THE GUILD BASE WAS QUIET.
KAI AND RYUJIN SAT ALONE ON THE BALCONY, NIGHT WIND WHISTLING THROUGH THE AIR.
KAI LOOKED AT RYUJIN'S KATANA RESTING AGAINST THE WALL.
ITS EDGE WAS CRACKED, THE BLADE SLIGHTLY CHIPPED FROM THE A-RANK BOSS FIGHT.
"Your weapon… it's done for, huh?" Kai muttered.
"I saw it struggling against that Hell Drake's scales."
RYUJIN PICKED UP THE KATANA AND RAN HIS FINGER ACROSS THE BROKEN EDGE.
A SHARD SNAPPED OFF, FALLING TO THE FLOOR.
"Yeah… it won't last another serious fight."
KAI HESITATED, THEN ASKED THE REAL QUESTION.
"You know… you could overpower any S-rank hunter right now."
"So why play along with the Association? Why hide what you really are and clear some A-rank gate just to get a title?"
RYUJIN LOOKED AT THE BROKEN KATANA IN HIS HAND.
"Because if they see my true power, they'll stop pretending I'm human."
KAI FROWNED.
"What are you talking about?"
RYUJIN PUT THE KATANA BACK DOWN, HIS EYES TURNING COLD.
"Power this big… it doesn't just make you a target, Kai.
It makes you an enemy.
The Association. The Guilds. Every S-rank in the world—
they'll see me as a threat to their existence."
HE SMILED DARKLY.
"I'm not ready to burn the world yet.
For now… I stay in the shadows."
KAI SAT SILENT FOR A MOMENT, THEN GRINNED.
"Damn, bro… that was both terrifying and badass at the same time."
RYUJIN SHRUGGED.
"Take it however you want.
But first thing tomorrow… I need a new weapon.
Something that won't break the next time I meet a monster stronger than me."