36;SILENT SLAYER

The air in the mess hall was heavy with the faint metallic tang of sleb and the hum of conversation. The makeshift bar counter remained a haven for those seeking a moment of quiet, though the presence of hunters like Leo often cast a shadow over any lighthearted chatter. Leo, hunched over his metallic cup, drank steadily, his sharp serpentine eyes fixed on the blood-like liquid within. Across from him, Muede, the bartender, busied himself cleaning glasses while sneaking the occasional glance at Leo.

Muede was one of the few people Leo ever exchanged words with, and their conversations were more out of routine than friendship. There was something about the older man's calm demeanor that didn't grate on Leo's nerves like the others. Still, Leo's replies were clipped, his voice low, his words sparing.

Suddenly, Muede froze, his brown eyes darting past Leo. "O-oh," he stammered, his tone shifting as a shadow loomed behind Leo.

Before Leo could react, a hand rested on his shoulder. It was light but deliberate, and for a moment, Leo's gaze flickered toward the cup in his hand. He already knew who it was.

"Hi, C66," came a sweet, lilting voice.

Leo sighed inwardly before turning his head slightly. Standing behind him was her: Leone aka A11.

The Only Woman in the Camp

Leone was an anomaly in every sense. Among 100,000 hardened male hunters, she was the only woman—a rarity that elevated her to an almost mythical status within the camp. Her presence alone had turned her into a legend, but her beauty made her unforgettable. She had black hair that fell in soft waves to her waist, her skin smooth and pale, with luminous green eyes that held both warmth and determination. Even in the harshness of the camp, she carried herself with an elegance that turned heads wherever she went.

But it wasn't just her beauty that made her the center of attention—it was her boldness. From the moment training began, Leone had made it clear that she was interested in Leo. She followed him, sought him out, and made her feelings known without hesitation.

Leo, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with her—or with anyone, for that matter. He didn't have time for relationships, much less the chaos that came with being the object of her affection. But Leone's interest in him sparked more than just gossip. It ignited something far more dangerous: jealousy.

Among the hunters, one man was particularly infuriated by Leone's affection for Leo: Kyle, known by his code name, D44. D44 wasn't just any hunter; he was widely regarded as the strongest among the recruits. With the blood of a Mercadian-level orangutan formling flowing through his veins, his power and strength were unrivaled—at least, until Leo came along.

D44 was obsessed with Leone, and he made it his mission to claim her. His towering frame, muscular build, and brash confidence made him a fearsome figure in the camp. Most hunters wouldn't dare challenge him, but when he saw Leone's unwavering interest in Leo, his jealousy became uncontrollable.

For weeks, D44 watched Leone trail after Leo, her attention never wavering. He stewed in anger, his pride wounded every time she ignored him in favor of the silent, brooding C66. Finally, unable to take it any longer, he decided to act.

Two weeks into their training, D44 stormed into the central training area, his booming voice echoing across the camp.

"C66!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with contempt. Hunters from all around paused their activities, turning to watch the spectacle.

Leo, who had been walking away from the training grounds, stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly, his serpentine eyes narrowing as he saw D44 marching toward him.

"You think you can just waltz in here and take what's mine?" D44 spat, pointing an accusatory finger at Leo.

Leo's expression remained blank. "I don't want anything from you," he said flatly, his voice cold and measured.

But D44 wasn't listening. "I challenge you to a duel," he declared, his voice filled with venom. "Winner takes A11. Loser bows out."

The crowd of hunters erupted into murmurs, their curiosity piqued. Leone, who had been watching from a distance, looked horrified.

Leo sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not interested," he said, turning to leave.

But D44 wasn't about to let him walk away. With a roar, he lunged at Leo, his massive frame hurtling forward like a freight train.

What happened next stunned everyone.

Without so much as lifting a finger, Leo's serpentine eyes flashed with a cold, blue intensity. His transformation was instantaneous, his dark-blue horn curling as his aura flared.A small bone materialized between his fingers as Leo flicked it with impossible speed at d44, upon impact the small, dense bone immediately shattered all the bones in d44's body.

The bone pebble struck D44 with surgical precision, and in an instant, his massive body crumpled to the ground. A sickening series of cracks echoed through the air as every bone in his body shattered simultaneously.

The crowd fell silent, their jaws dropping as they watched D44 writhe in agony on the ground, unable to move.

Leo stood over him, his expression unchanging. His transformation faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him standing there in his human form, calm and composed.

"If you want a11," Leo said quietly. "go after yourself, stop disturbing me."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.

Word of the duel spread like wildfire throughout the camp. Leo's effortless victory over D44 earned him a new title: The Silent Slayer. His stoic demeanor and unmatched strength struck fear into the hearts of his fellow hunters, and no one dared to challenge him again.

D44, once the strongest in the camp, was carried away to the infirmary, his pride shattered along with his bones. Leone, meanwhile, was unofficially dubbed "C66's woman." Though Leo had never claimed her, the unspoken rule of the camp was clear: no one was to interfere with her or challenge Leo.

Leone, for her part, continued to pursue Leo, her feelings for him undeterred. But Leo remained the same—cold, distant, and focused solely on his mission. His silence only added to his mystique, making him both revered and feared by the entire camp.

And so, the legend of the Silent Slayer grew, casting a long shadow over the camp and solidifying Leo's place as the strongest hunter among them.