I watched as the fireworks launched into the night sky. A dance of light streaks bounced off the darkness, mirroring the traumatic flashbacks of the Queen 000 incident. I swallowed a mouthful of air and tried to hold in the trembling of my heart, but Kana held my palm. Perhaps my palm was shaking as well… "I'll protect you as always."I bit my lip and clenched my other hand as I stared into the flashing dark sky.Will I ever be enough?. . . "Sir, the summit is in another 2 hours.""Thanks for the heads up, Gaeun." The minister took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes.A mountain of paperwork piled up on his desk, begging for his approval. The numbers on the papers date back to weeks ago. "Gaeun…""Yes, sir." His secretary eager to help."Sorry can I trouble you to help with the paperwork this time, I can't handle this amount.""No problem. I will read up on the requests and provide you with the summaries before requesting your signature.""Thank you." He said as Gaeun carried the paperwork out to place on her desk.As she closed the door, the minister's phone rang once more.He picked it up nonchalantly, being too used to the numerous calls from various departments."Tendo, we are moving on to phase 2."The minister suddenly sat upright at his desk, adjusting his tie with his other hand. His eyes darted around the room, trying to discern any invisible enemies. A drop of sweat rolled down his cheek already as he knew he could be watched at this very moment. He clasped the phone even tighter, ensuring he didn't make any mistakes in his demeanour despite it being a call."Owen Knight will be infiltrating your country. He does not know that you are with us. It is better that way. What you need to do is to pretend to fight him. Show your superiority and willingness to fight, but ultimately, allow them to escape… The idea is to solidify your position as the Minister of Beast Subjugation (MOBS). As of right now, the four great families are wary of your loyalties.""I see… Roger that. May I know when it will happen?""You'll know when you know."The call hangs up abruptly.The minister sighed in relief before slumping back in his office chair. He turned to face the excellent glass pane overlooking the country under his control. The cityscape before him was a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. Multiple high-rise buildings pierced the sky, their glass facades reflecting the setting sun. Beyond them stretched a vast desert, its golden dunes shimmering in the fading light. Closer to the city centre, a patchwork of smaller houses and shops created a bustling tapestry of life. Streets thrummed with activity as people went about their daily routines, a living, breathing example of a thriving nation.He knew it wasn't solely his efforts that had brought him to this position, but he also understood his role, his responsibilities, and what he had to do to save this country from demise. He was well aware of the risks, but he would continue to play the devil's advocate.. . . "Brother," Yunosuke called out in the cave."Yeah, I'm almost done," Arashi muttered as he finished up some report on his phone, his brow furrowed with concentration. In front of him lay the corpse of a mana beast, a variant known as the Kinevius, its rock spikes still menacing even in death."Could it be from the lower levels?""Yeah, probably…" Arashi replied, finally pocketing his phone and zipping up the pouch."There have been quite a lot lately, haven't there?" Yunosuke mentioned as they picked up their pace, checking their watch maps to confirm they were nearing the fourth layer."It's only been a few weeks since we started active exploration. We don't yet know enough about the beasts in this cave system to assume this isn't normal for the deeper parts. The increased hunter activity has recently pushed them up to the third layer," Arashi explained, his voice steady with authority born from experience."I see…" Yunosuke continued his jog, a slight breathlessness preceding him as they approached the edge of the third layer—a deep hole, approximately 30 meters wide, filled with spikes from all directions."You okay?" Arashi asked, his concern palpable.Yunosuke glanced over and nodded slightly, attempting to steady his breathing as they surveyed the cavernous chamber ahead. His expression remained stoic, a mask of composure he upheld unwillingly in front of the brother he deeply admired."Father, the cave system is clear until the fourth layer entrance," Arashi reported into his watch."Roger that, return to the checkpoint," a muffled voice sounded through the watch's mic. The brothers turned back in the direction they came from."When are you going back to school?" Arashi asked, trying to lighten the mood as they resumed their jog."In a few weeks," Yunosuke replied, his voice calm despite the weight of responsibility."Remember the techniques I taught you, and you'll be fine!" Arashi's smile was meant to reassure, though Yunosuke forced a smile in return, grateful for his brother's support yet silently grappling with the weight of expectations.As they turned their backs on the cave entrance and the distance grew, a sudden stampede echoed from the fourth layer's entrance, followed by a resounding roar that briefly shook the cave. While they both felt the vibrations, they dismissed it, focusing on their task at hand.Arashi fell into step beside Yunosuke, matching his pace. He sensed the tension in Yunosuke's movements, the slight stiffness in his shoulders. Without a word, Arashi adjusted his stride, subtly slowing down to match Yunosuke's pace, silently acknowledging his brother's struggle.Yunosuke stole a glance at Arashi, noticing the small gesture of solidarity. A mixture of gratitude and frustration welled up within him—grateful for Arashi's understanding yet frustrated by his insecurities.The echoes of the stampede faded into the depths of the cave, leaving behind a quiet resolve between the brothers, a bond strengthened by the unspoken support they shared. ### Monster Profile: KineviusType: Brute-ClassAppearance:
Size: Large horse-sized
Body: Muscular with earthy, brown scales
Spikes: Jagged earth spikes on its back
Eyes: Glowing amber
Limbs: Four clawed legs
Tail: Spiked and thick
Abilities:Rolling Defense: Rolls into a spiked ball to attack
Earth Manipulation: Creates ground spikes and barriers
Enhanced Durability: Thick scales provide a strong defence
Burrowing: Digs through the earth for surprise attacks
Behavior:Territorial: Aggressively defends its area
Nocturnal: Active at night