The following morning, the once vibrant green of the forest had been replaced by the familiar, bustling cityscape. The Hunter Association's hospital, known for its state-of-the-art facilities, had been the sanctuary for Gregory overnight. The hospital's sterile white walls were lined with advanced medical equipment, and Gregory had been given the best care available. He was now patched up, his injuries stabilized, and his spirits slightly lifted by the news that he was recovering well.
When the sun began its descent, a group of weary but determined hunters made their way to a popular bar frequented by those in the profession. The "Hunters' Haven" was a cozy, dimly lit establishment with walls lined with trophies and relics from various dungeons. The patrons, a mix of seasoned veterans and eager newcomers, mingled with a relaxed air, the day's work temporarily forgotten in favor of camaraderie and good drinks.
Ray, Zara, and Finn arrived first, their clothes a casual departure from their battle gear. Zara wore a simple yet stylish tunic and loose trousers, her usual intimidating presence softened by a warm, welcoming smile. Finn opted for a comfortable shirt and jeans, his bow slung casually over his back. Ray had chosen a plain, dark shirt and cargo pants, a stark contrast to his usual battle attire. Despite their relaxed appearance, their faces carried the weight of yesterday's events. They made their way to a large table near the back, where they could keep an eye on the entire room while remaining out of the main flow of traffic.
Gregory, freshly patched up and donning a new, clean set of clothes, joined them at a corner table. His movements were slow, his body still recovering from the injury, but he was in good spirits. Jaxon was there too, sitting somewhat apart from the rest, his demeanor nonchalant but with a trace of unease as he glanced around.
"Everyone's here," Zara said, taking a seat and giving Gregory a sympathetic look. "How're you holding up?"
"Better than expected," Gregory replied, his voice a bit strained but upbeat. "I've had worse. The healers worked their magic, so I'll be back to my old self in no time."
Jaxon, perched on a stool, shot Gregory a sideways glance. "So, you're fine now. I guess we can forget about the whole 'I used you as a shield' thing, right?" His tone was dismissive, as if the incident were a mere inconvenience rather than a serious breach of trust.
Gregory's eyes narrowed, a hint of anger flickering in his gaze. "Forget it? You put us all at risk, Jaxon. Your actions almost cost me my life. Some apology would be nice, but I guess you wouldn't understand that, would you?"
Jaxon shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "I did what I had to do. Survival of the fittest, right? Not my fault you got hurt."
Finn, sitting across from Jaxon, clenched his jaw. "You don't get to act like nothing happened. Your lack of remorse is pathetic. We put our lives on the line for each other. If you can't respect that, then you don't belong with us."
As the conversation grew tense, the door to the bar swung open, and Xander strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. His authoritative demeanor cut through the murmurs and clinking of glasses. He approached the table, a briefcase in hand.
"Good evening, everyone," Xander greeted, his tone professional. "I've just received the results of your evaluations."
The table fell silent, the party members looking at Xander with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Gregory," Xander began, addressing the older hunter. "You've been ranked F-. Your performance was commendable, and despite the injury, you showed great resilience."
Gregory nodded, accepting the rank with a sense of accomplishment. "Thank you, Xander. I'll take it."
"Zara and Finn, you both received an F rank," Xander continued. "Your teamwork and combat effectiveness were impressive, but there's always room for improvement."
Zara and Finn exchanged a look of mutual understanding. Zara's expression was a mix of relief and contemplation, while Finn's was thoughtful but accepting.
"Ray," Xander said, turning to the young hunter. "You've been awarded an F+ rank. An impressive achievement, considering the circumstances."
Ray's expression remained composed, though a hint of pride showed in his eyes he had hoped it would have been higher since he took down the boss alone with aura, something not all newbie hunters were able to do before rank evaluation. "F+? Not bad."
Xander's gaze turned stern. "However, your rank could have been higher if not for the incident involving Jaxon. The Hunter Association doesn't take physical confrontations among team members lightly, even when the other party is at fault."
Jaxon's face darkened, his smirk fading. "What about me?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of defiance.
Xander's expression remained unmoved. "You have not passed. Your actions during the dungeon and your lack of remorse have led to your disqualification. You're not fit to be a hunter under these circumstances."
Jaxon's eyes widened with disbelief. "You can't be serious! I did what I had to do to survive."
Xander's gaze was unwavering. "Survival is important, but so is the ability to work as a team and respect your comrades. You've failed in both areas."
Jaxon's shoulders slumped, a mix of anger and frustration playing across his features. "Fine. If that's how it is, then I don't need you."
Xander's gaze softened slightly. "I suggest you take some time to reflect on your actions."
With Jaxon's fate decided, the team turned their attention to the loot from the dungeon. Xander produced a small bag containing the cores collected during the raid.
"Here are the cores," he said, placing the bag on the table. "29 colorless tier 1 cores and 1 tier 2 core. The color of the core represents its specific enhancement. Red increases strength, purple enhances mana, green boosts speed, yellow improves defense, and blue raises health."
Ray took the bag and began to divide the cores. "Let's split them evenly. We'll each get 5 colorless cores, and the tier 2 core will go to the one who deserves it the most."
Jaxon's eyes lit up as he saw the tier 2 core. "I need that core. I can't become a hunter, but I need to get as strong as possible. Give it to me."
"No," Zara said firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "You've already shown you can't be trusted. The core goes to someone who has earned it."
Jaxon's face flushed with anger. "You can't be serious!"
Before anyone could react, Jaxon made a grab for the core, attempting to snatch it from the table. Gregory, quick to act, tripped Jaxon as he lunged, sending him sprawling to the ground. The commotion attracted the attention of several other patrons, who watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Jaxon's face burned with humiliation as he scrambled to his feet, clutching two of the colorless cores he had managed to grab in his hasty retreat. With a final, defiant glance at the party, he bolted out of the bar, leaving behind a scene of chaos and laughter.
The party watched him go, their expressions a mixture of frustration and relief. Zara shook her head. "Good riddance. We don't need someone like that with us."
Ray gathered the remaining cores and divided them among the team. "We'll each take 5 colorless cores. The tier 2 core goes to me, if that's fine with you?"
Zara nodded, Gregory raised a thumbs up and Finn added, "Fair enough. It's best we focus on what's ahead. We need to be prepared for the challenges to come."
As they finished dividing the loot, the mood lightened somewhat. The team's camaraderie was evident as they discussed their plans for the future.
"We should form a party and raid rifts together," Ray suggested. "You should pop by Strongforge tomorrow, and we can attempt to get some stronger gear and complete more rifts tomorrow."
Zara and Finn agreed enthusiastically, their previous tension eased by the prospect of working together as a team. Gregory, despite his recent injury, was eager to join them.
"Sounds good," Zara said, smiling. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Same here," Finn added. "Let's make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."
The group shared a sense of resolve and excitement as they prepared to face new challenges together. With the loot divided and plans set, they left the bar, their spirits lifted by the promise of future adventures.
As they walked toward their respective destinations, Ray couldn't help but feel a surge of hope. The journey ahead was uncertain, but with the support of his newfound allies, he felt ready to face whatever lay beyond the next rift.