Duel of Titans

Elara, Zaren, and Maria walked along the path leading back to the Elyria Kingdom. The sun cast a golden glow over the landscape as they moved, their steps light yet purposeful. As they strolled, Elara turned to Zaren with a curious expression.

"Hey, what should I call you?" she asked.

Zaren smiled warmly, kneeling down to her level. "You can call me your big bro, okay?"

Elara's face lit up, and she excitedly shouted, "Yes! Big bro!"

Meanwhile, in the Elyria Kingdom, King Alaric sat on his throne, his eyes scanning a letter he had just received. As he read its contents, his expression turned to one of shock. He abruptly stood up, his grip tightening on the parchment.

"Jaxon... the SSS+ rank hunter is coming to our kingdom?" he murmured in disbelief. A flicker of concern crossed his face before he shouted, "Summon all S-rank and SS-rank hunters immediately! And bring Zaren as well!"

Within moments, the grand hall was filled with powerful figures. Varric, Noric, and the vice guild masters rushed in, kneeling before the king.

"Your Majesty, do you require our service?" Noric asked.

King Alaric's sharp eyes scanned the room. "Where is Zaren?" he demanded.

Varric stood up and hesitated before replying, "Sir, I last saw him heading to clear an SS-rank dungeon with Maria."

The king sighed heavily, settling back into his throne. "We have a major issue. Jaxon, the SSS+ rank hunter from Dwarvenhold, is coming here to meet our new SSS-rank hunter."

Gasps echoed through the room. Varric's face darkened. "What the hell is he coming here for?"

Noric, still kneeling, asked, "My King, why does he want to meet Zaren?"

King Alaric hesitated for a moment before answering, "Because he is the only SSS-rank hunter in our kingdom."

Just then, the king's right-hand man entered, bowing. "Your Majesty, I have news. Lady Maria and Hunter Zaren have returned... and they brought a little girl with them."

Varric nudged Noric, smirking. "Do you think Maria and Zaren have an affair and found a kid in a dungeon?" Both chuckled, but their laughter was cut short by the king's sharp glare.

"Enough!" Alaric snapped. "Who is this girl?"

The right-hand man hesitated. "I do not know, Your Majesty."

---

At the Arcunam Guild, Zaren, Maria, and Elara arrived, expecting a normal return. But as they stepped in, they saw a man sitting at the receptionist's table. The entire guild hall was filled with tension.

Zaren, unaware of the situation, stepped forward, his eyes scanning for a place to sit. Noticing the lack of available tables, he casually sat across from the unfamiliar man. "Maria, come sit with us. This guy can share the table."

Maria, upon recognizing the man, froze in shock. Her voice was barely a whisper as she said, "Zaren... he is Jaxon. The SSS+ rank hunter."

Zaren's expression shifted as he turned to face Jaxon, who also now realized who Zaren was. The air grew heavy as Jaxon stood, offering his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Zaren. The new SSS-rank hunter, huh?" His eyes gleamed with power. "I am Jaxon, the SSS+ rank hunter of Dwarvenhold."

Zaren shook his hand firmly, feeling the immense strength behind Jaxon's grip. He could sense the raw power radiating from the man. "My name is Zaren."

Suddenly, the guild doors swung open. Varric, Noric, and the vice guild masters rushed in, only to halt at the sight of Jaxon. Their faces paled as Jaxon turned toward them, grinning.

"Long time no see, Varric, Noric," Jaxon said casually.

Zaren observed their reactions, realizing they knew each other. Before he could ask, Jaxon addressed him again.

"I was curious about the new SSS-rank hunter, so I came to see for myself. Congratulations, by the way. Now, tell me—what are your abilities?"

Zaren, cautious about revealing too much, simply replied, "I can change my eye color, which grants me extra strength."

Jaxon chuckled. "Interesting. You know, I like powerful people. How about this? Join my guild in Dwarvenhold as my vice guild master. I need someone of your caliber."

Zaren smiled but shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I am already the vice guild master here under Maria."

Jaxon blinked in surprise, turning to Maria. "You're an S-rank, right? Then why isn't Zaren the guild master instead of you?"

Zaren answered, "That position isn't for me."

Jaxon nodded in understanding before suddenly smirking. "Alright then. If you won't join me, let's have a duel."

The entire guild fell silent. Varric immediately objected. "Nooo! Jaxon, he is busy! He has—"

Jaxon grabbed Varric's wrist, his gaze dark and unyielding. "He has no work today. He already cleared an SS-rank dungeon. That means he has time for a duel."

Zaren, unfazed, agreed. "Alright. Where do we fight?"

Gasps and murmurs spread through the guild. Even the receptionist was stunned.

Jaxon turned to Maria. "Maria, right? Show us the training ground."

Maria hesitated before nodding. "Y-yes, sir. Follow me."

---

The training grounds were eerily silent as Zaren and Jaxon stepped onto the battlefield. The audience gathered along the fences, whispering among themselves.

"Can Zaren really defeat Jaxon, the Ruler of Lightning?"

"No way. He's just become a hunter. He can't possibly win."

Maria, standing among the hunters, clenched her fists. "Will you be okay, Zaren?"

Then, a royal carriage arrived. King Alaric and other high-ranking officials took their seats in the VIP section. Jaxon glanced up and smirked.

"Hey, Alaric! Long time no see, huh?"

The king hesitated, clearly uneasy. Meanwhile, Jaxon turned his gaze back to Zaren. His aura flared, crackling with electricity.

"Let's see if you can handle an SSS+ rank hunter."

(Chapter 19 Fin)