The alarms screamed across the city, the sound of an incoming catastrophe.
Every hopeful who had just been measured turned their heads toward the massive Gate opening in the distance.
Fear. Excitement. Desperation.
I had seen those emotions countless times before.
For many, this was their first real taste of what being a Hunter meant.
For me?
It was just another day.
The Five Major Guilds
As the Gate continued to expand, the true powers of the world began to reveal themselves.
The Major Guilds.
Only five guilds had the influence, wealth, and strength to dominate the battlefield.
And right now, their scouts were watching.
These weren't ordinary people.
They were S-Rank Hunters, the elites of the world, standing in the crowd like wolves among sheep.
Each one here for one reason—
To recruit.
To find the next rising stars.
The five major guilds:
Titan's Fang – The largest and most powerful guild. Known for brute force, overwhelming numbers, and warriors who specialized in raw destruction. If you wanted power, this was where you went.
Silverlight Order – A guild built on discipline and precision. Their members were tactical, efficient, and never wasted a movement in battle.
Phantom Reapers – A guild specializing in assassinations, ambushes, and silent kills. Their members were shadows on the battlefield.
Obsidian Crown – A guild focused on magical prowess. They controlled some of the strongest elemental users and spellcasters in the world.
Vanguard – A guild that valued balance. Strategy, power, and adaptability. They weren't the strongest, but they were often the smartest.
Each of them had sent their best scouts to watch the trials.
To measure who was worthy.
The Eyes of the Strong
A man with thick arms crossed over his chest stood among the Titan's Fang scouts. His presence alone was enough to make the weaker Awakened flinch.
"An A-Rank right out of awakening," he muttered, eyeing Alec Kaine. "That's rare."
Another scout, this one from Silverlight Order, observed Elaine Voss with sharp, assessing eyes.
"Disciplined movements. Well-trained even before awakening. She'll fit well."
A cloaked figure from Phantom Reapers chuckled softly as they examined Derrick Graves.
"A natural killer. He'll come to us eventually."
They weren't just here to watch.
They were here to decide who was worth scouting.
Who was worth fighting over.
And yet—
Not a single one of them was looking at me.
I wasn't on their radar.
Not because I was weak.
But because to them, I was invisible.
And I liked it that way.
Humble Strength
I wasn't here to stand on a pedestal.
I wasn't here to claim dominance over the others.
I had spent a hundred frozen years training not to be praised—
But to be ready.
To ensure that when the time came, I could protect.
I had seen too many people die, too many hopefuls crushed under their own arrogance.
I wasn't going to be one of them.
So I stood in the crowd like any other nameless hunter.
I watched. I listened.
And when the time came—
I would act.
The Gate Opens
The sky split apart as the Gate fully unlocked.
A heavy, oppressive energy flooded the streets.
And then—
The monsters poured through.
Their screeches tore through the air, bodies of twisted flesh and jagged claws moving with inhuman speed.
The crowd of new Hunters tensed, some stepping forward, others stepping back.
This was the moment of truth.
The strong would rise.
The weak would fall.
And as the first wave of creatures charged—
I finally let out a slow breath and stepped forward.
Not to show off.
Not to prove anything.
But because there were people here who wouldn't survive unless someone stepped in.
I didn't care about ranks.
I didn't care about guilds.
I had trained for this.
And it was time to put that training to use.