The Box: Fate
Chapter 47 — The Shadow of the Titan
The purple rift in the sky remained like a bleeding wound, a constant reminder of the Second Monarch, Malakas Inside the VIP training hall of the Liya Hunter's Guild, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of iron and concentrated mana
"We aren't strong enough" Kataki said, his silver eyes scanning the room "The victory at the Fortress was a fluke Against a Monarch, our current power levels are nothing more than a minor annoyance"
The group spent the next few days in a brutal training loop They stopped taking easy quests and focused entirely on high-density mana zones Their diet of Shadow-Boar and mana-infused herbs had hardened their physical shells, but the mental pressure was mounting Through the Guild' inner circles, rumors began to circulate about Malakas—the "Ravager of Souls" didn't just kill; he erased the digital data of any player he touched, meaning there was no respawn, no ghost, only permanent deletion
However, a new rumor began to overshadow even the Demon Lord
"Have you heard?" Sharky Bee asked, leaning against a weapon rack while Axel Hatanaki practiced his heavy strikes "The Guild is in a panic. Not because of the rift, but because of a traveler. They say a 'Star-Rank' Hunter is approaching Liya A player who survived the 'Zero Zone' in the South"
Axel stopped mid-punch, his golden aura steaming off his skin "A Star-Rank? I thought those were just myths. No player has reached that level yet"
"This one did" Sharky Bee replied, his expression uncharacteristically serious "They call him Vahn the Iron-Heart And he's not coming for a chat He' coming to claim the Zenith card for himself"
The next morning, the city gates of Liya groaned open A man walked in alone He didn't wear flashy armor or carry a massive weapon He wore a simple, tattered grey cloak But as he stepped onto the cobblestones, the gravity in the city seemed to double
[SYSTEM WARNING: EXTREME POWER LEVEL DETECTED]
[INDIVIDUAL: VAHN THE IRON-HEART — LEVEL 65]
His aura was a crushing, suffocating weight—a dark, obsidian pressure that made the air hum with the sound of vibrating steel Every hunter in the vicinity instinctively stepped back, their hands shaking on their hilts Vahn didn't even look at them; his gaze was fixed on the hotel where Kataki's squad was staying
Axel and Sharky Bee stood on the hotel balcony, watching the newcomer from a distance
"Look at that aura," Axel whispered, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the railing "It's not just mana... it's pure killing intent It's denser than the Demon Lord' Commanders"
Sharky Bee unsheathed his daggers, his eyes narrowing "He's a monster in human skin, Axel If he wants the Zenith card, he' going to come through us first"
"Then we make sure we're ready" Axel said, his golden light beginning to swirl with a new, aggressive intensity "I'm tired of being the one who hides If a Star-Rank wants a fight, I'll give him a wall he can't break"
The two friends stood side-by-side, watching the grey-cloaked figure move through the crowded street like a shark through water The Second Monarch was in the sky, but a different kind of god had just entered their front door
The Nameless Vanguards were about to be tested by one of their own