As soon as Ryo stepped through the Gate, the world around him shifted. The bustling city street and the chaos of the Hobgoblin invasion disappeared.
He was now standing in a dark cave, its walls rough and unpolished, with faint glowing cracks that barely lit the space.
[System Notification]
"D-Rank Gate entered."
"Location: Obsidian Cave."
"Caution: Low-level monsters detected."
"Timeflow outside: 1:1."
Ryo glanced around. The cave was nothing special, just an ordinary D-rank Gate—one that hunters were typically assigned to clear. It felt... familiar.
The system continued:
[System Notification]
"This Gate is typical for D-rank hunts. Expect a low-level monster or boss."
Ryo didn't need to be told twice. He wasn't here for the weak monsters. His eyes scanned the surroundings as he waited.
The stone wall in front of him shifted, revealing an opening deeper into the cave. The air felt stale, and the only sound was the faint echo of his boots against the stone floor.
Ryo took a deep breath.
"Guess I should get this over with."
"Well, let's just finish this," Ryo muttered to himself, his voice steady and calm.
He took a slow step forward into the cave, his gaze focused. The system was quiet, but he knew what was coming.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a short pointed dagger out of thin air—its edge gleaming with a dark, ominous aura. He flipped it once in his fingers, getting a feel for the weight, before casually tossing it forward.
The dagger flew through the air, its motion almost too fast to follow.
It struck true, piercing the first Hobgoblin right between its eyes. The creature crumpled to the ground before the others even had a chance to react.
One by one, the remaining Hobgoblins fell, each struck by Ryo's silent and precise throws. They didn't stand a chance.
[System Notification]
"12 Hobgoblins defeated."
"EXP Gained: 0"
"Loot acquired: None."
The last of the Hobgoblins dropped to the ground, lifeless.
Ryo lowered his hand, and the dagger vanished into the air, just as silently as it had appeared.
"Done," he said flatly, stepping over the fallen bodies as he moved deeper into the cave.
He didn't need to waste time here.
In just under a minute, it was over.
Ryo stood at the center of the cave, surrounded by the mangled bodies of 76 Hobgoblins, their green blood staining the rocky floor.
He dusted off his hands casually, as if he'd just taken out the trash.
[System Notification]
"All hostiles eliminated."
"Estimated kills: 76 Hobgoblins."
"EXP gained: 0."
"Note: Congratulations, you've bullied low-rank mobs to extinction."
Ryo raised an eyebrow.
"Tch. Seriously?" he muttered.
The system chimed again, almost smug:
"Next time try not to one-shot everything. They didn't even scream."
A small smirk tugged at Ryo's lips. "Guess I'm just built different."
He stepped forward without looking back, his presence alone making the cave tremble as the shadows around him faded.
As Ryo walked deeper into the now silent cave, his footsteps echoed lightly against the stone. The air had grown still—too still.
He narrowed his eyes, then asked quietly,
"…Hey, system. What are you really?"
There was a pause. For a moment, he thought it wouldn't respond.
Then—
[System Response]
"I'm… different."
Ryo slowed his pace. "…Different?"
"I don't know what I am, not exactly," it continued. "It feels like… someone made me. Gave me orders. I was told to choose a vessel… feed it, sharpen it… then kill the one playing the game."
Ryo stopped in his tracks. The words hung in the air, heavy and cold.
But he said nothing.
He simply stood there, expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on the dim path ahead.
A vessel.
Sharpen it.
Then end it.
"…Tch," Ryo muttered under his breath. He resumed walking, the darkness parting before him.
Ryo reached the end of the cave, where a massive stone door loomed before him, covered in ancient runes glowing faintly.
He placed a hand on it, and with a deep groan, it slowly slid open.
Behind it… was chaos.
A towering figure sat on a throne of bones, muscles bulging beneath jagged black armor. Around him, dozens of Hobgoblins snarled and hissed, forming a protective wall.
[System Notification]
"Boss Room Entered."
"Hobgoblin Lord: Turak"
"Rank: C"
"Estimated defenders: 50 Hobgoblins."
Then a sarcastic follow-up:
"Warning: You are outnumbered 50 to 1. Please try not to sneeze and kill them all at once."
Ryo blinked slowly.
"…Seriously?"
One of the Hobgoblins let out a roar, trying to intimidate him.
He cracked his neck.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
Ryo slowly raised the short, rusty dagger, pointing it at the snarling Hobgoblins.
"Watch," he said, voice low—dead serious.
His gaze pierced through them like a blade.
Even the front line of Hobgoblins hesitated… taking an instinctive step back.
"I can take even the dullest edge… and awaken it to its true form," he whispered.
He held the dagger upright before him, pressing his other hand gently against the flat of the blade.
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"Gouge… Panthera!!"
A sudden burst of blue light exploded from the dagger. The cave trembled.
Turak flinched, covering his eyes with a snarl. The Hobgoblins roared in confusion.
When the glow dimmed—Ryo stood tall, holding a short sword now radiating with blue crystalline aura, sharp like a fang of frost, humming with raw, awakened energy.
The dull dagger was no more.
In his hand now was Panthera—a blade forged from silence, sharpened by time, and reborn through will.
He tilted the blade slightly. Light danced along its edge.
"…Let's begin."
Ryo stood firm, gripping the blade with both hands. The power within the weapon hummed, ready to unleash destruction. With a swift motion, he spun the blade once in the air, catching it effortlessly in his right hand.
A cold grin spread across his face as his voice dropped to a whisper.
"Spina Caelestis..."
He then whispered the final words with intensity.
"May the heavens bleed blue."
In an instant, the air seemed to shudder around him. The blade glowed a bright blue, casting a strange light over the entire cave. The ground trembled slightly beneath his feet, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
With a powerful slash, Ryo swung his blade in a wide arc, sending out a massive wave of blue energy. The shockwave hit the Hobgoblins, tearing through them instantly. Their bodies were ripped apart like paper, falling to the ground in pieces. Some didn't even get the chance to scream.
The energy collided with Turak, the Hobgoblin Lord, smashing him backwards into the stone wall with incredible force. His heavy armor shattered like glass as his body crumpled to the ground, no longer moving.
For a moment, everything was still. The cave was silent, the dust hanging in the air.
But then, something even more spectacular happened.
Blue, crystalline shards began to fall from the ceiling like glittering raindrops, glowing softly as they floated down. It was as if the heavens themselves were raining down their blessing. The air shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow, and the blue light filled every corner of the cave.
Ryo stood there, watching the aftermath, his eyes calm and focused. His sword slowly dimmed, the light fading, as the shimmering blue crystals continued to fall around him like stardust.
The power was overwhelming—elegant, yet terrifying.
"...Too easy," Ryo muttered.
As Ryo stood there, the final remnants of the battle fading away, the System's voice chimed in once again, this time with a bit of humor:
"Well, that was one way to clear a room... Hobgoblins didn't stand a chance, did they?" The System's tone seemed almost sarcastic, as if it was teasing him.
Ryo smirked, looking down at the scattered bodies. "They weren't much of a challenge. I didn't even break a sweat."
"Really? I'd say you made quick work of them. Couldn't even let them enjoy a second of battle before you tore them apart." The System seemed amused, a slight teasing note in its voice. "A little ruthless, aren't we?"
Ryo let out a low chuckle. "Survival, my friend. Survival." He scanned the cave once more, nodding at the blue shards still falling from above.
Then, the System continued, this time with a rare note of genuine praise. "But seriously, Host Ryo, that was impressive. Not many can clear out a D-Rank gate in under five minutes, let alone with such... flair. If I had arms, I'd give you a round of applause. Monarch of Limitless, huh? Guess that title isn't just for show."
Ryo's eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and pride. "Guess I'm living up to the name then."
"Without a doubt. You're a force to be reckoned with. I'll be curious to see how you handle what's next." The System's voice had a slight edge of excitement to it, like it was eager to see where this journey would take them.
The System's voice echoed silently in Ryo's mind, barely perceptible, as if it were speaking to itself, not him.
"I will guide you... through the chaos that awaits. You will be the force that ends this nightmare. But not yet. The path is long, and only with your strength will this world ever know peace."