Preparing for the next step

The monster tried to attack Lan Tian, but suddenly, it froze. Its body wouldn't move—no matter how much it struggled.

Lan Tian smirked, gripping his sword. In the blink of an eye, he dashed forward, his blade flashing.

SWOOSH!

The monster's head separated from its body in an instant, rolling across the ground. Blood sprayed, and its massive body collapsed with a heavy thud.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Outside, the spectators were frozen in shock.

Even Dong June, who had seen countless talented hunters, couldn't hide his surprise. He muttered, "Even a level 30 hunter would take a few minutes to defeat a monster like that… But he did it in seconds."

Khalil clenched his fists. He had been looking down on Lan Tian, but now… he wasn't so sure.

Lan Tian flicked his sword, shaking off the blood, and turned toward the observers with a smug grin.

"So, did I pass?"

When Lan Tian walked out of the test room, Uncle Shin immediately grabbed his shoulder, eyes filled with confusion.

"You brat! You were hiding that much strength from me?!" he exclaimed.

Lan Tian chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no, it's not like that, Uncle Shin."

He crossed his arms and explained, "It's my new skill—Dominance Over the Weak. If my opponent is a monster that's a lower level than me, they'll be completely paralyzed for a few minutes."

Uncle Shin's eye twitched. "What kind of ridiculous skill is that?! That's basically cheating!"

Dong June rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "A skill that completely immobilizes weaker monsters… That's not just strong—it's absurdly broken."

Khalil, who had been standing silently, scoffed. "Hmph. Don't get cocky, kid. Your skill only works on those weaker than you."

Lan Tian smirked. "Exactly. So, if you don't want to be frozen in place, just don't be weaker than me."

Khalil's jaw clenched as Uncle Shin burst into laughter. "Hah! That's my brat!"

The atmosphere grew livelier, but in the back of Dong June's mind, a single thought lingered: Just how far can this kid go?

Dong June handed Lan Tian a small, silver card with a faint glow. "Alright, kid. Here's your D-class hunter license. Don't go causing too much trouble now."

Lan Tian smirked as he took the card. "No promises."

—

The News Spreads Like Wildfire

It didn't take long for the news to spread across the country.

A young boy awakened a Super Hidden Class and became a D-rank hunter in record time!

It was the kind of headline that made waves in the hunter world. People whispered about it in guild halls, training centers, and even on live broadcasts.

But while most were shocked, excited, or envious, in a dark corner of the world, a different conversation was taking place…

—

Somewhere Unknown…

In a dimly lit room, a man kneeled before a shadowy figure seated on an ornate chair. The air was thick with an oppressive aura.

"Boss… don't you think this little insect could interfere with our plans?" the kneeling man asked cautiously.

The mysterious figure leaned forward, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. Then, without a word, he lifted a finger.

BANG!

A hunter standing nearby was blasted through the wall, his body lifeless before he even hit the ground.

The shadowy man dusted off his sleeve. "He's just a cockroach. If he becomes annoying… I'll crush him with a single finger. Like that."

The kneeling man gulped, his forehead drenched in sweat. "U-Understood, boss!"

The shadowy figure smirked. "For now, just keep an eye on the little cockroach. If he gets too close to our business… squash him."

—

Meanwhile…

Lan Tian stretched his arms as he watched Uncle Shin wipe sweat from his forehead.

"Finally, Uncle Shin! You reached level 20!" Lan Tian grinned.

Uncle Shin collapsed onto a nearby rock. "Damn brat… Do you have any idea how hard it is for an old man like me to level up?!"

Lan Tian snorted. "Yeah, yeah, excuses. I bet you slacked off half the time."

Uncle Shin glared at him but was too tired to argue.

[Lan Tian - Level 23]

[Uncle Shin - Level 20]

[Sneaky - Level 16]

Lan Tian smirked as he looked at their progress. Alright… Time to take things to the next level.

Uncle Shin wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Alright, brat. We've been grinding levels like crazy. What's next?"

Lan Tian grinned. "We're going to clear a C-rank dungeon now."

Uncle Shin nearly fell over. "WHAT?! A C-rank dungeon?! Are you insane?"

Lan Tian raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Any problem?"

Uncle Shin's face twitched. "You brat! Always acting like you know everything! But where's your knowledge now, huh?! Don't you know the basic requirements for a C-rank dungeon? We need at least one C-rank hunter and two D-rank hunters. But we're just one D-rank and one E-rank! How the hell do you expect us to survive?!"

Lan Tian smirked. "Uncle, do you think I'm a fool?"

Uncle Shin crossed his arms. "Yes. Because you are a fool."

Lan Tian's confident smirk cracked.

"…Ahm. Ahm." He coughed to regain his composure. "Okay, back to the topic. Take this seriously. I'm not joking. Have you forgotten who I am? I'm in the news! I'm a celebrity now!"

Uncle Shin rolled his eyes. "Oh, great. The Super Hidden Class kid is getting arrogant. So, Mr. Celebrity, how do you plan to enter a C-rank dungeon?"

Lan Tian smirked. "Simple. We find a party."

—

They arrived at the Hunter Association's registration desk.

Lan Tian leaned in. "We're looking for a party to clear a C-rank dungeon."

The receptionist nodded and began typing on her computer. "Alright, let me check which teams are available…"

A moment later, she glanced up, her eyes widening. "Oh, sir, you're very lucky! Right now, there's a party of two looking for teammates—a C-rank hunter and a D-rank hunter. Would you like to meet them?"

Lan Tian grinned. "Of course."

The receptionist gestured for them to follow. "Come with me. I'll introduce you."

They followed her across the hall, where two hunters stood in the corner of the Hunter Association building.

The first man was tall and muscular, his body covered in scars. His arms were thick as tree trunks, and he had a jagged scar running down his left cheek. His armor was dark and heavy, giving off the vibe of a battle-hardened warrior. His cold eyes scanned Lan Tian and Uncle Shin like a predator eyeing its prey.

The second man was lean but wiry, with a sinister smirk plastered on his face. His long, greasy hair hung over his sharp, fox-like eyes. He wore light armor, and his fingers twitched near the dagger strapped to his belt, as if itching to stab something. His presence gave off an unsettling aura—like someone who enjoyed playing with his victims before finishing them off.

Lan Tian's instincts flared. These guys… look like villains straight out of a novel.

Uncle Shin scratched his chin. "Brat… are you sure about this?"

Lan Tian smirked. "Heh. Let's see if they're as dangerous as they look."...