Dante strode into the Draw Sword Guild headquarters, the air buzzing with the energy of hunters and their egos.
The glass building gleamed under the sun, a slick testament to Goto Ryuji's reign. The lobby was alive with hunters swapping stories or scanning mission boards, their chatter a constant hum.
Dante caught a few stares, some curious, some edged with envy. Being the son of an S-rank legend, made him a target, whether he cared or not.
He cut through the noise, heading down a quieter hall where the big shots had their spaces.
Yor's office door read Yor Silva, A-Rank Hunter in clean, no-nonsense lettering. He gave a quick knock and walked in, not bothering to wait.
Yor was behind her desk, ponytail tight but fraying at the edges, buried in a stack of papers.
She looked up, and her serious face cracked into a grin.
"Dante! What brings you here?" she asked, setting the papers aside.
He held up a container of food their mother had insisted he deliver. "Mom's orders. She says you're working too hard and need to eat properly."
Yor chuckled, "She's such a worrier. Thanks for bringing this."
As she took the food, her gaze shifted to his eyes, and she paused, her brow furrowing.
"Hold on… your eyes. They're different. Did you really awaken as an S-rank? "
Dante leaned against the desk with a casual smirk.
"Yep. Why, you don't believe me?"
"It's not that, but I thought Mom was joking around," she replied, studying him intently.
"And… I can't sense any energy from you. S-ranks usually radiate power, but you're like a blank slate, a civilian."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I can suppress my energy. Comes with the package."
Yor's eyes widened slightly.
"You can do that? That's… rare. Most hunters, even S-ranks, can't control their aura so perfectly, especially not right after awakening."
"What can I say?" Dante grinned. "I'm not most hunters."
She sighed, a mix of pride and exasperation in her tone. "Always so confident. Just don't let it go to your head."
"Speaking of which," he said, his tone shifting, "I cleared an A-rank dungeon on my way here. Unregistered one in the forest."
Yor's expression turned stern.
"You did what!? Dante, that's reckless! Some A-rank dungeons are dangerous even for seasoned S-ranks, let alone someone newly awakened with no experience."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, sis. It was easy. Took it down without breaking a sweat."
She frowned, unconvinced. "Still, you need to be careful. Power doesn't mean invincibility."
Dante flashed a playful grin. "Aw, you're worried about me. That's cute."
Yor rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Someone has to keep you from getting yourself killed."
"I know that S-Rank is strong, but do not let it get into your head, lest you fall hardly."
Her hands gripped the food container, knuckles white.
"I get it, I do. That hunger to prove yourself—it's in our blood. But promise me you'll watch yourself. You're strong, but you're not invincible."
Her voice wavered. "I can't lose you, too."
Their dad's shadow loomed unspoken. Dante's smirk softened, but he kept it light.
"Relax. I'm not checking out anytime soon."
Dante did not argue any longer as he knew Yor was a worrier like their mother and wouldn't stop till he agreed to be careful.
Their banter paused as Yor glanced at him thoughtfully.
"So, have you decided what you're going to do next? Which guild are you planning to join?"
Dante shrugged.
"Not sure yet. Still weighing my options."
"Well, don't take too long," she advised.
"Once word spreads about your rank, guilds will be fighting to recruit you."
He nodded, then shifted.
"What about Korea? Mom mentioned the trip."
Yor's smile turned wry.
"That's just you, Mikasa, and Mom. I'm stuck here—guild's got me tied up with some big operation."
Dante blinked. "You're not coming?"
"Nope," she said, shaking her head.
"Duty calls. You three are heading out tomorrow, though—tickets got bumped up to dodge a storm."
"Storm?" He tilted his head.
"Yeah, it's rolling in quick," she said.
"You'll skirt it if you leave on time."
"Guess it's just us then," he mused.
"Pretty much," Yor replied, her tone softening.
"Look out for them, alright? Although mom's strong enough, but you are the man of the house now. "
Dante nodded to that. Even without her telling him, he would look out for his family.
His feelings... the feelings he had towards his family and the chosen few were the only thing that did not turn him into an idiot with a God complex.
So, if anything, he would be protecting them as long as he lived.
"And don't do anything stupid over there."
He flashed a grin. "Can't promise that."
She groaned, but a laugh slipped out. "Just don't die, okay?"
"Deal," he said, a rare sincerity slipping through.
"You hold down the fort."
He turned to go, but at the door, he nearly collided with a woman storming in—tall, dark hair flowing like ink, eyes slicing into him.
Their stares clashed for a split second before she went away.
'Right, she was also part of the Draw Sword Guild. Kanae Tatawa, one of the top waifus the Solo leveling world had to offer.'
'Players went crazy for collecting her character in the Solo Leveling: Arise. And, now that I have seen her in person, I can understand why. She is smoking hot~'
'Haha, if not for that stuck-up Goto, I would have been wooed in the guild by her.'
Grinning, he went outside as the city swallowed him, his mind churning about everything that happened today.
Then he froze.
A billboard loomed—Ai Hoshino's face, her smile a gut punch.
Memories hit hard: her laugh, her touch, the way she'd once clung to him.
Then the fights, the distance, her fame eating them alive until he bailed. He'd thought he was over it, but with his power burning, the old ache flared.
"I guess I gotta make things right after coming back from Korea. Can't let her suffer due to my stupidity."
"Mom might get a bit angry at me for breaking my promise, but, I am already down on the harem route. So, why not?"
By the end of the line, there was a grin paste on his face.He then disappeared from the road and appeared in the midst of the sky as he flew towards his house, enjoying the experience of flying for the first time.
A smirk tugged at him as he thought about his aunt—a wild card from a ridiculous yet awesome Pornhwa—waiting in Korea.
Although he did not find anything different in this world's power system other than Solo leveling, characters from different fictions existed in this world.
'Hehe... This life's going to be fun.'
....................
A.N: So, guys I wrote this chapter on my mobile, still in the hospital for now.
I will be discharged today, so the promise still holds, all the advanced chapters will be released on my Ko-Fi within 24 hours.
Shower me with Powerstones to read more advanced chapters.
See ya soon~ Take Care.