Gate Hunters

Our surroundings were engulfed in flames. Being accustomed to fire, the heat did not bother me.

Yet Zero was sweating like a mad dog. He even removed his hoodie and shirt, lamenting, "It's so hot." His tattoos were quite impressive.

As this is a low-rank Gate, there will be no boss-level monsters. They should be simple for him to defeat, provided he controls his emotions.

To complete this, all we have to do is exterminate the residence.

"Zero, let's chat for a bit," I suggested, and he agreed to take a break. We sat down together on the ground, giving him a few minutes to rest.

He unwrapped his sword and begun to hold it tightly within his palms, "Have you fought a monster with a sword before?" I asked.

"I had an encounter when I was ten. I hesitated to cut its neck, which led to this scar over my right eye. But now, I'm not the same as I was as a child. I've spent years in my dojo training to master the Neo Wolf style. Today, I finally get to try it." He tied his hair into a high ponytail and stood up, the blade gripped firmly in his hands.

His surge of confidence was a sight to behold. "Now, I need to ask you something else... Do you rely on the negativity and positivity of others as your source of power, or do you prefer to draw from your own experiences?"

"Umm, pardon?" He was confused by my question so that meant I needed to explain myself.

I stood up and pulled the mask from his face. "Looking into your eyes, I see a boy who has endured bullying every single day simply for existing. Such experiences should have magnified your negative gift reserve, yet somehow, your hollow eyes burn with a fire that should not have lasted this long. Are you fighting for yourself, or are you fighting for someone else?" I inquired.

...

He gazed at the ground, lost in thought. Then, with a sincere smile, he said, "When you phrase it that way, naturally, I don't like much, not even myself. But I've always been a dreamer, hoping for the happiness of the important people in my life—my siblings, my mother, and now you. That's why I want to become a hunter, to bring smiles to others' faces."

...

I guess I was wrong about you. Here I thought you were going to be a potential replacement in case I retire.

"I understand. Let's go close this Gate. I will lead the way." I replace the mask on his face and gently pat his head a few times.

(Five minutes later)

My observations of this child were quite accurate. It's evident that he harbours a significant reserve of negative energy. Although his positive energy was quite low, they certainly can be improved.

When it came to fighting the monsters within this Gate. He was somewhat confident in himself. The monsters in here were skinny flame humanoid wolves.

Given that they were so weak and going through malnourished, they made as the perfect first hunt for him.

Zero's swordsmanship was actually quite impressive. He seemed to transform into a different person when I witnessed him slashing through those wolves.

However, in terms of utilizing his abilities, he primarily relied on his sword. I suspect that he doesn't know how to harness his powers effectively because his negative gift is likely not balanced.

He was agile but not only that he fought like his life wasn't even worth fighting for. That way of thinking only strengthen his negative output for when he decides to use it.

Thus far, my observations have led me to understand a significant amount about him. It seems there is a factor contributing to the daily increase in his negative reserves. Moreover, it is becoming evident that his growth is being hindered by a persistent lack of confidence.

He possesses the ability to fight to a certain extent. However, the question remains whether he could stand against humans who may bring far greater turmoil into his life. Furthermore, it's worth considering if he would come to terms with his life should he become a rejected.

I think he has the potential to be a mid-tier hunter, and once he unlocks his positive gift. With it, he could become a formidable presence among the top-tier hunters.