The air was crisp and cold carrying the scent of wet earth and ozone after the rainfall. The trees swayed gently in the soft breeze, their leaves rustling softly. Hinata gazed up at the sky, "why are they taking so long to get back?" She murmured, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves suddenly dust was seen everywhere and a figure could be seen from the dust. "No sign of them both" silver said, a boy with black hair, looking rough due to the force of wind. "You have to really slow down" Hinata spoke, her voice punctuated by a cough as dust swirled around them. Just then silver's eyes lit up, "oh! See them" he exclaimed pointing towards the sky.
A loud screech pierced the air as a huge falcon swooped down, it's massive wings blocking the sun's light. Hinata's face relaxed into a smile as she saw the falcon. "so this is the hunters residence" Asher to himself as he climbed down the falcon's back, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Am really exhausted, I need to sleep" kaze said as she yawned. "Why are they three? I thought only the both of them left" silver thought in a confused tone.
"I thought something bad happened to you guys" hinata's response was laced with fatigue, "no, we're fine am just tired". Hiroto's voice cut the conversation, "alright, this is your new hunter" he said. Silver extended a hand to greet Asher, "how are you? I'm silver". Asher's handshake was firm, "I'm good, my name's Asher... Asher Flynn". Hinata followed suit, her smile warm, "hi! Asher nice to meet you, I'm Hinata" she said as their hands touched in greetings, a sudden glimpse of a skeleton demon engulfed in flames flashed before her eyes. Hinata's composure faltered, and she leaped back in fear. Kaze's brow furrowed, "what's wrong?" Hinata's laugh was a bit forceful, "nothing just a bit tired too". Hiroto's next words drew everyone's attention, "I'm taking him to Mr Grimm and Yuki so he can become a hunter". Silver smiled in excitement, "you will like Yuki, he's the strongest and friendly", silver said. "Yuki huh! I've been hearing that name alot" Asher thought to himself. As Hinata and kaze walked towards their rooms, kaze kept talking about their experience and how they met Asher but hinata's mind was lost in deep thoughts. "Why did I see a demon when I shook his hands, or maybe it's something different" she wondered to herself.
Me Grimm, the head of the Hunters citadel, sat behind his desk, an average chubby man with a pair of round glasses that looks dewy perched on his face. His hands were clasped together with his elbows resting on the desk as he gaze out, with a deep concerning look on his face. A watch chain was on his desk, swinging in a pendulum like motion from left to right, the desk before him was occupied with files, each one detailing the alarming rise of the damned. A histogram lay opened on each of the files, with red X's markings indicating the places ravaged by the damned within the area. Mr Grimm looked at the documents, his mind racing with every single gaze at the file. "It seems like the void born's are accelerating their dark work, turning more souls into a Inferno, damned!" He said in his mind, seething with frustration and worry. Just as he was about to open another file, a knock broke the silence, at the door. "Come in", he said, his voice firm and strong despite the turmoil brewing within him.
The door swung open and three figures could be seen, two were dressed in a hunter's attire while the third figure was dressed in a normal clothe. "I'm not expecting you Hiroto". "Yes Mr Grimm" hiroto said as he closed the door behind him. "I've found a new hunter" hiroto said. "A new hunter huh" Mr Grimm said as he looked at asher, "what's your name?" . "Asher, Asher Flynn", he replied, his voice steady. "So Asher, do you have any ki energy or powers?" Mr Grimm asked. "Ki energy?" Asher thought as he don't know the meaning, "no, I don't have the both."
Hiroto interjected, "he doesn't have powers but he has ki energy, he killed an Infernal Archon". Silver's eyebrows rose slightly, "Infernal Archon? That's quite a feat for someone with no powers". Mr Grimm pushed his chair back and stood up, "let's go to the Ascension grounds, your fate will be determined there". As they left the office, Mr Grimm casted one last glance at the files scattered across his desk before shutting the door. Asher's thoughts echoed in his mind, "Ascension grounds? What's that".
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The air was heavy with anticipation as Asher gazed upon the Ascension grounds, a sprawling complex tomb-like area, filled with an array of equipments design to test aspiring hunters. As they arrived, Mr Grimm's voice cut through the silence, "silver! Fetch me the aurum skull" and with a sudden burst of speed, silver vanished and reappeared with the skull, cradled in his hands. Asher's eyes widened as he watched, "what's that?" He wondered in his thoughts. "Your palm" Mr Grimm said, Asher extended his hand and Mr Grimm made a small cut on his palm. Blood welled up and Mr Grimm dripped it on top of the skull's cranium. The skull's empty sockets began to glow but the light faltered and died, Mr Grimm's expression puzzled up, "huh! That's strange", he said. His voice rose in frustration, "your aura is too faint, how did you even manage to kill an Infernal Archon? We need strong hunters and not weak hunters!", Hiroto stepped forward, his voice firm, "he may not have any aura but he's strong, so don't judge him by his aura".
Mr Grimm's face turned furious, "being a hunter requires not just determination but strength to protect other's. He has no powers or aura, how sure are we he even has ki energy?"
"Because i can see it, he has all of them", a figure said in darkness. He emerged from the shadows and a figure could be seen; a man with long spiky yellow hair which covered his eyes, leaving just his lips. Hiroto's eyes lit up, "Yuki!" He said. Yuki approached them, with his kitty ears head warmer on his head. Asher's mind reeled, "so this is Yuki? How did he ever know i have aura?" Asher thought to himself. "Well, that's because I have the 13th cursed eternal trance eyes", Yuki said with a smile, plastered on his face. Asher's thoughts were a mixture of surprise and amazement, "this guy is really cool". Mr Grimm's furious face softened, "I won't argue with you if say so Yuki" Mr Grimm trailed off. "I doubted the kid because the aurum skull flashed a beam of light, that's all".
"It's because he has the HIDDEN chi, an aura veiled from seen or sensed with normal eyes", Yuki explained. Hiroto's eyes widened in understanding, "no wonder i couldn't sense any aura when i first saw him". Mr Grimm nodded in agreement, "that explains the aurum skull, but why is he not having any powers?", Mr Grimm asked in a confused tone. "He's powers will manifest, sooner or later", Yuki said with a smile as he gazed at asher, seeing the swirling dark mist aura that surrounded him in a demon shape.
Asher's word's hung in the air, his determination palpable, "am not afraid of the darkness with or without powers, I am willing to face whatever it takes to protect everyone, even if it's the path of death I chose as my fate. Everyone deserves to live without fear and being a hunter is my way of doing that". Asher spoke as he clenched his fist, his eyes burning with a fierce resolve.
Mr Grimm watched him, struck by the courage and determination emanating from the young boy. Yuki's smile grew wider as he listened to Asher's words. "Alright" Yuki said, "hiro, take him to his room and get him his uniform, he's now a hunter. I will personally train him, you guys can celebrate", hiroto nodded. Silver's eyes widened in excitement, "it's really a great opportunity to be trained by Yuki, the hard of all hunters and most especially, the strongest". As they leave, hiroto's thoughts turned to Asher, "there's something strange about Asher. First, hinata's sudden expression of fear and now Yuki, to personally train him, I just hope is a good thing", hiroto thought as they exited the Ascension grounds.
As they were now alone, Mr Grimm turned to Yuki, his expression serious. "Spit it out Yuki, I know you saw something else". Yuki smiled, "that boy has the demon shift technique", Yuki spoke. "What!" Mr Grimm exclaimed in shock and anxiety. Yuki nodded,"yes Mr Grimm, and that's why I want to train him. He's a ticking bomb", Mr Grimm's face grew more serious, sweat dripping down his face, "what if he kills everyone?" Mr Grimm said in fear. Yuki's expression remained calm as always and with a smile, "he won't, didn't you heard his reasons to be a hunter? He's determined". Mr Grimm nodded, "very well, keep an eye on him until he's ready, and turn his curse to a blessing".
Yuki smiled, "yes I will" he said. "The only person to posses the demon shift technique..... This Is going to be interesting".
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