Tsuma Tsukura stood before a massive rock inside the S-rank hunters' training facility, his upper body bare, muscles clearly tensed, wearing only simple pants, as if his presence alone was enough to impose a heavy pressure on the place.
The rest of the hunters were doing ordinary exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, endurance training—but Tsuma's training was completely different, as if the gap between him and them was not just ranks, but the difference between two worlds.
Rumors about him never stopped. Some said he was SS-rank, others claimed he was SSS-rank, while the Scorpion Guild registered him as only an S-rank hunter, a classification that seemed like a ridiculous joke to many.
Tsuma raised his bare fist, used a small portion of his strength, then delivered a direct punch to the massive rock.
In a single moment, the rock shattered into scattered small pieces, as if it had been nothing more than a fragile layer of clay, while the entire place trembled under the force of the strike.
The vibration spread through the training facility, cracking sounds echoed across the walls, causing some hunters to stop training and look toward him in clear shock.
Takumi Raven, one of the new S-rank hunters, widened his eyes as he watched the scene, feeling chills run through his body.
"What is this terrifying power?" he said in a low voice filled with genuine fear.
Rina was drinking water after her training, and she laughed lightly as if the matter was completely normal.
"It's Tsuma… why are you so scared?"
"Are you kidding? One punch from him shook the whole place."
Rina laughed again, as if she were used to such scenes.
"Takumi, don't be afraid… he's a special hunter, you'll get used to it."
"Impossible…"
Tsuma stood before the shattered remains of the rock, looking at them coldly, as if dissatisfied with the result.
'Even the rock can't endure me?'
Deep inside, he knew he was the strongest in Korea, perhaps even the strongest in the world. It wasn't arrogance as much as it was a truth he had lived with his entire life.
Since childhood, he had never been an ordinary person. Despite his thin body back then, he was stronger than everyone around him. Even in arm wrestling, he only needed one finger to defeat any opponent.
Students challenged him at every stage of school, and he always ended it with just one finger, without changing his expression or being affected.
Sometimes he felt he didn't belong to this world. No one could defeat him, and there was no real challenge that interested him.
For that reason, he didn't enter gates often. To him, they were just a waste of time; nothing inside them gave him a sense of excitement.
His only dream was simple, yet almost impossible… to find someone who could defeat him.
'This dream is impossible… anyway.' he muttered while looking at the rock debris.
The school bell rang, announcing cafeteria time, and students headed to eat before continuing the school day.
Rico sat as usual alone, eating quietly without paying attention to what was around him, as if the surrounding noise meant nothing.
But the bullies were not ready to leave him alone.
The same two people who had bullied him on the day the gate appeared at school approached him, but this time the situation was completely different.
Rico was no longer that weak boy; his body had changed, his presence became stronger, and his gaze carried an unfamiliar coldness.
One of them placed his hand on Rico's right shoulder, while the other placed his hand on his left shoulder, as if trying to assert dominance.
"Looks like you've become stronger… can you hit us now?" the first said arrogantly.
"Yeah… can you?" the other added mockingly.
Rico did not move his head, nor did he even look at them.
He simply raised his hands slowly and removed their hands from his shoulders with complete ease, even though they were pressing with all their strength.
Both were instantly shocked, unable to understand how he had removed them so easily without moving from his spot.
Rico finally raised his head, his eyes glowing red, and a faint red aura began to surround his body.
"Are you two challenging me?"
"I wouldn't advise that."
He stood from his chair and walked toward them calmly, until he stood directly between them.
He placed his hands on their shoulders—just light pressure—but the air around them became heavy.
"I don't want to kill mere students."
Both froze in terror, unable to respond.
After a moment, Rico removed his hands, but the pain suddenly exploded in their shoulders, causing them to fall to the ground screaming.
Rico returned calmly to his chair and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
The two looked at him with clear hatred, while he kept eating coldly, uninterested in their stares.
"Your Majesty… are you ready for this?"
The sword descended in one sharp motion, blood rushed into the air, and Selena's body fell without resistance, her eyes still open as if she had not comprehended what happened.
Rico stood before the scene, his body frozen, anger rising inside him like a silent volcano, yet not a single tear fell, as if even grief could not find its way out.
The ground around him was filled with corpses. His brother and sister had fallen earlier, and his mother was the last to be killed, as if the killer intentionally saved this moment for the end.
The person standing before him had unclear features; a dense shadow covered his face, but the armor he wore resembled a living night sky—galaxies slowly rotating, stars shimmering as if completely real—while his long white hair moved with the wind in a chilling calm.
"Oh… it seems you won't take action against me even after I killed your mother."
He stepped forward, his voice calm but carrying harsh coldness.
"I was right… your emotions disappeared after you obtained power."
He paused for a moment, as if watching Rico's reaction, but silence was the only answer.
"Do you know why?"
Rico remained silent, standing with rigid features, wearing an advanced ice armor, its lines sharp, coldness emanating from it, his yellow hair moving lightly, and tattoos extending beneath his calm eyes.
"It seems you won't ask… fine, I'll answer myself."
"You simply… are not human, Rico."
The world suddenly shook, as if the scene shattered like a mirror.
Rico opened his eyes violently, his breathing uneven, sweat drops on his forehead, while he was seated at his desk inside the classroom.
The teacher's voice cut the silence.
"Rico, even though your appearance changed… you still sleep in class."
Rico slowly raised his head, the effect of the dream still lingering in his eyes.
"Sorry, teacher."
"Alright, focus. You'll be expelled if you don't pass the final exams."
"Yes, teacher."
Rico looked back at the desk in front of him, but his mind wasn't in the lesson, it was on the dream that felt disturbingly real.
A heavy feeling settled in his chest, as if the last words were still echoing in his ears.
'Not human…'
But that wasn't what occupied him now.
He knew that this day was his last at school.
He had decided to submit an early graduation request for the magical high school certificate, after already becoming capable of using magic, and there was no longer a reason for him to stay.
He slightly raised his eyes, looking at the classroom that was once a source of annoyance, now seeming like just a finished phase.
A quiet sense of detachment took hold of him, as if this place no longer meant anything.
End of Chapter (20)