It was as if history was repeating itself—someone was left behind by the group. The memory pulled Matic back to a time when he was the top student at the academy: the man everyone looked up to during sword lessons, besting every other student academically. His future was supposed to be bright—brighter even than his brother Maverick's.
But with that attention came resentment. Many people grew to hate him. He excelled in every way and believed he was friends with almost everyone—until the day his powers awakened, and everything changed.
His parents' small-time hunters' guild had started spreading across the world, recruiting heavily, and Matic Grimm was at the top of their list. When his ability, Conduit, manifested, it seemed incredible: he could channel the abilities of others and wield them with unmatched skill. But with great power came a drawback—he could only use it for five seconds at a time. His ability was painfully time-limited.
Still, he made the best of it. Ranked F, he balanced swordplay with the powers of those around him. As team captain and tactician, he knew everyone's abilities and directed his teammates to use them at their fullest. But eventually, once they mastered their own skills, they no longer needed him. One by one, they left him behind.
Then came the darkest blow: his parents didn't make it—they died hunting at a gate. Afterward, Maverick packed his bags and left home. Antisocial by nature, he shared Matic's power but refused to join the hunting group, too proud to ask for help.
Witnessing all this, Matic withdrew further. Realizing his reliance on others was a weakness, he turned to gambling, hoping to one day earn enough to bond with a familia—one whose power would be his alone, not borrowed.
Unlike Conduit, a familiar's power would be one with him. Using the last of his parents' money, Matic obtained a familiar—not just any familiar, but one capable of teleportation and manipulating space itself. Still, he knew Maverick wouldn't share any of his secrets.
Maverick was probably out there somewhere now.
Matic's gaze shifted to the latest discard—a boy with terrible sword form, sprawled on the floor, moments from defeat. Just like Matic once was—on the edge of losing—until Jin Hyeon-soo stepped in.
Jin had been observing the group, deciding who to recruit into his guild. Though he offered Matic an invitation, Matic refused, wary of how quickly people could turn their backs. Instead, he chose the same solitary path as Maverick.
While his old team rose to B-rank hunters in the Eclipse Legion, Matic remained an F-ranker. But with his newfound ability, he was determined to survive. As the dungeon wolf lunged at the struggling boy, Matic teleported just in time, planting his hands firmly on the boy's shoulders and whisking them both from the monster's grasp.
The beast snarled, amber eyes piercing the shadows like twin lanterns. Its coarse, matted fur—a patchwork of grays and blacks—melded perfectly with the cold stone walls. Muscles rippled beneath its lean frame, coiled springs ready to unleash devastating speed and power.
Jagged scars crisscrossed its snout and shoulders—evidence of countless brutal battles survived in the dungeon's depths. Its razor-sharp fangs gleamed with a faint, otherworldly sheen, hinting at venom or an ancient curse lurking beneath.
Every breath it exhaled formed little clouds of mist, smelling faintly of rust and decay. It moved like a shadow slipping through cracks—silent, smooth, and deadly. Every step was deliberate, every muscle taut—both hunter and guardian of the labyrinthine underworld it called home.
A low growl rumbled deep in its throat, a warning mixed with frustration. This wasn't just hunger—it was fury. The wolf wasn't about to let anything pass without a fight.
Satisfied it had lost its prey, the wolf snarled once more and melted back into the shadows, prowling for its next battle.
Meanwhile, Matic sat beneath a tree glowing softly with golden light, quietly watching the boy lying unconscious at his feet. His eyes drifted to the tree trunk, where a heart was carved deep into the bark. Shaking his head with a wry smile, he muttered, "Young, dumb, and stupid," as if speaking to himself—or maybe the boy. Then he leaned back, lost in thought.
The boy, who had once lain unconscious, began to stir. As Matic watched over him, a quiet thought crossed his mind: So it begins.
Fully awake, the boy's eyes met Matic's friendly grin. The wolf that had stalked nearby was gone. Looking up, the boy realized they were in a safety zone—a sanctuary within the dungeon that offered healing.
Before the boy could speak, Matic broke the silence. "How do you do? I wasn't sure you'd make it here, lad."
The boy glanced down at his wounds, noticing they were already healing. Reassured by the safe zone, he looked back at the man who seemed trustworthy and timidly said, "I'm Baek Ro."
"Well, Baek Ro, how do you feel about clearing this floor with me?" Matic asked, already knowing the boy had no other choice. His old team had left him behind. If Baek Ro wanted, he could betray Matic—after all, he had no allies. But what would that gain him? Facing the dangers alone was far riskier.
Matic liked his odds. With his Conduit ability and teleportation, he held the upper hand. If Baek Ro tried anything, Matic could simply teleport out of the dungeon—though not all at once, since they were too deep inside for a single leap to safety.
Still, the threat was clear: Matic could leave at any moment if Baek Ro pulled a double-cross.
The boy looked up at Matic, hesitation in his eyes. "Do I know you from somewhere?"