Captain Victoria

The legendary heavy soul was a unique soul composition that primarily aligned with the path of shaman warriors. It didn't necessarily mean one was born with an incredibly powerful soul, though that was certainly a part of it.

No, it signified that the soul was extraordinarily condensed, saturated with soul energy, and possessed an unparalleled quality. In the entire galaxy, Guilliman's heavy soul was the most pristine and supreme of all, brimming with unbridled energy and potential.

This unique composition gave it the ability to overpower other souls in sheer willpower, much like the gap between nobility and a mere peasant. The very presence of a heavy soul commanded attention and respect, whether earned or not.

"Haha, yes! But I'm sure you need only a day to catch up!" Barthold chuckled, smacking Guilliman on the side with considerable force. However, Guilliman didn't budge. Though Barthold was much stronger than him, it didn't mean he could toss him around easily.

After all, Guilliman had become a level 2 Slayer back in the testing area.

"Oh yes, before I forget, you need to meet Lady Victoria," Barthold said suddenly, his eyes lighting up as he grabbed Guilliman and guided him back toward the young lady with long silver hair.

"Oh, he's the one you told me about? That's good…" Seeing them approach, the young lady smiled awkwardly.

Barthold had been waiting for a "special" guest to arrive for the past two weeks, but when Guilliman didn't show up, he eventually gave up. Perhaps Guilliman wasn't interested in teaming up with him.

It had been a disappointing thought. Barthold had seen a lot of potential in Guilliman—potential rivaling even his own. So, you could imagine his relief and excitement now that Guilliman had finally arrived.

"This is Lady Victoria. She's our captain," Barthold said, introducing the young woman casually seated atop a rock.

Unknown to him, Guilliman had already met her, but he just didn't know who she was at the time.

"Ah? She's the leader of this expedition? That's cool," Guilliman said with an awkward smile, extending his hand to shake hers.

This was an old reflex from his previous life. Back in his world, it was customary to extend a hand in greeting when meeting someone of status. However, Victoria merely stared at his hand, her expression blank as a piece of paper.

Guilliman felt a pang of awkwardness. Pulling his hand back might seem disrespectful, but leaving it hanging too long didn't feel right either. So, he simply stood there, waiting.

Handshakes were customary in the sanctuaries, too, but they were reserved for equals. Unwittingly, Guilliman was attempting to shake hands with someone several tiers above him. Barthold immediately panicked, wondering how to salvage the situation.

But to everyone's surprise, Victoria responded. She firmly grasped Guilliman's hand and shook it, her grip strong and deliberate.

Afterward, she turned to Barthold and asked "He's at level 2, right?"

"Yes, he entered level 2 during our qualification test," Barthold replied quickly, unsure of what she was thinking.

Barthold came from a highly esteemed family in the shelter, yet even he was nothing more than a subordinate to Victoria. His respect for her was unwavering, and Guilliman was expected to show the same.

"Good. That makes four of us. Hopefully, we'll make more progress this time," she said with a serious nod.

Reaching level 2 during one's first attempt at hunting was an incredible achievement. Guilliman wasn't quite like her, but his feat deserved respect, even from her.

"Yes, captain!" Barthold saluted formally, placing his left arm across his chest.

It felt less like he was saluting for himself and more like he was demonstrating the proper way for Guilliman to greet her.

"Jemie, gather everyone. We're moving out in five minutes!" Victoria commanded, gesturing toward the blonde youth who stood behind them, his hand resting on his blade.

They were about to begin the hunt.

,,,

The Black Steel Shelter was surrounded by five distinct forest areas, each unique in vegetation and terrain but interconnected into one large crescent-shaped landmass. Currently, the group was in the western sector, known as Sector B.

"Stick to the path. Straying into a communal tribe's territory would be disastrous," Barthold muttered in a hushed tone beside Guilliman, his hand firmly placed of a black mace on his side.

He explained the intricacies of hunting in the Sectors. The sanctuaries were a perilous place where even the smallest misstep could mean death. Even stepping on the wrong Leaf could bring an army of creatures down on you from out of nowhere.

There were a lot of rules.

In fact this path they walked now was part of the wild zone. These pathways snaked through the forests and were infamous for their unpredictability. While one could pass through unscathed, there was always the risk of encountering hordes of powerful monsters.

Despite its dangers, it was still the safest route compared to the alternative: communal zones. These were monster-marked territories. Setting foot in one of these areas was tantamount to a death sentence, as the creatures would immediately attack en masse.

But when had the life of a Slayer ever been safe?

Even now, their destination lay within a communal zone, just not this one.

"I understand," Guilliman said with a nod. He had read about this in the manual left behind by his "biological" father, but seeing it in practice was a different experience altogether.

"Don't worry. As long as we don't encounter a group of strong mutants, we'll be fine," Barthold reassured him, his towering figure exuding confidence.

Back in the testing area, Barthold had seen Guilliman hold his own against a monstrous black rabbit, an abomination that was likely at the mutant stage or close to it. Now, as a level 2 Slayer, Guilliman was undoubtedly stronger. The real question was just how far he could push himself.

"I guess so," Guilliman said with a faint smile.

Without warning, Victoria raised her hand, signaling for the group to halt immediately.

There was something dangerous ahead.