The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the weight of everything that had happened the night before.
An SS-rank raid. Black Valor. Christa Vaughn.
I exhaled and sat up, running a hand through my hair.
The city outside my window was already alive with movement. Velmora never truly slept, especially with the growing tension surrounding the impending raid.
After a quick shower, I got dressed and checked my phone.
[1 New Message – Leon Vael]
I opened it.
[Leon: Meet me at Black Valor's HQ. You need to finalize the contract.]
Straight to business, huh?
I grabbed my gear and headed out.
-
The headquarters of Black Valor was a fortress in itself—a massive high-rise built with state-of-the-art technology and reinforced structures, standing among the top buildings in Velmora's business district.
Even before stepping inside, I could sense the power within. The aura of elite hunters was suffocating, and it wasn't just from the S-ranks. The guild's A-rank and B-rank members were leagues above most hunters in the city.
I walked through the entrance without hesitation.
The receptionist, a young man with sharp eyes, glanced at me. "State your business."
"Leon's expecting me."
He frowned, likely about to ask for proof, but before he could, a familiar voice cut through.
"He's with me."
Leon approached from the main hall, dressed in his usual black coat, his presence drawing attention from the surrounding hunters.
The receptionist straightened and nodded. "Understood, Guildmaster."
Leon motioned for me to follow.
As we walked, he glanced at me. "Hope you're ready. Once you sign, you're officially part of Black Valor—at least until the raid's over."
I smirked. "I'm not backing out."
He chuckled. "Good."
We entered a private meeting room, where a contract was already prepared on the table.
Leon leaned against the desk. "Read through it. Standard terms—temporary membership, full access to guild resources, and a share of the raid rewards. Once the SS-rank dungeon is cleared, the contract is void unless you choose to stay."
I picked up the document, scanning through the details. It was straightforward, with no hidden clauses.
Leon watched me. "You sure about this? Once you're in, there's no sitting on the sidelines. We're going into hell itself."
I met his gaze. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure."
Leon smirked. "Then welcome to Black Valor."
I signed the contract.
At that moment, my phone buzzed again.
[1 New Notification – Hunter Association]
I opened it.
[Official Notice: All participating hunters for the SS-Rank Dungeon Raid in the United States are required to attend a strategy briefing. Location: Velmora Hunter Association Headquarters. Time: 14:00.]
Looks like things were moving fast.
Leon checked his own phone and nodded. "Looks like we're heading to the Association next."
I put my phone away.
-
By the time we arrived at the Hunter Association Headquarters, the atmosphere was tense. Hunters from various top guilds gathered in the massive conference hall, their expressions serious.
The moment I stepped inside, I could feel it—raw power.
S-rank hunters filled the room, each one an apex predator in their own right. Their presence was suffocating, even for me.
At the front, standing behind a reinforced podium, was Darius Vaughn, the President of the Association. His piercing gaze swept across the room, commanding attention.
To his right stood Alastair Crowe, the Vice Director. A man known for his cold efficiency.
As Leon and I took our seats, I scanned the room.
Every major force in Velmora was here.
Christa Vaughn was among them, seated near the front. When our eyes met, she gave me a slight nod before returning her focus to the briefing.
Darius cleared his throat, and the murmurs in the room died instantly.
"We won't waste time. Everyone here understands the severity of the situation. An SS-rank dungeon in the United States is on the verge of a catastrophic break. If it happens, the death toll will be immeasurable."
He gestured toward the massive screen behind him, which displayed an aerial image of the dungeon's entrance—a colossal rift pulsating with ominous energy.
"The U.S. government has issued a global request for assistance. In response, an elite strike force is being assembled."
The screen shifted, showing a list of names.
Some I recognized immediately.
-
[ Confirmed Raid Participants ]
Alexander Graves – Titan of Calamity (Rank #1)
Raiden Arakawa – Storm Emperor (Rank #2)
Ji Seong-Ho – Celestial Blade (Rank #3)
Gabriel Dela Cruz – Radiant Sovereign (Rank #4)
Leon Vael – Black Valor Guildmaster (Rank #7)
Darius Vaughn – Association President
Multiple S-Rank Hunters from global forces
-
It was a who's who of the world's strongest hunters.
And then, at the very bottom of the list, I saw it—[Pending Approval – Black Valor (A-Rank: Ryzen Kael)]
I narrowed my eyes.
Pending approval, huh?
Darius continued, "The strike team will depart for the United States in three days. Upon arrival, we will coordinate with the U.S. Hunter Association and begin the assault immediately."
Leon leaned closer and muttered, "They're still deciding whether to let you in."
I smirked. "Not for long."
Christa suddenly spoke up from across the room.
"Do we have intel on the dungeon boss?"
Darius nodded. "We do."
The screen changed again, revealing a shadowy figure within the rift. The pressure it exuded was overwhelming, even through the image.
"Dungeon Boss: Abyssal Tyrant."
Silence hung in the room, thick with unspoken tension. Even the most seasoned hunters were staring at the screen with grim expressions.
"Abyssal Tyrant?" Leon muttered beside me. "Never heard of that before."
Neither had I.
But as I stared at the shadowed figure displayed on the screen, something stirred deep within me. A faint pull, like a whisper in my very being.
The Abyss was reacting.
Darius continued, his voice measured but firm.
"We have limited information on this entity. The only thing we know for certain is that it has remained dormant within the dungeon's core. However, the moment the dungeon break threshold neared… it awakened."
The image flickered, shifting to an aerial view of the surrounding area.
What I saw made my eyes narrow.
Destruction.
Entire landscapes were twisted, warped into unnatural formations. Dark mist oozed from the cracks in the earth, spreading like a disease.
I clenched my fists. That aura… I've felt something similar before.
Darius pressed on. "The U.S. Hunter Association has already attempted multiple reconnaissance missions. None returned."
Murmurs spread across the room. Even among S-ranks, losing an entire scouting team without a trace was no small matter.
Christa, still seated near the front, spoke up. "What do we know about its abilities?"
Darius exchanged a glance with Alastair Crowe before responding. "Unconfirmed. However, according to one survivor who managed to escape the dungeon before the threshold, the entity possesses 'Absolute Dominion' within its territory."