The number one student

In a bustling training hall within The number one Hunter Academy of Erevos, a palpable buzz of excitement filled the air. Students gathered in clusters, their voices rising above the sounds of shuffling feet and eager whispers.

"Hey, what's going on here?" one student asked, maneuvering through the crowd as he spotted a few friends at the front.

"Dude, come look at this!" another replied, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Eno's about to fight!"

"Who's he fighting this time?" the first student inquired, curiosity piqued. "Isn't this, like, the third time this week he's taken on something?"

His friend chuckled, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, but this time it's a D+ rank monster! You know how intense those can get. It's going to be wild!"

Eager to see, the first student hurried to the edge of the arena. As he pushed his way to the front, he finally caught sight of Eno Spencer, The number 1 third year standing confidently in the center. Eno was strikingly handsome, with tousled black hair framing his chiseled face and piercing blue eyes that seemed to shimmer like the ocean under sunlight. A confident smirk played on his lips, hinting at his excitement for the challenge ahead.

[Eno Spencer Image]

Before him loomed a formidable wolf-like monster, its sleek form poised and ready for battle. The creature's muscles rippled under its thick, bristled fur, and a low growl rumbled deep within its throat. The tension in the air was electric, the anticipation almost tangible.

"Come on, let's see what you've got!" Eno taunted, his voice steady and filled with bravado. His heart raced, not from fear, but from the thrill of the fight.

Just then, the teacher overseeing the training session stepped into the arena, his presence commanding immediate attention. Tall and imposing, he stood like a sentinel, arms crossed, ready to intervene if the situation spiraled out of control. Though everyone knew he was there for safety, Eno felt no apprehension. He had faced monsters before, and today would be no different.

As if responding to an unspoken signal, the wolf, finally freed from its restraints, lunged forward with a fierce growl that echoed through the hall. The students leaned in closer, breaths held in anticipation.

With incredible reflexes, Eno dodged the wolf's powerful swipe, feeling the rush of air as the claws sliced past him. In a seamless motion, he countered, delivering a sharp punch to the creature's side. The impact sent the wolf flying, but it landed gracefully on its feet, unfazed and ready to retaliate.

"Nice try!" Eno shouted, a grin breaking across his face as he adjusted his stance. The wolf snarled, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and with a guttural growl, it opened its mouth wide, unleashing a torrent of flames toward him.

"Not today!" Eno shouted, drawing on the energy that crackled within him. He channeled his lightning, a powerful stream bursting forth to meet the flames head-on. Gasps rippled through the crowd; this was no ordinary display of power. The last time they had witnessed Eno's lightning, it had been a striking blue, but now it shimmered a brilliant white, illuminating the training hall.

"What the—?" a student gasped, eyes wide with astonishment, as others whispered excitedly among themselves. "Is that white lightning? I've never seen anything like it!"

The two forces collided with a blinding flash, engulfing the arena in a momentary burst of light that disoriented everyone, including the wolf. Taking advantage of the distraction, Eno seized the moment. He charged forward, muscles coiled with energy, as the monster struggled to regain its bearings.

In one swift motion, he launched a precise punch directly to the creature's snout, catching it completely off guard. The crowd erupted into cheers, the noise deafening as students shouted encouragement and disbelief at Eno's skill.

"That's it! Go, Eno!" someone hollered, while another added, "He's amazing!"

As the wolf staggered back, Eno felt a rush of adrenaline. His heart raced, not just from the battle, but from the thrill of showing everyone what he could do. With each move he made, the students felt the electric thrill of the fight. He was more than just a top student; he was a Hunter in the making, and the arena was his stage.

"Get up! I'm just getting started!" Eno called out, his voice ringing with confidence as he prepared for the next round of the battle, eager to prove himself once more.

The wolf, momentarily dazed from Eno's punch, shook its head to regain its focus. With a ferocious snarl, it lunged again, attempting to catch Eno off guard. But Eno was ready; he sidestepped the attack and delivered a swift kick to the creature's flank. The blow connected with a satisfying thud, and the wolf yelped, stumbling to the side.

Not wasting a moment, Eno channeled his energy again. "Let's finish this!" he shouted, gathering a surge of white lightning in his hands. The energy crackled and surged, illuminating the arena in a brilliant glow.

As the wolf turned to face him, teeth bared, Eno unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning that struck the creature directly in the chest. The impact sent the wolf sprawling back, its body convulsing from the electrical energy coursing through it.

The students watched in awe as the wolf let out a final, frustrated growl before collapsing to the ground, defeated.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, echoing throughout the hall. "Eno! Eno! Eno!" they chanted, their excitement palpable.

Breathing heavily, Eno stood tall, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. He raised a fist in victory, basking in the admiration of his peers. His eyes gleamed with exhilaration, feeling the rush of adrenaline slowly fade.

As the teacher stepped forward to assess the defeated monster, Eno caught the eye of his friends in the crowd and Lily's beaming smile stood out among the sea of faces, her eyes reflecting pride and admiration.

"Nice work, Eno!" she called out, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

Her voice cut through the noise, and the chatter around her died down as heads turned, finally noticing the figure standing nearby. Almost instantly, the group took a collective step back, a ripple of nervousness running through them. After all, the girl standing next to them was none other than Lily Evernight, the second-ranked student among the third years. She may have been ranked second in skill, but if you asked anyone at the Academy, there was no question—Lily Evernight was the undisputed number one when it came to beauty.

Lily's dark skin glistened faintly under the lights of the hall, and her Long white hair contrasted sharply against her smooth complexion. Her piercing black eyes scanned the surroundings with a quiet intensity, and her curvy figure was enough to draw stares, even though she always carried herself with an air of cold detachment. While she was incredibly popular at the Academy, known for her stunning looks and unparalleled abilities, there was one thing about Lily that made most students hesitate to approach her: she was notoriously distant with anyone outside her small, tightly-knit circle of friends.

[Lily Evernight Image]

As Eno stepped out of the arena, shaking off the adrenaline from the fight, he locked eyes with Lily and began walking toward her. The crowd parted instinctively as he moved, making way for the Academy's two top students to meet.

"What the hell was that?" Lily's voice was cool and direct, her black eyes narrowed in disapproval.

Eno raised an eyebrow, his usual confident smirk creeping onto his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, knowing full well what she was talking about.

Lily sighed, crossing her arms. "You know exactly what I mean. That last move you pulled? Completely unnecessary."

Eno chuckled. "I know, but if I didn't wrap it up quickly, I would've been late to class. Figured I might as well end it right there."

"You're just lucky they gave you a monster with the lowest intelligence possible. Any smarter wolf wouldn't have stood there like an idiot, letting you charge up that flashy attack," Lily said, her tone sharp but laced with concern.

"I knew the wolf was dumb," Eno replied casually, "That's why I did it. Not gonna waste time if I don't have to."

Lily shook her head and let out a soft sigh. "Anyway, congratulations on reaching C- rank," she added, her voice softer now.

Eno, knowing exactly how she had figured it out. He hadn't gone out of his way to display his aura, but he was aware that some people in the crowd had sharp senses. And Lily was definitely one of them.

Eno smirked again, starting to walk beside her as they headed out of the training hall. "Thanks, Lily. So when did you advance?"

"It happened yesterday when I wa—" Lily began but was abruptly cut off.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Eno yelped, rubbing his arm where she had just punched him playfully.

"If it happened yesterday, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow, though the teasing glint in her eyes showed she wasn't truly mad.

"I was *just* about to say," Eno grumbled, "It happened at night. You were all probably asleep."

Lily let out a light giggle, her cold demeanor thawing for just a moment. Seeing her laugh was rare, and it always made Eno's heart lighten just a little. She had that effect on him, even though she rarely showed this side of herself to others.

Watching her laugh, Eno couldn't help but smile. "To be honest," he said, his tone shifting, "I expected you to be a little irritated that I advanced before you."

Lily shot him a confident smile, the one she always gave when she was about to prove him wrong. "Why would I be irritated?" she asked. "I also advanced."

Without hesitation, Lily released a wave of her energy, and the air around them seemed to hum with power. The strength of a person's energy was a direct indicator of their rank, and as the force of her energy washed over him, Eno's eyes widened in surprise.

Her energy felt exactly like his.

"You reached C- too?" Eno asked, his voice a little louder than he intended. "When did this happen?"

"Just a few hours ago," Lily replied coolly, her confident smirk now mirroring his usual expression.

Eno sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "And here I thought I finally left you in the dust."

"I'll never let that happen," Lily replied with a teasing grin, her black eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Heh, I guess not," Eno chuckled. "Heh, heh, heh."