The earth trembled.
The sound of thousands of footsteps echoed through Blackwood Hills.
The monster horde had arrived.
---
From the village behind him, screams and panic spread.
People ran through the streets, carrying whatever they could.
They were not hunters.
They were not warriors.
They were ordinary people who had never faced a disaster of this scale.
---
Emil stood at the edge of the forest.
Alone.
---
Behind him was the village.
Ahead of him was an army of monsters.
---
Kael Draven stood beside him, his expression dark.
"Emil."
The young hunter did not turn.
---
"You understand what you are facing, right?"
---
Emil listened to the approaching horde.
"Yes."
---
"An S-rank monster."
---
"Yes."
---
"A battle you are not prepared for."
---
Emil tightened his grip on his sword.
"Yes."
---
Kael stared at him.
"Then why are you still standing here?"
---
For a moment, Emil was silent.
---
Because he had been asked that question before.
Why fight?
Why risk yourself?
Why care?
---
Years ago, nobody cared when he was thrown into the Forbidden Forest.
Nobody came.
Nobody saved him.
---
But that was exactly why he stayed.
---
"Because I know what happens when everyone turns away."
---
Kael's eyes softened.
---
Emil stepped forward.
"I survived because I had no choice."
---
"But they don't have to."
---
The old hunter was quiet.
Then he smiled faintly.
---
"That answer..."
"Sounds like a true hunter."
---
The monster horde entered the battlefield.
---
The first wave consisted of smaller creatures.
Goblin warriors.
Orc soldiers.
Mutated beasts.
Monsters that normally required hunters to defeat.
---
Thousands of them.
---
Emil moved.
---
Sun Step.
---
His body disappeared like a flash of light.
---
The first monster fell before it understood what happened.
---
A golden blade swept through the battlefield.
---
Sun Sword.
---
Emil moved between enemies.
Every strike was precise.
Every step was calculated.
---
But the numbers were overwhelming.
---
One monster fell.
Ten replaced it.
Ten fell.
A hundred appeared.
---
The battlefield became endless.
---
Kael watched carefully.
Emil was powerful.
Far beyond what his E-rank suggested.
---
But even talent had limits.
---
"You cannot fight an army alone."
Kael whispered.
---
Emil knew.
---
His breathing became heavier.
His muscles began to ache.
---
The system appeared.
Ding!
Combat evaluation:
Current condition:
- Energy consumption: High
- Physical exhaustion: Increasing
- Enemy quantity: Extreme
---
Recommended action:
Retreat.
---
Emil ignored it.
---
The system appeared again.
Warning.
Host's body approaching limit.
---
Still, he continued.
---
A large ogre broke through the monster lines.
A C-rank creature.
It swung a massive weapon toward him.
---
Emil did not dodge.
---
Instead, he stepped forward.
---
He placed his hand against the monster's arm.
---
Sun Body Technique.
---
Energy flowed through his body.
---
He redirected the attack.
The ogre stumbled.
---
Emil struck.
---
The monster collapsed.
---
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
---
He had seen Emil use close combat before.
But this was different.
---
The boy was no longer imitating a swordsman.
He was becoming something unique.
---
Suddenly...
The entire battlefield froze.
---
The monsters stopped moving.
---
Every creature lowered its head.
---
A shadow covered the battlefield.
---
The Triple Head Ogre King had arrived.
---
The massive S-rank monster stepped forward.
---
The first head stared at Emil with rage.
The second released waves of heat.
The third observed silently.
---
The pressure alone forced weaker monsters away.
---
Emil felt his body tense.
---
This was different.
---
The monsters before were enemies.
This was a disaster given form.
---
The system displayed new information.
Ding!
Target analysis complete.
---
Triple Head Ogre King
Rank: S
Level: 159
Attributes:
Strength: Extreme
Defense: Extreme
Regeneration: High
Elemental Ability: Fire
---
Emil's expression changed.
Level 159.
---
The difference was enormous.
---
Kael stepped forward.
"Emil."
---
The young hunter looked at him.
---
"I will hold it back."
---
Emil immediately understood.
"No."
---
Kael frowned.
---
"You are injured."
Emil said.
---
The old hunter was silent.
---
"I can see it."
---
Even without sight, Emil could sense it.
Kael's breathing.
His unstable energy.
The injuries hidden beneath his calm expression.
---
Kael smiled.
"You notice too much."
---
The Triple Head Ogre King roared.
The sound shook the mountains.
---
It raised its fist.
---
The air itself seemed to break.
---
Emil raised his sword.
---
Golden energy gathered around him.
---
The system appeared.
Emergency Mission Update
Stage One:
Survive the monster horde.
Completed.
---
Stage Two:
Defeat or survive against the Triple Head Ogre King.
---
Reward:
Awakening possibility increased.
---
Emil looked at the massive monster before him.
---
For the first time since entering the Forbidden Forest...
He faced an enemy he could not simply overcome through skill.
---
He needed something more.
---
The Triple Head Ogre King attacked.
---
The battle between the sun and the monster king began.