Flames swallowed the ruins of the city, black smoke curling into a sky painted crimson by destruction. The air trembled with raw mana, tearing the ground beneath and scattering debris in every direction. Amid the chaos stood Park Seojun, the Final Vanguard, SSS-Rank Hunter—the strongest human alive.
Before him, Bahamut loomed, a dragon whose size alone could crush mountains, its scales glowing like molten iron. Its roar shook the earth, a sound so immense that even the bravest warriors faltered. Yet Seojun stood unwavering, every muscle coiled, every nerve alert.
He had fought countless battles. He had killed monsters that devoured cities and fought enemies that could destroy the world. He had been admired, celebrated, and feared. Yet, in all his victories, there had been only one constant: loneliness.
I've never lived…
Seojun's thoughts drifted, fleeting as sparks from the fires around him. Born as a prodigy, he was feared and revered from childhood, having never known the simple joys of ordinary life. Friends had kept their distance, teachers treated him as a tool, and strangers either worshiped or feared him. Childhood laughter, carefree days, and meaningless adventures—he had never had them.
Even now, at the end of everything, he did not think of glory.
Bahamut lunged, massive claws tearing through the air. Seojun moved like a shadow, striking with precision, every swing of his blade a perfect combination of skill, power, and instinct. He could feel the dragon's raw power, its destructive intent, and yet he pressed forward—not for humanity, not for fame, not even for victory.
I just… wanted to live.
Pain blossomed across his side as Bahamut's tail smashed into the rubble, sending him sprawling. He coughed blood, his vision blurring, yet he rose again. One more strike. One final effort.
The dragon's roar echoed in his ears, a sound that would have broken ordinary men. Seojun smiled faintly, almost serene amidst the carnage.
I've always been strong… but I've never lived.
With a final surge of effort, he struck Bahamut's heart. The dragon faltered, flames exploding around them both, but the force threw him across the shattered city. Limbs battered, body failing, Seojun fell to his knees, gazing at the sky he would never see again.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind, soft and fragile: maybe, just maybe, in another life… he could be ordinary.
Darkness claimed him.
And in that darkness, for the first time in his long, lonely life, a spark of hope flickered.