Zone 17 looked nothing like yesterday.
The once-empty street was now surrounded by barricades, flashing lights, and armed hunters forming a defensive perimeter. The air vibrated with mana so thick it felt like the atmosphere itself was trembling.
At the center of it all—
A swirling gate, bright and alive.
Rivan froze.
It wasn't a small tear anymore.
It had grown into a full vortex, twisting colors he'd never seen in any ranked gate—black mixed with glowing blue veins, and something like… silver threads moving inside.
Hunters whispered in panic.
"What rank is this?"
"Doesn't match anything."
"Is this an S-rank? A mutation?"
Rivia pushed through the crowd, fire in her eyes. "Out of the way! If there's something strong inside, I'm going first!"
The healer girl chased behind her. "Riviaaa! Stop rushing into dangerous things!"
Rivan stood at the back, watching.
The moment he saw the gate, the pull in his chest intensified.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Like something buried deep inside his heart was trying to wake up.
He stumbled slightly, gripping his shirt.
Why does this feel so familiar…?
Why does it hurt?
Before he could think further, an Association officer shouted:
"All hunters, prepare for breach! The gate is showing signs of opening!"
Rivan's head snapped up.
The swirling vortex brightened—then suddenly—
BOOM!
A surge of energy burst outward, knocking several hunters back.
"WHAT THE—?!"
"Hold the line!"
"Shields up!"
Rivia planted her spear into the ground, blocking the wave with raw strength. The healer girl created a small defensive barrier, trembling to hold it together.
Rivan braced for the impact—but the shockwave curved around him like he wasn't even there.
No one else noticed.
But Rivan did.
"What… was that?"
---
The Gate Opens
The swirling energy slowed…
The gate quieted…
And for a moment, it looked peaceful.
Then—
A massive claw shot out of the vortex.
Hunters screamed.
"MONSTER BREACH!"
"FORMATION ALPHA!"
"DON'T LET IT OUT!"
Rivia lunged first, spinning her spear and slashing downward. Sparks flew but the monster barely flinched. The healer girl cast a light shield around the front line, protecting the weaker hunters.
Rivan watched, heart pounding.
The monster dragged itself out fully—a wolf-like beast with black fur, silver markings, and two glowing blue eyes. Its presence alone felt wrong.
A mutated dungeon beast.
Something not from any known rank.
Rivan's chest burned hotter now, like fire spreading inside him.
What is happening to me…?
The wolf roared and charged.
Hunters attacked together—arrows flying, blades clashing, spells exploding—but the beast dodged everything with impossible speed.
Rivia gritted her teeth. "It's too fast!"
Then the wolf turned its gaze toward—
Rivan.
He froze. The beast's eyes glowed brighter.
It started walking toward him slowly.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
"Hey! Don't ignore us!" Rivia yelled, jumping in front and blocking its path.
The wolf snarled, annoyed—but didn't attack.
It simply walked around her…
…still toward Rivan.
The healer girl gasped. "R-Rivan, run!"
But Rivan didn't move.
Not because he was brave.
Not because he was stupid.
But because something inside him whispered—
"Do not run."
The wolf's eyes locked onto his.
Hunters shouted behind him:
"Kid! Move!"
"You'll die!"
"What are you doing?!"
Rivan raised his shaky hands.
"I… I don't know what's happening. But I—"
Suddenly his vision blurred.
Everything around him slowed.
The wolf leaped.
Rivan didn't even have time to scream.
---
The Awakening (But Not Revealed Yet)
The moment the wolf touched him—
The world went white.
Sound vanished.
Light twisted.
Time froze.
Rivan felt something shift inside his chest.
A voice?
A memory?
A familiar warmth?
He couldn't tell.
But something clicked.
Just like a lock opening.
Then—
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded outward, throwing the wolf back several meters. Hunters crashed to the ground. Rivia almost dropped her spear. The healer girl screamed as she slid back.
Dust filled the air.
Rivan blinked.
He was still standing.
Untouched.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Rivia pointed. "H-Hey—what was THAT?!"
A nearby hunter whispered, terrified, "Did… did the F-rank just create a mana burst?"
The healer girl covered her mouth, eyes wide. "Rivan… what are you?"
Rivan had no answer.
His hands were glowing faintly—silver veins pulsing under his skin.
But only he noticed.
Except…
There was one more who noticed:
The wolf.
It slowly stood back up, its blue eyes now filled with recognition, not anger.
It bowed slightly.
Hunters were stunned.
"Is the monster… bowing?!"
"This isn't normal!"
"Impossible!"
The wolf's mouth opened as if it wanted to speak—
But the gate behind it suddenly shattered.
CRACK—
BOOOOM!
The vortex collapsed, pulling the wolf back inside like a vacuum.
Rivan reached toward it instinctively. "Wait—!"
But it disappeared.
Silence fell.
Every hunter stared at Rivan.
Every eye filled with confusion, fear, or awe.
Even Rivia, who never seemed scared, tightened her grip nervously.
The healer whispered softly:
"Rivan… something inside that gate reacted to you."
Rivan didn't respond.
Because deep in his mind…
A faint message appeared.
Not written in the air.
Not glowing before him.
Just a whisper in his thoughts—
"Awakening… 3%."
Rivan's breath trembled.
"What… is awakening?"