The Watchers and the Hidden Threat

In a dimly lit control room, a girl sat in front of a massive screen wall, her sharp eyes scanning the twenty-three active feeds from different bases. Each base had its own plan, its own strategy, and its own level of progress in the evaluation. She had been monitoring them all, noting every detail, every movement.

A old man in a green hunter's uniform walked in, his presence heavy with authority. He stopped behind her, observing the screens before speaking. "How's the progress?"

Without turning, the girl responded, "Everything is normal and as expected. Except for Base 13. Which I believe is why you're here."

The old man's expression darkened slightly. "What happened in Base 13?"

With a snap of her fingers, the screens merged into one, displaying a feed from Base 13. A group of hunters was locked in combat against a pack of Level 1 monsters. They moved with precision, using coordinated attacks to take down their enemies.

"The cooperative team," the girl said. "At this pace, they might be the first to complete the evaluation."

The old man barely reacted. "Even if they do, they won't break the record. Is there anything else worth showing me?"

The girl smirked slightly. "Yes. It seems your granddaughter is finally making some new friends."

The feed switched, showing two figures walking through the dense forest. The first was a young man, dressed simply, wearing a weighted training suit. The second was a girl clad in black armor with a glowing purple core at her chest, it was Zera.

The old man's eyes narrowed. "The novice hunter from earlier? The one with no core?"

The girl nodded. "That's him. But it appears we were wrong about his potential."

The old man scoffed. "Even if he's more capable than we thought, my real problem is Zera. She refuses to unleash her full power. That's why I forced her into this evaluation. If she doesn't face her fears now, she never will."

Before the conversation could continue, the door slid open. A young woman with striking blue hair and diamond-like eyes stepped inside. She carried herself with the poise of someone used to being in control, but her expression softened as she approached.

"Uncle, you're here again," she said, her tone light but concerned. "I came to check on Zera. How is she doing?"

The old man turned, greeting her with a rare smile. "oh it's Celestia, don't worry,She's doing fine. More social than usual."

Celestia's eyes drifted to the screen. As she took in the scene, her expression shifted. Her gaze locked onto the young man walking beside Zera.

"Who is that?" she asked.

The old man followed her line of sight. "That boy? He's in the same base as Zera. They seem to have teamed up."

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "I've seen him before. A month ago, in front of the Hunter's Prime building." She remembered the encounter clearly. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she pushed the thought away.

The old man turned back to the screen, his expression unreadable. He studied the data displayed next to Orin's profile.

"How much weight is he carrying?" he asked.

The girl at the controls didn't hesitate. "Estimated at 2000 kilograms."

The room fell silent for a moment. The old man's thoughts turned cold and calculating. 2000 kg… He had seen powerful hunters, warriors enhanced by their cores, but to carry such weight with pure physical strength alone? That was impossible.

On the screen, Orin and Zera continued their journey.

In the dense forest, the air was still. The last monster fell to the ground, its body twitching before going completely limp. Orin exhaled, rolling his shoulders. With this much meat, he wouldn't have to worry about food for a long time.

Zera walked carefully between the corpses, glancing around at the destruction. It was the first time she had seen someone take down so many monsters alone. She wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Orin checked his watch, logging the kills. The weight of his training suit slowed him down, but it wasn't an issue. He was about to move forward when something changed.

A cold sensation crawled up his spine. Instincts honed from training and survival sharpened instantly.

Something was wrong. He turned to Zera. "Stay alert."

She blinked. "What? Why?"

Orin didn't answer. His body was already reacting, moving into a defensive stance. He reached out and grabbed Zera's wrist lightly. "Stay close to me."

Back in the control room, the old man's eyes darkened. "Why are they on guard?"

The girl at the controls scanned the data. A red dot flickered on the map, appearing, disappearing, appearing again. Her fingers danced across the console, running a deeper scan. Her expression shifted.

"It's a Level 3 monster."

Celestia tensed. "Should we evacuate them?". The old man clenched his fists.

"No. This might be exactly what Zera needs."

On the screen, Orin's posture remained tense. His eyes scanned the surroundings, analyzing every shadow, every tree. He didn't know what he was facing yet, and that was the most dangerous part.

Then, the air itself shifted.

A massive creature materialized from the empty space in front of them. It had been hiding, blending perfectly with its surroundings. A dragon-like python, its body covered in obsidian-black scales reinforced with jagged, shell-like armor. A single, curved horn rose from its skull, and its fiery red eyes locked onto them.

Zera inhaled sharply.

The python's tongue flickered out, tasting the air. It had been watching them. Waiting.

Orin's mind moved at high speed, processing everything at once. Its size, its defense, the way it had remained hidden until now, this was a predator. A hunter that chose when and where to strike.

The beast let out a low, guttural hiss, its throat vibrating with a deep, inhuman sound. Its vertical pupils dilated slightly, locked onto its next meal.

Orin tightened his grip on Zera's wrist.

Back in the control room, the old man was leaning forward now, his breath slow and measured. He had seen many things in his time, but this was not normal.

"Do they have a chance?" Celestia asked, her voice quieter than before.

The girl at the controls responded. "Orin is strong, but without a core, his body is still bound by human limits. Zera's power could turn the tide, but…"

The old man exhaled. "But she won't use it, not after that accident..."

On the screen, Orin took a single step back, lowering his center of gravity. The weight on his body would slow him, but he had no intention of retreating.