62. The Hunter of the Azure Flame Star

The martial arts club had finished their after-school practice, and the members were gradually changing and heading home.

“Freshman, you’re improving quickly!” The senior who taught Chen Shang boxing patted him on the shoulder, praising him with satisfaction.

“It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching,” Chen Shang replied, flattering him without much thought.

After autumn break, Chen Shang had been training intensively in the club every day after school, finally raising his [Boxing] skill to LV3, which also increased his strength and physique by 0.2.

“By the way, ever since you defeated that crazy woman last time, she hasn’t come back,” the senior mused, a hint of regret on his face. “It’s a pity. It’s rare to see such a pretty girl in the club.”

“If you joined the club just to see girls, why don’t you go to the basketball club next door?” Chen Shang cleared his throat and asked.

Compared to this unpopular club where you rarely saw any women, the basketball club attracted a crowd of girls every day, and the members had a staggering eighty percent chance of finding a girlfriend. The remaining twenty percent were either ascetic scholars aiming for Tokyo University, or heirs whose families had already arranged their marriages.

But that twenty percent happened to be the most sought-after. Although they didn’t have official girlfriends, they were always surrounded by several girls in ambiguous relationships.

Many students fought to get into the basketball club, hoping their prowess on the court would win the hearts of girls and help them find love as soon as possible.

As the saying goes, moderate exercise attracts the opposite sex, but excessive exercise attracts the same sex. Comparing the basketball club and the martial arts club, the saying couldn’t be more apt.

Faced with Chen Shang’s question, the senior smiled meaningfully. “My dream is to become a border hunter. How could I waste my time playing basketball?”

“Ah? Border hunter?”

Chen Shang frowned, thinking for a moment before recalling the relevant lore.

Shortly after the nuclear war ended, most surviving creatures mutated, some in ways that even Darwin would struggle to explain. There were fire-breathing giant dinosaurs, southern cockroaches bigger than cats and swarming in packs, and carnivorous streetlamp trees that would hang anyone in a suit… but that’s beside the point.

These mutant monsters not only hunted in the wild but also attacked human cities.

In Night Pivot City, there was a period known as “The Night of a Hundred Beasts.” During those days, the city faced daily assaults from hordes of monsters. Even the rival conglomerates had to unite, joining the citizens to protect the city.

It was in that era that the profession known as “Hunter” was born.

Hunters became the nemesis of monsters and the backbone against the Night of a Hundred Beasts. The strongest hunters were sent to the border battlefields, where monster swarms were fiercest, to challenge the most formidable foes.

For people of that time, becoming a “border hunter” was both an honor and proof of strength. Legend said every border hunter could hunt dragon-type monsters alone; even if stripped naked and abandoned in the wild, they could survive more than two weeks by feasting on their prey.

As for the truth of these legends, even Chen Shang didn’t know, since he and the writing team had made up most of these background details.

But the Night of a Hundred Beasts was more than twenty years ago. Now Night Pivot City was peaceful, and the role of “Hunter” wasn’t as important anymore.

Recently, the rise of “Animal Protection Organizations” in the city led the Conglomerate Union to revoke many hunters’ social benefits under the guise of public opinion—though the real motive was to recruit these warriors into their companies. Hunters were urged to change careers.

With the times changing, most outstanding hunters who once shed blood and sweat for the city could only become bodyguards for large corporations or exclusive mercenaries for the conglomerates.

Now, the “Hunter Guild” in this city was little more than a name.

“There aren’t any real hunters left here,” Chen Shang chuckled. “Just mercenaries with the title of hunter.”

“You don’t get it, Chen. My dream is to hunt a fire dragon myself and bring its head to my grandfather!” The senior pressed his fists together, burning with determination.

“For your grandfather?”

“My grandfather used to be a border hunter,” the senior said proudly, puffing out his chest. “He once killed dozens of dragons by himself and even tamed a female fire dragon as a mount.”

“That’s incredible…” Chen Shang marveled inwardly.

Even though he didn’t recall designing such a character, someone who could ride a mutant monster must have been formidable.

“I want to be as cool as my grandfather,” the senior gazed out the window, eyes shining. “Not just another ordinary person who works until they die.”

—But I wonder, isn’t boxing kind of useless for that? Are you planning to punch monsters to death?

“I understand you,” Chen Shang nodded seriously, though he wanted to tease him.

“But nowadays, hunting isn’t legally recognized—most are just pioneers or mercenaries with the hunter title…”

“And those true hunters are mostly labeled as ‘poachers’ now.”

“Even if people call me a poacher, it doesn’t matter,” the senior patted Chen Shang’s back and laughed open-heartedly. “Is reputation really so important compared to doing what you want?”

“My grandfather told me some of his old comrades are still active in the wilderness. Their organization now is called… ‘Azure Flame Star Poaching Crew!’”

“Oh?” Chen Shang’s expression shifted, a memory surfacing.

The “Azure Flame Star Poaching Crew” was originally an elite squad of border hunters formed during the Night of a Hundred Beasts. When the hunter profession was suppressed by the conglomerates, most members changed careers, but about a dozen fanatics stayed.

Each member was exceptionally skilled—every one could tear apart dragon-type monsters barehanded. More importantly, in mid-game, players could hire them, making them the backbone of forbidden zone exploration.

Especially their greatsword-wielding leader, whom players called the official cheat—he could dispatch minor monsters with a single swing, letting players simply soak up experience.

But in the early “School Arc,” players couldn’t access the Azure Flame Star Poaching Crew through any means.

—Could it be that the world’s self-perfection is changing my social connections?

Chen Shang pondered.

In the original game, the developers would never flesh out background stories for minor characters like “Club Senior.”

But this world wasn’t purely a game, so the incomplete settings were being filled in, resulting in these bugs that defied the game’s mechanics.

Having sorted his thoughts, Chen Shang quickly put on a curious expression and probed, “Does your grandfather still have contact with his old teammates?”

“I could ask… but what do you want?” the senior replied.

Since the crew was designed as powerful allies for players, Chen Shang naturally wanted to connect with them as early as possible.

“Actually, I need to write a research essay for history class, and I happened to choose the history of the Night of a Hundred Beasts. I’d like to interview some active hunters about their lives.”

Chen Shang took a deep breath, his gaze sincere. “If possible, I’d like to talk to these veterans.”

“Oh! A history assignment!” The senior’s expression softened immediately, nodding with earnest seriousness. “Your first-year history teacher is super strict with grades! I’ll ask my grandfather when I get home, and I’ll contact you by phone.”

“Thanks! I’ll treat you to dinner once it’s done,” Chen Shang said gratefully, nodding to the senior and waving goodbye.