Morning came quietly.
But the city didn't.
Screens across financial districts, hunter forums, and association networks lit up with a single headline.
Golden Lion Guild — Massive Warehouse Explosion
Within minutes, panic spread like wildfire.
On the trading floor of the Hunter Financial Exchange, chaos erupted. Traders shouted over each other, analysts scrambled to update numbers, and large digital boards flashed red.
Golden Lion Holdings: -18%
-25%
-33%
-40%
And still dropping.
News anchors spoke urgently as footage of the burning warehouse replayed across screens.
"Breaking news — Golden Lion Guild has suffered a catastrophic loss after last night's explosion destroyed their main supply warehouse. Experts estimate damages in the tens of billions, including rare artifacts, mana crystals, and supply chains."
The footage shifted to panicked Golden Lion employees being escorted away.
"Financial analysts predict a long-term impact on Golden Lion's operational capacity. Investors are rapidly pulling out."
The ticker at the bottom continued flashing.
Golden Lion Stocks Plummet by 40%
Meanwhile…
Elara's Office — Private Investment Tower
Unlike the chaos outside, her office was calm.
Luxurious.
Controlled.
Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating polished marble floors and a sleek glass desk. Elara sat comfortably behind it, holding a cup of coffee as if she were watching morning entertainment instead of a financial collapse.
Across from her, investors and lawyers sat tensely.
"Miss Elara," one investor spoke urgently. "Golden Lion is collapsing. If we don't liquidate immediately, we risk major losses."
Another investor nodded quickly.
"The market is unstable. This could trigger a chain reaction. We should exit now."
Elara didn't answer.
Instead, she calmly looked down at her tablet.
A graph filled the screen.
Golden Lion's value falling sharply.
Red.
Steep.
Violent.
She took another sip of coffee.
"Don't sell."
The room went silent.
"Excuse me?" one investor asked.
Elara looked up calmly.
"Buy them."
The investors stared at her.
"Buy everything."
The room erupted.
"Miss Elara, that's insane!"
"It's a sinking ship!"
"We'll lose billions!"
Elara stood slowly and walked toward the window.
The city stretched beneath her.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Unaware.
She remembered Arav's eyes from last night.
Cold.
Certain.
Controlled.
"That ship isn't sinking," she said quietly.
Her reflection in the glass looked calm.
"The captain is just changing."
The investors fell silent.
Because Elara wasn't guessing.
She was betting.
And she rarely lost.
She picked up her phone.
"Connect me to the Associate Director."
Pause.
The call connected.
"File a safety hazard objection on Golden Lion's Gate Permits," she said calmly.
"Effective immediately."
Another nail in Golden Lion's coffin.
Hospital Room — Same Morning
Light filtered softly through the curtains.
Machines beeped steadily.
Rohan's fingers twitched.
Then—
His eyes slowly opened.
Everything was blurry.
His head felt heavy.
Pain spread through his body.
"Ungh…"
He tried to focus.
White ceiling.
Medical equipment.
Clean room.
He blinked slowly.
I'm… alive?
Memory rushed back.
Vikram.
The demonic power.
The crushing force.
The pain.
Rohan's breathing quickened.
"Arav…"
A hand extended toward him.
Holding a glass of water.
"Drink."
Rohan turned.
Arav sat beside the bed, peeling an apple casually.
Like nothing had happened.
"Your throat will hurt."
Rohan blinked.
"Arav…?"
He tried sitting up.
Pain shot through his chest.
"Don't move too much," Arav said calmly.
Rohan grabbed his arm.
"Vikram… he's not human anymore. Arav, you need to run. He'll kill you."
Arav handed him an apple slice.
"Relax, Tanker."
"Vikram is busy."
Rohan frowned.
"Busy?"
Arav picked up the remote and turned on the TV.
The burning warehouse appeared on screen.
Smoke.
Fire.
Destroyed steel.
News headline flashing.
Rohan's eyes widened.
"...You didn't…"
Arav shrugged slightly.
"Guild war started."
Rohan stared at him.
Speechless.
Then—
He laughed weakly.
"You're insane…"
Arav leaned forward slightly.
"Sorry."
Rohan blinked.
"My fault you got caught up in this."
Rohan shook his head.
"I'm a tanker, idiot. Taking damage is my job."
Then he looked at Arav carefully.
"You're not E-Rank… are you?"
Silence filled the room.
Arav opened his inventory.
Light shimmered.
"No."
"And after today…"
He pulled something out.
A stone heart.
Beating slowly.
Heavy aura filled the room.
Rohan's eyes widened.
"What… is that?"
"Titan's Heart."
Arav placed it gently on Rohan's chest.
"Golden Lion vault."
"Your defense increases five times."
Rohan's breathing stopped briefly.
"You're serious…?"
Arav's eyes sharpened.
"Next time Vikram hits you…"
"His hand breaks."
"Not your face."
The Titan's Heart pulsed slowly against Rohan's chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Each beat felt heavy, like a distant drum echoing through the room. A faint bronze glow began spreading from the artifact, crawling across Rohan's body like liquid armor forming beneath his skin.
Rohan's breathing grew heavier.
"This… this thing is insane…" he muttered.
The artifact suddenly sank into his chest.
Rohan's eyes widened.
"Wait—!"
A surge of energy exploded through his body.
Pain.
Sharp.
Violent.
His muscles tightened as if something inside him was rebuilding every fiber.
Arav remained calm, watching carefully.
This was normal.
Pain meant transformation.
Rohan gritted his teeth.
"Arav… this… hurts like hell…"
"Good," Arav replied calmly.
"Means it's working."
The bronze glow intensified.
Then—
It stabilized.
Rohan's breathing slowed.
The glow faded.
Silence filled the room again.
Rohan flexed his fingers slowly.
Then—
He clenched his fist.
The air around his hand slightly compressed.
Rohan blinked.
"...I feel heavier."
"Denser," Arav corrected.
"Your body's durability increased. Bones reinforced. Muscle density improved."
Rohan slowly sat up.
This time—
No sharp pain.
Only dull soreness.
His eyes widened.
"I'm… already better?"
Arav nodded.
"You'll recover faster now."
Rohan leaned back, still processing everything.
Then he looked at Arav again.
"You robbed Golden Lion… destroyed their warehouse… and now you're upgrading me?"
Arav shrugged.
"Efficient."
Rohan laughed weakly.
"You've changed, man."
Arav didn't respond.
Because he had.
Ninety-nine loops had changed him.
Then—
Arav's phone vibrated again.
Elara.
He answered.
"Speak."
Her voice came through calmly.
"Golden Lion stocks dropped another twelve percent."
"Good."
"But there's more."
Arav's eyes sharpened slightly.
"I'm listening."
"I've confirmed unusual movement," Elara continued. "Golden Lion transferred funds to offshore accounts. Illegal channels."
Arav's expression darkened.
"Assassins."
"Exactly."
Elara paused.
"Red Vipers."
Rohan froze.
Even Arav's eyes narrowed slightly.
Red Vipers.
An illegal assassin guild.
Known for killing A-rank hunters.
Silently.
Efficiently.
Mercilessly.
"They're moving tonight," Elara continued.
"Hospital?"
"Most likely."
Arav nodded slowly.
"Good."
Elara sighed.
"You're insane."
"Probably."
The call ended.
Rohan looked at him.
"Red Vipers… you're not worried?"
Arav leaned back in his chair.
"No."
Rohan frowned.
"Why?"
Arav's shadow shifted slightly.
Because he had already prepared.
But he didn't answer.
Instead—
"Rest," he said calmly.
"Tonight might get loud."
Rohan smirked slightly.
"Guess I'm not sleeping then."
Arav stood.
"You will."
He turned toward the door.
"Get stronger first."
Then he left.
Golden Lion Guild — Main Headquarters
The atmosphere inside the tower was suffocating.
Employees moved carefully, afraid to even speak loudly.
Rumors spread.
Warehouse destroyed.
Stocks collapsing.
Guild unstable.
Fear had entered Golden Lion.
At the top floor—
Vikram's office looked like a battlefield.
Broken furniture.
Cracked walls.
Shattered glass.
Dark energy lingered in the air like poison.
Vikram stood near the window, staring down at the city.
His breathing was slow.
Controlled.
But barely.
Behind him—
His assistant trembled.
"S-Sir… we confirmed it…"
Vikram didn't turn.
"Speak."
"Shadow user… monster… same pattern…"
Silence.
Then—
"Arav."
The name came out like venom.
Vikram clenched his fist.
Dark veins spread across his arm.
"He destroyed my warehouse."
"He attacked my hunters."
"He froze my assets."
His eyes glowed red.
"And now…"
The glass behind him cracked slightly.
"He wants war."
Vikram picked up a photo frame.
His old team.
Back when he was still human.
Back when he was still respected.
The frame shattered in his grip.
"I'll drag him out."
He turned slowly.
"Call them."
The assistant swallowed nervously.
"Sir… Red Vipers… they're—"
Vikram grabbed him by the collar.
"I don't care."
The assistant froze.
"I want Arav's head."
"Tonight."
The assistant nodded rapidly.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Vikram released him.
The assistant rushed out immediately.
Vikram turned back toward the window.
Rain clouds gathered again.
"Arav…"
A faint demonic aura spread behind him.
"You wanted my attention."
"You have it."
Evening slowly settled over the city.
The golden sunlight faded into deep orange, then into cold blue. Streetlights flickered on one by one, and the hospital building stood quietly under the darkening sky.
But beneath the calm surface—
Tension grew.
Arav stood on the hospital rooftop, hands in his coat pockets, watching the city skyline. The wind moved gently, carrying distant city noise upward.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
Elara.
She stopped beside him, her coat fluttering slightly in the wind.
"Stocks are under control," she said calmly. "Golden Lion is bleeding heavily. Their liquidity is almost gone."
Arav nodded slightly.
"Good."
"But…"
Elara's voice lowered.
"Vikram won't sit quietly."
She looked at him carefully.
"When an injured beast is cornered… it becomes the most dangerous."
Arav's lips curved slightly.
"I want him to attack."
Elara frowned.
"What?"
She turned toward him.
"Are you serious? This is a hospital, Arav. There are patients. Innocent people."
Arav's eyes remained calm.
"He won't attack openly."
Elara crossed her arms.
"Then?"
"Assassins."
Her expression stiffened.
"Red Vipers."
Elara exhaled slowly.
"Of course…"
Arav looked toward the city.
"I've fought them before."
Elara glanced at him.
"Before?"
Arav didn't answer.
Instead—
His shadow shifted.
From the darkness near his feet, a smaller silhouette emerged.
A miniature version of Gorge.
Elara's eyes widened slightly.
"You… shrunk him?"
"Shadow storage," Arav replied calmly.
"Safer."
The mini-Gorge growled quietly, peeking from Arav's shadow.
Elara shook her head.
"You keep getting more terrifying."
Arav ignored that.
"Tonight they'll come quietly."
He turned toward her.
"Which is why we prepare."
Elara waited.
"Clear the hospital."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"Evacuate the lower floors. Move non-critical patients. Leave only VIP floor."
Elara frowned.
"That'll cause suspicion."
Arav shook his head.
"Use safety maintenance. Gas leak. Electrical issue. Anything."
Elara sighed.
"You really planned everything…"
Arav looked back toward the city.
"I've seen this happen too many times."
Silence followed.
Wind passed between them.
Then Elara nodded.
"I'll handle it."
She turned to leave.
But paused.
"Arav…"
He looked at her.
"Be careful."
He didn't respond.
She walked away.
Night fell completely.
The hospital lights dimmed slightly.
Most floors were now empty.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Perfect battlefield.
Arav stood near the rooftop entrance.
Mini-Gorge rested in his shadow.
Then—
Gorge growled.
Low.
Warning.
Arav's eyes sharpened.
"They're here."
The air shifted.
A faint presence appeared.
Then another.
Then three more.
Multiple killing intents surrounded the hospital.
Silent.
Professional.
Deadly.
Figures appeared on nearby rooftops.
Black suits.
Masked faces.
Red snake emblem.
Red Vipers.
At least six of them.
B-Rank to A-Rank assassins.
One of them stepped forward.
"Target confirmed."
"Arav."
Another voice responded.
"Kill quietly."
They moved simultaneously.
Like shadows.
Like ghosts.
Inside the hospital—
One assassin appeared behind Arav silently.
Blade raised.
Deadly precision.
The blade moved.
Then—
It stopped.
The assassin's eyes widened.
A massive grey hand grabbed his head from behind.
Gorge.
Full size.
The shadow exploded outward as the monster emerged completely.
CRACK.
The assassin dropped instantly.
The others froze.
Arav stepped forward calmly.
"I've been waiting."
The assassins spread out instantly.
Professional.
Calculated.
One of them spoke calmly.
"Target stronger than expected."
Another replied.
"Kill anyway."
They attacked.
Simultaneously.
Arav moved.
Shadow Cloak activated.
He vanished.
Gorge charged.
The rooftop exploded into chaos.
Steel bent.
Concrete cracked.
One assassin jumped behind Arav—
Too slow.
Dagger flashed.
Poison cut.
He fell.
Gorge grabbed another mid-air.
Slam.
The rooftop shook.
Remaining assassins hesitated.
Fear appeared.
Arav stepped forward.
Cold.
Calm.
Predator.
"You came hunting."
His eyes darkened.
"Wrong mistake."
Lightning flashed across the sky.
The battle intensified.
And somewhere far away—
Vikram stood watching the city.
Smiling slightly.
Because he knew—
This was only the beginning.
Chapter 15 End.