The humid Davao air, once a comforting blanket, now felt oppressive, heavy with the stench of decay and fear. The scent of ripe mangoes, a familiar comfort, was tainted by the acrid smell of smoke and blood. Kai Alonzo knelt amidst the ruins of their family mansion in Matina Aplaya, the turquoise waters of the infinity pool now stained crimson. Aki and Ika, his seven-year-old twin sisters, clung to him like frightened kittens, their small bodies trembling uncontrollably. Their laughter, once the soundtrack of his life, was replaced by ragged sobs.
His fingers tightened around the worn photo album he'd salvaged from the wreckage. Each page held a precious memory – birthdays, graduations, family vacations to Samal Island. Images of a life that now felt like a distant dream, a paradise lost forever.
Kai swiped at a tear that traced a path down his cheek, blurring the image of his parents smiling back at him. Just hours ago, they'd been alive, vibrant, the cornerstones of his world. Now…
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the horrific images seared into his memory. The ground trembling, the air cracking with unnatural energy, the monstrous roar that heralded the arrival of the nightmare.
He'd dismissed the news reports about "dungeon outbreaks" as sensationalized stories, nothing more than entertainment. More Hunter nonsense, he'd scoffed, scrolling past the articles with a dismissive flick of his thumb. He'd heard of the Hunters – people who'd miraculously "awakened" strange abilities after the appearance of the dungeons, wielding elemental powers and mystical weapons. He had never believed.
"Kuya..." Aki whimpered, her voice barely audible above the crackling flames. "Mama? Papa?"
Kai pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair. "They're... they're watching over us now, Aki," he whispered, the lie tasting like ash in his mouth.
Dungeons. Mysterious portals that spontaneously appeared around the world, gateways to alternate dimensions teeming with monstrous creatures. They ranged in difficulty from F-Rank, easily cleared by novice Hunters, to the terrifying S-Rank dungeons, capable of unleashing world-ending threats. The stronger the dungeon, the more valuable the resources and materials found within, making them both a source of danger and immense wealth.
A Dungeon Break was every Hunter's worst nightmare. A catastrophic event where the magical barriers surrounding a dungeon weakened or shattered, unleashing the monsters within onto the unsuspecting world. The telltale signs were unmistakable: distortions in the air, an unnatural chill, a palpable sense of dread, and the sickeningly sweet smell of ozone.
He remembered the news reports detailing the aftermath of dungeon breaks – cities reduced to rubble, countless lives lost, the desperate efforts of the Hunters to contain the chaos. He'd watched those reports with a detached curiosity, never imagining he'd become a statistic.
The ground had trembled, the air had crackled, and from the heart of his family's garden, a chasm had opened, spewing forth grotesque creatures into his reality.
His mother's voice, sharp with fear, echoed in his mind. "Kai! Take Aki and Ika! Get them to safety! Now!"
His parents, armed with nothing but kitchen knives and a desperate courage, had charged toward the monsters. His father, normally a gentle businessman, roared with defiance, swinging the knife with surprising force. His mother, her eyes blazing with maternal fury, slashed at the creatures with unwavering resolve. They fought not for themselves, but for their children.
"Run, Kai! Save your sisters!" His father had screamed, his voice cracking with pain and fear.
A searing pain ripped through the air. His father fell, a monster's claw tearing through his chest. Kai's mother screamed, rushing to his side, cradling his head in her arms.
"Roberto! No!" Tears streamed down her face as she desperately tried to staunch the flow of blood. "Kai, please! Take care of your sisters! Promise me!"
Monsters swarmed over them, their snarling faces a grotesque mask of malice. Kai could only watch, tears blurring his vision, as his parents were overwhelmed, their sacrifices etching themselves into his soul.
He'd frozen, paralyzed by terror and disbelief. He hadn't moved. He hadn't helped. The guilt gnawed at him, a venomous serpent coiling in his gut.
Hunters. He could see them now, scattered amidst the chaos, wielding glowing weapons and strange abilities. They were the Awakened, those chosen (or cursed) with the power to fight back against the darkness. He recognized the faint aura of energy surrounding them, the focused determination in their eyes, the way they moved with a practiced grace. Some wielded swords that crackled with electricity, others summoned shields of shimmering light, and still others unleashed torrents of flame with a flick of their wrist.
They were fighting to contain the dungeon break, to protect the survivors. But they were too late. Too late for his parents.
Ika, her face buried in Kai's chest, sobbed uncontrollably. "I want Mama," she whimpered. "I want Papa."
Kai held them tighter, his heart aching with a pain he never knew existed. He had no answers, no comfort to offer. Only the crushing weight of responsibility.
In that moment, amidst the ashes of his former life, a flicker of determination ignited within him. It wasn't a grand, heroic resolve, but a primal instinct to protect the only family he had left.
He would protect Aki and Ika. He would become strong enough to face this new, terrifying world. He would learn what it meant to be a Hunter. He would find a way to survive, to provide for his sisters, and to make sure they never experienced this kind of pain again.
He didn't know how, but he would. He owed it to his parents. He owed it to his sisters. He owed it to himself.
The world had changed, and so would he.
(End Chapter 1)