Baek Yoonho stood frozen, his muscular frame rigid with disbelief as he saw the gate close, as he understood—Kim Chul, his prized A-rank prodigy, was dead.
None of the A-rank hunters made it alive.
His golden eyes narrowed, a mix of shock and questions swirling within them, as he shifted his gaze toward Sung Soo-Yeon.
'She must know something. Having two S-rank hunters coming for her is bound to vouch for that!'
She stood nearby, her elegant form radiating a quiet, unshakable calm, her dark hair faintly shimmering in the dim light spilling from the gate.
Beside her was Song Yi, the young wannabe hunter, who just got a reality check about how hunters actually operate.
Yoonho opened his mouth, a sharp demand for an explanation forming, when Dante's intense stare sliced through the moment—a wordless command that halted him mid-breath.
Unfazed, Soo-Yeon turned to leave, her movements graceful yet purposeful, and Song Yi followed close behind.
As they departed, Dante peeled away to trail them, his relaxed pace and faint, mischievous grin contrasting sharply with the heavy tension lingering in the air.
Soo Yeon and Song Yi reached the parking area, and as they moved towards their van, Soo Yeon, summoned her daggers and turned back.
"Come out," Soo Yeon called, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade, cold and unwavering.
"With your energy signature, you aren't exactly hiding yourself."
Song Yu was confused when she heard Soo Yeon say this, but she did not utter anything as she had just seen her skills in the dungeon.
Soo Yeon had cleared the A-rank dungeon; a hunter of that level wouldn't just hallucinate.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, a low chuckle rolled out from the shadows, casual and unbothered. Dante stepped into view.
His dark jacket hung open, and a faint, mischievous grin played across his lips, his eyes glinting with amusement as they met Soo Yeon's unflinching stare.
"Well, well," he said, spreading his hands as if conceding a point.
"You caught me, but it's not like I was trying to hide at all." His tone was light, teasing, but there was an edge to it—a spark of something daring her to react.
He stopped a few paces away, tilting his head slightly. "But hey, can't blame a guy for wanting to make sure two lovely ladies get to their van safely, right?"
Soo-Yeon did not care about his playfulness at all as her voice sliced through, sharp and controlled. "If you've got something to say, say it. I don't have time for games."
Dante stopped a few paces away, tilting his head as if sizing her up. His grin widened, a spark of mischief dancing in his eyes.
"Oh, I think you've got plenty of time, Hunter Sung. Especially for what's coming next."
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion tightening her grip on her weapons. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged, casual as ever, but his words carried weight. "Just that you're good at surviving the unexpected. Like that gate back there—nasty one, wasn't it? Most wouldn't have walked out. But you? You didn't even got a scratch."
Soo-Yeon's expression didn't shift, though her mind churned. "Anyone with decent skills could've handled it. Stop wasting my time."
She did not hide the fact that it was her who cleared it.
Dante chuckled, a low, teasing sound. "Sure, sure. But I've got plenty to say, Hunter Sung. Starting with that little system of yours. The one pumping power into your veins like steroids, leveling you up faster than a cheat code in a busted game. Pretty slick, huh?"
For a split second, Soo-Yeon's breath hitched, her calm facade faltering.
Song Yi was confused hearing this as Dante pressed on, his tone light yet pointed.
"Funny how that works, huh? You're climbing the ranks faster than anyone's got a right to, and yet here you are, still playing the lone wolf. Or maybe it's the Shadow Queen now?"
Soo-Yeon stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
Her fingers tightened around her daggers, her knuckles whitening. "How the hell do you know about that?" she demanded, her tone sharp enough to draw blood.
Dante didn't flinch, just met her gaze with that infuriating grin. "Let's just say I've got a front-row seat to the story. And trust me, it's about to get good."
"But let me tell you this; that system's no accident—it's a leash, and you're wearing it. Every quest, every kill, every jump in strength? It's tracking you, shaping you. And it's not some random glitch in the universe. Something—or rather someone—built it for you."
Soo-Yeon's breath caught, but she kept her face hard. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Dante took a step closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "It means you're caught in a web bigger than you can imagine."
"Ever hear of the Monarchs? Old, nasty bastards who think the world's their playground. They've got their claws in everything—monsters, hunters, chaos."
"And you? You're not just another hunter to them. You're a pawn one of them have hand-picked."
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion warring with curiosity. "A pawn? Monarchs? What's that?"
Dante's grin expanded. "Well, I won't give you the answer to that just yet. But, I will give you another term to raise your curiousness, Rulers. They are the ones who created the dungeons."
"Just like you are a pawn for a Monarch, your father too is entangled in this mess."
Her eyes narrowed, a spark flaring. "My father's dead. What does he have to do with this!?"
"Dead?" Dante's laugh was sharp, edged with something like pity. "Oh, you're priceless. He's not fertilizing flowers—he's caught in their mess, same as you. Alive, kicking, and probably regretting every choice that got him there."
Soo Yeon's eyes widened as she heard Dante's words. She did not believe his words... she could not.
Every time she hoped for that to happen, her hopes were crushed.
But now, listening to Dante's words, that hope was reigniting... but she suppressed it immediately.
She did not want to be disappointed once again.
She stared at him, her chest tight with anger, doubt, and a flicker of something she couldn't name—hope, maybe, or just desperation. "Why should I believe a word you say?"
"You shouldn't," he fired back, his grin flashing one last time. "But you're too damn curious to let this slide. Same place, 5 pm. See you tomorrow—or don't. Your call."
With that, he shimmered and vanished into the night, leaving Soo-Yeon staring into the empty dark. Song Yi's shaky voice broke the silence. "Soo-Yeon… you're not actually going, are you?"
Soo-Yeon sheathed her daggers, her expression unreadable. "I don't know," she muttered, her mind already racing. "But I need to find out."