As they were talking they reached the Testing Room , The Testing Room lived up to its clinical name. Sterile white walls housed an array of humming machinery, but what caught Sebastian's attention was the massive black sphere suspended from the ceiling. Nearly a meter in diameter, its surface seemed to absorb light itself. Countless fiber-optic cables, glowing with faint MANA signatures, connected it to a bank of sophisticated monitoring equipment.
"Place both hands on the sphere," instructed the technician, his lab coat bearing the Hunter Association's emblem. "Try to keep them steady—it helps with the reading."
Sebastian wiped his sweaty palms against his pants, took a deep breath, and reached up. The sphere's surface felt oddly warm beneath his touch, almost alive. Seconds stretched like hours as he waited, his heart thundering in his chest.
Finally, the sphere began to glow—a warm, earthen brown color that filled the room with its soft radiance. The nearest monitor flickered to life:
HUNTER CERTIFICATION TEST
Subject: Unknown
Classification: Low Rank 1
MANA Resonance: Stable
Status: PASSED
Relief flooded through Sebastian's body. He'd done it—barely, but he'd done it.
"Name and age for the records?" The technician's fingers hovered over his keyboard.
"Sebastian Nightshade, sixteen years old."
Something flickered in the technician's eyes at the mention of his surname, but he said nothing, simply entering the data. "Collection desk will have your ID card ready. Next!"
The reception area buzzed with activity as Sebastian approached the collection desk. Lynn Martinez handed him his hunter's identification card—a piece of MANA-infused steel that caught the light like a mirror. His photo, name, and newly minted rank were etched into its surface with precise laser work.
"Congratulations on your certification," she said with practiced efficiency. "The Association offers market rates for all beast materials. The mission board might interest you as well." She gestured toward a massive holographic display dominating one wall.
The mission board was a maze of information, organized into a clear hierarchy:
```
RANK 1 MISSIONS
└── Low Tier
├── Water Bear Hide Collection (20 CP)
├── Basic Equipment Repair (30 CP)
└── Herb Gathering (15 CP)
└── Mid Tier
└── [Locked - Insufficient Rank]
└── High Tier
└── [Locked - Insufficient Rank]
RANK 2 MISSIONS [Locked]
RANK 3 MISSIONS [Locked]
```
Sebastian made a mental note to research contribution points (CP) later. For now, his priority was getting some real experience.
The guard at the town gate examined his new ID with weathered eyes. "Listen well, young hunter," he said, his tone carrying the weight of experience. "Being a hunter isn't about glory—it's about survival. Stick to the forest's outer ring. If you spot anything above your rank, run. The gate's always open for retreating hunters. Better a living coward than a dead hero."
Sebastian nodded, suppressing his impatience. The guard's words might seem obvious, but they were paid for in blood.
Beyond the gate, Sebastian found not wilderness, but a makeshift marketplace. Dozens of stalls lined a cleared area, creating a buffer zone between civilization and wild. Merchants hawked everything from basic MANA-enhanced weapons to processed beast materials. The air filled with the sounds of haggling and the smell of herb-infused potions.
But Sebastian had no time for shopping. The afternoon sun was already past its peak, and he knew the night would bring stronger beasts. He pressed on, past the market and into the true wilderness of Mist Wood Forest.
The transition was jarring. Within minutes, the sounds of commerce gave way to primal silence. Ancient trees towered overhead, their canopy filtering the sunlight into ethereal beams. Every rustle of leaves could hide a threat.
After thirty minutes of careful progress, Sebastian found a river cutting through the forest. Its crystal waters flowed around a peculiar rock formation—a perfectly round boulder about fifty centimeters across, positioned dead center in the stream.
Too perfect, his instincts warned.
As if triggered by his suspicion, the "rock" revealed glowing red eyes and launched itself through the air with explosive force. Sebastian's combat training kicked in, his body moving before his mind could process the danger.
The creature revealed itself: a Rock Back Frog, a beast the size of a large dog. Its natural armor gleamed like polished granite, water streaming off its massive form.
The System's interface sprang to life:
```
[BEAST ANALYSIS]
Species: Rock Back Frog
Classification: Low Rank 1
Stats:
- Strength: 10
- Agility: 15
- Endurance: 12
- Intelligence: 8
```
Sebastian's mind raced, analyzing the stats. The frog's agility was its highest attribute—he'd need to be careful of its speed. But its intelligence was low, which meant it might be predictable.
The beast launched another attack, its powerful legs propelling it forward like a stone cannonball. Sebastian sidestepped, drawing on his close combat training, but the frog displayed surprising mid-air maneuverability. Its claws slashed through the space where his head had been moments before.
As Sebastian ducked under the attack, he could feel the wind of its passage. The frog landed with practiced ease, turning to face him again. Their eyes locked—predator and prey, though which was which remained to be decided.
This was it. His first real hunt had begun.