Aqualis Sanctum—this was the name given to the island where the Hunter Association was located.
It was a veiled stronghold of Hunters, hidden deep within a vast, mystical lake that never appeared on satellite scans or digital maps.
Surrounded on all sides by an endless stretch of glimmering blue, the only way in was through precise teleportation coordinates known only to the upper circles of the Hunter Association.
Rising like a mythical jewel from the heart of the lake, the massive island was enclosed in a shimmering, translucent energy dome.
The barrier not only protected but also regulated weather and cloaked the city from the outside world. From above, it looked like a celestial bubble perched on water, refracting sunlight into a prism of blues and silvers.
Within the dome lay a sprawling urban sanctuary, seamlessly blending high-end modern architecture with the deep-rooted traditions of hunter culture.
Hover rails snaked through the city, transporting Hunters from training zones to resting quarters, marketplaces, and research towers.
The buildings were fortified structures—sleek glass-walled towers with reinforced alloy frames, often etched with beast-runic scripts that pulsed faintly with soft, otherworldly light.
Nature was preserved inside the dome, with artificial weather cycles ensuring lush greenery, crystalline streams, and serene mini-forests scattered across neighborhoods.
The air itself felt fresher than anything outside, as if the dome filtered away the impurities of the world.
At the city’s core stood the massive Hunter Dome Citadel, a pyramidal tower where high-ranking Hunters gathered, trained, and oversaw operations.
Its summit was crowned with an observatory that kept constant watch, gazing not just at the skies within but also at the vast waters beyond the dome.
The city never slept. At night, the dome would shift to a starlit transparency, revealing the true night sky above, while the city glowed with blue neon veins running through its structures, walkways, and borders like the lifelines of a colossal beast.
And currently, two new Hunters could be seen exploring the place in awe, one of them unable to mask the gleam of excitement in his eyes.
That was Max. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing—the vibrancy, the liveliness, the sheer mix of Hunters and civilians.
Families walked hand in hand while armored Reavers strolled by with blades at their hips, their laughter blending into the noise of merchants calling out wares. It was a city alive with both purpose and peace.
Max and Jake had just stepped off a speed train that hovered above the city rails. The tracks shimmered faintly as the train hissed to a stop, lowering them toward a station where crowds flowed in a constant stream.
"Huh? Is that so surprising to you?" Jake asked casually, noticing Max’s wide-eyed stare.
"What do you mean?" Max replied with furrowed brows, scanning the glowing spires and the bustling streets like a lost villager dropped in a kingdom of legends.
"This is nothing to me," Jake said with a shrug, his tone calm and his eyes unbothered. "Being from a tier one city, it’s pretty much a normal occurrence."
"Wait! Tier one city?! Who the hell are you?!" Max blurted out in sheer disbelief, his voice louder than he intended as people turned briefly before carrying on.
And his reaction wasn’t exaggerated. To live in a tier one city was no small feat—it required unimaginable wealth and influence.
Not just being rich, but flamboyantly wealthy, because such cities were maintained at the highest standard. Every street corner was dripping in luxury.
Only the most powerful gangs, the largest corporations, and the most untouchable individuals could afford life there. Everything, from food to rent, was outrageously expensive. And here was Jake, casually saying he lived in a tier one city as if it were nothing.
It was clear then that Jake was not ordinary. Not by a long shot.
"So... where should we head to first?" Jake asked as he twisted his head left and right, eyes darting between the glowing arcades, the tall cinema complex, and the shopping malls lined up along the bustling street. The indecision was painted all over his face.
Because truly, there were so many options. From neon-lit gaming houses to food courts giving off savory aromas, the place was alive with possibilities.
"Uhm... I’m also confused because I don’t have any money on me right now. We don’t even know the currency they use here." Max admitted with a small frown, scratching the back of his head.
"That’s right..." Jake said, rubbing his hair nervously, his grin faltering for the first time since they got there.
"They use the same currency as any other place outside. So as long as you’ve got a few bucks, you’re good to go."
The sudden feminine voice pulled them both from their thoughts. They spun around quickly, and their eyes landed on two figures approaching with steady steps.
Max recognized them immediately.
The first female had flowing silver hair that cascaded down her back like liquid light, catching the glow of the dome’s illumination.
Her fierce, cold blue eyes swept across the lively streets before locking firmly on the two individuals in front of her. There was sharpness in her gaze, the kind that made weaker men look away.
She wore the same tight-fitting hunter uniform Max and Jake had on, but hers strained noticeably around her chest as if struggling to contain the generous weight beneath.
’The third B-ranked Hunter amongst us? What is she doing with Jasmine?’ Max thought as his eyes flickered from the silver-haired woman to Jasmine herself.
"Guys, this is Lana. And I’m sure you all remember her," Jasmine said, casually introducing the female beside her as if the four of them had been best friends since childhood.
"Yeah. The impressive B-ranked Hybrid. Yeah, I recognize her." Max muttered with narrowed eyes, voice flat.
"And I recognize the incredibly annoying loudmouth who kept drawing trouble to himself," Lana shot back with a small scowl tugging at her lips, her tone colder than ice water.
"Tch." Max scoffed, turning his face away, not in the mood to trade barbs with her.
"So what are you guys out here for?" Jasmine asked, her cheerful tone brushing away the cold tension that thickened the air between Max and Lana.
"Just trying to explore and hang out with my best friend here." Jake grinned as he suddenly slung an arm around Max’s neck, dragging him into an arm lock.
"I’m not your friend, talk less of being your best friend." Max scowled, squirming to break free.
"Yes you are." Jake ruffled his hair roughly with a wide smile plastered on his face.
"Get off me!" Max pushed him away with clear irritation while the two ladies simply stared, blank expressions etched across their faces.
"Okay... none of us wants to see the love blooming between you two." Jasmine chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Ju..." Max was about to snap back when...
A loud buzzing sound erupted from their pockets. Instinctively, all four of them dipped their hands into their uniforms and pulled out the communication devices they had been issued earlier that day.
The glowing text on the screen made their stomachs tighten.
Checking it anxiously, the four of them exchanged tense glances.
"Did we all get the same thing?" Max asked, his voice edged with uncertainty as his dragon eyes flickered faintly.
"A mission..." Jasmine whispered, her tone heavy. "Our first mission."
The air grew heavy. Max felt his pulse quicken, Lana’s cold eyes sharpened further, and even Jasmine’s smile faltered.
Everyone except Jake tensed up.
"Oh yeah! Let’s do this." Jake’s grin stretched even wider as he cracked his knuckles loudly, his eyes sparkling with excitement while the others felt the weight of what was to come.