Anna walked down the quiet street toward her car, her steps slow and deliberate. She stopped at the driver's side door, her fingers grazing the handle before she turned her head back toward Xavier's apartment. A soft smile pulled at her lips, her eyes reflecting a sense of warmth and relief.
"He's safe…" she whispered to herself, exhaling a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in that realization. Despite everything that had happened—the cataclysm, the betrayal, the near-death experiences—Xavier was still here. Still alive. Still himself. And for that, she was grateful.
But as quickly as the warmth came, it faded. Her expression hardened, her jaw setting as she turned back to her car, slipping inside and fastening her seatbelt. She exhaled deeply before muttering, "Tomorrow's going to be a long day." Then, without another word, she started the engine and pulled off into the vast, neon-lit city, heading back home.
Meanwhile, inside Xavier's apartment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead as he finished his 100 squats. His gaze lifted to the glowing red-and-black system screen hovering before him. The checklist displayed his progress:
[Daily Quest]
- 100 Push-ups: Complete
- 100 Sit-ups: Complete
- 100 Squats: Complete
- 10km Run: Incomplete
Xavier let out a weary sigh. The penalty zone wasn't something he ever wanted to experience again. His gaze shifted to the countdown timer flashing in the corner of the system's interface. Time was running out.
"Guess I don't have a choice," he muttered before grabbing his jacket.
"Boxer, I'll be back," he called out as he rushed toward the door. The large dog merely tilted his head in confusion, watching his owner disappear into the night.
---
Xavier jogged through the dimly lit streets, his pace fast yet controlled. Each step caused the numbers on the system display to rise as he pushed forward through the blocks.
[Distance Completed: 5km… 6km… 7km…]
His breath came in steady, even beats as he reached the fifth block, ready to push further.
[Daily Quest Complete!]
Xavier came to a halt, panting lightly as the system window refreshed before him, listing his rewards:
[Rewards]
- Full Recovery
- Random Blessed Loot Box
- Random Cursed Loot Box
His brows furrowed at the last two. These weren't like the usual random loot boxes he'd received before. What made these different? Before he could contemplate further, his phone buzzed violently in his pocket, cutting through the silence of the night.
He pulled it out, his eyes narrowing at the blaring **Amber Alert** flashing across the screen:
{EMERGENCY ALERT: GATE BREACH NEAR CENTRAL PARK. DUNGEON BREAK IN PROGRESS.
CITIZENS ADVISED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER.
HUNTERS DISPATCHED TO NEUTRALIZE THREAT.}
Xavier's grip on his phone tightened as he lifted his head toward the distant rumbling that echoed through the city. Faint screams followed, carried by the wind. He wasn't far from Central Park.
His mind waged war against itself. He was still just an **E-Rank Hunter**—weak in the grand scheme of things. He had only started improving recently. What could he possibly do?
Then, like a sudden tidal wave, memories surged forth—Brandon's betrayal, the volcanic giant, the centipedes devouring him alive. His jaw clenched, his nails digging into his palm as another explosion echoed through the night.
Without another thought, he pocketed his phone and pulled his hood over his head. His muscles coiled, then—
BOOM!
The sidewalk cracked beneath his feet as he bolted forward at full speed, his body a blur of motion.
Gasps and shouts erupted from bystanders as he leaped onto a nearby building, gripping onto the ledge and hoisting himself up with ease.
"Was that a Hunter?!" someone gasped.
"What rank is he? Possibly a B or an A Rank maybe?!" another voice questioned in awe.
Xavier didn't stop to listen. He sprinted across the rooftop, then leaped, soaring through the air before landing seamlessly on the next building.
His eyes burned with determination. There was no hesitation. No doubt.
Central Park was ahead.
And he was going straight toward the danger.