Chatper 13 : "Night Hunt"

A few hours had passed, and the grueling exercises had finally come to an end. The cadets, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, lined up at the Blackhand outpost for their next orders. Their bodies ached, and their legs trembled from the intense workout, but they knew better than to complain now.

Jax had pushed them far beyond what they were used to, and it showed in the way they carried themselves—slouched, drained, but with a new layer of grit beneath their exhaustion.

As they stood there, a soldier stepped forward, addressing the group.

"Cadets, you'll be assigned quarters for the night. Rooms have been prepared, so get some rest while you can."

The young masters exchanged smug glances, already anticipating luxury accommodations. Gideon Valis, in particular, let out a small chuckle. "Finally, some well-earned rest. I'm sure we'll have suites fit for royalty after all that."

Dorian Haleth nodded in agreement, a confident smirk playing on his face. "No doubt. I expect nothing less than five-star treatment."

But as they were led to their quarters, their expectations were quickly shattered.

The rooms assigned to the young masters were anything but luxurious. Each one was plain, with basic bedding and minimal decoration. A single bed, a table, and a chair—that was it. The walls were barren, and the cool stone floors did little to offer any comfort. It was a stark contrast to the lavish accommodations they were used to back home.

Gideon stepped into his room and stared in disbelief. "This... this is it? Where's the luxury?"

Dorian, standing beside him, looked equally stunned. "This can't be right. Are they serious?"

The soldiers escorting them remained stone-faced. "These are your quarters for the night. Get comfortable."

Meanwhile, the daughters of the five great families fared slightly better. Emilia Graves, Seraphine Blake, Lila Vandis, and the others who had performed well during the exercises were given somewhat better accommodations. Their rooms, while still modest by their standards, were at least a little larger, with softer bedding and a small window offering a view of the night sky.

Emilia raised an eyebrow as she entered her room. "Not what I'm used to, but considering the others... I guess we earned this."

Seraphine smirked, glancing at Emilia. "It's only fair. We proved ourselves today. The others? Not so much."

As the cadets settled into their rooms, some grumbling about their accommodations, Jax watched from a distance. He had pushed them hard, but it was necessary. They needed to understand the weight of their training, and the spartan quarters were just another lesson—one that their family names wouldn't protect them from.

The night sky had fully settled over the Blackhand outpost, a sea of stars blanketing the darkness. The only sound was the distant hum of the upgraded turrets and the faint chatter of soldiers on patrol. It was quiet. Almost too quiet.

Jax's gaze shifted to Steelwolf, its massive frame standing silently near the gates. Fully repaired and upgraded, the mech seemed eager for action. And so was Jax. The exercises with the cadets were just the beginning. He needed more strength—more experience—and the only way to get that was by hunting.

Jax's lips curled into a determined grin as he approached Steelwolf. Tonight, the city borders and the dangerous outskirts would be his training ground.

"Steelwolf, let's get to work."

The towering mech came to life with a low rumble, its eyes glowing a fierce blue as Jax climbed inside the cockpit. The systems flickered to life, wrapping him in the familiar embrace of control. With a single command, Steelwolf began moving, its heavy metal feet thudding against the ground as they left the outpost behind.

As they ventured out into the wilderness beyond the city, Jax could already sense the presence of lurking monsters. The outskirts had always been a haven for dangerous creatures, mutated by mana over the years. Some were massive and terrifying, while others were smaller but quick and deadly.

Jax tightened his grip on the controls. "Let's see what we're up against tonight."

ding~

[Mission: Night Hunt Objective: Eliminate monsters and increase combat skills. Bonus Objective: Level up before returning to the outpost. Reward: 500 XP + Roulette Ticket]

The first sign of danger came from the rustling bushes in the distance. Through Steelwolf's sensors, Jax spotted a pack of mutated beasts, their twisted forms snarling as they prowled the city's perimeter. Their glowing red eyes turned toward Steelwolf, marking him as their prey.

Jax smirked. "Perfect."

He revved Steelwolf's engines and surged forward, launching a barrage of smoke missiles from its shoulder-mounted cannons. The beasts scattered in panic, but there was no escape. Steelwolf's auto-turret swiveled into action, picking them off one by one.

As the last of the pack fell, Jax could feel the surge of energy flowing through him. His body tingled as the system fed him the experience from the kills.

ding~

[XP Gained: 300]

But Jax didn't stop there. He pushed deeper into the outskirts, seeking larger prey. It wasn't long before he came across a far more dangerous foe—a giant Mana Beast, its skin pulsing with energy. It was at least twenty feet tall, its eyes glowing with fury.

Jax chuckled. "This should be interesting."

The Mana Beast roared and charged at Steelwolf, but Jax was ready. He unleashed a flurry of attacks, Steelwolf's blade gleaming in the moonlight as it sliced through the air. The two clashed brutally, each blow shaking the ground beneath them.

Jax's heart raced as he precisely maneuvered Steelwolf, dodging the beast's powerful strikes. With a final, decisive slash, Steelwolf's blade severed the creature's head, and it collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.

ding~

[XP Gained: 750]

Jax's breath came out in a controlled exhale as he checked his status.

ding~

[Status Update: Name: Jax Talon Level: 41 XP: 3429/5000]

He felt the rush of leveling up once again. But more importantly, his combat instincts were sharper, his reflexes honed by the intense battle.

Steelwolf stood tall, its armor barely scratched from the encounter. Jax leaned back in his seat, looking up at the stars. The night was far from over, and there were plenty more monsters to hunt.

Just as Jax was about to move on, his senses sharpened, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow rushing toward him.

Jax's eyes narrowed as the shadow darted closer, its movements swift and unpredictable. His hands instinctively gripped the controls of Steelwolf, adrenaline surging through him. The mecha's systems responded instantly, humming to life as the enhanced sensors locked onto the approaching figure.

"Steelwolf, combat mode," Jax commanded.

The shadow lunged, revealing itself to be a monstrous creature—a hulking beast with jagged fangs and glowing red eyes. Its skin glistened under the moonlight, covered in scales tougher than steel. It let out a bone-chilling roar as it charged at Steelwolf.

ding~

[New skill unlocked: Primal Strike - Unleash a powerful strike that taps into the raw energy of Steelwolf, doubling the force of impact.]

Jax's lips curved into a determined grin. "Time to test this out."

As the creature leaped toward him, claws outstretched, Jax activated his new skill. Steelwolf's arm glowed with a fiery aura as it cocked back for the strike. The air crackled with energy as Jax shouted, "Primal Strike!"

Steelwolf's fist shot forward, meeting the creature mid-air with a thunderous impact. The beast let out a deafening scream as the force of the blow sent it crashing into the ground, creating a massive crater on impact. The earth trembled beneath the sheer power of Steelwolf's strike.

The creature twitched, trying to rise, but it was no use. The strike had crushed its body, leaving it limp in the crater.

Jax exhaled, feeling the rush of victory pulse through him. Steelwolf's systems hummed in approval, the energy coursing through the mecha still lingering from the skill's activation.

"That was... powerful," Jax muttered, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. But he remained focused—there could be more lurking in the shadows.

Jax scanned the area through Steelwolf's enhanced vision, his fingers lightly dancing over the controls as he maneuvered the mecha with precision. The monstrous beast he had just crushed lay still, but the night was far from over. The distant rustling of leaves and the low growls in the shadows signaled more danger ahead.

"Let's see what else is out here," Jax muttered, his eyes narrowing.

Suddenly, three more creatures appeared from the darkness, their eyes glowing with an unnatural red hue. These beasts were smaller but faster, slinking through the trees with lethal grace. They spread out, surrounding Steelwolf from different angles, clearly hoping to outmaneuver the towering mecha.

"More of you, huh?" Jax's voice was cold, calculated. He flexed his grip on the controls. "Let's finish this."

One of the beasts leaped forward with blinding speed, aiming directly for Steelwolf's legs. Another darted toward its flank, while the third circled from behind, looking for an opening. Jax's instincts kicked in, and he spun Steelwolf to face the nearest threat.

"Brutal Fists," Jax growled, activating his second skill.

Steelwolf's fists clenched as energy surged through its metallic frame. The mecha's arms moved faster than before, charged with the power of Brutal Fists. The first creature lunged, claws extended, but Steelwolf's fist met it mid-air. The impact was devastating—Brutal Fists doubled the power with each strike, and the creature was sent flying, crashing through several trees before it slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Without wasting a moment, Jax shifted Steelwolf's weight and spun toward the second beast, which had already leaped toward his flank. Steelwolf's right arm shot out, delivering a backhand blow that slammed into the creature's skull, shattering it with brutal force. The beast crumpled on impact, dead before it even hit the ground.

The third creature snarled, realizing it was now alone. It hesitated, its glowing eyes flicking between Jax and the fallen monsters, weighing its options. Jax didn't give it the chance to flee. With a burst of speed, Steelwolf lunged forward, catching the creature off-guard. Jax activated Primal Strike again, delivering a crushing blow to its torso. The beast let out a final, pitiful shriek before being obliterated by the overwhelming force.

The night fell silent once more. Jax scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened, but no other threats emerged from the darkness.

"Not bad," he muttered, his hands relaxing on the controls as Steelwolf straightened to its full height. He took a deep breath, feeling the rush of battle subsiding. His skills had proven more than effective, and his confidence in Steelwolf's abilities had grown.

ding~

[Combat Evaluation: Victory. XP gained: 560. Level Up!]

Jax grinned at the notification as he glanced at his system display.

Status:

Name: Jax Talon

Level: 42

XP: 0/5000

Health: 100

Strength: 26

Stamina: 19

Agility: 21

Wisdom: 27

Mana: 400/400

Endurance: 27

Stat Points: 7

Not only had he leveled up, but the experience from tonight's hunt had sharpened his combat instincts even further. He was getting stronger, and fast.

"I'll assign those stat points later," he muttered. He had more important things to focus on now.

The hunt was over, but he wasn't done for the night. There were always more threats, more enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. And Jax wasn't the type to let his guard down. He needed to keep pushing, keep honing his skills if he was going to survive the challenges ahead.

Jax turned Steelwolf toward the horizon, where the distant outline of the city glowed faintly against the night sky. He knew that this was only the beginning. The stronger he became, the more enemies would come for him.

But Jax was ready. The hunt would continue.