Hunter Of The Six Realms

Chapter 24

All guilds in the joint realms were ranked, Iron vow guild at the top. Iron vow was located at the capital city. The hunters from there were something else, beasts in human form. Their mana couldn't be measured so they were given a special ranking which most people never heard of, Void tier hunters.

"And you think they'd be willing to risk it?" Captain Fenrick asked, brows raised. "You all know they're specially assigned to the Four Rulers. That's off-limits. We're not even supposed to know how many of them exist. They only take orders from the rulers and no one else."

"We just need one," Captain Lurei replied firmly. "Just one Void-tier hunter from Iron Vow is all we need."

"How strong are they, exactly?" Droven leaned forward, skeptical. "I've heard stories, but never facts."

"A single one of them can wipe out two full Level One squads without breaking a sweat," Saul said quietly, not looking up from the table. "No exaggeration."

Captain Selrik, the quietest among them till now let out a low breath. "Let's not sugarcoat it. If one of them walked in here right now, none of us would make it out alive if things went south."

"Are they even human at that point? What's the mystery behind their powers, it can't be that they get it from the same source we do." Droven muttered.

Nobody answered.

Lurei spoke again, tapping her finger lightly on the table. "We don't know exactly where they get their power from. But one thing's clear. Every Void-tier confirmed so far has been able to use more than one element."

That got everyone's attention.

Fenrick frowned. "More than one? That's not possible. No one can survive cross-realm resonance."

"That's because people think two individuals from different realms can't have a child," Ardan finally said, breaking his silence. "But what if, just once… an anomaly was born from a union like that?"

No one spoke for a few seconds.

"Even if that's true…" Droven started, but Saul cut in.

"It is true. I served in the border lines ten years ago. I saw one of them fight. A woman used earth and water magic. She switched between both like it was nothing."

"You're saying she was from Iron Vow?"

"No. I'm saying she wasn't from Iron Vow. She was hunted by them, they killed her right there."

"Was she a criminal?"

"I have no idea, and I didn't dare ask."

Lurei's voice dropped slightly. "Maybe that's why Iron Vow exists. Not just to protect the capital or to just serve the Four Rulers, but to control people like that, then train and use them."

"And we expect them to just hand us one?" Fenrick asked, scoffing.

"No. We don't expect anything. But we ask." Ardan replied

"And if they refuse?"

"Then we figure something else out. But if what Kael said is true… then there's no one in this guild who can stand against her. No one except a void rank."

Kael sat in silence, eyes still hollow, listening as they debated over the issue.

Lurei looked toward him, then back to Ardan. "We need to contact the, now!"

Ardan nodded. "I'll send the message myself."

"Think they'll respond?" Droven asked.

"Doesn't matter," Ardan said. "We're out of options."

---

Meanwhile

"Well done, Crystal. I knew I could trust you."

A man in a cloak and mask with the Water Realm emblem took the sealed container from her hands. The container held final gem they'd been waiting for.

Crystal bowed her head slightly, keeping her face emotionless. "It wasn't easy… but it's done master."

"You've done your part," he said, his voice calm. "You may leave."

She hesitated for half a second, then gave a slight nod and turned without another word, disappearing down the corridor.

The man watched her go before turning around and walking into the inner hall.

Five others waited inside, seated like before around the table. The masked council.

"We've secured the last one," he announced as he stepped in and placed the container in the center of the round stone table.

Each masked figure stared silently at the glowing red core inside the case. There was a faint but steady pulse.

"The ritual is possible now, blizzard has also retrieved the ice gem." said Frost.

"This ritual doesn't come without risk," replied Earth. "You all know what this takes from us."

Water nodded. "If we mess up the timing, even slightly… all eight cores could be lost and our efforts will be wasted."

Flame leaned forward. "Then we'll need a distraction. A big one."

"You mean her," muttered one of the quiet masked members.

"Yes." Water replied quietly . "She's unpredictable… but efficient. If anyone can keep the joint guilds busy, it's her."

"She'll ask for something in return," Frost said. "You know how she is."

"We give her whatever she wants," Flame said without hesitation. "As long as she buys us time."

"What's the plan?" Earth asked.

Flame looked up. "We ask her to increase the portal openings across the realms. Hit them one after the other, enough to drain the guilds and keep them occupied. She wouldn't overdo it so it wouldn't trigger the council's full intervention."

"There'll be casualties," Water said.

"There are always casualties," Earth replied.

They all went quiet for a moment.

Then one of the masked men broke the silence. "What about the boy?"

"The vessel is still intact," said Flame.

"And his core?"

"Stable… for now," Frost said. "

"Do you think he'd become a problem later on by refusing to play along."

"He won't," Water interrupted. "We've come too far to lose now. Once the ritual starts, he won't even be himself anymore."

Flame folded his arms. "Then we start the countdown."

Earth looked at the gem in the center of the table. "We do this in three days."

Frost stood slowly. "I'll inform her."

"And make sure she doesn't get carried away," said Water. "Last time she caused more damage than we needed."

Flame chuckled darkly. "That's just who she is. And honestly… this time, we want chaos."

"And she loves chaos."