The world had long since learned that monsters were no longer mere beasts. They were manifestations of Abyssal magic, born from dark gates scattered across the continents, each carrying destructive potential capable of leveling entire cities. Humanity's defense rested in the hands of hunters—gifted individuals imbued with magical power, ranked from D to S, with a select few transcendent souls attaining the mythical Ruler rank. Among those legends, one name struck both terror and awe: Arakshya, the Ultimate Ruler.
Years ago, Arakshya had been unmatched. He had faced Abyssal Kings, defeated rogue Rulers, and protected countless cities. But after defeating the strongest magical creature of his time—a being whose power had warped entire regions—he vanished from the hunter world. He left behind fame, enemies, and a world that would soon forget the terror he had once wielded. He had loved, fought, and won, but the life of endless battles had cost him everything he held dear.
Now, years later, the world was in turmoil again. Monster attacks had become more intelligent, coordinated, and deadly. Rogue hunters had begun exploiting chaos, and humanity's cities were no longer safe. And then, the unthinkable happened—one of these monstrous incursions targeted Arakshya's own family. Rage ignited within him like wildfire. He had returned to the hunter world, but not as the Ultimate Ruler openly. This time, he would hide, rising from the bottom, letting the world underestimate him while he rebuilt his power piece by piece.
The Hidden Hunter: D-Rank
Arakshya joined a modest hunter guild in the metropolis of Halvor, registering as a D-rank hunter. His appearance was unremarkable, almost lethargic, masking the predator that lay beneath. Guildmates noticed him but dismissed him as ordinary. Lina, a sharp-witted healer with innate talent, found his quiet demeanor intriguing, while Darek, a brash B-rank fighter, openly mocked him for his slow, precise movements.
His first assignments were minor: clearing small monster nests, escorting merchant caravans, and patrolling the outskirts where weak monsters occasionally roamed. Even these missions, seemingly trivial, revealed glimpses of something extraordinary. Arakshya moved with a fluid precision, shadows bending around him as he dodged attacks before they arrived. Each strike incapacitated monsters efficiently, leaving them no opportunity to retaliate. Yet he concealed his full power.
During one such skirmish, a pack of C-rank wolf-like creatures ambushed a caravan. Darek lunged forward recklessly, slashing at the lead wolf, while Arakshya melted into the shadows. Within moments, the remaining wolves were incapacitated, their movements eerily halted by energy-infused blades appearing from nowhere. Civilians and hunters alike stared in disbelief.
"Did… did he just—?" Darek stammered.
"Focus on the fight. There's no time to admire skill," Arakshya said calmly, retrieving a small shard of magical residue from the fallen wolf pack. He examined it briefly, ensuring no traces of his true strength remained.
Whispers began: "Who is this D-rank? Too precise… too fast… no one should move like that." But Arakshya remained silent, letting the world underestimate him.
Rising Through the RanksC-Rank: First True Test
The city sector came under siege. Multiple B-rank monsters, coordinated with unnatural intelligence, began attacking residential districts. Civilians panicked as lower-ranked hunters attempted to contain the chaos. Arakshya, now officially C-rank, acted quietly but decisively.
He positioned himself where he could intercept without drawing attention. Shadows stretched from his cloak like living tendrils, striking at monsters from unexpected angles. One gargantuan, six-limbed beast lunged at Lina, but Arakshya intervened in a heartbeat, his blade slicing through its limb and dissipating the energy it emitted.
"Who…?" Lina whispered, awe in her voice.
"Stay behind me. Focus on healing and civilians," he said, motioning her away.
Throughout the battle, Arakshya moved like a phantom, disabling monsters strategically rather than recklessly, guiding guild members subtly. Civilians were evacuated, and the monster threat neutralized before the city suffered major damage.
B-Rank: Shadow Mentor
With B-rank missions, Arakshya faced multiple S-rank monsters in small-scale skirmishes and rogue hunters allied with Abyssal forces. His abilities remained concealed, but hints of his Ruler-level skill began to surface.
One memorable encounter involved a squad of six rogue hunters, each high-A or S-rank, attacking a border city. Arakshya allowed Darek to engage in the frontline while he moved like liquid shadow, striking enemy weak points, redirecting attacks, and manipulating the battlefield itself. He created openings for Lina to perform emergency mass-healing spells while keeping civilians out of harm's way.
"Did that D-rank just—?" one S-rank hunter gasped, observing from a distance.
"The way he moves… it's like a shadow of the Ultimate Ruler," another whispered.
Despite these whispers, Arakshya restrained himself, never revealing the full storm of power that lay within.
A-Rank: Testing Limits
Monster incursions escalated, now spanning multiple districts. Abyssal King agents sent S-rank monsters to weaken city defenses. Arakshya coordinated guild members, civilian evacuations, and defensive traps, revealing glimpses of his true potential but never the full force.
He manipulated shadows to bind monsters, channeled energy into precise counter-strikes, and calculated each move with a predator's intuition. Civilians watched as D-rank and B-rank hunters fought with unprecedented coordination, unaware that their phantom commander was none other than the Ultimate Ruler himself.
During one large-scale assault, an Abyssal-infused S-rank monster tore through ward barriers, scattering city guards. Arakshya struck from multiple angles simultaneously, each blow calculated to minimize city damage while incapacitating the monster.
"This… this is impossible," an onlooker murmured. "Only a Ruler could do this."
But Arakshya remained in the shadows, still known officially as a high-A hunter.
S-Rank: Emerging Legend
At S-rank, Arakshya's interventions became increasingly noticeable. Monster incursions now involved multiple S-rank beasts attacking across several districts. Rogue Rulers began coordinating larger, more dangerous attacks.
Arakshya moved through the battlefield like a storm, dismantling formations, countering monster strategies, and protecting civilians and hunters alike. Guildmates began calling him the Ultimate Fang, unaware that the shadow they followed was the living legend: Arakshya, the Ultimate Ruler.
The Return of the Ultimate Foe
Then, the creature he had once defeated years ago—the strongest magical entity of his time—returned, resurrected and empowered by Abyssal magic. Entire city wards shattered as it rampaged. Even S-rank hunters struggled to survive its onslaught.
Arakshya could no longer conceal himself. Shadows coalesced into blades and whips of pure energy, fire erupted around him, and the unmistakable aura of the Ultimate Ruler shone like a storm.
"You… you are… Arakshya?" hissed the creature, recognition in its voice.
"Yes," Arakshya replied, eyes burning gold and silver. "I have returned."
The battlefield became a maelstrom. Arakshya's strikes shattered streets, dodged Abyssal energy blasts, and redirected attacks with preternatural speed. Guild members shouted in awe, civilians screamed, monsters faltered in terror, and rogue hunters froze, recognizing the true legend.
The Final Battle: Ultimate Fang Awakened
Arakshya combined decades of combat experience, magical mastery, and strategic genius. Every strike forced the creature to expend Abyssal energy. Every dodge anticipated its attack. The fight spanned rooftops, collapsed streets, and burning districts.
Lina coordinated healing and tactical support. Darek acted as bait when needed, following Arakshya's subtle cues. Even Arin, Arakshya's daughter, activated latent powers under his guidance, assisting in countering energy blasts.
Finally, with a strike combining shadow, fire, and pure magical force, Arakshya shattered the creature's core. Silence fell. Hunters and civilians alike whispered: "The Ultimate Ruler… Arakshya… has returned."
Aftermath
The Abyssal threat was neutralized. Arakshya remained in the shadows, known only to a few allies. Guilds and hunters revered him, but the world at large only caught glimpses of the legend reborn.
Arin's awakening began under his careful guidance. Guilds flourished, cities rebuilt, and Arakshya's presence became a hidden guardian: unseen, unstoppable, eternal. The name Arakshya, the Ultimate Fang, would echo through history.
Even as the world recovered, whispers of Abyssal remnants and rogue hunters lingered. Wherever darkness rose, Arakshya would rise again, a storm in the shadows, a living legend beyond reckoning.