38.Giving title is so hard especially characters

The plaza buzzed with energy, thick with tension and curiosity. Hundreds of hunters—some nervous, others excited—gathered like ants around honey. Among them, five figures stood slightly apart: Moon, Kai, Ruby, James, and Minji. Their expressions were calm on the surface, but a careful observer could spot the flickers of anticipation in their eyes. Something—or someone—big was about to arrive.

Kai leaned slightly toward a hunter beside him, who was older and more experienced, judging by the weathered gear and confident stance. "Bro, do you know when the professionals are supposed to arrive?" Kai asked, voice casual, polite.

The hunter glanced at Kai from head to toe, inspecting him, his aura, his posture. His gaze lingered a bit longer than necessary. Then, as if coming to a realization, he said, "Oh, they'll be here soon. You guys... are you rookies?"

Kai blinked. "Why do you ask?"

The man chuckled softly. "I can feel it—from your aura. You all aren't just rookies... your energy release says you're at least Fighters. There's a special observation zone for Fighters and above. See over there?" He pointed toward a raised platform at the far end, where about 300 to 350 hunters stood with a far better view of the field. "From there, you'll get a clearer view. And it's a good place to watch and learn. This is a rare moment. Don't waste it."

Kai gave a small, respectful nod. "Thanks for the tip." He gestured to Moon and the others, and they began moving through the crowd, weaving toward the elevated area.

From the platform, the field opened up in full detail—a vast, circular zone covered in terrain simulators. Trees, hills, and rocks dotted the ground. At the center stood a colossal beast.

A fox.

But not just any fox.

It stood nearly 30 meters tall. Its fur glowed with a warm orange hue, and seven massive tails swayed lazily behind it. Around its body, an invisible aura shimmered—a light blue pressure coating that distorted the air like heatwaves.

Kai whispered, "A King-class essence beast..."

Moon's eyes widened in fascination. He had never seen a creature this powerful up close. His green eyes reflected the glow of the beast's energy, and despite himself, he grinned slightly. Ruby, James, and Minji stood behind them, composed. Almost too composed. It was as if they'd seen this a hundred times before.

Moon shot them a curious glance, then leaned toward Kai. "They're not even blinking."

Kai shrugged. "They've probably been around this stuff longer. But us? Let's remember everything. Every movement."

Just then, Kai's attention was pulled elsewhere.

Across the crowd, a familiar figure stood.

A tall man stood near the edge of the plaza platform — his red hair burning like fire under the artificial skylights, his dark skin glinting slightly under the reinforced suit. His posture was relaxed, almost mocking, as if the world around him didn't matter. But it was his face — those sharp, cutting features — that struck a nerve.

Even in the crowd, even from that distance, Kai recognized him instantly.

His breath caught in his throat. The air around him shifted.

"Ruok…" he muttered under his breath.

The name alone was poison on his tongue.

Without warning, a surge of energy burst from Kai — a wild, involuntary ripple of his aura. It crackled faintly around him, visible just for a second like faint blue lightning flickering across his body. The nearby space trembled. A few heads turned.

Kai's jaw tightened. He clenched his fists and forced the power down, like slamming a lid over boiling water. His chest rose and fell sharply as he tried to suppress the old hatred clawing up from his core.

Moon, standing just beside him, immediately sensed the shift. His brows furrowed.

"What is it?" he asked, voice low but alert.

Kai didn't answer. Not with words.

He simply lifted a single finger and pointed toward the man.

Moon's eyes followed the direction.

And then — he froze.

For a split second, the playful gleam in Moon's emerald eyes vanished. Replaced by something darker. His pupils were constricted. The faint glow of green in his irises sharpened, burning brighter, fiercer — a reflection of the storm rising inside him.

His whole body tensed. His fingers curled into tight fists, veins rising along his arms. A low, guttural sound — almost a growl — rumbled in his throat.

Kai stepped closer, eyes never leaving Ruok, and pressed a hand on Moon's shoulder. His touch was steady, firm — but also full of tension.

"Not here. Not now," he said quietly, his voice barely audible over the noise of the plaza. "Breathe, Moon."

Moon's nostrils flared. His chest heaved. For a moment, it looked like he might lose it right then and there.

But he didn't.

He drew in a deep breath — sharp and painful — and exhaled through clenched teeth. Then another. And another. His fingers loosened, only slightly.

He gave a stiff nod, though the rage in his eyes refused to dim.

Silently, the two brothers stepped away, putting distance between themselves and the man neither of them ever thought they'd see again — not here, not now, not like this.

Back on the platform, Ruby and Minji stood scanning the field of assembled professionals, unaware of the storm that had just barely been contained.

But the air around Moon and Kai still vibrated faintly with restrained fury.

The kind that didn't fade.

The kind that waited.

Kai spoke again. "Tell me about the professionals arriving today. I want to know everything."

Ruby tilted her head, thoughtful. "Let's talk as they arrive. First... there's Thomas. You've seen him. Gang Leader title. You know what that means."

Moon nodded. "Yeah. That one's."

Kai added, "I've read reports. Ruthless but methodical."

Minji stepped in. "Next is Taejin. Not much background on him. No title. No clan. Rose up by sheer skill alone. Not much to talk about."

She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she scanned through the list in her mind.

"Then… there's Layla," she said slowly, almost as if the name carried weight. "Layla Hale. She's from the Hale Clan — same as Ruby. Technically, she's Ruby's older cousin, though their personalities couldn't be more different."

She tilted her head slightly, recalling more.

"She doesn't belong to one of the major branches of the clan, so her status isn't as prominent. But don't let that fool you — people still remember her. Not because of politics or titles… but because of what she became."

There was a pause.

"She unlocked her transformation ability during the Nightfire Trials — when she was only fifteen. Most assumed someone from a lesser bloodline wouldn't awaken anything beyond basic flame affinity. But when she stepped into the arena, what emerged wasn't just fire. It was something else. A whole battlefield froze in silence. Even elders stood up from their seats."

"She didn't burn the field — she turned into something that looked like a walking inferno, a phoenix-shaped silhouette forming around her as her aura exploded outward. It wasn't just power. It was precision, control… elegance. People said her fire didn't just destroy — it danced. That day, everyone remembered the name 'Layla Hale', no matter how far removed she was from the main bloodline."

Her voice lowered a little as she added, "Since then, she's trained privately under a retired Domain Master — someone who once served in the Human Military Core. She's kept a low profile, rarely seen in public. But those who've fought her say she's calm, calculating, and terrifyingly composed — the kind of person who doesn't talk much, but when she acts, she ends the battle in a single breath."

She looked toward Ruby with a knowing look. "And from what I hear… there's a bit of history between them. Rivalry, maybe. Or something more complicated. Ruby never talks about it."

Moon and Kai turned sharply toward Ruby.

Kai blinked. "Didn't know you had a cousin like that. You two close?"

Ruby's face remained unreadable.

"Doesn't matter, I would still best her in sheer talent," she said simply.

James added, "There's another... the mysterious one. No name confirmed. But Rumored to be from a massive family. Reputation? Bad. Rape allegations. Never responded. People tried digging into his past, but someone's always blocking the trail."

After a moment of pause James said again "yaa that all i heard from the crowd".

Moon frowned. "That's sketchy."

James continued, "Despite all that, he's incredibly popular with women. Nicknamed 'The Rejected Winter.' Handsome. Charming. Dangerous."

Kai smirked. "That's... a cool nickname. Better than Gang Leader."

Then the air shifted.

A presence.

Everyone on the platform felt it. The crowd went still—like prey sensing a predator.

Thomas had arrived.

He walked alone.

No entourage. No noise. Just his footsteps.

One hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other swinging ever so slightly in rhythm. Clad in a black three-piece suit so sharp it looked tailor-cut by time itself. Not a wrinkle dared touch it. His shoes, obsidian-black and polished to perfection, reflected the overhead lights like shallow pools of night.

Each step he took wasn't just a movement — it was a statement. Deliberate. Calculated. Rhythmic. Like a conductor guiding an invisible orchestra of silence and fear.

The air around him grew denser with every footfall. A low, unspoken pressure began spreading outward in ripples — not from spiritual energy, not from intent, but from presence. It was like standing inside a collapsing star. Not visible — but undeniably there.

People turned. One by one.

Even those who hadn't seen him yet felt him.

A heaviness, like the moment before lightning splits the sky. Like breathing under water. Like time itself decided to walk slower in his radius.

Some rookies instinctively stepped back, hands flying to their weapons as their instincts screamed. Veterans tensed, their faces tightening with recognition. Even confident hunters, who a second ago were joking, now stood quiet — not out of respect, but self-preservation.

A wave of whispers slithered through the crowd like static in the air.

"Is that him…?"

"Thomas… the Gang Leader?"

Most people don't even see his face in their whole life yet able to guess him.

Kai's gaze sharpened. "Everything about him says one thing—Do not engage."

Moon stared in silence, unconsciously flexing his fingers, like a beast sensing another predator.

As Thomas passed by, he didn't spare a glance.

No arrogance. No emotion.

Just silence, coiled like a blade.

Even the air refused to touch him.

And yet… everyone knew:

If he wanted, he could kill half the crowd before his other hand even left his pocket.

"That's him..." "Thomas the Gang Leader..."

He didn't say a word. Just walked straight toward the beast that had been resting in the field for two days. King-class, and yet, it hadn't evolved.

He stopped just a few meters in front of the fox.

Still, one hand in his pocket.

Moon and Kai watched, stunned. Only now did they realize how much Thomas had suppressed himself when they'd met earlier.

Another footstep.

Softer.

This was Taejin.

Bright brown skin. Dyed yellow hair. Black combat armor. Confident but calm. Behind him, another man followed—bald, tattooed on his temple, wearing blue-tinted armor of a similar design. The resemblance was clear.

"That's him?" Moon asked.

"Taejin," Ruby confirmed. "The one behind him is Isu, his younger brother. Likely Fighter-class too."

Hunters nearby began murmuring again:

"Taejin rejected every big guild..." "He grew on his own. Self-trained." "Isu's his only known family."

The ground trembled slightly with each of their steps. Not because of weight, but because of presence.

Layla appeared next.

Not a high-ranking member of the Hale Clan. No political power. But in the public eye? She was seen as royalty.

Some in the crowd whispered:

"She's not even from a main branch..." "But she's like a queen to the public." "Her transformation power is said to be flawless."

She joined Thomas and Taejin. A polite handshake. No words.

But Thomas hadn't contained his energy yet.

Layla and Taejin both tensed.

Thomas noticed. A second later, the pressure dropped. He had blocked the leak with a flicker of will.

Five minutes later...

A new presence.

Not loud.

Not violent.

But absolute.

Like winter arriving—not with a storm, but with silence.

At first, no one noticed him. There was no energy flare. No pressure wave. Just... a change. The air grew still. Not heavy like with Thomas. Just quiet. Too quiet.

Breaths condensed into fog.

No one had seen him enter. One second the space near the far column was empty, and the next — he was there.

A tall figure.

Sharp, elegant, and unnervingly calm.

He walked as if the world adjusted to him, not the other way around. His long black hair was tied back messily, yet somehow, it added to the regal chill about him. A single strand — hung down between his black eyes, which looked neither warm nor cold… but still. Like ancient, unmoving water beneath a frozen lake.

His clothes — casual t-shirt and trousers. Yet, somehow, every step he took left behind a faint, fleeting trace — like the memory of frost. Invisible to most. But those sensitive to aura could feel it.

A subtle drop in temperature. A distant sting in the lungs. The softest sound of something... cracking.

Ice?

Moon blinked, then looked at Kai. "Did you feel that?"

Kai didn't respond. His focus was entirely locked on the man.

Thomas turned too. For the first time since he entered, the Gang Leader expression shifted — slightly. His brows furrowed… and then relaxed. Recognition sparked behind his eyes, but not of fear or rivalry.

Of familiarity.

The Gang Leader approached him with the serenity of falling snow.

No aura. No sound.

And yet the crowd instinctively parted — not because he pushed them, but because they didn't dare share space with whatever he was.

He stopped in front of that man.

Looked him dead in the eye.

Extended a hand.

That man , without hesitation, accepted it.

A handshake.

Then—unexpectedly—he pulled that man into a short embrace. Brief. Controlled. But it held a weight no one understood.

Thomas opened his mouth, maybe to say a name, a warning, or a memory.

The man gently raised one hand. A gloved palm.

No words.

Instantly, Thomas went quiet. As if the very sound had been... frozen in his throat.

Not from fear. Not from power.

From respect.

The black-haired man stepped back.

Turned.

And walked toward the platform.

No declaration. No flair.

But the frost that followed him lingered in the air — not visible, not obvious — just… felt.

Like the whisper of a blizzard that hadn't arrived yet.

Minji shivered and stepped closer to Ruby. "Who is he…?"

Ruby didn't answer. Her eyes were fixed.

"Maybe The Rejected Winter."

Kai's voice was a whisper. "The silence that comes before the freeze."

Moon said nothing.

But inside, a chill was spreading through his bones.

And it wasn't from fear.

It was instinct.

Moon and Kai watched it all from afar. They couldn't hear, but the gestures were clear. Even Layla and Taejin were stunned.

And the crowd?

Silent.

One voice finally whispered, "Is that man stronger than Thomas?.."

Others followed:

"Who is he...?"

THAT MAN walked away. Summoned a chair from his storage ring. Sat.

Thomas followed suit.

Layla and Taejin remained standing.

And just like that... the stage was set.

To be continued...