It was a bright day in New Pokke, the trees swayed in the breeze and the streams flowed in the distance. The villagers peacefully roam about and minded their own business. The Gathering Hall was full of hunters, and the homes were somewhat empty as the people had gone to watch an event. It had been 20 years since a certain boy took his first steps outside of his home and to his mother's leg. It had been 20 years since the end of the Human-Monster War, and it had been 20 years since the Rebellion was disbanded. Everything was calm, and a new test system had been set up. It was basically a sort of proving ground, where an aspiring hunter would pick his weapon of choice and fight either a boss monster or a pack of minion monsters of his or her choice. It was fought in an arena for everyone to watch and cheer, and a sub-system has been set up to prevent the death of the aspiring hunter. It was, in essence, heavy bowgunners with sleep rounds loaded and ready to fire at the monster should the hunter be rendered unconscious or when it's obvious that the next monster attack was going to kill the hunter. Being a hero of the Human-Monster war, Azen was appointed chief of the test system that they named, "The Fury." He has watched countless of aspiring hunters pick their enemies and defeat them, and he never felt nervous for the hunter, until now. One of his sons were to undergo the Fury and gain their license to go out to take high-ranked contracts.

"I'm telling you, Azen, Qtronix will be fine," Mikan said as she sat down on a chair at the balcony where Azen sat.

"Still. Back in my day, they didn't have this kind of test. It was as easy as signing your first contract," Azen replied, as he gripped the arm rest of his chair.

Mikan held Azen's hand and caressed it slowly, "Don't you have faith in your son?"

"I do, but after losing Makan and Qtronix to a mission..."

"Azen," Mikan started. Azen turned to look at Mikan's orange, glowing eyes. She smiled sincerely at him then kissed his cheek, "Just watch, okay?"

"Alright, alright..." Azen took a deep breath, then heard the crowd roar. He then knew that his son had entered the arena, and lo and behold, Tatsuma was waving to the audience with a smile in a set of hunter's armor. He looked exactly like Azen when he was 18, sporting black hair, a slightly muscular build, but Tatsuma inherited Mikan's orange eyes. His eyes were strong, but despite his intimidating stare, he was a friendly guy. He grew up being taught by Sayako in the way of the warrior, and Azen taught him how to be exactly like himself. Mikan taught Tatsuma how to be strong but gentle, and so far, she's had the most impact out of the three teachers he had. As Tatsuma's orange eyes glanced over the shining weapons presented to him in a rack, the announcer awaited him to pick his opponent. Tatsuma spent a few minutes thinking, before he finally made his decision which shocked the audience.

"I pick a Tigrex," Tatsuma spoke, and the arena gasped. They didn't expect such a young hunter to pick a Tigrex as his opponent. A few minutes later, a raging Tigrex stormed into the arena and headed straight for Tatsuma. Tatsuma made a quick swipe for the red saber and shield, then immediately got into a defensive stance as he held his shield in front of him and braced for impact. The charge of the Tigrex caused Tatsuma to skid backwards as the shield absorbed most of the momentum, but it taxed his left arm as well, since that was his shield arm. The dust from Tatsuma's skid formed a small cloud, and the Tigrex looked confused since he couldn't see his prey. Tatsuma emerged from the smoke after clearing it with a wave of his fiery sword, and he charged straight at the Tigrex. He jumped up high and brought his blade down at the Tigrex's head, and his sword glided down the Tigrex's eye, causing it to flail backwards and swing it's tail and claws about in pain.

As he saw the incoming tail attack, Azen guarded himself with his shield, but the force was too immense for him to remain on the ground so he was sent flying in the air, and he rolled to a stop a few meters from the arena's wall. The crowd was quiet and all that could be heard was the growling of the Tigrex. Soon, the Tigrex let out a deafening roar and swung it's claws at Tatsuma, and he got knocked off his feet once more, rolling on the ground and struggled to get up. His shield threatened to break on the next impact, but he stood up and got into a defensive stance. His orange eyes glew slightly, and when the Tigrex came charging in, Tatsuma ran up to it's head and stabbed his sword into it's jaw, then lifted himself up to the Tigrex's head. He then pulled his sword out of the jaw then started slamming his cutting edge on the Tigrex's head repeatedly, holding onto the beast until it was down. After he realized that there's no way to bring a perfectly balanced Tigrex down from it's head, Tatsuma let go of the Tigrex and ran down across it's back. His back was wet with perspiration, and he felt that he suffered heavy bruises, however he persevered and took his flaming sword and slashed the Tigrex's tail repeatedly until it came off, and he felt the Tigrex fall on it's face. Because of the momentum that the Tigrex ran at, Tatsuma rolled backwards and fell to the ground. He groaned in pain and tears started to well up in his orange eyes.

"Come on, baby... Get up..." Mikan whispered as she stood up and leaned over the balcony to look at her son.

Tatsuma struggled to get up, and the Tigrex had regained its balance and struck the ground to launch three huge rocks at Tatsuma. Tatsuma roared as his innate ability to go berserk got triggered, and he jumped to his feet and blocked the incoming rock with his shield, which shattered his shield into smitherines, and he ran faster at the Tigrex and dropped to slide underneath the Tigrex and stabbed his sword into it's belly. The Tigrex let out a bellowing roar, and it started to collapse, but Tatsuma rolled out of the way and lay prone on the ground as the Tigrex fell. The crowd roared as they cheered Tatsuma, and Azen laughed heartily and gave Mikan a massive smooch.

"That's my son! That's my son!" Azen yelled as he cheered his son on.

The monster keepers took the fallen Tigrex away, and Tatsuma waved to the audience, specifically to his parents. Azen and Mikan went down to see their son, and met up with him at the stream at the edge of New Pokke. Mikan came with a basket of medical supplies, and Azen tagged along. As Mikan treated the small scrapes and the large bruises that her son suffered from the fight, Azen started talking about his adventures in the Human-Monster war. Mikan finished within minutes, as she studied medicine in her 20 years as a mother.

"So, dad. How'd you and mom meet?" Tatsuma asked.

"Well, son, that's a good story! See, I was just minding my own business when suddenly your mother came along to Pokke, up in the mountains, and just started staying there," Azen said. He went on about how his whole story went with the following days.

"You're just like your father when he was young," Mikan commented with a smile.

"Thanks, mom," Tatsuma replied, then stood up. Azen and Mikan stood up as well.

"Well, you better get some rest, son! You start your day as a real hunter tomorrow! Those contracts won't sign themselves, you know," Azen said as he ushered Tatsuma into their house. Mikan followed Tatsuma, but soon after, Azen was stopped when he saw an old friend.

"It seems like you've grown into a good man," Sayako said, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"Of course. It's all thanks to you and Misaka," Azen mentioned.

"We're flattered, however, isn't it about time you passed your flame onto your son? He's obviously fit enough to take on the tasks you will leave behind," Sayako suggested.

"I'm only 42, Sayako. I can still work as a hunter."

"But for how long would you be able to remain a warrior AND a hunter?"

"I can manage until my son gets stronger," Azen said, looking a bit disgruntled by Sayako's comments.

"There has been word that your old enemy has been gathering forces once more. What will you do?"

"Ian's gathering forces? Where?"

"I saw some half-human, half-monsters roaming the Southern borders of the territory."

"Okay, I'll ask if some hunters can investigate that area if they happen to pass by there."

"No. Send your son. Let him prove that he bears his father's strength and courage. Let this Ian know that he has no chance of winning, for a new generation has been born."

"...Or are you still stuck in your generation?"

"I can fight Ian alone. He has no control over monsters anymore, but I do. I can talk to them."

"But what about those hybrids that Ian has been making? Can you talk to those things too?"

Azen was silent.

"Trust your son, Azen. He has the training and the license. He now needs the experience."

"...Fine. I'll send him tomorrow."

"Good," Sayako nodded to Azen and turned then left.

Azen sighed, then entered his house. He sat down on a chair and mulled over the news that Sayako gave him. What would he do with Ian returning after 20 years of silence? Would he really risk his son's life to end Ian's rule once more?