As we entered the gates of Yangu City, I was awestruck by the sheer size and liveliness of the place.
"This place is so big!" I exclaimed.
Dad chuckled. "Of course it is. Yangu is the third-largest country in the nation."
I looked around, taking in the shops lining the streets, the bustling crowds, and the tall buildings towering above. It was nothing like our quiet village.
"This place is 34 kilometers from home," I muttered to myself. "If it were closer, I could've used my Red Eye skill to keep an eye on Mom and Reu. But… they'll be fine."
After a while, we arrived at a massive building adorned with a unique symbol: a circle with spikes and a heart at its center.
"That's the Symbol of Bravery," Dad explained.
"Symbol of Bravery?" I asked.
"Yes. It's used by Beast Hunters to show they are brave and ready to protect others," he said with pride.
(That's so cool. Back in my old world, people who claimed to protect others were often driven by greed. But here, it feels… different.)
We entered the building, where tables filled the room. Hunters sat together, laughing, talking, and eating heartily. It was a lively atmosphere.
At the registration desk, a beautiful girl with blue hair, glasses, and a maid-like outfit greeted us.
"My son is 10 years old now," Dad began. "He's here to register as a Hunter."
The girl smiled warmly and turned to me. "What's your name, sir?"
"I-I'm Zeyu Lefon," I replied nervously.
She picked up a feathered pen and began writing. "I'm June Kiro. Nice to meet you, Zeyu." She handed me a form. "Please fill this out to continue."
The form was simple—just basic details like my name, age, and birthplace. After completing it, I handed it back. June stamped the paper and retrieved a silver plate.
"Please place your hand on this," she said.
I did as instructed. The plate glowed, displaying:
Name: Zeyu Lefon
Race: Human
Level: ----------- error
Skill: ----------- error
Both June and Dad stared at the plate in confusion.
"Why is it showing an error?" Dad asked.
June examined the plate closely. "I'm not sure… it might be a technical issue. We'll try to fix it later, but for now, you can keep this card."
I nodded, taking the card.
As we left the building, Dad muttered, "It's strange… I've never seen this kind of problem before."
I forced a smile. "Yeah, I wonder what happened."
(But deep down, I had a feeling… Is it because I'm from another world?)
We were walking when, suddenly, I froze. A chilling sensation coursed through my body.
"Zeyu?" Dad looked back at me, concerned. "What's wrong?"
I clutched my chest, my heartbeat racing uncontrollably. "D-Dad…"
Before I could say more, a massive explosion erupted behind us. The force knocked me forward, and I turned to see utter devastation.
Bodies littered the streets—some torn apart, others missing limbs or heads. People screamed and ran in every direction, desperate to escape.
Dad grabbed me and started running, his grip tight and protective.
The explosions didn't stop; they came one after another, tearing through the city.
"What the hell is going on?!" Dad shouted, dodging another blast as he shielded me.
Then, he stopped abruptly. I looked ahead, my heart sinking. Standing before us was a beast—a creature straight out of a nightmare.
It had three glowing eyes, its grotesque body drenched in blood, and its mouth torn wide open in a horrifying grin.
Dad set me down and said firmly, "Run."
I froze. "But, Dad—"
"Run! Obey me!" he yelled.
Tears welled in my eyes as I hesitated. (What should I do? What am I supposed to do?)
Finally, I turned and ran. The beast lunged at me, but Dad intercepted it with a powerful punch, sending it crashing into a nearby building.
As I ran through the streets, the carnage around me was overwhelming—decapitated bodies, severed limbs, and organs scattered everywhere. The metallic scent of blood filled the air.
My vision blurred, my head spinning. I collapsed to the ground, struggling to breathe.
When I looked up, my heart stopped.
In front of me stood another beast, wings spread wide. Impaled on its sharp claws was my father.
"DAD!" I screamed, my voice breaking.
Dad turned his head weakly to look at me. Blood poured from his wounds as he stammered, "R-Run… m-my s-son…"
Before I could react, the first beast returned, and in one horrific motion, it tore my father's head off and devoured it.
My body trembled uncontrollably. My mind went blank.
"DADDDDDDDDDDD!!!"
The world around me spun as darkness consumed me. I collapsed, unconscious.