The battlefield had settled, but the real war was only beginning.
With the first wave of monsters dealt with, the world had changed. Hunters were real. Gates were real. Power was real.
And the five major guilds had begun moving.
Each guild had a different approach. Some worked openly, stepping forward and extending offers without hesitation. Others moved from the shadows, watching, waiting for the right moment.
But one thing was certain—this was a race for power.
And in that race, I was an anomaly.
The Guilds Take Their Pick
The Titan's Fang scout, a massive man with arms thick as tree trunks, stomped toward Alec.
"You fight like a beast," he said, his voice like rolling thunder. "You belong with us."
Alec hesitated for only a second before grinning. "Damn right I do."
Elaine was next. A woman from Silverlight Order approached, her movements sharp and precise.
"We value skill and discipline," she said, meeting Elaine's gaze. "You have both. If you want to refine them—join us."
Elaine only nodded. She had already made up her mind.
Derrick, the cocky bastard, leaned against a broken wall as a scout from Phantom Reapers approached him.
"I like the way you fight," the scout said simply.
Derrick smirked. "Then you'll love the way I win."
The deals were being made. Hunters were choosing their paths.
Then, they turned to me.
The guild scouts hesitated.
I saw the doubt in their eyes.
They knew what I had done in battle. They knew I was fast—too fast. Strong—too strong.
But they didn't understand how.
And because of that…
They were afraid.
Not afraid of my power.
Afraid of investing in something they didn't understand.
The silence stretched.
Then, finally—
A woman stepped forward.
Unlike the others, she wasn't a scout. She wasn't wearing a guild insignia.
She wore the official black and gold uniform of the Hunters' Association.
"You," she said. "Come with me."
I followed her, not because I fully trusted the situation, but because there wasn't much else to do.
The guilds were hesitating. They wanted to recruit strong Hunters, but only the ones they could understand.
And me? I wasn't exactly easy to figure out.
The woman led me to a heavily armored transport vehicle. The insignia of the Hunters' Association was painted on the side.
She gestured toward the door. "Get in."
I glanced at her, then at the vehicle.
"…Am I in trouble?"
She let out a tired sigh. "No. But there are some people who want to talk to you."
That didn't exactly ease my nerves, but it wasn't like I had a better option.
With one last look back at the others, I stepped inside.