Once an area was purified, Moon’s role would begin.

She would ignite the Bonfire and feed it with her flames so the flame outside the city could respond.

That was the plan in simple terms.

Yet discussing it still consumed hour after hour—

Until every major figure finally reached an agreement.

Only then did the meeting finally come to an end.

This time, Ethan held little authority in the discussions.

Instead—

Gustav, Moon, and Jackson had assumed the leadership role in his place.

He did not mind it.

Gladly, he crawled back into the shadows and away from the light. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

That suited him far better.

Even so, many still had not forgotten his strength or what he was capable of—

Especially those who had accompanied him during the arena siege.

Once the meeting ended, everyone went their separate ways.

Among them, Jackson isolated himself from the other hunters, preferring solitude after spending countless years alone.

He walked away from the building they were staying in, heading outside without the slightest fear of encountering monsters.

Yet suddenly—

He stopped.

He had sensed eyes following him from behind.

His irritating grin widened as he slowly turned toward the corner of the street where his pursuer hid.

"Show yourself."

"Your attempt at hiding is pathetic."

Jackson mocked casually.

A tall, broad-shouldered dark-skinned young man stepped out shortly afterward, seriousness written all over his face.

"I wasn’t trying to hide."

"I simply wanted to speak with you alone."

Raiden revealed himself calmly.

Raiden possessed a strong physique and impressive height.

Yet beside Jackson—

He looked small.

The giant towered above him both in size and presence.

"So?"

"What exactly do you want from me, boy?"

"Hurry up. I have no interest in entertaining you for long."

Jackson fully turned around, facing Raiden directly.

Raiden remained silent for a moment, gathering his resolve.

Then he declared loudly—

"I want to become stronger."

Jackson tilted his head slightly while maintaining his grin.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Don’t play dumb."

"You know exactly what I want."

Raiden answered firmly.

"Teach me how to fight."

"Teach me how to use my strength properly..."

"The way you do."

"Pffft—"

Jackson burst out laughing.

"You?"

"Like me?"

"Don’t make me laugh, boy."

"You don’t have the talent for it."

Jackson mocked him mercilessly.

"You’ve got a decent physique."

"But that’s all."

"You don’t even possess a Blessing."

"Unlike that boy Ethan."

"Despite the difference in build between the two of you, he would surpass you easily if trained properly."

"He’s superior to you even in your own specialty."

"That’s exactly why you aren’t qualified to fight beside him."

"I know that, damn it!"

Raiden shouted far louder this time.

The frustration choking him had become painfully obvious.

"I know I’m weak."

"So weak that all I can do is blindly rely on him without contributing anything meaningful."

"That’s why I came to you."

"I came because I want to change."

"I want to become strong enough to actually make a difference."

Within Raiden’s eyes, Jackson saw genuine determination.

The determination of a young man standing at the beginning of his life.

That alone made the giant sigh softly.

"If you want to grow stronger, then hunt monsters and raise your level."

"That’s all there is to it."

"I can’t teach you much beyond that."

Jackson spoke bluntly, stating the simple truth.

The Hearts possessed the Player System.

Nothing accelerated growth more efficiently than that.

"But..."

The giant added just as Raiden thought he had been rejected.

"Since we’re trapped here anyway..."

"And we’ve got plenty of time on our hands..."

"I’ll accept you."

"Under one condition."

Raiden’s eyes lit up instantly.

Joy nearly overtook him before he quickly regained composure after hearing there was a condition attached.

"What’s your condition?"

Jackson’s grin widened as he raised his fist toward Raiden.

"It’s simple."

"If you can endure a single punch from me and remain standing afterward..."

"I’ll gladly teach you."

Raiden heard bones cracking beneath Jackson’s skin.

He saw veins twisting violently under the giant’s flesh.

"So?"

Raiden hesitated briefly after feeling the pressure radiating from a King-rank knight specialized purely in physical strength.

Standing before Jackson was not easy.

Receiving that fist head-on—

Would be a death sentence for most people.

Yet Raiden gathered his courage and unleashed his Aura Armor to its absolute limit, attempting to overcome the wall standing before him.

"Hit me whenever you want."

"I’ll endure it..."

"Or die trying."

"Good resolve." Jackson’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction upon seeing Raiden’s determination to stand before him.

But determination alone meant nothing.

If Raiden wished to prove himself—

Then he had to survive what came next.

Jackson erased the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

His fist drew backward, gathering enough force to shatter anything foolish enough to stand in its path.

The moment Raiden saw him coming, he crossed his arms before his chest, preparing to block the attack with everything he had.

Jackson did not use Aura Armor.

He relied solely on his natural physical strength enhanced by his Blessing.

Even so—

The explosive force gathered by the giant was monstrous.

Jackson swung his arm forward without hesitation.

The punch tore through the air with a violent shriek before crashing mercilessly into Raiden.

Raiden tried to block it by focusing every ounce of his strength.

And though he remained standing for a single second—

Jackson’s fist shattered through his Aura Armor and sank into his crossed arms.

Raiden felt the bones in both arms crack apart.

His skin split open under the impact.

Even his chest and internal organs suffered damage from the shockwave alone, flooding his body with unbearable pain.

Raiden endured.

He endured until blood spilled from his mouth.

Then the blow finally hurled him backward several meters away.

Two trenches were carved behind him as his feet dug violently into the ground while trying to remain upright.

He gave everything he had.

He blocked it.

Endured it.

Swallowed the damage whole.

His Aura Armor completely shattered.

And despite standing for several long moments—

In the end, he collapsed.