Resurgence: eternal evolution

Kael floated in an endless void, his body glowing faintly with an ethereal, holy light. The contrast between his luminous form and the infinite darkness surrounding him was stark, almost blinding. The light pulsed softly, steady yet fragile, like a flickering candle in an endless abyss.

Disoriented, Kael turned, his movements slow as if wading through thick water. Then, his gaze locked onto it—a massive, unblinking eye.

It was enormous, its sclera an inky black, and its iris a swirling abyss of crimson and violet hues. The eye regarded him with a cold, predatory curiosity, as though it were dissecting his very soul.

Fear seized Kael's chest. He froze, unable to move or breathe. "W-What… is that?" he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible.

The eye shifted, its attention intensifying. A suffocating pressure descended on him, and Kael screamed as the crushing weight threatened to obliterate him entirely.

Kael bolted upright, his chest heaving, his body drenched in sweat. His wide, frantic eyes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings—a clean, sterile room with pristine white walls and a fluorescent-lit ceiling.

His breath caught. "A hospital," he muttered to himself, recognizing the sterile scent of disinfectant.

Kael had spent enough time in hospitals to recognize one instantly. His career as a hunter had made him a frequent visitor, though rarely under favorable circumstances. His mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of his memory.

He glanced down at his hands, half-expecting to see the mangled remains from the dungeon. Instead, they were whole, with no trace of the destruction he had endured.

"I'm… alive?" he whispered.

Before he could process the absurdity of his situation, the door opened, and a nurse entered. Her eyes widened in shock. "Kael? You're awake?!"

Without another word, she rushed out, calling for the doctor. Moments later, a group of medical professionals swarmed in, bustling around him with hurried precision. They checked his vitals, asking him a barrage of questions.

One of the nurses smiled reassuringly. "Kael, you're lucky to be alive. Honestly, we didn't think you'd pull through this time."

Kael managed a weak chuckle. "Guess I've been here so often I've got a reserved bed."

As the staff left to prepare their reports, the door opened again. This time, five individuals stepped inside. Their presence was commanding, their auras suffocating.

Four men and one woman, all dressed in black uniforms adorned with the insignia of the Hunter Association. Their movements were deliberate, calculated. The leader, a tall man with striking silver hair and sharp, cold eyes, spoke first.

"Kael Khaos, correct?"

Kael blinked, confused. "Yeah… that's me. Who are you?"

The man adjusted his gloves with meticulous precision. "Rael Veyron, Assistant Head of the Monitoring Division." He gestured to the others. "These are my colleagues: Elara, Vorn, Vex, and Leith. We're here on behalf of the Association."

Kael's breath caught. The Monitoring Division? They're just a rumor among low-ranked hunters like me… What are they doing here?

Rael's piercing gaze pinned Kael in place. "You've been unconscious for a month."

"A month?" Kael muttered, his heart sinking. His thoughts immediately turned to his family. Mom… Ah-In… are they okay?

Elara, the only woman in the group, stepped forward, her sharp features softened by a faint smile. "We understand you've been through an ordeal, but we need to ask you some questions. Do you remember what happened in the dungeon?"

Kael nodded hesitantly, the memories flooding back like a tidal wave. "There was a sub-portal inside the dungeon. We found a massive amount of mana stones. Everyone was excited, but then…" He swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Two Valstrax appeared. They killed everyone. I saw them tear my team apart like paper. Five of us entered that dungeon. I watched as they…" His voice broke.

Elara's gaze hardened. "And that's all you remember?"

Kael hesitated. The image of the void, the glowing system, and the voice that had offered him a chance to live resurfaced in his mind. But he couldn't bring himself to say it. They'd think I was crazy. Hell, I think I'm crazy.

"That's all," he said, forcing the words out.

Rael's eyes narrowed slightly but said nothing.

Kael frowned, his confusion growing. "Wait… how did I even get here? The last thing I remember, I was broken and bleeding out on the dungeon floor."

Rael exchanged a glance with Vex, who nodded slightly. The Assistant Head crossed his arms. "When the survivor briefed the Association, we immediately requested backup from the Iron Fang guild. But when we arrived…" He paused, his jaw tightening. "There was nothing. The dungeon was completely empty."

Kael's eyes widened. "Empty? That's impossible! There were two Valstrax! They should've still been there!"

Vorn, a stocky man with a scar running down his face, shook his head. "No Valstrax. No corpses. Not even traces of mana residue. All we found… was you."

Kael stared at them, his mind reeling. "But… that doesn't make any sense."

Elara crossed her arms, her tone thoughtful. "If the survivor's testimony hadn't matched the mana signatures we detected from the dungeon, we might have suspected foul play. A hunter killing his team to claim the mana stones, perhaps."

Rael nodded. "But this case is unlike anything we've ever encountered. Monsters can't escape a portal unless a dungeon break occurs, and there was no break."

Elara's eyes narrowed. "Hunter Kael, if you went through ascension and became an S-rank—or maybe something beyond—it's possible that you killed those Valstrax while unconscious."

Kael froze. "Killed them… while unconscious? That's insane!"

Rael's sharp gaze bore into him. "The Valstrax species are notorious. They're said to be capable of exterminating B-rank hunters in an instant , and to add a single Valstrax took down many awakeners during the first wave, even our top hunter here in carven all fought to the brink of death before they killed one. If one hunter—injured and on the verge of death—could eliminate two of them in such a state… just how powerful could that hunter be?"

Kael's heart pounded in his chest. He stared at his hands, the weight of their words pressing down on him.

Rael clenched his fists, trying to mask his excitement. Could Carven finally have a hunter on the level of an international powerhouse?

There were fewer than ten individuals in the world who could be called "international powerhouses," beings whose strength could rival armies. If Carven could claim a hunter capable of standing among them, their nation's standing would change forever.

Rael's heart raced as the thought consumed him. His hand flicked in a subtle signal.

"Vex," he said calmly, his voice betraying none of his excitement.

Vex nodded, stepping forward, his expression unreadable. The room grew tense as Kael watched them with wary eyes.