Chapter 3: The Power Within

The air was heavy with silence. Dust settled over the ruins as the Rift above flickered before sealing itself shut. The Abyssal Dragon was gone, its presence erased as if it had never existed. All that remained was the shattered street and the stunned faces of Manila's strongest Hunters.

Mark Fernandez stood at the center of the devastation, his heart pounding in his chest. Power coursed through his body, vibrant and overwhelming. It felt unreal—like he was dreaming. Yet, the debris under his feet, the cold wind against his skin, and the shocked gazes of Al Reign, Erwin Tomparang, and Andrei Huertas were all too real.

Al's eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "An E-rank… did this?"

Mark opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could he explain it? Just minutes ago, he was the weakest Hunter in Manila. Now, he had felled an S-rank monster with a single strike. It defied logic.

Erwin staggered forward, his face pale. "Fernandez… What did you do?"

Mark looked down at his trembling hands. His knuckles were bruised, but there was no pain. Only the lingering warmth of the energy that had surged through him. "I… I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I just… moved. It felt like my body was acting on its own."

Andrei's eyes flashed with suspicion. "That's impossible. An E-rank Hunter doesn't have that kind of speed or power." He stepped closer, his aura flaring with intensity. "Who are you, really?"

Before Mark could answer, a voice echoed in his mind, cold and mechanical.

[Level Up. All skills maxed.]

[New skill acquired: Abyssal Resonance – Max Level]

[Ability to sense and manipulate residual energy from defeated Abyssal creatures.]

Mark's eyes widened. Abyssal Resonance? What did that mean? As if responding to his thoughts, his senses expanded, and the world around him changed. He could see faint trails of energy lingering in the air, shimmering like smoke. The place where the dragon had fallen was drenched in a dark, pulsating aura.

He stumbled back, his heart racing. This was no ordinary power. It was something terrifying and otherworldly.

Al's voice snapped him back to reality. "Fernandez! Answer me!"

Mark met Al's gaze, seeing the confusion and suspicion swirling in his eyes. He knew he needed to say something—anything. But before he could, the ground beneath him cracked, and the residual energy surged toward him, drawn to his body like a magnet.

A searing pain shot through his chest, and Mark cried out, clutching his heart as the dark aura enveloped him. It felt like his insides were on fire, the energy burning through his veins. His vision blurred, and his body went limp.

"Mark!" Erwin shouted, rushing forward, but Andrei held him back.

"Wait! Look at his aura… It's fluctuating," Andrei warned, his eyes fixed on Mark. "That's not normal. Something's… wrong."

Mark's body convulsed as the dark energy twisted around him, coiling like serpents. His mind was a whirlpool of chaos, flashes of memories that weren't his flooding his thoughts—ancient battles, roaring beasts, worlds crumbling into darkness. He saw the Abyssal Dragon's last moments, felt its rage and despair. It was as if their souls were momentarily connected.

"No… Get out of my head!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the ruins. The energy flared, swirling faster and faster, until finally, it exploded outward in a burst of light, shattering the nearby windows.

When the light faded, Mark was on his knees, gasping for breath. The aura was gone, and the pain had vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence. He looked up, his eyes burning with an unnatural glow that slowly faded back to normal.

Al's face was pale, his expression a mixture of fear and fascination. "What… are you?"

Mark didn't know how to answer. He felt different—changed. There was a weight in his chest, like a sleeping beast curled around his heart. It was power, raw and ancient, waiting to be unleashed. And it scared him.

"I… I don't know," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I don't understand what's happening to me."

Andrei's eyes narrowed. "You destroyed an S-rank creature in one hit and absorbed its energy. I've never seen anything like it. But one thing's for sure… You're no ordinary E-rank."

Erwin glanced between them, uncertainty flickering across his face. "What do we do now?"

Al straightened, his aura flaring with authority. "We take him to the Association. They'll want to question him." His eyes locked onto Mark, cold and unyielding. "Until we figure out what you are, you're not leaving our sight."

Mark opened his mouth to protest, but exhaustion washed over him, his vision blurring. His legs buckled, and he collapsed. The last thing he heard was Mae Ramos's voice, faint and distant.

"Mark! Hang on!"

Darkness consumed him, pulling him into a deep, dreamless sleep. But even as he lost consciousness, the system's voice echoed in his mind:

[Auto Max Skill Holder… Activated.]

End of Chapter 3