The war hadn't begun.
But the world already felt it coming.
News spread faster than wildfire.
The destruction of Astra Prime's skyline…
The appearance of the hidden continent…
The clash with an Abyss Herald…
And most importantly—
The rise of a single name.
Kael Varyn.
Across nations, factions, and guilds—
One truth became undeniable:
He had changed everything.
Three Days Later
The city had begun to recover.
Reconstruction was underway, led by elite hunters and advanced technology. Entire districts were being rebuilt at unnatural speed.
But beneath that progress—
Tension simmered.
Because everyone knew:
That crack in the sky still remained.
Small.
Barely visible.
But present.
A reminder.
Inside a newly constructed high-rise—
A massive hall stood at its center.
Minimalist.
Cold.
Powerful.
At the head of the room—
Kael sat.
Relaxed.
Calm.
But his presence alone filled the space.
Before him—
Dozens of hunters stood in silence.
Some were nervous.
Some were confident.
Some were terrified.
All of them had come for one reason.
To join the newly formed guild—
Blood Ascendants.
Zarek leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed.
"…Didn't expect this many."
Kael glanced at the crowd.
"…This is just the beginning."
Zarek smirked.
"…You're enjoying this."
Kael didn't deny it.
Because this—
Was control.
Not chaos.
A system screen appeared in front of Kael.
Guild Management Interface
Applicants: 312
Recommended Tier: Elite-Selective Recruitment
Kael stood.
The room instantly fell silent.
"…If you're here," he said,
"…then you already know what this is."
His gaze swept across them.
"…I'm not building a normal guild."
A ripple of tension spread through the crowd.
"…I'm building a force."
Some shifted uneasily.
Others leaned forward.
"…The world is about to change," Kael continued.
"…And most of you won't survive what's coming."
Silence.
Heavy.
Brutal.
"…So I'll make this simple."
His aura flared slightly.
"…If you can't keep up—"
The pressure in the room spiked.
"…leave."
A few hunters immediately stepped back.
They understood.
This wasn't an opportunity.
It was a gamble.
The rest stayed.
Kael nodded.
"…Good."
Suddenly—
The doors opened.
A powerful presence entered the room.
All eyes turned instantly.
A woman stepped forward.
Calm.
Elegant.
But overwhelmingly powerful.
Seraphina Lux.
Zarek raised an eyebrow.
"…Didn't expect her to show up in person."
Kael didn't react.
"…You're here to recruit?"
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"…No."
She walked forward slowly.
"…I'm here to observe."
Her gaze moved across the room.
Then—
Stopped on Kael.
"…And to confirm something."
Kael crossed his arms.
"…What?"
Seraphina's expression grew serious.
"…That you're as dangerous as they say."
Silence.
Kael smirked slightly.
"…And?"
Seraphina didn't hesitate.
"…You're worse."
A few hunters shifted nervously.
Zarek chuckled quietly.
"…She's not wrong."
Kael ignored him.
"…Then you've seen enough."
Seraphina shook her head.
"…Not yet."
She stepped closer.
"…Because you're not the only one preparing."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Explain."
Seraphina's voice lowered slightly.
"…The top guilds have begun mobilizing."
Names flashed through the minds of those present:
The Radiant Order.
The Storm Dominion.
The Bloodfang Legion.
And others—
Far worse.
"…And beyond them," she continued,
"…the Global Hunter Council is activating the ranking system."
Zarek straightened slightly.
"…Ranking?"
Seraphina nodded.
"…The Top 10 Strongest Hunters."
The room erupted into murmurs.
Kael remained silent.
"…And you're telling me this why?"
Seraphina met his gaze.
"…Because you're already being considered."
Silence fell again.
"…But," she added,
"…so are others."
At that moment—
A massive screen appeared in the hall.
Global Hunter Council Broadcast Initiated
A figure appeared.
Hidden in shadow.
Voice distorted.
"…Attention, hunters of Aetherion."
The room went completely still.
"…Due to recent events, the Council has initiated an emergency protocol."
The screen shifted.
Ten empty slots appeared.
"…The Top 10 Strongest Hunters ranking will now be determined."
Names began to flicker.
Some known.
Some unknown.
But one slot—
Glowed brighter than the rest.
Slot #1 — [Undetermined]
Kael watched silently.
The figure continued:
"…These individuals will lead humanity against the coming threat."
The screen flickered again.
"…Or fall trying."
The broadcast ended.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Zarek exhaled.
"…Well."
"…That just made things interesting."
Kael stepped forward.
His aura pulsed slightly.
"…No."
His gaze hardened.
"…That just made things clear."
He looked at the hunters before him.
"…If you join me—"
His voice carried weight.
"…you're not aiming for survival."
A pause.
Then—
"…You're aiming for the top."
Something shifted in the room.
Determination.
Ambition.
Fear—
Turned into resolve.
One by one—
Hunters stepped forward.
Not backing down.
Not leaving.
Choosing.
Kael smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Because this—
Was only the beginning.
Far above the city—
The crack in the sky pulsed faintly.
And beyond it—
Something watched.
Waiting.