Black Blade Rabbit

After distributing the daggers among the Slayer candidates, the bronze-haired lady led her group of about 36 participants down the slopes of the streets and stopped in front of an iron gate.

"This is Sector G of Clawwood Forest," she introduced the group, motioning towards the looming gate.

There were several hunting grounds around the shelter, and Clawwood Forest was one of them. It was an extremely dangerous place, and the slayers faced the death of dozens every month. But even within the forest, it was divided into sectors, some far more dangerous than others.

"You will form groups of four and enter through the gates. Your target is the Black-Blade Rabbits that are prevalent in this sector… You are only allowed to hunt them," she spoke firmly but with the concern of someone who knew the dangers first-hand.

Even the Black-Blade Rabbits in Sector G could easily kill an average human, which was why she insisted on forming groups. Dying during the test was a shame, and she wanted to make sure they followed her instructions to avoid it.

"We understand," the group responded with nods, all seemingly eager to enter the forest and begin their journey.

"Oh, and by the way…" she added abruptly, turning toward them again as she opened the gate. "If you see anything even the slightest bit different from the Black-Blade Rabbit, just run."

With those final words, the gates creaked open, and the candidates started to move forward.

"We're together, huh kid?" A towering youth looked down at Guilliman with an awkward smile on his face. He had mistakenly signed on Guilliman's shoulder, thinking the boy was some sort of fan. Now, the signature was glaringly visible, and it embarrassed him to no end.

"I guess so…" Guilliman nodded, turning his head to glance across the field of trees.

This part of Clawwood Forest was unfamiliar to him, vastly different from the gloomy area he'd encountered the night before. It was brighter here, with large patches of grass spread across the area alongside tall, beautiful trees. One could hardly tell that this was a dangerous hunting ground.

"Cool, let's forget about the past and focus on what's ahead," the giant boy smiled, trying to include the other two members in the conversation.

"Brother Ironback, I think we should start setting traps. In the HunterX training center, we were taught that setting traps is better than hand-to-hand combat with beasts," a slightly obnoxious voice piped up next to Barthold, offering his suggestion on the matter.

"Hmm, that makes sense…" Barthold rubbed his chin, trying to recall if this was something he had been taught in his training. But no matter how he thought about it, it didn't quite ring a bell. Then again, he had traded his brains for muscles.

"We'll do as you said," Barthold said after a moment of contemplation, looking at Guilliman and the girl next to the boy, who had given the suggestion.

He had actually wanted to go head-to-head with a few rabbits right now, but he didn't want to seem foolish, so he decided to follow the suggestion instead.

"But first… let's introduce ourselves," Barthold added. After a few minutes of introductions, the group set to work on making booby traps.

They didn't have materials, so they had to improvise. But after about 30 minutes, they managed to make a pulley system that could likely trap a rabbit underground.

"Now we wait," the obnoxious-sounding kid, who they'd learned was named Nolan, said calmly, watching the trap.

Nolan had graduated from a high-grade training center in the upper levels of the shelter. It was a place that someone like Barthold couldn't even afford to attend, so Nolan put on airs, believing he was superior to them for having attended such a prestigious center. Despite his potential being D+—a whole tier lower than Barthold's—he still considered himself to be the leader of the group.

"Yes, we'll wait for the trap to catch a monster, and then we'll be slayers," the girl on the team said, cozying up to Nolan, pressing her chest against him.

While she wasn't considered young in the sanctuaries, her eagerness to learn such tactics at her age was appalling. It was clear her parents must have been quite morally driven.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Nolan waved his hand dismissively, as if Guilliman had to ask for permission to go ease himself. In his mind, he was already in control of the group, thanks to his 'ingenuity.'

"Heheh," Guilliman smiled and walked off into the distance, disappearing behind a cluster of trees.

Unlike these guys, Guilliman was already a Slayer by rank. The small Black-Blade Rabbits they were trying to catch were hardly a challenge for him, especially since they were trying to trap one.

"The tails of the Black-Rabbit King," Guilliman muttered as he wandered.

The previous owner of this body had been very close to his father when he was young. The old man had been a Slayer—not the greatest, but a good one. That connection was why his mother had always hated him after their separation. Watching the man go on to do great things while her own son was forgotten filled her with bitterness, and she took it out on Guilliman when she had him.

But that was beside the point.

There was a memory deep in his mind—an old children's story of sorts, about a Black-Rabbit King.

In Clawwood Forest, where the moonlight sings,

Lives King Black Rabbit, with fast, mighty springs.

His coat is as dark as the midnight sky,

No one can catch him, no matter how they try.

He leads all the rabbits with magic so bright,

A swift, clever king who rules through the night!

This was a tale of a mutant beast…

In the hierarchy of beasts, creatures ranged from Ordinary to Mutant, and then to Sacred.

It was unfortunate that he hadn't been a Slayer when he killed the Wind Direwolf, or else he would have climbed several ranks that night.

But if he could kill this mutant beast here, it would no longer be just a pipe dream.