In the heart of the city, the monumental glass and steel structure of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center gleamed under a gray sky. With every echoing step, Jonathan Pierce, President of the World Hunters Committee, entered the conference. His flawlessly tailored navy suit and special composite leather shoes, which felt like armor, screamed that he was not an ordinary businessman but the highest-level authority protecting the world from dungeons. The seriousness on his face was a harbinger of the important events to come.
Immediately after Pierce, the doors opened and closed ceaselessly, and hundreds of legendary figures in their own fields poured in. These were the 100 Designated Guild Masters and specially invited Elite Hunters, who had come from all corners of the globe, carrying the responsibility of the strongest guilds and nations on their shoulders. Some came in traditional Japanese attire, some in futuristic armor pieces, and others in casual but expensive sportswear. Each came from a different culture, a different power level, and a different adventure. The hall was filled with whispers and a low hum. Everyone felt that this conference would be much more than a routine meeting. For in this hall, decisions that would affect the fate of humanity were to be made. As Pierce walked towards the podium, the unique crowd behind him looked like a mosaic of the world's most dangerous powers coming together. The anticipation had turned into a silent energy felt in every corner of the hall.Taking the podium after Jonathan Pierce was the renowned scientist, Dr. Elias Varn. With his messy white hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and a worn, woolen cardigan draped over his shoulders, he looked like a common professor among the stylishly dressed crowd. But when he began to speak, his voice resonated with an authority that captivated everyone's attention."I wish to extend my thanks to all the Hunters and Representatives in attendance," he began. "The reason we have gathered here today is a matter that directly impacts each of our lives and futures." He placed his tablet on a stand, and a giant projection screen lit up behind him. "First, there is a crucial topic all Hunters must be aware of: there is an energy flow surrounding our world that we can't fully comprehend. It resembles dark energy, but it is not exactly the same thing."
A murmur rose from the audience. The Hunters were already familiar with the energy they had dedicated their lives to, but Varn's tone suggested this knowledge contained much more than they knew."According to our joint research with Nasa, this energy is almost nonexistent on other planets in our Solar System, but it appears with a striking intensity in two places: Earth and the Sirius Star System. The same type of energy is found in high concentration in these two locations, and what's worse, this concentration is increasing over time."
Dr. Varn's words instantly chilled the air in the room. Whispers of fear began to spread. "Our fear," Varn continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper yet audible to everyone, "is that this increase in energy might one day spiral out of control and reach a level that could destroy the world. If that happens, the dungeon calamities that occurred in Tokyo and London will be just the beginning. These calamities could start happening simultaneously all over the world."
When he finished, Varn stepped down from the podium. His gaze met the eyes of every single Hunter in the room, making them feel the gravity of the threat. The silence he left behind was filled with the weight of the impending disaster. It was no longer just about monsters; a cosmic threat was at their doorstep. This was the greatest challenge the Hunters had ever faced.After the tense atmosphere created by Dr. Varn, Jonathan Pierce, President of the World Hunters Committee, returned to the podium. He calmly met the Hunters' questioning gazes and began his speech: "First, I want to thank all the invited guests. The issue Dr. Varn mentioned represents a new dimension of threat to humanity. However, in addition to this threat, there is another important matter we need to address."The massive screen behind Pierce lit up. "The image you see on the screen now is from the archives of the London Dungeon." The screen showed a silhouette in a foggy, dimly lit dungeon environment not clear, but distinct. "And this is a video recording from a dungeon in Canada." Pierce showed the next image. The second image was surprisingly similar to the first."As you can see, both belong to the same silhouette. A figure with long hair, a long beard, a black coat, and a glowing yellow aura around them. This person was sighted in both the London and Canadian dungeons."
A murmur broke out in the hall. The sighting of the same person in dungeons on two different continents was unbelievable. Pierce raised his hand to quiet the whispers. "We accessed this information thanks to video recordings from other individuals who were in the dungeons, such as Troy Vance and Xerathul." The mention of these names caused expressions of surprise and curiosity to appear on the faces of the prestigious hunters in the hall. Who was this mysterious figure? What were they doing?
As Pierce was about to continue, the large hall doors opened grandly. This sudden, loud noise drew everyone's attention. It wasn't just a door opening; it was an entrance. A new story was being added to the mysterious tales being told. The dense and distinct aura that spread through the hall took everyone's breath away.Just as Jonathan Pierce was about to continue his speech, the doors suddenly opened with a grand flourish, and the person who entered brought all the whispers in the hall to a halt. It was none other than the National Level Hunter, Omer Jin-Hoo.Omer's entrance was anything but ordinary; it was a work of art. His pristine, perfectly ironed white shirt accentuated the contours of his muscular body. The sleeves, rolled up to his elbows, exposed his powerful, veined arms. His black, slim-fit trousers and polished Oxford shoes perfectly reflected the modern fashion of Seoul. Every step he took was confident and measured, as if he were walking a runway.As he advanced from the back of the hall toward the podium, all eyes were fixed on him. Everyone was asking the same question internally: "What is this aura this man has?" The calm yet overwhelming energy radiating from Omer astounded even the most powerful hunters in the room. This aura was a fusion of power and experience; it wasn't just a regular force, but the reflection of a legendary strength that had overcome thousands of monsters and formidable dungeons. No one spoke; they simply held their breath, watching his every move. The entire agenda of the conference was instantly pushed to the side. There was now only one focus: Omer Jin-Hoo.Faced with Omer Jin-Hoo's silent, overwhelming entrance and aura, Jonathan Pierce was about to continue his speech when something unexpected happened. Omer stopped about 20 meters from the podium and slightly extended his right hand. Two words, echoing through the entire hall, left his lips: "Activate the Emperor's Dominion."Instantly, a transparent, digital screen appeared before Omer, and the words "Ability Activated" flashed on it. As everyone tried to understand what was happening, events unfolded at a terrifying speed. Jonathan Pierce, standing at the podium, was suddenly pulled down by an invisible force and fell to the floor. At the exact same moment, a bullet-like object shot past where Pierce's head had been, embedding itself in the wall behind him. If he hadn't been pulled down, he would have been dead.The silence in the hall turned to chaos within seconds. As everyone tried to figure out what had just happened, security personnel took their positions and the hunters moved into a combat stance. Jonathan Pierce was in shock, completely bewildered by what had just saved his life.In the midst of the turmoil, Omer Jin-Hoo looked up with a deadly aura. Just above the large chandeliers in the hall, a figure stood in the gallery. This figure was none other than the Chinese National Level Hunter, Xu Liangchen.Omer's gaze met Xu Liangchen's cold and calculating eyes. The noise of the hall suddenly vanished, replaced by a silent, tense energy between the two national-level hunters. Two legends who had never met before were now face to face in the middle of an assassination attempt. This confrontation would be a showdown not just between two hunters, but between two superpowers. The world was on the brink of a new conflict, and everyone held their breath, waiting