Mass release In honour to the support {21/10}
Axel ran his hand through his hair, letting out a soft chuckle as he approached Artemis, who stood frozen in awe, still reeling from what had just happened. He gently patted her head, his warm gesture contrasting the cold, harsh reality she'd just been thrown into. Her wide, bewildered eyes met his, filled with wonder and disbelief.
"I also had a useless Awakening like yours once," Axel said softly, his voice holding both sympathy and a trace of nostalgia. "But look at me now. Even my peers over there can't compare to me anymore."
Artemis blinked, her lips parting slightly in shock. Her mind was still processing his words, but his presence was comforting. It was as if a lifeline had been thrown her way in a sea of disdain. Axel left her standing there, retreating to his seat with a casualness that belied the enormity of the moment.
As he reclined back into his chair, ignoring the sea of shocked faces, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.
*Damn,* he thought, savoring the quiet triumph. *This revenge is sweeter than I imagined. When I get home, I'll watch the replay of their shocked faces on TV.* The thought brought a deep sense of satisfaction.
For several minutes, the room remained in a stunned silence. The tension, thick and suffocating, slowly began to dissipate, but the air was still electric with disbelief. Finally, Seo Jihnyuk stood up, breaking the stillness. His deep, authoritative voice cut through the fog of shock.
"These are all wonderful results," he announced, his eyes scanning the room. "With this, we gain an upper hand over the Fatek." His words were calculated, his tone measured, but there was a lingering sense of unease beneath them. He turned to face the S-rank hunters, his voice lowering as he addressed them directly. "We shall have a meeting shortly. There is an urgent matter we need to discuss."
As the higher-ranked hunters filed out of the room, the atmosphere shifted. The weight of the earlier events lingered, but there was an unspoken understanding among those who remained. Axel could still feel eyes on him—his former colleagues' glares burning into his back, their jealousy palpable.
Trisha, standing proudly beside him, wrapped her arm around his and leaned in closer. Her warmth was a subtle reassurance, her presence a bold declaration to everyone watching.
"That was a great show," she said, her voice soft but full of pride.
Trisha scowled, muttering something under her breath as she approached him. Their bickering was playful, but there was a sibling-like fondness beneath it that caught Axel off guard.
"They're related," Loki explained, noticing Axel's confusion. "Brother and sister. Don't get the wrong idea, though—they barely see each other. This is them enjoying a moment."
Axel raised an eyebrow, watching the two continue their light-hearted argument. It was strange seeing Trisha like this, so relaxed and at ease. For a moment, the tension in the room lifted, replaced by a rare sense of normalcy.
But the moment didn't last long. Seo Jihnyuk's authoritative voice cut through the chatter, bringing everyone back to the task at hand.
"Please, enough of that. Let's gather around the table and focus on what matters." Your next chapter awaits on M V L
The group quickly fell into place, taking their seats around the table. Axel found himself sitting between Trisha and Josh Roark, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about the man beside him. Josh exuded an easy confidence, his smile unfaltering. There was something infectious about his presence, something that made Axel want to lower his guard.
But Axel fought against it, keeping his own instincts sharp.
*His smile is too infectious,* Axel thought, leaning forward on the table. *If it weren't for my pride, I'd probably be smiling back like an idiot.*
Seo Jihnyuk cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Now that we're all settled, let's begin the discussion. We have something critical to talk about—something that could change everything. We're exploring the possibility of expanding our reach beyond this planet. We need to investigate the universe."
***Author's note***
Finally venturing to the unknown. When we started this novel we really thought we would simply be on earth but the universe is just another line of chapters we should.get prepared for. Thanks for your support. Done for today's posting.