Arya led Dera through the bustling, echoing halls of the Constellation Hall, the place where new hunters tested their strength and discovered their unique Aura type. The air here felt charged, heavy with the anticipation of power and ambition. Intricate symbols carved into ancient stone glowed faintly under the hall's flickering lights, giving the space an eerie, almost mystical aura.
"Hunters here are graded by their ability to face Venoms," Arya explained as they walked. "Our strength is ranked by grades:
Grade 1 for One-finned Venom Hunters,
Grade 2 for Two-finned Venom Hunters,
Grade 3 for Three-finned Venom Hunters,
Grade 4 for Four-finned Venom Hunters,
Grade 5 for Five-finned Venom Hunters."
She paused, glancing at Dera with a small smile.
"And then, at the very top, we have the Arcane Level Hunters. They're the elite—Six- and Seven-finned Venom Hunters, the strongest warriors in the VHA."
Dera took in the sight around him, eyes wide. The hall was crowded with people, all dressed in various clan attire. Ancient runes marked the walls, each more intricate than the last, and the faint hum of power seemed to pulse from the stones.
"Who are all these people? Are they here for the test too?" he asked.
"Some are," Arya replied. "But most are clan representatives here to recruit promising talents into their ranks. They'll watch the tests, hoping to find someone worthy of joining their clan and learning their techniques."
Dera's curiosity grew. "Which clan are you from, Arya?"
She gestured toward a group of individuals wearing green kimono jackets embroidered with swirling wind patterns.
"I'm from the Wind Clan, one of the top five clsns."
As Dera's gaze wandered over the gathering crowd, he noticed a lone figure—a solemn, white-haired old man with a long, flowing beard and a blue-and-black kimono. The man sat in silence, his arms folded, his gaze steady as he observed the bustling crowd. Unlike the other clan leaders, who surrounded themselves with assistants and clan members, this man was alone, his presence both commanding and ignored.
"Who's that old man over there?" Dera asked, pointing.
Arya's tone turned dismissive. "Oh, him? That's the patriarch of the Lightning Clan."
"Why is he alone? Shouldn't there be other members from his clan with him?" Dera pressed, still watching the man.
"Lightning Clan only has one disciple. My guess is he's off on a mission," Arya said, barely interested.
" Why does he have only one student"? Dera asked
"Their Aura techniques are limited, with only four skills. No one from that clan has ever reached the Arcane Level because their power isn't enough against higher Venoms, that's why people avoid the lightning clan. You should also avoid them too." Dera glanced back at the patriarch, who briefly met his gaze, causing Dera to avert his eyes.
Just then, one of Arya's clan members approached, his eyes sharp with curiosity as he looked Dera over. "Hey, Arya! I see you've found a recruit for our clan. Has he tested yet?"
"Not yet," Arya replied, then gestured between the two. "Dera, this is Gin, a Grade 3 Hunter. Gin, meet Dera."
Gin's eyes widened when Arya leaned close, whispering, "He's from the Chi clan."
"The Chi clan!?" Gin blurted, shock and excitement coloring his face. Arya tried to hush him, but it was too late; murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Did someone say there's a Chi clan member here?"
"Where is he? We need to secure him for our clan!"
The hall descended into chaos, voices overlapping as clan representatives from all corners surged forward. Gin leaned in close to Arya, his face serious.
"Make sure he joins the Wind Clan. Don't let this opportunity slip by."
"Of course I know" she whispered back.
Arya nodded. Meanwhile, whispers and gasps filled the room, all centered on one name—the Chi clan. Renowned for their prodigious strength and unparalleled Aura control, they had a legacy forged in fire. Memories of Kempachi, the legendary Chi warrior who reached Arcane Level without ever joining a clan or learning their techniques, still lingered in the minds of many. And now, here stood another Chi—a potential prodigy.
Determined whispers grew around Dera as he entered the testing room, the crowd eagerly pressing around the entrance. Inside, representatives prepared gifts—silver, gold, weapons, anything to catch his attention when he emerged.
Inside the testing room, runic markings covered the walls, each symbol glowing faintly in the dim light. In the center of the room stood a massive, crystalline structure, radiating an otherworldly glow.
A woman in a dark cloak stepped forward, her eyes kind but probing. "Hello, Dera of the Chi clan. I'm Selene, and I'll be administering your test."
"Nice to meet you," Dera replied, trying to mask his nervousness with a small, awkward smile. The weight of the Chi clan's legacy felt heavier with each passing moment.
Selene's smile softened. "When you're ready, place your hand on the crystal."
Dera nodded, stretching his hand forward and pressing it against the cool surface of the crystal. A faint glow pulsed beneath his fingers, then grew rapidly, intensifying until it filled the room. The ground trembled, and a fierce, whirling wind erupted from the crystal, blowing through the testing hall and beyond.
Outside, people shielded their faces as the forceful winds howled, and whispers turned to awe.
"what the hell is happening!?" a voice shouted.
"T-this is the strength of a Chi clan member!" another replied.
The crystal shone brighter still, the light erupting in blinding waves as cracks appeared in the stone walls. A thrum of raw energy radiated through the facility, and those outside watched, awestruck and desperate.
Gin clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with determination. "He has to join the Wind Clan. I was right about him—he's a prodigy!"
At last, the light dimmed. The winds stilled. And as the doors opened, Dera emerged from the testing room, his head hanging low. Murmurs filled the hall as everyone looked for the symbol that would mark his strength. But there was nothing—no number, no symbol of power, no aura rank.
The crowd grew silent, stunned, and Dera's expression was one of bitter disappointment. The results were clear: Dera, of the legendary Chi clan, possessed no Aura. Not a spark. Nothing.