Back at the corporation's headquarters near the hospital Natsuya was at, there was a discussion of S-Grade hunters, known to be in the Starlight Guild. They were sitting at a conference table, talking about the future of the corporation and its hunters.
Lee-Seok: "The corporation is moving too fast. Two new regional branches in one year. That's not stability, that's panic."
Min-ju: "Public confidence is slipping. Gate incidents are increasing, and D-Rank casualty rates are up. From the board's perspective, expansion looks like control."
Yura: "Control built on underpaid D-Grades and exhausted A-S ranks. They're stretching the system thin."
Hae-yeon: "That's always how it starts. Growth before collapse."
Min-ju: "*Changing the projection. A report appears, sparse and incomplete* There was an incident today. A confirmed D-Grade demon kill."
Lee-seok: "Which guild?"
Min-ju: "None. No registered hunter above E-Rank was in the area. That's the problem."
Hae-yeon: "It's that... hunter!"
Lee-seok: "Oh, you know him?"
Hae-yeon: "Well, no, I read the statistics about the portal, but only one unidentified hunter cleared it alone."
"Not an E-Grade, but somewhere weaker. He's more mysterious now."
Hae-yeon: "Not without dying."
Min-ju continued: "No name. No guild tag. The mana residue doesn't match standard techniques either. Clean kill. Fast."
Lee-seok: "*Tapping the table at once* Misclassification?"
Min-ju: "Unlikely."
Hae-yeon: "If word of this gets out, the ranking system becomes a joke."
Lee-seok: "The corporation knows, that's why they're nervous. If someone outside the structure can do that, it means the structure isn't absolute."
Hae-yeon: "Or it means something new is starting."
Lee-seok: "*Standing up, walking out the door* We focus on the future. Tighter oversight. More restrictions. Fewer unknowns, and keep that incident buried. Whoever did it isn't our concern yet."
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Back at the fight, Natsuya remains in a critical condition, with him barely moving. The Guardian is about to give him a final blow, but he has some mana left, and his hunter system quickly masters a new upgrade for his move.
Natsuya: "*Standing up, with 45% mana* Damn it... DAMN IT ALL!!!!"
With this rage, Natsuya quickly grabs his dagger, harpooning the Guardian's neck, then kicking its body to repel it away from him. The Guardian could not perceive the event of his rage. Natsuya pulls his dagger from the Guardian's bleeding neck, then infuses his blade with mana, increasing its attack potency, but it increases drastically.
Natsuya's Hunter System: "Passive Skill: Mana Infusion: Mastery Level 20. New Upgrade: Medium strikes to Armor-piercing strikes."
Natsuya cleaves the Guardian, heavily and violently attacked at a breakneck speed, ripping out its armor.
Natsuya: "*In rage* YOU MUST DIE HERE NOW!!!"
With the Guardian left vulnerable and helpless, Natsuya let out a final attack by stabbing its face strongly, killing it. The Guardian's corpse fell to the ground, then Natsuya yanked his dagger back.
Natsuya's Hunter System: "Level Up. Current Level: 50. New Equipment: Diamond Guardian's Armor Pack. C-Grade. Defense 35% Damage Deflection 65%."
Daily Quests: "23 hours, 12 minutes remaining. 5/5: Clear E-Grade Realms. 50/50: Level Up. 1/1: Clear the C-Rank Diamond Dimension. Daily Quest complete. Item Stored: Daily Quest Giftbox."
Natsuya: "*Wearing the armor virtually* It's very overpowered, as an E-Grade hunter wearing it. But the drawbacks are the swords or hunters with very durable fists. I'll open the gift later."
The Admin: "Although there are hours left for this portal to destabilize, a few more entities remain in there, and kill it."
Hunter System: "Quest Added. 0/3: Kill the entities."
Natsuya: "I'm confused. I already cleared this realm, and there are still more demons inside?"
The Admin: "They are not demons."
Natsuya: "Interesting. I guess I'll check it myself."
Ryuji: "*From a distance* Natsuya, be careful. I'm counting on you. Right now, I feel weak, and I have to go back to my room. I regenerated from the hunter system because of leveling up. Good luck!"
Natsuya: "Thanks, I'm confident... but I just need to execute one more task given by The Admin."
He walks inside the portal, finding himself in a cavern filled with diamonds, then he sees a group of hunters, as his hunter system identifies them as B-Grades and C-Grades. Natsuya walks deeper, coming to find out who these hunters are.