Hours had passed.
The entire recreational zone—an open field meant for relief and laughter—had fallen into a deathly silence. No laughter, no chatter. Just the quiet rustle of wind brushing over corpses.
At the center of this silence stood a lone figure, high atop a hill of bodies—hunters, prisoners, guards alike. From nameless Mino-class inmates to elite combatants, none had survived the storm he unleashed.
His once-white prison uniform had turned to tatters, stained in deep crimson. He stood still, blood dripping from the blade in his hand, his presence alone forcing the living to freeze in place, unable to even flinch.
Even the guards who had watched it unfold through surveillance monitors couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"Why... is he alive? And more than that... how is he capable of fighting?"
The shocked words came from a man seated in a luxurious office, eyes wide in disbelief at the screen before him.
"ANSWER ME!" he barked, slamming a jeweled fist on the desk.
His name was Kirera Oatloan—Director of DELTA, the most fortified underground containment unit on the continent. A man with a potbelly wrapped in fine robes, his fingers adorned with glittering rings of every color. Slender in frame but bloated in ego, the scent of corruption clung to him like perfume. Within DELTA, his word was law—at least as long as he didn't cross the Association.
But right now, even with all his power and influence, Kirera was panicking.
(Impossible... absolutely impossible!)
(According to the reports, he should have been nothing—disposable. Yet he's annihilated every prisoner from Floors 3 to 5... leaving only twelve alive?!)
(Damn it! How do I explain this to the Association?!)
In a flurry of nerves, he rose to his feet.
"Take me to him—NOW!"
But before he could move, the office doors exploded inward with a deafening CRASH.
Three figures stepped in without hesitation—each a force in their own right.
Shura. Lora. The Ice Queen.
"There won't be any need for that," Shura said coolly.
Kirera stumbled back, his face pale.
"S-S...Shura?"
His voice trembled. He knew better than to speak out of turn to someone like him. Shura was the direct sword of the Association. A man you shouldn't cross.
"Your mismanagement of DELTA has already been exposed," Shura said as he stepped forward and tossed a thick file onto the desk. "Under normal circumstances, you would be held accountable today..."
A pause.
"But that's not why we're here."
Lora stepped in, her voice sharp.
"Where is he?"
The world was spiraling toward catastrophe. An outbreak had begun—one everyone was warned about, yet the world chose to ignore. Now the Association had no choice but to act. They needed him.
By direct order of the Association President, Snow's immediate release was authorized.
The Island hadn't been affected. Not yet. Its deceptive peace was the only reason this hell hadn't spread further. But time was running thin.
"W-What...?! Are you saying the Association wants to release him?" Kirera stammered.
"Indeed," Shura replied, his cold stare slicing through Kirera like a blade. "And every second we waste is a second closer to collapse."
"Y-Yes! Right this way!" Kirera said, scrambling out the door.
They took a hidden pathway—one used only by top-level personnel. As they approached the field, the stench of blood grew stronger... and then they saw it.
A blood-drenched battlefield.
A hill of corpses.
And at the top... him.
"What did you DO, Kirera?!" Shura demanded, disgusted by the carnage.
"I-I didn't do anything! Today was just a... stress relief day. That—that's him!" Kirera stammered, pointing up.
And there he stood—Snow.
His body was soaked in blood from head to toe, his clothes reduced to rags barely clinging to his frame. Yet his presence... it was calm. Unshaken.
A faint gold glow hovered above his head—like a crown forged in rage. And in his hand was a blade still humming with energy.
"S...Snow?" Lora's voice cracked as she looked up at him.
They stepped forward, but each footfall felt wrong—like trespassing on sacred ground, wading through blood and death.
"HEY, SNOW!"
A cheerful voice called out.
From the side, Rai tossed a towel his way.
Snow caught it in one hand—and in that moment, the sword in his grasp began to glow. A heartbeat later, it transformed.
Where the sword once was now stood two girls, no older than six. Ethereal, delicate, but unmistakably powerful.
One had white hair and a black gown, a dark ribbon tied at her neck, a glowing ring circling her ankle. Her irises shimmered like stars in the night sky.
The other had black hair and a white gown, her pale irises nearly white, star-shaped and ethereal, as if her sight extended beyond the physical world.
At first glance, they seemed like twins—opposites in harmony.
With a soft snap of their fingers, a gentle light washed over Snow. The blood vanished. His body, now clean and composed, stood tall among the ruins.
"That's so unfair," Rai said with a smirk, stepping gingerly through the blood. "You could've told me you had that kind of cheat. My shoes are ruined!"
"Endure it, silly," Snow replied calmly.
Then, his gaze shifted.
He noticed the four prominent figures watching him from below.
Shura. Lora. The Ice Queen. And Kirera, who trembled just from his cold glance.
He didn't need to ask why they were here.
He'd already knew it.
Snow's voice cut through the heavy silence like a cold wind.
"Do you not think you're showing up far too often, Shura Walkbird?"
His expression was unreadable—calm, but distant. Without a word more, he descended the pile of corpses, not with heavy steps, but with the grace of one who floated on air. His feet never touched the bloodstained ground.
The two girls—his living blades—glided behind him, remaining suspended midair like spirits tethered to his presence. Despite the active suppression field meant to dampen abilities within DELTA, his aura remained unchecked.
The Dampener was still active.
And yet... he was using his skills freely.
Shura bowed slightly in acknowledgment, his tone respectful.
"Forgive the intrusion. But it's a matter of urgency."
Snow's eyes narrowed.
"Urgency...? Then... has the outbreak begun?"
"Yes. As we speak, all seven continents are spiraling into chaos."
Snow paused for a moment, then asked:
"Which continent is least affected?"
"Africa," Shura answered immediately.
"I see... So Ibrahim kept his word."
From the side, the Ice Queen stepped forward, her tone solemn yet composed.
"We were also able to secure Europe, thanks to your warning."
Snow turned to her.
"Lady MIRRORFELT..."
"Truly, it's because of your foresight. Europe suffered almost no casualties."
"Ibrahim must've felt the same," added Lola, stepping beside her. "That's why he sent me to represent him."
"I understand," Snow replied with a rare softness. His glowing crown faded slowly above him, dispersing like stardust.
But Shura's next words brought the grim mood back with force.
"North and South America have taken the worst of it."
"Asia managed to contain some zones," he continued, "but overall, it's one of the most affected. Just as you predicted, Seoul and Tokyo were critical targets."
Snow's tone deepened.
"Then... which continent is showing signs of falling completely?"
"Oceania," Lora answered grimly.
"If it continues, the region may soon be declared a monster domain," Shura added. "A few more days... and it could become a permanent dungeon."
"And Antarctica," he went on, "though uninhabited by any nations, was a scientific development zone. Now it's fallen too. Monsters have taken it."
Snow closed his eyes briefly, processing everything.
"So what does the Association want from me?"
"Your guidance," Shura said. "We need you to instruct the Hunters—based on your vision—so we can save as many as possible."
Snow opened his eyes and frowned.
"But... I already told you what to do."
Shura blinked in confusion.
"You did...?"
"I told you to have Arthur and Ibrahim confront Chronos' Avatar... with Ruciel Faithhood assisting."
His gaze swept over them.
"Did no one see the livestream? The one where I was with a fan in the elevator?"
The team looked at each other, puzzled.
"...You mean the one where Ruciel was caught cheating on you? At the Bright Hotel?" Lora asked carefully.
"Yes. That one."
"But... after your breakup, the media was paid to scrub every copy from the net," Lora admitted.
Snow's eyes twitched.
"...Damn it."
The realization hit. His warning had been buried in scandal.
"Was that why you told me to have Arthur and Ibrahim head to Seoul?" Lora asked slowly.
"Exactly," Snow replied.
Lora let out a breath, everything clicking into place.
"That... makes sense now."
She looked down, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Snow. I couldn't dispatch any S-rank Hunters to Seoul other than the native hunters."
Snow remained quiet. His expression said everything.
Disappointment.
"I expected some resistance... but this is worse than I imagined."
For a moment, the world seemed to fall away from him. Snow's mind drifted to countless worst-case scenarios, threading each one into potential strategies.
(There must be another way...)
Then, he spoke again.
"How long ago did the outbreak start?"
"An hour ago," Shura answered.
"Understood." Snow's voice shifted into command.
"First, lock down this prison. Not a single inmate leaves."
Shura raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason?"
"Because if even one of them escapes... we might face a scenario even worse than what's unfolding outside."
Shura nodded firmly.
"Understood. I'll mobilize every personnel capable of suppressing the remaining Hunters inside DELTA."
Snow's eyes sharpened, scanning the distant horizon.
Snow narrowed his eyes.
"Wait... what exactly is Ruciel doing right now?"
Lora exploded.
"Are you seriously still thinking about that girl?! She's been missing ever since the outbreak started!"
"What...?" Snow's expression cracked. "You can't be serious."
He scoffed in disbelief, anger rising in his tone.
"This is outrageous. I wasted so much effort upgrading her—for this?"
His fists clenched, but before he could continue, Rai stepped in.
"Hey, calm down, man."
The casual interruption turned everyone's attention toward him.
"And who exactly are you?" the Ice Queen asked with a cool glance.
Rai stood firm.
"Name's Rai. Rai Rothchild."
Her eyes narrowed slightly in recognition.
"Rothchild...? As in the son of Henry Rothchild?"
Lora's eyes widened.
"Wait, weren't you declared missing?"
"Yeah. I was locked up here... in DELTA," Rai said simply.
Lora turned to Snow with understanding dawning.
"No wonder Snow couldn't contact you."
Rai awkwardly scratched his head, sensing the strange tension between them.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and tried to shift the mood.
"Now that you've cooled down, it's probably best if you head back to the city and help stabilize things."
But Snow shook his head.
"I can't do that."
"Why not?" Lora asked, and the others echoed her.
"Because it's a complete waste of time and effort," Snow replied coldly.
His eyes were sharp now—focused.
"As long as Chronos' Avatar lives... the outbreak will continue."
The group fell silent, frozen at the gravity of his words.
Shura finally spoke.
"So that's why you kept emphasizing his defeat." Shura said
"The situation is worse than we imagined," shura muttered, pulling out a sleek device from his coat.
"Then we're moving everyone to the Association immediately." shura instructed in haste
"Rai's coming too," Snow added without room for negotiation.
"Fine," Shura agreed, albeit reluctantly.
He dropped the device onto the blood-slicked ground. It unfolded instantly, expanding into a glowing platform beneath their feet. A hum of energy surged through the air—then, with a flash of light, Snow, Rai, Lora, Shura, and the Ice Queen vanished.
The Association HQ was in chaos. Hunters scrambled across the halls, reports blaring from every monitor, and tension choked the air.
Snow and the others materialized in the heart of it—but the two girls who were always floating beside him were gone.
"Wait... where did they go?" Rai asked, glancing around.
"Who?" Lora replied.
"The two little girls who were with Snow," he said.
Snow casually pointed to his ears—two earrings, one black and one white.
"They're right here."
Shura stared, dumbfounded.
(Those girls... were items?)
Lora looked equally stunned.
(I seriously thought he had secret children... and brought them into DELTA?!)
The Ice Queen stepped closer, her eyes glinting playfully.
"You really are full of mysteries... I want you even more now. The offer still stands, you know."
Snow raised a brow.
"You're bringing that up now? Have you even thought this through?"
"I have," she said firmly. "Let's stop the world from ending first. Then... we talk."
Snow chuckled lightly.
"Very well."
As they approached the main command hall of the Association HQ, Lora leaned toward him.
"Hey Snow... I've been meaning to ask you something." Lola asked
"Hmm?" snow hummed wondering what she was about to ask
"You're supposed to have a mapping-type skill. So how come you're so skilled with a sword?" LOLA asked
Even Shura and the Ice Queen turned, waiting for an answer.
Snow gave a tired smile.
"Judging by your faces... I'm guessing Ruciel never told you I was the one who got us out of the Ulkis Dungeon, huh?"snow said
Shura nodded grimly as he agreed "She never did."
"Figures." Snow touched his earring lightly.
"I earned my combat skills after defeating the fifth-floor boss of the Ulkis Dungeon. As a reward... I received them." snow explained
"So that's how you've been solo-clearing C and D-rank dungeons?" Shura asked.
"Exactly. I was getting used to it." he said playfully
"Then why haven't you reevaluated yet?" Shura pressed.
"No real reason," Snow answered casually.
Soon, they reached a large hall. Inside, rows of high-ranking Hunters filled the space—names that commanded fear and respect: Kyle, Ruciel, and several others.
All eyes turned toward Snow and Rai—still wearing their prison uniforms, though Snow's was barely intact, shredded and soaked with blood.
The President of the Association stood at the head of the room. "You're late." he said
"There was an incident," Shura explained.
Then a new voice rang out from the side.
"You." A woman dressed in all black gave a small wave. Snow narrowed his eyes in recognition.
"Lady Williams... You crossed from Asia to here already?" She raised a slim, metallic device.
"With this." she replied with a playful smile
Before he could respond, the Association President raised a hand. "Quiet down."
The room silenced instantly.
He gestured toward Snow. "Step forward."
Snow walked up, unfazed by the stares. Behind him, the others took their seats.
The President's voice rang clear.
"Let me introduce someone who may have more insight into our current crisis."
"This is Snow Quincy. He will be directing everyone from this point forward."
"While the Ogun Guild, Pendragon Guild, and Silver Wolf Guild buy us time on the front lines, Snow will provide the strategy we need to push back."
The room buzzed with murmurs.
Snow stepped up to the microphone, calm and composed. For the first time, the fate of the world would move according to his words.
-----------------------------------------
To be continued...