The Bo City Hunter Squad's recruitment ground was held at the old stadium near the outskirts, where battered floodlights buzzed faintly and the concrete walls showed claw marks from past training sessions.
Students gathered nervously at the entrance, many dressed proudly in their school uniforms for the last time before proving themselves. Others looked like they wanted to disappear.
Mo Fan strolled in late, hands in pockets, a grin plastered on his face.
Xu Mang and Lu Jun were already seated in the bleachers, blending in with the crowd of curious citizens. They weren't here to join—only to watch.
Above the stadium gate hung a massive banner:
BO CITY HUNTERS — MINION-TIER ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT
Below it were warnings stamped in red:
[A normal Minion monster requires 6–10 Novice Mages to safely subdue.]
[No students beyond Level 2 Novice may enter the practical zone.]
Mo Fan whistled. "Level 2 only? Guess I'll have to hold back."
Xu Mang almost laughed. He thinks he's holding back… after eating 100 million out of my billion yuan worth of resources I shoved at him.
Lu Jun leaned back. "This matches the book so far. Mo Fan joins, gets tested with a Minion beast, and impresses the instructors."
"It's different this time," Xu Mang replied. "He's stronger now. A Minion won't push him."
Lu Jun nodded slightly. "Then something stronger might appear."
Xu Mang glanced toward the northern end of the forest. His Summoning sensitivity twitched.
Something was moving… but not yet.
The Hunter veterans appeared on the platform—grizzled men and women with scarred coats, well-worn boots, and the relaxed confidence of those who had seen true danger.
The examiner, a middle-aged man with mismatched armor, stepped forward.
"Test is simple!" he barked. "Three rounds."
He held up a finger.
"One — Control Test. Show me you can activate your element."
Another finger.
"Two — Accuracy Test. Hit the targets."
A third.
"Three — Practical Hunt. Minion-level monsters, Lesser to Standard."
The students around Mo Fan swallowed hard.
"Minion-level… like One-Eyed Magic Wolves?"
"No way… Normal Minions need teams…"
"I heard last year someone broke their arm fighting a Lesser Minion…"
Mo Fan cracked his knuckles. "Sounds fun."
Round One — Control Test
Students lined up on the dirt field. One by one, they displayed their element.
A girl lit a small flame.
A boy produced a clumsy gust of wind.
Another student summoned rocks barely large enough to trip someone.
Then—
"Next—Fan Mo!"
He stepped forward.
Xu Mang rested his chin on his hand. "Showtime."
Mo Fan raised his arm.
Seven stars aligned instantly—fast, crisp, stable.
CRACK—!
A flame of fire snapped between his fingers like a live wire.
The examiner's eyebrows shot up.
The audience murmured.
"What the—?"
"A seven-star Fire in less than a breath?"
"He's—he's a prodigy!"
Fire users were rare.
F users with this control were terrifying.
Only Xu Mang and Lu Jun didn't react.
They already knew what Mo Fan was capable of.
Xu Mang sighed. "He needs to tone it down."
Lu Jun chuckled. "He won't."
Round Two — Accuracy Test
Targets were set at various distances. Students fired off weak spells, many missing.
Mo Fan pointed lazily.
BANG—!
A bolt of lightning split the air and punched a neat smoking hole through the farthest target.
The examiner stood still for two whole seconds.
"…Next."
Xu Mang rubbed his forehead. "He's showing off again."
"He's excited," Lu Jun said. "He likes being good at something."
Round Three — Practical Hunt
A gate at the far end of the stadium creaked open.
Inside was a small artificial canyon—a training zone filled with rocky pillars and shadows. The moment the gate opened, a low growl echoed from within.
A gray-furred shadow padded into view.
A One-Eyed Magic Wolf.
A Standard Minion-level creature—more dangerous than any Lesser Minion.
It snarled, eye glowing.
The crowd backed away.
"That thing killed two novice hunters last year!"
"Isn't this too much for a student?!"
"Only Lightning-element mages can stun it!"
Mo Fan cracked his neck.
"Perfect."
He stepped inside the gate.
Xu Mang watched calmly.
"He'll finish it in one hit."
Lu Jun nodded. "In the original timeline, this wolf pushed him. Now… look at its movement."
The wolf lunged.
Mo Fan raised his hand—
CRACK!!!
A whip of lightning struck the wolf's side, sending it crashing into a stone pillar. It yelped and staggered up—only to be hit by a second bolt in the jaw.
The crowd erupted.
"Holy—!"
"He neutralized a Standard Minion alone?!"
"Who IS this kid?!"
Mo Fan walked past the unconscious wolf, shrugging.
"That it?"
The examiner's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"You… pass," he finally said. "With distinction."
Mo Fan grinned from ear to ear.
Xu Mang leaned back, satisfied.
Good. The sooner he gets real combat experience, the better.
As Mo Fan left the stadium, boasting loudly to Zhang Xiaohou who tackled him in celebration, Xu Mang's Frost Star Wolf suddenly growled in a low, icy rumble.
Its fur bristled.
Lu Jun stiffened.
Xu Mang's eyes narrowed toward the forests beyond the wall.
A faint, rotting mana pulsed.
Very small… barely there…
But unmistakable.
The first whisper of the Undead.
Lu Jun touched his pendant. "It's early."
"Everything is early this time," Xu Mang murmured.
He stood up.
"Come. We need to prepare."