I was on the phone with Mr. Reed, informing him about the events earlier in the day. I was positioned outside a nearby hospital in Tennessee, waiting for Darion to complete his medical treatment.

“That is correct.”

I heard a long sigh from the receiving end and a metallic creak.

The line was then disconnected with a tap of the button.

And that’s that. Today has been a long day. I just want to rest already.

“Well? What did he tell you?” said a voice behind me. When I looked over my shoulder, Darion was walking, his left arm now in a cast. A nurse, positioned at the entrance of the hospital, was bidding us farewell with a wave. I smiled and returned the favor.

“Mr. Reed wants to meet with us tomorrow morning to talk about what happened. How’s your arm?”

“…What do you think?” he answered sarcastically.

“Well, sorry that I asked.”

Superhumans can heal from injuries much faster than regular humans. Darion's arm will have a full recovery by tomorrow, whereas it would take others up to six weeks. We can’t regenerate lost limbs, sadly enough.

We stood there in silence, looking up at the night sky. The brilliance of the stars was scarce today. The gentle breeze was somewhat chilly, yet provided a comforting sensation. As time progressed, the situation became increasingly uncomfortable, causing me to almost speak until he spoke first.

“Hey. Why do you think they were targeting us?”

Aren’t you a talkative one today…

I didn’t answer right away as I thought of the best way to answer. “…There are those who commit evil acts in this world, Darion. Either they are sadistic individuals who derive pleasure from their actions, or they are individuals who have no other viable option but to engage in activities that they may or may not enjoy. Sometimes both. What I’m trying to say is that we have no way of exactly knowing until we hear it from the person itself.”

I heard Darion snorting loudly to my left. “Options or no options, I don’t care. I won’t die a premature death until I accomplish my goals.”

In my peripheral vision, I observed him clenching his fists. Since it was dark, I wasn’t able to inspect his facial expressions, but I could somewhat guess what he was feeling.

An overwhelming feeling of determination.

“What are your goals?” I quietly asked. Darion made eye contact with me momentarily, but then averted his gaze.

“It’s getting late. See ya tomorrow, old man.”

He then left me alone without so much as sparing me a glance.

****

A loud banging noise awoke me with a violent jolt.

Huh? Wuuz happening?

“Joel! It’s Sophie!”

Sophie? What is she doing here so early?

I groggily reached out to a stand near my bed and turned on my phone. Even though I didn’t feel like getting up, Sophie would just keep on ringing the doorbell. Still drowsy from how little sleep I got, I slowly got up from my comfortable sleeping quarters and wandered to the front door, opening it.

“Yes-“

“Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain? What happened?!” Sophie cried, inspecting every inch of my body.

“I’m fine,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

Sophie placed a hand on her chest and sighed. “Phew! That’s a relief… When I heard you and Darion were ambushed, I came rushing to you both as quickly as I could! I visited Darion first and his arm was in a cast! I then thought to myself- what about Joel?”

“Slow down. First, come on in. Don’t want you waiting out here.”

“Excuse me then,” she muttered softly. Following her entrance into my home and the securing of the front entrance, I moved with an unsteady gait to the bathroom.

“You can go have a seat somewhere while I go get ready.”

“Okay. I’ll just sit at the counter.”

After locking the door, I proceeded with my routine of brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower. I always keep a set of clothes ready to wear inside the bathroom, comprising a dark-blue button-down shirt and black jeans. While I was getting dressed, my phone buzzed. I picked it up leisurely.

“Parker.”

.

“Yes, sir.”

Once the call ended, I walked out of my bathroom and closed the door from behind. I spotted Sophie looking at photos mounted on my refrigerator.

“Was that Mr. Reed? I heard your phone ringing.”

“He wants me to meet him by 10 am to talk about what happened yesterday,” I said as I sat down on my counter stool.

I lived in a single-family home in Los Angeles. Stepping inside, one was greeted by walls adorned in a pristine coat of white paint, devoid of any unsightly stains. The well-designed layout placed the kitchen and dining room near the welcoming front entrance, while the spacious living room beckoned from the far end. Overall, it was a comfortable and unassuming abode, a typical four-bedroom home.

Sophie was silent for a short while, her mouth's corners curling as if she were hesitant to speak.

“…I’m sorry,” she finally let out.

I arched my eyebrow in bewilderment. “Sorry? What are you sorry for?”

“For not being there with you and Darion. If I was with you guys, we would’ve easily handled the assassins and captured them!”

While staring at the refrigerator, her voice and fingers quivered. I understood the sorrow she was feeling; not being there for those you care about. I knew it all too well.

“Sophi-“

“Yes, I know. It is all in the past now. All we can do now is make sure this doesn’t happen again, right?” she said with a sad smile.

“…Right.”

Having departed from the kitchen, Sophie now stood in front of the door, preparing to leave. I took one last look at the cheerful faces in the photos, the feeling of regret rising from deep within once again. I shook it off and suppressed that terrible feeling back within my heart and looked back at Sophie.

“Let’s go. I have a feeling we’ll have more work to do.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

****

Beyond the sturdy metal door, faint yet discernible sounds of bickering reached my ears. The muffled voices of Mr. Reed and Leo intertwined in a heated argument, their words just shy of full comprehension. Sophie and I exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging the tense atmosphere. As Paul guided us inside, the room fell into an eerie silence, as if our arrival had cast a spell of hushed anticipation upon everyone present.

“I could hear you guys a mile away. What were you talking about?” I joked.

Mr. Reed remained unamused. “Take a seat first, Joel, Sophie.”

“Okay…” I said with a frown.

The atmosphere hung heavy, engulfing me in an awkwardness that resembled trudging through a dense, muddied swamp. Camila’s scowl conveyed her unmistakable anger, as if she had just come into contact with something as repugnant as dog feces. Sam’s fidgeting fingers betrayed his nervousness, while Darion maintained his usual stoic expression. Leo and Mr. Reed appeared visibly burdened by stress. Choosing my seat carefully, I settled next to the visibly concerned Leo.

“Glad you’re safe Joel. It must’ve been hard for you, huh?” Leo whispered as he patted me on the back.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. Let’s get on with it.”

Mr. Reed nodded grimly and turned his head to me. “He’s right. Let’s begin the meeting. Joel, give me all the details.”

“We were told it was a D-Rank beforehand, but that wasn’t the case later. The task we were given inside the dungeon was to destroy a small fort ran by goblins. It was easy, of course, and it didn’t take long to neutralize them. The strange part was when we hadn’t received the completion notification from the System. That was when it appeared; it was a demogre, but much bigger, stronger, and it wielded magic with its skin color being a mix of gray and red and two horns on its head. It was an entirely new species of demogre.”

This new discovery took aback Leo, causing his eyes to bulge. “An entirely new species and it was stronger than a regular demogre?! In a D-Rank dungeon?”

“No, you got it wrong. It wasn’t exactly a D-Rank dungeon when we fought it. It was a pseudo C-Rank Dungeon. The SFDMA informed me that the colors were a swirl of orange and yellow.”

Leo adjusted his glasses nervously as his lips quivered. “I-it cannot be! You must tell me more about it after…”

“Leo, focus,” Mr. Reed said sternly. “I know you love researching Dungeons and monsters and all that, but Joel has yet to talk about the most distressing part.”

He took off his glasses and was wiping the foggy lens with a napkin tucked into his pockets. “Yes, Mr. Reed. I just got excited there for a moment. Carry on, Joel.”

“After completing the Dungeon, we both hopped onto the awaiting helicopter and sat there, waiting for takeoff. Everything was normal from then on until the pilot noticed something strange coming our way. We were bombarded with rocks of various sizes thrown by an unknown assailant. We couldn’t dodge the onslaught and the heli took a major blow. All I could do was grab Darion and jump off the smoking vehicle. The pilot was far too gone to save-”

Immediately after my words were spoken, a deafening sound disrupted the uneasy stillness. Startled, some of us leaped out of our seats, our attention instantly drawn to the origin of the disruptive sound. To our astonishment, Camila’s clenched fist had made forceful contact with the table, leaving behind a gaping hole.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she mumbled in an icy tone.

“Note to self- buy a sturdier table in a room of superhumans,” Mr. Reed said.

I cleared my throat and continued. “We got out of there mostly unscathed, but Darion suffered from a dislocated arm and had to hold his spear with one arm. As we were talking amongst ourselves, a dagger came flying at us. We successfully defended against it; however, we could not locate the assassin's exact location. Because of that, Darion became frustrated and opted to raze the entire area.”

“W-Wow, good thinking Darion,” Sophie stammered. Darion simply grunted at Sophie’s compliment.

“Thanks to that, we found the assassin, but they fled. I threw Darion at her and he stopped her dead in her tracks. While interrogating her, I noticed a tattoo on her neck, and it was an Oni-mask. Before I could ask her what it was, her accomplice saved her and escap-“

Leo and Mr. Reed shot up from their chairs, their faces pale and sweaty. “Did you say an Oni-mask?!” they shouted in unison.

I furrowed my brow and decided now was the time to grill them for answers. “You two obviously know something about the Oni-mask with how you reacted. Not only that, but you were also arguing about something earlier.”

Both glanced at each person in the room and sat back down. Mr. Reed opened his mouth first. “I guess it’s about time you all knew about it. Initially, I refrained from mentioning them as I was uncertain of their existence, yet now I am aware they are not a hoax. Leo, if you would.”

Leo nodded and stood up from his seat. “The assassins who attacked you both are from a vile worldwide organization called Shadow Oni. They are filled to the brim with wicked superhumans who accept target bounties on those who are famous or infamous. The people who create these bounties are mostly corrupt officials and the rich. Mr. Reed made me in charge of finding who these people are and bringing them all to justice.”

We all looked at Leo and Mr. Reed back and forth in bewilderment. How could you keep something of this magnitude a secret? It made little sense…

“You tell us this now? Are you idiots or what?” Darion snorted in disgust.

“D-Darion! Don’t call them idiots out loud…even if you aren’t wrong in the slightest…” Sophie blushed as her voice trailed off at the end, casting her gaze down at the table.

Darion glanced around the room and shrugged at our shocked faces. “Someone had to say it. Since this involves me, I have every right to be angry. Mr. Reed and Leo didn’t trust us enough to disclose this type of information to us. It makes you think what else are they hiding from us?”

No one refuted what Darion had said, as Mr. Reed just stared at him. “You’re right. I have no excuse for not warning you guys about them. It is a lapse of judgment on my part. Please do not be mad at Leo, as I had him swear to secrecy. I apologize…”

Darion remained a silent enigma, neither accepting nor rejecting the apology. His gaze shifted away, fixated on the ceiling as if searching for answers in its blank expanse. The room, devoid of windows, became cloaked in an eerie coldness that seemed to seep into the very core of our beings. Unease and skepticism were practically glittering in their eyes.

If I don’t say something now, the morale of The Six Hunters will plummet, and so will our trust.

“So, what happens now, Mr. Reed?” I said quickly, wanting to change the subject.

“First, if this ever happens again, we should have a safety precaution in check for every member. It is imperative that we establish a communication device that can be easily accessed by everyone in the event of an emergency, similar to an SOS signal. Leo will keep researching the Shadow Oni and will update everyone else from now on. I will speak to the president about this matter. We cannot show that organization we are aware of their existence, though it’s highly likely they already knew. Other than that, continue your life normally. But keep an eye on your surroundings. You are dismissed.”

Mr. Reed was the first to get up and exit the room, the six of us still seated. Since no one else moved or spoke, I decided now was a good time to say something.

“I know this is shocking for everyone here, but as the Six Hunters, we cannot show fear. If we are scared, so will the people. Leo, I know you will do your absolute best, so don’t stress about it, alright?”

“Psh! Who said I was stressing? Espionage is my forte. I’ll keep you guys posted. Later.” He gave me a light tap on my shoulder and was out of the room. Sam waved at everyone and followed Leo. Darion was next as he left without a single goodbye.

“W-Wait for me Darion. Bye Joel,” Sophie said. She gave me a curt bow and bolted out of the room.

Oh? Is Sophie still worried about him? I mean, he is the one who got hurt after all.

With them gone, it was just me and Camila left. I was surprised she was still here. Usually, she’s one of the first to go talking about reservations she made ahead of time. Camila’s a busy woman.

“Joel,” Camila said.

“…Yes?”

“Would you care to join me for dinner later?”

****

A frenzy of paparazzi had gathered outside the restaurant, their camera lenses fixated on us through the glass like a pack of hungry hyenas. However, they were not the sole observers. Both the restaurant’s patrons and staff wielded their phones, capturing every moment of the unfolding scene. The presence of so many prying eyes created an uncomfortable atmosphere, making it challenging to unwind and enjoy the company of a friend without the constant eyes.

Camila sensed my nervousness and waved at the onlookers. “You get used to it as long as they aren’t all up in your personal space, that is.”

As she delicately savored each morsel of her abalone dish, I couldn’t help but admire her poised and graceful demeanor. Her posture wasn’t slacking and her tables manners second to none. With every glance, she exuded an aura of tranquility and elegance that was truly captivating. Imagine my surprise when she bashed a hole into the table and had a glare that could kill a man!

“Camila, what were you mad about earlier?” I finally asked.

She placed her fork back on her plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I couldn’t keep my cool after hearing about your experience with these assassins. They attacked my colleagues.”

“I understand that, but usually, you are composed and collected. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal for you.”

She rested her chin on her palm and peered right into my eyes. A beautiful woman like her staring with those gorgeous eyes of hers would make anyone swoon. “You know, Joel. I respect you a lot. When I heard that Mr. Reed wanted to appoint you as the leader of the Six Hunters, I thought it was a mighty fine idea. You seemed like the best fit. You understand how others feel and think of them before yourself. I think those qualities are something the best leaders possess.”

“Is this why you wanted to have dinner with me? To give a small pep talk?”

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and chucked afterward. “I’m not giving you a pep talk. I’m simply voicing my thoughts about what I think of you. Am I not allowed to do that?”

“You are but-“

Bzzt!

Camila looked down at her phone and narrowed her eyes. She clicked her tongue and rose from her seat. “I have some business to attend to. Thank you for joining me for dinner, Joel. Don’t worry about the bill, I paid it ahead of time. Ciao~” With a blow of a kiss, she exited the restaurant, the paparazzi following her along as she entered a black limousine and sped off into the distance. A long breath escaped from my lips.

“Why are they such a handful...”

Bzzt!

“What is it now?” I mumbled. As I peeked at my phone, wondering who was calling, it was a number I didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

A nervous tone on the other end spoke up. “...Hi. Is this Mr. Parker? It’s Sara, Sara Rossi.”

Sara? If she’s personally calling me, that means...

I assumed a gentle tone and replied. “Hello, Miss Rossi. This is Parker. What do you need?”

“I’m calling to schedule a meeting. I want to know more about being a Dungeon Conqueror.”