Returning from the Lizardmen Haven expedition and basking in the thrill of their successful hunts, Sirius, Luna, and Ron began to feel that their teamwork was becoming second nature. As they advanced in skill and confidence, they sought new challenges to continue testing their limits. A rare opportunity soon presented itself when they arrived at the Hunter Association to see a bustling crowd gathered around a large announcement board.
"What's going on here?" Ron asked, squeezing through the crowd.
They finally caught a glimpse of the announcement: Hunter Team Tournament – Test Your Strength Against the Best! The headline was bold, almost daring every team in the Association to join. Sirius's eyes skimmed the details, taking in the tournament's format, prize list, and the promise of facing elite Hunters from different cities and regions.
"Check out those prizes," Luna said, her eyes widening. The grand prize was a talent crystal, which was known to strengthen one's natural talents. The second prize was a rare skill book that boasted unknown combat techniques, and the third was a set of enchanted gear crafted by the finest artisans for agility, resilience, and elemental resistance.
"Think we're ready to take on Hunters from all over the region?" Ron asked, though the challenge clearly excited him.
Sirius met their eyes and grinned. "More than ready. This tournament could be the boost we need, especially if we win that talent crystal."
An Association staff member named Armand spotted them through the crowd and approached, smiling knowingly. "You three are considering the tournament?" he asked. "This event attracts fierce competition, but the benefits go far beyond the prizes. Win or lose, it'll test you in ways no dungeon can."
They listened intently as Armand described the format. The tournament would span five rounds, each designed to test a different skill set:
Round One - Combat Coordination: A chaotic battle between multiple teams, eliminating weaker teams in an arena-style showdown.
Round Two - Resource and Territory Control: Teams would compete to control territories within a complex, dungeon-like field.
Round Three - Puzzle Arena: Each team would have to solve challenging puzzles under pressure, with monsters appearing periodically to disrupt their focus.
Round Four - Survival Challenge: A survival round where teams had to withstand waves of powerful beasts with limited resources.
Final Round - Duel of Champions: A one-on-one battle between chosen members of each remaining team.
"Sounds brutal," Ron commented, but his grin showed his enthusiasm.
Armand continued, "This isn't just about combat strength. Each round will push your teamwork, creativity, and ability to adapt. You'll also be facing off against high-level teams, including some elite B-rankers."
A chill of excitement passed through the trio. They were more than prepared to take on this challenge, though Sirius's attention was drawn to the bottom of the flyer where a note caught his eye: Special Teams: Elite B-Rank Hunters. These teams have came from neighboring shelters to participate. He knew that facing B-rank Hunters, especially ones with powerful, rare talents, would be no easy task.
Armand sensed his focus. "One team to watch out for is led by Leon Blackwood. He's known for his Beast Suppression talent and flame-based abilities. But he's also notorious for being ruthless in competitions. They've won several tournaments like this in other regions."
Luna looked thoughtful. "With his Beast Suppression talent, he could be trouble for Sirius's summons."
Sirius clenched his fists, feeling a spark of determination. "Then we'll need to prepare for him."
The Days Leading to the Tournament
The team committed themselves to intense preparation in the days leading up to the tournament. They decided to train with an emphasis on strategy, teamwork, and honing each member's strengths. Sirius focused on enhancing his summons to counter Leon's Beast Suppression. To counteract potential suppression attempts, he practiced connecting more deeply with each of his beasts, especially the Abyssal Devil Tiger, whose fierce loyalty he sensed would resist outside control.
Ron worked tirelessly to master his Colossal Might and Geokinesis abilities, pushing himself to become a more versatile defender and offensive powerhouse. He practiced manipulating the ground beneath him, raising stone walls, and even launching rocks as projectiles. He combined this with his Rock Skin Armor, making him nearly impenetrable when protecting his teammates.
Luna, meanwhile, honed her archery skills and worked on coordinating attacks with her wolf, Nyra, and her owl, Mira. She developed a set of hand signals to command her beasts in silence, and worked on synchronizing her ice abilities with her beasts' attacks. Luna also practiced using Reincarnation of Artemis to summon arrows that tracked moving targets, a skill she knew would come in handy during the fast-paced rounds.
As their training intensified, Sirius began to notice more intricacies in his S-rank and higher talents. He realized that his Orion's Eye allowed not only for X-ray vision, but also a 360-degree view of his surroundings, vision-sharing with his summoned creatures, and the ability to observe subtle shifts in opponents' movements. This multifaceted talent made him a more formidable leader, able to anticipate enemy actions and guide his team.
He also explored Ability Genesis from his Predator (SSS) talent, creating skill books of Lightning Cloak and Thunderbolt, to sell at Hunter Association.
On the morning of the tournament, Sirius and his friends gathered outside the Association, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The training had been grueling, but they were eager to test themselves against some of the best teams.