A Week Later...
The atmosphere in the Hunter Association was filled with the rumble of conversations and laughter. Hunters of various ranks gathered, exchanging stories while enjoying alcoholic beverages that would make ordinary people collapse within minutes. But for those accustomed to facing danger, alcohol was merely a complement to happiness.
In one corner of the association, two Hunters exchanged information with enthusiastic expressions.
"Hey, have you heard? The low-level Magical Beasts around the city have decreased drastically lately," said a muscular Hunter with a diagonal scar across his cheek.
His younger companion raised an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't know that."
"Of course you didn't! You've been too busy spending time at the bar," the first Hunter laughed, then leaned forward with a slightly lowered voice. "Rumor has it, there's an Irregular Hunter hunting in our territory."
"An Irregular Hunter?" his companion's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
Irregular Hunter—a term for Hunters operating without official identity cards. Without registration in the government database, no one knew the true talent or strength of such Hunters. This fact made them always viewed with caution, even avoided. The majority of Irregular Hunters were known to be dangerous and often captured by government or association Hunters.
"I feel sorry for the low-ranking Hunters. It must be getting harder for them to find hunting targets," commented the young Hunter, shaking his head.
"On the contrary, my friend." The muscular Hunter grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"Unlike most Irregular Hunters, this Hunter is actually popular among low-ranking Hunters. They're even eager to find this one."
"What?!" The Hunter was shocked. "Why would they look for trouble with an Irregular Hunter?"
"That's what's interesting." The Hunter drained his drink, his face reddening further. "Based on testimonies I've heard, this Irregular Hunter actually saves low-ranking Hunters from danger. Not stealing their targets like other Irregular Hunters."
"Is that all?" The young Hunter furrowed his brow. Such behavior was unusual, but not extraordinary.
"Of course not," the muscular Hunter chuckled. "The main reason everyone is looking for this Hunter is... their appearance."
"Their appearance?"
"Yes." The Hunter nodded with full conviction. "According to descriptions from Hunters who have met this person, this Irregular Hunter possesses astonishing beauty... like a Goddess descended from the heavens. Some even say that such beauty only exists in dreams."
The young Hunter rolled his eyes in disbelief. "They're exaggerating."
Beauty of a Goddess? Beauty that only exists in dreams? Aren't there already many female S-rank Hunters with captivating faces? Not to mention S+ rank Hunters and above, whose beauty was already a special privilege.
"I thought so too, until I heard that the one praising her to the skies was... the Young Master of the Falcon Family, Emil Falcon."
"No way?!" The young Hunter inadvertently slammed the table, drawing attention from several Hunters around them. "Emil Falcon? Are you serious?"
Forget about Emil Falcon's still low rank. As a descendant of the illustrious Falcon family, everyone knew he was destined to become an A+ or even S-rank Hunter, like his older brother, Mirai Falcon, who now served as the vice chairman of the Hunter Association.
What made this news sensational was the fact that Emil Falcon was known as a very shy young man who had never shown interest in any woman. No girl had succeeded in capturing his attention until now...
"If that's true, then this Irregular Hunter is very lucky," said the young Hunter, whistling softly.
"Absolutely. They say Young Master Emil is also searching for her with determination."
"My goodness..." The young Hunter shook his head in amazement. "Now I'm also curious about the appearance of this Irregular Hunter."
"Same here," the muscular Hunter nodded in agreement. "Anyone capable of captivating Emil Falcon must possess beauty equal to an S+ rank Hunter, or even beyond..."
Their conversation continued, shifting to lighter topics. The atmosphere returned to warm and pleasant. But no one suspected that the subject of their conversation would soon appear before them...
***
THUD!
The sound of the association door being forcefully opened broke through the commotion. All eyes reflexively turned toward the source of the sound.
Time seemed to freeze. All the air in the room stopped instantaneously.
In the doorway stood a figure that brought all the Hunters' thoughts to a halt.
'BY THE GODS! IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN TO BE THIS BEAUTIFUL IN THIS WORLD?!'
The unspoken scream echoed in everyone's mind.
A woman stepped in with hypnotizing grace. Each of her movements created a profound impression—elegant yet filled with an undeniable aura. Her expression was calm and slightly indifferent, as if the presence of dozens of Hunters staring at her in awe was nothing more than a passing breeze.
Her long, shimmering purple hair was perfectly styled, swaying gently with her every step. Her eyes—a pair of deep purple jewels—radiated wisdom and indescribable power. Her pale porcelain-like skin contrasted perfectly with the dark purple kimono she wore—a traditional garment rarely seen in this era.
What made her appearance even more captivating was the dark purple stockings elegantly wrapping her legs and the small birthmark near her right eye—a small detail that perfected her flawless beauty.
The kimono she wore wasn't just clothing. Each fold, each embroidery detail, told a story of grandeur and power. And most impressive—the intimidating aura radiating from her, creating a clear message: 'don't approach, or face the consequences.'
The Hunters—even those who had seen beauty from all corners of the world—were stunned. This woman's beauty surpassed the S or SS+ rank Hunters they had ever encountered!
Feeling piercing gazes from all directions, the woman frowned momentarily before resuming her indifferent expression. She realized that sooner or later, she would become the center of attention.
After all, her image was that of someone cold to strangers but warm to those close to her...
***
Amid the suffocating silence, inside the woman's mind, a series of notifications appeared incessantly:
[ Ding! Received 2,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 3,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 1,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 3,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 1,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 10,000 Achievement Points ]
[ Ding! Received 5,000 Achievement Points ]
...
Disturbed by the endless stream of notifications, Lux (Raiden Ei) furrowed her brow.
'Could you turn off the notifications for now? Activate them only when truly important.'
[ Ding! Understood... ]
With that, the voices vanished from her mind, making her sigh with relief. However, her focus remained on the purpose of her visit today.
With confident steps that implied elegance and power, she approached the reception desk where a young girl was on duty.
Just as she was about to speak, Lux (Raiden Ei) felt a startling oddity. Her mind suddenly went blank.
'What's happening?' she thought, confused. 'Why... am I having difficulty starting a conversation?'
It wasn't an issue of speaking, but more precisely—she couldn't take the initiative to start a conversation!
This reality shocked her immensely.
'Don't tell me...'
[ Since the Host did not fully receive Raiden Ei's life experience, the System needs to inform the Host of something ]
[ Raiden Ei is a character who experiences 'socialization issues' ]
"..." Lux (Raiden Ei) remained silent, unable to respond to this information.
This was apparently a side effect of the hundreds of years Raiden Ei spent meditating in the 'Plane of Euthymia'—her own consciousness dimension. Being isolated from the outside world for centuries had caused her to lose basic social skills.
Surprisingly, this imperfection actually added to her charm. Who would have guessed that behind the cold and perfect Electro Archon, lurked a side that was so... adorable?
"I-is there anything I can help you with, Miss?" the receptionist's voice trembled, clearly fascinated and intimidated by the woman before her.
Her nervousness was understandable. Raiden Ei's beauty was so dazzling that it made her feel small. The girl tried hard not to stare too long, worried about appearing disrespectful.
But her efforts were in vain. The charm of the purple-haired woman was like a magnet—impossible to divert. Even the captivating scent of her body filled the air around them, creating an intoxicating sensation that made the girl's head spin.
Realizing the receptionist's nervousness, Lux (Raiden Ei) tried to ease the tension with her calm yet authoritative voice.
"I want to make a Hunter identity card," she said, getting straight to the point.
"Eh?" The receptionist gasped, her eyes widening.
"Is there a problem?" Lux (Raiden Ei) frowned slightly.
"N-not at all, Miss! F-forgive my surprise!" The receptionist hurriedly bowed, panicking at the thought of angering the Electro Archon. "P-please follow me..."
***
Meanwhile, the Hunters who were still stunned gradually returned to their senses after the mesmerizing figure disappeared from view. Their reactions varied but were equally filled with overflowing interest.
"By the ancestors! That was the most amazing woman I've ever seen in my life!"
"That birthmark near her eye... damn, I almost lost my sanity just by looking at it!"
"Wait a minute, wasn't she going to get a Hunter identity card? That means..."
The male Hunters suddenly fell silent, processing the implications of this fact. Simultaneously, the same desire crossed all their minds...
They wanted to recruit her into their groups or guilds!
Amid the commotion, several low-ranking Hunters were fixed in place with astonished expressions.
'That's her... That's the Irregular Hunter that the Young Master has been searching for!'
"Hey, wake up, fool!" The Hunter shook his friend's shoulder enthusiastically. "Quickly contact Young Master Emil!"
"H-huh? A-alright!" his still dazed friend hurriedly rushed outside.
The first Hunter began to devise a plan to stall for time until their Young Master arrived. Of course, behind his plan lurked the intention to make a good impression on the mysterious woman.
***
"C-could you state your name, Miss?" asked the receptionist, her voice still trembling.
"...Raiden Shogun." After a brief pause to think, Lux (Raiden Ei) decided on the name she would use.
It wasn't without reason that she was reluctant to use the name Raiden Ei. In her mind, her real name was too precious to be given to just anyone. Only those who were worthy had the right to know her true identity.
This attitude might seem arrogant, but it was a consequence of Raiden Ei's personality—or more precisely, Raiden Shogun's?
Lux (Raiden Ei) herself wasn't sure about the state of Raiden Shogun's consciousness at present, considering her role now was as Raiden Ei.
Or perhaps she was playing both roles? This uncertainty made her slightly worried. She hoped there wasn't a hidden "time bomb" within her—the Shogun personality that could take over at any time.
"W-what about the city, empire, or kingdom where you reside?" the receptionist continued her questioning.
"I am not affiliated with any power. In other words, 'Neutral'," Lux answered calmly.
"S-so, could it be concluded that you're from a village?"
"...Yes, assume it's like that." Although this answer sounded somewhat condescending, but considering that Raiden Ei basically had no identity in this world, she was indeed like a villager who knew nothing.
"T-then..."
For the next few minutes, the question and answer process continued. The receptionist provided a series of standard questions, while Lux (Raiden Ei) answered all of them calmly and concisely.
"And finally..." The receptionist pointed to a large, shining ball in the center of the room. "C-could you touch this ball? This ball will determine your current Tier, Talent, and experience."
"Tier?" Though she already knew the answer, Lux (Raiden Ei) still pretended to be uninformed.
"Tier is a person's power ranking," the receptionist explained. "The higher your Tier, the faster and easier it is to increase your Hunter rank."
The Tier System starts from Tier 1 to Tier 10, with each Tier divided into three levels: beginning, middle, and end. Breaking through Tier boundaries is not easy—the speed of breakthrough depends heavily on the type of Talent one possesses.
In the past, a person's power was judged purely by the Tier they held. But since the emergence of the Hunter Rank System, the power system changed. Power isn't everything—if Tier represents one's strength, then Rank represents a combination of strength, experience, and achievements.
The high Rank of a person shows not only their power but also their combat experience. For example, if a Tier 6 (end) Hunter with no fighting experience faces a Rank S Tier 5 (end) Hunter, the Rank S Hunter would win thanks to their higher combat experience.
Despite being inferior in terms of Tier, high Tier doesn't always determine the outcome of a battle. There are many factors that are key to victory—strategy, technique, knowledge, and even luck.
'But Tier, huh...?'
Lux (Raiden Ei) stared at the large ball before her with full doubt. Her power didn't come from [mana] like typical Hunters, but from a different dimension. This made her curious—how would this world define the power of an Electro Archon in their Tier and Talent system?
Raiden Ei's greatest achievement was splitting an island with a single slash. She had lived for more than a thousand years, and as the Electro Archon, her power should be equivalent to Tier 8 (peak) or even higher.
With all that, she might qualify for SS+ Rank Hunter.
But could this ball detect all of that?
Lux (Raiden Ei) stared at the "Truth Orbs"—a three-meter diameter ball that functions not only to determine one's Tier and Talent, but also to measure all their experience and achievements. This system was designed to prevent fraud, such as Hunters claiming to have killed a Dragon when they actually hadn't.
Thanks to the "Truth Orbs," Hunters could evaluate their ranks fairly and transparently. There was no inside track; everyone had to compete and struggle honestly. For those who wanted to remain hidden and undetected, the only option was to become an Irregular Hunter.
[ Ding! Foreign power attempting to examine Host's entire information! ]
[ Ding! Concealment System activated! ]
[ Ding! Information concealment successful! ]
"..."
"I-is there a problem, Miss?" asked the receptionist worriedly.
"No... it's nothing." Lux (Raiden Ei) was momentarily surprised but quickly returned to her normal expression.
The receptionist sighed with relief, then approached the 'Truth Orbs' carefully. But when she saw the information displayed... her face turned pale.
"W-WHAT...?!!" Her scream broke the silence.
"I-impossible... T-this information..." Her voice trembled as she stared at Lux (Raiden Ei) with wide eyes. "S-sorry, it seems... there might be a mistake. C-could you touch it once more, Miss?"
"Hm? Certainly." Though slightly confused, Lux (Raiden Ei) placed her hand on the ball again.
The receptionist stared at the Truth Orbs trembling, only to find that the information remained the same, but the ball's light was much brighter than before.
Seeing this reaction, Lux (Raiden Ei) thought that she might need to channel more energy. Without hesitation, she released a bit more of her power...
And what happened next was beyond anyone's expectations.
The ball suddenly emitted a deafening purple lightning, striking in all directions!
BOOOOM...!!!
"Kyaaa!!"
The receptionist was thrown back by the tremendous energy wave. With speed almost invisible to the eye, Lux (Raiden Ei) darted to catch the girl before her body hit the floor.
"Are you not hurt—"
"Damn! Is that for real?!"
Lux's words were cut off by a shocked exclamation from someone.
Her beautiful pupils contracted as she realized that her information was now exposed to the entire room—no, more than that! The thundering purple lightning had formed a giant projection on the ceiling, large enough to be witnessed by the entire city.
"That's..."
The Hunters trembled, staring with gaping mouths at the array of sentences displayed in the air...
Purple lightning thundered as the Truth Orbs emitted golden light with an undeniable aura of majesty.
...
[ Name : Raiden Shogun ]
[ Tier : Tier 8 (end) ]
[ 1st Talent Rank SSS : Electro Archon ]
[ 2st Talent Rank SSS : Musou no Hitotachi ]
[ 3st Talent Rank SS : Raiden Shogun ]
[ 4st Talent Rank S+ : Musou Isshin ]
[ 5st Talent Rank A+ : Plane of Euthymia ]
[ 6st Talent Rank ??? : Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto ]
[ Overall evaluation: Her strength, experience, reputation, and Talents are more than enough to face an SS+ Rank Hunter! ]
...
The information displayed in the sky made everyone hold their breath.
"R-rank SS+... with six Talents and one of them even unknown in Rank..."
A suffocating silence enveloped the room as everyone tried to digest what they had just witnessed. Then—
"AMAZING! DID YOU SEE THAT?!"
"OUR CITY HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO AN SS+ RANK HUNTER!"
"AND SIX TALENTS?! EVEN LEGENDARY HUNTERS AT MOST HAVE ONLY FIVE TALENTS! BUT SHE HAS SIX!"
"OUR CITY HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE GOD OF FORTUNE!"
The atmosphere changed to a commotion full of joy. No one doubted the truth of what they saw—Truth Orb could not lie. It was a sacred artifact created by the Gods themselves.
Their joy doubled considering that an SS+ Rank Hunter had been born in their small city. With the presence of such a caliber Hunter, their city's combat power would increase drastically. No need to worry about the possibility of Dungeon Break anymore—even the central association and government wouldn't dare to underestimate them!
Although their city already had support from the Falcon Family thanks to the presence of three S Rank Hunters, that alone wasn't enough to guarantee their security and influence. But with the emergence of an SS+ Rank Hunter, even the Imperial families in the capital would give special attention to this city!
Lux (Raiden Ei) stood still amid the commotion, her face remaining calm though in her heart she felt a little surprised. She hadn't expected that her arrival would create such a sensation.
***
"Young Master! Look at the sky!"
The panicked shout of a D Rank Hunter broke the calm of that afternoon. Several other Hunters around the young man simultaneously looked up, their mouths gaping in shock.
Emil Falcon—a handsome fifteen-year-old with soft brown hair and brilliant green eyes—followed their gaze with a wrinkled brow. In an instant, his eyes widened in disbelief, his body frozen.
In the clear sky of the city, a giant announcement was projected in golden light—a phenomenon that only occurs when Truth Orbs announce the presence of a rare Hunter. This time, the writing was different. Not the usual S Rank Hunter that appears once every few years, but something impossible:
"SS+ Rank Hunter has been born: Raiden Shogun"
Emil's heart pounded. 'Rank SS+? Impossible! Even over hundreds of years, the strongest Hunter only reached S+ Rank!'
"I must report this news to my brother and father!" he muttered before running as fast as lightning toward the Hunter association.
***
The Hunter Association was usually a quiet and orderly place. Today was different. A crowd of Hunters from various Ranks packed the main lobby, all eyes fixed on the large information screen displaying the same announcement that had appeared in the sky.
Emil pushed through the crowd, breathing heavily. In the corner of the room, he spotted two burly Hunters who should have been on a search mission.
"Y-you two! What are you doing here?" Emil asked in a demanding tone, his eyes flashing with expectation. "Weren't you supposed to be looking for that Irregular Hunter?"
The two men exchanged nervous glances before the older one gathered courage to answer, "W-well, Young Master... Actually, we've already found the Irregular Hunter you've been looking for."
"Eh?" Emil was stunned, his chest fluttering with hope. "W-where is the Irregular Hunter now?!" he asked excitedly, his voice slightly breaking with overwhelming enthusiasm.
Emil had been obsessed with finding this mysterious Irregular Hunter for weeks—someone rumored to possess amazing abilities but whose face was never seen and who always disappeared as quickly as they appeared.
"A-about that..." The younger man swallowed hard. "It seems the Irregular Hunter you've been looking for is... the Rank SS+ Hunter whose information is being displayed right now..."
Emil froze. The world around him seemed to fade into meaningless whispers. Only one word managed to escape his dry lips. "...Huh?"
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted around them. The crowd that had been noisy suddenly fell silent, then burst into whispers of admiration.
Emil felt his heart stop beating for a moment.
'That... That's her...'
Walking gracefully through the center of the room like a goddess descending to the mortal realm, appeared the figure he had only dreamed of. A mature woman with time-freezing charm—long dark purple hair tied in a high bun with beautiful ornaments, sharp electric purple eyes that held eternal wisdom, and an aura of majesty that enveloped her body, clothed in an elegant purple kimono with golden details.
The dark purple kimono was slightly open at the thigh, exposing black stockings that perfectly embraced her long legs. Each step was graceful yet firm, creating an amazing contrast between gentleness and strength.
A stifling silence enveloped the room as the woman walked toward the reception desk. The Hunters moved aside to make way, as if afraid that even the slightest touch could invite the wrath of the goddess.
'She's here... Finally... I have a chance to see her once more...'
Emil's body trembled violently. Memories flooded his mind—when he was trapped during an attack by a pack of high-level Magical Beasts in the forbidden forest three months ago. Death was about to claim him then, until a purple flash split the sky and in an instant, all monsters vanished into dust. It was this woman who saved him, looking at him briefly with cold yet beautiful purple eyes, before disappearing like a dream.
Since then, Emil Falcon had been enchanted and couldn't stop thinking about her.
Now, his savior goddess stood before him, real and more breathtaking than his memory.
A receptionist with trembling hands asked, "E-excuse me, Miss. But is the information in the sky yours?"
The woman—Raiden Shogun—frowned slightly, her expression disturbed yet still elegant. "Yes," she answered briefly, her voice melodious yet firm, reminiscent of distant thunder.
Like a dam breaking, the room exploded into noise and shouts of offers from various Guilds.
"Miss, join our Guild! You'll get 90% of the profits from each hunt!"
"No, Miss! Our Guild will make you Deputy directly!"
"Don't listen to them! Our Guild has connections with the kingdom!"
The corner of Raiden Shogun's lips twitched subtly, clearly annoyed but deciding to ignore the chaos. She turned to the receptionist and asked in a calm voice that cut through the commotion, "What about my Hunter identification card?"
"T-that..." the receptionist swallowed nervously, "Because this is the first time we're handling Rank SS+, the process takes longer. Our system wasn't programmed for..." her voice faded under Raiden's sharp gaze.
Emil saw an opportunity. With his position as the second son of the Falcon family—one of the wealthiest noble families in the kingdom—he could expedite that process. This was his chance to get closer!
But before words could leave his mouth, a baritone voice full of confidence cut through the atmosphere.
"If that's the problem, I can help you, Lady."
Raiden turned, her eyes narrowing as she observed the man now standing before her—a handsome young man with pale purple hair and gleaming green eyes. His luxurious white cloak adorned with gold embroidery and the jeweled magic staff in his hand indicated his high status.
"...You?" Raiden asked, one eyebrow slightly raised.
The man bowed elegantly, kneeling on one knee before Raiden before taking the woman's hand and holding it in the air—not quite daring to kiss it but bold enough to touch it.
"Ah, forgive my rudeness, My Lady." His voice was smooth and hypnotic. "My identity may not be too important in your presence, but allow me to introduce myself... My name is Yerlin van Julius, known as the Flowers Magician, one of the Rank S Hunters in this city."
Raiden Shogun looked at him with a flat expression, unimpressed. "...Raiden Shogun."
"Raiden?" Yerlin smiled charmingly. "A name that sounds very fitting for you, Lady... Like unrivaled lightning, striking with a speed that cannot be chased and power that cannot be resisted. I feel fortunate to be able to touch that lightning without being struck," he said in a seductive tone that had conquered the hearts of many noble women before.
The male Hunters around them wore gloomy expressions. Even Emil felt the heat of jealousy burning in his chest. How dare that man flirt with his lightning goddess!
But Raiden Shogun was unlike any woman Yerlin had ever met. She withdrew her hand with a smooth yet firm movement, her eyes cold like a frozen lake.
"Enough nonsense. How do you intend to help me? And what must I pay for it?"
Yerlin felt a little lost, but his smile didn't fade. "With my authority as a Rank S Hunter, I can make you a Hunter identification card in an instant. The payment is..." He looked at Raiden softly. "Marry me."
Total silence enveloped the room. Emil felt his blood boil.
Raiden was about to open her mouth when Yerlin chuckled and added, "Of course that was just a joke," while winking flirtatiously.
The atmosphere in the room tensed. All eyes stared at Yerlin with a mixture of admiration and hatred. The man, however, had done what they could only dream of—speaking directly to this new lightning goddess.
'Insolent bastard,' Emil thought furiously. 'He's not even worthy to touch the tip of her finger!'
Noticing the murderous looks he was receiving, Yerlin merely chuckled softly. Behind his laughter, ambition blazed.
This woman, this unrivaled beauty, would be his. With his charm that had conquered many noble women's hearts, he was confident it was only a matter of time before the lightning goddess fell into his arms.
"I will help you, Lady, but in return... Please grant me one request."
"As long as it's not a request beyond boundaries, I will consider it," Raiden Shogun replied flatly.
"That is more than enough." Yerlin smiled with satisfaction. 'First step successful.'
Raiden Shogun nodded briefly. She was about to walk away but suddenly remembered something. With a smooth movement, she turned toward the receptionist, her expression slightly hesitant—the first emotion she had shown since entering the room.
"This is compensation from me for damaging association property."
From within her kimono sleeve, Raiden Shogun produced something that made the entire room gasp—magic cores from various Magical Beasts, shimmering in different colors, numbering more than a hundred.
Magic cores are crystallizations of energy formed within Magical Beasts, the source of their power and valuable materials for weapons and alchemy. A single magic core from a low-level Beast could feed a Hunter's family for a week, and here, Raiden placed a pile that could buy a luxurious house!
"Y-you don't need to..." the receptionist stammered, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
The Hunters whispered among themselves. "Hasn't there been an Irregular Hunter lately who's been mass slaughtering Magical Beasts? Who always disappears before anyone sees them?"
"Don't tell me..."
But before anyone could confirm their speculation, Raiden Shogun's body transformed into a blinding purple flash—then vanished, leaving stunned silence.
"Hmm... she really is an interesting woman," muttered Yerlin with a smile etched on his lips. His gaze swept the room and his eyebrow raised when he realized that Emil Falcon had also disappeared. But he quickly dismissed it.
'Emil is no threat. That teenage boy won't be able to compete with me for the lightning goddess's heart.'
With steady steps, Yerlin moved toward the special office to complete the Hunter identification card for the woman he had set as his new target.
***
"W-wait!"
In a quiet alley not far from the association, Lux (Raiden Ei)'s steps halted. She turned with graceful yet cautious movement, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at the young man panting behind her.
Emil Falcon stood with broken breaths, sweat flowing at his temples. His bright green eyes radiated burning determination, though his body trembled violently.
'How could he follow me?' Lux (Raiden Ei) wondered, slightly impressed. Even with her lightning speed, this young man had managed to track her. 'Perhaps his eyes have special abilities.'
"Do you need something from me?" asked Lux (Raiden Ei) in a flat tone, though there was a barely detectable hint of curiosity.
Emil tried to stabilize his breathing. His face flushed red, partly from running, partly from being in the presence of the goddess who had inhabited his dreams for months.
"T-there's something I want to talk to you about," he finally managed to say.
"Speak." Lux (Raiden Ei) stared at him, her dark purple eyes seeming to penetrate into Emil's soul.
"I..." Emil's heart was beating so fast he feared it might explode. A drop of sweat slid down his temple as he gathered all his courage.
"I've loved you since our first meeting! Please marry me!"
The words shot out like an arrow, clear and without hesitation—a confession he had prepared and practiced for months.
Lux (Raiden Ei) froze before her eyebrows creased slightly. "You—"
"I-I know this sounds crazy!" Emil cut in quickly, afraid his courage would vanish if he stopped. "I realize I'm much weaker than you, but believe me, I will become as strong as you! I just need time!"
"Listen—" Lux (Raiden Ei) tried to speak, but once again Emil interrupted with words flowing rapidly.
"And with my status as part of the Falcon Family, I'm sure both our lives will be secure! I promise to be faithful for life! Never taking concubines or even looking at other women! So please, marry—"
"ENOUGH!"
BOOM...!!
The sky above them suddenly darkened and purple lightning struck around Lux (Raiden Ei). Waves of electric energy radiated from her body, throwing Emil back several meters.
"HAH?! Ow!"
Emil's back hit the brick wall hard, creating cracks and making him cough blood. Yet even that pain couldn't divert his attention from the sight before him.
Lux (Raiden Ei) stood with her body enveloped in purple lightning aura that flickered. Her eyes, previously cold, now glowed dangerously like a storm ready to rage. The air around her vibrated with electric energy so powerful that Emil could feel it in every cell of his body.
"Listen," the woman's voice was low and dangerous, like the rumble of thunder before a storm. "I don't know what makes you have such feelings for me, but I'm not interested in forming romantic relationships with anyone."
She stepped forward, each step leaving small cracks in the ground. "So I refuse. Love, marriage, and the like—they're all nonsense to my ears."
Her electric purple eyes stared sharply into Emil's eyes. "As for your noble status? In the face of absolute power, noble status means nothing."
Emil felt his heart sink. "As for your loyalty," continued Lux (Raiden Ei), "I don't need it. If I want loyalty, I can get it from anyone by showing my power. No need to bother with oaths."
The lightning flashes around her body intensified. "And you think with your current Talent, you can catch up to me?"
"I-if given time, I'm sure I could be equal to you!" Emil said with a trembling voice but full of determination.
"Oh?" One of Raiden's eyebrows raised, her gaze extremely cold. "And how long would that be? Five years? Hundreds? Or... thousands of years? Do you think I would wait that long?"
"T-that..." Emil fell silent. For the first time, doubt crept into his heart. Raiden was right—he only had one innate Talent from his bloodline, while the woman before him had six Talents, each of which could surpass his.
"See? You doubt." Raiden shook her head, her expression returning to neutral. "The men I admire are those who make decisions without doubt. Unfortunately, you don't fall within that criteria."
While the real reason was that Lux (Raiden Ei) wasn't originally female, the fact was this indeed matched Raiden Ei's desires. She disliked people who lacked decisiveness in their decisions and those who were weak.
Of course... Even if such a man appeared, Lux (Raiden Ei) would still reject him because once again, remember that he was a man!
Although currently in female form, this was only temporary! His sexual orientation was still normal! He still liked women!
If not for needing power to live in this dangerous world, he would certainly have strongly refused to become a woman.
But Lux (Raiden Ei) also understood why Emil fell in love with her.
After all, Raiden Ei was very beautiful and even Lux — whose emotions were eroded by the Divine Ice Emperor — had to admit it.
Emil lowered his head, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed.
"And about love at first sight?" Raiden continued, her voice now softer but still sharp. "Are you joking? What you feel isn't love, but lust."
"No!" Emil looked up, his eyes flashing with determination. "This isn't lust! I truly love you! I want to spend my life with you!"
Raiden stared deep into Emil's eyes, as if searching for something in them. For a moment, the gleam in her eyes found sincerity behind the young man's gaze.
The real Raiden Ei might have felt somewhat surprised, but... That would be all.
Lux doubted the real Raiden Ei would want to become someone else's wife...
"Enough." Lux (Raiden Ei) finally sighed. "As I said before, I'm not interested in forming any kind of relationship with anyone, let alone... marrying them."
"At least give me a chan—"
"Don't force me."
Lux (Raiden Ei)'s voice turned as cold as ice. "If not because I don't want to cause problems with your family, you would be a cold corpse by now."
Emil bit his lip hard, both hands clenched tightly before finally loosening in defeat. With his head bowed, he whispered, "Is that so... I understand..."
Seeing the genuine sadness on the young man's face, Lux (Raiden Ei) felt a flicker—very small—of pity. Perhaps in another situation, with someone else, the story would be different.
"If that's all—" Lux (Raiden Ei)'s words stopped. Her sharp eyes suddenly became alert, her body tensing like a predator sensing danger.
In less than a fraction of a second, Lux (Raiden Ei) detected three shadows moving with extraordinary speed toward Emil—movement that even a Rank S Hunter would have difficulty following.
"Duck," Lux (Raiden Ei) commanded sharply.
"Eh?"
Emil was about to ask when—
WHOOSH....!! BOOM...!!!
Three shadows and purple lightning flashes collided at the spot where Emil had stood a second earlier. The energy explosion threw Emil's body once again against the wall, creating a large crack and making him cough blood.
"RAIDEN!!" Emil shouted in panic, afraid that his savior was injured.
"I'm not that weak to be worried about," Lux (Raiden Ei)'s calm voice answered from within the dust cloud. "Rather than worrying about me, better pay attention to your own safety."
When the dust thinned, Emil was transfixed by the amazing sight before him.
Behind Lux (Raiden Ei), a purple energy circle glowed dazzlingly—six points like curved windmills connected to form a symbol radiating tremendous power. Chakra Desiderata—the true manifestation of Electro power from the Electro Archon.
Lux (Raiden Ei)'s entire body was now enveloped in dancing purple lightning flashes, her long hair billowing in waves of energy, and her cold eyes glowing with intimidating supernatural light.
"... Beautiful," Emil whispered unconsciously, captivated by the deadly beauty before him.
"Satisfied with what you see?" asked Lux (Raiden Ei) with a cold stare that could freeze blood.
"Ah!" Emil snapped out of his trance. "S-sorry, I-I just..."
Raiden ignored him, her attention fully focused on the three silhouettes now standing at the end of the alley, each wearing black cloaks with fierce sharp gazes.
"You're truly unlucky to be targeted by three Rank S Assassins from the Shadow Order," said Lux (Raiden Ei) flatly, making Emil freeze in fear.
Shadow Order—the most feared assassin guild on the continent, known for brutal killing methods and merciless efficiency.
"Oh? Look what we found," one assassin said with a horrifying raspy voice. "Not only able to deflect all three of our attacks at once... you could also recognize our identities in an instant."
"Not really," replied Lux (Raiden Ei) calmly. "Just happen to have an acquaintance from your Guild."
"What? Quite surprising. Seems there's a traitor rat in our nest. I must report this to the Boss later."
"Unfortunately," Lux (Raiden Ei) said in a low, dangerous voice, "I'm afraid that won't be possible because... you won't have the chance for that."
The three assassins were silent for a moment before their crazy laughter broke the silence.
"HAHAHA!! Interesting, interesting!" Their leader grinned, his black eyes flashing with madness. "Initially we only intended to finish off the Falcon boy and let you go, but now..."
Flashes of disgusting lust and killing intent burned in the eyes of all three assassins. "The three of us will capture you and make you our slave, torturing you until you beg like a dog!"
"Try if you can." Raiden answered flatly, not a hint of fear in her voice.
"HAHAHA! WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR MOANS!!"
A thin, terrifying smile appeared on Raiden's lips. "Coincidentally... I also want to hear your screams."
WHOOSH....!! BOOM...!!!