The aftermath

The Council Gathers

The attack on Hetlyl left the city in ruins. Smoke still lingered in the air, and the scent of burning wood and blood filled the streets. Thousands were dead, and those who survived were left with nothing but grief and fear.

Inside the grand council chamber, the leaders of Hetlyl gathered for an emergency meeting. The massive stone table in the center of the room was surrounded by high-ranking officials, military commanders, and members of the Hunter Association. At the head of the table sat King Daigona, his face tense with frustration.

The room was filled with loud voices. Some leaders slammed their fists on the table, others pointed fingers, shouting accusations.

"This was a complete failure! The security squad was useless! They let those monsters in!" one council member yelled.

"The problem isn't the security squad. The dragons are evolving too fast! We're dealing with creatures smarter and stronger than ever before," another argued.

The debate grew more heated. Some believed they needed to focus on attacking the dragons before another disaster happened.

"We must take the fight to them! We can't sit here and wait for another massacre!" one general shouted.

But others believed that stronger defenses were the only way to survive.

"We must rebuild the walls, strengthen our barriers! If they break through again, we won't have a city left to protect."

The tension in the room was unbearable. The leaders were divided, and the more they argued, the further they drifted from a solution.

The People Demand Revenge

Outside the council chamber, the streets were filled with angry civilians. Survivors of the attack, mourning families, and furious citizens all gathered to protest.

"Avenge the fallen!" they chanted.

People held up signs demanding action. The air was thick with rage and sorrow. The citizens no longer wanted to hide underground, waiting for the next attack. They wanted blood.

Rayal's Darkness Grows

Among all the chaos, Rayal felt uneasy. He had barely slept since the attack. The images of burning streets, the screams of dying civilians, and the sight of Layla's lifeless body haunted his mind.

His movements became sharper, his attacks more aggressive during training. His thoughts grew darker, filled with rage and a desperate need for revenge.

During one of their training sessions, Elric noticed the change. He watched as Rayal fought harder than usual, as if he was taking out his pain on his opponents. After the session ended, Elric decided to confront him.

"You're not the same," Elric said, stepping in front of Rayal.

Rayal glared at him, his fists clenched. "None of us are," he snapped. "Layla is gone."

The name hit Elric like a blade. Layla had been one of their closest friends, a fellow hunter who had died in the attack.

Elric sighed, his expression softening. "I know," he said quietly. "But this… this isn't the way."

Rayal didn't respond. He turned away, his mind clouded with anger and grief.

A New Generation Joins the Fight

A few days later, a new batch of young recruits joined the Hunter Association. They were fresh-faced, determined, and eager to prove themselves. Watching them train, Rayal saw a reflection of his younger self—the same hunger for battle, the same belief that they could protect the city.

But after what he had seen, what he had lost… he couldn't help but wonder.

Was it all worth it?

These new recruits had no idea what they were truly walking into. Would they end up like him—broken, filled with rage, and questioning everything?

As he stood in the training yard, watching them spar, the doubt crept in. The city needed warriors. But at what cost?.