### Gyumri, Armenia - International Arrival Zone, 6 Hours After Gate Collapse
The makeshift international staging area buzzed with controlled chaos as hunter delegations from seven nations converged on Armenian soil. What should have been a massive multinational crisis response had transformed into something unprecedented—a fact-finding mission to understand how one man had solved a National Rank threat in under an hour.
Commander Sarah Mitchell of the American Special Hunter Division stepped off the transport helicopter, her enhanced senses immediately picking up the residual energy signatures that lingered in the area. Twenty years of managing supernatural crises had taught her to read the aftermath of magical conflicts like a forensic investigator, but this... this was different.
"No scorch marks," she observed to her team. "No dimensional scarring, no reality distortion fields. It's like the gate was never hostile to begin with."
Her counterpart from the Russian delegation, Colonel Viktor Kozlov, nodded grimly as he consulted his portable energy detector. "Energy readings are actually better than baseline. Whatever this Eugene person did, he didn't just neutralize the threat—he improved the local magical environment."
The Japanese team, led by Senior Hunter Yamamoto, had been taking readings since they arrived. "Dimensional stability index is 347% above regional average," he reported. "For comparison, areas where Sung Jin-Woo has operated typically show 15-20% improvement post-engagement. This is... mathematically impossible."
Dr. Elena Vasquez from the European Hunter Research Consortium looked up from her tablet. "Unless we're dealing with a completely new type of power classification. Our working theory is that Eugene Sushiyanse doesn't fight dimensional anomalies—he corrects them."
### Armenian Government Complex, Yerevan - Secure Conference Room
President Armen Sarkissian sat at the head of the conference table, flanked by his defense minister and Director Hovhannisyan. Across from them, via secure video link, were the Presidents of South Korea and the United States, the Prime Minister of Japan, and the President of Russia. It was, by any measure, the most significant international attention Armenia had received since its independence.
"Mr. President," came the voice of the American President through the encrypted channel, "we need to discuss the implications of having a National Rank hunter of Eugene's... unique capabilities."
"With respect," President Sarkissian replied calmly, "Mr. Eugene is an Armenian citizen exercising his abilities in defense of Armenian interests. We see no implications beyond that."
The Russian President leaned forward on his feed. "Armen, we both know this goes beyond national interests. The man single-handedly prevented what could have been a regional catastrophe. The international community has a vested interest in understanding how."
"Understanding, yes," South Korean President Moon interjected. "But we must also consider the precedent this sets. Eugene's methods appear to permanently alter the areas where he operates. That's not combat—that's territorial transformation."
Director Hovhannisyan cleared his throat. "If I may, presidents. Eugene has expressed willingness to cooperate with international observation teams, but he has two conditions."
The silence stretched for several seconds.
"What conditions?" the Japanese Prime Minister asked.
"First, that any research conducted on his methods be shared freely with Armenia. Second, that he maintains complete operational autonomy. He will not take orders from foreign governments, no matter the alliance."
"And if we don't agree to these terms?" the American President asked.
President Sarkissian smiled thinly. "Then you're welcome to handle the next dimensional crisis yourselves. Eugene has made it clear that his primary concern is global stability, but his loyalty is to Armenia."
### Somewhere in the Armenian Mountains - Eugene's Location Unknown
Eugene stood on a cliff overlooking the valley where the international teams had established their base, his amaranth eyes tracking their movements with clinical interest. The Nihilizer hummed at his fingertips as he processed the political calculations unfolding below.
**[ANALYSIS: INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE PATTERNS]**
**[PROBABILITY OF COOPERATION: 67%]**
**[PROBABILITY OF COERCION ATTEMPTS: 89%]**
**[PROBABILITY OF DIRECT CONFRONTATION: 34%]**
**[RECOMMENDATION: ESTABLISH CLEAR BOUNDARIES]**
The system's assessment aligned with Eugene's own calculations. The world's powers would try to control him first, study him second, and cooperate with him only when the first two options proved impossible.
His phone vibrated with a text from Director Hovhannisyan: "They want to meet. All of them. Tomorrow at 0900."
Eugene typed back: "Acceptable. Please Prepare Conference Room C."
Conference Room C was the most secure facility in the Armenian Hunter Association building, equipped with magical dampening fields and surveillance countermeasures. More importantly, it was where Eugene kept his most sensitive research materials.
It was time to show the world exactly what they were dealing with.
### The Next Morning - Armenian Hunter Association Headquarters
The conference room had been expanded to accommodate representatives from eight nations, each bringing their most experienced hunters and analysts. Eugene arrived precisely at 0900, dressed in simple dark clothing that did nothing to diminish the aura of controlled power that surrounded him.
"Gentlemen, ladies," he began without preamble, his voice carrying easily through the room despite its conversational tone. "You're here because you want to understand what I am and how I do what I do. I'm going to show you."
He gestured, and the Nihilizer materialized in his hand—not as a weapon, but as a demonstration tool. The energy in the room immediately shifted, several of the international hunters instinctively reaching for their own weapons before forcing themselves to relax.
"What you're seeing," Eugene continued, "is not magic as you understand it. It's applied mathematical correction. Every dimensional anomaly, every gate, every supernatural threat operates according to specific equations. Most hunters fight these equations. I solve them."
Commander Mitchell leaned forward. "Show us."
Eugene smiled and placed his hand on the conference table. The Nihilizer's energy spread across its surface, and suddenly everyone in the room could see what Eugene saw—the mathematical framework that underlay reality itself. Equations floated in the air like holographic displays, showing the relationships between dimensional stability, magical energy flow, and spatial-temporal consistency.
"This is Yerevan's current magical environment," Eugene explained, the equations shifting to show real-time data. "Notice the variables here, here, and here." He pointed to specific formulas. "These represent dimensional stress points caused by gate activity over the past five years."
Dr. Vasquez was frantically taking notes. "How do you perceive these equations? Is it a learned skill or—"
"Innate," Eugene interrupted. "Part of my awakening process. But more importantly, watch what happens when I apply correction factors."
The equations in the air began to change, variables shifting and balancing until the entire mathematical framework reached a state of elegant equilibrium. As the equations balanced, everyone in the room could feel the change—the air itself seemed cleaner, more stable.
"You just improved the magical environment of this entire building," Colonel Kozlov said in amazement. "In real time."
"And that," Eugene said, allowing the Nihilizer to fade, "is the difference between fighting problems and solving them. Most National Rank hunters are forces of nature.you can say I'm a force of correction."
The silence that followed was broken by Senior Hunter Yamamoto. "Mr. Eugene, with abilities like yours... why limit yourself to Armenia? The world has dimensional crises on every continent."
Eugene's Neonred eyes fixed on the Japanese hunter with unsettling intensity. "Who says I'm limiting myself to Armenia?"
**[QUEST UPDATE: THE WORLD'S EQUATION]**
**[NEW OBJECTIVE: ESTABLISH GLOBAL OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK]**
**[DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED]**
**[PHASE 1: DEMONSTRATE IRREPLACEABLE VALUE - COMPLETE]**
**[PHASE 2: SECURE OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE - IN PROGRESS]**
"Ladies and gentlemen," Eugene continued, his voice taking on the tone of someone presenting a business proposal, "I have a different kind of offer for you. Not an alliance, not a contract. A solution."
He gestured again, and new holographic displays appeared showing dimensional crisis points around the globe—some current, some predicted, some that most governments didn't even know existed yet.
"There are currently seventeen major dimensional instabilities worldwide that will become crisis-level threats within the next six months. There are forty-three minor anomalies that are slowly corrupting their local magical environments. And there are six locations where reality itself is becoming unstable due to accumulated magical damage."
The room erupted in urgent whispers as analysts cross-referenced Eugene's data with their own intelligence.
"Here's my proposal," Eugene said, his voice cutting through the noise. "I will provide correction services for dimensional crises globally. Not as an employee or ally of any single nation, but as an independent operator working for global stability. In exchange, I want three things."
"What three things?" Commander Mitchell asked.
Eugene's smile was cold and precise. "First, complete operational autonomy. No government oversight, no military command structure, no political interference. Second, unrestricted access to dimensional crisis sites worldwide—no territorial boundaries, no jurisdictional delays. Third, all nations represented here will establish a joint research initiative, headquartered in Armenia, focused on understanding and preventing dimensional instabilities."
The silence stretched for nearly a minute.
"And if we refuse?" the Russian Colonel asked.
Eugene shrugged. "Then you handle the next National Rank dimensional breach yourselves. I'll focus on the ones that threaten Armenia directly."
He stood, straightening his jacket. "You have 72 hours to decide. Director Hovhannisyan has my contact information."
As Eugene moved toward the door, Commander Mitchell called out, "Wait. There's something else we need to know. Are you human?"
Eugene paused, his hand on the door handle. When he turned back, his amaranth_Neon_red eyes seemed to glow with inner light.
"That," he said quietly, "is the wrong question. The right question is whether humanity is ready for what comes after dimensional stability is achieved."
He left the room in complete silence, leaving behind eight nations' worth of representatives to grapple with the implications of what they'd just witnessed.
Outside the building, Eugene's phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number: "Impressive demonstration. We should meet. - S.J.W."
Eugene's smile widened. Sung Jin-Woo was finally ready to make contact.
The real game was about to begin.
### Seoul, South Korea - Sung Jin-Woo's Apartment, That Evening
Jin-Woo sat in his living room, reviewing the report from the Armenian meeting that had been fast-tracked to him through official channels. His shadows had already confirmed most of the details, but reading the official analysis was... enlightening.
"What do you think, Beru?" he asked the shadow ant who materialized beside him.
"My King," Beru's voice was unusually thoughtful, "this Eugene's power feels different from yours. Where you command death and shadow, he commands... mathematics? Order? It's difficult to classify."
"The report says he can permanently improve dimensional stability. That's not combat power—that's environmental manipulation on a planetary scale."
"Should we be concerned, my King?"
Jin-Woo was quiet for a long moment. "No. But we should be ready. Someone with his capabilities either becomes humanity's greatest protector or its most dangerous reformer. I intend to find out which."
He picked up his phone and composed a simple message: "Coffee tomorrow? Seoul has excellent dimensional anomalies to discuss. - J.W."
The response came within minutes: "I'll be there. Bring your shadows—this conversation is too important for eavesdropping. - E.S."
Jin-Woo smiled. Eugene Sushiyanse was everything the reports suggested—intelligent, powerful, and completely unintimidated by reputation.
Tomorrow would be very interesting indeed.
As night fell over both Seoul and Yerevan, two National Rank hunters prepared for a meeting that would reshape how the world understood power, responsibility, and the mathematical certainty that some equations could only be solved by those willing to become the solution themselves.
The age of cooperation between National Rank hunters was about to begin.
Or end, depending on what Eugene's true equation looked like when all variables were finally revealed.