Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points & Events

• Ye Chen shares a story about a psychological endurance training he underwent at age 10, involving pulling out fingernails, under his teacher's guidance.
• Weimeng is shocked and appalled by the story but listens attentively.
• Ye Chen explains that this training helped him overcome fear and build resilience.
• Weimeng changes the topic to Ye Chen's new weapons, and they continue drinking.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: Shows maturity and resilience, sharing a traumatic yet formative experience from his past. He remains calm and collected while recounting the story.
• Weimeng: Initially curious, becomes shocked and horrified upon hearing about Ye Chen's training. Struggles to process the information and changes the topic to lighten the mood. Reveals he can't hold his liquor well, getting drunk after only three glasses of beer.

Significant Themes

• Resilience and mental toughness: Ye Chen's story illustrates his ability to endure and overcome extreme pain and fear, which has shaped his character.
• The impact of upbringing: Ye Chen's harsh training under his teacher has significantly influenced his personality and values.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Weimeng: They share a drink and engage in conversation, with Weimeng learning more about Ye Chen's past. Weimeng's shock and disbelief at Ye Chen's story highlight the stark contrast between their upbringings and experiences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A middle-aged man, later revealed to be an Auling Hunter, joins Ye Chen and Weimeng at their table in the Hive Bar.
• The stranger reveals he was once a student at Hunter Academy and recounts a violent incident from his past.
• He implies that Ye Chen is also capable of killing without hesitation, comparing them as similar people.
• Ye Chen tries to leave, but the stranger stops him and reveals that other Auling Hunters in the bar are watching them.
• The stranger leaves after expressing hope for their future meeting.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: Becomes increasingly wary and vigilant due to the stranger's unsettling behavior and words.
• The Stranger: Reveals a violent past and hints at a bloodthirsty nature, yet claims no intention to harm Ye Chen.

Significant Themes

• Violence and its normalization.
• The shared nature of Auling Hunters.
• The passage of time and change.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and The Stranger: The stranger provokes Ye Chen with his violent stories and insinuations, causing Ye Chen to become increasingly suspicious and alarmed.
• The Stranger and other Auling Hunters: The stranger implies that other Auling Hunters in the bar are watching Ye Chen, suggesting a shared understanding or code among them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An unknown man provokes Ye Chen at Hive Bar, revealing details about his past.
• Ye Chen and Weimeng return to Hunter's Peak, where they undergo strict security checks.
• The Class of 2020 graduates enter the final stage of study, with final exams and a new course called the Execution Class.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen becomes more vigilant and determined after the encounter with the unknown man.
• Weimeng shows signs of improvement in his studies and behavior.
• The graduating students show varying reactions to the announcement of the Execution Class, revealing their differing backgrounds and mentalities.

Significant Themes

• Ethics: The Execution Class is introduced to teach the students about ethics, suggesting that knowledge and skills alone are not enough to become Auling Hunters.
• Mental Preparation: The course emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and resilience in facing difficult situations.
• Differing Backgrounds: The students' diverse reactions to the Execution Class highlight the differences in their upbringings and experiences.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Weimeng continue to interact as roommates, with Ye Chen showing concern for Weimeng's well-being.
• The graduating students interact with Principal Dengduokumo, Instructor Clifo, and Instructor Kelei, demonstrating respect and unease regarding the Execution Class.
• The students' interactions with each other reveal their differing mindsets and preparations for the upcoming course.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The graduating class is introduced to the Execution Class, where they will execute prisoners as part of their training.
• Ye Chen and Oko are the first two students to perform the execution, demonstrating their composure and skill.
• The class is shocked by the brutal reality of the execution and the calm demeanor of their classmates.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: He shows no hesitation in executing the prisoner, revealing his experience and acceptance of violence. He also displays a sense of justice by insisting on knowing the prisoner's crimes before the execution.
• Oko: She proves her proficiency and confidence in handling firearms by executing her target from a distance without any sign of nervousness.

Significant Themes

• Violence and Brutality: The chapter emphasizes the harsh reality of the Auling Hunter Corps' work, contrasting the students' initial expectations with the brutal task they must perform.
• Acceptance of Violence: Ye Chen and Oko's calm demeanor during the executions suggests that they have accepted and grown accustomed to violence, raising questions about the moral implications of their actions.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Oko: Both students demonstrate their exceptional skills and composure during the executions, setting them apart from their classmates and potentially fostering a rivalry or camaraderie between them.
• Dengduokumo and Clifo: The principal and lead instructor work together to oversee the Execution Class, with Dengduokumo providing guidance and encouragement while Clifo handles the practical aspects of the training.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students of Class One, Class of 2020, are taught to execute prisoners as part of their graduation course, "Slaughter-Style Education."
• Each student must execute a prisoner to pass the lesson, demonstrating their ability to take a life without hesitation.
• The class ends with Principal Dengduokumo announcing that the lessons will continue the next day.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: Remains composed and unaffected by the executions, demonstrating his experience and indifference to killing.
• Oko: Shows no hesitation in executing a prisoner, revealing her background as an experienced killer.
• Firona: Struggles with the execution, showing her inexperience and moral conflict, but ultimately manages to carry it out.
• Erigat: Executes his prisoner with solemnity, experiencing the gravity of taking a life firsthand.
• Xiya: Shows signs of nervousness and discomfort during her execution, despite her usual calm demeanor.
• Weimeng: Struggles emotionally with his first kill, feeling miserable and conflicted.

Significant Themes

• Desensitization to Violence: The academy aims to train students to become numb to killing, viewing it as a necessary part of being a Hunter.
• Moral Ambiguity: The executions raise moral questions and force students to confront their own values and beliefs.
• Experience vs. Innocence: The contrast between students like Ye Chen and Oko, who have experience with killing, and those like Firona and Weimeng, who do not, is highlighted.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Oko: Oko shows friendliness toward Ye Chen, acknowledging him as a fellow experienced killer.
• Firona and Instructor Kelei: Firona seeks comfort from Kelei after her execution, highlighting the instructor's role in supporting students through the difficult process.
• Weimeng and Ye Chen: Weimeng expresses his emotional turmoil to Ye Chen, who remains unaffected, emphasizing the difference in their experiences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen shares his views on killing, distinguishing between prey based on danger, not nobility or condition.
• Execution Class continues with increasing difficulty: from pistols to daggers, from blindfolded to conscious prisoners.
• Students adapt and grow numb to killing over three weeks, vomiting less and performing better.
• The fourth week approaches, signaling the final graduation examination.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: Stands firm in his principles, showing no hesitation in killing even unarmed, pleading prisoners.
• Weimeng: Struggles initially but adapts over time, growing numb to killing.
• Other Students: Progress at varying paces, ultimately adapting and growing numb to killing.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation to Killing: Students learn to accept and grow accustomed to killing as a necessary part of being a hunter.
• Numbness: The emotional detachment and desensitization to violence and death.
• Principles vs. Emotions: Characters grapple with their personal beliefs and moral compasses in the face of harsh realities.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Weimeng: Weimeng seeks Ye Chen's advice on coping with killing, showing Ye Chen's influence on his peers.
• Students and Prisoners: Interactions range from fear and hesitation to cold efficiency as students adapt to their role as executors.
• Students among Themselves: Competition and mutual support as they strive to pass the Execution Class and prepare for graduation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students spend their final weekend preparing for the graduation assessment.
• Ye Chen and Weimeng receive their weapons and prepare for the assessment.
• Kuize, the commander of the Auling Hunter Corps, attends the assessment.
• The graduation assessment begins, with students divided into groups and transported to different locations in Hunter's Forest.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen remains calm and focused, appreciating the Academy's care for his weapons.
• Weimeng shows his resourcefulness and bargaining skills in acquiring his weapons.
• Kuize demonstrates his understanding and leadership, boosting the students' confidence with his presence and words.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and readiness for challenges.
• Leadership and its impact on morale.
• The importance of proper equipment and resources.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Weimeng interact, with Ye Chen admiring Weimeng's weapons and Weimeng sharing his bargaining success.
• Kuize interacts with the students, easing their nerves and boosting their confidence.
• Dengduokumo interacts with Kuize and the students, explaining the graduation assessment's content and rules.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students are briefed on the graduation assessment rules and dangers in Hunter's Forest.
• Students are assigned to solo or multi-person groups for the assessment.
• Oko and Ye Chen are among the first to enter Hunter's Forest via teleportation gates.
• Ye Chen confirms the direction of Hunter's Peak and sets off at a cautious pace.
• Captain Kuize reveals that an Apex Hunter, Sophie Lani, will participate in the assessment.

Character Developments

• Oko shows excitement and confidence before entering the forest.
• Ye Chen demonstrates caution and strategic thinking, prioritizing survival and rationing strength.
• Dengduokumo shows concern and tension upon learning about Sophie Lani's involvement.
• Kuize maintains a calm and composed demeanor, assuring Dengduokumo that Sophie Lani will hold back.

Significant Themes

• Survival and caution in a dangerous environment.
• The importance of mental preparation and relaxation, as seen in Sophie Lani's decision to participate in the assessment.
• The role of authority figures (Kuize and Dengduokumo) in ensuring the safety and fairness of the assessment.

Character Interactions

• Oko waves goodbye to Ye Chen before entering the forest.
• Weimeng wishes Ye Chen good luck before he enters the forest.
• Dengduokumo and Kuize discuss the assessment, with Dengduokumo expressing concern and Kuize assuring him.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen estimates Hunter's Peak is around 200 kilometers away, taking at least three days to reach through the Hunter's Forest.
• He encounters a Swordtail Tiger and a Sunset Lizard by a stream, both starving and aggressive.
• An Azure-Furred Mountain Boar joins the fray, targeting Ye Chen and the other beasts.
• Ye Chen decides to hunt the Azure-Furred Mountain Boar for its delicious meat.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen demonstrates his calm and strategic thinking, assessing each beast's threat level and value before deciding to engage.
• He shows adaptability in creating "Blood Bullets" for his new hand-cannon revolver.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest in the jungle environment.
• The value and utility of labyrinth creatures.
• Ye Chen's resourcefulness and adaptability.

Character Interactions

• The Swordtail Tiger, Sunset Lizard, and Azure-Furred Mountain Boar interact aggressively, each targeting the others and Ye Chen.
• Ye Chen observes and strategizes, deciding when to engage and which beast to target.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three Labyrinth beasts (Sunset Lizard, Swordtail Tiger, Azure-Furred Mountain Boar) fight in Hunter's Forest.
• Ye Chen observes and decides to join forces with the Swordtail Tiger against the Azure-Furred Mountain Boar.
• Ye Chen uses an Auling bullet to attack the boar's face but fails to penetrate its tough hide.
• The Sunset Lizard ambushes Ye Chen, but he counterattacks and kills it with his Crescent Arc Blade.
• The Azure-Furred Mountain Boar charges at Ye Chen, who uses Auling Power to slide and attacks the boar's belly, killing it.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen demonstrates his combat skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability in battle.
• The Azure-Furred Mountain Boar shows exceptional strength and toughness.
• The Sunset Lizard displays cunning and stealth but lacks combat prowess.

Significant Themes

• Strength and adaptability in combat.
• The importance of understanding an enemy's weakness.
• The danger of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen temporarily allies with the Swordtail Tiger against the Azure-Furred Mountain Boar.
• The Sunset Lizard attempts to ambush Ye Chen but fails.
• Ye Chen and the Azure-Furred Mountain Boar engage in a fierce, close-quarters battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen encounters a Swordtail Tiger and an Azure-Furred Mountain Boar in Hunter's Forest.
• He kills both monsters using his new weapons, the Crescent Arc Blade and the hand-cannon revolver.
• Ye Chen collects the spoils of victory, harvesting the Azure-Furred Mountain Boar's hide and meat.
• He spends the night by the stream, cooking the boar meat and setting up a bonfire for protection.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen demonstrates significant growth in his strength and skills after three months of training at the academy.
• He shows adaptability and resourcefulness in handling various situations in the forest.

Significant Themes

• Survival and adaptation in a harsh environment.
• The thrill of combat and the satisfaction of victory.
• The value of perseverance and continuous growth.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen interacts with the two monsters, showcasing his combat prowess and strategic thinking.
• There are no human interactions in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen spends his first night in Hunter's Forest, creating a perimeter alarm and a makeshift shelter.
• He encounters and defeats numerous Labyrinth monsters during his journey north, improving his hunting skills.
• On the second night, an unknown shadow creature attacks Ye Chen's camp, but he remains vigilant and defeats it using a dummy and his blade skills.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen demonstrates his adaptability and resourcefulness by creating useful tools from available materials.
• He shows exceptional combat skills and strategic thinking by defeating various monsters and outsmarting the shadow creature.

Significant Themes

• Survival and adaptability in a harsh environment.
• The importance of vigilance and preparedness in the face of unknown threats.
• The use of strategy and deception in combat.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen interacts with various Labyrinth monsters, demonstrating his hunting skills and ability to assess threats.
• He encounters an unknown enemy, the shadow creature, showcasing his caution and resourcefulness in dealing with mysterious threats.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen is attacked twice by a mysterious shadow figure, once at night and once in the morning.
• The attacks seem playful rather than deadly, testing Ye Chen's reactions and agility.
• Ye Chen is launched high into the air and crashes to the ground, but escapes serious injury.
• He encounters a massive shadow slope that launches him a hundred meters into the sky.
• He sees other students being similarly launched into the air.
• A black shadow envelops Ye Chen, forming a pitch-black sphere around him.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen remains calm and vigilant throughout the attacks, demonstrating his resilience and adaptability.
• He speculates about the attacker's identity and motives but keeps an open mind.
• His irritation grows with each attack, showing his human side despite his composure.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability: Ye Chen must quickly adapt to unexpected and dangerous situations.
• Resilience: He endures physical and mental strain without giving up.
• Speculation and Uncertainty: The attacker's identity and motives remain unclear, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the Hunter's Forest examination.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen interacts with the mysterious attacker indirectly through the shadow attacks.
• He observes other students being attacked, showing a sense of camaraderie despite the competitive nature of the examination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen is trapped inside a black shadow sphere for three hours before escaping.
• He returns to Hunter Academy and learns he placed second in the graduation assessment, behind Oko.
• Sophie Lani, a mysterious woman, toys with the students during the assessment using a shadow.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen demonstrates patience and strategic thinking by waiting out the shadow's trap.
• Sophie Lani is introduced as a powerful, gloomy, and sadistic character who enjoys playing with the students.

Significant Themes

• Patience and strategic thinking as valuable traits.
• The power and cruelty of the unknown, represented by Sophie Lani and the shadow.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen interacts with academy staff upon his return.
• Sophie Lani interacts with Kuize and Dengduokumo, expressing her enjoyment in toying with the students and her interest in Ye Chen.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen and Weimeng, roommates, reunite after the graduation assessment. Weimeng returns exhausted, while Ye Chen has already returned, indicating his efficiency.
• The graduation ceremony is held at the academy's back gate. All graduates gather, and the principal, instructors, and the Auling Hunter Corps' commander, Kuize, are present.
• The graduates are to be teleported to the Central Church headquarters in Holy Light City for the hunter's baptism ceremony, marking their official entry into the Auling Hunter Corps.
• Ye Chen and his classmates are transported through a Holy Light Gate, arriving at a grand, awe-inspiring scene: a flower-blooming avenue, a magnificent cathedral, and a holy light spire reaching into the sky.

Character Developments

• Weimeng expresses his excitement about graduating and his desire to earn money to treat his family's illnesses, showing his determination and responsibility.
• Ye Chen remains calm and composed, looking forward to officially becoming an Auling Hunter.

Significant Themes

• Achievement and Success: The graduates' successful completion of the assessment reflects their hard work and dedication, marking their transition into professional hunters.
• New Beginnings: The ceremony symbolizes the end of their academic life and the start of their careers as Auling Hunters.

Character Interactions

• Weimeng and Ye Chen's reunion highlights their contrasting personalities and approaches to the assessment.
• The interactions between the graduates, instructors, and Kuize emphasize the passing of the torch from mentors to mentees, signifying the start of a new chapter in their lives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen and his classmates arrive at Holy Light City, the provincial capital of the Holy Light Pure Land.
• The city is described as half-suspended in the sky and half-resting on the earth, powered by both divine force and technology.
• The group enters a grand church for the baptismal rite, where they encounter the Supreme Knight, Yamentin, and the Pope, Yosewei.
• The Pope initiates the baptismal rite by touching Oko's hand, causing a ball of white light to appear.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen shows admiration and reverence for the Pope, Yosewei.
• Oko, as the class representative, leads her classmates in the baptismal rite.

Significant Themes

• The fusion of theology and science in Holy Light City.
• The awe and respect for the Pope, Yosewei, as a spiritual leader and the oldest living being in the Holy Light Pure Land.

Character Interactions

• Kuize, the Hunter Corps commander, shows respect and deference to the Pope by kneeling before him.
• The students follow the ritual procedure taught by the Hunter Academy, half-kneeling before the Pope.
• Oko and the Pope interact during the baptismal rite, with the Pope touching Oko's hand to initiate the process.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pope Yosewei performs the Hunter's Baptism on the Class of 2020 graduates, marking them with the Noble Binding Tattoo.
• Ye Chen receives the baptism and feels the power of Holy Light, which is unlike Auling Power.
• A Holy Light Gate is opened for the graduates to return to Hunter's Peak.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen: Feels the power of Holy Light and receives his Noble Binding Tattoo, becoming an official Auling Hunter.
• Pope Yosewei: Demonstrates his immense power and compassion, emphasizing the importance of the Auling Hunters' role in protecting the Holy Light Pure Land.

Significant Themes

• The power of Holy Light and its distinction from Auling Power.
• The responsibility of Auling Hunters in protecting the Holy Light Pure Land from the Abyss race.
• The importance of holding fast to humanity and finding salvation.

Character Interactions

• Ye Chen and Pope Yosewei: Ye Chen receives his baptism from Pope Yosewei, who notices him briefly.
• Kuize and Yamentin: Kuize is stopped by Yamentin, who wishes to discuss something with him privately. Kuize instructs his juniors to return to Hunter's Peak first.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kuize, the leader of the Auling Hunter Corps, visits the Central Church to discuss the custody of the 'Apocalypse' and 'divine artifacts.'
• Knight Yamentin, guardian of the Central Church, argues with Kuize about the security of the artifacts.
• Pope Yosewei intervenes, trusting Kuize to keep the artifacts safe.
• Yosewei asks Kuize about the preparations for the upcoming holy war expedition.
• Kuize assures the Pope that the expedition is on track and that he will dispatch hunters to find the remaining 'divine artifacts.'

Character Developments

• Kuize demonstrates his calm and composed demeanor under pressure, maintaining his composure even when faced with Yamentin's anger.
• Yamentin shows his dedication to the Central Church and his concern about the 'Apocalypse' and 'divine artifacts.'
• Pope Yosewei displays his leadership and trust in Kuize, while also showing his determination to eradicate the Abyss and Havijordan.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Responsibility: The Pope trusts Kuize to keep the artifacts safe, highlighting the importance of trust and responsibility in their roles.
• Safety and Security: The argument between Kuize and Yamentin revolves around the safety and security of the 'Apocalypse' and 'divine artifacts.'
• Preparation and Readiness: The discussion about the holy war expedition emphasizes the importance of preparation and readiness for the future.

Character Interactions

• Kuize and Yamentin: Their interaction shows a tense power dynamic, with Yamentin trying to assert his authority and Kuize maintaining his composure and resolve.
• Kuize and Pope Yosewei: Their interaction shows mutual respect and trust, with the Pope relying on Kuize's capabilities and Kuize assuring the Pope of his dedication.
• Ye Chen and the Statue: Ye Chen's interaction with the statue of the First Hunter, Serfoshe, hints at his growing interest and connection to the Auling Hunters' history and legacy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen and other new hunters gather at Hunter Square, where the hunter corps commander, Kuize, arrives through a Holy Light Gate.
• Kuize delivers a speech emphasizing the importance of strength, Auling Power, and evolution in the hunters' world.
• He explains that the labyrinth's deeper realms can only be sensed by entering and adapting to it, and that evolution is the ultimate goal of all hunters.
• Kuize announces that the new hunters are now the 2020th class of active hunters and will be led to their residential district to receive their issued items.

Character Developments

• Kuize is introduced as the wise and experienced commander of the Auling Hunters, who values strength and evolution above all else.
• Ye Chen shows respect and understanding towards Kuize's words, indicating his maturity and seriousness as a new hunter.

Significant Themes

• Strength: Kuize emphasizes the importance of strength in the hunters' world, both physical and mental, and in the form of Auling Power.
• Evolution: The concept of evolution is introduced as the ultimate goal of all hunters, tied to their Auling Power and exploration of the labyrinth's deeper realms.
• Pursuit of Power: Kuize warns that all hunters will ultimately walk the road of pursuing power and seeking evolution, regardless of their original intentions.

Character Interactions

• Kuize interacts with the new hunters by delivering a speech that both inspires and warns them about their new roles as Auling Hunters.
• Ye Chen and Kuize share a brief moment of eye contact and a respectful farewell as Ye Chen leaves Hunter Square.
• Oko and Weimeng discuss the code names they might receive from the Auling Hunter Corps, showing their excitement and anticipation for their new roles.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Chen and his colleagues arrive at Hunter's Peak and are assigned accommodations.
• Ye Chen is given an apartment at Wind Bamboo Apartments, a high-grade complex.
• He receives an employment gift pack from the hunting group, containing a uniform, equipment, gold coins, and an invitation to the Relic Hall.

Character Developments

• Ye Chen is shown to be impressed by his new apartment and appreciative of the benefits given to him as a new hunter.

Significant Themes

• The hunting group's care for and investment in promising new hunters.
• The importance of Labyrinth Relics for hunters' development and survival.

Character Interactions

• None in this chapter; Ye Chen interacts with the support staff but no named characters.