Masaki brought Ryuji to a vast, empty field.
As they arrived, Masaki said to Ryuji, "You don't need to become a Sleek Hunter. There are safer paths you can take, especially with the abilities you possess through your golden eyes."
Ryuji replied, "No, I didn't leave my home and family to come here for a safe job. If I can save innocent people like Ayato, Yumi, and Aunt Haruko by becoming a Sleek Hunter, then maybe their spirits will forgive me."
Hearing Ryuji's resolve, Masaki didn't say anything further and walked toward the field. Ryuji followed closely behind. They passed through an invisible barrier, and Ryuji noticed that what had seemed like an empty field from the outside was actually home to an enormous, ancient mansion.
Ryuji was taken aback, marveling at the sight and hearing voices from inside. At that moment, Akari appeared in front of them and said, "You sure took your time."
Masaki replied, "My work here is done. From here on, this boy is your responsibility."
With that, Masaki vanished once more.
Seeing him disappear, Akari frowned and muttered, "Hmph, he's always so stubborn." Then, looking at Ryuji, she added, "Hey Ryuji, it's good to see you again. Welcome to our Sleek Hunter base."
Ryuji, hesitating a bit, replied, "It's good to see you too. But, where did Masaki go?"
Akari said, "Don't worry about him. He's like that—he doesn't like to spend too much time around people. Come, follow me."
With that, Akari led him inside the mansion. As they walked through the entrance, Ryuji observed that many of the rooms were closed. While the mansion appeared ancient from the outside, it was surprisingly modern on the inside.
The furniture, lights, and the design of the walls and ceilings were beautiful, giving Ryuji a sense of luxury. The mansion's garden was also vast and stunning.
Taking it all in, Ryuji remarked, "This place is so different from what I imagined."
Akari smiled and said, "What did you think? That Sleek Hunters would live in some ancient, rundown place?"
Just then, Ryuji noticed a few people cleaning around the mansion.
Pointing to them, he asked, "Are they also Sleek Hunters?"
Akari replied, "Yes. When Sleek Hunters aren't on a mission, this is their work."
Ryuji focused on these people and felt something odd. Their aura seemed very weak. When Ryuji first met Masaki, he had felt intimidated by Masaki's powerful aura—it was unlike anything he had ever sensed before.
Akari's aura was similar, though not as intense as Masaki's, but still powerful. However, the aura of these people seemed rather ordinary.
Noticing Ryuji's expression, Akari immediately understood what he was thinking.
"You're starting to sense auras, aren't you? That means your golden eye powers are awakening."
But Ryuji, slightly confused, asked, "Why is their aura so…"
Before he could finish, Akari interrupted, "Weak, right? That's because they are only Level 1 Sleek Hunters."
Ryuji asked, "Do Sleek Hunters have levels too?"
Akari replied, "Yes, levels are used to measure the strength of Sleek Hunters, Zuek, and Sleeks alike."
Ryuji then asked, "So what level are you and Masaki?"
Akari replied, "Oh, both of us? We're at Level 3."
Ryuji was surprised and remarked, "But I heard that the Sleek that came to my city was Level 4."
Akari understood Ryuji's concern and explained, "Skilled and powerful individuals like Masaki can face beings even one level above them."
Ryuji was impressed, and his respect for Masaki grew. Masaki wasn't just a good person but also a capable and powerful one.
After a moment of silence, Ryuji asked Akari, "So what do I need to do to become a Sleek Hunter?"
Akari replied, "Becoming a Sleek Hunter requires three steps. First, you need to unlock the full power of your golden eyes. Second, you have to learn to control your spiritual energy. And third, you need to bond with a Zuek. Once you complete these three tasks, you'll become a Level 1 Sleek Hunter like them."
Ryuji, a bit puzzled, asked, "Aren't my golden eye powers already awakening? Masaki told me they were starting to."
Akari replied, "Yes, your golden eye powers are beginning to awaken. Whenever a person with golden eyes comes close to a powerful spiritual being, or to a Zuek or Sleek, their golden eyes start to awaken. However, without external help, it can take years to fully awaken these powers, and some people may never achieve it."
Ryuji felt a bit disheartened and said, "So, it'll take me years to fully awaken my golden eye powers."
Akari reassured him, "Don't worry. We have a solution for that. With a ritual, we can unlock the full power of anyone's golden eyes in just one day."
Ryuji asked, "A ritual? What kind of ritual is it?"
Akari explained, "It's an ancient ritual. We call it the Golden Eye Awakening Ritual. I don't know much about it myself, but every Sleek Hunter you see here has undergone this ritual to fully unlock their golden eye powers."
Ryuji then asked, "What will happen when my golden eyes are fully awakened?"
Akari replied, "Once your golden eye powers are fully awakened, you'll be able to sense auras with greater precision, see time move slower, your senses will be heightened far beyond that of ordinary humans, your body will become much stronger, and most importantly, you'll be able to use your spiritual energy."
Ryuji was thrilled to hear this but asked Akari one more question, "What can I do by using my spiritual energy?"
Akari replied, "Remember seeing Masaki fight that Sleek?"
Ryuji nodded, and Akari continued, "You must have noticed him doing things that normal humans couldn't. You'll be able to do those things too if you learn to harness your spiritual energy."
Excited, Ryuji eagerly said, "I want to do the ritual right now."
Akari laughed at Ryuji's enthusiasm and said, "Calm down. We're on our way there."
Ryuji, brimming with excitement, said, "So we're going there now?"
Akari smiled and replied, "Yes, absolutely."
Suddenly, Akari stopped and remarked, "Oh! We're here already. I didn't realize we arrived while talking to you."
Looking around, Ryuji saw they were standing before a large door. He had been so absorbed in conversation with Akari that he hadn't noticed their surroundings.
Akari opened the door, revealing a room filled with strange markings. In the center, there was a star-shaped symbol with strange writing in an unfamiliar language, and five people were already standing at its corners.
Ryuji asked Akari, "What kind of place is this?"
Akari answered, "This is the ritual room. The five people you see here are the ones who will perform the ritual."
Seeing this, Ryuji felt a bit nervous and asked, "What am I supposed to do?"
Akari reassured him, "Nothing. Just listen to what they say and don't be afraid. You won't even realize when the ritual is complete."
With that, Akari left the room, leaving Ryuji alone with the five people. One of them pointed to the center of the star and instructed, "Come, sit here."
Calmly, Ryuji sat in the middle of the star. One of them handed him a drink, which he took quietly. The moment he drank it, Ryuji felt as though acid was coursing through his veins, and his eyes began to burn intensely.
Ryuji tried to stay composed as his eyes stung, and the five people began chanting.
For around twenty minutes, the burning in Ryuji's eyes intensified, and golden light started pouring from his eyes. The five people continued their chants.
Gradually, the star on the ground began glowing in a golden hue. Ryuji felt his consciousness fading, and he started screaming as golden light poured from his eyes.
The radiance from Ryuji's eyes grew stronger, and his mind went completely blank, unable to understand what was happening around him.
Suddenly, the five individuals began to shine as well. The first emitted flames that joined with the star, the second released water that also merged with it, the third summoned air, the fourth earth and dust, and the fifth thunder.
As each element merged with the star, the symbol rose into the air, hovering directly above Ryuji's head. His mouth opened involuntarily, and the intense golden light from his eyes illuminated the symbol above.
The elements—fire, water, air, earth, and thunder—began merging, and the symbol's glow entered Ryuji's eyes.
Amidst this, Ryuji's mind saw faint images and heard voices, as though a man was speaking to a woman, saying, "This child is chosen by nature itself. Protecting him is essential. Perhaps he will change the fate of this world."
Before Ryuji could grasp more than mark get absorbed in his eyes fully and he fell unconscious.