Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Eight years had passed since the day Kael had awakened the potential of his magic, and the System had not manifested since. Its absence wasn't necessarily significant; after all, the relentless training with his grandmother, Eleonor, never ceased without reason. 

She would appear sporadically, sometimes once every two months, other times taking longer, but always returning with new lessons, challenges, and intense moments of learning. 

During these years, Kael found himself forced to live between two distinct worlds. On one side, his mother's relentless protection, which, despite everything, never stopped him from evolving under Eleonor's tutelage. Year by year, he grew stronger, more capable, but also more curious about what his mother was truly hiding. 

His mother, unyielding, had never trained him. She had never even given him a single lesson or tip. It was something she avoided at all costs, yet his grandmother never stopped pushing him forward. And, of course, Elion never showed any reaction other than concern. It was as if there was something deeper, something secret in her relationship with magic, but Kael never had the courage to question her directly. 

What he didn't know was that, while Eleonor shaped his power, the world around him was changing. The boy, now 11 years old, had become much more than a mere apprentice. His body had been strengthened by rigorous training, his mana control skills were already impressive, and his mind had grown sharp. 

Kael had never felt fear in his life, but every time he thought about the looming prospect of attending school, a slight shiver ran through him. Kael didn't like school. His past life wasn't something he wanted to remember, but school stirred up many unresolved issues in his mind. 

At 11 years old, Kael possessed a maturity beyond his age, and his aura of confidence was evident in every movement he made. Those who saw him for the first time could hardly believe he was still so young. He wielded his magic with finesse, effortlessly, and the winds he controlled danced around him as if they were his allies. He was no longer the frail and defenseless boy he once was; his strength and skill were constantly growing. 

A few months before Kael was to be sent off to the Azalith Academy, Eleonor appeared unexpectedly. She always had a way of being unpredictable, but this time, there was something different in her eyes. She arrived at the clearing where Kael was practicing a series of wind enchantments with mastery, and simply stopped, watching him silently for a few moments. The air felt heavy, charged with a subtle energy that Kael could barely identify. 

Suddenly, Eleonor spoke in a grave voice, without preamble: 

"I'm not going to train you anymore." 

Kael immediately stopped, the air around him still humming with the energy of the magic he had just been manipulating. He looked at her, surprised. The Witch Queen had always been a tough figure, but she had never shown any sign of giving up on him before. And there she was, arms crossed, wearing a fitted leather outfit that accentuated her sensual curves. Kael had to force himself to look away, resisting the temptation to get lost in the details of her revealing neckline.

Eleonor's imposing presence was always a mix of beauty and power, enough to make anyone hesitate before her. But Kael also knew that his grandmother was fully aware of her allure and used it intentionally when it suited her.

He swallowed hard before asking, confusion and a hint of frustration in his voice, "What are you saying? What do you mean you're not going to train me anymore?"

Eleonor let out an impatient sigh, as if she had expected this reaction. "It's not that I've given up on you, Kael. What you've learned so far is more than enough. The problem is, you're still too attached to my methods, to my style of training. You've reached a point where you need to start testing yourself. It's time for you to step out of my shadow, out of my control." She paused, studying his reaction. "You're going to the Azalith Academy, and there, you'll have to discover your own limits."

Kael felt a slight ripple of anxiety in his chest, something he had never imagined feeling over what his grandmother had always considered a mere stepping stone. "And you think I'm ready for that? I'm not going to be just another student in that academy, Eleonor. I need more, and you know it."

She gave him an enigmatic smile, one that only Eleonor could pull off—full of mystery and intelligence. "You have more than anyone else there. But what you really need, Kael, is to learn to trust yourself. The past months were only to ensure you didn't fall into weakness. The rest, my dear, is something you'll have to uncover on your own."

With a subtle movement, she stepped closer, placing one hand on his shoulder. The mana in the air around them seemed to grow, as if the forest itself was paying attention to their conversation.

"I'm not your crutch, and you know that. Magic won't serve you just because you control it. You need something more, something beyond raw power. Azalith will be your testing ground. Remember my words well."

Eleonor spoke with unrelenting firmness, but soon her expression softened. She leaned in slightly, and Kael felt the tension in the air increase. Their eyes met, and for a moment, silence enveloped the clearing. She was closer now, the heat of her presence almost tangible.

Before Kael could react, Eleonor, with a movement so subtle it was almost imperceptible, leaned forward slightly. Her lips neared the corner of Kael's mouth, and with surprising gentleness, she planted a quick kiss, almost like a caress, on the corner of his lips. It wasn't a kiss on the cheek, as he might have expected. It was something more intimate, more provocative.

"I can't steal your first kiss," she said, her mischievous smile widening. "But I think this is enough to remind you who's really teaching you, brat."

Kael froze for a moment, his heart pounding faster, his mind scrambled by his grandmother's actions. Eleonor stepped back with a low laugh, full of amusement, leaving him standing there, stunned, still processing what had just happened. She had always been unpredictable, but never with such intensity.

"Remember, Kael," she continued, her voice softer now but still laced with an authority he couldn't ignore. "You're about to step into a new world. And there, there's no room for hesitation. Go all in or fall. That is the essence of true magic."

That's when a strange yet familiar sensation settled in his mind, as though an invisible presence surrounded him. The air seemed to pulse with a different energy, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

[You have unlocked the Feature: Beauty Hunter]

[Computing Hunt...]

[You have Hunted: Eleonor Scarlet]

[Hunt Complete]

The words appeared before his eyes, floating like silent notifications but impossible to ignore. Kael frowned, still processing what was happening. Eleonor... His grandmother. The woman who had trained him, who had always been so distant and enigmatic, was now registered as a "completed hunt" in his mental interface.

[Rewards are being calculated]

A sudden chill ran down his spine as he read the next line.

[Hunt Level Too High to Reward User.]

Kael stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the notification still hovering before him.

The feeling of discomfort grew stronger as he tried to make sense of what this message meant. "Hunt Complete," he thought, mentally repeating the words.

"System... what is this? What does 'hunt' mean? And why is Eleonor listed this way?"

The response came quickly, as if it had been waiting for his question:

[Response: The feature "Beauty Hunter" refers to women with souls above the standard. These women possess unique traits, such as deep romantic and affectionate feelings toward the user. They can be 'hunted' so the user may not only gain abilities and powers but also forge deeper connections involving genuine feelings, love, and companionship.]

Kael was left speechless. What he was reading felt almost unbelievable. Women with souls above the standard? The idea of "hunting" women for abilities, powers, and love was unsettling, yet at the same time, he couldn't ignore the feeling that something far greater was unfolding. Eleonor... his grandmother... was one of the first to be registered. This implied that she somehow fit this criteria—that she harbored some form of romantic and affectionate feelings for him, something Kael had never imagined could exist between them.

He took a deep breath, trying to push away the rising panic. This wasn't the first time the system had manifested in a mysterious and disconcerting way. However, never with such intensity. It felt as if something was being revealed to him, something beyond his current understanding. But there was more... The system carried an almost vibrant tone, a kind of forewarning that something was about to happen.

The forest was completely silent, yet Kael felt a growing pressure, as though something awaited his reaction. Forcing himself to look at the message again, he ignored the chill still crawling up his spine.

[Rewards being calculated...]

The words blinked before Kael's eyes, the tension in the air becoming almost unbearable. Time seemed to slow around him, as if the very universe awaited his response. He didn't know what to expect, but he knew something significant was about to occur. Then, the next line appeared, shifting the course of everything.

[You have unlocked part of the Mana Core Blessed by the World Tree.]

[You can now manipulate a new element!]

Kael furrowed his brow as he read the words. The Mana Core... The World Tree... He was stunned. He thought this could only unlock the Seal much later. Yet, here it was.

[Due to Extreme Conquest, Eleonor's Soul cannot be bound to the User. Searching for loopholes...]

Kael felt a growing pressure in his mind as the message continued. "Extreme conquest?"

[Searching...]

[Due to Extreme Conquest, Eleonor's Soul has been Rejected for Binding with the User.]

"Shit…" he muttered. "So it was all useless? Why tease me with these idiotic messages? You disappear for eight years just to show up now and be completely useless?!" he shouted at himself, though he knew the system wasn't alive.

[Due to Extreme Conquest, the System offers the ability "Shadow Manipulation."]

["Shadow Manipulation" is offered to complement the skill "Shadow Blade Dance (Lv. 1)."]

Already frustrated, Kael didn't care anymore. "Fine, just give me this crap," he said, waiting for the system to complete the upgrade.

The air around Kael seemed to vibrate with growing intensity, as though the very environment was reacting to his decision. He felt his energy channeling into the center of his being, pulled by an invisible thread toward something beyond his understanding.

Then, with a silent boom, the transformation occurred.

Kael felt the shadows around him shift, an unfamiliar yet strangely intuitive sensation. It was as if every piece of darkness he could see now had a life of its own, a will that bowed to him, as though he were the master of something primordial. Shadow Manipulation wasn't just a new skill; it was an extension of his own soul, something that fit perfectly with the nature around him.

Kael opened his eyes, and the world seemed different. The shadows of the trees, the ground, even nearby rocks now appeared to flow with a life of their own, an extension of himself. He felt the power coursing through his veins, a cold and cutting energy that was deep and commanding all at once.

He raised his hand, and the shadows around him responded, molding themselves into fluid shapes, as if obeying his command. The sensation of control over the shadows was intoxicating, and Kael smiled, his eyes gleaming with newfound confidence.

"Now… it's time to test this," he murmured, more to himself than anything else.

[Status]

[Name]: Kael Scarlet (11 years old)

[Title]: Supreme Soul Hunter

[Strength]: 50

[Agility]: 45

[Intelligence]: 98

[Endurance]: 40

[Mana]: 170

[Blessing]: World Tree (SSS)

[Traits]: Charismatic, Universal Language, Enhanced Vision, Mana Sensitivity, Mana Core Blessed by the World Tree

[Abilities]: Soul Absorption (Lv.1), Soul Hunter (Lv.1), Blade Instinct (Passive), Shadow Blade Dance (Lv.1), Elemental Manipulation (Lv.10), Shadow Manipulation (Lv.1)

"Holy shit… I have 170 mana points? What the hell is going on?" Kael murmured, utterly shocked. The amount of mana he possessed was absurd, something he could never have imagined achieving. But beyond that, something even stranger caught his attention.

"Nearly 100 points in intelligence… That's… insane," he continued, now reflecting on the numbers displayed before him. But it wasn't just that. As he glanced at the other stats, the disparity became clear.

"My Strength, Agility, and Endurance barely improved… This must all be a reflection of my body's natural growth. I've spent years training mana and magic, so it makes sense that these physical attributes haven't received much attention." He paused for a moment, analyzing everything. "At the end of the day, I'm starting to look like an RPG character. I'm a mage, and the numbers don't lie."

"KAEL!"

A familiar voice shouted, jolting him out of his thoughts.

"Crap… she sounds mad…"

---

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