The livestream camera shook violently.
The entire world watched.
On screen—
A small grey figure stood before a towering monster.
The Magma Giant loomed like a walking mountain, lava dripping from its shoulders. Its molten eyes burned with fury as it stared down at Kael.
The chat exploded.
"Who is that guy?!"
"Is he insane?!"
"Where's Vikram?!"
"RIP Unknown Hunter!"
Behind the camera—
Vikram hid behind a broken rock formation.
Sweat ran down his face.
"Idiot…"
He muttered.
"He's dead."
The Magma Giant roared.
GRAAAAAAAH!
Lava spilled from its mouth as it raised its massive arm.
Then—
It slammed downward.
BOOOOM!
The ground exploded.
Fire and ash filled the air.
The camera shook violently.
Dust covered everything.
The viewers held their breath.
Then—
The smoke cleared.
A massive crater remained.
But—
Kael wasn't there.
The giant paused.
Confused.
Then—
A black blur moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kael ran along the giant's arm.
Like a shadow.
His movement almost invisible.
"Bigger…"
He thought calmly.
"...means slower."
Kael's eyes scanned the giant's body.
The joints.
The cracks.
The molten connections.
"Magma joints…"
He analyzed quickly.
"If I cool them…"
"They'll shatter."
Kael jumped.
Mid-air—
He opened his inventory.
Three blue potions appeared in his hand.
High-grade Ice Potions.
Gifted by Elara.
"Perfect timing."
He threw them.
SMASH
SMASH
SMASH
The potions exploded across the giant's shoulder joint.
Steam burst.
HISSSSS
The molten rock hardened instantly.
Black obsidian formed.
The giant froze.
Confused.
Its arm stopped moving.
Kael flipped mid-air.
Pulled out the Naga Daggers.
[Heavy Strike]
He struck.
CRACK.
The frozen joint shattered.
The giant's arm broke off.
THUD.
The entire battlefield shook.
The surviving hunters stared in disbelief.
"He…"
The healer whispered.
"He cut its arm…"
"In one move?"
Even Vikram froze.
His expression twisted.
That should have been his moment.
His victory.
But someone else…
Was stealing everything.
"This…"
He clenched his fists.
"...was supposed to be mine."
The Magma Giant roared louder.
Now enraged.
It raised its remaining arm.
Lava gathered.
[Magma Wave]
A tsunami of molten fire surged forward.
Kael vanished.
Shadow Cloak activated.
The lava wave passed through.
The battlefield burned.
Then—
Vikram saw opportunity.
The giant looked distracted.
He stepped forward.
"Move aside!"
He shouted loudly.
"I'm finishing this!"
He jumped back into camera view.
The viewers noticed instantly.
"Vikram is back!"
"Hero comeback!"
Vikram smiled confidently.
"I weakened it earlier…"
"Now…"
"Final blow!"
He attacked the giant's leg.
CLANG.
The sword bounced back.
The leg remained intact.
Vikram froze.
"...What?"
The giant noticed him.
Slowly.
It raised its massive foot.
Vikram's eyes widened.
"Tankers!"
He shouted.
"Where are the tankers?!"
No one moved.
The hunters looked at him coldly.
"Save yourself… Hero."
Vikram trembled.
The giant's foot descended.
Death approached.
The Magma Giant's massive foot descended.
The air compressed.
Heat surged.
Vikram's body froze.
For the first time—
Real fear filled his eyes.
"N-No…"
He stumbled backward.
But his legs trembled.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't think.
The giant's shadow covered him completely.
"This…"
He thought.
"...I'm going to die."
Then—
A shadow moved.
Fast.
Unseen.
Kael emerged from the darkness.
Not toward Vikram.
But toward the giant.
He ignored Vikram completely.
His target—
The Core.
The Magma Giant's chest glowed faintly.
Cracks formed around a molten core.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"There."
Perfect timing.
The giant raised its foot higher—
Preparing to crush Vikram.
Kael activated his skill.
[Karma Weaver — Absolute Critical]
Golden energy flickered faintly around his daggers.
His next strike—
Guaranteed critical.
Kael dashed forward.
Fast.
He stepped onto falling debris.
Jumped.
Mid-air.
Both daggers drawn.
The giant's chest approached.
Kael stabbed.
Both daggers pierced the molten core.
SQUELCH
Then—
He dragged them downward.
Ripping the core open.
The giant froze.
Its roar died mid-sound.
Cracks spread across its entire body.
Stone formed rapidly.
Then—
CRUMBLE.
The Magma Giant collapsed.
Its body shattered into molten fragments.
The battlefield went silent.
Kael landed.
Directly in front of Vikram.
Fragments of the giant fell around them.
Vikram sat frozen.
Looking up at Kael.
System notification appeared.
[Boss Defeated]
[Contribution Calculated]
[Unknown Hunter — 95%]
[Vikram — 5%]
The surviving hunters stared.
Even Vikram saw it.
95%.
Humiliation.
Total.
Absolute.
The cameraman lifted the camera again.
Still live.
Millions watching.
Vikram slowly stood.
His pride shattered.
His voice lowered.
"You…"
He whispered.
"Join my guild."
"I'll pay you anything."
"Just…"
He glanced at the camera.
"Say we did this together."
Kael stepped closer.
Leaning near Vikram's ear.
His voice distorted behind the mask.
"Money?"
He whispered.
"I don't accept charity."
Kael turned.
Walked toward the giant remains.
He picked up a glowing red stone.
[Magma Core]
The true reward.
He held it calmly.
"This…"
He spoke loudly.
"...belongs to me."
Kael placed a hand on Vikram's shoulder.
Like patting a child.
"Next time…"
He spoke calmly.
"...train before calling yourself a hero."
The chat exploded.
"LMAO!"
"Vikram destroyed!"
"Unknown hunter GOAT!"
Vikram's face burned with humiliation.
His hands trembled.
But he couldn't respond.
Because—
He had already lost.
The King…
Had fallen.
And a new one…
Had arrived.
The exit portal began to form.
A swirling red vortex appeared where the Magma Giant had fallen. The dungeon trembled slightly as the system prepared to close the gate.
Kael turned toward it calmly.
His job was done.
Behind him—
The surviving hunters were still frozen.
Processing what just happened.
The healer girl suddenly stepped forward.
"W-Wait!"
Her voice trembled.
Kael stopped.
But he didn't turn around.
"What's your name?"
She asked.
"How can we thank you?"
The other hunters looked at him.
Respect.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Kael remained silent for a moment.
The wind moved his cloak gently.
Then—
He spoke quietly.
"You don't need to remember my name."
He took another step toward the portal.
"Just remember…"
His voice turned colder.
"When heroes fail…"
"...I'll be there."
And then—
He walked into the portal.
The light swallowed him.
He disappeared.
Outside the Red Gate—
The media exploded into chaos.
The portal opened.
Reporters rushed forward.
Cameras raised.
Microphones extended.
The grey figure emerged.
For a second—
Everyone saw him.
The mysterious hunter.
The unknown savior.
Then—
Shadow Cloak activated.
He vanished.
Right in front of everyone.
The reporters froze.
"What—?!"
"He disappeared?!"
"Magic?!"
Panic spread.
The mysterious hunter…
Had vanished again.
Moments later—
Vikram exited.
Slowly.
His golden armor cracked.
His expression broken.
Reporters immediately surrounded him.
"Vikram sir!"
"Did you run away?"
"Who was that masked hunter?!"
"Did he save you?"
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Vikram clenched his fists.
His reputation—
Destroyed in minutes.
Meanwhile—
Far away—
Kael stood on a rooftop.
Watching everything.
His mask removed.
Wind blowing softly.
In his hand—
The Magma Core glowed faintly.
"Step one…"
He muttered quietly.
"The King has fallen."
His phone vibrated.
New message.
From Elara.
"We need to talk. Now."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Looks like…"
He closed his hand around the Magma Core.
"...the game is accelerating."
The camera pulled back.
The city stretched below.
A new era had begun.
And the Architect…
Was just getting started.
Chapter 9 End.