Training

I’d taught martial aura several times before, so I was fairly used to it by now. I could simply run them ragged to drain their stamina, as I had with Shin Yuyu, but she was S-rank.

Awakening martial aura didn’t necessarily guarantee that they’d become stronger. Since all ten Hunters except Choi Jong-o were B-rank, I decided to use this opportunity for training as well.

This also included a request from the Association. I set out from the fortress with a few more of my subordinates in tow.

"Huff, huff…… Are we there yet?"

"Stop complaining and keep up."

"We’re almost there."

A vast plain stretched out where the mountains of Pamagok ended. We had entered the territory of the Togwol.

As the stronghold of barbarians who tamed magical beasts, the area was marked everywhere with traces of beasts. The wide-open view was no reason to let our guard down.

Thwack! Cheukmu, walking at the back of the group, loosed an arrow that struck a deer in the torso. At first, it looked like an ordinary animal, but then its antlers shimmered and it transformed into a human figure.

One of the startled Hunters, An Jun-hyeon of the Birang party, ran over to check on the fallen figure...