The academy hall was vast, but in that moment, it felt as though space had collapsed between Ash and the approaching group. His Observation Haki rippled with sharp awareness, picking up on subtle details—posture, breathing, movements.
The one leading them, Sunny, had a presence unlike the others. Not just because of his quiet demeanor, but because his very existence seemed… veiled. As if he walked within a shadow that refused to part.
For the briefest moment, neither spoke.
The air between them was charged—two unknown factors, two unpredictable forces standing in the same place.
Then, the silence broke.
A voice—lighthearted but edged with curiosity.
"Hey, you're that guy from the evaluation, right?"
Ash's gaze shifted slightly to the speaker. A tall, well-built young man with golden hair and striking features—Kai, if he recalled correctly.
Ash didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took in the rest of the group.
Beside Kai, a girl with a calculating gaze—Effie. A huntress.
Next to her, a small girl with silver hair and sharp eyes—Cassie. Her presence was harder to pin down, but there was a certain weight to her movements.
And then, of course, Sunny, who was watching Ash just as closely.
"…Yeah," Ash finally replied, his tone unreadable.
Kai grinned. "Man, that was insane. You took Kael apart like it was nothing."
Ash remained silent. He had no interest in idle chatter.
Kai, unfazed, continued. "I was gonna challenge you myself, but, well… things got busy."
"Unfortunate," Ash said, his tone neutral.
Kai laughed. "Yeah, I get the feeling you don't talk much."
Effie, who had been watching the exchange, spoke up. "You're new, but you're already ranking high. No offense, but… where the hell did you come from?"
Ash met her gaze. "Nowhere."
Effie frowned, but before she could press further, Cassie suddenly tilted her head, her expression unreadable.
"…You don't feel normal."
Her words carried more weight than they should have. Ash didn't react outwardly, but he noted it.
Sunny, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was an underlying sharpness to it.
"You fight like someone who's used to being hunted."
Ash glanced at him. For the first time, a flicker of something crossed his usually blank expression.
"…And you fight like someone who's used to surviving."
A brief silence.
Then, to Ash's slight surprise, Sunny smirked.
The tension didn't ease, but it shifted. This was not hostility—this was recognition.
Kai, sensing the atmosphere, whistled. "Man, I feel like I just watched two wolves acknowledge each other."
Effie crossed her arms. "That, or they're trying to decide whether to kill each other."
Ash ignored them, his mind already moving ahead. This was only a first encounter. A brief crossing of paths.
But something told him—this wouldn't be the last.
And he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
---
System Update – Stat Growth
Strength +2
Agility +1
Perception +2
Endurance +1
---
The meeting ended as suddenly as it began. The group moved on, and Ash remained where he was, deep in thought.
His path was set. His trial awaited.
And now, there were new unknowns to consider. The tension in the air was palpable. Ash stood still, his posture calm yet unreadable, as the group in front of him studied him with wary curiosity.
Sunny's gaze was sharp, calculating, as if trying to unravel the mystery standing before him. Nephis remained silent, her silver eyes reflecting the flickering glow of the Nightmare Realm. Cassie's head tilted slightly, her expression unreadable, while Kai and Effie exchanged brief glances, sensing the weight of the moment.
Ash knew who they were—legends in the making. But to them, he was an unknown variable, an enigma shrouded in darkness.
Sunny finally spoke, his voice neutral yet edged with suspicion. "You're not from any group I've seen before."
Ash remained silent for a moment, then replied, his voice even. "I prefer to move alone."
A simple answer, yet it carried layers of meaning. He wasn't here to make allies. Not yet.
Nephis studied him, her expression giving away nothing. "You're strong." It wasn't a question—it was a statement, an observation.
Ash met her gaze, unflinching. "Strong enough."
The silence stretched between them, the crackling embers of a dying fire the only sound.
Effie scoffed, crossing her arms. "Tch. You sure don't talk much, do you?"
"I talk when necessary."
Kai smirked. "Mysterious type, huh? That's always fun."
Ash remained impassive. He had no reason to explain himself to them. Not now.
Cassie, however, suddenly frowned. "There's… something strange about you." Her blindfolded eyes seemed to look past him, as if peering into something beyond sight.
Ash tensed slightly. Could she sense something deeper?
Sunny noticed the subtle shift in Ash's stance, his own instincts sharpening. This stranger wasn't normal.
Nephis finally broke the silence. "Whatever your reasons are, we don't have time to pry. We have a trial to complete."
Ash inclined his head slightly. "Then don't let me stop you."
With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
But he could feel their gazes lingering on his back.
The meeting was brief, but it had set something in motion.
And Ash knew—this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths.