The Beginning of a New Journey

Chapter One: The Beginning of a New Journey

At the age of eighteen, Griffin Ashcroft was banished from his family. The Ashcroft family, once one of the most prestigious families in South Korea, had cast him aside like a broken tool. His grandfather, the patriarch of the family and one of the most feared S-rank hunters in the country, had decreed that Griffin was no longer worthy of his bloodline. It didn't matter that Griffin had been marked by the gods themselves, or that his birth had been seen as a blessing. The moment he failed to awaken, the moment he didn't rise to the expectations placed on him, he became a disappointment—a failure.

"You have no place here," his grandfather had said. And just like that, Griffin was cast out. His father, an outsider who had married into the Ashcroft family, stood by silently, not offering a single word of support. He was calculating, always thinking of which side would benefit him the most. And Griffin, in his eyes, was no longer of any use.

Griffin's mother, a kind-hearted B-rank hunter, had tried to comfort him, but her voice was drowned out by the cold authority of his grandfather. His younger brother, still too young to understand, stood by him—admiring him still, loving him despite his failure.

Griffin left the mansion with nothing but the clothes on his back. He rented a small, one-room apartment, doing whatever he could to get by. His savings, which he'd put aside for college, dwindled with each passing day. But he refused to give up.

He worked at a convenience store to make ends meet, hoping that someday, somehow, he would be able to put his life back together. He had dreams of attending college, of living a normal life. But those dreams were crushed every time he ran into his cousin—the one with the A-rank blessing.

This cousin, once his closest friend, had become a cruel reminder of Griffin's failure. Every few weeks, he would send his lackeys—bullies who'd harass Griffin, remind him of his shortcomings. They'd take his money, his dignity, and leave him broken. It didn't matter how hard he tried to escape them. They always found him.

And then, on his 21st birthday, Griffin thought he'd finally caught a break.

He had scraped together enough money to go to college. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get started, enough to change his life. The weight of all his hard work had finally paid off. He walked home after a long shift at the convenience store, a smile on his face as he imagined what the future might hold.

But as he passed by an alleyway, his heart sank. The same boys—his cousin's thugs—blocked his path. They grinned, a predatory glint in their eyes.

"Well, look who we have here, the failed Ashcroft," one of them sneered, stepping forward.

Griffin gritted his teeth, but he didn't back down. "I don't want any trouble," he said, hoping they'd just let him go this time.

But of course, they didn't. They surrounded him, shoving him, laughing as they stole his money—the last of the money he had saved for college. His dreams, gone in an instant.

They didn't stop there. They beat him, kicked him to the ground, their words echoing in his ears like nails on a chalkboard. "Pathetic," one of them spat. "You'll never amount to anything, Griffin."

When they were done, they left him lying on the cold pavement. He could barely move. His vision blurred, his body ached. And as he lay there, all Griffin could think was: Why? Why can't they just leave me alone?

He staggered home, his heart heavy with defeat. He collapsed onto his bed, his eyes swollen from crying. Why couldn't things be different?

In his sleep, Griffin dreamed. But this dream—it wasn't like the others. It felt real, and it was different. The world around him was strange, filled with strange, unfamiliar faces and landscapes that felt… ancient. He was standing in what seemed like a forest, surrounded by people who looked like hunters—only they weren't. They weren't real hunters. They looked like they were from another time, a time without technology.

And then, the monster appeared.

It was huge, towering over him with glowing eyes and an aura of death that sent a chill through his spine. Griffin froze. The monster released its killer intent, and the very air around him thickened with malevolent power.

This wasn't just a dream. This was something else. This was real.

His heart raced, and then, in an instant, a voice—deep and resonant—spoke in his mind.

"Griffin Ashcroft, you have been chosen. Welcome to Kaido."

He didn't know what Kaido was, but one thing was certain: whatever had just happened, it was going to change everything.