The silence didn't last long.
News spread fast.
Too fast.
Within hours—
The incident was everywhere.
Not public.
Not yet.
But inside the hunter world—
It exploded.
Global Hunter Network – Emergency Broadcast
"Unidentified Individual…"
"…has defeated an armed unit alone."
"…Possesses unknown system capability."
"…Potential Class: Irregular."
A pause.
"…Codename assigned."
The screen flickered.
[TARGET: ARKA]Threat Level: UNKNOWNPriority: GLOBAL
And just like that—
Everything changed.
Multiple Locations – Same Time
In a high-rise building—
A man in a suit watched the report.
"…Interesting."
His eyes narrowed.
"…No limit, huh…"
In a dark room—
Someone laughed softly.
"…Finally."
"…Something fun."
In a quiet temple—
An old man opened his eyes.
"…A ripple…"
"…has begun."
Arka didn't know it yet—
But the entire world—
Had started watching him.
Back to Reality
Wind passed through the ruins.
Cold.
Quiet.
Lyra leaned against a broken wall.
"…You really messed things up."
Arka stood a few meters away.
Looking at nothing.
"…They were going to take me anyway."
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…Still."
Lyra exhaled.
"…Global target, huh…"
She glanced at him.
"…Congrats. You're famous."
No reaction.
"…Not what I wanted."
Arka finally spoke.
"…Fame is useless."
His eyes shifted slightly.
"…Power isn't."
Lyra stared at him.
"…You really changed."
A small silence.
"…Or maybe…"
"…this is who you actually are."
Arka didn't answer.
Because—
Even he didn't know.
[System Notification]
[New Directive Available]
Arka's gaze sharpened.
"…Directive?"
The screen opened.
[Survive][Grow][Eliminate Threats]
A pause.
Then—
A new line appeared.
[Form Your Own Path]
Silence.
Arka stared at it longer than expected.
"…My own path…"
For someone who had nothing—
This meant everything.
Meanwhile
Far away—
Inside a massive hall—
Multiple figures sat around a circular table.
Each one—
Powerful.
Each one—
A leader.
"This 'Arka'…"
"…We can't ignore him."
"Agreed."
"Option one—capture."
"Option two—kill."
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
"…Option three."
They all turned.
"…Recruit him."
A pause.
"…If possible."
The room went quiet.
Because they all knew—
Someone like Arka—
Wouldn't be controlled easily.
Back to Arka
Night had fallen.
The world—
Felt bigger now.
More dangerous.
But also—
Full of possibility.
Lyra stood beside him.
"…So."
"…What now?"
A simple question.
But—
Not an easy one.
Arka looked up.
At the sky.
"…We move."
"…Forward."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Lyra smirked slightly.
"…Heh."
"…Figures."
She pushed herself off the wall.
"…Then I'm coming."
A pause.
Arka glanced at her.
"…You'll be targeted too."
Lyra shrugged.
"…Already am."
Then—
She looked at him.
Serious this time.
"…Besides."
A small smile.
"…someone has to keep you human."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
Something in Arka's eyes—
Shifted.
"…Do what you want."
Not rejection.
Not acceptance.
But—
Enough.
Final Scene
Far in the distance—
A shadow watched them.
Hidden.
Silent.
"…So that's him…"
A faint smile.
"…Arka."
Power gathered around that figure.
Different.
Ancient.
"…Let's see…"
"…how far you can go."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 18