Unknown Figure.

The cool breeze brushed against Vanitas' skin as he stepped out of the dungeon. The sky stretched above him, a brilliant shade of blue, and birds soared freely, their distant chirping filling the air with an almost serene melody. For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.

But that peace was short-lived.

Click! Click!

The rapid shutter of cameras shattered the quiet. Reporters swarmed like a tide, their voices rising in a chaotic blend of questions, while curious hunters gathered, their eyes filled with skepticism and intrigue.

"How did they survive that dungeon?"

"No visible injuries... not even a single scratch?!"

"Tell us, how did you three make it out alive?"

Vanitas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. 'I just want to go home and rest.' he thought, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in.

Before he could push through the crowd, a voice cut through the noise like a blade.

"Hey, isn't that the hunter who couldn't even handle a single F-rank creature?"

Murmurs spread through the gathered crowd like wildfire.

"Yeah... I remember now! How could someone like him survive an Unstable Dungeon without a single injury?"

Vanitas clenched his fists, pushing past the prying eyes and flashing cameras, his patience wearing thin. The reporters, relentless as ever, continued bombarding him with questions.

"Sir, what's your name?!"

"Can you tell us how you three survived?!"

"What are your ranks?!"

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. "Luck," he muttered under his breath. "It was just luck."

Without another word, he pressed forward through the sea of bodies.

Suddenly, the crowd parted as a group of armed guards wearing Hunter Association badges stepped in to control the chaos. Among them, a woman with long blonde hair stood out, exuding authority. Beside her walked a man clad in a black hat, his white hair unmistakable. Vanitas recognized him instantly—Blaze, an S-Rank hunter known for his exceptional combat skills combined with powerful magic. He was one of the strongest hunters, a figure of both respect and fear.

The blonde woman raised her hand, signaling the crowd to step aside. Blaze walked straight toward Vanitas and grabbed his shoulder with a firm grip.

"Hey," Blaze's voice was low but commanding. "Where are the others? Geon and the rest of your team?"

Vanitas slowly turned his head, his expression darkening. He met Blaze's gaze with an unreadable stare before replying, "You should ask those two." Without waiting for a response, he shrugged Blaze's hand off and walked away, leaving Kai and Alexis standing awkwardly behind him.

Before he could disappear into the crowd, the blonde woman moved with unnatural speed, suddenly appearing beside him.

"Hey, wait up," she said smoothly. "I'm Celine, from the Hunter Association." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek black card, handing it to him. "This is an official invitation from the Association. We need to discuss what happened inside that dungeon—especially how you three managed to survive. But for now, you should rest."

Vanitas glanced at the card before slipping it into his pocket with a nod. "Got it," he muttered, walking off without another word.

His mind, however, was already elsewhere. The Void Key.

Finding a quiet alleyway, he leaned against the wall and quickly accessed his system menu, pulling up the item's description.

[Void Key]

Description: Grants access to the Void Realm. Fight endless waves of creatures within the given time based on your level. Rewards depend on performance.

Vanitas smirked. "This... this might be the key to getting stronger," he whispered, his fingers twitching in anticipation.

Just as his thoughts drifted toward testing it, a sudden notification popped up.

[Warning: You are being watched.]

His body tensed. His eyes darted up, scanning his surroundings with heightened awareness.

Slowly, he turned his head and caught a glimpse of a figure standing atop a nearby building. Shrouded in shadows, the figure stood motionless, observing him intently. Their eyes met for a brief second before the figure vanished into the darkness, leaving behind only a lingering sense of unease.

Vanitas narrowed his eyes. Am I hallucinating? No... that was real.

He exhaled, shaking his head. "I need to get home and rest, i don't have time to investigate that figure, who ever that is i don't give a fuck" he muttered, brushing the unsettling feeling aside for now.

With that, he slipped back into the crowd, blending into the bustling city streets, his mind racing with questions he didn't yet have answers to.

Meanwhile, Kai and Alexis stood in front of Blaze, his sharp gaze fixed on them. Alexis was still shaken, her mind replaying the gruesome sight of their fallen comrades. Kai, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about Vanitas—how did an F-rank hunter manage to survive that monster?

Blaze spun his hat between his fingers, his patience wearing thin. "I'm asking for the fourth time—what happened inside that dungeon?"

Silence.

Alexis kept her head down, her fingers trembling slightly, while Kai shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.

Celine, standing beside Blaze, let out a soft sigh. "Come on, Blaze. Give them a break. They've been through enough. Maybe they just need some time." She patted him lightly on the shoulder, offering the two a small, reassuring smile.

Blaze exhaled through his nose and slid his hat back onto his head. "Yeah, yeah. Take them somewhere safe. Let them rest for a week."

--

As Vanitas walk through the crowded streets, he saw the tv news on the Buildings, thousands of people, came by and watched the news.

---

Breaking News: (Hunters Survive Unstable Dungeon)

TV screens across the city flickered with the latest updates.

"In today's headlines, three hunters have made it out of an Unstable Dungeon alive. The Hunter Association has confirmed their ranks—D, E, and F. But what really happened inside remains a mystery."

Rumors were already spreading.

"Some believe they were rescued by an unknown figure, while others think the stronger ranks might have fought to protect the weaker one. But here's the strange part—none of them have a single scratch."

The news anchor's voice grew more serious.

"Right now, it's all speculation. But one thing is clear—everyone wants answers."

--

'Looks like im getting famous now.' he thought smiling. 'And everyone wants an answer.'

Vanitas hurried home, his body heavy with exhaustion. As soon as he stepped inside, he collapsed onto the bed without even bothering to shower.

The weight of fatigue pressed down on him, his eyes slowly closing as sleep began to take over.

"Finally... I can rest."

[System: You are being watched!]

His eyes shot open, adrenaline surging through his veins. The exhaustion that had gripped him just moments ago vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp alertness.

"What... watched? By who?!"

His gaze darted around the dimly lit apartment, scanning every shadow and corner. His mind raced back to the figure he had seen earlier on the rooftop.

"Is it the shadow from before?"

Slowly, he pushed himself up and walked to the window, his breath steady but tense. Outside, the city moved on as if nothing had happened—cars passed, people walked by, and the cool night breeze whispered through the streets. Nothing seemed out of place.

Yet, the unsettling feeling gnawed at him, a lingering weight in his chest.

As the system notification faded from his vision, Vanitas exhaled and shook his head. "Maybe... I'm just overthinking it."

He let himself fall back onto the bed, closing his eyes once more, forcing his mind to drift away from reality.

--

End of Chapter.