Deep within the central district of Flamedale City, alarms began ringing throughout the Hunter Association headquarters.
Red warning screens flashed across multiple floors simultaneously. Emergency mana signatures surged through communication arrays while awakened personnel rushed between stations carrying reports.
Inside the highest operations chamber, a massive projection of Greyback Forest floated above a circular table. Several sections glowed blood red.
Brutus Griffin stared at the projection with narrowed eyes. The middle-aged man possessed a towering physique nearly resembling a mana beast himself. Numerous scars crossed his exposed arms while a massive warhammer rested beside his chair. Behind him stood three enormous beasts calmly radiating terrifying mana fluctuations.
An armored black gorilla, a crimson-scaled wolf and a giant falcon perched silently atop a steel beam overhead. All three radiated Adept Rank pressure.
Brutus Griffin, Eighth Stage Adept Rank Beast Tamer. One of Flamedale's strongest hunters as well as the leader of the City Guard.
"…Repeat the report."
A trembling staff member immediately responded.
"Three large beast hordes confirmed moving toward Flamedale from Greyback Forest, sir."
The floating map shifted. Multiple red dots spread rapidly outward.
"Estimated numbers?"
"Approximately ten thousand Novice Rank beasts…" The worker swallowed nervously afterward, "…And at least two hundred Apprentice Rank beasts."
The room immediately grew heavier. Even Brutus frowned slightly hearing that. A beast wave of that scale was already dangerous for a Tier-4 city like Flamedale.
Then another report arrived, "Sir— multiple scouts confirmed the presence of several Adept Rank beasts leading the wave."
Brutus' eyes sharpened instantly. "How many?"
"Currently… seven confirmed, however at least ten are estimated."
Silence filled the room briefly.
Ten Adept Rank beasts. That alone was enough to threaten the city seriously.
Then the final report arrived. The moment Brutus read it, his expression changed completely, "…Expert Rank mana fluctuations detected."
Several people inside the room immediately paled. Expert Rank Beast— A creature capable of destroying entire city sectors alone if left unchecked.
Brutus slowly stood afterward. The massive black gorilla behind him immediately released a low growl sensing its master's mood, "…Looks like this won't be small."
---
Far deeper within Greyback Forest—
The forest itself trembled. Thousands of beasts moved through the wilderness simultaneously. Trees snapped and the earth shook continuously beneath countless claws and paws.
Hundreds of Apprentice Rank beasts moved among the horde like commanders guiding an army.
And above all of them—
A massive crimson butterfly drifted silently through the skies. Its wings stretched nearly five meters wide, resembling flowing flames more than actual flesh. Ember-like patterns glowed across its body while distorted heat warped the surrounding air constantly.
The Flameberry Butterfly— An Expert Rank beast.
Below it, countless mana beasts moved with instinctive reverence.
The butterfly's scarlet eyes gazed toward the distant outline of Flamedale City visible far beyond the forest. Hatred flickered within them. Not mindless hatred but hatred born from the core of its heart, from its memories.
Fragments surfaced faintly within its mind.
Flames, Screams, Explosions.
Awakened Humans flooding into Greyback Forest years ago. Countless mana beasts slaughtered, Eggs burned, Nests destroyed. Entire territories erased beneath the excuse of "expanding safe zones."
The butterfly remembered. Mana beasts possessed intelligence far beyond what most humans realized, especially at higher ranks and the Flameberry Butterfly remembered the destruction of its birthplace.
Now… it had returned.
Its burning wings slowly flapped once.
WHOOSH.
Crimson flames spread briefly across the sky before fading. Below, the horde roared violently in response. The butterfly's gaze remained fixed toward Flamedale.
"…This time…" Its feminine voice echoed faintly through the air, "…We take it back."
---
Meanwhile—
The entire outer wall of Flamedale City had already fallen into organized chaos. Large mana cannons were dragged into defensive positions. Supply trucks moved constantly throughout the streets. Hunters rushed toward assigned sectors while civilians were evacuated deeper into the inner districts.
Atop the western wall stood Lucas Reinhart.
The old principal no longer wore academy robes. Instead, dark silver combat armor covered his body while his wooden cane had transformed into a long warstaff glowing with dense mana. Several awakened soldiers stood behind him awaiting orders.
The Archbound Legion, Flamedale's primary defensive force.
Lucas gazed toward the distant forests silently. Even from the city walls, faint beast roars could already be heard occasionally.
Then he spoke calmly, "Seal the outer trade routes immediately."
"Yes sir."
"Deploy long-range mana artillery along sectors three through seven."
"Yes sir."
"Evacuate civilians from the western outer district first. Apprentice Rank beasts will likely breach there earliest."
The soldiers moved quickly.
Lucas continued issuing orders without pause. Despite his calm expression, however, his thoughts remained heavy.
'An Expert Rank beast leading a wave…That alone will destabilize the entire city'
Then suddenly— A communication crystal beside him lit up brightly.
Brutus Griffin's voice emerged shortly afterward.
"Lucas."
"Brutus."
"We confirmed the leader."
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…What is it?"
Several seconds of silence followed before Brutus answered, "…Flameberry Butterfly."
Lucas' expression immediately darkened. A recently evolved Flameberry Butterfly already possessed terrifying destructive capabilities. An Expert Rank version leading a beast wave…
Troublesome did not even begin describing it.
---
Far inside Greyback Forest.
Daniel calmly cleaned blood from Shadow's blade beside the corpse of another Iron Fang Wolf. The beast's body dissolved shortly afterward beneath Devouring Paragon. A faint warmth spread throughout Daniel's body again.
Then suddenly—
DING.
A blue notification screen appeared on his smart watch.
[Emergency Announcement — Flamedale Hunter Association]
[Large Scale Beast Wave detected approaching Flamedale City.]
[All awakened are encouraged to participate in city defense and suppression missions.]
[Temporary Emergency Reward System Activated.]
[Reward: 100 Credits × Beast Stage (Novice Rank)]
[Reward: 1,000 Credits × Beast Stage (Apprentice Rank)]
[Additional contribution rewards available.]
Daniel quietly read the notification. Then his eyes shifted deeper toward the forest. Faint distant roars echoed continuously throughout Greyback Forest now.
The beasts were moving. A normal awakened would probably retreat toward the city immediately after hearing this news.
Daniel instead opened the Association application calmly. Then signed up for beast suppression participation.
DING.
[Registration Successful.]
[Hunter Participation ID Assigned.]
Daniel closed the notification afterward before slowly resting Shadow against his shoulder again. His gaze shifted deeper into the increasingly violent forest. Then a faint smile appeared, "…Convenient timing."
A beast wave meant danger but it also meant something Resources.
Thousands of them.