Leon followed Veyna through the winding halls of the Shadow Hunt Guild, his steps measured.
The deeper they went, the quieter it became.
This was the inner sanctum, a place only the strongest hunters were allowed to step into.
And now—he was one of them.
Veyna glanced at him. "You should watch your words when you speak to him."
Leon smirked. "Afraid I'll say something reckless?"
She sighed. "No, I'm afraid he'll find you interesting."
Leon's brow lifted slightly. Interesting?
Before he could ask, they reached a set of massive iron doors.
With a wave of her hand, Veyna pushed them open—revealing a grand chamber bathed in dim torchlight.
And at the center, sitting upon an obsidian throne, was the Guildmaster.
---
The Shadow Hunt Guildmaster
The man before Leon was not just a tamer.
He was a beast in human form.
Black-scaled gauntlets covered his hands, his long cloak embroidered with silver runes. His piercing golden eyes studied Leon with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
A faint pressure filled the air—an instinctual warning that Leon was standing before a predator.
Veyna bowed her head. "Guildmaster, I've brought him."
The man leaned forward, resting his chin on his fist.
"So," he murmured, his voice smooth yet commanding. "You're the boy who tamed an Epic-grade beast."
Leon met his gaze evenly. "I am."
The Guildmaster chuckled. "You don't seem impressed."
Leon smirked. "Should I be?"
Veyna stiffened slightly, but the Guildmaster merely laughed.
"Good. You're not a fool."
His golden eyes gleamed. "Tell me, Leon—do you know why I called you here?"
Leon's fingers brushed against the beast seal in his palm.
"Because of the Ebonshade Wraith."
The Guildmaster grinned.
"Partially," he admitted. "But more importantly—I want to know your true ambitions."
Leon's expression didn't change.
But inside—he was intrigued.
The Guildmaster wasn't just testing him.
He was evaluating him.
And that meant—Leon had caught his attention in a way even he hadn't expected.
---
The Offer
The Guildmaster leaned back, his golden eyes never leaving Leon.
"In this world, power dictates everything," he said. "And beast tamers… are at the top of that chain."
Leon listened, silent.
"I've seen countless talented tamers," the Guildmaster continued. "But very few with your potential."
A slow smile tugged at his lips.
"Which is why I'm offering you a choice."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Guildmaster raised a single finger.
"Join my elite hunters—The Eclipse Order."
The room grew still.
Even Veyna seemed slightly surprised.
The Eclipse Order was an inner-circle of the Guild's most powerful hunters.
They weren't just tamers.
They were killers.
Leon met the Guildmaster's gaze. "And if I refuse?"
The man chuckled. "Then you walk out of here as a free tamer."
He tilted his head. "But with an Epic-grade beast at your side, how long do you think it'll be before someone else tries to claim it?"
Leon smirked. "You think I can't handle myself?"
The Guildmaster's grin widened.
"I think you'd be a waste of potential if you stayed alone."
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
Veyna watched the exchange, her expression unreadable.
Leon knew this decision wasn't just about joining a faction.
It was about aligning himself with power.
And the question was—
Would he stand alone?
Or would he accept the offer and step into a world far darker than he had planned?
---