Harry walked out of the rune, sword in hand, and moved toward the camp.
From a distance, he could see soldiers standing in formation, weapons ready and eyes alert. The moment they saw him walking out of the forest, shock spread across their faces. Some of them stepped back in disbelief.
No one expected him to return alive.
Harry walked calmly past them and entered the camp.
"So… here you are."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Harry turned and smiled faintly.
"I thought your soldiers said you were dead," Zara said quietly.
"Might be dead," Harry completed her sentence with a slight smile.
Zara stared at him for a moment, trying to understand what had changed.
"Zara, I need to tell you something. Come with me."
Without asking questions, she followed him.
Harry gathered a group of soldiers and researchers in the central area of the camp.
"I have awakened," Harry said directly.
The crowd exchanged confused looks.
No one believed him.
Harry sighed.
"Soldier, shoot me."
The soldier froze.
"Sir… I can't do that."
"That's an order."
With trembling hands, the soldier fired.
The bullet hit Harry's chest — and dropped to the ground.
No injury.
No blood.
Only silence.
Shock spread across the crowd.
Harry raised his sword and teleported instantly in front of a massive stone. With one clean strike, he sliced it into two pieces and disappeared again, reappearing behind them.
Now fear and respect filled their eyes.
"This planet holds power beyond our understanding," Harry said calmly. "And humans must awaken to survive."
He looked at Zara.
"I am taking you all to the rune."
On their way, they passed through ruined structures buried in the forest.
Broken walls.
Collapsed houses.
Zara stopped walking.
"These… look like human structures."
Harry nodded.
"We are not the first civilization here."
A heavy silence followed them.
After an hour, they reached the rune.
Harry stood at the entrance and turned toward the group.
"Stand in line. One by one."
A soldier stepped forward hesitantly.
"Place your hand on the stone."
He obeyed.
Golden energy surged into his body. He screamed in pain for a few seconds.
Then Snow's voice echoed.
"Congratulations. Awakener detected. Class: Mage. Earth Element."
The soldier collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
The others stepped forward one by one.
Hunters.
Mages.
Healers.
Support types.
Humanity began to awaken.
Within months, the area around the rune turned into a growing city.
Houses were built.
Farms expanded.
Defense systems were created.
Human civilization was reborn.
Soon, Alpha-1 was filled with mana.
The rune was no longer required.
Humans began awakening naturally after a certain age.
Dungeons started appearing across the planet.
They were classified from E to S rank.
Many hunters rose to power.
Some reached A-rank.
But only one reached S-rank.
Harry.
Years passed.
Humanity grew stronger.
But one day, something unexpected happened.
More than seven dungeons appeared at the same time.
Most were below A-rank.
But their aura was dangerously close to S-rank.
Even A-rank hunters felt pressure.
Hunters were deployed everywhere.
Harry personally entered the strongest dungeon.
After a long battle, the dungeon was cleared.
As he exited, he suddenly sensed something.
A dangerous presence.
Near a village.
Harry teleported instantly.
A B-rank monster was attacking civilians.
Hunters were struggling to protect them.
A mother stood in front of her child, ready to die.
The monster charged.
Harry prepared to teleport.
Then something strange happened.
Dark shadows began spreading around the boy.
The child slowly rose into the air.
He raised his hand.
A massive shadow hand emerged from the ground and crushed the monster instantly.
Blood splashed across the ground.
Silence followed.
Harry stood frozen.
He was an S-rank.
Yet for the first time in years…
He felt fear.
The boy collapsed.
His mother caught him before he hit the ground.
Harry immediately appeared in front of them and took them to the hospital.
"So… we finally found him," Snow's voice echoed in Harry's mind.
"Are you sure it's him?" Harry asked.
"This power is not ordinary," Snow replied. "I sensed his aura. I recognized his bloodline."
Harry took a deep breath.
"Then he is one of them…"
"Yes," Snow said. "One has appeared. Five are still missing."
Harry felt relief.
Humanity needed them.
Inside the hospital, a nurse approached him.
"Sir, both mother and child have awakened."
Harry nodded and entered the room.
The boy sat on the bed calmly, while his mother watched him with concern.
Harry introduced himself.
The boy looked at him and smiled slightly.
"My name is Austin," he said calmly. "But I like to be called Shadow."
Harry sensed dark energy around him.
"You are an awakener, aren't you?" Austin asked.
Harry nodded.
"I want to discuss something important with you."
Snow's hologram appeared.
Snow explained things to him.
Austin listened silently.
Then he spoke.
"So… the future of humanity depends on us?"
"You are not alone," Harry said.
Austin smiled.
"This is actually cool."
Harry was surprised by his confidence.
Snow spoke again.
"Give him the chip."
Harry implanted the chip into Austin's head.
The wound healed instantly.
Now Austin could see hidden information and energy levels.
"You must visit the Hunter Association after your recovery," Harry said.
Two days later, Austin arrived at Harry's office.
Harry placed a power-measuring orb in front of him.
"Place your hand on it."
Austin touched the orb.
Crack.
The orb shattered instantly.
Harry's eyes widened.
His potential was terrifying.
But he was still inexperienced.
"For now," Harry said calmly, "you are assigned C-rank."
Austin smiled.
But Harry knew the truth.
This boy was far beyond C-rank.
And the future of Alpha-1 had just changed.
— End of Chapter 4 —
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