CHAPTER 29: MAYA VANCE

Lucian stood completely still, sensing the sharp edges of the distant killing intent slithering around his body and his neck, threatening to slit his throat any second.

He wasn’t afraid but cautious. In a world where government has fallen and the rules of the strongest have been applied, it was but foolish for one to reveal the extent of their strengths in public.

If their strength were to be weaker than the other’s, others would stomp all over the weakling, exerting their nonsensical superiority.

While, if one were to be stronger than many others, they’d attract unwanted attention. Both from those who admired their strengths and those who found themselves drowning in envy.

Lucian — as he was — could sense the presence of hundreds, stronger than your average humans. And hiding amongst them was a presence that surpassed others by several levels. Someone powerful enough to try to intimidate his mind.

’This blade — it’s sharp but weak.’ His eyes darted to his chest, glaring at something that was otherwise invisible to the others.

A faint luminous gray hue glimmered within his irises, making his cerulean eyes glow eerily. Around his body, Lucian saw the slowly spreading crimson dark hue — wrapping itself around his chest.

Although he could not feel anything, he saw the hue slowly climbing his body, approaching his neck with small stuck-out tentacles.

All of a sudden, his lips curled into a wide grin. He twisted his neck and turned his head just enough for his eyes to peek from behind the corner.

Sliding through the narrow gaps in between the crowd, the crimson hue narrowed into fine, thin threads. At a certain distance, a figure stood veiled behind a dark robe — their face hidden beneath the shadow cast by the robe.

Through the shadows, a pair of bright, striking red irises sparkled with confidence.

At the same time, the man up front gritted his teeth in humiliation.

’To look behind completely defenseless... To ignore my threats... Even though he should be grovelling his head at my feet...’

The man clenched his fists tighter, his eyes red with anger. Without a second thought, he raised his knuckled fist and tilted his body forward.

His fist fell twice as fast as he used his body’s momentum, grinning as if, in his mind, he had already seen the dead corpse of the man who dared ignore his threats.

Lucian, however, seemed to be indulged in a world different from his. In a low, almost inaudible voice, he muttered, "Found you..." And slightly widened his eyes.

*Crack!*

A loud sound reverberated behind Lucian. His right arm was raised, his fist piercing through the old man’s jaw from below. The old man’s fist remained hung in the air, his eyes completely white as his mind blacked out in an instant. Several teeth flew out from his jaw and dropped on the floor as blood traced its way through his facial orifices.

The crowd, consisting of several hundred hunters, gasped in shock as if they’d seen something impossible. The figure — standing at a distance — flinched slightly, their eyes widened and trembling with a glint of surprise.

In that exact moment, a couple of thoughts erupted in Lucian’s mind.

’Although I do not want to reveal my powers yet, it doesn’t mean I’ll let weaklings like you walk over me.’

A strong bright light erupted from his abdomen and instantly enveloped his body in a visible white layer of glow. The crimson hue that had already covered half of his body was blown to bits by the bright light as its remnants retreated in fear.

Almost instantly, the figure clasped their head and stumbled aback, flinching. While at the same time, the bright light that had flared over Lucian’s body disappeared as if it had never existed in the first place. His eyes as well returned to normal.

He turned around, paying no attention whatsoever to the figure behind. He was smiling — happy with his actions. Lucian then stepped over the old man’s unconscious body, shaking his right hand in the air to jerk off the remaining blood off his hand.

"I’d like to be registered as a Hunter." He said out loud, resting his hands over the counter — smiling at the employees as if nothing had happened.

The crowd — including employees — gasped in unison, ’To think he wasn’t even registered as a Hunter!’

Almost immediately, one of the employees regained their composure and stammered, "Y-Yes, of course! Please head to the 3rd gate." She politely pointed to her right. "You will be able to take your Hunter’s registration exam there."

"Alright, thanks!" He replied casually and headed off towards the 3rd gate as the crowd pushed each other to get out of his way.

Watching him leave, everyone let out a short breath of sigh. The employees quickly wiped sweat off their foreheads and looked at each other proudly as if they’d just survived a life-and-death situation.

The figure who stood flinched way back in the crowd, suddenly began walking towards the counter as well. One of their hands slid beneath the robe and pulled out a luminous white hand-sized rectangular card.

Slamming it on the counter, the figure called out to one of the employees.

"Arrange a meeting with the Association Head." The voice wasn’t deep but high-pitched — resembling that of a girl.

The robe unknowingly slid down from the figure’s head as long black hair hurled down their back. Everyone’s attention shifted from the man to this strangely familiar figure that now stood before the counter.

The employees gasped first in recognition; the crowd followed later. With just a single glance, they recognized the one standing before their eyes.

With trembling hands, the employee picked up the white card and read the name "Maya Vance" engraved on it.

She quickly bowed her head and greeted her with utmost respect. "Yes, Ms. Vance, I’ll arrange the meeting as soon as possible. Please head over to the Association Head’s office on the top floor."