Natsuya walked alone through the crowded streets, clutching the bag of weapons meant for his friend. The earlier rejection still burned in his chest. He had pictured himself becoming a hunter today—standing beside his friend, proving himself worthy. Instead, he'd failed, and the city felt heavier than usual.
He was heading toward the subway when something strange flickered in the distance, a portal.
Its surface twisted and rippled with unstable colors, blue, then purple, then a violent red as if reality itself struggled to contain whatever was on the other side. Several hunters were gathered around it, tightening armor straps and readying sharpened blades engraved with faint runes. They moved with the casual confidence of people used to facing death.
When they noticed Natsuya carrying a bag full of weapons, they approached with interest.
Hunter #1: "Hey, kid. Those blades look pretty nice. You joining us for a raid?"
Natsuya: "Me? No... I'm not a hunter. And I'm not from around here."
Hunter #2 scanned the weapons with his system.
Hunter #2: "The Diamond Slasher and the Infernal Slasher... wow. Pyrokinetic Flow and Sparkling Retribution. These are real weapons."
Hunter #3 leaned in, impressed.
Hunter #3: "You're telling me your friend gets to use these? I'd take the Infernal Slasher myself."
Natsuya: "He got accepted today. I didn't. I'm just holding them until he finishes registration."
A B-rank hunter stepped forward—calm, confident, and slightly amused.
Sang-guk: "Tough break. I'm Jung Sang-guk. You'll get another chance."
Natsuya: "Myurei Natsuya. I hope so."
Sang-guk looked back toward the portal.
Sang-guk: "This realm might be an easy one for us. If we're lucky, it'll put us one step closer to an S-rank mission."
Natsuya: "Good luck, then."
He stepped past them and descended toward the subway entrance.
But before he reached the steps—
The hunters suddenly shouted behind him.
"Portal shift! It's destabilizing—everyone move!"
The ground trembled. The swirling colors expanded outward like a bursting bubble.
And for a moment, Natsuya had no time to react.
The world warped, His vision blurred, Cold air slammed against his face, and he was pulled into the realm.
Natsuya: "It's like another world here! Like if I had stepped into a wonderland. I don't sense presence from the strong demons.
The Realm looked hollow, resembling a cave, and with a dark atmosphere. A rock fell down from above, making an echo once it hit the ground, until it triggered a bellow of demons.
Sang-guk: "Hey, Kazuto, as an E-Grade, is this realm frightening you?"
Kazuto: "Just a little. I'm ready to take the credit."
Sang-guk: "I feel the same way, take the credit as long as you work for it."
*He sees a demon*
"Akuzemi! Watch out!"
Sang-guk: "*Looks at Kazuto* Stay back. Tell the D, E-Grades, and the other two to go back near the entrance to get the materials. Gyu, as an E-Grade, it shouldn't be that difficult."
Gyu: "Yes sir!"
Akuzemi: "*Looks at the red, horned demon, judging how weak it is* Oh, an E-Grade, huh? That's a difference of two grades, and you're no match for me!"
Akuzemi threw his green dagger at the demon, paralyzing it, and then decapitated its head strongly. He saw more E-Grade demons, until that's when Sang-guk stepped into the fight and used the Infernal Slasher to rend the demons, with little to no effort.
Akuzemi: "This is easy! We can wipe out this realm with no difficulty!"
Sank-guk: "This is just the beginning. It's early to celebrate, as there will be more demons surging."
Akuzemi: "Fine... out of many realms, this seems similar to the ones that had no C-Grade demons."
Sang-guk: "You good, Natsuya?"
Natsuya: "*From a distance, picking up materials with the rest of the team* Yes. What should I do now?"
After Sang-guk and the C-Grades fought the demons, they uncovered two tunnels in the cave, unaware one cave leads to continuation of the raid, the other one is unknown.
Sang-guk: "*Finds there are two tunnels to choose* There are two tunnels that we have to choose."
Sang-guk hears demons from the left tunnel, and the right tunnel is silent.
Natsuya: "*Walking to Sang-guk, alongside Gyu, E, and D-Grade hunters* Which tunnel should we take? Are one of the portals the right way?"
Sang-guk: "It's the right tunnel, but can you guys go there first? And the C-Grades have to pick up the gems the demons dropped."
Gyu: "Is this safe? We can't handle killing demons like this!"
Kazuto: "Yeah, unless we get you guys' help."
D-Grade Hunter: "It's like 7 vs. 1000."
Sang-guk: "I sense the demons are coming in about 30 seconds. We'll be there before that time."
The rest of the team had walked inside the right tunnel, with deep silence. We didn't hear any demons roaring or stomping.
Natsuya: "Wait.. why are we going deeper? It's just pure silence, and there are no demons here."
Gyu: "Wait for them, as they are picking up the gems from the demons, they may be mistaken and call us."
D-Grade Hunter: "Ok... *Thinks deeper* Wait, what gems?"
Natsuya: "Oh, I think they-"
Rocks from the top of the tunnel fall down, blocking the entrance. The last time I saw Sang-guk equipping his bow and arrow, heavily implying he used the arrow to barricade the tunnel. Dust scattered in confusion, until the rest of the team got the moment to realize we were betrayed.
Gyu: "NO! NO! NO!!!!!!!!!"
Natsuya: "Guys, calm down. Try pulling the big rocks out of the way. We will be out of here and confront them."