The rain didn't stop.
It fell harder now, pounding against the pavement like the city itself was holding its breath.
And in the middle of that empty street…
The hunters attacked.
The first one reached Tae-jun.
Fast.
Too fast.
But Tae-jun reacted instinctively.
He ducked under the hunter's swing and drove his shoulder forward, slamming into the man's chest.
The impact echoed through the street.
The hunter staggered back two steps.
Then smiled.
"…Good reflexes."
Tae-jun frowned.
"Thanks. I practice punching annoying people."
Before the hunter could move again, Tae-jun swung a right hook.
The hunter blocked it easily.
But Tae-jun followed with a kick that sent the man sliding across the wet pavement.
"Okay," Tae-jun muttered.
"They're definitely not normal."
Meanwhile another hunter rushed toward Seo-yeon.
She screamed.
"WHY AM I ALWAYS THE TARGET?!"
Before the hunter could grab her—
Dae-hyun appeared.
He caught the hunter's wrist and twisted it sharply.
The hunter flipped backward, landing lightly on his feet.
Rain splashed around him.
The leader watched calmly from the streetlight.
Like this was just another routine mission.
"Impressive," he said quietly.
"But unnecessary."
Hae-in stepped back beside me.
Her green ring pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
Almost reacting to the danger.
"Ji-hoon," she whispered.
"Something's wrong."
I didn't take my eyes off the hunters.
"…A lot of things are wrong."
"No," she said softly.
"Your ring."
I froze.
"I don't have one."
But she shook her head slowly.
"You do."
My chest tightened.
At that exact moment—
The leader snapped his fingers.
Two hunters rushed toward Jin-woo.
He raised his silver ring instinctively.
The stone flashed.
A burst of light exploded outward.
The hunters were thrown backward.
Sliding across the rain-soaked street.
Seo-yeon blinked.
"…Did he just do magic?"
Jin-woo looked just as shocked as everyone else.
"…I didn't mean to do that."
Tae-jun grinned.
"Nice."
But the leader wasn't surprised.
He simply nodded.
"The fifth ring has awakened."
Seo-yeon stared.
"Awakened?"
Dae-hyun cursed under his breath.
"That's bad."
Seo-yeon looked at him.
"Why is it bad??"
Before he could answer—
The leader pointed directly at me.
"Bring me the sixth ring."
Everything went quiet.
I frowned.
"…You're pointing at the wrong guy."
But the hunter's eyes didn't move.
"You've always had it."
Seo-yeon blinked.
"Ji-hoon doesn't have a ring."
The hunter smiled faintly.
"Not yet."
Then my chest burned.
Not pain.
Something else.
Something ancient.
Something waking up.
I dropped to one knee.
The sensation spread through my arm.
Down to my hand.
Seo-yeon panicked.
"Ji-hoon?!"
Hae-in whispered,
"…It's happening."
The burning light spread across my fingers.
Lines of golden light traced across my skin.
Like something drawing itself into existence.
And then…
The ring appeared.
A dark bronze ring.
Ancient.
Covered in tiny symbols.
Seo-yeon's mouth fell open.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The hunters stopped moving.
Even the leader looked impressed.
"The sixth ring."
Rain slid down the surface of the bronze metal.
The symbols glowed faintly.
And suddenly—
Another memory exploded in my mind.
Stone walls.
Torches burning.
Seven figures standing before a giant gate.
One of them turned.
And I saw his face.
My face.
But older.
Covered in armor.
Holding a sword.
A voice echoed in the memory.
"Ji-hoon, the gate must never open again."
The vision shattered.
I gasped for breath.
Seo-yeon grabbed my shoulder.
"Ji-hoon!"
I stared at the ring.
"…I've seen that gate before."
Everyone went silent.
Dae-hyun spoke first.
"…What did you say?"
"I remember it."
My voice shook slightly.
"The gate."
The hunter leader smiled slowly.
"Of course you do."
He stepped forward.
Rain dripping from his coat.
"You were one of the guardians."
Tae-jun frowned.
"Guardians of what?"
The hunter's eyes gleamed.
"The prison."
Seo-yeon blinked.
"…Prison?"
The hunter nodded.
"Yes."
He pointed toward the glowing rings.
"These were the seven keys."
Hae-in whispered,
"…Keys to open the gate."
The hunter shook his head.
"No."
His smile widened slightly.
"Keys to keep it closed."
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Jin-woo stared at the rings.
"Then why collect them?"
The hunter looked almost amused.
"Because we're not trying to close it."
Seo-yeon slowly understood.
Her eyes widened.
"…You're trying to open it."
The hunter bowed slightly.
"Exactly."
Behind him, the other hunters moved again.
Preparing to attack.
But something changed.
The bronze ring on my hand burned again.
This time stronger.
The symbols glowed brighter.
And suddenly…
All five rings in our group reacted.
Gold.
Green.
Blue.
Silver.
Bronze.
Five lights ignited in the rain.
The hunters stopped again.
The leader whispered in awe.
"…Five awakened."
Seo-yeon looked at her hand.
The gold ring shone brighter than before.
"What is happening??"
Dae-hyun answered quietly.
"They're recognizing each other."
The rain suddenly stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
Like the world paused.
Even the hunters noticed.
And then—
A new voice echoed from the darkness.
"Enough."
Everyone turned.
A figure stood at the end of the street.
Hidden in shadow.
Slow footsteps echoed as they walked closer.
Then the streetlight revealed them.
A young woman.
Long dark hair.
Calm expression.
On her hand…
A crimson ring.
The seventh ring.
Seo-yeon whispered in shock.
"…All seven."
The woman looked directly at me.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Ji-hoon."
My heart froze.
Because somehow…
I knew her voice.
Even though we had never met.
"You promised," she said softly.
The bronze ring burned in response.
"You promised you would protect the gate."
The hunters stared in disbelief.
The leader whispered,
"…Impossible."
But the woman's crimson ring glowed like fire in the night.
And she looked at me with sad eyes.
"Do you remember me yet?"
Another memory trembled at the edge of my mind.
And I suddenly realized something terrifying.
This woman…
Was standing beside me in the memory of the gate.
Thousands of years ago.