Fallon Bachika.
A woman who, at least according to public records, appeared out of nowhere one day and took the hunter's guild by storm.
A sensational talent for combat, good mind for tactics and the ability to seemingly never be affected by a single thing around her.
In just a few short years, she took the position of leader.
She was seemingly always alone, never hunting in a group.
One day, strange reports came in.
"A swordsman who can see into the future, huh?"
"Yes. We're getting reports from multiple locations about a swordsman travelling around and getting into fights. According to the ones he fights, he seems to know their moves before they even get a chance to make."
"Hmm… interesting. In that case, I'm off."
"Wait, can't you leave investigating this to someone else?"
"Investigating something that abnormal is a part of our work too, right? So it's fine."
Fallon departed for the region where the swordsman had been sighted most recently. After some searching, she finally found what she was looking for.
The blond man walked with his face turned down, trying to cover his face. He stopped, feeling the presence in front of him.
"So are you the swordsman who can see the future?" She asked him.
There was no answer.
She waited for a few seconds, but he didn't respond. The warrior remained completely stationary.
Fallon waited for a few more seconds before losing her patience and checking his thoughts.
"Why is another one here? I don't want to deal with this. Why do people keep coming out of nowhere to challenge me? This is all such a pain. What did I even do to deserve this? I don't do anything to any of you! I'm just walking past you! What do you mean with all the "fighting spirit" crap!? I don't get it! Should I just run? Ah, no, I can't, my legs have already frozen up!"
"Oh, so that's how he is." Fallon thought.
She had a change of plans.
"I'm not here to fight you."
The swordsman instantly relaxed.
"Though, I do need to test you."
Before he could tense up again, she closed the distance between them instantly. She swung her carving knife past his shoulder. A flash of blue activated before she hit, but nothing happened.
The swordsman swung at her, she blocked the slash with her knife before going for another slash, this time aimed at his shoulder.
The swordsman dodged around the attack and stabbed at her, but it didn't affect her. He retreated quickly.
She scanned his thoughts again.
"Weren't you supposed to stop attacking? Why did you still attack? I don't get it! I don't even wanna fight people…"
"Ok, that's enough." Fallon spoke again "So then, question, why didn't you dodge the first strike?"
"Because it wasn't going to hit, obviously." He thought back.
"I see." She continued talking "Then the next question. What do you seek revenge on?"
"Huh? What kinda question is that? Wait, did I even answer the first one? Whatever, focus. I seek revenge on monsters. If I can see into the future, then I won't keep being so scared that I can't do anything."
"Do you want to join the hunter's guild?"
The swordsman finally spoke.
"Why?"
"Let me explain things. You're what we call a warrior. People with a noticeable battle aura, that blue thing. Your ability to see into the future is a manifestation of that spirit. I'm the same way, though my manifestation's a bit different. The manifestation changes depending on the warrior, so this is my first time seeing something like that. Ah, I should correct myself. I say we, but as far as I'm aware I'm the only warrior currently working for the guild. So, we need more allies. That's why I'm inviting you."
He processed this information, only coming up with a single question.
"If I join, will people stop starting fights with me?"
Fallon decided it'd be best to lie.
"Yeah, definitely."
"Then, sure."
"Oh yeah, we haven't gone over names yet. I'm Fallon Bachika. The leader of the guild. And you are?"
"...Lion Hart. Wandering swordsman."
"What kind of protagonist name is that?" Fallon thought.
The Hunter's Guild gained its second warrior.
A short while later, Fallon found herself being followed.
"So? Who are you?"
"You noticed me?" The man with glasses answered as he stepped out of hiding.
"Oh, no, of course I didn't, that's why I called you out and all. Really though, you've gotta try a little harder if you wanna not get noticed."
"My apologies, sneaking around isn't really my thing. I might as well be upfront. I'm Roy Tanner. For whatever reason, I have the ability to instantly understand anything about a target. Their height, weaknesses, strengths and weaknesses, that sorta stuff. So, I figured it'd be fun to measure someone like you, Fallon Bachika. I mean, being the leader of the guild is one thing, somehow convincing that fearsome clairvoyant swordsman to work under you is another."
"Oh, so that's how people interpreted it." She thought.
"So anyways, just let me scan you for a moment."
Blue appeared.
The man's eyes widened.
"So you're one of us, too." Fallon observed. "Are you interested in becoming a hunter?"
"Well, I never was before, but after seeing that… I'm starting to change my mind."
She gave him the explanation of how warriors worked.
"So, was that clairvoyant swordsman a warrior too?"
"Yeah. Reading actions before they happen is his manifestation. I was planning to keep mine a secret until you actually joined, but I think it's too late for that now."
"No need to worry. There's no way I don't plan to work under you."
"One question first."
"What?"
"What do you seek revenge on?"
"My own lack of understanding."
"Hmm. That's not exactly ideal, but just direct your power at monsters and we'll be good."
The number of warriors increased again.
A short while, there were more reports. A man with muscles like iron, going around fighting anything that looked strong.
Once again, Fallon went to investigate, bringing the other warriors with her this time.
They found him resting under a tree.
"Hmm?" He made a noise upon noticing them "Do you three want to fight too? My muscles are unbreakable, just letting you know."
"Yeah. That's exactly why we're here." Fallon answered. She looked over to Roy.
He analysed him. The muscular man jumped back when he saw the blue, but the rest paid no attention to him.
"Yep." Roy answered "He's not normal. No question about it. He must be another warrior."
"Alright then…" Fallon turned her attention back to the muscular man "Wanna join the hunter's guild?"
"Hunting monsters, huh? Well that could be a good workout, but it doesn't interest me much. The only way that I, Muskular Musuiloso, will start working for someone is if they can beat me in a fight."
"Got it-" Fallon said as she stepped forwards, before being cut off by Musk continuing.
"You there, blondie. I feel like I've heard about you before… Aren't you that swordsman that can see the future? Now that'd make for an interesting fight. My muscles versus your… future sight shit."
"Why does this always happen?" Lion thought.
Fallon felt slightly annoyed about getting brushed aside, but decided to just roll with it.
"You heard him, Lion. Get to it."
"Every single time." He continued to think as he stepped forwards.
"Let's begin, sword shrimp!"
Musk threw a punch. Lion dodged around with ease, the attack too slow for him. A kick was also thrown, but this failed to reach him.
The giant continued attacking wildly, while the swordsman continued dodging gracefully. One of Musk's punches connected with a tree, snapping it in half instantly.
After a minute, Musk came to a stop.
"What's wrong!? Why haven't you attacked!? All you're doing is dodging! Take this seriously!"
Fallon read Lion's thoughts for a moment.
"Of course I can't fight back! Your punches can split trees in half, the thought of one hitting me is way too scary! Ahh, I'm done with this, I'm done with everything! I wanna go home! Why do I have to always do this, I'm sick of this, it's scary!"
Fallon decided to cover for him.
"My subordinate appears to have lost interest in fighting with you." She explained.
"You stuck up-"
"Don't interrupt when I'm not done speaking. In his place, how about I take you on?"
"Sure thing."
Fallon stepped forwards. Musk threw another punch. She tried to block.
She was technically successful, but that didn't stop it from knocking her backwards, crashing through the trees.
"Ok, I think I get why Lion was so scared now." She thought as she picked herself up "In that case, I'll just have to start taking things seriously."
Second gear.
Her movement speed increased, allowing her to get near him before he could react.
Double force.
With increased strength, she punched his face.
"That reinforcement's tough… this won't be easy if I just use my hands."
Musk threw a punch, being easily dodged. Fallon struck back, before dodging some more. Her dodging ability wasn't as good as Lion, so after a few attacks she found herself about to get it.
Untouchable.
Defying logic, she pulled herself out of the way of the punch.
Musk stared in confusion, having no idea what he just saw.
"All right, I'm getting sick of this. Let's just go all out."
Exceed.
Her power increased. Using all the techniques from before, she finished the fight in about five seconds.
Musk stared up at the sky, not moving.
The other three waited, trying to see how he'd respond. Fallon was slightly worried he'd call all those formations she used cheating, so they'd just go back to where they started.
He finally lept up.
"Those techniques were cool as hell! We've both got the blue stuff, right? How do you do that!?"
"Glad you liked them. I'd be willing to explain, but one condition first. You have to start working under me."
"Sure." He replied with even less thought than normal.
After getting over at shock at how easy that was, she gave the same explanation she'd given to the other two.
He responded without much surprise, leading Fallon to suspect he wasn't actually learning in the slightest, but as long as got the gist it was probably fine.
"Wait, a final question before you can join."
"Go on."
"What do you seek revenge on?"
Lion and Roy stared in silence as they both realised she used the line on any warrior she met.
"Weakness. The very concept of it. If other people are weak I don't care much, but the idea of it being associated with me is disgusting."
"In that case, your training from now on consists of fighting monsters exclusively."
"That's fine. I'll destroy however many monsters need destroying until I'm strong enough to challenge you."
Fallon's only response was a grin.
"If it'll make you work harder, you're free to try to beat the shit out of me any time you want."
So, after some false bravado on their leader's part, the number of warriors increased again.