"Woah, woah! You killed him yourself?" His first teammate, an abyssal holding a large axe gaped at Prince Var.

In the spaceship lougne, two more abyssals were also staring at Varian who was holding a transparent box containing Caleb Xander's head.

When they were busy trying to find him, they suddenly got a message that the hunt was over and returned to the spaceship.

As a result...

"And you took him down in what? half a minute?"

Nod. Nod.

Varian gave a simple nod to their questions.

"Dude, we're teammates. You should've at least informed us. It's dangerous to fight alone." The second teammate chimed in.

He was right. If any human was ambushed by an abyssal hunting team, they'd quickly inform the fighters nearby.

Even if you had an upperhand, once the reinforcements arrive, you'd be in deep trouble.

That's why abyssals hunted in teams. Not because they couldn't hunt a human one-on-one but to deal with the reinforcements.

While it was all true, it only applied when the human could call reinforcements.

Since Boo jammed the signal and rendered the communication useless, Varian didn't need to worry about a second or third human appearing.

...Even if they did, they should be the ones falling into danger, not him.

'Seriously, peak level 7 are fragile.' They couldn't even withstand two of his powers, forget seven.

So, Varian didn't take their words too seriously.

In case, he fought with the top Xanders who cleared multiple bottlenecks, he'd be using two or more paths.

He didn't want the abyssals to see it since abyssal Var only awakened in body path.

"I don't know if you're lucky or unlucky. We were searching real hard and you ended up finding him." The third abyssal clicked her tongue.

Prince Var shrugged, as if it was just a coincidence.

Of course, it wasn't.

'Thanks, Boo. You are the best.'

'Tehehe.'

"But he's 24 in the hunting list, damn son, you're really awesome."

"This is your first hunt of all things."

"Fuck. I thought why they assigned you to S-grade hunting teams, seeing this, I get it."

His three teammates sighed again and again.

Out of the three, one was confident of killing Caleb. Two were confident of dueling him without losing.

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But none of them were confident of killing him in mere thirty seconds like Var did.

Not even close.

*** *** ***

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

To the utter shock of his teammates and higher ups, Prince Var's exploits continued.

Once could be coincidence. Twice could be luck. Thrice was proof.

"Haa~" Slumping in his chair, Ron clutched his forehead as he re-read the exploits of Prince Var for the seventh time.

"Don't sigh too much, kid. You sound old." The hologram in front of him said with a chuckle.

"Seriously, 24: Caleb Xander, 19: Nolan Xander, 16: Easton Xander...none of these are easy stubble. Especially Easton, he's a space awakener and as sneaky as a rat. But this guy just went ahead and slapped his head to death. Is he level 8 or what?"

"Hahaha. What did you expect? He killed more than thirty level 7s in the trial. He's a genius through and through." Mendis in the hologram laughed with pride.

Ron paused for a moment to confirm Mendis really laughed. 'His mood is great. I'm a bit envious.'

"...his teammates are decoration. He didn't take their help. Not once." Ron continued to complain.

"Not like he needs them, but keep an eye on him. Humans might've noticed him already. He could be in danger."

"You want me to tail him and keep him under protection?" Ron raised a brow.

Given the situation, it was impossible. He had his own duties to keep the human level 8s from intruding into abyss sphere of influence.

"Nah, if he asks you for help, I hope you won't refuse it." Mendis stated.

"No problem." Ron waved his hand and nodded. Then, his brows suddenly quivered and he added. "As long as it is not giving Galini."

Mendis' smile disappeared and a solemn expression appeared on his face.

Even though it was just a hologram, Ron felt like the room grew cold.

"Ron, you know Var's situation right? He's fine so far, but if the mental condition doens't improve, he might have troubles breaking the bottlenecks to level 8."

"It can wait for a year, no?" Ron clenched his fists to calm his raging heart and said.

"I thought so too. But from his exploits, I believe he's much closer to hitting the bottlenecks, nah, maybe he already hit them. So, could you..." Mendis trailed off.

Ron lowered his head and fell silent.

"D-Don't worry, I'll get it you next year. As compensation, I'll also fulfill a request." Mendis added, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.

Ron took a deep breath and looked at the oldest abyssal. In an voice that showed neither joy or sadness, he spoke. "I worked three thousand, five hundred and fifty days, finished five hundred missions, nearly died fourteen times and finally earned the medicine to cure my sister. And you are telling me to give it to him?"

Mendis couldn't bear to look into the burning eyes of the young abyssal and turned his gaze away.

He knew it'd end up like this. That's why, he didn't promise Var.

Still, in the bigger picture, if Var got the herb and grew stronger, it'd be much better than healing that little girl whose treatment could wait.

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"Now if you excuse me, Archduke." Ron stood up and walked out of the command room.

The empty corridors of the spaceship seemed desolate as the abyssals hadn't returned from hunting yet.

Some of them would succeed. Some would fail and die.

"I feel like shit..." Ron spat as he walked past the lougne before he abruptly paused.

One abyssal was on a sofa.

Drinking alone.

"Var?" Ron's brows furrowed in annoyance but he shook off that feeling.

It wasn't his fault that Mendis tried to pressure him.

After talking to him in the demon king's castle, Ron understood Var. He felt Var's towards Xanders hatred in person.

It was raw and unbriddled.

More than anyone in the teams, Ron could empathize with that hatred.

The hatred against an enemy that hurt your loved one.

Var didn't say it out loud. Ron didn't ask it.

But somehow, they realized it was the same emotion driving them.

'He wants to avenge his family's death with the blood of Xanders. I want to cure my sister and kill that human to avenge her.'

Looking at the lonely abyssal, Ron sighed and sat in front of him. "Pour a glass for me too."

"?" Prince Var looked at him in confusion.

"I'm on a break, now. It's not a problem." Ron said.

Without another word, Var poured some luxurious drink.

Ron gupled down the whole glass and licked his lips. "Humans got really good wine, eh."

Varian nodded and filled the glasses.

Ron drank.

Varian filled.

It coninued for a while until Ron slumped into his sofa and gave Varian a sloppy glance with a red face. "Heyyy."

"?"

"That old guy wants me to give you the herb I shed blood for. I'm mad." Ron waved his hand and said in a funny tone.

"?"

"I know. I know. It's not your fault. But you know, I feel really bad. My sister, she..." Ron suddenly paused as if someone froze him in time.

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Then.

"R-Rui..." Covering his face, he started sobbing. His shoulders trembled violently as he muttered. "I...you went through so...sooo much pain, I-I couldn't help you. I'm s-sorry for being useless, heuk!"

Varian clenched his fists and took a deep breath. He wasn't getting drunk as an abyssal. He was just drinking to celebrate.

But Ron.

He got drunk for real.

"V-Var..." Suddenly, Ron raised his tear-stricken face and looked at him with a sad gaze.

"?"

"I know giving you the herb is the best choice. I can see the big picture too, but..." He tapped his bracelet and a hologram popped up.

Two abyssals were smiling happily as they sat on what seemed to be an exotic garden.

A boy and a girl.

The girl was smiling brightly whie the boy had a caring expression.

A loving big brother and a sweet little sister.

"S-She is bedridden since ten years...she doesn't call me brother anymore, she doesn't respond even when I give her favorite sweets...she doesn't wake up even when I beg her..." Ron caressed the girl in the hologram or tried to, as his hand passed through the air.

Varian sighed.

He was starting to hate the similarities between abyssals and humans.

If only they were just mindless beasts intent on killing, everything would be so much easier.

"E-even thought it's just a year, I don't want to delay curing her." Ron said with a hiccup and a sad smile formed on his face.

"I mean...I could give you the herb and wait, but what if I die before next year? My sister would never be cured."

Varian clenched his fists.

What if abyssals suddenly launch an assault and humans were pushed to the verge of extinction?

What if the abyss emperor descended?

What if he died?

What would happen to Sarah and Sia?

Varian's breathing turned heavy as he realized how much he wanted to avoid death.

"Y-You can understand my fears, right? We can die at any time. I want to cherish her as long as I'm alive...poor girl...haaa."

Varian stood up abruptly and left the room.

A sigh filled with regret echoed in the desolate corridors.

'If only your race isn't intent on exterminating mine.'

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