The smoke and chaos of the construction site lingered as Kalyan limped away, the pulsating portal already collapsing behind him. The C-Tier Wolves were gone—or perhaps banished back to their dimension—but the city felt… different. He could still hear distant alarms, screams, and the faint echoes of sirens.
His system hummed quietly, a soft reminder of the weapons and skills now permanently linked to his aura. Every step he took made him feel heavier, not from exhaustion, but from the weight of responsibility. This power was not a toy.
Before he could catch his breath, a voice called from the shadows of a nearby alley.
"Stop right there."
Three figures emerged, cloaked and serious. Their presence radiated authority. Each carried the mark of the Hunter Association, the organization tasked with controlling high-level hunters and overseeing monster-related incidents.
"You're not registered," the tallest one said, eyes narrowing. "We were monitoring the Raft activity… and you."
Kalyan stiffened. He was no hunter. He had no license. He had nothing but the knowledge of monsters and the sudden, terrifying power of the system.
"You… survived the C-Tier Wolves… with no gear, no rank?" the second asked, incredulous.
Kalyan's pulse quickened. He knew what they were thinking: unauthorized hunter, rogue element, potential threat. But he didn't flinch. "I… had a system," he said simply, testing their reaction.
The third hunter's eyes widened slightly, almost imperceptibly. "System…?"
The word seemed to echo in the alley, like a warning. The first hunter stepped forward. "We need to take you in for verification. This kind of power… unregistered… it's dangerous, and the Association must oversee it."
Kalyan felt a twinge of excitement. Finally, someone recognized that the world was bigger than ordinary humans, that monsters weren't the only threat. But he also felt the cold weight of truth: his system is exclusive. No one else can touch it, and he must protect it at all costs.
He clenched his fists, aura flaring faintly around him. "I won't be taken in. Not now. Not until I understand what this power truly is."
The hunters hesitated, sensing his resolve. Then the tallest nodded slowly. "So be it… for now. But know this: the world has eyes on you. Every high-level monster, every Raft, every master… they're all moving. And you, Kalyan, have just painted a target on yourself."
A cold wind swept through the alley, carrying the faint echo of dragons, Rafts, and battles yet to come. Kalyan straightened his back. His fists ached, his body screamed from exhaustion, but his mind burned with determination.
The system had chosen him. The world would have to follow.