In the afternoon at the Heart of the Unparalleled, everything seemed ordinary in Nota’s Heart, where a few hunters were gathered. That was—until the waters of the Unparalleled at the back began to churn slowly…

  As the waters of the Unparalleled started to grow violent, Se?kin, Damla, Alkan, and Atakan—who had been sitting inside Nota’s Heart—went outside. They ran toward the waters to understand what was happening.

  At that moment, Lady Okyanus, who happened to be passing by in her vehicle, noticed the situation, stopped at once, and hurried toward the waters. As her assistant followed behind, a few curious people trailed after them as well.

  The waters of the Unparalleled surged and began to heave wildly. Then a whistling sound rose, and the vortex flickered on and off. As the wind scattered in every direction, droplets soared toward the sky. A silhouette—fluttering like a blue fairy and indistinct from afar—seemed to command the water, while several others began to set the clouds dancing. What started as a calm dance soon turned into a reckless revelry and finally shifted from a threatening blue into grey.

  The silhouettes spun the water and clouds together at great speed, turning them into a storm. Cold drops and ominous thunder spread their gloom everywhere.

  After a few minutes, as the frenzied spectacle began to subside, the blue silhouettes flickered—two pairs of blue eyes blinking on and off.

  As the waters and the sky returned to their former state, Atakan, with his Deviant Yap??kan clinging to the back of his neck, said, “What was that just now? I didn’t understand anything.”

  When Yap??kan clung to him even tighter, he tried to push it away with both hands, struggling to free himself.

  Lady Okyanus turned to the hunters present with a worried expression. “I expect all hunters at the Administrators’ Building. There is an urgent meeting,” she said.

  As she turned to leave, the moment Se?kin opened his mouth to ask a question, she snapped—almost as if she had seen him already—“Save your questions for the meeting, Se?kin!”

  Se?kin remained where he was, bristling with frustration, while word of the meeting spread to all hunters.

  An hour later, all teams had gathered in the Administrators’ Building, waiting in the large hall at the entrance for an announcement.

  The impatient, tense waiting ended when the three administrators appeared at the hall doors.

  Standing between Mr Zafer and Mr Galip, Lady Okyanus stepped onto the white platform of the blue-glass hall, preparing to speak.

  She looked extremely tense and thoughtful. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Many of you witnessed what just happened. Those who did not have surely already learned of it from others.”

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  Dora, who stood aside waiting for answers and explanations, spoke with a strained, pointed tone. “We learned nothing, Lady Okyanus. I truly want to know what happened.”

  Addressing Dora and Onur in particular, Lady Okyanus said, “If you want me to translate what the waters and the sky just told us, then this is the situation!” Then, turning to all the hunters, she continued, “The Reborns—that is, Elzem Erk and Sonsuz Son—have made a hunt announcement.”

  At once, a murmur rose among the hunters. Lady Okyanus raised her voice to silence them and continued. “I understand your objections. You are wondering how it is possible for them to lead a hunt, and you do not even accept it. You may be right, in your own way—but the situation has long since ceased to be merely a hunt. Elzem and Sonsuz have been cursed in such a way that they cannot act within a hunting ground. That is why they are drawing the hunt away from the field into a region filled with uncertainty. How and in what form it will occur—I truly have no idea. But since they have announced the hunt, they must have planned everything.”

  Se?kin lunged forward. “Why are your hands so tied before them—tell us! What is it that we don’t know?” he shrieked.

  Mr Zafer asked pointedly, “How much have you truly deciphered the Unparalleled hunt, Se?kin?”

  Se?kin shot him an arrogant look. “What kind of question is that? I am already a hunter of the Unparalleled. And a very good one.”

  “That alone is not enough. In fact, by itself it means nothing,” said Mr Zafer calmly, yet with authority.

  Lady Okyanus added, “The Unparalleled hunt requires a trio, Se?kin. I am speaking of pure, true power—a pure trio capable of meeting the nature of the hunt. Do you have a trio team that includes you? Or have you formed such a team?” Without waiting for an answer, she addressed all the hunters. “There are trio candidates here right now who could win the hunt. But we must admit—they are not the strongest candidates. That is why Elzem and Sonsuz act with the might granted to them by the power they possess. What I ask of you is this: remain calm. Winning the hunt is still within your grasp, despite everything. But do not stand in their way. The reason I ask this of you is simple—apparently, none of you are their target at present.”

  Onur fixed his eyes on Lady Okyanus. “Should we leave our fate to their mercy?” he asked.

  “That is not what I mean, Onur,” she replied.

  “Then what do you mean?” Se?kin shrieked.

  With a dignified stance, Mr Zafer said, “Whether you like it or not, those two are exceedingly powerful—and prepared. What we ask of you is to survive. Only then can you learn the true reason behind the hunt they intend to carry out. Only then will you have a chance.”

  Damla muttered, “All of this is absurd.”

  Mr Galip said, “There are many things we are trying to keep under control. If you remain controlled as well, you will be exposed to less danger.”

  Damla grew angry. “Then when will this end? I don’t understand!” she continued to complain.

  Lady Okyanus answered in a dark voice, “By the time you understand some things, you may already be dead. Instead of seeking to understand, focus on fighting wisely.”

  All the hunters looked shaken. As they left the Administrators’ Building, Dora and Onur exchanged glances.

  “They may be candidates, but so are we,” Dora said. “If they have the strength to represent a trio, then so do we.”

  Onur tried to grasp her meaning. “What are you saying?”

  “They are not coming for the hunt.”

  “Then what are they coming for?”

  “I don’t know yet. But the hunt will open the door to something else—that much is clear,” Dora said thoughtfully.

  “How do you know?” Onur asked seriously.

  “From Lady Okyanus’s faith in them. A team she considers that powerful would not chase a hunt alone. Clearly, they are after something even she cannot handle—and she is hoping it will happen,” Dora said.

  Onur thought for a second. “Then we can solve this situation and move ahead,” he said.

  “Exactly,” Dora replied with conviction.

  As they looked at one another with determined eyes, Se?kin hurried past them.

  As day in the Heart of the Unparalleled turned toward evening, peace seemed to have drifted far away.