All the senior hunters watching the test from behind the Seers froze as Park Jiho rushed toward the children, their faces filled with shock. The overwhelming pressure from the Vampire Lord and Alpha Werewolf was enough to paralyze anyone. It was designed to crush willpower and make people give up. Simply withstanding the aura and staying conscious was enough to pass the test, but trying to help others—that was more than just passing the exam. That was truly remarkable.

At that moment, everyone realized: this so-called commoner was no ordinary person.

After a brief moment of silence, laughter rose from the back rows. A tall man with shoulder-length blond hair and cold blue eyes stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. It was Henry Acton, the famous hunter from the United Kingdom. With a smile, he turned to Choi Han-min.

“What were you saying just now, Choi Han-min? You were saying that this boy’s talent is weak, weren’t you?”

Choi Han-min glanced at Park Jiho for a moment, then replied, “I’ll admit he has guts, but that doesn’t change the fact that his talent is only Gray and his physical strength is lacking.”

“You admit he’s got guts?” Acton narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he turned to face Choi Han-min. With a faint smirk, he tapped his fingers in rhythm with Jiho’s heartbeat.

Thump... thump... thump... thump...

A heavy silence descended over the hunters surrounding them, all eyes drawn to the sound. The confusion on Choi Han-min’s face deepened.

Acton glanced at the others, who still seemed puzzled, and clarified, “This boy is witnessing a deadly battle between a vampire lord and an alpha werewolf.” He gestured toward Jiho. “But look at his heartbeat.”

The others slowly began to grasp what Acton was pointing out.

“He even put himself in danger, trying to help others, yet his heart remains completely calm. He’s not afraid of the vampire lord or the alpha werewolf.” He paused, gauging the hunters’ reactions, before continuing. “The nobles who’ve passed this test before were paralyzed with fear. We let them pass because they didn’t faint, but none of them tried to help anyone. Most couldn’t even help themselves—their hearts were pounding out of control. But this boy...” Acton smiled. “His heart is calm, like ice. That tells us something, doesn’t it?”

Acton turned to Choi Han-min and added with a wry smile: “Choi Han-min, you're really right. This kid seems to have some guts.”

Choi Han-min's eyes flashed with hatred. They had worked together at Cheonji Academy for five years, but they had never liked each other.

“Acton, you are too compassionate towards these children from commoner families. I'm afraid that soon you will let even those with no talent into the academy.”

Acton shrugged with an innocent expression. “Oh, if Cheonji Academy doesn’t want to accept this boy, I’ll recommend him to Kingswood Academy. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to take him in.”

Kingswood Academy in England had been the world’s leading institution for hunters for the last five hundred years. Many hunters who graduated from there became legendary figures in history. Acton’s suggestion about Kingswood was sure to stir the debate even further, but before anyone could react, a stern voice cut through the tension.

“Enough.”

Kim Taejoon, the principal of the academy, spoke up, cutting through the tension. Both Acton and Choi Han-min fell silent, their respect for the principal immediately halting the debate. Kim Taejoon’s voice softened as he continued.

“This young man is now a student of Cheonji Academy.”

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He cast a stern glance at Acton and Choi Han-min. “Don’t involve the students in your quarrels. Your role is to help them realize their potential.”

Both instructors bowed their heads respectfully. “We apologize,” they muttered in unison.

Kim Taejoon nodded, his expression satisfied, before turning to address the rest of the group. His gaze lingered on Jiho, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he wondered about the secrets behind Jiho's unshakable courage.

Unaware that there was such a discussion about him outside, Jiho's attention was completely captured by the deadly battle between the werewolf and the vampire. He could not take his eyes off the battle. Every movement, every move, was etched in his mind as if time had stopped. The battle was not just about brute force; both sides were confronting the most savage forces of nature.

The werewolf threw its huge body forward and launched a savage attack with its claws. His muscular arms tore the air around him with every movement. His claws were strong enough to split a tree trunk in two. Its roar echoed in the heavens, its shadow stretched like a giant nightmare under the full moon. The ground trembled and the earth split as its huge claws descended upon the vampire once more. But the vampire was quick and agile. With a single move, it retreated and suddenly changed direction like a shadow.

The vampire's attack was pure lethality. Wrapped in his black cloak, he seemed to move with the shadows with every step. As soon as he opened his arms and lunged towards the werewolf, a dark power gathered in his hands. Suddenly a gloomy chill blew through the air. Long, scythe-like claws emerged from the vampire's fingertips and dug into the werewolf's chest. In a matter of seconds, the attack was so fast it was almost untraceable to the eye. But the werewolf responded with a fierce roar, grabbing the vampire's arm and throwing him to the ground with great force.

The vampire fell to the ground, but as soon as he made contact with the earth, he stood up again. There was no sign of pain or fear on his face, only pure, ruthless determination. His red eyes flashed and his fangs were fully exposed. With a cold hiss from its mouth, it lunged at the werewolf like lightning. Its claws cut a deep gash in his stomach, but the werewolf did not hesitate to strike back.

The battle was a display of chaos and violence. Two creatures fighting not just to survive, but to destroy each other. As Jiho watched this battle from the shadows, his heart remained calm. He continued to run quickly after the stones. But one eye was always on this terrible battle, memorizing every detail. It was as if everything he learned from this battle would determine his future destiny.

With every step, he was getting closer to reach the children, but the noise and brutality of the battle surrounded him completely. The sound of the werewolf's bones breaking, the sharp whistle of the vampire's deadly claws... Everything was as real as if she were watching the end of the world.

“Soon this war between them will be over. I must be faster, it may be our only chance to escape from here.” He thought.

The children were finally a few steps ahead of him.

“I did it. I reached them.” He thought with a smile on his face. The children in front of him were looking at him with eyes asking for help. A little girl held out her hand and said in a low voice, “Help me.”

Jiho smiled at the little girl and held out his hand. Just as he was about to take the little girl's hand, everything went black. It was as if a black vortex had taken over his whole being and was sucking him in. The girl's eyes asking for help, the vampire, the werewolf and the ruin all disappeared.

Jiho opened his eyes as he slowly regained consciousness. For a moment he forgot where he was. Wondering what had happened to the children, he remembered where he was when he saw the three women sitting in front of him with their eyes closed and the hunters behind them looking at him with interest. At last he was fully back in reality.

Looking around, he noticed the white and shaken faces of the nobles next to him. Two of them could barely stand. Jiho had been deeply affected by what had just happened; the blood was still rushing through his veins. The glory of the battle between the vampire lord and the werewolf was fresh in his mind. As he thought of the power of those two, a wave of excitement surged through him as he dreamed of one day being strong enough to match them.

Kim Taejoon, the principal of the academy, spoke in a voice that carried weight and authority: "Welcome to Cheonji Academy. All of you are now officially hunter apprentices. After your one-month training camp, your initiation ceremony will take place. Now, head to the waiting area until the other candidates have finished their exams."

An officer stepped forward, nodding. "Please follow me. I'll escort you to the waiting area."

Jiho took his first step, then another. As he walked, a realization hit him: there was no turning back. The moment he had crossed the gates of this school, his ordinary life had ended. He was stepping into a world that was unfamiliar and unpredictable—one that would change not only his destiny but also who he was. A new path, full of challenges and danger, stretched out before him. The path of a hunter.