Bonds Forged in Battle

Back story of how Kai met Lena and Darius:

Kai stood outside the grand hall of the Silverfang Guild, one of the largest and most respected guilds in the region. The towering building was filled with Hunters of all ranks, from fresh recruits to elite S-rank veterans. Guilds were the backbone of the Hunter world, providing resources, missions, and teams for those who joined. For someone like Kai, who had spent most of his time working solo or with temporary groups, the guild system was intimidating yet promising.

The guild master, an elderly but sharp-eyed man named Garrick, had summoned Kai after hearing rumors about his rise in strength. “You’ve got potential,” Garrick had said earlier that day. “But potential alone won’t keep you alive. You need a team you can trust. I’ll assign you to a squad—prove to me you’re more than just luck.”

That’s when Kai met Lena and Darius.

Kai’s first encounter with Lena was during a mission to clear a D-rank Gate just outside Falridge. At the time, Lena had just joined the Silverfang Guild as a healer. She wasn’t particularly powerful in combat, but her healing magic was precise and reliable—a skill that often determined life or death in the field.

The mission seemed routine: clear out a group of goblins and secure the Gate. However, as the team ventured deeper, they stumbled into a hidden chamber where a C-rank ogre awaited. The beast towered over them, its club smashing the ground with devastating force.

The team panicked, some retreating immediately. But Kai stayed, his instincts telling him he couldn’t leave Lena behind. She was cornered, trying to protect another injured teammate. “Get out of here!” she shouted at Kai, her hands glowing with healing magic.

“Not without you!” Kai yelled back.

Despite his weak rank at the time, Kai distracted the ogre long enough for Lena to charge a powerful spell. With her magic and his relentless determination, they managed to take down the ogre together.

After the mission, Lena approached Kai, her usual calm demeanor softening. “You’re reckless, but you’ve got a good heart,” she said with a small smile. “I could use someone like you in the field.”

Darius entered Kai’s life during a far more dangerous mission. Assigned to escort a group of civilians out of a collapsing B-rank Gate, Kai and Lena encountered the towering shield-bearer amidst the chaos. Darius, a former soldier, was holding off a pack of monsters with a broken shield, refusing to abandon the civilians behind him.

Kai and Lena jumped into the fray, their combined efforts turning the tide of the battle. Darius’s strength and defensive skills proved invaluable, as he blocked attacks that would have overwhelmed the others.

After the mission, Darius approached Kai with a firm handshake. “You’ve got guts, kid. If you ever need someone to hold the line, I’m your man.”

From that point on, the trio became inseparable. Lena’s magic, Darius’s shield, and Kai’s evolving power made them a formidable team. Though they started small, taking on low-ranking missions, their bond deepened with every fight.

The Silverfang Guild assigned them increasingly difficult tasks, recognizing their potential. Garrick himself kept a close eye on their progress, noting Kai’s rapid growth.

“Teams aren’t just about power,” Garrick told Kai one day. “They’re about trust. You can be the strongest Hunter alive, but without people to watch your back, you’ll fall. Remember that.”

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