The Ultimate Awakener

Becoming A Hunter

James reeked of alcohol, and it was clear that he was highly drunk.

Elion, unable to watch his sister being dragged that way and, worst of all, in a critical condition, rushed forward and yanked his stepfather's grip off his sister's hands; thereafter, he slammed his hands against the man's chest. Making James stumble backwards.

“You piece of shit...” James clutched his chest and coughed.

Tears began streaming down Elion's face as he shouted back at James, fury burning in his voice:

“She’s sick! Can’t you see? What’s wrong with you? If it’s about what you asked her to do that you are acting this cruel towards her, then I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt my sister!”

Elion spoke in pure rage, his voice thundered, but James, on the other hand, began to laugh darkly, his lips gradually coiling to a sneer before speaking:

“So you’ve grown, huh? You have the guts to stand against me, right? You know what? Leave my house. I want you to get your filthy self out of this house with your silly, lazy sister. Maybe meeting your mother in the hospital will shelter your disgusting selves. Fuck, I regret ever marrying that godforsaken woman.”

These words from James weren’t new to them anymore; they had heard words worse than that.

He and his sister had been chased out of the house countless times and had mostly spent the nights with their mother in the hospital.

James walked out the door, and before closing it, he turned and looked at Elion over his shoulder. “I would rather not come back and see you both in my house. If I do, I’ll kill you both myself, I swear.”

After speaking, he staggered out drunkenly and slammed the door shut behind him.

Elion hugged Clara softly, sobbing and staring into her questioning eyes as he spoke calmly:

“Don’t worry about James. He’s just drunk and doesn’t know what he’s doing most of the time.”

“You heard him. He said we should leave his house before he comes back.” Clara gazed up at Elion as she spoke weakly.

Elion nodded before replying. “Yes, I heard what he said… and we’re going to leave. All we have to do is meet Mom at the hospital, and she’ll talk to James as usual and convince him to let us back in.”

Elion gently carried his sister on his back and walked through the freezing streets until they reached the hospital. There, their mother Sophia lay on a sickbed, under medication.

At that moment, Clara’s condition wasn't worse than before. It was as though the cold had worked its magic on her during the journey.

The moment Sophia saw them, she immediately understood what had happened.

When they came closer, she welcomed them with a hug, and with a knowing and calm smile spreading across her face, she asked gently,

“Your father again?”

Elion cut his gaze away, fuming as he replied,

“Stop calling him my father. He’s just a stepdad and a drunkard, nothing more.”

“You have to accept the fact that he’s your father—stepdad or not,” Sophia sighed, her voice cracking with her condition.

“My biological father is dead, and that’s a fact,” Elion insisted, folding his arms and looking away, anger spreading across his face.

Sophia laughed softly.

“My brave soldier… Do you remember when you always wanted to follow in your father’s path, becoming a hunter like him?”

Those words caught his attention.

Elion turned his gaze back to his mother and replied in a calmer tone. “Yes, Mum, that's my everyday dream. I want to become a hunter so I can put an end to the shadow monsters from the shadow realm and also earn money from my job so I can take care of your hospital bill. We won't have to ever suffer again.”