BANG!
The sharp crack of the judge's gavel echoed through the courtroom.
It was done.
The verdict had been reached.
Snow Quincy stood silently as the final judgment was delivered: six months of confinement.
A light sentence—typically given to minor offenders.
And yet, there was no relief in Snow's expression. Only a cold, distant look as two guards approached.
He was dressed in a dull yellow juvenile correctional uniform, a far cry from the elegant hunter gear he once wore. Around his neck was a sleek metal dampener, a suppressor device that locked down any hunter abilities, rendering them powerless.
The Association had stripped him of almost everything.
Everything... except for the black earrings that hung quietly from his ears.
They had deemed them "bound items"—impossible to remove.
Snow didn't speak a word as he was escorted to a black security vehicle. His eyes were blindfolded the moment he stepped in. The world faded to darkness as he was driven toward an undisclosed location.
When the blindfold was finally removed, Snow found himself staring into reinforced, one-way glass.
A guard yanked his arm.
"Move."
Two officers flanked him, leading him down a long, sterile hallway lined on both sides with fortified glass cells. Within each compartment were prisoners—some muttering to themselves, others glaring with silent contempt.
This was no ordinary facility.
This was DELTA—a classified hunter prison, said to contain the most dangerous individuals in the country, if not the world.
The deeper they walked, the thicker the pressure became.
The hum of surveillance drones echoed overhead. The flicker of scanning lights trailed behind.
Finally, they stopped.
"Get in," the guard to his right snapped, giving Snow a rough shove.
He stumbled forward into the small glass-encased cell. Behind him, the door hissed shut with an airtight seal.
Snow regained his balance, brushing himself off. His expression remained blank, but his eyes shimmered with quiet tension.
And then—
"HEY. You're new here, aren't you?"
A voice came from the glass cell directly in front of him. Unlike the solid walls of typical prisons, Delta allowed visual contact between cells.
Snow turned slowly.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"...You?"
He stepped closer to the glass, blinking as if trying to confirm what he was seeing.
On the other side was a man with scruffy hair, bruised skin, and faint scars trailing along his jawline—but those eyes...
"...Rai," Snow breathed out. "Is that really you?"
Rai's expression changed in an instant—his eyes brightened, tears welling up.
"...Snow?" he whispered, then smiled through the pain.
The two of them rushed to the glass, hands instinctively reaching out only to meet the cold, unyielding barrier between them. They couldn't touch—but that didn't stop the tears from falling.
It was a reunion neither had expected.
When they finally calmed down, both sat across from one another, separated by the invisible wall.
"...To think I'd find you in a place like this," Rai said with a strained laugh.
"I've been looking for you," Snow murmured. "After the incident with your family... I tried so hard to reach you. But it was like you disappeared."
Rai looked down, guilt flashing across his tired face.
"I should be the one apologizing," he said quietly. "I wanted to reach out... but everything fell apart."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"My grandfather... fell into a coma. No warning, no explanation. And with him unconscious, chaos erupted in the family. Everyone started fighting over the inheritance."
Snow listened silently, his eyes narrowing.
"I was framed by my own cousins," Rai added bitterly. "They used the chaos to get rid of me. Had me declared dangerous. Locked away without trial. No one even knew I was here."
"...I'm sorry," Snow said, his voice cracking slightly. "I had no idea."
Though his words were gentle, the air around him was cold—eerily still.
"...You've changed," Rai suddenly said.
Snow looked up. "How so?"
"You used to smile... all the time," Rai said, a soft smile playing on his own lips. "You were always the cheerful one."
Snow didn't reply immediately.
"...Did something happen to Aura?"
At the name, Snow's silence deepened.
"...We haven't spoken since we fought," he finally said. "I don't even know where she is now even though i persuaded her to stay with her biological mother."
Rai scratched his messy hair and sighed. "You idiot. You really should fix that when you get out."
Snow tilted his head slightly. "Then let's get out together."
Rai blinked. Then burst into laughter. "You're insane. I'm in here for life, remember?"
Snow's expression darkened.
"How can the Rothschilds be so heartless?!" he growled.
Rai gave him a sarcastic look. "Yep. That's the Snow I know. Still quick to explode when it comes to people you care about."
"...Sorry."
"Don't be," Rai said with a quiet smile. "You're still you. That's what matters."
Snow leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"I'm serious, Rai. I'll get you out of here... and I'll find a cure for your grandfather."
"Snow..." Rai's voice wavered.
"I mean it," Snow said firmly. "You're the closest thing I have to a brother. Let me do this—if nothing else."
Rai's lips parted, but no words came out.
His eyes glistened. Then the dam finally broke.
Tears streamed down his face.
For years, Rai had buried every emotion—every shred of hope—just to survive in Delta. But now, someone had found him. Someone still cared.
And he wept. For the first time in years... he truly wept.
Delta Prison was a secret facility with five levels.
Levels 1 and 2 housed lesser offenders—light sentences, minor violations.
Level 3 held rogue hunters and unregistered combatants with B-grade crimes.
Level 4 was where the world's most dangerous hunters were kept—those with the highest criminal records and the deadliest abilities.
But the place feared even by guards...
Was Level 5.
Only five individuals had ever been imprisoned there.
Each one a walking catastrophe.
Each one a being closer to a monster than a man.
The world had forgotten Delta.
Backed by the Hunter Association and sanctioned by the world's most powerful rulers, its very existence was scrubbed from all maps, all records, and all channels of communication. The prison was a void—off-grid and unreachable. Those sent here were considered erased. Forgotten. Unless someone could prove their innocence... they were left to rot.
Snow stood still, watching Rai cry.
There was no expression on his face. Just silence.
But within that silence was something faint—soft—nostalgic. The warmth of reuniting with someone from the past. The relief of finding a piece of his shattered life again.
He had thought the world had taken everything from him. And yet here, in the most forsaken place imaginable, was his oldest friend.
As the hours slipped by, Rai slowly began to explain the structure and operations of Delta Prison. He told Snow about the floors, the routines, the internal factions. But what stood out most were the figures who ruled from the shadows.
"The guy at the top of the upper level—he's the one who controls everything above Floor 3," Rai said, pointing subtly upward. "The Blood User."
"Blood user?" Snow asked.
"Yeah. His ability is like a mix of hemomancy and close combat. Took over four years ago after beating the former boss in a duel. Since then, no one's dared to challenge him."
Snow leaned back slightly. "So I guess... as the new guy, they'll want to see what I'm made of."
"Exactly," Rai said with a nod. "They always test the fresh meat."
"I see," Snow muttered, voice flat and unreadable.
Even while conversing, a strange air clung to the moment—a warmth that reminded both of them of something long gone.
It felt like college again. The dorm nights. The banter. The quiet walks home.
Snow's chest tightened. All of that had been lost. All because of one mistake—one moment of weakness. He had dropped out of school, fought with his sister, and thrown away his future over someone who didn't care.
"...So," Rai asked, interrupting the silence. "How was life outside?"
Snow exhaled slowly. "Mixed."
"C'mon, man. Spill it."
"Well... I got dumped and used by Lora. Fought with my sister, who now lives with our mother. And somewhere along the line, I ended up getting famous."
"Famous?" Rai blinked. "How famous?"
Snow hesitated for a moment... then dropped the bomb.
"I dated Ruciel Faithhood."
"..."
Rai's mouth fell open. He blinked once. Twice.
"YOU WHAT?!" he shouted. "You dated that flame-headed woman?! The Fallen Flames?!"
"Yeah. Back when she was still an A-rank."
"Holy crap," Rai muttered. "That's the same Ruciel who burned down three guilds in a single month, right?!"
"She's an S-rank now," Snow added casually. "And I own a small business too—managed by the Bright Family on my behalf."
Rai clutched his head. "How are you this lucky?! You're out there making waves while I'm locked in here like some forgotten ghost!"
Snow smirked faintly. "You asked."
"I have also met Hunters like Arthur, Ibrahim... even the Ice Queen"
Rai's jaw dropped for the third time. "You better introduce me when we get out."
Snow snorted. "You? Son of the Rothschild Family? You don't need introductions."
"Hmph," Rai huffed, turning his head.
"Don't be stingy!"
"You're still so childish," Snow chuckled—and for the first time in what felt like forever, he laughed. A real, wholehearted laugh.
Rai blinked at him, then smiled softly.
"You've really been through a lot, huh?"
"I have," Snow admitted.
"I just..." Rai paused. His voice grew quiet. "I just want to see my sister one more time."
"You will," Snow said firmly.
Rai's gaze flickered with gratitude. "Thanks."
There was a moment of silence before Rai tilted his head. "Wait, I never asked—what actually got you in here?"
Snow's eyes narrowed. "...A vision."
"A vision?"
"Yes. It showed me a disaster. One that would begin two months from then." He looked at the wall clock. "That was two months ago. Today's the Fifth day of a new month."
"So they locked you up for spreading 'false prophecies,' huh?"
"You get the gist."
"But is it real?" Rai asked.
Snow's reply came without hesitation.
"Yes."
The way he said it—sharp, clear—sent chills down Rai's spine.
"...That serious?"
Snow nodded. "What I saw... was just the beginning. That disaster will trigger a chain reaction. In three years, it'll all end. The world as we know it."
"End? As in...?"
"Monsters were part of it," Snow continued. "But there were others. People brainwashed to serve the monster purpose"
"...And the only way to stop it?"
"Defeat the Boss," Snow said. "If we don't... the future becomes irreversible."
Rai frowned. "Did you tell anyone else?"
Snow gave him a tired look. "Why do you think I'm in here?"
"Right, right. You suck at being teased," Rai said with a sigh.
"Says the half-Asian, half-European carrot top," Snow shot back.
"Hey! That was uncalled for!"
Snow gave a low chuckle. "You're hopeless."
"But you love me anyway," Rai smirked.
The air had grown lighter. The darkness of the prison felt a little less suffocating.
"You said this disaster is a catalyst?" Rai asked again.
Snow nodded. "Yes. A spark that sets off the downfall. If we let this happen... nothing will be left."
"And the vision—"
BZZZZZZZZZT!
The sharp wail of a siren cut through the air.
"Yikes. Why now of all times?" Rai muttered under his breath as the sirens continued to blare.
Snow glanced around. "This is the time when inmates are allowed to move freely on the field, right?"
"Yeah. So let's get ready." Rai stood up, brushing the dust off his pants.
Snow smirked faintly as their glass door opens. "Don't tell me you're still a coward after all these years."
Rai turned with a deadpan look. "Really? Now?" he said as both walked out their cells
But instead of more teasing, the two of them suddenly stopped—and without needing words, they pulled each other into a firm embrace.
A strong pat on the back. The kind only old friends shared.
"I missed you, Snow," Rai said quietly.
"Likewise, Rai," Snow replied with a rare softness in his voice.
As they pulled away, Rai's expression warmed, and the two began following the glowing pathway that led them outside their cell block. Their footsteps echoed in rhythm as the corridor opened up to an entirely new environment.
What awaited them outside was... unexpected.
The blinding sunlight hit them first, followed by the roar of crashing waves in the far distance. The island stretched in every direction, isolated by endless waters that sparkled under the midday sun.
Delta wasn't just a prison—it was its own exiled world.
The field before them was massive, as large as a football stadium, wide and barren save for a few scattered trees and makeshift benches. It was the designated "recreational" space for inmates across the first, second, and third floors. While there were designated zones where each floor's prisoners held dominance, Snow's area encompassed both Floor One and Floor Two.
They began walking the perimeter, Rai pointing out various zones—the strength arenas, trading corners, rest tents, and more. Snow listened in silence, scanning everything with cold, analytical eyes.
But then...
KR-CHK!
A mechanical sound echoed across the field, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
The towering metallic walls—previously dividing each floor's sections—began to retract, folding into the ground like collapsing towers.
"Oh no. No. No. No!" Rai paled instantly.
Snow turned to him. "What's going on?"
"It's today," Rai whispered, voice trembling. "It's Stress Relief Day."
Snow raised an eyebrow. "Stress relief?"
Rai's face darkened. "It's the one day when all sections merge. The barriers vanish, and every inmate is allowed to fight freely."
"To fight...?" Snow's gaze sharpened.
Rai nodded grimly. "The government lets us go wild. Says it's to relieve tension, but it's really a way to trim the population. Anyone can use their skills during this time, and there are no rules. Injuries. Deaths. Massacres. It all goes ignored."
"I see," Snow said calmly.
Rai stared at him in disbelief. "How are you so calm about this?!"
Snow's reply came cold and detached. "I've fought monsters. I've survived cursed dungeons and walked out of S-Rank domains. This? This is nothing."
"That makes no sense," Rai snapped.
"Then stay behind me."
Snow stepped back toward a nearby wall and leaned against it, arms crossed casually. His eyes scanned the crowd as the tension in the air thickened like smog before a storm.
Rai hesitated... then followed, taking a spot beside him.
A moment passed.
"Skills are allowed for the duration of the event, right?" Snow asked without turning.
"Yeah," Rai said, exhaling slowly. "Until the event ends."
"How long does that usually take?"
"Either thirty minutes... or when fifty percent of the participants are critically injured or dead."
Snow didn't respond.
But his silence spoke volumes.
And then, like the drop of a match in gasoline—
Chaos erupted.
A wave of violence crashed across the field. Fists flew. Blades shimmered in the sunlight. Abilities of every type were unleashed—fire, lightning, shadows, wind—turning the field into a war zone.
Screams tore through the air—men, women, all alike—locked in savage brawls for dominance, vengeance, or simple survival.
The strong hunted the weak. The weak turned on each other. Old grudges ignited. Blood painted the soil in broad strokes.
It didn't take long before the event descended into a full-scale deathmatch—a royal rumble of desperation and carnage.
And Snow... watched it all in silence.
Unflinching.
Unmoved.
Only his eyes, sharp and piercing, followed the chaos—measuring, studying, and waiting.
------------------------------------------
to be continued...