The offer from Hwanseong Guild was dazzling—wealth beyond imagination, the kind of contract that only an S-rank hunter could expect. But for Lee Seong-jun, it was meaningless. The three-year bond was a shackle, not an opportunity. He knew his growth would not be confined by such terms. With confidence born of a Demon God's past, he believed he could reach heights beyond SS rank in a single year. Why bind himself to less?
He explained this coldly, even remarking that the Hunter Association had offered him better conditions. At this, Lim Jae-hoon faltered. The Association, a public body with limited resources, should not have been able to compete with Hwanseong's overflowing wealth. Yet, Seong-jun's tone left no room for doubt. Perhaps the Association had indeed crafted special conditions in secret, things outsiders could not know.
Still, Hwanseong was not a guild that gave up easily. Their rule was simple—those they could not claim, they would crush. A bitter smile crept across Lim Jae-hoon's lips as he turned the conversation toward Seong-jun's family. He spoke with feigned concern of villains within the safe zones, of the Association's waning strength, of its hollow roar like a toothless tiger. His meaning was clear. Hwanseong could protect them… but only if Seong-jun submitted.
The menace behind the words was not lost. With the instincts of one who had ruled entire continents, Seong-jun read the true malice hidden in the man's eyes. This was no simple recruiter—this was a man who would plot, threaten, and destroy if it served his guild's purpose.
And yet, Lim Jae-hoon departed politely, leaving only his card behind. No immediate danger pressed upon the family, but the warning was written in every step he took. From this day forward, their nest would be watched.
Seong-jun's resolve hardened. He could not rely solely on the Association's shield forever. If Hwanseong, even as the weakest of the great five guilds, dared to extend its hand toward his loved ones, then he needed strength beyond dispute. Strength to stand above them all. Strength to show the world that no one touched his family without consequence.
And so, he vowed once more—he would grow faster, climb higher, and make them regret even considering such a threat.
A History Stained by War
Forty-seven years ago, monsters once thought to be myths descended upon Earth. Their murderous intent tore through cities, leaving countless dead in a single day. Humanity, desperate and broken, faced extinction—until the Awakened appeared.
These were men and women granted powers beyond mortals, humanity's first defenders. A great war followed, lasting a decade, yet even with the Awakened, the tide of monsters pouring from endless Gates could not be stemmed. The world braced for its end.
Then, another miracle. Gates opened not only to monsters, but to other races—elves, beastkin, orcs, and goblins. Unlike the beasts, these beings were rational, willing to ally with mankind. Together, they reclaimed fragments of land, though never enough to strike down the true rulers—the so-called kings and gods of the monsters. Against such ancient sovereigns, even the bravest faltered. Humanity resolved to wait, to grow stronger, and not to waste lives in vain.
In time, another hope emerged—the Returned. Hunters who vanished in 2055 and reappeared years later, hardened by other worlds, carrying skills and power foreign to Earth. Their arrival rekindled belief that one day, humanity would reclaim all it had lost.
To survive, hunters formed structures—guilds, associations, entire societies built around their strength. From this order rose wealth, politics, and fierce competition. Hunters were no longer just warriors; they were a new axis of power. Magic stones, harvested from slain monsters, fueled industries, outshining even nuclear energy. A new age of prosperity and greed began.
South Korea became home to countless guilds, yet only five reigned supreme: Death, Nuri, Bulsae, Baekho, and Hwanseong. Nuri, led by Yoon Min-soo, the Sword Master of SSS rank, stood at the peak. Hwanseong, by contrast, was the weakest, with only one SS-rank hunter—its master, Kim Dong-hyun. It survived not by talent, but by money, corporate sponsors pouring wealth like water to buy strength.
But no amount of gold could create an SSS-rank hunter. Talent, true talent, could not be purchased. This was Hwanseong's fatal flaw. And it was this flaw that made Lee Seong-jun, a returnee with limitless potential, a prize they could not ignore.
When word returned that he had refused, fury boiled in the guild's halls. Kim Dong-hyun, calculating and ambitious, recognized the danger. Should another guild claim Seong-jun, Hwanseong's fragile place among the five could crumble, and his own succession battle could be lost. For them, this was not recruitment. This was survival.
And thus, the shadow of Hwanseong lingered, circling ever closer.