Chapter 3: The Decision

As Zero stepped out of the dungeon rift, the world around him felt... different. The usual mundane scenery of his apartment complex seemed so trivial now compared to the immense power pulsing through his veins. He flexed his hands, feeling the weight of his newly acquired abilities, the Void Blade still glowing faintly at his side. He could feel the elements dancing at his fingertips, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.

Maybe I should register at the Hunter's Association? he thought, the idea floating into his mind like a passing thought. He'd heard stories of how the association granted S-Class Hunters access to exclusive resources, and it would be a way to test his newfound strength in a more controlled environment. Plus, he could finally take his place alongside Kara in the Hunter community—he could make her proud.

But as soon as that thought entered his mind, another one followed, just as quickly.

No, I should lay low for now.

He knew Kara would probably be thrilled to see him register as a Hunter, but she also had high expectations of herself, being an S-Class. The last thing he wanted was to attract attention. If people learned of his true strength—his EX Class Mythical status—they would view him as a potential threat. The Hunter world wasn't kind to those who suddenly appeared with overwhelming power. No, he needed to stay under the radar, at least for now.

Besides, there was another reason to keep things quiet. Kara didn't know about the system, didn't know about the missions or the level-ups he had gone through. She still thought of him as the ordinary, unawakened Zero. If she found out that he had gone from an F-Class civilian to an EX-Class Mythical player in a matter of minutes, she would worry. She would wonder why he hadn't told her sooner.

Zero couldn't let her know. Not yet.

I'll say I awakened as an F-Class physical enhancement type, he mused, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. He imagined the look on Kara's face when he told her about his "ordinary" awakening. She'd probably laugh, thinking it was just another one of his quirky jokes. He could even play it off as nothing more than an upgrade to his stamina and strength, no big deal.

It would give him time to train and learn more about his abilities in secret. If he registered with the Hunter's Association as an F-Class, he could still participate in low-level quests to keep up the ruse, all while secretly growing stronger. If Kara found out about his true powers too early, she might start to question everything—his intentions, his relationship with her, and even his motivations.

The system chimed in his mind, as if sensing his internal debate.

---

[System Announcement]

New Mission Available:

Objective: Register as a Hunter at the Hunter's Association and participate in at least one F-Class quest.

Reward: 1 Skill Point.

---

Zero chuckled under his breath. It seemed the system had already anticipated his next move. Registering at the Hunter's Association was a formality, but it would give him an opportunity to experience what the world of Hunters was really like.

He glanced up toward the towering building in the distance—the Hunter's Association headquarters. It loomed like a symbol of authority in the city. He could feel his heart race, not from fear, but from excitement. Despite his intentions to keep a low profile, part of him couldn't help but feel the thrill of finally taking his first step into this new world.

But he quickly shook his head, reminding himself that now wasn't the time for glory. He didn't want the attention. He didn't need the fame or recognition that came with being a Hunter.

Kara would be proud of him just the same if he took things slow. He'd prove himself to her, but in his own way, on his own terms. And in the meantime, he would keep his true strength a secret—at least until the time was right.

With a deep breath, Zero turned away from the building and walked back to his apartment, where his peaceful life with Kara awaited. The missions had only just begun, and he still had a lot to learn.

Zero hummed a soft tune as he strolled down the sidewalk, the day still fresh in the air, the sun beginning to set with a golden hue painting the sky. It felt like a good day—his first dungeon run, his newfound power, and the mission to register as a Hunter. Despite everything that had changed, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of normalcy.

That was when his phone rang.

He pulled it out of his pocket, the screen flashing with Kara's name. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he answered the call.

"Hey, Kara. How's it going?" Zero asked, his voice light and casual.

On the other end, Kara's voice was warm, but there was a hint of concern. "Hey, Zero! How was your day? Did you do anything exciting?"

Zero chuckled softly, the sound of her voice bringing comfort. He thought about the dungeon, the monsters, and his newly acquired powers. Should I tell her? Nah, not yet.

He shrugged to himself, making sure to keep his tone nonchalant. "Oh, you know, the usual. Nothing special." He paused for a moment, then added, "But I do have a surprise for you when you get home."

Kara's curiosity piqued, and there was a lighthearted edge to her voice as she responded, "A surprise? What is it? You're not going to make me guess, are you?"

Zero smiled, shaking his head even though she couldn't see him. "Nah, no guessing. It's a surprise, but you'll see soon enough."

There was a slight pause before Kara replied, her voice slightly teasing, "You're being so mysterious. Alright, I'll be home in about an hour, so you'd better not keep me waiting too long!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Zero said, the amusement evident in his voice. "I'll be here. See you soon."

With a final exchange of goodbyes, the call ended. Zero stood in place for a moment, staring down at his phone with a small grin still on his face.

The surprise. He hadn't really planned it yet, but the idea of keeping things casual and fun for Kara was appealing. Maybe he would cook something special for her, something with the cooking mastery he'd unlocked. Or maybe he'd just show her his new status as an awakened Hunter.

His thoughts were interrupted when the phone buzzed again, a reminder of another system notification.

---

[System Announcement]

New Mission Available:

Objective: Prepare a special surprise for Kara.

Reward: 1 Skill Point, Cooking Mastery Level 4.

---

Zero blinked at the prompt, a little surprised. The system didn't usually give missions based on personal matters, but he wasn't complaining. This could work out well.

With a chuckle, he made up his mind. He would put his cooking mastery to good use and whip up something special for Kara. Maybe a dish she hadn't had in a while. He could already feel the ingredients he needed coming to mind, as if the system itself was helping him plan.

Cooking Mastery, level 3, he thought. I can make something amazing with this.

As he reached his apartment, Zero's thoughts turned to Kara once more. She'd been working hard as an S-Class Hunter, always putting others before herself. She deserved a moment of peace, and Zero wanted to give her that. No more keeping secrets, at least for today. Today, he would be the one who gave her a surprise—one that would make her smile.

With a final glance at the system's notification, he began to prepare.

Kara walked through the door, expecting the usual quiet evening after a long day of quests. Instead, her eyes widened as the rich aroma of freshly cooked food hit her. The kitchen was bustling with the scent of spices, grilled meats, and sweet desserts. At the center of the table was a full spread: sizzling meats, perfectly roasted vegetables, fragrant rice, and a dessert that looked too good to eat. It was a feast, and everything was perfectly arranged.

Zero stood by the table, humming a happy tune as he placed the last dish down. He had an apron on, and flour dusted his clothes, a far cry from the laid-back guy Kara knew. His eyes sparkled with pride, and a broad grin spread across his face as he finished setting the table.

Kara blinked, standing still for a moment in utter disbelief. She hadn't expected anything like this. After all, Zero wasn't exactly the type to do something like this out of the blue. The sight before her was like something out of a dream—a dream she didn't want to wake up from.

"Zero…" Kara started, her voice filled with surprise. "What is all this?"

Zero chuckled, stepping away from the table and motioning for her to sit down. "I thought I'd surprise you. You've been working so hard lately, I wanted to do something nice for you."

Kara felt her heart warm, but there was something more, something new in his voice. She couldn't quite place it, but she was starting to understand. It was like he was standing taller today, more confident, more... sure of himself.

"You didn't have to do all this," she replied, still stunned by the spread.

Zero shrugged, but his grin didn't fade. "I wanted to. You've been carrying a lot of the weight on your own lately. So I thought, why not make tonight special?"

Her gaze softened as she took in his words. She had always been the one to push forward, to take the lead. But now, Zero was stepping up. It was a small thing, but it felt... important.

"Well, you've definitely surprised me," Kara said, still trying to wrap her head around what was happening. She moved to sit down, glancing at the dishes before her. "What's the occasion?"

Zero sat down opposite her, his expression becoming a little more serious, though there was still a playful gleam in his eyes. "Well, the surprise isn't just the meal. It's also... something else."

Kara raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "What do you mean?"

Zero hesitated for just a moment, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced with a more earnest tone. "The surprise is... I've awakened."

Kara blinked, not sure if she heard him correctly. "What?"

"I know you've been trying to get me to awaken for a while now," Zero continued, his voice steady. "I didn't want to rush it, but... today, I did. It's... it's a big deal for me."

Her heart skipped a beat. She had always known Zero was more than just an ordinary civilian, but to hear him say he'd awakened—it felt like a huge turning point. "Wait, you mean... you're a hunter now?"

Zero nodded, his eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and pride. "Yeah. I'm not just any hunter, though."

Kara frowned. "What class did you get? C-class? D-class?"

Zero shook his head, but his grin grew wider. "I'm F-class... Physical Enhancement."

Kara blinked in confusion. "F-class?"

"Yeah." Zero's voice carried a strange mix of pride and humor. "I know it's not much compared to the higher classes, but it's a start. And honestly, I've never felt stronger."

Kara wasn't sure whether to laugh or to be concerned. F-class? Of all the classes, why F-class? She thought he'd awaken to something better, something more like the C- or B-class hunters she encountered. But the sincerity in his voice made it clear that he didn't see his F-class as a setback.

"Zero…" Kara said carefully. "You... you're okay with being F-class?"

Zero met her gaze, his eyes unwavering. "I'm more than okay with it. It's a stepping stone. I'll get stronger with time, and I'm going to make the most of it. But it's not just about the strength. It's about standing beside you, supporting you. That's all that matters."

Kara felt a swell of emotion in her chest. Despite the apparent weakness of his class, Zero was unwavering in his resolve. He didn't care about the rank or the status. He was focused on one thing: being there for her.

"That's… that's really sweet, Zero," Kara said softly. "But I know you'll grow stronger. You're already showing signs of it. I believe in you."

Zero smiled, a small, but genuine smile. "I'll prove it to you. Just wait."

Kara's heart softened, and she reached across the table to take his hand. "You've already proven more than enough. I'm proud of you, Zero."

They shared a quiet moment, the weight of his words hanging between them, but also a sense of peace. They didn't need to rush things. They were both on their own paths, but somehow, they always managed to meet in the middle.

And together, they would face whatever the world had in store.