An Upgrader?!

The group of Hunters trudged through the damp cave passageways, their boots echoing off the narrow walls. They had volunteered for the Jeju Raid but, unfortunately, never got the chance to participate in the fight. Instead, they were sent to help with the clean-up, overseeing the island's security after the main battle.

As they made their way back to their plane, eager to return home and put the horrors of Jeju behind them, none of them noticed the subtle shifts in the air. They were too tired, too focused on getting back to their routine, too eager to put their lives back into normalcy.

But then, as they passed through a darkened cavern, something changed.

A shadow loomed in front of them.

The Hunters stopped mid-step, their bodies tense, sensing something was off. A figure stepped out of the darkness. He was towering, hulking in size—his body rippling with muscles, covered in tribal markings, his attire primitive and almost caveman-like. His gaze was wild, like that of a beast, yet there was a strange intelligence behind those eyes. He looked like he belonged to another era, an ancient force of nature.

And then—he spoke.

The language was unlike anything the Hunters had ever heard before—rough, guttural, like the language of beasts from the Hunter Gates. It was a tongue of power, spoken by those who existed long before the modern world.

A snap echoed in the cave.

And suddenly, all of the Hunters collapsed, unconscious—the last thing they saw was the primal figure before them.

But that wasn't the end of the story.

Another figure emerged from the same shadow—the blue man. Unlike the first, he was small in stature, with sharp, almost elf-like ears and a weathered appearance. His skin was a pale, bluish hue, his hair a wispy grey, and his ancient eyes seemed to contain the weight of centuries. Despite his frailty, there was a quiet dignity in his presence, and a quiet authority that seemed to radiate from him.

The two figures—the Man-Beast and the Blue Elf—stood face to face, exchanging a conversation in their strange language.

The Man-Beast grunted in acknowledgment. "This power… it is certainly his."

The Blue Elf nodded solemnly, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Yes. But it is odd. Why would he be helping humans now? What could be his purpose?"

The Man-Beast's eyes narrowed, his gaze deep and thoughtful. "Perhaps there is more to this than we realize. Perhaps his motives have shifted."

With that, the Blue Elf looked towards the cave's entrance and began speaking again. "We should go. Time is of the essence. It's not wise to linger."

Both of them opened Dungeon-like gates before them, one glowing red, the other blue, and in a flash, they both disappeared through their respective portals, vanishing as quickly as they had arrived.

The silence lingered in the cave, the air thick with the unsettling aura of what had just happened.

Who were those two?

Back in Korea, the memorial for Byung-Gu was held with solemn dignity. His death weighed heavily on the hearts of the people, especially his fellow Hunters. Many had witnessed his sacrifice firsthand, and his loss felt like a wound to the entire community.

Jinwoo and Po stood quietly at the memorial, laying down white flowers on the ground. Their faces were unreadable—no tears, no sorrow, no sentimentality. They had faced death too many times to feel the sting of it anymore. The battle had been fought, but the price of victory was too high.

The crowd buzzed with whispers, and social media exploded with both praise and criticism of the duo. Praise for their strength, their unwavering resolve, their power—but there were always questions.

"If they had gone to Jeju earlier, would Min Byung-Gu still be alive?"

Criticism of their timing, of their involvement.

But Jinwoo and Po didn't care.

Social media was a fleeting thing.

They had no time to get tangled in the opinions of people who didn't know the full story. As far as they were concerned, they had survived—and that was all that mattered.

As they turned to leave, Po clapped Jinwoo on the shoulder. "They can argue all they want, Jinwoo. We're living. And that's cool."

Jinwoo nodded, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Exactly."

After the memorial, the two met up with Gunhee, their old ally, and began discussing their next steps. The idea of forming their own guild had been floating around for a while, but now that they were both S-Rank, it was the perfect time.

"You don't even need to apply for the guild master's license," Gunhee explained, his voice brimming with confidence. "You just call the Association, and you're good to go."

Jinwoo and Po exchanged a glance, both amused by how effortless it sounded.

"We'll get it done," Po said. "Soon."

They said their goodbyes to Gunhee and were about to leave when a voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Excuse me, are you two Sung Jinwoo and Po?"

The voice belonged to a man who walked toward them—tall, sharp, with a certain smoothness to his demeanor.

"Yes?" Jinwoo asked, raising an eyebrow.

The man smiled. "I'm Adam White. I'm with the Hunter Bureau. Would you two be interested in coming with me? We have something important to discuss."

Jinwoo and Po exchanged another glance.

"Not interested," Po said curtly, his arms crossed.

But Adam White didn't back down. "What if I told you we have an Upgrader?"

The word hit like a bombshell. Both of them froze.

Jinwoo's gaze hardened. "What did you say?"

Adam smiled slyly. "An Upgrader. Someone who can push awakened individuals beyond their limits. We believe you two might be the perfect candidates for what's coming."

Jinwoo's expression darkened. "I don't believe in any of that Upgrader nonsense."

But Adam remained unflinching. "We have one of our own right here. If you'd like to meet them, you can come with me. We'll show you."

After a moment of silent contemplation, Jinwoo sighed and nodded. "Fine. Let's see what you've got."

In a well-lit office in Korea, Michael Connor greeted them with a warm smile. He had the look of a man who had done this many times before—sly, calculating, and perhaps a bit too friendly.

"Welcome," he said. "We were hoping you'd come. Take a seat, please."

Jinwoo and Po didn't sit down. They were waiting—waiting for something.

"You mentioned an Upgrader," Jinwoo began, his eyes blazing. "So where is this person?"

Michael smiled again, but this time there was a hint of something else in his expression. "Actually, we have someone who fits the description perfectly."

With a wave of his hand, he gestured to the door.

"Let me introduce you to Ms. Selner."

The door opened, and the woman who entered the room was none other than—

Jinwoo's eyes widened.