Inside the forest.
The air was still, and the leaves of the trees moved slowly under the faint light filtering through the branches. Rico stood in front of Reina, while she took a fighting stance with complete steadiness. A dense pink aura radiated around her body, rippling like a calm flame, and her eyes glowed with the same color, clear excitement reflected in her smile.
"Show me your limits. Fight as if it were a life-and-death battle."
The ground sank slightly beneath Rico's foot the moment he dashed forward. His body cut through the distance between them with sharp speed, his fist launching directly toward her. Reina moved only a small step to the side… the strike passed beside her.
A second attack. A third. A fourth.
A continuous chain of blows without pause. The air tore with every movement, but her body moved with unnatural fluidity. A slight tilt, a sidestep, a light turn… every strike failed before reaching her.
A short laugh escaped her.
"Good… show me more."
Rico's speed increased. His muscles tensed, his breathing quickened, his attacks became more violent, faster, closer to a full charge. And yet… he did not touch her.
Her glowing pink eyes watched him calmly, her smile steady, as if she were watching an entertaining training session rather than a real fight.
'She isn't taking me seriously…'
He rushed again, a relentless assault with no openings.
And suddenly—
Reina raised her hand.
Her fist closed around his wrist with absolute ease. The movement was frighteningly simple, as if she had caught a feather rather than a human arm. His momentum stopped completely, the power he had gathered vanished in an instant.
The pink aura gradually disappeared. The light faded, and her eyes returned to their natural blue color.
"To be honest… you are talented. And I am not your enemy, don't be afraid."
Her grip was still firm around his wrist, without any visible effort.
"I'm only here to invite you to the Black Scorpion Organization."
She let go.
Rico stepped back, his breathing unstable, his gaze filled with confusion.
"Are you serious? I'm just a weak person."
Her smile did not disappear.
"Don't worry. I'm serious. Someone your age with this power is considered talented."
She took a single step forward.
"You're seventeen years old, right?"
'Why does she want me this way…?'
"Yes."
She extended her hand toward him.
"Will you join? Inside the organization you will enter gates with teams… your skills will develop quickly."
A brief hesitation.
Then Rico stepped closer until he stood in front of her and extended his hand.
"I agree."
—
Ten minutes later.
The director's office inside the Black Scorpion Organization was quiet. The clock on the wall made a steady ticking sound while the director sat behind his desk waiting.
The phone rang.
"What happened, Reina?"
"Rico agreed to join."
A wide smile appeared on his face.
"Excellent work. Bring him to my office."
"Yes, sir."
—
Inside the hospital.
The operating room was filled with cold white light. Sato lay motionless, the monitoring devices making steady sounds. His father sat beside him, his gaze heavy.
An assassin entered silently.
"We located Rico."
The man's head lifted immediately.
"Where is he? Kill him at once."
"It's not that simple… he has been invited to the Black Scorpion Organization."
Shock froze on his face.
"The Black Scorpion Organization… one of the three great organizations…"
He clenched his hands tightly over his head.
"My son's right will disappear like this… that boy is lucky to be under their protection."
The assassin stepped forward.
"There is still a chance."
Their eyes met.
"When a new hunter joins, he is tested inside a gate of the same rank. We will send C-rank assassins with him."
A brief silence.
"Inside the gate… he will die."
A heavy aura seeped from his body.
"And when they come out… the monsters will be responsible."
Park's eyebrows tightened.
"How did you know his rank?"
"Surveillance. The aura he releases during training confirms he is C-rank."
A dark smile appeared on his face.
"Carry out the plan."
—
One hour later.
The corridors of the Black Scorpion Organization were wide and quiet. Rico's footsteps echoed on the polished floor while Reina walked beside him until they stopped in front of a large door.
She opened it.
Inside the office, the director stood behind his desk, his presence filling the room with a heavy calm that hinted at hidden power.
He smiled.
"Welcome to the Black Scorpion Organization… Rico."
Rico remained silent, his face expressionless. The director stepped forward and extended his hand for a handshake, but Rico walked past him directly and sat in the chair across from the desk without even looking at him.
The director's hand stopped in the air for a moment.
'Does this boy not respect me?'
He laughed lightly and slowly withdrew his hand.
"It seems you are someone qualified to enter the organization."
Rico leaned back coldly in his chair.
"Director, sit at your desk."
The atmosphere immediately grew tense.
An aura of anger ignited around Reina. She stepped forward, her eyes sharp.
"You idiot! You're just an insect, how dare you treat the director this way?!"
Her voice became harsher.
"I am an S-rank hunter and I don't behave like this! Have you lost your mind?!"
The director raised his hand calmly.
"It's fine, Reina."
She stepped back with difficulty, still glaring at Rico with obvious anger.
The director sat behind his desk.
"You will be tested inside a gate of the same rank. We are searching for talent, so you must be evaluated first."
Rico raised his eyes toward him.
"How is the evaluation done?"
"Reina will take you to the evaluation room."
Rico stood immediately.
"Let's go, Reina."
She stood while exhaling in annoyance.
"Don't order me."
"Let's just go."
Before they left, the director's voice stopped them.
"Rico… I once had a son who was talented like you, but he died unfortunately. I expect a lot from you."
Rico did not turn around. He left and closed the door behind him.
The director sat alone, his smile slowly returning.
'This boy… has the presence of a king.'
—
At Rico's house.
His mother was preparing food quietly, steam filling the kitchen.
'Why is Rico late?'
She smiled while arranging the plates.
'It seems he found his future wife.'
—
Inside the evaluation room.
Rico stood before a massive red crystal. A faint energy swirled inside it like whirlpools of light.
"Come closer. Place your hand on it."
Rico placed his palm on the crystal.
It lit up immediately. Red light spread through the room.
The data moved on the device in front of Reina. She looked at the screen, then laughed mockingly.
"A C-rank hunter."
Rico remained calm.
"And what about it?"
She crossed her arms.
"A hunter develops roughly every ten years depending on effort. I awakened at A-rank, and after ten years I became S-rank."
She looked at him seriously.
"And at S-rank, the human limit ends."
Rico thought for a moment.
"So someone can awaken directly as S-rank?"
"Yes."
His expression stiffened for a moment.
"But three weeks ago…"
He suddenly stopped.
"Three weeks what?"
"Nothing."
'I almost exposed myself.'
Reina sighed.
"Prepare yourself. You will be tested inside a C-rank gate with hunters of your level."
"Alright."
—
In the corridor outside the room.
A masked person stood watching silently. A faint dark aura leaked from his body.
"So… it's time to get rid of this weakling."
—
Rico was walking through the city streets on his way home while the sun slowly set behind the tall buildings. The orange colors of sunset reflected on the glass roads and passing cars, while the street became crowded with people returning to their homes.
'What a truly exhausting day.'
He continued walking with his hands in his pockets. His steps were calm, but his mind did not stop.
'This is truly the first step on my path to success.'
'Now I can earn money instead of working as a delivery boy after school.'
He passed by students wearing school uniforms, and his eyes stopped on them for a moment.
'Soon I will leave school… I am now stronger even than some teachers.'
He sighed lightly.
'I'm really an idiot… I almost told hunter Reina that I evolve at an abnormal speed.'
'If I had said that… I would immediately turn into a laboratory rat.'
He raised his gaze to his hands while walking through the crowd.
'What is the source of my power? And why do I see nightmares where I fight monsters?'
'I will know the truth soon.'
'For now I must return home… I need to rest, the gate test is tomorrow.'
After two hours he arrived in front of his house. He opened the door and entered.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back."
His mother raised her head from the kitchen.
"Why are you late, Rico?"
"Sorry, Mom. I was outside with my close friend."
She smiled with a mischievous grin.
"It seems you were with your future wife."
He removed his shoes while sighing.
"Mom… why do you always misunderstand?"
"Anyway, dinner is ready."
"Alright."
—
In the hospital.
Medical devices made steady sounds around Sato's unconscious body while his father Park sat beside him silently.
Suddenly, Sato's fingers moved.
"F… Father… where am I?"
Park jumped to his feet.
"Sato! Are you alright?"
"Yes…"
The father leaned closer, his eyes moist.
"Don't worry. I will take revenge for you."
Sato's voice trembled.
"Father… that person… is not normal."
"Just a weakling, don't worry."
Sato slowly shook his head.
"Before he attacked me… I saw a strange golden aura… inside it there was immense power… and many souls."
"Even though his aura was red… the golden aura disappeared the moment he struck me."
Park's gaze hardened.
"Whatever he is, I will kill him."
"Father… please don't…"
"That person is very terrifying… we will die if we face him."
Park clenched his fist angrily.
"I will send assassins stronger than him."
—
At Rico's house.
Rico sat at the table eating dinner with his mother.
"Mom, I want to tell you something."
"Go ahead."
He hesitated for a moment, then said firmly:
"I'm going to become a hunter."
Her hand froze in the air.
"What?"
"Yes… a hunter."
Her voice lowered with worry.
"That job is dangerous, my son… I don't want to lose you."
"Your father died in an accident, and since that day I have been afraid of losing you too."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine."
"I'm strong now."
She looked at him carefully.
"Is your rank strong?"
"I'm C-rank."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Isn't that a strong rank?"
"Strong enough for me to be safe."
He fell silent for a moment, then added:
"And I will leave school… I will become a full-time hunter."
"Why?"
"I don't need to learn magic at school anymore as long as I'm a hunter."
She studied him for a moment, then smiled gently.
"I trust you, Rico."
He smiled unconsciously. He felt a strange warmth return to his chest… feelings he thought he had lost.
—
In his room.
He sat alone on his bed, silence filling the place.
"System… can you reveal information about your creator?"
A red window appeared in front of him.
[These information cannot be revealed at your current level]
His eyes narrowed.
"Then… what if I try harder?"
Suddenly windows began appearing rapidly.
[Player is attempting to breach the system]
[Player is attempting to access highly confidential information]
[Level insufficient for access]
The number of windows increased crazily, red light filling the room.
Rico felt a sharp headache piercing his head.
'What the—'
His consciousness cut off, and his body collapsed onto the bed.
End of Chapter (Ten)