The cave was quiet except for the faint crackle of dying embers. A thin blade of sunlight slipped through the narrow entrance, stretching across the rocky floor until it reached Noel.

He was already awake, seated cross-legged with Revenant Fang laid across his knees, running a cloth along the blade as though polishing it. The faint glow of mana flickered against his green eyes, steady and alert despite the early hour.

Behind him, Selene stirred. Her short blue hair was mussed from sleep, strands sticking out unevenly. She blinked against the light, her cyan eyes adjusting slowly as she pushed herself upright. Her wand rested near her hand, but for once, she hadn't clutched it all night.

Noel glanced over his shoulder at her, expression calm but faintly amused. "Morning."

Selene froze for half a heartbeat under his gaze, realizing how disheveled she must look—hair uncombed, uniform wrinkled from sleeping against the stone. Heat crept up her ears, spreading to her cheeks. She quickly turned her face away, muttering a curt, "Morning."

'Why am I reacting like this?' she thought sharply, pressing her lips together. 'He's seen me half-dead and covered in dirt before. He's seen me wake up in worse conditions. Why does it bother me now?'

Noel went back to checking his sword.

Selene stood, brushing off her clothes as quickly as possible, as if the act could erase the flush still clinging to her skin. She walked past him toward the fire, kneeling to warm her hands by the last of the embers.

Noel slid the blade back into its sheath with a quiet click. "You look awake enough. Ready for breakfast?"

Selene's reply was soft, almost too quick. "…Yes."

Noel carved strips of meat from the remains of yesterday's hunt and set them across the fire. The smell rose quickly, rich and smoky, filling the cave in minutes. He flipped the slices, then slid one onto a flat stone and passed it across.

Selene accepted it without hesitation this time, biting into the food with surprising speed. Her eyes softened briefly as the flavor spread, and she didn't bother masking the sound of her chewing.

"You're fast," Noel noted, grabbing a portion for himself.

Selene didn't look up. "Efficient."

He snorted. "Efficient? That's one way to put it. At this rate, we'll need to hunt again before noon."

Selene's ears tinted pink. She kept her gaze locked on the food, but her reply came quick, clipped. "…Then we'll hunt more."

Noel chuckled, shaking his head. He let the silence hang for a while, the fire popping between them, before changing the subject. "Think you're ready for tougher beasts today?"

Selene swallowed and lifted her eyes just enough to meet his. "Always."

The way she said it—calm, certain, with no hesitation—reminded Noel why she was dangerous even without words. He leaned back against the cave wall, smirk tugging at his lips. "Figures. You probably dream of battle strategies instead of sleeping."

Selene didn't answer, but her chewing slowed, as though she'd caught the teasing and refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting.

Noel finished his share more leisurely, savoring each bite. When he glanced sideways, her plate was already empty. She sat perfectly straight, hands folded neatly in her lap as though she hadn't just devoured her food faster than him.

"Efficient, huh?" Noel murmured, amusement clear in his voice.

"So," Noel began, breaking the quiet, "the only beasts around here are Adept rank. You know that, right?"

Selene nodded once. "They said so."

"Most people are going to waste their time chasing Commons and Rares," Noel continued, brushing dust from his cloak. "Safer, easier kills. But they won't get much out of it."

Her cyan eyes flicked to him, calm but sharp. "And what do you suggest?"

Noel's lips curved faintly. "We go for the tough ones. Adept Elites. They'll be harder, but they'll give more credit."

Selene tilted her head slightly, the faintest acknowledgment of interest. "Practical."

'Practical for you,' Noel thought, tightening the strap around his shoulder. 'For me, it's more than points. Every Elite means more progress. More % in my core. If I can keep pushing… maybe I'll actually come out of this Hunt stronger than anyone expects.'

He didn't say it aloud, of course.

Selene's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, searching, then she gave a short nod. "Fine. We'll hunt Elites."

Noel smirked, satisfied. "Good. Then we're on the same page."

The air between them shifted. Not warm, not hostile—just sharp, efficient, like two blades crossing in silent agreement.

He gestured toward the mouth of the cave, sunlight spilling faintly across the jagged entrance. "Let's get moving. The longer we wait, the more scraps we'll be left with."

Selene stepped past him first, wand gleaming faintly as she crossed into the light.

The morning air outside was sharp, carrying the damp scent of moss and stone. Noel and Selene moved quickly along the slope, the forest thinning as jagged rocks rose around them. The hum of the drones was a distant reminder overhead, but both ignored it—eyes fixed on the terrain ahead.

It didn't take long for trouble to find them.

Noel crouched low at the edge of a clearing, narrowing his eyes at the movement ahead. Massive shapes moved among the shadows, their heavy steps shaking the earth. "Not just one," he muttered.

Selene stopped beside him, wand steady. Her cyan eyes tracked the largest of the pack: creatures twice the size of a horse, reptilian bodies covered in cracked stone-like scales. Their elongated jaws glowed faintly with magma, smoke curling from between jagged teeth.

"Volcanic Maulers," she said quietly.

Noel glanced at her, brow raised. "You know what they are?"

"They made us study them at the academy," Selene replied, voice clipped. "They hunt in packs. Their heat builds when they fight together. Alone, they're dangerous. Together, worse."

Noel exhaled, shaking his head with a faint smirk. "I see. Guess I wasn't exactly top of the class in theory."

Selene didn't respond, but the smallest flicker of something crossed her face—annoyance, maybe, or the faintest amusement—before it vanished.

The closest Mauler tilted its head back and let out a guttural roar. Fire burst from its maw in a wide arc, scorching the trees and leaving them blackened. More shapes lumbered into the clearing, tails whipping, claws gouging furrows into the earth.

Selene's grip on her wand tightened. "Eight."

As if to prove her right, two more emerged from the treeline, molten drool hissing against the dirt. The horde spread, forming a loose circle around the clearing.

Noel drew Revenant Fang in one smooth motion. The cursed blade flared with heat as he whispered, "Ignition Surge." Sparks leapt from the steel, crackling in the morning air.

Beside him, Selene raised her wand, frost coiling faintly at her feet.

The roar of the Maulers filled the clearing, echoing through the mountains.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.