A sharp flash of light split through the darkness and shot directly towards my eye. In the same instant, I dodged the attack by a hair's breath. The malicious presence aimed for a vital...and it definitely wasn't the same Mang as a Monster.
If that's the case, my opponent was definitely a human.
Was it a Fixer? A Ring organization member? It didn't matter. Situations like this are inevitable as an aspiring Fixer, so it was best I get used to these scenarios quickly.
The figure dashed from the shadows, unleashing a download slash. This time, the attack tore a thin layer of skin, but I once again dodged. His speed was definitely faster than mine, but the "gift" given to me by that distorted figure had accelerated my reactions. I definitely wouldn't win easily, but I could at least keep at.
I grabbed the assailant's coat, pulled their body towards me, and delivered a shovel hook directly to their side.
Pow!
The attack was intercepted by his left palm, and the reverberation was solid like a metal plate. It was definitely flesh that my flesh dug through...his level of Mang manipulation must has been incredibly high to achieve this level.
"Hah! You're pretty good for an awakened phase." The assailant said with a gleeful expression. His voice seemed young, incredibly so, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if he were a classmate of mine.
We exchanged a series of rapid attacks. I wanted to avoid any more projectiles, so closing the distance was the best option. And yet...
"C'mon! You can do better than that!"
He was pushing me back. With each blow my bones tremored and ached. My heart raced. My vision became unsteady. I can't beat someone like this directly. He was clearly on another level.
The attacker kicked me back with a thunderous force, knocking me back into the other end of the hall. I reflexively coughed up blood.
"Who...are you?" I said.
The lackey bowed his head while maintaining a ridiculously happy expression like a court jester. "It is a pleasure to meet you on this fine spring night, Derrick Foster. I am manager Yeoui of the Venizuma Job Center - 3rd class Fixer. You've expressed interest in the company, as I have heard from my superior. Thus, we will conduct the vetting process immediately."
A Fixer examination.
Prior to official enlistment, it was often the case that an office would "test" their future employees in any number of way. The test itself varied depending on the agency, but Monster Hunting associations tend to have more physical examinations. To attack me in a mostly empty hospital was a bold move, I could say that much, and the legality of it was dubious at best...but I had no time to worry about such things.
My only concern was beating Yeoui.
Without sparing me even a moment to breath, he lunged at me yet again, this time performing a spinning downward kick mid-air. It was a ridiculous acrobatic move that was clearly only possible in videogames and comics, but this man was capable of doing such a thing with ease. The man was holding back, heavily so, yet his kicks alone caused reverberations in the hospital floor.
"Ah! This teaching thing is so hard. I nearly caved your skull in. I am terribly sorry for my behavior, boy. I am simply not used to fighting opponents so weak."
Ignoring his obvious taunt, I ran into a nearby empty operating room, seeking momentary refuge. It was clear as day that I couldn't win in a 1 on 1 battle. This man was a 3rd class Fixer, which was more than enough to decimate me. I need to think. Think, think! What can I use here to my advantage?
Yeoui opened the door gently and entered the operating room. "What a hassle. This is private property, ya know. Please refrain from using anything here as a weapon. I know you'd hate to be liable for any property da-"
Without a moment's hesitation, I wrapped his head in cloth and stabbed him multiple times in the abdomen, yet the syringe crumbled like paper against his reinforced skin.
"Utilizing the environment to give yourself an advantage...and you didn't hesitate to use a weapon as well. You're passing with flying colors! But..."
Yeoui simply lifted his arm, it couldn't even be considered an attack, yet the force of his Mang was enough to nearly knock me out. With just a bit more force, he would have blown my jaw clean off.
"You are unripe and green."
My head was pounding.
My ears were ringing.
My vision was blurred.
I knew that this would happen. This man was an existence I had no hope in defeating, and yet...my pride wouldn't allow me to pass out without doing anything even remotely impression. With the last of my strength, I clenched my fist and drove it into the top of his foot, hoping to make at least a small bruise. Alas, it was all for nothing. My hand was crushed from the sheer durability of his body.
"Even that...wasn't enough?"
Derrick Foster had lost consciousness with a sinking feeling of dissatisfaction.
Yeoui stood before the unconscious Derrick as amused as ever. "Hmmm...what did Jhin say to do with him again? Oh yeah! I've gotta resuscitate the guy." He pulled out a small pill with strange, archaic inscriptions, and placed them into Derrick's mouth, forcing him to swallow it. His body exuded a light green glow as his wounds stitched themselves back together gradually. Time passed, and Derrick had fully regained his consciousness.
"Ugh..."
His memory was a bit jumbled, but he could still grasp what was going on.
"I lost, didn't I..."
"On the contrary, my friend, you passed with high marks, Derrick my boy. The purpose of this test was not to beat me. It's obvious that a trainee could never beat a 3rd class Fixer no matter how much he tried. We simply wanted to test your aptitude for Monster Hunting."
I was confused without a doubt. What exactly did this have to do with Monster Hunting?
"Jhin had a lot of second thoughts about recruiting you, ya know? Especially since you're so young. Monster Hunting is often unpredictable, volatile, unexpected, and overwhelming. You have no idea when a malevolent being will attack you or when you'll fall into a trap. Most importantly, however, is that there are times where you simply cannot win. Despite that, you managed to steel your nerves and fight me head on. Normal high school boys wouldn't manage that."
So that explains why he attacked me in the hospital. I wasn't fully recovered nor was I expecting an attack this early after awakening. He was simply testing how I would react in a real battlefield.
"If I'm telling you the truth, it was my pride. I simply didn't want to lose so one-sidedly, but I can see that that was a pipe-dream after all."
"Yes, it was quite foolish of you to think that! Though it is that foolishness that serves as a Monster Hunter's strength. We are miserable idiots who charge into the abyss of the unknown. We don't fight for others, nor do we fight for honor, nor do we fight for justice. We fight Monsters because that is how Monster Hunters must live. Are you really willing to accept such a ridiculous way of life?"
To fight simply for the sake of fighting.
To fight because fighting was the meaning of one's existence.
That was the path the Monster Hunters walked. It was absurd and irrational, yet their work is pivotal to the proper order of society. I couldn't criticize or ridicule them for such a reason, as my reasons for fighting were even more half-baked and selfish.
"Well, I can't say I'm any better than you people, so I can't bring myself to say no. Quite honestly, the reason why I want to become a Fixer was solely for myself. I wanted to experience new things, meet new people, and see the world from a different perspective. I've never been the overly concerned about whatever justice or honor you're talking about, so yes, I want to join the Venizuma Job Office."
Manager Yeoui couldn't help but burst into laughter at my reply. Honestly, it kinda pissed me off...was he not taking my words seriously?
"Man, that's hilarious! You really are a weirdo, but that's what makes you perfectly fit as a Monster Hunter. Very well then, I now recognize you as a trainee of the Venizuma Job Office."