Inside the Hunter Association building, a young man sprinted toward the open doors. He burst through them, flailing his hands wildly, his chest heaving with exertion.
"I need to go to Dimension 10 right now!" he yelled, his voice cracking with urgency. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool interior.
Someone approached him calmly, unruffled by the commotion. "Dimension 10? Which portal exactly?"
"I don't care, you moron! I just want to go to Dimension 10!" The young man's eyes were wild, desperate, darting around the lobby as if the portal might materialize before him. "I need to find him. Need to find him." His hands trembled, betraying the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The staff member smiled, intrigued by what this person sought in Dimension 10. His curiosity piqued as he studied the frantic visitor, noting the expensive but disheveled clothing and the telltale bulge of weapons beneath his coat.
"Just so you know, I need to find someone," the young man explained, trying to steady his breathing. Each word came out in gasps. "There's a bounty—a million dollars for whoever kills this person first."
The staff member crossed his arms. "So you're in it for the money." His expression shifted from curiosity to mild disdain.
He sighed, shaking his head with evident disappointment, as if he'd seen this scenario play out countless times before. "Bounty? I know everything about killing for a few million dollars. Honestly, the same person wouldn't normally let you use any portal at all. But whoever this target is, to have caused that much of a bounty on their head, they're probably causing serious trouble right now." He gestured toward a nearby room with open doors, his movements deliberate and measured. "Look, there's a portal over there. You can go in."
The young man's face brightened with relief, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Thank you," he said as he hurried toward the room, already mentally counting his future earnings.
Meanwhile, Carl stood at the edge of a cliffside, staring into the distance. The wind whipped around him, carrying his worried thoughts into the vast expanse below. The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and crimson that he barely noticed.
"When is he going to come back?" Carl muttered, referring to Lucas. His fingers drummed anxiously against his thigh in an irregular rhythm that matched his racing heartbeat. "He should be back by now, unless he's still in Dimension 10 hunting demons or something." The possibility gnawed at him, each passing hour adding weight to his concern.
He looked down over the cliff's edge, his stomach tightening. The drop seemed endless, a physical manifestation of his growing dread. "I'm probably going to have to go back to the Hunter Association to see if I can get to Dimension 10, see where he is." Carl sighed heavily, the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders like an invisible burden. "I'll do that later, though. I have more important matters to deal with." Even as he said it, he knew Lucas's safety should take priority.
His expression darkened, shadows crossing his weathered face. "This kid's made a lot of enemies. Honestly, that four-million bounty isn't going to help anything." He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "What that kid did was right in a sense—he might have done something justified—but he did it to the wrong people. Should have known not to mess with the Warrior Guild. They don't take kindly to enemies." The understatement made his jaw tighten.
Carl's chest tightened as fear crept in, cold and insidious. "And if my friend gets caught in that crossfire..." He shuddered, unable to finish the thought. The images his mind conjured were too terrible to voice. "Then I need to go get him first." He looked down at the cliff once more, his jaw set with determination, the decision crystallizing in his mind. "My priorities can wait. Saving my friend is what I really need to do now." The wind seemed to agree, pushing at his back as if urging him forward.
Meanwhile, inside a cabin where dense trees blocked the surrounding area, Aaron stood with Lucas. The interior was dim, lit only by a single lantern that cast dancing shadows on the rough-hewn walls. Lucas smiled briefly, but the expression dropped instantly, replaced by haunted concern that aged his features.
"What happened to Noah?" Lucas stared down at the floor as if the answers might be written in the worn wooden planks. The memory flooded back—how Noah had suddenly changed, his eyes becoming darker, red aura circling around him before he phased through a pool of shadow in the ground. The image was seared into his mind, replaying on an endless loop.
Aaron stood silently as Lucas caught him up to speed, explaining everything that had happened. He described how his crew was killed when the S-rank demon destroyed them, how Noah transformed without warning, and how everything led up to this moment. Lucas's voice grew quieter with each detail, the trauma evident in his tone, each word seeming to cost him something precious. His hands shook slightly as he spoke, and he had to pause several times to collect himself.
Aaron leaned against the cabin wall, processing the impossible information. "I don't even know how he could have done that. Did something take over him or something?"
Lucas stared ahead, his eyes distant, seeing something Aaron couldn't. "No, I don't think it's that, Aaron," he said slowly, though doubt crept into his voice like poison. "Or maybe it is. I honestly don't know." The admission seemed to pain him. "We're going to have to figure this out together—just the two of us." The weight of that responsibility settled between them like a third presence in the room.
Suddenly, a portal opened not far away from the forest. The air shimmered and crackled with energy, sending birds scattering from nearby trees. Both Aaron and Lucas instantly recognized the telltale shimmer, their bodies tensing in unison.
Aaron's hand moved instinctively toward his weapon. "Someone's coming to this dimension."
"Maybe it's someone from the Hunter Association," Lucas suggested hopefully, though his tone betrayed his doubt.
When the portal finally subsided and someone stepped through, both Aaron and Lucas shifted into fighting stances. The stranger's silhouette was backlit by the portal's fading glow. Aaron gripped his wooden sword tightly, quickly changing its property to a blade, the wood sharpening to a deadly edge with a sound like wind through leaves.
"Should I activate Time Skip?" Aaron whispered urgently, his muscles coiled and ready.
"No. Because of that sword—if it's not in your hand when the Time Skip ends, you're vulnerable. Time Skip only works when you have the sword, remember?" Lucas's tactical mind was already calculating their options.
Aaron's knuckles turned white around the hilt. "Of course I do." The familiar weight of the weapon grounded him.
Confusion etched across Lucas's face. "Who are you talking about?"
"Don't you play dumb with me! You know exactly what I'm talking about!" the man yelled, his voice echoing through the trees. His face was flushed with rage, veins standing out on his neck.
Lucas looked genuinely confused, glancing at Aaron with raised eyebrows. Aaron stared back, equally bewildered, shaking his head slightly.
"Was he talking about—" Aaron started.
Lucas shook his head. "I don't know." The uncertainty gnawed at him.
The man's tone shifted to something almost conversational. "Oh, I get it. Maybe you two got here before the four-million bounty was placed on that kid." He seemed to relax slightly, though his eyes remained hard. "Okay, if that's the case, then let me explain." His voice darkened threateningly, dropping an octave. "But just be aware—if you get in my way, I will kill you too. I'm the one getting that prize." The threat hung in the air like a blade.
His voice returned to normal, almost cheerful, the sudden shift more unsettling than his anger. "Anyway, I'm sure you all know about the Conqueror Clan."
Lucas's eyes widened. "The Conqueror Clan? One of the most powerful clans we have." His stomach dropped. Everyone knew their reputation—ruthless, efficient, and utterly without mercy.
The man's expression hardened, pride and fury mingling in his features. "Indeed. And I'm a member of that clan. Unfortunately, a young man came into our barriers. We all charged and tried to kill him, but he easily dispatched nearly all of our soldiers with his sword—while laughing about it, no less." His fists clenched, rage simmering beneath the surface like magma waiting to erupt. "Which makes me even more pissed off. He was laughing at our murders. And we always pay back in blood." The last words came out as a growl.
Aaron chose each word with precision. "He killed your members. And knowing you guys, that's pretty understandable for you to react like this. But you've got to understand—how old is this kid?" Perhaps appealing to whatever humanity remained in the man might work.
The man's eyes blazed with fury, all pretense of civility vanishing. "You think I care how old he is? He could be fourteen, he could be thirty, he could even be nine years old—I do not care! He deserves to die for doing something like that to the Conqueror Clan!" Spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted.
Lucas straightened his spine, meeting the man's gaze without flinching. "That makes you even more heartless than your clan already looks right now. And honestly, I can't just stand back and watch you kill a kid with your own bare hands. I'm not doing that." Some lines couldn't be crossed, no matter the cost.
The man stepped forward menacingly. Each footfall seemed to shake the ground. "You don't have a choice. When you're in the Conqueror Clan, there's an oath you must abide by or die. In that oath, it states: if anyone kills a member of the Conqueror Clan, you will kill them or die trying. So if my life has to be put on the line to kill this one powerful man, then I will do it without a second thought." His conviction was absolute, terrifying in its certainty.
He paused, reading their expressions with practiced ease. "And if you're thinking I'd kill myself—I won't. Most people do inside the Conqueror Clan, but that's because most people are truly loyal." A bitter smile crossed his face. "The only way I'm dying is if I die while hunting for whoever I must hunt, or if I die by the hand of whom I'm hunting. If I die by the person I'm trying to kill, that is an acceptable reason. Any other reasons are off the table."
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper that somehow carried more weight than his shouting. "All you should know is this: I will not die. I will not rest. I will not sleep. And I will not even eat until this man is dead—or until I'm dead by his hand or by someone else trying to stop me." The obsession in his eyes was unmistakable.
Aaron stepped forward with determination burning in his eyes. He raised his sword, ready to make good on the promise. "Then we will end your life."
The man's lips curled into a predatory smile. "I don't think so, young boy."
Before Aaron could react, the man grabbed him by the neck. The movement was impossibly fast, a blur of motion that defied human capability. Aaron didn't even have time to swipe his sword, use the energy he'd been stockpiling while sleeping, or activate Time Skip or Time Stop. He had no time to use any of his sword's properties. The realization of his helplessness hit him as hard as the iron grip cutting off his air.
Aaron gasped, clawing at the iron grip. His fingers scraped uselessly against the man's hand, finding no purchase. Panic flooded his system as his vision began to darken at the edges.
Lucas's voice shook with fury. "Put him down!" Fear for his friend warred with tactical thinking in his mind.
The man's casual tone made the threat even more chilling. "Now why would I do that? I just told you I'll kill anyone to achieve my goal. So asking that question is idiotic—unless you want me to kill you too. Don't make me. Let me kill this kid without a word about it." He squeezed slightly harder, and Aaron's struggles weakened.
Lucas raised his sword—the sword he was supposed to use against demons in the tenth dimension. The blade caught the fading light, gleaming with purpose. He had decided to bring it, but this time he wasn't going to use it against a demon. He was going to use it against a powerful foe, one who threatened everything he cared about. His grip steadied, resolve hardening like steel in a forge.
Lucas's eyes blazed with defiance, every word a declaration of war. "Screw your Conqueror Guild. Screw your oath. Screw everything that you abide by. And best of all—screw you." He charged forward, sword raised, knowing this might be the last fight of his life but unable to stand by while his friend died.
---
A young man walked up to the doors of the Hunter Association guild and pushed them open. The hinges groaned softly, the sound swallowed by the bustling interior. This was the only guild he could find that he knew of where he didn't have enemies. The other guilds were too far away for him to reach, so he simply walked toward the closest one available. His footsteps echoed on the polished floor, drawing a few curious glances.
He approached the front desk and smiled, his black armor gleaming and his shimmering sword catching the light beside him. The armor seemed to absorb and reflect light simultaneously, creating an unsettling visual effect.
The man asked, his voice pleasant, almost disarmingly so given his intimidating appearance, "Hey, do you know how to make a guild?"
The woman behind the desk raised an eyebrow, her pen pausing mid-stroke. "Usually someone doesn't go to someone else's guild to make a guild, but you know what? Honestly, I don't mind." She set down her pen and pulled out a drawer. "I'll tell you how to make a guild."
She handed him a map, her finger tracing a route with practiced efficiency. "Guild-making processes are by the tournament grounds. If you go a little toward the right of the tournament grounds, you'll be able to find the Guild Building. Walk in and register a guild there." She looked up at him, her expression neutral but not unkind. "Now go."
The young man nodded his thanks and left the Hunter Association, following her directions exactly. He walked in the direction of the tournament grounds, his armor making soft metallic sounds with each step. Usually, people crowded near the tournament grounds, but everyone was too busy hunting demons in different dimensions—mostly Dimension 10 or Dimension 9. Both were extremely popular, offering the best rewards and the greatest challenges. The emptiness felt strange, almost eerie.
The man finally saw the Guild Building looming before him. Its architecture was imposing, designed to inspire awe and respect. He opened the doors and walked up to a panel near the far wall. The building was enormous, and he stood on the first floor, taking in the vast space before focusing on his task. Marble columns stretched toward a vaulted ceiling, and the air smelled faintly of parchment and ambition.
He approached the panel and began the process, his fingers moving across the interface.
"Do you wish to make a guild?" the screen asked in glowing letters.
He clicked yes without hesitation.
"How many people do you have in your guild?"
He clicked two, then paused.
"You must need three or more members to create a guild," the screen informed him, the message blinking red.
The young man smiled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Don't worry," he said softly to the screen.
A dark portal opened beside him, shadows coalescing into a swirling vortex. A creature emerged—completely black in color with two white eyes that glowed with otherworldly intelligence and two greatswords in its hands. This was his loyal pet, his constant companion, bound to him through means he never discussed.
He patted the creature's shoulder affectionately. "I guess this might count. I don't know if it does, but there's only one way to find out."
He switched his guild party member number to three and clicked next, holding his breath slightly.
"What is your guild name?"
The man thought quickly, his mind settling on something fitting. "Shadow Knight. Shadow Knight Guild—that will work." The name felt right, capturing both his nature and his aspirations.
He typed in the name and pressed confirm. The screen flashed green, accepting his registration.
Night smiled at his progress, satisfaction warming his chest. "Now I can finally take down the Warrior Guild and the Conqueror Guild without getting in trouble for murder." His smile widened, taking on a predatory edge. "This is exactly what I wanted." The pieces were falling into place perfectly.
He left the Guild Building and walked toward a nearby park, his mind already racing ahead. Entering the park, he sat down on a bench beneath a sprawling oak tree. The late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, creating patterns of light and shadow on the ground.
He tapped his knee thoughtfully, speaking aloud. "Now, time to think of where exactly I should put my team. Maybe I should go tell Nae. Maybe she'll find a place." The creature stood nearby, silent and watchful. She had a knack for logistics that he lacked.
He stood up from the bench, took out his phone from his pocket, and dialed Nae's number. She picked up immediately, as if she'd been waiting for his call.
Night got straight to business, his voice crisp and efficient. "Nae, I created a guild."
He didn't give her time to speak, the words tumbling out. "And I need a place for my guild to be."
Nae finally spoke, her voice tinged with confusion. "But how? You only have me and you for your guild—unless you decided to make a Slayer a member?" The question hung in the air.
Night glanced at his shadowy companion. "I did. Send me your location. I'll come to you and we can discuss this privately." His tone grew more intense. "And finally, when we have our location and everything ready, I can finally take down the Conqueror and the Warrior Guilds for good." Revenge had never tasted so close.
"I'll try to find something," Nae said, and he could hear the smile in her voice, the excitement matching his own. "Anyway, just drop your location."
She did as asked, the ping arriving moments later. Night looked at her location—she was near the tournament grounds, where he had just been moments ago getting his guild created inside the Guild Building. The coincidence was almost amusing.
He squinted at the screen. "So is she in the tournament grounds or near it? I can't tell with these sloppy location signals." Technology was useful but imperfect.
Determination settled over him like a familiar cloak. "Well, guess I just have to look for her." He stood up. It wouldn't take long.
He left the park area, his shadow creature following silently behind.
As he walked off, a young man hidden behind a large tree smiled, taking out a device. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, reflecting the screen's glow. He'd been following Night for hours, patient and careful.
He chuckled softly, the sound barely audible. "Now I know why the boss told me to look for this kid. He's very interesting, and it seems like he's gotten into more trouble than he already was in. I'm pretty sure the Conqueror and Warrior Clans will both be pleased by my actions. I'll have to inform both of their leaders immediately." Information was currency, and he'd just struck gold.
He paused, considering his next move. "And I don't care about the bounty either. I'm just here to inform them that this kid is making a guild to help them prepare. After all, I'm a messenger, not a murderer." He took pride in his role, in being the eyes and ears that others relied upon.
The man quickly contacted both leaders, his fingers moving with practiced speed. They