Neo-Seongnam's night sky glimmered with neon advertisements, but the streets below were tense. The city had not forgotten the subway incident. Rumors of the lone boy and his armored knight had spread like wildfire through hunters' circles.
Kang Ji-Hoon moved silently through the alleys, the knight following closely. Each step was calculated; every shadow observed. His wounds had mostly healed, but the memory of the Executioner's dungeon, the silver-haired observer, and now the mysterious girl lingered like a weight on his shoulders.
Ahead, a group of hunters waited. A full guild squad, mid-to-high ranked, clad in official insignia, weapons drawn, mana lightly humming around them. Their leader, a tall man with sharp features and cold eyes, stepped forward.
"You're Kang Ji-Hoon, aren't you?" the leader called. "The boy who walked alone through a dungeon… and survived."
Ji-Hoon's grip on his blade tightened. The knight shifted beside him, its metal joints humming softly.
"I am," he replied calmly. "And you are?"
"Call me Park Seung-Ho," the man said, eyes scanning Ji-Hoon and the knight. "We're here to… offer guidance. Training. Partnership."
Ji-Hoon tilted his head, unconvinced. "I don't need guidance. I don't work with anyone."
Park Seung-Ho's lips twisted. "That's unfortunate. Because in this city, no one walks completely alone. Especially someone who's making waves like you."
Hae-In appeared behind the guild group, stepping quietly. Her gaze locked on Ji-Hoon. "He doesn't need your help," she said sharply. "Not now, not ever."
Seung-Ho laughed lightly. "Ah, the famous girl from the subway incident. But even she can't stop the inevitable. Cooperation is… necessary."
Ji-Hoon's eyes narrowed. The knight shifted slightly, metal scraping, but Ji-Hoon signaled it to remain still. He needed to gauge the situation first.
Suddenly, the silver-haired observer appeared on a nearby rooftop, watching silently. Her presence added tension, though she did not intervene… yet.
Seung-Ho's squad advanced cautiously, testing the boy. Small attacks, magical projectiles, light pressure strikes—nothing lethal yet.
Ji-Hoon dodged, rolled, and countered. The knight moved with him, intercepting attacks, creating openings.
[Legion Authority Sync: 6.0% → 6.5% | Solo Combat Efficiency Confirmed]
He realized the strategy immediately: they weren't here to kill him. They wanted to measure his limits, provoke him, see his reaction.
With a small grin, Ji-Hoon began to use the environment. Alley corners, debris, broken scaffolding—each became a weapon. He moved faster than they anticipated, cutting off their angles, exploiting weak points.
Hae-In watched, tense, occasionally muttering advice under her breath—but not interfering. The new girl from the shadows appeared again, crouched on a rooftop opposite the battlefield, silently observing. Her expression was unreadable.
After several tense minutes, the guild stepped back.
Seung-Ho wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, impressed. "So… you really do prefer walking alone."
Ji-Hoon sheathed his blade slowly. "I survive alone. That's all you need to know."
The knight stepped forward, standing between Ji-Hoon and the guild. Its symbol pulsed brighter. A silent warning: Do not test him again.
Seung-Ho nodded slowly. "Noted. But this is only the beginning. The city… will not ignore you."
Hae-In approached Ji-Hoon, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" she asked softly, concern flickering in her eyes.
Ji-Hoon glanced at her, then at the distant rooftops where the silver-haired observer and the new girl lingered. "I have to be," he said quietly. "If I don't, no one will stop what's coming."
The System pulsed faintly.
[Legion Authority Sync: 6.5% → 7.0% | Threat Detection: Active]
The city had taken notice. Allies and enemies alike were watching.
And Kang Ji-Hoon, the boy who walked alone, smiled faintly.
The game had only just begun.
End of Chapter 10