The next step was clear.

I needed a team.

The Association had made it abundantly clear during orientation, solo raids for new recruits were not allowed.

I could decide to break the rule and go alone, but I just felt it was better to have team expirence first.

Just to learn.

I stood in the bustling lobby of the Association building, clutching my new Hunter’s ID.

The sleek black card was a reminder of my progress, but it felt oddly heavy in my hand.

Around me, Hunters moved with purpose, their conversations blending into a low hum.

“Need a team?”

I turned to see a board near the wall, covered in flyers and digital screens displaying team recruitment ads.

Some were flashy, with bold fonts and phrases like.

“Elite Hunters Wanted!” or “High-Paying Dungeon Runs!”

Others were simpler, listing requirements like elemental compatibility or specific ranks.

I scanned the board, looking for something, anything, that didn’t sound like a death sentence for someone new.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Fresh meat, huh?”

The voice came from a man leaning against the wall near the board.

He was older, maybe in his late thirties, with a scruffy beard and a cocky grin.

His gear was worn but well-maintained, and the badge on his chest marked him as a Rank C Hunter.

“Looking for a team?” he asked, his tone teasing.

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.

“Yeah.”

He chuckled.

“Good luck, kid. Most teams don’t want a newbie dragging them down. Better hope you’ve got something special to offer.”

I didn’t reply, but his words stung.

I turned back to the board.

Most of the teams listed wanted experienced members, people who had already survived a few dungeons.

One ad caught my eye:

“Recruiting Awakened for Low-Rank Dungeon Runs. Elemental Ability Preferred. Group 17, Jace.”

Element preferred?

That was rare.

Most teams were looking for healers or tank-types, not someone with element.

"Interested?"

A young man was looking at me, his sandy hair falling close to his eyes.

“Jace?” I asked.

He studied me with sharp green eyes.

“You want to be recuited, right?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s your rank?”

“D Rank,” I said, holding up my ID.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t dismiss me outright.

“Element?”

“Lightning.”

That got his attention.

“Lightning, huh? That’s not common. Can you control it?”

I hesitated for a moment, then raised my hand.

Sparks danced across my fingers, crackling softly before fading.

Jace nodded, impressed but cautious.

“All right,” he said. “We’re running a low-rank raid tomorrow. Goblins, mostly. Think you can handle that?”

“I can,” I said, keeping my tone steady.

“Good.” He handed me a small card with the details of the raid, time, location, and what to bring. “Be there on time. And don’t screw up.”

As I left, I felt a mix of relief and nerves.

I had a team, at least for now.

But as I walked home, the weight of what lay ahead settled on my shoulders. Tomorrow would be my first raid, my first real test as a Hunter.

Failure wasn’t an option.