Gifted Young Hunter Program

--- Chapter 2 ---

A week later. 

After my grandma told me her secret profession as the Grandmaster Alchemist, she made me sink into the Medicinal Baths. 

At least one hour a day, it was pure torture because the sensation of getting medicinal properties entering your body is nothing like those cultivation novels described.

My skin felt numb and uncomfortable as if red ants were biting on them constantly. My bones rattled with every step, and my blood pumped non-stop. 

Yeah, I also have to stay in the toilet for three hours.

The Gates Household, Basement.

Today, I also have to take another Medicinal Bath. 

"This..." I said while looking at the bubbling dark purple liquid inside my grandmother's cauldron. 

"Grandma, this doesn't look safe." 

However, my grandma giggled and pushed me inside, "Stop saying nonsense, and dip your body inside." 

I sank into the warm purple liquid and roared at the top of my lungs. It was painful.

My entire body felt like it was about to tear apart. 

However, it was more painful for my grandma.

I couldn't see her because I was inside the solution, but my grandma is currently putting a worried look on her face. I was ignorant about this world, so I didn't know how much my grandma sacrificed for me.

One hour later.

The purple solution has become translucent and looks no different than clean water. And lies within the cauldron is a seven-year-old boy with a handsome face. 

April Gates brought out her grandson and wiped him clean with a clean towel. She observed his body and nodded because there was no backlash from the Medicinal Baths.

"Good boy, you're close to obtaining the Perfect Vessel." She was proud of her grandson's willpower. "Even Felix didn't last this long. Well, he and Ethan missed the best opportunity." 

After that, she brought her grandson upstairs and changed his clothes into a pajama before tucking him with a blanket. She went to the living room and saw her son and daughter-in-law waiting.

"Mother. We need to talk about something." Felix said seriously.

"Yes, mother," Valerie added while clutching a paper. 

April raised her brow and sat on the couch, "Go on."

Felix scratched his head, "Well, I was thinking of letting Theo enter the Gifted Young Hunter Program." 

"Gifted Hunter Program? The one with a 50% death rate?" 

"Felix, are you insane?" 

"No, no, it's a Junior Program." Felix patiently explained. "The Alliance has decided to train good seedlings in all Numerical Grounds, and that's basically millions of young talents." 

"But only cream of the tops, which I believe top ten thousand from each Numerical Ground, could get into the Gifted Young Hunter Program." 

"Theo is a smart child. He can definitely enter the top 10,000 of Ground Zero." 

"It wouldn't be dangerous, I promise." 

April frowned upon this idea and huffed, "I'm still against it! Theo is still too young. On top of that, he has no fighting experience at all!" 

"Letting him enter this program is no different than throwing a cub into a lion's den!" 

Felix Gates was helpless. Although he has reached the 3rd ascension, his mother is a veteran at the 5th ascension realm. She might be a non-fighter expert, but he still couldn't win against her.

If his father were alive, this decision would be easy. 

Valerie, who had been quiet, finally parted her mouth, "Mother, we can still prepare Theo for this." 

"We can teach him to fight, survive, and many more." 

"The program would only start in three months." 

"We still have time.

"Mother, this is Theo's only chance to become a strong figure." 

"A chance that our generations couldn't get." 

April gritted her teeth. She knew what her son and daughter-in-law meant.

It is for Theomars at the end of the day. 

If he didn't grasp this chance, he would become cannon fodder just like those dying people outside the Numerical Grounds and at the mercy of the Sylumans.

"I don't know anymore..." April stood up and walked away. 

"You better not leave any scratch on my grandson." Her tired voice drifted in the hallway.

Felix and Valerie glanced at each other before smiling happily. 

They hugged and vowed to make their son the best seedling in the upcoming Gifted Young Hunter Program. 

And that's how Theomars's days become busy and chaotic.

...

The next morning.

I was happily devouring my breakfast cereal. It was the one thing I didn't want to miss on this fine morning. 

That's until I lifted my last scoop.

"Hey, Theo." My dad suddenly called my name. 

Oh, no. I felt a very 'bad' premonition. 

He usually called me champ. 

Father cleared his throat and added, "You see, I was thinking of training you in martial arts and weapon-wielding for the next two months and a half." 

"Wait, what?" I choked on my cereal, and the spoon fell into the bowl.

"I thought you said I need to be nine or ten before I could start..." 

"When did I say that? I don't remember." My father responded.

His face is very thick to say that on my face.

I can't believe it.

At least make your reaction more convincing!

Cough!

"I will also mentor you about other knowledge, like survival knowledge, fauna, and flora." My mother chimed in out of nowhere.

I was dumbfounded, "What is this?" 

I glanced at my grandmother and saw her expression was very sour. 

"Grandma?" 

"Just do what your parents told you. It is for your own good." Grandma replied diminishingly.

To hell with my own good? What about my opinion?

Just tell me already. 

Fuck, it's going to be hell for two months and a half. 

After breakfast, my father taught me martial arts and weapon-wielding. 

He also introduced me to this neat breathing technique, which could increase my lung capacity like that flashy anime. I don't have to say a name.

We were sparring every day, and my father beat me every day. That sounds like abuse for some reason. 

After physical abuse-! I mean, training. It was almost noon.

My mother would cram a wide variety of knowledge into my head. Fun fact: my teacher didn't even teach me such a thing. 

For example, a certain Syluman has a thick armor-like body, so how do we kill them? The answer is to find an open spot and dose it with poison.

If there is no open spot, create one. 

If you can't crack the shell, use a sound-based or internal-based attack that could pass through Syluman's body. 

She also taught me to be creative, critical, and practical in any situation. 

If you can't fight, then run. 

Don't play brave and retreat immediately. 

Some Sylumans are just out of the human's league. 

After getting exhausted physically and mentally, I have a Medicinal Bath and basically become numb to it. Painful, yes. But I ignored it for the sake of an answer. 

When all this ended, my parents and grandmother should have told me the reason behind this sudden event. 

One day after another. 

I felt more powerful, more knowledgeable, and finally more relaxed. 

Everything has become second nature to me. 

The spar, learning, and endurance have integrated into my discipline.

I'm definitely more healthy than my past self. 

Not that I was unhealthy before. I hit the gym and jog around my house regularly. 

Standing before a mirror, I could see that I had become taller. 

Hmm, 142 centimeters or 4'6 ft. That's taller than your average seven years old in my previous life.

My blonde hair fell over my face, and I blew it playfully. 

"Maybe I should cut my hair soon," I commented while wearing a long-sleeved shirt. 

Walking down the stairs of my room, I saw that my parents and grandmother had sat at the dining table. 

They are waiting for me.

As I sat down, my father pulled an envelope and pushed it to me.

"What is this?" I asked curiously. 

"Open it." My mother smiled at me.

I shrugged and ripped the envelope, finding a piece of paper with Human Alliance's Stamp inside. I furrowed my brows and read the content carefully.

"Gifted Young Hunter Program..." 

My eyelids twitch, "So, this is why you suddenly wanted to train me, dad, mom?"

"Why didn't you question me?" My grandma asked.

I glanced at her and smiled, "Because you've made me use Medicinal Baths earlier." 

"Oh..." My grandma covered her mouth and nodded in understanding.

"What do you think, champ?" My father questioned teasingly. 

I placed the paper down and replied, "I don't know, actually." 

"Mother and grandmother always told me to dream big. However, I was always realistic." 

"You're too mature for your own good." My father chuckled.

"Is it bad that I'm more mature for a boy my age?" I returned with a pout.

"No, not really. Although I miss the day you called me Papa, having a more mature mind increased your chance of survival." 

"Not to mention, it is also a sign of a successful person. You, my son, are a genius." 

'I'm no genius.' I answered in my mind.

'I'm just a reincarnated person. A normal guy who fell out of his luck.' 

I looked down at the paper and finally decided, "Fine." 

"Let's give it a try." 

"The Gifted Young Hunter Program!"

...

Ground Alpha, Human Alliance Headquarters.

Inside a well-lit room, twelve pillars of humanity sat silently. 

They wore diverse clothes and came from different ethnicities, but they were the same humans at the end of the day. 

"Mother Earth, how is the Gifted Young Hunter Program doing?" Asked one of the pillars. 

"Everything is doing fine." A motherly voice answered.

"All Numerical Grounds are still recruiting young talents to join." 

"But are you sure you wanted to do this? All of you have been saving Planar Energy since the beginning of the Age of Ascension." 

"We are." The twelve pillars answered simultaneously.

"It's a small price to pay." 

"As long as the young generations can thrive, we are willing to become their umbrella in this heavy storm!" A dignified voice echoed throughout the room.

Everyone moved to the voice and saw a middle-aged man sitting on a dilapidated-looking throne. He has white hair and a scar on his face. 

"Admirable, the White King, you're indeed the Guardian of Humanity!" Raia praised the middle-aged man like a mother to a son.