Chapter 3 – The Second Ceremony
Rayan had imagined many things when he stepped out of the hospital.
A sky filled with flying vehicles.
Hunters soaring through the clouds.
Perhaps even giant beasts roaming the horizon.
But what he saw was far beyond anything he could have imagined.
Three colossal pillars pierced the heavens.
They stood so tall that their peaks disappeared beyond the clouds, like divine spears holding the sky itself together.
And behind them...
Something moved.
At first, Rayan thought it was a strange formation of clouds.
Then he noticed the shape.
A massive serpentine body stretched across the horizon.
Its outline twisted through the clouds like an endless dragon sleeping above the world.
The sight sent chills down his spine.
"...What is that?"
Sketch, who had been circling above his shoulder, suddenly froze.
For once, the little bird wasn't joking.
"Master... don't stare at it for too long."
Rayan frowned.
"Why?"
Sketch hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Because that's a corpse."
Silence.
Rayan looked at the dragon again.
"A corpse?"
"Galactic Dragon Glutos."
Sketch's mechanical eyes dimmed slightly.
"It arrived alongside the Supremes during the Cataclysm Era. Hundreds of years ago, humanity fought a war against creatures that descended from beyond the stars."
Rayan remained silent.
"The Supremes were defeated. Glutos was eventually slain by humanity's strongest heroes."
Sketch pointed toward the enormous shadow in the sky.
"But a creature of that scale doesn't simply disappear."
Rayan slowly understood.
"You're telling me..."
"Yes."
"The thing above us is still decomposing."
A cold breeze swept across the city.
For the first time, Rayan realized how terrifying this world truly was.
A dragon large enough to remain visible in the sky centuries after death.
A monster whose corpse still affected the world.
"Areas contaminated by Glutos's remains became known as Muted Zones," Sketch continued.
"The monsters living there evolved into Muted Monsters. Stronger. More violent. More unstable."
"And humans?"
Sketch's wings slowed.
"Some humans changed too."
Rayan's eyes narrowed.
Before he could ask another question—
A faint blue screen flashed before his vision.
[Blueprint Vision Activated]
For a split second, a glowing line appeared across Glutos's body.
Then it vanished.
The system immediately shut itself down.
Rayan froze.
"What was that?"
Sketch stared at him.
For the first time since they met, genuine concern appeared in the little bird's voice.
"Master..."
"That shouldn't be possible."
---
The next day arrived faster than expected.
Today was the Second Ceremony.
The entire academy was buzzing with excitement.
Thousands of students filled the enormous central grounds.
At the center stood a massive Origin Stone surrounded by layers of protective barriers.
Today would determine their future.
Their power levels.
Their growth potential.
And most importantly—
Their Working Licenses.
A license granted legal permission to participate in missions, guild activities, and monster extermination support work.
For many students, this day mattered more than graduation itself.
Rayan quietly walked through the crowd.
Immediately, familiar laughter followed.
"Look who's here."
"The Inverter."
A blond student smirked.
"Shouldn't you be searching for treasure in some forgotten ruins?"
Another laughed.
"Or maybe applying as a construction worker?"
More laughter erupted.
Years ago, those words would have hurt.
Now?
Kai had endured cancer.
Death.
Failure.
Dreams left unfinished.
Compared to that...
These insults felt childish.
Rayan simply walked past them.
The students became even more annoyed.
Nothing irritated bullies more than being ignored.
---
On the stage above, the academy principal was giving a speech.
Unfortunately...
Almost nobody was listening.
Every student's attention remained fixed on the Origin Stone.
They wanted results.
Not speeches.
The principal sighed internally but continued speaking.
"The future of humanity depends not only on strength..."
No reaction.
"...but also on responsibility."
Still nothing.
Then—
Something changed.
The wind stopped.
Every conversation died instantly.
Flower petals scattered across the ground began to move.
One by one.
Then dozens.
Then hundreds.
Thousands of petals rose into the air.
Students stared in confusion.
"What is happening?"
The petals spiraled upward before gathering above the stage.
A beautiful vortex of pink and gold formed.
And then—
BOOOOOM!
A burst of light exploded across the academy.
Petals scattered like fireworks.
A figure stood at the center of the stage.
Silver hair.
Black combat coat.
Calm, confident eyes.
The crowd erupted.
"NO WAY!"
"IT'S HER!"
"LUCY!"
"S-CLASS HUNTER LUCY!"
The noise became deafening.
Even Rayan was surprised.
Five Gates closed.
Three National Threat operations completed.
Youngest S-Class Hunter in modern history.
Lucy Vale.
One of humanity's strongest heroes.
She smiled slightly as she stepped forward.
The principal finally looked relieved.
"Students," he announced proudly.
"Allow me to introduce today's special guest."
Lucy raised one hand.
The air around her shifted.
The temperature dropped.
Flower petals transformed into ice crystals.
The ice became water.
The water dissolved into mist.
The mist vanished completely.
Silence.
Not a single student spoke.
Environmental Manipulation.
An ability so versatile that entire battlefields could be reshaped at her will.
The crowd stared in awe.
Then—
Lucy's eyes moved through the crowd.
For only a moment.
A single second.
Her gaze stopped on Rayan.
The smile on her face disappeared.
Something unreadable flashed across her expression.
Then she looked away.
As if nothing had happened.
But Sketch had noticed.
And so had Rayan.
The little bird landed on his shoulder.
"Master..."
"What?"
Sketch swallowed.
"I think..."
"...the S-Class Hunter was looking at you."
To be continued.....