The gentle buzzing of the equipment in the medical station could be heard softly as Belial extended his limbs, causing his joints to crack loudly from days of not moving. He was clean from the medical center, carrying a subtle scent of ether that permeated everything in the vicinity. When he sat up and dangled his legs over the side of the bed, he spotted Xin standing by the door, ready and waiting.

Hey, how are you feeling? "Is everything intact?" Xin looked at Belial with concern in his voice, searching for any indications that he was still injured.

"I'm good," he chuckled. "Feeling a little sore from all that rest," Belial responded as he stretched his shoulders to loosen up.

Xin's facial expression became more gentle, but curiosity quickly replaced it. "What occurred inside?" The monsters were not very powerful. What caused things to deteriorate to this extent?

Belial spoke while visions of the forest and fighting the ogre filled his mind. But before he could speak, the noise of heels clicking made them pause; in her well-fitted suit, this lady exuded presence and authority.

Mr. Belial and Mr. Xin, please come with me. "The president has called for both of you," she announced in a serious manner that discouraged further inquiry.

Belial and Xin exchanged confused looks before obediently following her as she exited the medical station and climbed the spiral staircase. The structure was majestic, exuding a sense of history and authority. Seven flights brought them to a set of grand, decorative doors, guarded by two massive men, whose imposing stature was balanced out by their politeness.

The guards easily swung open the doors, revealing a spacious office bathed in warm light. At the opposite side of the room stood a young woman with a black curly afro, dressed in a tight black outfit. She was engaged in a heated argument with a older man with thin rectangular black rimmed glasses, who was seated behind a large oak desk. After the door closed quietly behind them, she turned around and displayed her face - a face that conveyed a lot with its mix of anger and worry.

The man sitting at the desk quickly looked up, his eyes shining gold as they focused on Belial and Xin. Though his face gave no clues, his demeanor made them feel uneasy right away. A long, clean cut scar ran from his neck to his cheek;with another scar running across his nose, this one Horizontal, giving him a dangerous and commanding look . This person was Cole Blackburn, the leader of the guild, a man whose fame came before him.

In a low, smooth voice, Cole mentioned that you both must be exhausted. "Please come and take a seat. I am Cole Blackburn, the leader of this guild. And here is Leah, the person who cured you."

Leah, the woman with the afro, was now smiling brightly at them, appearing to have completely let go of her anger from earlier. "I was happy to do it," she said warmly. "I'm simply happy that I was able to assist."

Belial and Xin shared a surprised glance. They were familiar with Cole Blackburn's name, but actually meeting him in person was a different experience altogether. Regarding Leah, her identity was unknown to them, but her presence seemed to have a calming effect on them.

"Thanks for inviting us, but why did you bring us here?" Belial started cautiously.

Cole reclined in his seat, his amber eyes narrowing a little. Leah mentioned that she discovered some abnormal ogre blood on you. May I inquire about what took place in the woods?

Belial took a large inhale before beginning to recount the tale of how this entirely unforeseen predicament had unfolded. He detailed their quest to gather the materials needed for the guild registration, their unfortunate run-in with quicksand, and their discovery of a hidden dungeon filled with dangerous creatures. He used his words to describe the isolation from Xin, as he was thrust into a do-or-die struggle against an ogre unlike anything he had ever encountered.

As Belial spoke, Cole listened attentively, his expression remaining unchanged. After Belial finished, Leah eagerly and anxiously chimed in, her voice rising with a mix of excitement and unease. "Can you understand the implications of this?" she cried out. It is possible that this ogre is a previously undiscovered species, or potentially a combination of different species. "It is worthy of investigation."

"Cole nodded in agreement with Leah," his voice calm but already showing a touch of determination. Seems like this discovery has the potential to be intriguing. Will need to dispatch a team to conduct additional research on it."

Belial couldn't resist feeling a surge of excitement rise within him. It was indeed an thrilling idea that this entire forest encounter could lead to a significant discovery.

Cole stood up and reached out his hand to Belial. "Is there any additional information you would like to provide about the situation?"

Belial firmly clasped Cole's hand as they locked eyes with the guild's president. In a serious, quiet voice, he mentioned that the only thing he could recall was that the figure had stitching covering its entire body and a red gem set in its chest.

There was a brief moment of silence in the room. Next, the air rotated. The room grew hotter as unspoken tension filled the air. Belial and Xin were familiar with Cole's change- the perilous, controlled sensation.

"Mr. Blackburn, do you need anything?" Xin inquired, a touch of unease entering his tone.

Cole's face showed signs of anger that he was struggling to keep in check. His eyes shone like gold as he struggled to contain himself, causing the veins in his neck to bulge. Cole muttered with gritted teeth, his voice low and menacing, that he had successfully escaped from purgatory.

Leah leaped ahead and placed a reassuring hand on Cole's arm in an attempt to calm him. "Cole, calm down; there are children present," she whispered gently.

Over time, Cole's inner anger gradually faded away as he released a deep sigh. He removed his glasses to massage his eyes, as though it would erase the troubling memories from his mind. Afterwards, he talked once more with a weary yet determined attitude. He started with a completely composed tone, stating, "He is Alexander Drummond, one of the earliest members to join the guild and was appointed as vice president soon after it was formed."

Belial and Xin paid close attention while Cole recounted the story of Lex Drummond. The tale revolved around hope and possibility, depicting a young man who had once excelled but ultimately succumbed to despair.

"But he returned from one of his trips a changed man," Cole said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "He became withdrawn, brooding, and short-tempered. The man who came back was just like somebody else. We would try to have him talk to us, but he wouldn't say a word.

"He came back, killed a fellow guild member, and went rogue all within one week," Cole said, the regret heavy in his voice.

It felt like a gut punch. The guild members were trying to digest the news amidst a thick air of gasps and murmurs. Belial and Xin exchanged a pointed glance; both their eyes were wide, their minds whirling with the weight of what they'd just been told. "We have to find him," Cole said decisively. "The safety of others is in jeopardy, and it's important that we bring him to custody."

A knock at the door cut into the tense silence. In an instant, the guards had opened it, revealing a receptionist named Natalie. Her voice cut through the heavy silence of the place to address Cole.

"Sorry to disturb you, Cole, but I am here to inform you that the combat test for these two is ready," Natalie said professionally.

He nodded gratefully at the distraction. "Thank you, Natalie. They'll be there shortly, " he said.

Turning back to Belial and Xin, there's a small softening of the expression on Cole. "If either of you happen to meet up with Lex, place just a little bit of your aura into this stone," he says, extending his hand with a small, smooth-gray stone within his palm. "This will notify me."

Belial and Xin took the stone, nodding their heads in agreement. "Are you sure this will work?" asked Xin, peering at the stone curiously. It's a new technology that I've been working on. It should be able to detect any auras that come into contact with it and send an alert to my device." Said Cole with a serious look in his eye.

Belial and Xin followed Natalie out of the office, the weight of what was to be done resting on them.

The tension that had filled the room hung in the air as they made their way back towards the forested area at the back of the buildings. There was a mission to be done, and time was of the essence. Upon reaching the forest entrance, Natalie turned to them with a stern expression.

"You have to find and defeat them before the time runs out, and no Haxe’s are allowed in this test, this is your last test to see if you're fit to be a hunter." she said seriously. Belial and Xin nodded in acknowledgement.

The two did not exchange any words, but they gazed upon the forest behind the guild, belial finally sighed.

"I guess this is it, You take west, I'll take east," Belial said in a voice smooth as calm water. Xin grinned, his usual warmth breaking through the somber mood. “Good luck.”

And wordlessly they dispersed into the thick undergrowth of the forest. The hunt had begun, and they knew that failure was not an option.