The world had changed forever.
One year after the Catastrophe, humanity was still trying to understand what it had survived. The skies—once serene—now bore jagged scars, crimson rifts that never healed. From these wounds in the fabric of reality came the Gates: portals of deep red energy that pulsed like living hearts. Each one loomed like an omen, a breach between realms from which monsters emerged—ranging from manageable threats to world-ending horrors that turned entire cities into graveyards.
The emergence of these Gates shattered the world order. Governments collapsed. Borders vanished. But from that chaos, a new force rose: Hunters—individuals chosen by divine blessings to battle what lay beyond the veil.
Nestled deep in the Philippines, hidden in a shielded valley and surrounded by enchanted forests, stood a bastion of humanity's hope: **Philippine Hunter University**.
Here, the chosen were trained to become legends.
Grim Arclight stood just outside its gates, staring into the sprawling campus beyond. Towering stone arches wrapped in protective sigils framed the entrance like the jaws of some ancient creature. A warm breeze brushed against him, tousling his raven-black hair. At seventeen, Grim stood tall and sharp-eyed, his expression unreadable, carved from quiet thought.
He wore the PHU uniform: tailored dark slacks, a crisp white shirt with silver trim, and a charcoal blazer embroidered with the university's crest—a golden phoenix rising from a ring of flame. The threads shimmered with mana, alive like the heartbeat of the campus itself.
Around him, new students flowed through the gate like a tide. Some looked around in awe; others chattered nervously, laughter trying to mask the pressure in their chests. The air buzzed with anticipation and magic. Drones hovered, filming the incoming class. Beyond, soaring towers, domed academies, and enchanted training fields stretched out like a city built for demigods.
But Grim didn't move. He observed in silence.
"Woah, you're tall."
The voice came from beside him.
Grim turned his head slightly. A boy with wild red hair and sun-browned skin beamed up at him. His grin was impossibly wide, and a tiny flame flickered across his knuckles before vanishing.
"I'm Marcus! Just awakened last month. Fire affinity," he added proudly. "Check it out!"
He raised a hand again, and a small fireball spun into life, crackling before vanishing with a pop.
Grim gave a slight nod.
Before he could speak, a girl approached them. She had shoulder-length chestnut hair, calm hazel eyes, and a gentle but confident presence. A silver brooch shaped like a leaf adorned her blazer.
"Showing off again?" she said to Marcus, then turned to Grim. "Don't let him scare you. I'm Liya. Healer type. You?"
"Grim," he said simply.
Liya tilted her head. "That's it?"
Marcus leaned forward. "C'mon, man, you gotta tell us your blessing."
"I don't know yet."
Both blinked.
"Mysterious," Liya said, smiling. "I like that." Her eyes lingered on Grim for a moment longer than necessary.
A resonant chime echoed through the air. The very stones beneath them seemed to hum.
"That's our cue!" Marcus said. "Opening ceremony time."
The central plaza of PHU was breathtaking. It was built like an arena of marble and crystal, with golden banners fluttering from floating spires. Students gathered beneath the clear sky, standing before a white stage marked with the sigil of the Student Council.
Professors stood along the stage edges—figures cloaked in long robes, each of them a former elite Hunter whose mere presence radiated danger and wisdom. Among them, Grim spotted a woman with pale green hair tied back in a loose braid.
**Professor Karina.** Head of Section A. Combat and theory instructor. Her blessing: **Nature Manipulation**.
The plaza fell silent as a new figure walked onto the platform.
She wore the second-year uniform, trimmed in silver. A Council badge glittered at her collar. Long silver hair framed her face, and her violet eyes seemed to pierce through illusions and doubt.
**Elyse.** Student Council President. Gravity Manipulator. Idol of the university.
Grim's breath caught—not because of her reputation, or even her striking beauty. It was something else. A pull. As if the world itself tilted when she walked. As if time recognized her.
"Welcome," Elyse said, her voice serene but commanding. "You are here because you hold potential. A spark, gifted from the divine."
Not a sound broke the stillness.
"But power alone is not enough. It must be honed. Tempered. Your blessing is not your limit—it is your first step. What you do with it defines your future."
Her eyes scanned the crowd.
And for a heartbeat, they met Grim's.
Her voice faltered—only slightly. Her head tilted. A flicker of something passed through her expression: confusion, maybe recognition.
Then it was gone.
Later, in their classroom, Section A sat in rows of black obsidian desks, each carved with runes. The walls glowed faintly with ambient mana, and the ceiling showed a live projection of the sky above the university.
Professor Karina stood at the front.
"Today's lesson is not about fighting," she said. "It's about understanding the core of what makes you a Hunter."
She tapped a floating crystal, and a holographic form of a human body appeared. Inside it, glowing nodes pulsed in the chest, along the spine, and near the limbs.
"This is your **core**. The source of your strength. It draws mana and fuels your blessing. Some of you already feel it. Others will awaken it through trial. Or trauma."
Her gaze landed briefly on Grim. Not judgmental. Curious.
Grim stared at the image. He felt... something. A heat beneath his ribs. A stirring. Like old embers catching wind.
*Who are you?* a whisper seemed to ask—not from outside, but within.
Class ended. The students dispersed. Marcus and Liya chatted excitedly. Grim walked alone, the sky now bathed in gold as the sun dipped behind the mountains.
The road outside the university was empty, quiet.
Then he saw her.
An old woman stood alone at the edge of the crosswalk. Her shawl was tattered, and she leaned on a cane. Her eyes shimmered—silver, like starlight on water.
She looked directly at Grim.
"Grim," she said softly.
He froze.
He hadn't told her his name.
"You walk the path unseen," she whispered. "But not unchosen."
The wind picked up. Leaves danced in the air.
Then—she vanished.
Not turned. Not walked away.
Vanished.
Grim stared at the empty sidewalk. A cold chill ran through him. Not fear—something older. Deeper.
He didn't know it yet, but a goddess had spoken to him.
And his mark had already been made.