Chapter 1: First Steps at Vanguard Academy
The air was electric with energy as Talon Ignis Leonhardt stepped off the hover tram and onto the grounds of Vanguard Academy, the premiere training ground for aspiring Hunters. The sprawling campus was a mixture of modern architecture and magical infusion: sleek buildings with glowing runic etchings, floating lampposts powered by crystalline cores, and training arenas surrounded by shimmering barriers to protect spectators from stray magic or debris.
Talon adjusted the strap of his black duffel bag over his shoulder, his dark eyes scanning the towering main building ahead. The academy's emblem, a golden gryphon clutching a shard, was emblazoned above the massive entrance. This was it. The place where he would hone his skills and claim the power to ensure he never lost anyone again.
His Nemean Lion Runic Shard—a gift from his parents before their untimely deaths in an S-rank dungeon—thrummed faintly within him, a constant reminder of his untapped potential. It granted him immense strength, resistance to both physical and magical attacks, and the ability to partially transform, though mastering even those abilities had proven difficult.
Today, Talon would begin proving he belonged here.
---
The first-year orientation hall was packed with students. Talon found himself wedged between a towering guy in heavy armor who looked like he belonged in a medieval army and a girl with glowing, circuit-like tattoos tracing her arms—an Arcanist, judging by the faint hum of magic around her.
At the front of the hall, an imposing figure stepped onto the stage. He was a broad-shouldered man with a grizzled beard and a mechanical arm inscribed with glowing runes. His voice boomed across the hall without the need for amplification.
"Welcome to Vanguard Academy! My name is Director Kael Varn, and I'll keep this short: You're here because you have the potential to become Hunters—the shield against the Rift Zones and their endless tide of monsters."
Kael's gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on Talon, who met it without flinching.
"Many of you think you're strong already. Maybe you've taken down a few F-rank beasts, or you've got a flashy ability from a shard you picked up off an unlucky monster. Let me make something clear: You are unranked. You have no rank, no credibility, and no experience until this academy says you do."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, but Kael silenced it with a raised hand.
"Today, you'll face your first test. You'll be sent into controlled Rift Zones and pitted against monsters ranging from E-rank to D-rank. Survive, fight, and show us what you've got."
A buzz of anticipation spread through the students. Talon's heart quickened. This was what he'd been waiting for.
---
Talon was grouped with three other first-years for the test, each of them a stark contrast to the other:
- Lira, the girl with the circuit tattoos. She carried a staff that glowed faintly at the tips and moved with quiet confidence.
- Brant, a hulking, armored student who introduced himself with a cocky grin and the claim that he'd taken down a "D-rank chimera" last summer.
- Edrik, a wiry boy with nervous energy who fidgeted with a pair of daggers strapped to his belt.
Their instructor, a stern woman with silver hair tied into a braid and a scar running across one cheek, handed them a tablet displaying their assignment. Her voice was clipped and no-nonsense.
"Your target is an E-rank manticore located in Rift Zone B-3. It's venomous, so watch yourselves. The barriers will keep you from being killed, but injuries will still hurt, and failure will reflect on your future rankings."
She glanced at Talon, then at the others. "I expect you to work as a team. If you don't, you won't make it far here."
---
The Rift Zone was a controlled environment—a magically contained pocket of chaos within the academy grounds. As the group entered, the air shimmered and shifted, revealing a rocky canyon under a blood-red sky. The scent of sulfur hung thick, and faint growls echoed from the cliffs.
"Alright, team," Brant said, clapping his gauntleted hands together. "I'll take point. Lira, you handle support. Daggers over there—" he pointed at Edrik, who scowled, "—go for the legs. Talon, uh… do whatever it is you do."
Talon raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Thanks for the inspiring strategy, General Brant."
Before Brant could retort, a low growl reverberated through the canyon. A hulking, lion-like creature emerged from the shadows, its scorpion tail arcing menacingly over its back. Its eyes glowed an unnatural green, and venom dripped from its stinger, sizzling against the ground.
"E-rank?" Edrik whispered, his voice trembling. "That thing looks like it could bite my head off."
"Then don't let it," Talon said, stepping forward. He felt the familiar surge of power in his veins as he tapped into the Nemean Lion's shard. His muscles tensed, and golden fur began to creep over his arms, his fingers lengthening into claws.
The partial transformation was as far as he could manage for now, but it was enough.
"Let's do this."
---
The manticore lunged, its claws aiming for Brant, who barely managed to raise his shield in time. The impact sent him skidding back, cursing under his breath. Lira chanted quickly, summoning a glowing barrier around the group as venom sprayed from the manticore's tail, hissing against the magical shield.
Talon darted to the side, his enhanced strength and reflexes allowing him to close the distance in an instant. He slashed at the manticore's flank, his claws tearing through its tough hide. The monster roared in pain and swung its tail at him, forcing him to leap back.
"Now!" he shouted.
Edrik moved with surprising speed, his daggers flashing as he sliced at the manticore's legs. The beast stumbled, giving Brant an opening to charge forward and slam his shield into its side, toppling it over.
"Finish it!" Lira's voice cut through the chaos.
Talon didn't hesitate. With a burst of strength, he leaped onto the manticore's back, driving his claws into its neck. The creature thrashed, but his grip held firm. A final slash severed its spine, and the manticore collapsed, its body dissolving into shimmering particles.
As the particles faded, a small, glowing shard remained, pulsing faintly with energy. Talon stepped back, breathing heavily as his transformation receded.
"Not bad," Brant said grudgingly, picking himself up.
Lira smirked. "Could've been worse. At least no one got stung."
Edrik sheathed his daggers, still looking pale. "That was… intense."
Talon glanced at the shard. It would vanish soon, its power absorbed by the magical field of the Rift Zone. He flexed his hands, feeling the rush of victory mingled with the weight of his parents' legacy. This was just the beginning.