The moment my reassessment results were finalized, I could feel the shift in the air. The officials who had previously dismissed me as a D-Rank failure now looked at me with a mix of shock, caution, and—most importantly—curiosity.
An unknown hunter suddenly skyrocketing to A-Rank? That wasn't just rare—it was unheard of.
And the Hunter's Association wasn't blind.
The overseer closed his terminal and gave me a long, unreadable look. "I hope you understand what this means."
I simply smirked. "Enlighten me."
He exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. "A sudden rise in rank—especially one as drastic as yours—won't go unnoticed. Guilds will come knocking. Some will want to recruit you. Others will want to challenge you. And a few… might not like the idea of an unknown climbing the ranks this fast."
I shrugged. "Let them come."
Leon, who had been silent until now, chuckled under his breath. "Cocky as ever."
The overseer's gaze flicked to him. "And you're backing him up in this?"
Leon smirked. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."
The overseer shook his head but didn't argue. Instead, he turned back to me. "For now, your reassessment is complete. But…" He trailed off, hesitating.
I raised a brow. "But?"
A message flashed across the terminal behind him.
[ Ryzen Kael – Status: Under Review ]
[ Additional Analysis Required ]
He sighed. "You might be listed as A-Rank, but the Association will be keeping an eye on you. Your results are… irregular. We'll need further testing to verify the extent of your abilities."
Leon scoffed. "Translation: They don't trust the numbers."
The overseer didn't deny it. "You came in as a D-Rank. Now you're suddenly punching through reinforced combat dummies like they're made of paper. Even in this line of work, that kind of jump is suspicious."
I met his gaze, unfazed. "So what? You want me to prove myself again?"
The overseer studied me for a long moment. Then, he shook his head. "No. That'll come later."
His terminal beeped again. A new notification flashed across the screen.
[ Incoming Message: Special Inquiry Division ]
His brows furrowed slightly. "You're being summoned."
Leon and I exchanged glances.
"Summoned by who?" I asked.
The overseer tapped the screen, pulling up the details. "Special Inquiry Division. A high-ranking branch of the Association that investigates… anomalies." He shot me a knowing look. "And you, Ryzen Kael, have just become one."
-
Leon and I were led to a different part of the Association building—one that wasn't open to the public. The halls here were quieter, more refined. The usual bustling energy of the Hunter's Association faded, replaced by an underlying tension.
At the end of the hall, a reinforced steel door slid open with a low hiss.
Inside, a spacious, dimly lit chamber awaited.
Two people stood in the center—a woman in a crisp black suit and an older man with a commanding presence.
The woman spoke first. "Ryzen Kael."
Her voice was smooth, yet firm. The kind of voice that belonged to someone used to giving orders.
I met her gaze evenly. "That's me."
She studied me for a second before nodding. "I am Director Selene Voss. Head of the Special Inquiry Division." She gestured to the man beside her. "And this is Marshal Dorian Grant, one of the highest-ranking combat evaluators in the Association."
Dorian Grant.
Even I had heard of him.
A former S-Rank hunter, long retired from active duty. But his reputation remained untarnished—his combat ability was said to rival even the top guild masters.
I crossed my arms. "Didn't expect a welcoming committee."
Selene didn't react to my words. "You were reassessed as an A-Rank today."
I smirked. "Yeah, I was there."
Dorian's eyes narrowed slightly, but Selene ignored my comment. "Your results, however, are… irregular. The data suggests you possess abilities beyond standard A-Rank parameters."
"That a problem?" I asked.
She tilted her head slightly. "Not a problem. A curiosity."
Dorian finally spoke. His voice was deep, steady. "We need to verify your strength."
Leon scoffed from beside me. "He just went through reassessment."
Dorian turned to him. "Punching a reinforced dummy is one thing. Real combat is another." He stepped forward, his aura pressing down slightly. "You'll spar with me. Here. Now."
Leon let out a low whistle. "You serious?"
Selene's expression remained unreadable. "If his results are accurate, he should be able to handle it."
I exhaled slowly.
So this was their game.
They weren't just verifying my rank—they were testing if I was a threat.
I rolled my shoulders, my body already preparing for combat.
"Alright," I said, smirking. "Let's see how strong you really are, old man."
Dorian's eyes gleamed.
-
The combat arena was simple—an empty reinforced chamber designed to withstand high-impact battles.
Selene and Leon stood off to the side as Dorian and I took our positions.
Dorian loosened his stance, rolling his shoulders. "I'll let you make the first move."
I didn't hesitate.
Phantom Dash.
The moment the match started, I blurred forward, reappearing in front of him in an instant. My fist lashed out—fast, precise, enhanced by my raw physical power.
CRACK!
But my punch didn't land.
Dorian tilted his head at the last second, avoiding the strike with effortless grace.
His counterattack was immediate.
His hand shot forward—too fast for an ordinary person to track. I barely managed to twist my body, the shockwave of his strike grazing past my ribs and shattering the air behind me.
I teleported back, creating distance.
Dorian straightened. "Good speed. But not enough."
I smirked as I feel my blood pumping in excitement and curiousity.