As the red eclipse wanes, the hunt ends.

Survivors are extracted. Trophies are judged. Scars are cataloged into the Codex of Worth. One Elder is declared Ascendant for the cycle—their doctrine considered strongest for that month. The others offer blood in fealty, swearing to adjust their training methods accordingly.

The prey world is purged with orbital flame. Only the memory of the hunt remains.

There was once a hunt where no Elder returned victorious, and the planet swallowed the mothership whole. That world, lost in records, is now hunted eternally by ghost-clans seeking vengeance for the dishonor.

They call it “The Black Hunt”, and speak of it only in whispers.