The creature burst through the rooftop stairwell door.
Larger than the others.
Not shard-class.
But strong enough to overpower students.
It moved violently.
Sora was thrown into a wall.
Riku barely dodged a claw strike.
Hakari blocked one hit—but the force sent her sliding backward toward the ledge.
The monster lunged.
Narukaze didn't think.
He just moved.
Not fast.
Not skilled.
He shoved Hakari out of the way with everything he had.
The claw came down on him instead.
Bone-crushing impact.
He hit the ground hard.
The monster grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the concrete.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Riku shouted.
Hakari recovered.
Together they killed it.
Silence fell over the rooftop.
Narukaze lay there, barely conscious.
Bleeding.
Breathing shallow.
Hakari knelt beside him.
"Why would you do that?" she asked quietly.
He forced a weak grin.
"…because I can't do anything else."
Night — After the Mission
Back at the dorms, students gathered to check their system updates.
Blue holographic screens flickered into existence in front of each hunter.
Riku smirked.
"Level 18."
Sora smiled softly.
"Level 14."
Hakari looked calm.
"Level 21."
Excitement filled the room.
Level-ups meant growth.
Closer to the cap.
Closer to power.
Narukaze hesitated before activating his.
The screen appeared.
Name: Narukaze
Level: 1
Experience: 94%
No increase.
No change.
The room felt quieter somehow.
Riku glanced over.
"…Still one?"
Narukaze closed the screen slowly.
"Yeah."
No one laughed this time.
But no one defended him either.
Later that night, alone in his room, he stared at the ceiling.
He fought.
He bled.
He almost died.
And still—
Level 1.
Outside the walls, monsters were getting stronger.
Somewhere out there, Kaelen was leveling without limits.
Above the city, gods were moving pieces.
And here he was.
Level 1.