Morning crowds gathered outside the Hunter Association building long before sunrise.
Massive glass towers reflected pale light across Seoul's streets.
Security drones hovered overhead.
Hunters walked freely through the gates.
Some wore heavy armor.
Others elegant coats hiding enchanted weapons.
Every passerby watched them with admiration.
Respect.
Fear.
Auxrien stood across the road silently.
Black coat pulled over his head.
Face hidden beneath its shadow.
"…Same as always."
Nothing changed.
In his previous life he had entered this place countless times.
Victorious.
Broken.
Celebrated.
Forgotten.
Today—
he was no one again.
He crossed the street.
The entrance scanner glowed briefly.
Mana signature confirmed.
"First time applicant?" a receptionist asked politely.
Young woman.
Tired smile.
Stacks of forms everywhere.
Auxrien nodded.
"Testing hall is downstairs."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Don't worry. Most beginners survive."
He almost laughed.
—
The evaluation arena resembled a stadium.
Concrete walls reinforced with mana barriers.
Observation windows lined the upper floors.
Several applicants stretched nervously.
Some whispered prayers.
Others bragged loudly to hide fear.
An instructor stepped forward.
Scar across his jaw.
Hunter uniform.
"Listen carefully."
His voice echoed.
"You will enter a simulated combat chamber."
A gate opened behind him.
Growls echoed from inside.
"Ten goblins."
Several applicants swallowed nervously.
"You kill them within ten minutes."
He continued calmly.
"An assessment orb will evaluate mana output, combat instinct, and survival capability."
Assistants carried glowing crystal spheres onto pedestals.
"Your rank will be assigned immediately."
Auxrien stepped forward when called.
The gate shut behind him.
Darkness swallowed sound.
Then—
green eyes appeared.
Ten goblins rushed him immediately.
Rusty blades raised.
No hesitation.
Auxrien exhaled slowly.
He moved forward instead.
Lightning sparked faintly across fingers.
The first goblin died instantly.
Palm strike crushed its throat.
Second lunged.
Fire burst outward.
The creature screamed as flames consumed it.
He didn't waste motion.
Minimal mana.
Efficiency.
Step.
Strike.
Turn.
Lightning pierced skull.
Kick shattered ribs.
Bodies fell quickly.
The last goblin hesitated.
Fear flickered inside its eyes.
Auxrien paused.
Memories flashed.
The tiger's claws.
His mother smiling.
Chronos whispering.
He finished it instantly.
Silence returned.
Seven minutes remained on timer.
The instructor outside frowned slightly.
"…Efficient."
Auxrien approached the assessment orb.
Crystal floated upward.
Light scanned him slowly.
Blue.
Red.
Silver flickered briefly—
then vanished.
The orb pulsed violently.
Assistants exchanged confused looks.
Finally—
color stabilized.
Deep violet.
Text appeared across screen.
---
Hunter Rank Assigned: E-Class
---
Murmurs filled the observation room.
Expected result.
Nothing special.
But another line appeared.
---
Combat Class: Assassin
---
Instructor raised an eyebrow.
"Stealth orientation… high kill efficiency."
Auxrien said nothing.
Better this way.
Underestimation saved lives.
—
Outside the hall—
new Hunters gathered near transport vehicles.
A tall man waved energetically.
Association badge visible.
"Welcome! Welcome!"
Bright smile.
Too loud.
"I'm Manji!"
He bowed dramatically.
"Hunter Association field guide!"
Several applicants looked confused.
He laughed.
"My job is making sure you don't die immediately."
Comforting.
Probably honest.
Auxrien joined the assigned group quietly.
Five members total.
First—
a boy around nineteen.
Broad shoulders.
Short brown hair.
Sword resting casually across back.
He smiled easily.
"I'm Jae-Min. Fighter class."
Confidence without arrogance.
Next—
two girls stood together.
Simple armor.
Shields attached.
One adjusted glasses nervously.
"I'm Hana… healer."
The other nodded shyly.
"Defender class. Mira."
Both looked relieved seeing normal teammates.
Last—
a middle-aged man stretched calmly.
Gray hair.
Scarred hands.
"Melee fighter. Call me Dae-Hyun."
His voice carried experience.
Warm.
Reliable.
Kind people.
Auxrien noticed immediately.
Dangerous.
Kind Hunters died first.
Jae-Min pointed toward him.
"And you?"
Silence followed briefly.
"…Auxrien."
Nothing more.
The black coat hid most of his expression.
Manji clapped loudly.
"Perfect team!"
Nobody believed him.
The transport arrived near an outer district tower.
Massive stone structure pierced the sky.
Runes glowed faintly across its entrance.
Association banners surrounded it.
E-Class Tower.
Safe.
Usually.
Manji gathered them near the portal.
"Simple hunt."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Goblins and hobgoblins only."
Beginner dungeon.
Reward small.
Risk minimal.
Hana relaxed visibly.
Jae-Min cracked his neck confidently.
Auxrien stared at the portal.
Mana rippled strangely.
Uneven.
Cold.
Wrong.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The sound echoed faintly again.
He frowned.
"…Something's off."
Nobody heard him.
Manji activated entry authorization.
Blue light expanded outward.
"Team Alpha-Seven."
Portal stabilized.
"Good luck!"
One by one they stepped forward.
Light swallowed them.
—
The dungeon welcomed them with damp air.
Stone corridors stretched endlessly.
Torches burned weakly along walls.
Goblin tracks everywhere.
Jae-Min grinned.
"Easy money."
Dae-Hyun laughed softly.
"Stay alert anyway."
Professional.
Good advice.
Auxrien remained silent.
Mana pressure felt heavier than E-class should allow.
He walked last.
Watching shadows carefully.
Then—
the portal flickered behind them.
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
Everyone turned.
Blue light distorted violently.
"What—?"
The healer stepped back.
Barrier shattered.
The portal collapsed inward like broken glass.
Darkness replaced it.
Silence followed.
Jae-Min stared.
"…That's not part of orientation."
Manji's voice no longer echoed from outside.
No connection.
No exit.
Auxrien closed his eyes slowly.
Instinct confirmed it immediately.
Trap.
Far deeper inside the dungeon—
something moved.
A distant horn echoed.
Low.
Ancient.
Goblin voices began screaming.
Not hunting cries.
War chants.
Torches extinguished one by one.
Darkness swallowed the corridor.
Hana grabbed Mira's arm.
"What do we do?"
Nobody answered.
Quiet Atmosphere around the underground in the portal.
Certain.
One thing for sure Auxrein noticed the change in the environment as the portal gone .
That something will surely goes wrong .
"…Stay close."
Lightning flickered faintly beneath his coat.
Somewhere beyond stone walls—
hundreds of footsteps approached.