WORLD END

Training

The sun hung high and merciless in the hot afternoon sky, its rays beating down on the courtyard behind Inn. Three days had passed since Sil and his companions had received their Hunter IDs—three days since they had officially now Hunter's

Sil stood alone in the center of the courtyard, his sword moving through the air in a rhythm that had become his only constant. Each swing was deliberate, each strike executed with the full weight of his effort. Sweat had long since soaked through his clothes

As his blade cut through the air again and again, his thoughts drifted.

Which guild should I join?

There were hundreds of them—the Flame Guild, Odin’s Guild, Dawn Guild, the Crows Guild, and many more. Now that he officially had his Hunter ID, the decision felt heavier than before because you need to be strong to join one, no one would take a couple of E Ranks.

He remembered the moment he had explained to Miles: the watch they wore during the hunter's evaluation test wasn’t just a watch. It transformed into their Hunter ID.

Sil was stunned by how the watch given to them was able to morph into the ID card he was holding

“Wow,” he muttered to himself. “What type of beast crystal was used during the creation of this?”As he continued observing his ID, Miles called to him.“Sil, now that we’ve got our IDs, what Guild are you planning on joining?” Miles asked. “Since we’re partners, I’ll just go with whatever you choose.”

Sil snorted. “You’re just too lazy to decide, so you’re dumping the decision on me because we’re partners."

Miles turned his head and rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously.

— Back to reality —Sil’s hand started shaking. His sword slipped from his grip and hit the ground.

Sil stared at his palm for a moment before walking over to a nearby tree. He leaned his back against it, breathing slowly.“I can’t join a guild if I’m this weak,” he whispered. “Miles and I… we’re not strong enough to hunt beasts by ourselves on beasts' territories.”

His jaw tightened.“We’re low on money. We’ve been at this inn for three days already.”He exhaled sharply.“We need to join a guild and participate in group hunts Make some money and rent a place to live instead of an inn.

From his left, he heard footsteps. Miles walked up and tossed him a bottle of water. “Drink some.”

Sil caught it and drank deeply. His chest eased as he let out a long breath.“Thanks.”

Miles smiled.

Then without warning he stomped his foot to the ground. The earth shifted. A humanoid figure rose from the ground, shaped like a man and standing, it was the same height as Miles.

“What's that,” Sil said, pushing himself off the tree. “And you don't seem worn out like usual after using your ability.”

“Oh, I’m tired,” Miles replied. “Creating this drains all my soul energy. I’ve just gotten used to it, so I don’t collapse from creating it. I can’t control it until my soul energy refills.”He shrugged. “In battle, it’s pretty useless. But it works sturdy as a training doll.”

“So once your soul energy refills, you can move it?” Sil asked.

“Yep miles responded ”

Sil grinned. “Makes a good practice doll.”

He stretched his shoulders. “Let’s rest a bit. I’m worn out from earlier practice.

How about we eat first, then come back in the evening and train with the earth doll? Miles said.”

“Sounds good.”

They left the courtyard and entered the tavern that was close to the Inn.

They sat near the stairs. Sil picked up a pen and wrote down his order, then passed the paper to Miles, who did the same. As soon as they finished, the papers floated up and glided toward the tavern kitchen.

While waiting, Sil placed his sword on the table and began cleaning it. Across from him, Miles reshaped a chunk of earth in his hands.

A group of four hunters entered the tavern and took seats near the window of the tavern. One of them noticed Sil’s giving maintenance to his sword and walked over.“Hey, you guys must be hunters,” the man said with a smile, extending his hand. “Name’s Israel.”He was tall, broad-shouldered, with red hair and a Silver colored bow strapped to his back.

He gestured a handshake toward Sil

Sil shook his hand and replied. “Yeah.”

“Planning to go on a hunt anytime soon?”

“No,” Sil answered. Israel raised a brow. “Then how about joining us? We are a party of C and D Rank hunters and we’re heading to hunt in the nearest beast territory. You need at least five hunters to explore a beast territory or we won't be allowed by the hunter association, we used to be five but we lost one of our party members in a dungeon.

Sil thought for a moment. Then he nodded.“I’ll join. But my partner comes too,” he said, gesturing toward Miles. “Just so you know, we both E-rank. We just got our Hunter IDs.”Israel looked at Miles. “But he’s blind.”

“Don’t worry,” Sil said calmly. “He can move just fine.”

At that moment, their food appeared on the table in a flash, as if it was teleported to their table .“Alright, I'll leave you to enjoy your meal,” Israel said. “Meet us at the City Gate in two days. We’ll have to gather supplies for the hunt.”

He returned to his party.

“You didn’t have to invite me,” Miles said while eating. “You could’ve gone alone.”

“We’re partners,” Sil replied. “And we need the money. I can’t go hunting for both of us and cover the bills by myself.”Sil took a bite and smiled. “This tavern ramen really is the best.” He exclaimed

After eating, they stood to leave. Sil gave Israel a nod. Israel noticed and returned it with a thumbs-up.

Outside, night had already fallen, but the streets were still lively. Shops were open, and people filled the roads.

They returned to the inn. At the reception desk, Sil pulled five basic tier Crystal from his bag and gave them to the receptionist at the inn .“Another three days.”The innkeeper took the Crystal and nodded. “Your room is being cleaned.”That’s fine,” Sil said. “We’ll be training in the yard.”

That's the last of our Crystal we got from the slime beast on the evaluation test, sil thought to himself while walking to the yard.

When he got to the yard, Miles was already there—sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, controlling the earth doll from a distance.“It moves lively,” Sil said, smiling. He touched it. Solid and Sturdy. Sil placed his bag near a tree and stepped back twenty feet and drew his sword.

“Ready, Miles?”

“Whenever you are.”

Sil crouched low, then sprinted forward.

He’s fast, Miles thought. Sil spun his body rapidly around and slashed at the dolls in a Zigzag from the upper body. The strike landed with a clanging sound—but the doll blocked it just in time and not even a scratch was made

It countered with a punch.

Sil ducked and leapt backward.

“This thing’s fast,” Sil said, grinning. “But I won’t lose.”

For over fifteen minutes, every strike Sil threw was blocked.

Then Sil smiled. He threw his sword. The blade spun with a lot of momentum the doll raised its left hand to block the attack but it smashed into the doll’s raised arm, shattering it into crumbling earth.

Miles pushed the doll forward going after Sil as he was unarmed, before Sil could react, the doll lunged forward and slammed a punch into his stomach.

“Bro,” Sil groaned, dropping to one knee. “You didn’t have to hit me that hard. I almost threw up the ramen I ate.

“Sorry,” Miles giggles. “Why’d you throw your sword, you left yourself open and unarmed miles walked to sil and handed his sword to him?”

“It’s a sword-throwing technique my father taught me,” Sil said. “I forgot the name.”

“I thought you were desperate to land a hit in.”

They sat beneath a tree, resting.“I still don’t know what guild we should join to make a living,” Sil said quietly.

“Let’s head inside,” Miles said, standing. “It’s getting cold.”

He helped Sil up and smiled.“Stop stressing so much. Sometimes things work out on their own and we could figure it out after the hunt with those guys they invited us to hunt with them.”

You're right Sil said and got up picking his bag and they both went to their room in the inn