The Skills Perfector

Jay stepped into the East Ridge Café, the scent of roasted coffee beans and baked pastries drifting through the air. It was quieter than he expected—just a few couples seated at scattered tables, quiet music playing in the background. His eyes scanned the room, looking for that familiar mop of unruly dark hair.

Nathan wasn't there.

Jay frowned and made his way to a small table in the corner, slipping into a chair and pulling out his phone. He sent a quick message:

[Hey. I'm here. Where are you?]

A moment later, his phone vibrated with a reply:

[Tell the waiter V55.]

Jay raised an eyebrow.

V55? Was this some kind of password?

He stood up and walked toward the nearest server—a young man in a crisp white shirt and black apron wiping down the counter. Just before Jay could speak, a familiar voice beside him beat him to it.

"V55," said the girl he had walked with. She was just as composed as earlier, her eyes scanning the café like a soldier entering enemy territory.

Jay blinked, surprised. "Wait—you too?"

The waiter looked at both of them without a word and then nodded slowly. He motioned toward a door near the back, almost blending into the wall. "Through there. Just knock twice and enter."

Jay and the girl exchanged a glance.

As they walked side by side toward the door, Jay couldn't resist asking, "So… you're part of Infinity too?"

She gave a small, amused hum. "Seems so. Didn't expect you to be one of them either."

Jay chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, surprise goes both ways."

They stopped in front of the door. Up close, Jay noticed a barely visible scanner next to the handle and a faint hum from behind the wall—there was definitely something hidden back there.

He reached for the handle but paused, looking toward the girl with a smile. "After you."

She nodded coolly and stepped forward. Jay knocked twice. A faint click followed, and the door opened with a soft hiss, like an airlock releasing pressure.

Inside was not at all what Jay expected.

Gone were the warm lights and wooden decor of the café. This room was sleek, metallic, and surprisingly spacious. Neon-blue lights traced along the walls, and in the center was a long, glossy black table surrounded by high-backed chairs.

A holographic screen hovered above the table, currently projecting a rotating 3D map of the city. Seated around it were four people—three strangers and one familiar face.

"Nathan," Jay muttered, eyes locking onto his best friend.

Nathan stood with a grin and spread his arms. "Welcome to the real meeting, my friends."

The girl beside Jay crossed her arms. "You could've just sent a normal address, you know."

Nathan laughed. "Where's the fun in that? Infinity isn't a normal group."

Jay stepped fully into the room, feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. The three other members looked up. One was a muscular guy in a red jacket, one wore a lab coat for some reason, and the last was a short girl with twin blades strapped to her back.

Jay didn't know what Infinity was becoming… but he had a feeling things were about to get much more serious.

Jay and the girl stepped through the door and entered the hidden chamber behind the café. The atmosphere inside was charged with something invisible—tension, perhaps, or anticipation. It was cold, with the humming of high-tech equipment providing an eerie background noise. The smooth black table gleamed under the neon-blue lighting as if welcoming the next phase of something much bigger than any of them.

Nathan waved them in. "Come on, we're just getting started."

The two took their seats, and for a moment, there was silence—six individuals sitting around a table, their faces unfamiliar, but their presence heavy with potential.

Nathan broke the silence. He stood up, arms crossed over his chest, and nodded to the group. "Let's make this official. Since we're all gathered, we'll begin with introductions. I'll go first."

He glanced around the table. "I'm Nathan. I awakened six months ago, and my power is Shadow Control." A subtle ripple of darkness danced along his fingertips for a moment before disappearing. "I co-founded Infinity with Jay."

Jay followed his cue. "Jay Orlen. I awakened recently. My power is Weapon Mastery."

He left out the system, of course. Nobody needed to know about that—especially not this early. Besides, his power was impressive enough on its own.

The girl beside him spoke next.

"Flora Ezar." Her voice was calm, composed, and almost emotionless. "My ability is Ice Manipulation."

Jay turned slightly, eyes widening a little. So that explains the cold aura. He nodded in acknowledgment, and Flora returned it with the barest hint of a smile.

The muscular man in the red jacket leaned forward next. His arms were thick as tree trunks, and his voice matched his build—deep and confident.

"Bergil Flever. I've got two abilities: Raw Strength and Physical Enhancement. You can say I'm the team's bulldozer." He smirked.

Jay raised a brow. Dual abilities? That was rare. Most Awakened only had one. The guy must've gotten lucky or gone through something extreme to earn that kind of advantage.

Next was the man in the lab coat. He didn't even look like a fighter.

"Alvin Corad," he said. "I'm an alchemist."

Bergil blinked. "A what now?"

Alvin smiled, adjusting his glasses. "An alchemist. My skill allows me to synthesize and modify materials into potions, explosives, buffs—whatever the team might need. I don't fight with my fists, but I guarantee I'll keep you all alive and enhanced."

Jay nodded. Support class. That'll come in handy.

Finally, the shortest person at the table spoke. Her red eyes burned with wild energy, and her voice was surprisingly sharp.

"Dera Newbell. I'm a berserker."

She cracked her knuckles. "The more I fight, the stronger I get. That's all you need to know."

Jay leaned back, letting the names and powers sink in. Shadow, Ice, Strength, Alchemy, Berserk, and Weapons... Not a bad lineup.

Nathan clapped his hands once. "Now that everyone knows each other, let's get to why we're here."

He activated the holographic map above the table, and the projection zoomed into a massive structure in the heart of the city: a towering complex of white stone and metal, surrounded by high walls and advanced security.

"The Hunter Academy," Nathan said.

Jay stiffened.

"This academy opens its gates to the public in three weeks," Nathan continued. "Only the strongest get in. And once you're inside, you get access to classified information, training resources, and mission contracts from the government. It's a straight path to the top of the hunting world."

Bergil grinned. "Finally, some real action."

Nathan's expression turned serious. "This group—Infinity—was created with one goal: to make sure every one of us gets into that academy. Not just gets in, but dominates. We're going to be the future of hunters in this city."

He looked at each person in the room, locking eyes one by one.

"If we stick together, support each other, and train smart, we can become the strongest hunter group this city has ever seen."

A long silence followed his declaration.

Then Flora leaned back, arms crossed. "Fine by me."

Bergil gave a thumbs-up. "Count me in."

Alvin adjusted his glasses. "I'll do my part."

Dera smirked. "Sounds like fun."

Jay didn't speak right away.

He stared at the holographic academy. If what Nathan said was true… this was the perfect environment to grow stronger, to evolve. And if he had any chance of mastering his system, it was there.

Jay nodded. "Let's do it."

Nathan grinned.

Infinity had officially begun.