Chapter 2: Revenge & Vengeance

Asher sat in the blood-soaked classroom, his sister's body limp in his arms.

The air reeked of iron and death. His hands trembled as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

She was still warm.

But she would never wake up again.

His breath came in ragged gasps. His mind screamed at him to do something anything. But what could he do? She was gone.

A deep, guttural growl echoed from behind him.

Asher lifted his head.

A new monster had entered the room. Larger than the goblins. Taller, more muscular, with dark gray skin and jagged fangs dripping with saliva. Its red eyes locked onto him, sensing weakness.

It bared its teeth, taking a slow step forward.

Something inside Asher snapped.

Weak?

Me?

The monster lunged.

Asher moved.

He twisted, grabbing the bloodied metal pipe from the floor and swung it with all his strength.

CRACK.

The impact sent the creature stumbling, its jaw shattering. It roared in agony, black blood splattering against the walls.

Asher didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

He swung again. And again. And again.

By the time he stopped, the monster's head was pulp.

His hands were coated in blood. His body ached. His heart pounded like a war drum.

He looked down at his sister's lifeless form one last time.

Then, without a word, he stood up and walked out the door.

He was done grieving. It was time to kill.

One month passed.

The world had changed.

The monsters never stopped coming. The portals kept opening. Governments collapsed. The military fell.

Survival now depended on Awakened Humans people who gained supernatural powers after the first invasion.

A new global system had formed.

The Hunter Association.

A network of powerful individuals who ranked themselves based on strength, skill, and combat ability.

S-Rank Hunters ruled like kings. D-Rank and below were considered weak.

And today, Asher Damien would take the test.

The Hunter Association testing facility was massive a repurposed military bunker reinforced with the strongest materials humanity had left.

Hundreds of hopefuls gathered inside, some trembling with nerves, others itching for the chance to prove themselves.

A cold, metallic voice echoed through the hall.

"All applicants, proceed to the Awakening Stone."

A massive black crystal stood at the center of the room, pulsating with an eerie glow.

One by one, people stepped forward, placing their hands on the stone.

Flashes of light filled the room.

"C-Rank."

"B-Rank."

"F-Rank."

"A-Rank."

Some cheered. Some collapsed in despair.

Asher watched in silence, his expression unreadable.

Then his turn came. The room fell silent as he stepped forward.

He was different from the others. His posture, his aura—it carried authority. A presence that demanded attention.

The examiners whispered among themselves.

"Who is that guy?"

"He looks familiar."

"Is he already an elite?"

Ignoring them, Asher placed his hand on the stone.

The crystal glowed.

And then darkness.

The room held its breath.

The Awakening Stone flashed dull gray an unheard-of color.

A robotic voice announced:

"D-RANK. LOW-LEVEL AWAKENING."

Silence.

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

"D-Rank?"

"No way."

"But he looks so… strong?"

"What a waste."

The examiners looked at each other in disappointment.

One of them spoke up, his voice almost bored. "Candidate, please confirm your awakened skills."

A flood of information appeared in Asher's mind.

His fists clenched.

Low-Level Magic (All Elements)

Low-Level Swordplay

Low-Level Summoning (Shadows)

Low-Level Devour

The same phrase appeared next to each ability: [Skill Level Can Be Evolved]

But there was no further information. No guidance. No system prompt.

Nothing.

Asher exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable.

The examiners, however, only saw his rank.

One of them sighed. "D-Rank. You can take low-level hunting jobs, but don't expect to rise much further."

Another shook his head. "It's best if you just join a guild and work under stronger hunters."

Asher turned and walked away.

He heard their whispers behind him.

"What a shame. He looked so promising."

"He should quit while he's ahead."

Asher clenched his fists.

They were wrong.

He wasn't weak.

He wasn't finished.

This was only the beginning.

Asher left the testing hall, stepping into the cold night air.

He had barely made it a few steps before a group of guild recruiters swarmed him.

"Hey, kid! Join our guild! We'll help you level up!"

"We need a swordsman! Come with us!"

"You may be D-Rank, but you have potential!"

He ignored them all.

Then, a voice cut through the noise.

"You're wasting your time."

A man dressed in sleek black armor approached. His presence alone sent chills down the spines of weaker hunters.

Leon Valehart. S-Rank Hunter. Leader of Black Serpent Guild.

"You don't belong with the trash," Leon said smoothly. "Join us. I'll make you strong."

Asher met his gaze. "Not interested."

The crowd went silent.

Leon narrowed his eyes. "You're making a mistake."

Asher smirked. "No. I'm making a decision."

Then, without another word, he walked away.

Asher stood at the edge of the ruined city.

The world was changing. Monsters roamed freely. Towers loomed in the distance, waiting to be conquered.

But he didn't need a guild. A team. A master.

He would climb the tower alone.

He would become stronger.

He would uncover the truth behind the portals.

And when he was ready, He would make the gods, demons, monster and who is behind this will pay a million times.