only one remaining in the room.
His gaze lingered on Rudra's empty sleeve for a moment.
Aryan: "I completely forgot to ask what happened to Rudra Pratap's left arm."
A little later—
The three of them were together. Aryan and Meena sat on the sofa while Aditya stood in front of them.
Aditya: "So, are you joining Apex Predators Company or not?"
Aryan fell into thought.
Aditya glanced at Meena.
Meena: "Yes, I'm definitely joining Apex Predators Company. I consider myself lucky to get an opportunity to work for such a huge company."
A faint smile appeared on Aditya's face.
My brother and my sister, both working for Apex Predators Company. I'll be able to protect them both.
He turned toward Aryan.
Aryan let out a long sigh.
Aryan: "I'm not joining Rudra Pratap's company. I want to work alone."
He stood up and walked away.
The moment Aryan stepped onto the street, thoughts began racing through his mind.
I can use magic. I'm already an A-Rank Hunter. The first thing I need to do is learn how to use my powers properly. That means I need to find monsters. But where exactly can I find them?
Just then, he heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching from behind.
Rohan slowed his bike and raised an eyebrow.
Rohan: "I know you're planning to hunt monsters. And I also know that you have absolutely no idea where to find them."
Aryan stopped.
Rohan: "What exactly did they teach you in school?"
Aryan: "I missed one day of class, and apparently they covered all of this that day. I only know that monsters are underground. I don't know where they appear or how to find them."
Rohan: "Come to my place. We can talk there."
Aryan hesitated for a moment before getting on the bike.
A tall residential tower stood before them.
The two rode the elevator upward in silence as the floor numbers kept climbing.
75.
The doors opened.
Aryan stepped inside the apartment and looked around, slightly surprised.
The place was clean, organized, and far better than he had expected.
Rohan: "Have a seat."
Aryan sat down while Rohan stood across from him.
Rohan: "Listen carefully. This is how Hunters know where monsters are going to appear."
"When the gods sealed monsters, demons, and devils beneath the earth, humanity finally began living in peace. But as time passed, those seals gradually weakened. Monsters started emerging again."
"Hunters kept killing them, but every year their numbers increased. And during the last twenty years, that increase has become much worse."
Aryan: "Just tell me where the monsters are."
Rohan: "I'm getting to that."
"Whenever monsters are about to emerge, an earthquake occurs first. The ground also changes color. There are three possible colors."
"Blue Ground — manageable for C-Rank and B-Rank Hunters."
"Black Ground — dangerous enough to require A-Rank and S-Rank Hunters."
"Red Ground — only SS-Rank and Z-Rank Hunters are allowed to enter."
"The stronger the threat, the stronger the earthquake."
Aryan: "Finally. You're done talking."
Rohan: "By the way, you joined Apex Predators Company, right?"
Aryan: "No."
Rohan's expression changed instantly.
Rohan: "Then how are you planning to take missions? Without a company-issued Hunter Card, you're not allowed to hunt monsters."
Aryan: "Don't worry. I'll kill monsters and come back before anyone even notices."
Rohan: "Aryan, you can't do that. If someone finds out, you could end up in prison."
He stood up and moved directly in front of the door.
Rohan: "I'm not letting you leave."
Aryan's eyes wandered across the room.
Rohan's phone was lying on the sofa with the screen still unlocked.
Aryan picked it up.
His eyes narrowed.
Rohan immediately rushed forward to grab the phone, but he was too late.
Aryan's face showed surprise.
Then it slowly turned into anger.
Aryan: "Rohan... why do you have so many pictures of Meena on your phone?"
He paused.
Aryan: "Do you like her?"
Rohan froze.
His feet felt glued to the floor.
Aryan had found out.
Two seconds passed.
Then the anger on Aryan's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a wide grin.
Aryan: "You're not going to let me leave? Fine. I'll just show all these photos to Meena. Let's see what happens after that."
Rohan: "W-What? When did I ever stop you?"
He immediately stepped away from the door and opened it.
Standing to one side, he forced an awkward smile.
Rohan: "Just... don't tell Meena."
Aryan placed the phone back on the sofa and walked out.
Police vehicles.
Military trucks.
A crowd gathered behind the barricades—some frightened, others recording with their phones.
And beyond the barricades...
The ground had turned green.
A deep, unnatural green that looked completely out of place.
Moving through the crowd was a figure dressed in a black hoodie and a black T-shirt, his face partially hidden.
Aryan slipped between people and buildings, carefully making his way forward.
A smile spread across his lips.
Finally.
It's time to learn how to use my powers.