A Hunter's Mind

*ZWOOSH*

The whole team suddenly appeared in their seats inside the van giving off a black smoke.

[ Mana : 70/300 ]

The sudden teleportation took more than half of Reno's mana.

"Holy shit! That was- that was the fucking police!"

Reno yelled at the boy.

"You were an imp who couldn't even point your sword at a single lifeform! And now... What the fuck was that! Aren't those your so-called innocent lives!"

Reno shouted more and more. Then, he looked at the boy through the back mirror.

"I'm talking to you Danny! What the fuck was that!"

Suddenly Claus inserted the key of the van and started it. He quickly strapped his seat belt on.

"All of you now shut the fuck up! Anytime now the police will come around! I used the last of my teleporting stones to teleport the car when I went with Danny, last time..." said Claus and pulled the gear.

He quickly reversed the car into the road and drove away through the road.

He sped up and drove faster than ever. In a couple of minutes, they escaped back to the streets of Parker's Lane.

"Holy shit! That was a close one!" uttered Conor wiping off the sweat in his forehead with the sleeves of his jacket.

Hannah was covering her face with her hands. She was utterly exhausted. The blood shed was too much for her.

She looked at Danny who was sitting beside her. Danny, who was utterly abnormal, was just looking down.

*Well that's a week's hard work with one slash* Danny thought, looking down. Suddenly he had a witty look on his face.

An evil look with a witty fox-like smile.

But deep down, the whole team had no objection to what he did, except for Reno.

But even Reno was speechless.

*These systems do change a human completely!* He thought as he sat in the passenger's seat beside Claus.

Conor took his phone from his left pocket and checked the time.

[ 6: 05 pm ]

It was nightfall.

After a short while of silence in the van, Claus chose to speak up.

"Danny... As a Hunter... I highly respect you! You're one of those people who could reach the top... Who could surpass the line..."

The whole team was shocked. Even Danny. Claus's words changed all of them.

"Say what?" Reno asked, turning to Claus.

Claus looked forward, focusing on the road. Taking a turn, he answered Reno.

"A Hunter... The hardest system, the most mentally depressing system... If you can survive through your quests like that every single week... You can reach the level of Immortality!"

They were now closing up on their house. They heard the police moving along the roads nearby.

A murder after murder... It was only a matter of time before the people figured out that the systems existed.

"So it's all about levelling up now?" asked Reno from Claus.

Claus finally decided to turn to Reno.

"What did I say to you... The day the Witch Hunt began? Didn't I tell you... Let's not think about being patient... And innocent lives? I don't even know what innocence is in this country!"

Reno couldn't disagree with him. Even Reno had taken the lives of the innocent people living in Calliberone. But not the way Danny took them.

"As a player... One who could go beyond the limits, is the one to reach beyond the limits." said Draco agreeing with Claus.

When Claus thought about Danny, he remembered his past, he remembered the man he couldn't turn into.

The struggle for power, the old team, the sacrifices his team took to reach immortality. Only he was left, alone, struggling at the end.

All the people around him turned brutal, killed and killed until they reached the peak. While Claus struggled to play the game, struggled to kill.

He was already proud of Danny. Danny was becoming the man he couldn't be.

They reached the Longwood mansion in no time. Claus parked the van inside the garage.

All of them got off and went into the house.

"Take a seat guys... I'll make some tea..." said Draco as he went into the hallway to the kitchen.

All 5 of them sat down in the set of chairs near the fireplace.

Hannah sat down in the middle of the two boys on the long couch.

Claus sat down, took off his hat and placed it on the table. He looked at Danny.

There was no mournfulness in his face.

"So! That's one survival quest down for you! Good to finish it early in the week!" Claus suddenly started to jabber.

Hannah looked at Danny's face. Danny kept looking down at the floor.

Suddenly, Hannah touched his chin and lifted his head up.

"That was one of the coolest moves I have ever seen! You're already on the verge of being immortal!" jabbered Hannah.

It was surprising. She was suddenly happy. She was smiling at Danny.

"You get stronger by the moment. I love that!"

Claus looked at the girl.

*She's level 11. She must have an idea about the game... This girl is interesting.* thought Claus.

 Conor didn't speak a word. He was the most talkative one in the team. But it seemed like it was harder for Conor than Danny.

Reno just sat there thinking. 

*The game is brutal... Why are we even sad...*

"Danny, Claus and Hannah! You guys are right.... If we don't play the game like this.. One day I might get my head slashed just like that." he said.

"Hell yeah!" uttered Claus.

Then, Draco came and served them tea.

Danny took a sip from his tea. It was delicious as usual.

"And Danny! You have unlocked your curse fire... It's blue!" said Draco.

"What?"

Danny asked, confused by his words.

"Yes... A curse fire... The cursed energy that flows through a player's body. The energy exerted by mana."

[ Curse fire : A player earns this cursed fire by passing to Level 2 ]

Danny suddenly remembered the moment. The moment he levelled up, there was a blue fire emitting from his eyes.

"Ahhh! That! Yep that was nice!" said Danny. 

*TEEEeeeeeEENG*

Suddenly, a notification came to Claus's mobile.

He quickly took the phone from his pocket and checked it.

He read the message from the Daily Mandorin.

*Murder scenes in Mandorin have been reported widely... For all the people of Mandorin... Report any suspicious activities by your neighbors or strangers to us! Save a 100 more lives...*

"Well... I think half the players are home!" said Claus, placing the phone back in his pocket. 

Danny looked at his wrist watch. 

[ 07:15 pm ]

It was about time they took off. Danny's favourite TV show starts at 8pm every Tuesday.

Conor also looked at his watch. 

"Hot damn! 45 minutes till Reavor begins!!"

Conor yelled out.

"Holy shit! REAVOR!!! I almost forgot!!" screamed Reno. 

Hannah was shocked. Turns out everyone watches it. 

"Wait! You guys are watching it too??" asked Draco from the 3 newbies. 

"Yeah!" jabbered Conor.

"Awesome!"

Claus quickly got up. 

"I'll go change! Can't miss this!!" 

Claus rushed up the stairs to change. 

The TV series was the most trending series at the time. Everyone loves it. From 13 year old kids to 60 year olds.

"Well! I have to take off! My cousin told me to be home at 8!" said Danny standing up. 

Clara has begged him to come home before the TV show starts. She always loved to hangout with him and now she couldn't because Danny was busy with the system.

"Oh damn! I was going to ask you if you could hangout here and watch it with us!"

Reno sighed.

"AHH shit! I hope I can but... My cousin seriously wants me to stay home... I'm her best friend... Hehe" 

Danny said as he stepped away from the couch. 

"Aish... Then I'll go with Danny! I need to take off too! But I would like to hangout with you guys later on!" 

Hannah said as she stood up to take her leave. 

"Yep... I'm going too! Will come to hangout with you guys later!"

Conor stood up and got ready to leave. 

*This is just sad now* Draco thought, looking at the 3 getting ready to leave.

"Well bye then... We'll send a message if we need you!" Reno uttered to them as they waved at him. 

Then all three of them left the house. 

Conor always departed at the door and took off to his house in the upper Parker's Lane.

Danny and Hannah walked home. 

"Hey Danny! I'll text you late at night! Be online!!" said Hannah as they walked home. 

"Ok!" jabbered the boy excitedly.

He knew that he was slowly stepping into a relationship. That's just what he needed.

"Haha! Cute!" said the girl. 

Danny blushed. 

"Okie Danny! Time for Reavor!" said Hannah and waved at him as she walked along the walk path to her house.

"Bye bye!" 

Danny waved at Hannah and went into the house. 

Danny got up to his room and took a wash. Then he wore his pyjamas and rushed downstairs. 

There was 10 minutes left until Reavor. 

"Bro! You're late! Hmph!" 

Clara complained. Danny smiled embarrassed. 

"Hahaha... But I came in time... I'm busy these days Clara!" 

Danny tried to cover it up. 

"Yeeee! Now come on! I'm angry with you!" huffed the girl at Danny.

"Hehehe"

Danny smiled wittily and sat down next to her on the couch. Clara threw the cushion pillow she was holding at his face.

Clara was wearing her pyjamas too. They were in their living room where the TV was. 

The TV was huge. The couch was very comfy. The fan was spinning around and around beside them. 

Suddenly the show started.

The episode went on for 1 hour and they enjoyed the show with some strawberry milk and some cans of pringles.

 After the show ended Clara went to sleep. 

Danny went back to his room and laid down on the bed. Then, he got his phone. 

Danny was feeling ill because one of the main side characters died in Reavor.

Suddenly, he remembered what Hannah asked. He got his phone and waited for her to come online. 

But he had zero patience.

Danny quickly went into the tabs and opened a game. 

He hasn't opened the game in about 3 weeks. But luckily the month wasn't over yet and there were no updates. 

After playing two or three matches a message came from Hannah.

*Hi* 

The message read.

Danny quickly went to chat with her, quitting the game. 

*Hi!*

Danny typed. 

*So I was going to ask you something* ( Hannah )

*What is it?* ( Danny )

*I was invited to a party at Kayla's house today* ( Hannah )

*Can you join me?* ( Hannah )

*Woah! Sure! Free food!* ( Danny )

Danny typed some obvious lies. Even the girl knew that it was a lie.

*Haha! And I asked Conor too!* ( Hannah )

Danny felt like he was stranded on a planet with no light. He suddenly felt hopeless.

*What a lucky day!*

Danny said to himself.