The forest trembled as the Orc Warrior stepped out from the bushes. Its heavy armor gleamed under the faint light, and its killing intent spread like a storm. Most hunters would have lost strength in their legs facing such a presence, but Lee Seong-jun only smiled. At last, a worthy opponent had appeared.
The goblins he fought earlier had been nothing but distractions. They were weak, unable to even withstand the flow of his internal energy. Their skulls had cracked with a single punch, leaving him unsatisfied. Now, the boss monster stood before him, a test that could reveal the true state of his body and martial arts.
Seong-jun steadied his breathing and quietly drew up his internal energy. His muscles hardened, his bones resonated with power, and his body surpassed its normal limits. The Orc Warrior roared like thunder and rushed forward with terrifying speed, its massive fist slicing through the air.
For its size, the monster was fast—faster than the goblins—but Seong-jun's eyes were calm. With a step that blurred like smoke, he invoked Ghost Step, his body vanishing from the Orc's sight like a fading mirage. The beast's fist struck only empty air, the pressure strong enough to split the wind.
It had power. But brute strength alone was nothing compared to mastery of martial arts.
Seong-jun flowed around the attack, reading the monster's movements with sharp precision. He twisted his body, seized the Orc's arm, and redirected its force. Using its own momentum, he hurled the armored warrior into the ground with a bone-shaking crash.
The Orc bellowed in pain, struggling against the sudden reversal, but Seong-jun gave no room to recover. His fist surged forward, the technique of the Blood Destruction Fist forming. Though basic by the standards of the Blood Sect, its raw destructive power was unrivaled among low-level martial arts. His knuckles hardened like stone just before impact, striking down with overwhelming force.
The Orc's skull shattered like glass under the blow, life ending instantly. The forest fell silent.
A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
The boss monster had been defeated.
Experience surged through his body.
He had leveled up rapidly, reaching level 10.
The system declared that he was now qualified for transfer, opening a new path.
But Seong-jun felt little joy. For him, the fight had been far too easy. His battle instincts, sharpened through countless wars in another world, guided his movements naturally. The body was still weak, but the soul remembered everything. The conclusion was clear—he could become much stronger, far beyond this level.
A sense of conviction rose within him. Once praised as a god, he would climb higher than before. His past knowledge, martial mastery, and now the blessings of the system fused into a single road forward.
His gaze shifted to the shining stone above the Orc's corpse—a Magic Stone. These stones were the lifeblood of Earth after the Cataclysm, powering cities, technology, and serving as the greatest currency. Even a low-grade E-class stone like this was worth millions of won. Hunters built their wealth on them, and now Seong-jun understood why their salaries reached hundreds of millions.
He picked up the stone, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. A few hours of hunting had given him both wealth and levels. His goals for the day were already complete. More importantly, he refused to trade time with his family for endless greed. Money was only a tool to secure happiness, never the goal itself.
With that thought, he left the forest, his companion Kim Seong-hun trailing behind, still shaken by the overwhelming display of power.
Far away at the Association Headquarters, Team Leader Jo Kang-hyun leaned back in his chair, exhausted from endless work. As head of the Returnee Management Division, he lived with constant stress, managing unstable returnees who often caused disasters. Though he was an A-rank hunter, even his body strained under the lack of rest.
Yet fortune had smiled upon him: two days of vacation had just been approved. He longed for nothing but sleep, his mind already drifting toward peace. Unless something impossible happened—like the discovery of an SSS-rank prospect—he was certain he could finally rest.
But just as the office grew quiet, a knock came at his door. Annoyed but wary, he allowed entry. It was Kim Seong-hun, the ace of his team. Normally, the man solved problems without needing direct intervention. For him to report in person, the matter had to be serious.
Jo Kang-hyun's expression hardened as he listened.
The report was simple yet world-shaking. A new returnee had been found. One who held the potential not just for greatness—but for SSS rank.
And with those words, Jo Kang-hyun's long-awaited rest crumbled to dust.