The way he phrased it made me smirk. He wasn't asking if I did something unnatural.
He knew I did.
"I made a contract," I said simply, reaching out to place a hand on Fenrir's armored head. The beast didn't flinch, didn't resist—it simply accepted my touch, as if it had been waiting for it. "With the Abyss."
Leon's brow furrowed. "That's not a real answer."
I chuckled. "It is for me."
The tension in the air was thick. I could practically hear the gears turning in his mind.
To him, I was still supposed to be a D-Rank. A normal hunter.
Yet, everything he had seen—the absurd speed, my ability to command multiple high-tier summons, and now this monstrosity kneeling before me—it all shattered the logic he had built around me.
He took another breath, steadying himself. "You're not going to explain, are you?"
I tilted my head. "Would you believe me if I did?"
Leon's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't answer.
Because he already knew the truth. Even if he wasn't ready to admit it yet.
***
[ System Notification ]
[ Abyssal Familiar: Fenrir has been fully integrated into your dominion.]
[ Your connection to the Abyss grows stronger.]
[ New Passive Ability Unlocked: Abyssborn Pact ]
***
I raised an eyebrow. A new ability?
I pulled up my status window.
***
[ Abyssborn Pact ] (Passive)
As the Abyss Monarch, your dominion over abyssal creatures deepens.
All Abyssal Summons gain increased intelligence, physical strength, and mana regeneration.
When commanding an Abyssal Familiar, damage received is partially shared, but regeneration is increased.
The Abyss recognizes only its ruler—your summons will never betray you.
***
I smirked.
Not only had I obtained an A-Rank Familiar, but my very existence as the Abyss Monarch was becoming more defined. The Abyss itself was acknowledging me.
-
Leon exhaled one last time before finally taking a step forward. His gaze was still sharp, but something had shifted.
Finally, he spoke. "I don't know what the hell you've become, Ryzen."
I smirked. "That makes two of us."
"But…" he hesitated, then sighed. "You're strong. Stronger than a D-Rank has any right to be."
I remained silent.
Leon shook his head, as if dismissing his own doubts. "I don't know if I should be worried or impressed."
"Why not both?" I offered.
He scoffed. "Cocky bastard."
Then, his eyes flickered back to Fenrir. "And… that thing?"
I ran a hand down Fenrir's armored back, feeling the power radiating from its body. "Mine."
Leon exhaled. "Of course it is."
There was a brief moment of quiet before he spoke again. "This dungeon's closed now. The moment we leave, it'll collapse."
I nodded. "I figured."
Leon hesitated again. "...You're coming with me to the Association after this."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I don't care what's going on with you, but after what I just saw, you're getting a rank reassessment."
I chuckled. "Finally realized I'm not a D-Rank?"
Leon shot me an annoyed glare. "Shut up."
I grinned.
As the dungeon collapsed behind us, I took a deep breath, letting the cold morning air wash over me. Compared to the abyssal pressure that had filled the dungeon, the outside world felt… light. Almost insignificant.
Fenrir materialized beside me in the form of a shadowy mist, his presence lingering without being fully summoned. The moment we left, I had instinctively dismissed him, but I could still feel our connection—a tether that bound us beyond mere summoning magic.
Leon stood a few feet ahead, arms crossed, watching the distortion of space as the dungeon faded into nothingness.
His silence was different now. Not because he was unsure, but because he was thinking. Calculating.
I knew what was coming.
"You're getting reassessed," he repeated.
I exhaled through my nose. "You're really hung up on that, huh?"
Leon turned to me, his gaze firm. "You're not a D-Rank. You never were."
Leon had been with me long enough to see that I wasn't normal. This wasn't something I could just brush off anymore. If I kept walking around with a D-Rank status, it would eventually become more of a hassle than an advantage.
"Fine," I said. "Let's get this over with."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "No resistance?"
I smirked. "Would it change anything?"
"Not really," he admitted.
I chuckled. "Then lead the way, Guildmaster."
Leon shot me a glare at the title but didn't argue. Instead, he turned, heading toward the teleportation gate.
I followed, hands in my pockets.
-
The Hunter's Association building in Veridion was massive. A sprawling structure made of reinforced mana-infused stone, towering over the surrounding skyscrapers. The entire area buzzed with activity—hunters coming and going, some registering for missions, others exchanging monster cores and materials.
Leon and I stepped through the entrance, and immediately, several heads turned.
It wasn't surprising.
Leon Vael—S-Rank Hunter, Guildmaster of Black Valor—didn't just casually walk into the Association with a random hunter.
But what caught my attention more was the subtle shift in the air.
Whispers, glances and suspicion.
Leon ignored the stares, walking straight to the front desk. The receptionist—a woman in her late thirties with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense attitude—looked up.
"Leon." She barely blinked at his presence. "Didn't expect to see you today."
Leon nodded. "We need a reassessment. Now."
Her gaze flickered toward me, her brow raising slightly. "For him?"
Leon didn't waver. "Yeah."
The receptionist's eyes narrowed. "He's registered as a D-Rank."
"Not for long," Leon replied.
The woman exhaled, shaking her head. "Fine. Give me a moment." She tapped on the terminal, and within seconds, a notification chimed.
[ New Reassessment Request Approved – Candidate: Ryzen Kael ]
I smirked.
-
The testing chamber was a massive, reinforced space designed to measure a hunter's combat capability. High-ranking guilds used similar facilities, but the Association's version was outfitted with the latest mana-detection and combat-analysis tools.
A few Association officials were already waiting, along with a senior hunter acting as the overseer.
A middle-aged man with graying hair stepped forward. His aura was sharp—disciplined.
"Ryzen Kael?" he asked.
I nodded. "That's me."
He scanned me up and down, clearly unimpressed. "D-Rank assessment. No registered party. No guild affiliation." He looked at Leon. "You're sure about this?"
Leon crossed his arms. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."
The overseer exhaled. "Alright. Standard procedure—stat evaluation, mana capacity scan, and combat demonstration." He gestured toward the testing platform. "Step up and place your hand on the orb.."
I did as instructed.
The machine whirred to life, glowing lines scanning over my body.`
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The monitor glitched.
[ Error: Mana Signature Unrecognized ]
The officials frowned. "What—?"
Before they could react, the numbers adjusted.
And then—
BEEP!
[ Assessment Complete. ]
[ Rank: A ]
[ Warning: Subject Exhibits Potential Beyond A-Rank Parameters. Further Analysis Required. ]
Silence.
Leon smirked.
The overseer's eyes widened slightly, but he recovered quickly. "...A-Rank, huh?"
One of the officials whispered, "That's impossible. His previous result was…"
"Still think this is a mistake?" Leon asked, his voice amused.
The overseer didn't answer immediately. He studied me again, this time with caution.
"...No. But numbers alone don't mean much." He straightened. "We'll need to see your combat ability. Step forward."
A training dummy rose from the ground—a high-level mana-infused construct built to withstand even S-Rank attacks.
"Show us what you can do," the overseer instructed.
I stepped forward, rolling my shoulders and then I moved.
Phantom Dash activated in an instant. The world blurred as I teleported, appearing directly in front of the dummy. Before anyone could react—
CRACK!
A shockwave has erupted and the reinforced dummy exploded.
I exhaled, flexing my fingers. "That enough?"
The officials stared in shock.
One of them muttered, "That was… that was an S-Rank-level strike."
The overseer remained silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he turned back to his device and tapped a few buttons.
[ Reassessment Complete ]
[ Ryzen Kael – Rank Updated: A ]
[ Potential Status: Requires Further Investigation ]
Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "Looks like I was right."