Simon walked toward Lucien and the girl with calm, steady steps. Despite the brutal battle he had just endured, not a hint of exhaustion touched his face. he stopped in front of them.
Thud!
A massive object fell on the ground that he pulled from his spatial belt. The corpse of the enormous Kimodo.
The girl's eye widened slightly. Lucien simply raised an eyebrow, impressed.
"Took you long enough," the girl muttered, arms crossed.
Simon glanced at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Sorry. Had to baby sit a sleeping lizard."
Before the girl could continue shoot out another word, Lucien cleared his throat, stepping between them.
"That's enough," he said, his tone calm but firm. He reached into his coat and pulled out a black and gold business card, handing it to Simon.
Simon took it and glanced down. His brow furrowed. "Beetle God Company…?"
Lucien nodded. "I'm Lucien Therin. Senior recruitment Officer for Beetle god. What you showed in that cave wasn't just power—it was the truth. I'd like to offer you an A+ contract with us. Full benefits. Personal resource allocation. You'll have everything you need to grow stronger."
Simon blinked, still staring at the card. "Wait…you're recruiting me?"
"Yes," Lucien said, his voice steady. "Being a solo Astral Lord in the wilderness can only take you so far. There's strength in independence—but growth?" he shook his head. "That requires backing. And we're offering it."
There was a pause.
Then Simon burst out laughing.
Lucine's expression tensed slightly. "Something funny?"
Simon chuckled, reaching into his space belt and pulled out his own ID card. "I appreciate the offer… really. But I'm already with Beetle God."
Both Lucien and the girl leaned in, eyes scanning the ID.
Lucien blinked. "you're… hunter type Astral Lord? Then why are you hunting solo?"
"Yes," Simon said with a shrug. "I just prefer hunting alone."
Simon clearly understood where the misunderstanding was coming from because solo hunters were either mentally—ill person or person who don't have contract with any Astral Company.
The girl looked between the ID and Simon with an incredulous expression. "Wait. You're Already one of us.?"
"You were about to poach your own employee," Simon said, unable to hide his grin.
With the tension in the air calm down making both sides were at ease.
Lucien reached into his spatial belt and pulled out the container containing the White-Blue Flames Flickering within.
"The Cold Flame, as promised," he said, handling it over.
Simon accepted it, his eyes gleaning as he studied the rare treasure.
Meanwhile, Lucien and the Girl began the process of storing the Kimodo's massive corpse.
As they prepared to leave, the girl turned back to Simon, extending her hand.
"I didn't formally introduce myself earlier. Elva Rosecain."
Simon took her hand and gave it a firm shake. "Simon. Simon Reid."
The moment their hand touched her hands.
Black character appeared before him
Name:Elva Rosecain
Race: Human
Astral skill:
Transmutation (Awakened)
Control (Awakened)
Seeing it gave Simon a surprise because it was the first time he saw a real double-skill Astral Lord.
Because of the surprise Simon held her for moment longer than necessary, which made the environment awkward but Simon let go and acted normal.
Then she gave him a nod, turned and followed Lucien into the forest.
Simon watched them disappear into the forest, the cold flame vial still burning softly in his hand—its glow flickering like a pulse of restrained power.
He turned back toward the cave.
Originally, he had planned to return to base to search for someone with a bone-related ability. But now… his priorities had shifted. He had something new. Something far more urgent.
He needed to understand his new weapon.
Back inside the cave—still scarred from the brutal battle—Simon found a quiet corner and lit darkness with a soft glow of his own fire.
The warn light flickered across the stone walls, throwing long shadows behind him.
Settling into a seated position, he took a steady breath, calming his heart and mind. With focus, he summoned his familiar flame in the palm of his left hand—golden-red and fierce.
With his right, he unlocked the container holding the cold flame.
White-blue fire floated gently inside; its presence ethereal, almost weightless.
He reached out slowly and let it spill onto his right palm.
The contrast was immediate.
His body tensed instinctively from the unnatural chill, but he didn't flinch. His breath slowed again as he centres himself. Slowly, with deliberate control, he guided the two flames toward each other.
The instant they touched, sparks danced. The air trembled.
Then—like water blending into ink—the white-blue flames began merging with his natural fire, swirling and twisting as if testing one another. It wasn't a battle. It was conversation. A union of opposites.
Time lost meaning.
One hour passed. Then another.
Eventually, the cold flame began to dominate, gently, consuming his own, not destroying but altering it.
Two days passed.
When Simon finally emerged from the cave, his steps were quiet but confident. The night greeted him again, but the darkness no longer held dominion.
White-blue flames drifted lazily around him like fireflies—quiet, beautiful, and impossibly cold. A living aura.
His face was composed, stoic as ever, but inside, excitement surged like a storm waiting to break. The flames… they obeyed him like an extension of his own will.
But that excitement dulled slightly as he looked down at his weapon—his companion through countless battles.
"Damn… I've made you suffer a lot," he muttered, eyes lingering on the visible cracks running along the blade of Ember Cleaver. Its edge was chipped. Its core, fractured. One more fight might shatter it completely.
With quiet reverence, he sheathed the blade and returned it to his space belt.
Then, without hesitation, Simon raised his hand.
Dozens of weapons materialized—arrows, spears, and swords—each born of his fire and now laced with a cold that shimmered unnaturally.
Finally, he drew Ignis Fangs, his other weapon, still intact and hungry for blood.
With a steady gaze and renewed resolve, Simon stepped into the wilderness once more.
Time for a Hunt.