I nodded slightly. I understood that feeling. The weight of expectations, of being seen as something other than who you really are.
"Must be suffocating," I said.
She smirked. "Only when I let it be."
Another moment of silence passed between us before she turned back to me. "What about you? You seem different from the typical hunter. Why do you do it?"
That was a question I hadn't been asked in a long time.
I thought about it for a moment before answering, "At first, it was just survival. Now… I guess it's something more."
She raised an eyebrow. "Vague."
I smirked. "You get what you give."
She let out a soft laugh. "Fair enough."
The distant hum of the city filled the space between our words. It was strange—despite everything, this felt… normal. Like two people just talking, without ranks, power, or burdens pressing down on them.
But the reality of our world wouldn't wait forever.
Christa exhaled, stretching her arms. "Well, I should probably head back before my old man sends a search team. He's paranoid as hell."
I nodded. "And here I thought you didn't listen to him."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't. But I'd rather not deal with the lecture."
She took a few steps back before pausing. "Are you really going to join the SS-rank raid?"
I met her gaze. "What do you think?"
She stared at me for a moment before shaking her head with a small smile. "Yeah… you're definitely going."
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel. "See you around, Ryzen."
I watched as she disappeared down the stairwell, her presence fading into the night.
I stayed there a little longer, letting the cold breeze wash over me.
An SS-rank dungeon. The highest level of danger. And something that even the Association feared.
I tightened my grip on the railing.
If the Abyss had taught me anything—it was that power attracts disaster.
And this time… I was walking straight into it.
-
As I stood atop the highest tower in Velmora, letting the cold night air settle my thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I glanced at the screen.
[Incoming Call: Leon Vael]
I exhaled, debating whether to answer. But knowing Leon, if I ignored it, he'd just keep calling until I picked up.
I swiped the screen and brought the phone to my ear.
"Where the hell are you?" Leon's voice came through, carrying that mix of irritation and concern that I had grown used to.
I smirked slightly. "Nice to hear from you too."
"Cut the crap. You vanished for hours. Do you have any idea how much trouble you've stirred up?"
I leaned back against the railing, gazing at the cityscape below. "I needed some air."
Leon sighed heavily. "Air, huh? Right. That's why you disappeared off the radar completely."
I remained silent, not bothering to explain further.
He clicked his tongue. "Whatever. More importantly, how are you?"
The question held weight. Not just casual concern—Leon knew something had changed.
I thought about how to answer that. About the battle in the Forsaken Ruins, the Abyss Sovereign's Trial, and the sheer weight of power now coursing through my veins.
"I'm fine."
"…Liar."
I chuckled. "And here I thought you trusted me."
"I trust you, but I'm not an idiot." He paused for a moment. "You feel different."
Sharp as ever.
I didn't confirm or deny it. Instead, I changed the subject. "Heard about the SS-rank dungeon?"
Leon let out a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. "Yeah. I figured you'd ask about that."
I pushed off the railing slightly. "What's the situation?"
"Not great." His voice was edged with frustration. "It's an SS-rank dungeon, and it's already showing signs of a break. If it's not handled immediately, it'll turn into a full-scale catastrophe."
I narrowed my eyes. "What's inside?"
Leon scoffed. "If we knew that, it wouldn't be an SS-rank. The dungeon's mana signature is all over the place—unstable, fluctuating, like something inside is suppressing its true nature."
That was never a good sign. The most dangerous dungeons weren't just the ones filled with powerful monsters, but the ones where you had no idea what you were up against.
"Who's leading the raid?" I asked.
"Alexander Graves."
I paused. "…Titan of Calamity?"
"Yeah. The number one hunter in the world. He was personally requested by the U.S. government, and from what I've heard, even he isn't taking this lightly."
Even he isn't taking this lightly? That sent a clear message—this wasn't just any SS-rank dungeon.
"What about you?" I asked. "Are you going in?"
Leon sighed again. "Every S-rank hunter in City-A is going. And not just us. High-ranking hunters from around the world are being gathered for this. The Association is treating this as an extinction-level threat if it's left unchecked."
I ran a hand through my hair, processing the information.
Every S-rank in Velmora. The Titan of Calamity himself. The world's strongest hunters being mobilized.
This wasn't just another raid. This was something beyond something that even the highest-ranking hunters feared.
And yet…I felt something stir within me. Not fear. Not hesitation. Just excitement.
The thrill of stepping into the unknown. The challenge of facing something that even the world's strongest deemed a catastrophe.
I had seen what the Abyss had to offer. I had faced Sovereigns, creatures that twisted reality itself. And now, an SS-rank dungeon threatened to break free into the world.
I smirked. If this was supposed to be the worst-case scenario, I wanted to see it for myself.
"You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Leon's voice carried a mix of amusement and exasperation through the phone.
I smirked slightly. Was I that obvious?
"Thinking about what?" I replied casually.
"Don't play dumb. You want in on the SS-rank raid."
I didn't deny it. How could I? An SS-rank dungeon break wasn't just a catastrophe—it was a stage. A proving ground where only the strongest could stand.