The morning arrived quietly, but Kai was already awake.
He had not slept much. Instead, he had spent the night analyzing every possible outcome of joining the guild. The advantages, the risks, the opportunities, and the dangers.
Information.
Access.
Stronger dungeons.
Enemies.
Surveillance.
Betrayal.
Kai looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were no longer unstable or desperate like before. They were calm. Cold. Focused.
“Control,” he whispered.
Everything depended on control.
The headquarters of the guild rose like a fortress in the center of the city. It was large, modern, reinforced with mana barriers and defensive arrays. Even from outside, Kai could feel the power inside.
Hunters walked in and out confidently. Some arrogant, some disciplined, some clearly dangerous.
Kai stepped inside.
The receptionist recognized him immediately.
“You came.”
“Yes.”
She contacted someone.
Moments later, the leader appeared.
The man who had pushed him into the abyss.
He smiled.
“I knew you would accept.”
Kai bowed slightly.
“It is the logical choice.”
The leader laughed softly. “Good. But first, we test you.”
Of course.
Kai had expected that.
They walked through long corridors until they reached a large underground training arena.
It was enormous.
Multiple observers watched from above. Analysts, mages, and elite hunters.
The atmosphere was tense.
Kai noticed everything.
Security formations.
Hidden observers.
Escape routes.
Possible traps.
The leader spoke.
“This is a standard evaluation. Combat, control, adaptability, and mental stability.”
Kai nodded.
“Understood.”
The first test began.
A machine appeared in the center.
A mana pressure device.
“Release your aura.”
Kai hesitated internally.
He could not show the abyss.
He carefully controlled his mana, suppressing the Devourer.
The pressure increased.
Observers whispered.
“His control is excellent.”
“Low output but stable.”
“Interesting.”
The result appeared.
Mana Rank: B-
The leader raised an eyebrow.
“Higher than expected.”
Kai said nothing.
The second test.
Reaction speed.
Multiple drones attacked.
Kai moved calmly, using minimal shadow control, hiding his true speed. He dodged, countered, and destroyed them efficiently.
Not perfect.
But impressive.
The observers wrote notes.
“Strategic fighter.”
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“Efficient.”
“Does not waste energy.”
The third test.
Combat.
A Rank B hunter stepped into the arena.
“Show us what you can do.”
Kai studied him.
Large.
Aggressive.
Direct.
Predictable.
The fight began.
The hunter attacked violently, trying to dominate with strength.
Kai retreated.
Waited.
Analyzed.
Minutes passed.
The audience grew restless.
Then suddenly, Kai moved.
He exploited a small opening.
One precise strike.
The hunter fell.
Silence filled the arena.
The leader smiled.
“Interesting.”
But the evaluation was not over.
The leader spoke again.
“One final test.”
The atmosphere changed.
The doors opened.
A monster.
Rank B.
Released into the arena.
Kai’s eyes sharpened.
So this was the real test.
Survival.
Control.
Killing instinct.
The beast roared and charged.
Kai’s shadows moved instinctively, but he limited their power. The fight was brutal. He allowed himself to be injured, to appear realistic, but maintained control.
He analyzed the creature’s patterns.
Weak points.
Rhythm.
Behavior.
Time slowed.
His mind accelerated.
Finally, he ended it with a decisive strike.
The monster collapsed.
The observers were silent.
Then applause.
The leader walked forward.
“You hid your true strength.”
Kai met his gaze calmly.
“I prefer efficiency.”
The leader laughed.
“Good answer.”
They moved to a private room.
The leader sat across from him.
“Your official rank… B.”
Kai nodded.
Higher rank meant better opportunities.
Stronger dungeons.
Faster growth.
But also more danger.
The leader leaned forward.
“From today, you are a member of this guild.”
Kai accepted.
Inside, his thoughts were cold.
Step one complete.
He would learn everything.
Every secret.
Every weakness.
Every ally and enemy.
And when the time was right…
He would devour them all.
As he left the room, the abyss inside him stirred again.
Stronger.
Hungry.
Patient.
Kai smiled faintly.
“The hunt has begun.”
As he left the room, the abyss inside him stirred again.
Stronger.
Hungry.
The guild corridors felt different now.
Kai walked through them as an official member, but nothing had changed in his mind. This place was not home. It was not safety. It was a battlefield filled with hidden enemies and temporary allies.
Every hunter he passed evaluated him.
Every gaze carried curiosity, suspicion, or challenge.
Good, Kai thought. Let them underestimate me.
He had already studied the guild’s structure. Teams, hierarchies, power levels, political conflicts. There were internal rivalries, secret alliances, and hidden agendas.
Perfect conditions.
He stopped in front of the mission board.
Requests filled the screen: dungeon clears, escort missions, monster extermination, artifact retrieval.
Kai ignored most of them.
Too easy.
Too public.
Too controlled.
His eyes focused on one.
Rank B Dungeon – Recently Formed.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Minimal information.
High reward.
High risk.
He smiled faintly.
“Perfect.”
Hours later, he stood at the dungeon gate.
The sky above was gray. The atmosphere heavy. The portal pulsed like a living wound in reality.
Several teams were preparing to enter.
Among them, loud voices.
A group of hunters arguing.
Kai listened quietly.
“She’s useless.”
“She can’t even protect herself.”
“Why did the guild even accept her?”
“Support without a team is trash.”
A young woman stood nearby, head lowered, fists clenched. She wore light armor, clearly support-type equipment. Her aura was stable but not aggressive.
Rank B.
Kai’s perception sharpened.
She was not weak.
Just inexperienced.
Or… controlled.
Interesting.
One of the hunters pushed her lightly.
“Don’t enter alone. You’ll die.”
She did not respond.
Her eyes, however, were filled with frustration.
Kai approached.
The group looked at him.
“What do you want?”
Kai ignored them and spoke to the girl.
“You need a partner.”
She blinked, surprised.
“I… yes, but—”
“I need a support.”
Silence.
The group laughed.
“This guy wants dead weight.”
Kai’s gaze turned cold.
“Leave.”
The pressure in his voice made them hesitate. Something about him felt dangerous, even without visible power.
They left, muttering.
The girl looked at him.
“Why?”
Kai answered honestly.
“Because you’re not useless.”
Her eyes widened.
“How do you know?”
“I observe.”
She hesitated.
“I’m Aris.”
“Kai.”
She nodded.
“Are you sure? This dungeon is unstable.”
“That’s why I chose it.”
For the first time, she smiled slightly.
Inside, the dungeon was darker than expected.
The air felt thick.
Oppressive.
Aris activated support magic, creating a faint barrier around them.
Kai noticed immediately.
High-quality mana control.
Precise.
Efficient.
Not weak at all.
“Your team underestimated you.”
She sighed.
“They only see combat power. I can’t attack, so they think I’m useless.”
Kai responded calmly.
“Combat is only one part of survival.”
She looked at him.
“You think like a strategist.”
He did not answer.
Monsters appeared quickly.
Rank B creatures.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Kai moved first.
His new blade cut through shadows and flesh with precision. Aris enhanced his speed and perception.
Kai paused.
Interesting.
Her support increased his reaction time significantly.
The system reacted.
Kai’s mind accelerated.
With her support, he could fight above his current level.
This was valuable.
Very valuable.
Hours passed.
They moved deeper.
Ari’s confidence slowly grew. She adjusted her spells, predicted threats, and adapted to Kai’s strategy.
Kai noticed everything.
She learned fast.
Very fast.
At one point, multiple monsters attacked simultaneously.
Aris reacted instantly, creating layered barriers.
Kai eliminated them one by one.
Efficient.
Controlled.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“You’re improving.”
Her eyes shone.
“No one ever said that before.”
Kai remained silent.
Encouragement was a tool.
But for some reason… it did not feel like manipulation.
That was dangerous.
Finally, they reached the boss chamber.
The massive door stood before them.
Aris hesitated.
“Are you ready?”
Kai nodded.
“Yes.”
But internally, his mind was calculating.
Her support increased survival rate.
But also created attachment.
Attachment was weakness.
Yet… controlled attachment could become strength.
He opened the door.
Inside waited a terrifying creature.
A twisted fusion of beasts, covered in black armor and living spikes.
The pressure was intense.
Aris stepped back.
Kai stepped forward.
“Stay behind me.”
The boss roared.
The battle began.
Ari’s support pushed Kai beyond his limits. His shadows moved faster. His defense increased. His perception sharpened.
The system reacted continuously.
The fight was brutal.
Kai was injured multiple times, but Flesh Regeneration and Ari’s healing kept him alive.
Step by step, they weakened the boss.
Finally, with perfect coordination, Kai pierced its core.
The monster collapsed.
Silence.
The system appeared.
Kai exhaled.
Progress.
Slow but unstoppable.
Aris sat down, exhausted.
“We did it…”
Kai looked at her.
“Yes.”
She laughed weakly.
“I’ve never cleared a dungeon like this.”
He extended his hand.
“Then continue.”
She looked at him, surprised.
“With you?”
“For now.”
Her face flushed slightly.
“Okay.”
Kai realized something.
She was useful.
Not only for combat.
But for the future.
And for the first time since his rebirth, the abyss inside him did not reject the idea.
Instead…
It watched.
Curious.
Hungry.
Patient.
The hunt had become more complex.
And far more interesting.
