CHAPTER 111: VIANNA AND HUNTER

"Ugh, I’m so exhausted..." muttered one of the Virellano family’s guard team members, his chest still heaving heavily after finishing the grueling morning drills.

The rest of the squad was also scattered across the training hall, most of them slumping down onto the floor or benches, their bodies drenched in sweat as they tried to catch their breath.

"You’re all so weak. Look at Young Miss Vianna and Dedy. They’re still not done sparring, yet here you are already collapsing like old men." Uncle Acok’s stern voice cut through the room, his sharp gaze scolding his soldiers.

His eyes then shifted toward the center of the hall, where Vianna and Dedy were still locked in sparring practice.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Watching her fight always brought him a sense of pride. Among all the children of the Virellano family, Vianna was the one he favored the most. Out of the siblings, only David and Vianna ever bothered to pursue martial arts seriously, and Vianna was by far the most dedicated.

Sweat ran down the side of his temple, but his eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he observed her movements. The soft whisper of wind flowing in through the side windows mixed with the loud rhythm of sparring footsteps, creating an atmosphere of tense anticipation.

What had begun as nothing more than a warm-up session had now transformed into a heated duel. Truly a martial arts maniac, Uncle Acok thought to himself, but with pride rather than scorn.

Vianna’s body moved with sharp precision, unleashing a variety of attacks. Her frame was lithe, her strikes perfectly measured, and every swing of her leg sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.

Her favorite move, a straight piercing kick delivered from the front, cut forward with deadly accuracy. Meanwhile, Dedy concentrated mostly on defense, using his physical advantage to create opportunities for Vianna to refine her techniques.

"Dedy, get ready," Vianna called out, springing lightly backward as she prepared her finishing move.

Her footsteps boomed against the polished floor, echoing loudly as she steadied her stance. She inhaled deeply, and the aura surrounding her thickened, pressing against the room like a heavy tide.

Dedy gave a firm nod, settling into a solid defensive posture. His eyes sharpened, ready to receive whatever came his way.

Vianna smiled faintly. Closing her eyes, she strengthened her stance, channeling her energy down into both legs. Her hair fluttered ever so slightly, lifted by the spiraling pressure of the power that began to swirl around her like a miniature storm.

The squad members and Uncle Acok, who had been resting, instinctively held their breath. Their eyes widened, and even the sound of their own pounding hearts echoed in their ears as they awaited the grand finale of this morning’s training session.

Then—Vianna’s eyes snapped open. She launched herself upward into the air.

Golden energy surged and pooled around her legs.

Golden? Her Vita has already taken on color... interesting, Uncle Acok noted, carefully analyzing what was about to unfold.

With a single forceful exhale—

FWOOSHH!

Her movements tore through the air with a thunderous roar. Energy erupted outward from her body like a blast of scorching wind.

Martial Arts Technique: Sin Ga Mas Absolute Kick.

Her manifested Vita condensed around her legs, shaping itself into a claw-like form.

A kick? But isn’t that technique more suited to fists or other hand-based strikes? Can this really work? Uncle Acok’s eyes widened, surprised by the oddity of Vianna’s adaptation.

Vianna shot forward. Her body transformed into a streak of golden light, leaving behind ghostly afterimages suspended in the air.

Dedy grounded himself, channeling his Vita into both arms until they glowed, forming a massive protective barrier across his front.

And then—

The explosion of sound struck before the actual impact.

BRUGGGHHH!!

Golden light clashed violently with Dedy’s white energy, the collision sparking like crackling lightning. The impact roared throughout the entire hall, the resulting shockwave pounding against the walls with deafening force.

Her strike landed—devastating in power yet somehow still under control. Smoke billowed from the epicenter, the entire building quaking as if struck by an earthquake. A wave of energy rippled outward, rattling every person inside.

The soldiers who had been sitting sprang to their feet instinctively, shielding their faces from the blast of dust and flashing light. The polished floor trembled beneath them, groaning under the weight of the impact.

Uncle Acok and the others stood frozen, utterly stunned.

Silence descended, broken only by the faint rustle of settling dust.

As the haze finally cleared—

Vianna stood calmly in the center, her breathing steady, while Dedy had been driven down to one knee, his arms scraped and bruised. Shafts of morning light filtered through the high windows, falling upon Vianna’s figure as she stood tall amid the fading smoke, her silhouette almost ethereal. Meanwhile, Dedy’s chest heaved heavily, his ragged breaths loud in the quiet aftermath.

Rising shakily to his feet, Dedy bowed toward Vianna.

"You’re incredible, Young Miss. You’ve grown stronger again," he said hoarsely, though the respect in his tone was sincere. His hand trembled slightly as he pounded his chest in salute.

"Of course," Vianna replied with a small chuckle. "I need to reach Rank A soon. Growing stronger is my responsibility."

The two exchanged light laughter, their voices echoing pleasantly through the hall still vibrating with leftover energy.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Applause broke out—soft at first, then swelling into a thunderous ovation as it spread through every corner of the training hall.

"Young Miss, that was amazing!"

"I’m so jealous... we’ve been training hard in the mountains for months and still haven’t reached that level."

"I guess that’s the difference between someone gifted and people like us, haha!"

The soldiers cheered, clapped, whistled, and smiled proudly, their admiration genuine.

Uncle Acok stepped closer, his footsteps firm and deliberate, his deep voice commanding silence once more.

"You’ve improved greatly, Young Miss. I never expected you to rework a striking technique meant for fists into a kick. You truly are a martial arts genius."

Vianna’s cheeks warmed. She bowed her head slightly, brushing aside strands of sweat-dampened hair from her forehead before looking back up with a modest smile.

"I’m not that amazing yet, Uncle. I haven’t even reached Rank A. I still need more time."

"It’s only a matter of time before you do. There’s no need to rush," Uncle Acok reassured.

But Vianna shook her head firmly. "No, Uncle. I must advance to Rank A as soon as possible." Her tone grew deeper, filled with burning determination. The lighthearted atmosphere instantly turned heavier.

"In such a hurry?" Uncle Acok asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Vianna clenched her fist tightly against her chest, staring at her hand before lifting her gaze toward him. The sound of her fingers tightening echoed faintly, her eyes blazing with ambition.

"I need to show my dominance over that girl from Palaka. I still can’t accept that someone David’s age was able to match me in our last encounter."

At the mention of that name, her aura quivered, silencing the soldiers who overheard.

"So it bothers you, does it? That girl... if I recall, her name was Rina, wasn’t it? She’s as much of a prodigy as you are, and she’s already young enough to stand at Rank B, same as you."

Vianna’s lips tightened, her jaw clenched. She could only nod, visibly irritated.

"She just got lucky in our last fight," she muttered, voice tinged with bitterness. Her eyes betrayed a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

Dedy spoke up, his tone gentle yet firm. "But that’s only natural, Young Miss. You both trained for around the same total time. She only started earlier than you did. Yet despite starting late, you still managed to reach her level. That proves you’re even more of a genius."

Vianna’s expression softened into a faint smile, though her narrowed eyes betrayed the struggle of mixed emotions—pride and frustration intertwining. The morning light glistened off the sweat on her cheeks, giving her face a radiant glow.

"You’re right, Dedy. If only my mother hadn’t been so fussy back then, I could’ve started earlier. Maybe I’d already be Rank S by now, haha." Her laugh was light, though a hint of sarcasm lingered beneath it.

Uncle Acok chuckled as well, folding his arms across his chest. "It doesn’t matter if you started late. It only meant more adjustment for your body, and you’ve already surpassed expectations."

Vianna nodded at his words. But her gaze sharpened suddenly, her aura shifting to something far heavier. The soldiers watching from the sidelines instinctively fell quiet.

"Actually, that’s not my ultimate goal. Beating that girl won’t take long. My true target now is... to become a Hunter." Her words burned with fiery conviction.

Even the faint wind seemed to stir in response, carrying her ambition into the room.

Uncle Acok and Dedy froze. Their eyes met briefly, brows raised in silent communication, both processing the gravity of what she had just declared.

"Young Miss... are you serious?" Uncle Acok asked gravely.

"That’s not something to say lightly," Dedy added, tension edging his voice. His fists clenched instinctively, as if his very body responded in wariness to the word Hunter.

"Of course I’m serious," Vianna said without hesitation. "I need a new challenge. Competitions and daily training are fun, sure, but it’s not enough anymore. My real goal is to become a Hunter. And to make it safer, reaching Rank A is a must, isn’t it?"

Her voice brimmed with energy and conviction. Each word was crisp and unwavering. The hall fell silent again, save for the sound of restrained breathing.

Uncle Acok and Dedy exchanged another look of doubt, their silence heavy.

"You’re not wrong, but still..." Dedy sighed.

Uncle Acok’s brows drew tighter. "Do you even understand what the world of Hunters truly is?"

Vianna shook her head with surprising honesty.

"No. I’ve only heard rumors in the community. But it sounded exciting. And whatever it really is, I’ll face it head-on. Haha!" She crossed her arms confidently and let out a light laugh that rang in the stiff air like a small bell.

Uncle Acok and Dedy could only shake their heads in resignation. They knew well enough how impulsive their Young Miss could be. Luckily, her talent in combat was extraordinary.

Both men let out a long sigh, their expressions heavy, in stark contrast to Vianna’s glowing confidence.

"It seems combat intellect doesn’t always align with common intellect," Uncle Acok muttered under his breath.

He began explaining the basics of the Hunter world.

Vianna listened intently, her eyes widening in shock.

"Wait... seriously? Hunters fight against Beasts? Monsters? Even Djinn? They really exist? I always thought that was just a myth." Her voice was filled with disbelief, her body leaning slightly forward as her mouth fell open.

Uncle Acok nodded gravely.

"I used to be a Hunter myself. That was our true enemy." His tone grew heavy with memories, thickening the air with his words.

Dedy added quietly, "Didn’t you already see them once? During the engagement annulment. That white creature and the one with the lion’s head."

"Huh? I thought I was dreaming that day! Haha. So they were real after all... and Hunters are the ones who fight them?" Vianna scratched the back of her neck awkwardly, then chuckled sheepishly, covering her mouth.

Dedy could only nod in quiet exasperation.

Uncle Acok was about to elaborate further—

But then—

SWOOOSSHH!!

A colossal surge of energy swept from the direction of the main house, toward the eastern wing.

The rumble was deafening, like a storm colliding against the mansion itself. The glass windows rattled violently, and the floors quivered underfoot. A sudden rush of cold wind burst through the cracks, carrying suffocating pressure.

Vianna, Dedy, and Uncle Acok instantly snapped into alertness. The soldiers around them shuddered violently, some trembling with fear.

Panic spread among the troops. Hands shook uncontrollably, some men instinctively stepping back with clenched jaws.

"Everyone secure the perimeter immediately!" Uncle Acok roared. "Young Miss, help me ensure the safety of the family members. Dedy, investigate the source of that energy. Prevent further damage. If it’s an enemy, hold them off until I arrive."

His voice rang like a war drum. The soldiers fell silent for a brief heartbeat, then responded in unison, their eyes sharp with determination.

The hall erupted with hurried footsteps, the clatter of boots echoing urgently like the call of battle.

Uncle Acok dashed toward the master bedroom wing of Edward and Sandra—the restricted quarters only accessible to high-ranking personnel such as Butler Harun and himself. Even the Virellano children required permission to enter, so naturally it had to be him. His figure blurred into a shadow, each stride stirring gusts of wind in his wake.

Vianna sprinted off to check on her siblings, her hair streaming behind her as her eyes burned with both panic and duty.

Meanwhile, Dedy charged toward the source of the energy. His massive frame vaulted up the stone wall in a single bound, each heavy step thundering like an earthquake. A faint with energy ignited across his body, wrapping him in a warrior’s glow.

---

At the same time, in the mansion’s garden, Al and the others—except Clarista—also felt the disturbance. Even Yura, who had only recently begun to grasp the basics of magic, shivered from the faint pulse of it.

Leaves rustled violently though the air was still, and birds that usually perched calmly in the trees burst into chaotic flight.

Devy moved swiftly to Yura’s side, her shoes squealing against the marble floor as she closed the distance, her posture protective and her eyes sharp.

Fani shifted into a guarded stance before Clarista, hands raised, scanning the area with laser focus.

David sat slumped, still reeling after Yura’s slap. His left cheek burned red, his throat tight with shame, his hands clutching desperately at the fabric of his trousers to contain his mixed humiliation and anger.

Al simply shook his head, his eyes settling on David with a calm, almost detached expression. His brows furrowed slightly as he exhaled a long breath, trying to ease the swelling tension threatening to spill over.

If just a slap to David was enough to set them off in outrage... then what would happen if something worse occurred? Should I take this game even further? Al pondered quietly to himself.

And now, the sudden surge of power loomed over the Virellano estate as a far greater threat than any slap.