Blade of the Demon Hunt

Untitled Part 18

The Demon Hunter General...No matter how he thought about it, Amir couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. He had heard that the intern who chose an A-level task, Samir, was also one of the six generals.It felt like generals and himself were on entirely different paths, living in completely different worlds.Becoming a student of these people seemed like a daunting prospect."Mr. Amir, is there something wrong?" The young man leading the way, noticing Amir's troubled expression, asked with concern."Nothing," Amir said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He couldn't exactly say he was nervous about the upcoming special training; that would be too shameful. "It's just that the headquarters seems very different from the Demon City branch."He was now at the headquarters of the Demon Hunter Guild on the Western Continent. The rapid shift in scenery left him still trying to fully adapt.After his discussion with D in the study, he was immediately escorted to the top floor of the branch office. From the rooftop platform, he boarded a private helicopter that flew him across the ocean to the central part of the Western Continent.Amidst a dense forest, he saw a towering mountain that resembled a blade piercing the earth. One side of the mountain was a sheer cliff, while the other side was a primal forest, making it impossible to climb. The only way to reach the summit was by aerial transportation.The Demon Hunter Guild's headquarters was situated at the top of this mountain.The headquarters resembled a medieval castle with its solid, dark gray walls and pointed turrets. The castle's outer walls were adorned with winding, labyrinth-like staircases and stained glass windows, presenting an astonishing blend of beauty and mystery. A sense of foreboding, as if the air itself was saturated with an ominous, bloodthirsty fog, seemed to linger around it year-round.After the guide presented his identification, the castle's drawbridge slowly descended, the sound of the metal chains sliding echoing through the vast mountain expanse, imbued with an ancient resonance.Amir couldn't help but wonder if there would be any vampires draped in black cloaks.Once inside the castle, the people who had arrived with him were directed elsewhere. A young man in a white long coat bowed respectfully to Amir and gestured for him to follow.As they walked on the ancient stone-paved floor, the corridor stretched endlessly. Tall walls were adorned with vividly colored oil paintings, and the windows were draped with crimson velvet curtains, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and oppressive.Upon hearing Amir's comments, the guide smiled and said, "Yes, the headquarters has been around for nearly a thousand years, so the architecture is quite old. If you're not used to it, the atmosphere here can indeed feel a bit oppressive.""'A thousand years, that long?' Amir thought it was unbelievable. If the Hunter Guild has indeed existed for such a period, it would imply a level of power beyond imagination, as there are no historical records mentioning their deeds.""Yes, the struggle between humans and demons has persisted for nearly a thousand years." A mature, slightly husky female voice spoke from behind Amir.Turning around, Amir was momentarily rendered speechless by the sight before him.The woman appeared to be in her thirties, tall and voluptuous. Her short leather pants and thigh-high boots accentuated her long, slender legs, while her open jacket revealed only a black strapless top that showcased her impressive cleavage. Her deep brown curly hair was styled up high, embodying a mature, Western beauty with sharply defined features. Her deep green eyes were as enigmatic as the forest outside the castle.Yet, despite her stunning beauty, there was an unexpected flaw on her face.From her left forehead down to the base of her left ear, a grotesque scar resembling a twisted centipede marred her otherwise perfect and delicate face."General Leila," the guide immediately stood at attention and saluted upon seeing her."Ah." Amir glanced between the guide and the striking woman, suddenly realizing that this was one of the six generals, the only female general currently in the guild."You're the new recruit?" The female general nodded slightly at the saluting man, then turned her gaze to Amir."Yes, that's right." Amir, unsure if he should also salute, awkwardly nodded and said, "I'm Amir from the Magic City branch.""D's subordinate," the general raised an eyebrow upon hearing this."Yes." Amir nodded. Although the term "subordinate" felt a bit strange, upon reflection, it was accurate."Hehe, it must have been tough on you," the general said with a sympathetic smile.Amir couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked even with the scar on her face. Her smile was stunning, and he was moved by the feeling that someone understood his pain. It was so touching that he nearly burst into tears and threw himself into her embrace, imagining how comforting it would be, especially with her 36D figure.It seemed that Chairman D's reputation wasn't as stellar as it appeared; even the generals at headquarters were aware of his misdeeds."I'm Leila, a hunter at the guild headquarters and currently holding the position of general. I look forward to working with you in the future," she said, extending her right hand to Amir.The general's hand felt different from what Amir had expected; the palm was very rough, with thick calluses and various scars. It was evident that the path to becoming a general had been filled with bloodshed and cruelty beyond his current imagination.The general seemed very kind, and the idea of becoming her student didn't seem so bad after all.Even after she had walked away, Amir remained lost in his thoughts."Mr. Amir, Mr. Amir," the guide said softly, "It's time to move on. I'm sure the adults are waiting.""Oh, right," Amir said, snapping back to reality. He nodded and followed along.As they passed through the long corridor, they arrived at an extraordinarily large room. The space was about the size of half a football field and four stories high. It appeared to be an ancient theater, with three tiers of private boxes surrounding the entire room, making anyone standing in the central area at the bottom seem like a performer under the gaze of an audience.At that moment, two individuals were already standing in the center of the room. Following the guide's gesture, Amir walked over and joined them.As soon as Amir took his place, a man's voice came from above, near the door."Esteemed Elders, the three individuals standing before us are the new hunters joining our guild. They are Will White from North America, Rami from the South Island, and Amir from the Magic City.""Welcome to the three of you.""Welcome, welcome."Around them, there was a scattered applause and congratulatory murmurs, but no one could be seen. The upper tiers of the room were all draped with heavy curtains, only vague shadows visible through them.Amir felt increasingly like a monkey in a zoo being observed. This sensation was quite uncomfortable for him.Just as he was about to voice his displeasure, the initial voice spoke again, "You have all successfully completed your internship tasks, but there is still a distance to becoming fully qualified hunters. To bridge this gap as quickly as possible, the highest-ranking general of our guild will provide you with special training. We hope that you will significantly enhance your combat abilities through this training. However, before that, please receive the blessings of the Goddess.""What's this about? Why wasn't I informed of this before?"Looking at the two individuals beside him, Amir noticed they showed no sign of surprise. It dawned on him that he was the only one unaware of this. Had D deliberately left this detail out? Amir was certain that D, that guy, must have done it on purpose.As Amir continued to grumble internally about the unreliable little mustached man, the large door of the room opened once again. A girl who appeared no older than ten walked in.Despite her youth, the girl's beauty was astonishing and seemed almost beyond belief; she would undoubtedly grow into an extraordinary beauty in time. Her nearly floor-length white hair and white eyebrows and eyelashes, combined with her almost translucent, ice-sculpture-like skin, gave her an ethereal appearance. She wore a white, Greek-style gown, and a faint ice-blue mark was visible on her forehead, making her look like a snow spirit from myth.The girl walked slowly up to the three of them and lifted her head to "look" at them. It was then that Amir realized her gray eyes had no focus.Such a beautiful little girl was blind. Amir couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy and sadness for her.The girl first approached the teenager on the far left, who had messy, curly hair and looked to be in his teens, and softly asked, "What's your name?""I am Will White from North America," the boy said, scratching his head with a bit of embarrassment."Will White, please show me your weapon mark," the girl instructed.Upon hearing this, the boy lifted his shirt to reveal the mark on his waist. Despite the girl's inability to see, she seemed to perceive the mark and fell silent as she examined it.After a long pause, a faint blue light appeared on her forehead. She then spoke in a tone that sounded eerily dreamlike, "Wings of flight carve through the vast sky, light steps swaying on the blood-soaked battlefield. Soaring wings."After she finished speaking, the light on her forehead dimmed."Oh, oh, a nice oracle. It seems this hunter will have a bright future," the initial voice said, leading the applause.The girl then moved to the second person in the middle. Before she could ask, he introduced himself and displayed the mark on his shoulder.The girl smiled slightly and fell silent again. After a moment, a blue light appeared, and she spoke, "Forged in steel is the weight of a warrior, imprinted in the earth are the unyielding footprints. The steel-clad stride.""Oh, oh, even though I don't quite understand what it means, it still feels impressive," the man said, starting the applause once more.Finally, the girl approached Amir.