Since the tragic event that transpired a decade ago, humanity had been tirelessly striving to rebuild from the ground up. Initially, they struggled to survive against relentless attacks from monsters that evolved as a result of the radiation unleashed by the fallen meteor. Yet, everything changed when humans began to harness the same radiation to evolve and fight back. Those who possessed these remarkable abilities became known as Hunters, and to this day, they continued to battle for the survival of humankind.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
In a southwestern corner of the shelter, the sharp sounds of metal clashing filled the air. Two female figures were deeply engaged in an intense sword fight within an open training area scattered with worn mats. One was a striking blonde woman, effortlessly parrying the fierce attacks of a little girl wielding a massive sword—twice her size—dedicating all her might to the duel.
"What's wrong? Tired already?" the blonde woman teased, her demeanor unaffected.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!" The little girl gasped for air, exhaustion creeping into her limbs after a flurry of fierce strikes. Desperate for a moment to recover, she leaped back, executing a perfect backflip before landing lightly and reluctantly lowering her sword.
As she noticed fatigue setting in, the blonde woman seized the opportunity to taunt her again. "Is this really all you can do?" she asked with a flat tone. Provoked by the words, the little girl squared her shoulders defiantly and lifted her massive sword once more.
"Haahhh!" With a loud shout, the girl charged toward the blonde woman, her determination radiating as she closed the distance. The blonde, however, maintained her disinterested expression, as if this were just another ordinary practice session.
Clank!
Sparks flew as their swords collided. The little girl attacked from every conceivable angle—below, above, left, and right—but none of her strikes managed to land on the blonde woman. Frustration swelled within her as she paused, locking her gaze with the woman's calm eyes.
"Ready to give up now?" the blonde asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
"No! I'm just getting warmed up!"
With newfound determination, the little girl hurled her sword toward the blonde woman with impressive speed, the whirring sound of the wind accompanying its swift course.
Clink!
Easily, the blonde woman deflected the sword, yet it flew directly in front of her face, momentarily obstructing her view. Seizing the opportunity, the little girl caught her sword mid-air and swung it back with tremendous force, putting all her body weight behind the strike.
The blonde, standing just three meters away from the girl's sword range, felt a thrill of excitement; she sensed that something extraordinary was about to happen. Indeed, moments later, the girl swung her sword, and it began to emit a brilliant blue light, illuminating the dark corners of the training ground.
[Moon Slash!]
A crescent-shaped blue wave shot forward, hurtling toward the blonde woman with lightning speed. The blonde's skin, pale as milk, reflected a bluish hue in the glow of the oncoming wave.
Wossh!
The wave approached swiftly, and just as it came within 25 centimeters of her face, the blonde woman effortlessly swung her sword. The glowing blue wave vanished in an instant, and the brightly illuminated training ground reverted to its normal lighting.
"Im-impossible!" the little girl gasped in shock, her heart racing as her signature technique was dismissed with a mere flick of the woman's wrist.
"Do you still want to continue?" the blonde woman asked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Realizing her prized technique had been shattered so easily, the little girl's spirit began to deflate. No matter how hard she tried, the outcome never changed. With a sigh of resignation, she decided to concede for this training session.
"No, I give up. How could I possibly win against the number one Hunter in this country?" As she declared her defeat, she promptly lay down where she stood, laughter bubbling up at her own thorough trouncing.
Meanwhile, the blonde woman walked over to a backpack resting nearby and began rummaging through it. Moments later, she pulled out a brown book that looked ancient, with each page bound together by string.
"What's that?" The little girl's curiosity piqued as she watched from a distance.
"My training diary," the blonde replied, tossing it to the girl.
"Ah, your training diary… wait, what?!"
In an instant, the little girl realized that she held in her hands not just any book, but the training diary of the country's top Hunter. The immense value of the diary hit her like a thunderbolt—she wouldn't be surprised if someone would kill for it.
"Is this really for me?!" she asked, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
"Why do you ask? Don't want it? If you don't want it, I'll take it back," the blonde teased, reaching out for the book.
"No! Of course I want it! Please give me this book, Teacher Veronica!" The little girl clutched the book to her chest, fervently determined not to let it go.
"Pfft! Sure, you can have it," Veronica chuckled, ruffling the girl's hair as her heart warmed at the sweet sight.
"But Teacher Veronica, why are you giving me something so precious?"
Upon hearing the question, Veronica's expression shifted. A veil of sorrow slowly descended over her face as she gazed softly at the young girl before her. For a moment, it seemed as though she was unable to find the words, her silence heavy with unspoken emotions. But then, as if summoning all her strength, she forced herself to speak. In a voice tinged with melancholy, she finally confessed, "I received a prophecy... that soon, I will be leaving this world."
"A prophecy… you mean your gift?!" The little girl's eyes widened, fear and disbelief swirling within her. She wanted to dismiss it as a joke, yet deep down, she understood the painful truth. Veronica's gift—her ability to foresee the future—had never failed. An intense pressure gripped her chest.
"Aren't you happy? Because when I die, your chances of becoming the number one Hunter in this country will be even bigger!"
In an effort to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Veronica attempted a joke, but her hollow tone failed to elicit any laughter. The little girl only stared at her, tears filling her eyes. Instead of feeling comforted, rage swelled inside her at the dismissive nature of Veronica's words.
"Teacher Veronica, you jerk!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sorrow. She spun away, struggling to hide the tears welling in her eyes as she quickly distanced herself from Veronica, leaving her teacher in a profound silence.
"…"
Veronica stood there, silent, watching the little girl's back grow smaller as she hurried away. A wave of pain surged within her heart, knowing her student was still shaken. She held back the urge to call her back, understanding that the little girl needed time to process this heavy reality.
Little did the little girl know that those would be the last words they shared. Just a few days later, Veronica received a mission to investigate an anomaly in the treacherous wilderness known as the Alores Forest. Tragedy soon struck when the heartbreaking news arrived—Veronica's entire team had been reported dead, yet ironically, her body was never found. A haunting mystery surrounded her disappearance, leaving deep sorrow for those she left behind.