Years Ago – The Day the Towers Appeared
The world shook. Buildings collapsed. People screamed. It was chaos.
In the heart of Seoul, a young Professor Kuroda clutched his wife's hand as they ran through the crumbling city. Her name was Arumi, a kind-hearted schoolteacher with soft eyes and a fierce spirit. They had only been married for two years, and today was supposed to be their anniversary.
But fate had other plans.
As they turned a corner to help a child trapped beneath rubble, the ground trembled. A shard of a black tower burst through the earth like a demonic spire.
"Run, Kuro!" Arumi shouted.
"No! I'm not leaving you!"
She smiled at him—gentle, proud, final.
"I love you."
And then the collapse came.
Kuroda tried to shield her, but a massive stone beam fell between them. He watched—helpless—as it buried her alive.
That day changed everything.
---
Present Day – Rooftop of the Boarding House
Kuroda exhaled, the cigarette dimming in the dark.
"Arumi… I couldn't save you. But I'll protect this new generation."
He looked over the quiet cityscape, feeling the presence of her memory. "Rover… maybe I finally found someone worth guiding."
---
Silver Halo Guild – Philippines, Two Days After the Attack
A broadcast was sent to the Hunter Association, and all major guilds had received it: The Dark Triad had attacked Silver Halo.
Maria del Rosario, her arm bandaged but spirit unshaken, stood before the guild council.
"They took it," she said grimly.
"Took what?" one of the council members asked.
"The Sol Heart Core—a sealed relic. It was buried in the foundation of our guild. Only we had it. I didn't even know it existed until now."
Her voice wavered. "Kim Hwan… and the others… they're not just hunting power. They're preparing to open Real Gates. They want to end this era."
The room went silent.
---
Hunter Association Headquarters – Global Broadcast
"All guilds are hereby placed on Alert Level Crimson. A group known as the Dark Triad has stolen a relic of mass-dimensional resonance. Reports confirm involvement of known rogue Awakeners: Kim Hwan, Mae Lou, Yao and Dao, and others."
---
Titan Eclipse Guild – Russia
Dmitri Volkov crushed his glass of vodka.
"That bastard Kim… we were allies once. On Calamity Floor 51. What happened to him?"
---
Celestial Order Guild – Korea
Roger Wilson sat at a long table with Christoff, Hestia, Martin, and Naiomi. The broadcast replayed on the wall screen.
Christoff leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Kim Hwan… I never thought I'd see him become the enemy."
Martin frowned. "He was with us in Floor 51. We fought off a Chimera King together. He saved my life."
Hestia's eyes narrowed. "And now he wants to open Real Gates? That's not just betrayal. That's mass extinction."
Naiomi added, "This isn't just about power. They're after something we don't fully understand yet."
Roger clenched his fists. "Then it's time we find out."
To be continue...