Unexpected Arrival

The scene shifted to the Icelandra household, where the living room was anything but calm. The TV replayed the chaotic battle that had unfolded earlier, showing the unlicensed fighter squaring off against the C-Rank dungeon boss Spike Frog.

Despite the blurry footage and occasional distortions, one thing stood out clearly: the unique Megatrix symbol emblazoned on the figure's chest.

Luna paced back and forth, her feline tail twitching in worry. Lily sat on the edge of the couch, bouncing her leg anxiously while Frost leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his usual carefree demeanor slightly more serious.

Lloyd, however, was glued to the TV with a look of unrestrained excitement, rewinding and replaying certain parts of the fight with an almost manic grin.

When the front door opened, all heads turned. Hugo stepped in, looking utterly exhausted, his uniform disheveled, and his messy blue hair sticking out in every direction.

Before he could even set his bag down, Luna rushed over, grabbing him by the shoulders and inspecting him frantically.

"Sweetheart! Are you hurt? Did that thing hurt you anywhere?!" Her golden eyes scanned him like a radar.

Hugo raised his hands defensively. "Mom! I'm fine! I—"

"Fine?! You call this fine?!" Lily interrupted, darting to his side.

Her rabbit ears twitched erratically as she poked his chest, just missing the Megatrix symbol. "We saw the whole thing! You were out there fighting a dungeon boss! Do you even know how dangerous that was?"

Hugo blinked, utterly lost. "Wait… What? How do you know about that?"

Frost chuckled from his spot against the wall. "Let me guess. You thought no one would notice? News flash, Hugo: you were all over the TV, but at least your identity didn't get reveal."

"TV?!" Hugo turned to look at the screen, where the blurry footage of his battle was paused mid-shuriken throw.

Lloyd suddenly burst out laughing, clapping his hands together in glee. "HAHA! That's my boy! My invention in action!" He pointed at the screen, practically bouncing on his heels. "Look at that! Perfect form! And the symbol, it's unmistakable! The whole world is going to see my genius!"

Hugo groaned, pressing a hand to his face. "The symbol gave me away? Seriously?!"

"Yes!" everyone shouted in unison.

Luna sighed, her ears flattening as she gave him a stern look. "Hugo, we're the only ones who know it's you, for now. But if you keep doing things like this without a plan, it won't stay a secret for long."

Lily crossed her arms, her foot tapping the floor rapidly. "You didn't even think to cover the symbol or, I don't know, wear a mask? Even I could've thought of that!"

Frost smirked, shaking his head. "Gotta admit, you've got guts. But next time, at least try to be a little less obvious. The Hunters are going to start asking questions if you keep showing up like that."

Hugo threw his hands up in exasperation. "It's not like I planned for this to happen! The portal just opened right in front of me, and the Megatrix did its own thing!"

"Did its own thing? Well, I did put a function to protect you if in danger." Lloyd perked up, his excitement only growing. "Tell me, how did it feel? Smooth transformation? Any malfunctions? Did it sync perfectly with your body? Tell me everything!"

Hugo stared at his father in disbelief. "Dad, are you even listening? I almost got eaten! Thanks for adding this function, and you're worried about whether it synced properly?!"

"Of course I am! That's cutting-edge technology on your wrist! I need data!" Lloyd replied, his blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Hugo collapsed onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "Great. Just great. First, I get blasted by a dungeon boss, and now I'm a walking advertisement for Dad's ego."

"Not ego, son. Innovation!" Lloyd corrected, wagging a finger.

Luna sat beside Hugo, gently patting his back. "Sweetheart, we're just glad you're safe. But you need to be careful. This isn't something to take lightly."

"Yeah, Hugo." Lily added. "If you're gonna play hero, at least do it smart. Or don't do it at all!"

Frost shrugged. "I don't know. He wasn't half bad out there for a rookie. But seriously, you're gonna need some training if you want to keep this up. And a disguise. Definitely a disguise."

Hugo groaned louder. "Can I just have five minutes of peace? Please?"

The room fell quiet for a moment before Lloyd grinned. "Five minutes? Fine. But after that, we're running diagnostics on the Megatrix!"

____________________

In the dimly lit basement, Hugo worked alongside his father, tinkering with a few of the gadgets scattered around the room. The air was filled with the hum of machinery, the occasional hiss of steam, and the steady clinking of tools.

Lloyd was absorbed in his latest invention, a sleek drone that could transform into a protective barrier, so the basement couldn't get destroyed.

Hugo, still in his Hydro-Ninja transformation, was testing the flexibility of the form by dodging between stacked boxes and mechanical arms.

"Not bad." Lloyd said without looking up. "You're moving like you've been doing this for years. I'll take some credit for that, considering I built the thing."

Hugo paused mid-dodge and smirked. "You built it, yeah, but no instruction manual? Really? Do you know how close I was to becoming frog food out there?"

Lloyd chuckled. "And yet here you are, alive and still talking. That's called field testing, my boy. Real-world experience."

Hugo rolled his eyes, looking down at the reflective surface of a discarded metal sheet. His spiked armor glinted faintly with mana, and the star-shaped emblem on his thigh seemed to pulse with a subtle energy.

Despite the danger at that time, he still felt a sense of empowerment he'd never experienced before.

"This form... it's crazy." Hugo said, flexing his fingers, the spikes on his arms gleaming. "Feels like I could actually keep up with some of those monsters I've only read about."

Lloyd leaned back, wiping his hands with a grease-stained rag. "That's the point. The Megatrix isn't just a tool, it's an equalizer. With that, you're not just some powerless kid. You're a contender."

Before Hugo could respond, the basement door swung open, and Frost's voice boomed down the stairs. "Yo, Hydro-Boy! Get up here! You're gonna want to see this!"

Hugo sighed, tapping the Megatrix symbol on his chest. In a flash of blue light, he reverted to his normal form, stumbling slightly as the energy drained from his body. "What now?" he muttered, trudging toward the stairs.

Frost's voice echoed again, more impatient this time. "Quit dragging your feet! This is big!"

Hugo exchanged a glance with Lloyd, who shrugged and motioned for him to go. "Better not keep your brother waiting. You know how he gets."

Climbing the stairs, Hugo found the rest of the family gathered around the large TV in the living room. Luna and Lily were seated on the couch, their eyes glued to the screen. Frost stood with his arms crossed, grinning.

"What's so important that you had to—" Hugo started but froze as his eyes caught the TV.

The screen displayed a massive arena, filled with roaring crowds and banners waving in the wind. The camera panned to an enormous stage adorned with the words:

"Hunter Academy Entrance Exam: Grand Opening Event!"

Hugo's heart skipped a beat. The Hunter Academy, a place he'd dreamed about for as long as he could remember. A prestigious institution where only the most skilled, powerful, and determined individuals could earn a place.

"Wait… is this live?" Hugo asked, his voice almost a whisper.

"Yup," Frost said, smirking. "The entrance exams are officially open to the public this year. They're making a big deal out of it, letting anyone with the guts and skills take a shot."

Hugo's stomach twisted with excitement and nerves. For years, he had watched these events from afar, longing for the chance to prove himself but always held back by his lack of powers. Now, with the Megatrix, the opportunity felt tantalizingly close.

"You've been waiting for this, haven't you?" Lily chimed in, her golden eyes sparkling with mischief.

Hugo nodded slowly. "Yeah… but I always thought it was out of reach."

Luna reached over and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Nothing is out of reach if you're willing to fight for it. You've always had the heart for this, Hugo. Now you have the means."

On the screen, the announcer's voice boomed over the footage of the arena, detailing the challenges and rewards of the entrance exam.

A montage of past graduates played, showing Hunters in action, defeating monsters, exploring dungeons, and protecting citizens.

Lloyd entered the room, his arms crossed and a proud grin on his face. "So, kid… what do you think? Ready to show the world what the Megatrix can do?"

Hugo's fists clenched as a surge of determination filled him. This was his chance, not just to fulfill a childhood dream but to prove that he wasn't just a powerless kid. He could stand with the best.

"I guess it's time." Hugo said, a small smile forming. "Time to go hunting."

The TV sound in the room erupted into cheers and excitement, but Hugo's mind was already racing with plans. This was his moment, and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

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