Silence lingered over the shattered arena.
Where once stood one of the greatest battlegrounds in the world, there was now only destruction—cracked earth, scorched air, and the lingering residue of powers that should never have collided.
At the center of it all stood Kael Varyn.
Alive.
Victorious.
Changed.
The crowd didn't cheer at first.
They couldn't.
What they had just witnessed…
Was beyond anything they understood.
Then—
A single voice shouted.
"KAEL VARYN!"
Another followed.
Then another.
Until the entire city erupted.
"KAEL! KAEL! KAEL!"
The sound shook what remained of the arena.
Not just cheers—
Recognition.
Acknowledgment.
Fear.
Kael exhaled slowly.
His body still ached.
His muscles screamed from the strain.
But his mind was calm.
Because the system was already responding.
System Notification
World Event Completed
"Rift Sovereign Repulsion"
Rewards Granted
Massive Experience
Reputation Increase (Global)
Hidden Title Unlocked
Kael blinked.
"…Title?"
Title Acquired
Riftbreaker
Effect: Increased damage against interdimensional entities
Effect: Increased resistance to void and dimensional pressure
Kael's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…That's new."
But the notifications didn't stop.
Global Ranking Update Initiated
The massive screens across Astra Prime flickered back to life.
Across the world—
Every major city.
Every guild headquarters.
Every hunter network—
Displayed the same thing.
A ranking list.
The Top Hunters of Aetherion.
Names shifted.
Ranks changed.
Positions updated in real time.
Then—
A new name appeared.
Rank #27 — Kael Varyn
The world froze.
"…Twenty-seven?"
"He just entered the Top 30?!"
"That's impossible!"
"He wasn't even ranked last week!"
High above the arena ruins—
The strongest hunters stood together.
Silent.
Watching.
Kaizer Stormborn crossed his arms.
"…He skipped over a hundred ranks."
Seraphina Lux nodded slightly.
"After defeating a Rift Sovereign…"
"…It's justified."
Draven Bloodfang chuckled.
"He's not just rising…"
"He's forcing his way to the top."
Nearby—
Zarek Voidborn leaned against a broken pillar.
"…Rank 27 already."
He smirked.
"…Guess I'll have to take you seriously now."
Back on the battlefield—
Kael barely reacted to the ranking.
Because something else caught his attention.
Three figures approached him.
Powerful.
Composed.
Dominant.
The Top Hunters.
Seraphina stepped forward first.
Her golden aura dimmed slightly, but her presence remained overwhelming.
"You fought well," she said calmly.
Kael nodded.
"…You too."
Kaizer stepped forward next.
Lightning crackled faintly around him.
"You've got potential."
He smirked.
"…Don't die before reaching the top."
Draven stepped forward last.
His gaze locked onto Kael.
Sharp.
Evaluating.
Then—
He smiled.
"You're one of us."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…Meaning?"
Draven's aura flared slightly.
Wild.
Savage.
"Berserkers don't follow."
"They dominate."
He turned and walked away.
Kael watched him go.
"…I like that."
But before he could think further—
Another presence approached.
Sharp.
Cold.
Familiar.
Zarek stopped a few steps away.
"…Next time," he said.
"…we finish our fight."
Kael smirked.
"…You better be stronger."
Zarek laughed.
"…Count on it."
The moment passed.
But the atmosphere shifted again.
Because now—
The political forces of the world began to move.
Guild representatives rushed into the arena ruins.
Elite scouts.
High-ranking officials.
Powerful figures from the strongest organizations.
Each one with the same goal.
Recruit Kael Varyn.
"Join the Radiant Order!"
"Come to the Storm Dominion!"
"We offer unlimited resources!"
"You'll lead your own division!"
Voices overlapped.
Offers stacked.
Power.
Wealth.
Influence.
Kael frowned slightly.
"…This is annoying."
The system flickered again.
System Notification
New Feature Unlocked
Guild Interface
Kael blinked.
"…Of course there is."
But before he could respond—
The ground trembled slightly.
Not from power.
From something else.
Far away.
Beyond the known world.
Deep within the hidden continent of Umbraxis—
Ancient ruins began to glow.
Massive structures awakened.
And in the darkness—
Eyes opened.
"…The Primordial Bloodline has surfaced."
Elsewhere—
Beyond dimensions—
In a realm untouched by time—
Something stirred.
A voice echoed.
"The war… begins again."
Back in Astra Prime—
Kael looked at the sky.
Something felt off.
Different.
Like the world itself had changed.
He clenched his fist.
Because deep inside—
His bloodline responded.
Calling him forward.
To something greater.
Something inevitable.
Something…
Ancient.