[There may be translation errors]
The golden particles from the portal still floated in the air when Saicha stepped into the new world. The atmosphere on the other side was thick, suffocating — as if the air wanted to warn them: "Go back."
Behind her, dozens of hunters crossed the portal in silence. Ahead, a tall man, uniformed, with a military posture and austere eyes, observed them.
Lieutenant
— From today, you are no longer hunters. You are soldiers.
You will be divided into twenty groups. Each group will have a sergeant.
I command all of you.
The division will take place in a nearby village.
March.
The sound of boots hitting the dry earth echoed through the trail. Tall forests lined the path leading to the village, where humble houses made of stone and wood awaited. A camp quickly appeared among them — tents raised, fires lit, sharp weapons.
On the second day, at sunrise, a glow appeared between the tents. It was Melina.
Saicha ran to meet her, her face lit up with a genuine smile.
Saicha (hugging tightly)
— Twelve days without you... felt like an eternity!
Melina (thinking)
"To me... it's been three years."
Melina (trying to hide it)
— Come on, what's with the clinginess? You'd think I died.
Saicha (excited)
— Do you think we'll end up in the same group?
Melina
— I doubt it. There are twenty groups. Each with five members:
One sergeant, four soldiers. Plus the lieutenant and the vice-lieutenant.
A total of 102 soldiers.
This group is called... Cobra.
Saicha (surprised)
— Huh... how do you know all of this?
Melina (dryly)
— It was in the mission instructions.
Saicha (embarrassed)
— Oh... that big text? I... didn't read it, haha.
Melina
— Of course you didn't.
Before they could laugh more, a call echoed through the village.
Lieutenant
— Fall in. This village is our base. Forty inhabitants.
Mr. Chal and Dirin will be the local representatives.
Sergeants, bring the names of your corporals.
Twenty synchronized steps sounded. Saicha froze. One of them was Melina. With a firm posture, chin held high, paper in hand.
Saicha (thinking)
— Is she... a sergeant?
In the command tent, a local map was opened on the table.
Lieutenant
— Five groups will stay in construction.
Five in defense of the village.
Ten in exterminating beasts.
Only five sergeants will keep their positions at the end:
One in construction. One in defense. Three in extermination.
Make it count. Dismissed.
Everyone
— Yes, sir!
Later, a notification appeared in Saicha's system. It was from Melina.
At the village entrance, four young people gathered in front of the sergeant.
Melina (firmly)
— Welcome to the 12th Cobra group.
Extermination group, under my command: Sergeant Melina.
Class: Advanced Evaluator.
This group should have three advanced and one intermediate.
But I set it up based on my personal evaluations.
Saicha (shocked)
— Melina is... so different. What happened in these 12 days?
Melina
— Maki, Intermediate Water Mage.
Maki
— Present!
Melina
— Motchi, Intermediate Longsword Warrior.
Motchi (stabbing his sword into the ground)
— Present.
Melina
— Gaeri, Intermediate Archer.
Gaeri
— Understood.
Melina
— And as corporal, I chose... Saicha, Advanced Healer.
Motchi (confused)
— But... isn't that wrong? There are two advanced and three intermediate...
Melina (cold smile)
— I follow my evaluations. And I trust them.
Saicha (laughing)
— The old rebellious Melina... haha.
A group approached.
Sergeant Din (sarcastic)
— What a great group, Melina. Just dead weight.
Thanks to you, my group is filled with only advanced!
Thank you, Evaluator.
Melina (mocking smile)
— You came just to see me? You're gonna make my heart race...
Sergeant Din (growling)
— You...
Corporal Drow
— Ignore him, sergeant. Her group will die fast.
Saicha (angry)
— She's stronger than you think!
Melina (coldly)
— He's just nervous because seven groups will be dissolved in the end.
And he smells failure.
Sergeant Din (furious)
— Want to settle this with a fight?
Melina (drawing her daggers)
— Bring it.
The fight was instant. Din attacked with his spear, fast, but Melina danced between his strikes. In one perfect spin, she knocked him down. Before he could react, she was on the ground with blades at his neck.
Laughter and whispers echoed.
Sergeant Ren
— What a shame... first day.
Din, furious, tried to attack from behind. But he was thrown far by a gust of wind.
Standing tall, a woman watched. White hair, calm eyes.
Sergeant Kai
— Honor, sergeant. Honor.
Accept your defeat.
Din (shouting)
— Who are you, you...!
Kai (calmly)
— Sergeant Kai Abari. Advanced Wind Mage.
Saicha (astonished)
— It's her... the recommended master...
Melina (thinking)
— Ridiculous mana need. Incredible control...
The Lieutenant appeared between the trees, irritated.
Lieutenant
— ENOUGH. All groups, to the forest. Extermination begins now.
In the forest
Melina
— Watch out for Kai and Ren. Two sergeants who can decimate entire groups.
Maki
— But... why?
Motchi
— Because anyone who stands out here becomes a legend.
And the quickest way... is eliminating rivals.
Melina
— Let's avoid the troublemakers. Focus: wild zone.
Saicha (scared)
— Unexplored zones?! Melina, that's suicide!
Melina (smiling)
— Yeah, huh?
Group
— S-c-a-r-y...
Hours later, deep in the forest:
Melina (stopping abruptly)
— Nine unusual beasts. Three hundred meters away.
Maki (surprised)
— How do you know?
Melina
— My evaluation has been active since we arrived.
Motchi (skeptical)
— That's a lie. Evaluation doesn't last that long...
Melina
— Don't believe me? Let's go.
Ahead, the beasts appeared — sharp teeth, fiery eyes.
Gaeri
— Sergeant... if there's an inferior among us, we'll be annihilated.
Saicha (shouting)
— Idiot! Melina may be an Evaluator, but she has the strength of an advanced warrior!
Motchi
— Yeah... we saw. She's strong.
Melina (smiling)
— Don't worry. I'll devour everything too.
Saicha
— Let's finish this!
Gaeri summoned five magic arrows. They soared into the sky and fell between the trees, crushing one of the beasts.
Motchi (shocked)
— How did she... aim that?!
Melina, in silence, observed.
Melina (thinking)
— Everyone here is advanced level. They just don't know it yet.
Motchi ran ahead, sword in hand. Maki raised her staff. A gentle rain began to fall.
Maki
— This rain drains the mana from the enemies... and gives it to us.
It's weak, but useful.
Melina (curious)
— Buffs and debuffs... interesting.
Motchi eliminated two beasts. Maki cut another with water blade. Gaeri kept shooting from a distance. Saicha kept everyone's health up.
Melina (serious)
— Good job...
Elsewhere in the forest
Soldier
— Where's Sergeant Kai?
Corporal
— She's gone...
In Melina's group
Saicha
— This is incredible. Hunting with you guys like this...
Melina
— You've already been to Atreus. You're the most experienced here.
Saicha
— But you've been here too!
Melina (distant look)
— Once. A long time ago...
Everyone died. Because of a Railler.
Gaeri (shocked)
— A... Railler? They exist?
Melina didn't answer. She vanished.
Saicha (shouting)
— MELINA!?
Motchi (alert)
— Guard up! Where's our sergeant?!
At the top of a distant mountain
Melina slammed her fist into the ground, gasping for air. She tried to get up, but trembled.
Melina (thinking)
— I... couldn't see. Not even with the tracking evaluation...
Sergeant Kai
— Little girl, let's talk. But it's gonna be with a fight.
Melina
— You know the army rules... Without other sergeants, a duel is not allowed.
Kai
— Forget that army crap. I'm talking hunter to hunter.
Melina swallowed hard. She slowly got up, steadying her feet. She stood facing Kai, who was visibly taller.
She looked up, staring directly at her.
To the east of there
Sergeant Ren
— What kind of mana imbalance