Return Of The SSS-Class Hunter

Eva stared at Derek, eyes widened. Art and Henry were no different.

"W-who did you say will be joining?" After dazing for a moment, Eva finally snapped out of it and asked.

"Senior Emma. She's from fourth y..." Derek began to explain, but Eva cut him off hurriedly.

"I know who she is. But you're telling me she agreed to join your team? What in the world did you say to convince her?" She sounded utterly bewildered.

"Nothing. She said it herself — she wanted to join."

Eva just stared at him, mouth half-open. Henry and Art, too. Their spoons had stopped mid-air, eyes fixed on Derek, all of them thinking the same thing:

How is that possible?

"Tell me from the start," Eva demanded, snapping out of her shock first.

"There's nothing to tell from the start. She was kidnapped just like I was — something you already know. She's just grateful that I reached out to help. That's all. Maybe it's simply a gesture of appreciation… or respect." Derek explained what he believed was the reason.

"B-but…" Art stammered, trying to speak but finding no words. Henry didn't even attempt to say anything.

After a while, Eva broke the silence again. "I think I should just prepare myself for all the shocks and surprises I'll have to endure as your guide." She sighed.

"Yeah, me too. If it were any other fourth-year, it wouldn't be this surprising — but her?" Henry finally said.

"Why? I know she's strong, but aren't you exaggerating?"

"Exaggerating?" Henry scoffed. "You have no idea. She's been participating in the Half-Yearly Ranker's Test since her second year. She's from one of the top three legacy families, and even within her own family, she's considered a prodigy."

"Yeah — just like Cecilia Glaciblade," Art added.

"Hmm. She's really that great?"

"Yes. And that's not even half of it. She has participated in the test four times now. Every single time, she was in the champion team… and always ranked within the top three on the individual Ranker's List."

Derek's right eyebrow rose. 'She's that great? Why didn't I hear about her in my past life? Did the demons get to her before she could rise?'

Having fought until the bitter end of the world in his previous life, Derek knew every powerhouse — Cecilia being one of them. So hearing Emma being compared to Cecilia confused him. If she were truly at that level, shouldn't her name have been just as memorable?

The only explanation… she must not have lived long enough for her name to echo through history.

After thinking for a moment, Derek said, "Well… It's actually a good thing, isn't it? With her on the team, it'll be even easier for us to claim a top-three position." His tone was bright and positive.

"Yeah. Only if you remain alive and unscathed until the test even begins." Eva sighed. "I can't imagine what will happen when her previous teammates find out she's joining another team."

"Yeah, they'll definitely come for your throat," Henry added.

"Why only me? Aren't you guys also on the team?" Derek chuckled.

"That…" Henry went silent, unable to come up with anything.

"Damn… so we basically have a hit list on our backs now," Art said dramatically.

Seeing their reactions, Derek couldn't help but laugh. "Relax, guys. Nothing will happen. Which team she joins is entirely her choice."

"If only you knew…" Eva muttered under her breath.

Soon, they finished their meal.

While heading back, Derek said, "Starting tomorrow, we'll do combined training after class for the next two days."

"Okay," they all nodded before going their separate ways.

Instead of going to his room, Derek headed back to the infirmary. 'I didn't know she was such a big shot,' he thought.

Soon, he reached the infirmary and, after getting permission from Miss Helen, walked toward Emma's room.

He knocked, and once he heard her permission, he entered.

Inside, he found Emma packing her things.

"Where are you going?" Derek asked.

"Well, I'm discharged, so I'll be heading out."

"This fast?"

"Or what? Did you expect me to practice for the Half-Yearly Ranker's Test while lying in a hospital bed?"

"You know you don't have to push yourself, right?"

"Who's pushing who?" she replied calmly. "I was only resting here anyway."

Derek didn't respond immediately. He waited a few seconds before speaking again. "By the way… were you serious about joining my team? I heard you're actually a big shot. I don't want you to drag yourself down because of me."

Emma paused mid-packing and looked at him. "Who said anything about me dragging myself down because of you? I'm doing this for myself. That team I've been participating with — those people are rude, arrogant, narcissistic. I've been wanting to leave them for a long time, but there were always complications. Your appearance just… helped me finally decide what I actually want."

"I see."

"Yes. So don't put pressure on yourself."

"Alright then, I won't be humble. Starting tomorrow, we will begin our team practice after class. Do you have any place in mind for group training?"

"A place for group training, huh… I think I've got one. Meet me at the entrance of the Academic Building after class tomorrow. Bring your other members too."

"Alright."

"Let's meet tomorrow then. I still have some things to take care of."

"Okay."

With that, Derek left the infirmary and headed to his room. After changing into his usual training attire, he stepped out again. This time, not toward the training chamber, though. Instead, he headed toward the forest.

'After nonstop cultivation and practicing Lightning Step to the point of exhaustion, I really need to let off some steam,' he thought as he reached the forest entrance and tapped his ID card against the panel. His body had been doing nothing but refining energy and practicing precise footwork for days; his muscles were itching for a real fight.

Once inside, he retrieved the twin daggers from his storage ring.

Derek moved deeper into the forest, the faint crunch of leaves under his boots blending with the distant rustling of beasts. The twin daggers rested comfortably in his hands... cold, sharp, and eager.

It didn't take long.

A cluster of shadows darted between the bushes.

Giant rats. Five of them.

They screeched and lunged.

Derek's expression didn't even change.

Shff–!

He stepped forward, body tilting slightly, and both daggers flashed.

One rat's head rolled before it even understood what happened. Another split from skull to jaw. The third was pierced cleanly between the eyes.

The last two barely had time to leap before Derek spun once and sliced their throats in a single flowing motion.

All five dropped in a heap.

He didn't slow down and just kept walking.

The forest grew thicker, and soon a loud, chaotic rumbling echoed from ahead. Leaves shook violently as dozens of small beasts poured out. Another horde of giant rats, but this time mixed with tree squirrels, mutated into magical beasts.

Their eyes glowed red.

They swarmed him like a tide.

Derek's daggers danced.

The technique he learned from the rune stone revealed its true strength in battle. Derek didn't even need to rely heavily on his cultivator-level physical power — the technique itself made every movement sharp, precise, and deadly. His footwork flowed naturally, his daggers striking with perfect accuracy. Every slash cut exactly where it was meant to, and every step connected smoothly to the next, forming a continuous chain of lethal movements.

By the time he stepped through the swarm, the ground behind him was littered with limp bodies.

He went deeper.

The faint glow of sunlight filtering through the canopy dimmed as the forest thickened. And with the deeper shadows came different sounds — low, rumbling growls.

E-class magical beasts.

A pair of dire wolves appeared, fur bristling, their yellow eyes fixed on Derek. One growled, lowering its body, ready to pounce.

Derek didn't hesitate.

Whoosh!

The first wolf lunged.

Derek stepped aside, slashing its neck in a single fluid motion. The beast collapsed without even finishing its leap.

The second wolf came from behind, faster than the first, but Derek's senses were sharp. Due to practicing the second stage of learning lightning pace, he didn't even need to see to know what was coming. His body twisted slightly, dagger sweeping backward.

A wet, slicing sound followed.

The wolf fell instantly.

He stood there for a moment, exhaling softly, rolling his wrists. He felt something. A change.

'The more I fight… the clearer the dagger-wielding technique becomes.'

The technique was now etched into his muscles. And now, the more he used it, the more his comprehension improved. As if with each slash, his understanding of dagger-wielding was improving.

He stared at his hands holding the daggers, a sudden thrill washing through him. Then he began walking forward again.

'Let's see if it's really as I think it is.' A smile spread across his face.

And soon, he was standing in front of a horde of magical beasts. At least twenty of them.