The world of hunters was shaken. News spread like wildfire—the Baekho Guild's rookie, Lee Seong-jun, had taken first place at the Raid Gate. Even more shocking, he had dethroned Song Seung-jun, the hunter long hailed as the "Crown Prince" and the undisputed leader of his generation.
Reporters, stunned into disbelief, could hardly process what they had witnessed. The fall of Nuri's prodigy was already a monumental story, but the raid held an even darker revelation: the death of Hwanseong Guild's rising star, Lee Dong-ju.
Two disasters struck at once—Nuri lost its supremacy, and Hwanseong lost its future. Journalists scrambled to publish headlines, knowing they had stumbled upon front-page history.
Meanwhile, as Seong-jun emerged from the raid gate, a storm of flashing cameras and endless questions surrounded him. Reporters pressed in from every side, eager to extract answers about his sudden participation, his decisive victory, and the truth behind the casualties.
But amid the chaos, a more dangerous presence appeared—Kim Dong-hyun, master of Hwanseong Guild. His expression was hard and venomous as he confronted Seong-jun, demanding accountability for Lee Dong-ju's death. His intent was clear: shift blame onto Baekho's rookie and deflect the scandal from his own guild.
Seong-jun's cold rejection cut through the crowd. Yet Kim Dong-hyun pressed forward, blocking his path. Tension coiled like a blade about to strike. That was when another figure stepped in—Oh Kyung-hyun, master of Baekho Guild.
His sharp words carried authority. As an SS+ rank hunter, a tier above Kim Dong-hyun's SS rank, his presence left no room for argument. He made it clear that Baekho would not allow its rookie to be scapegoated. The threat was not veiled: if Hwanseong dared to insult Seong-jun again, retaliation would be swift and absolute.
Forced into retreat, Kim Dong-hyun bowed his head and apologized. Though the conflict ended without bloodshed, the damage to Hwanseong's reputation was irreversible.
Seong-jun was escorted away by Baekho's hunters, his victory now shielded by his guild's overwhelming support.
The aftermath rippled across the media. Headlines erupted:
"Baekho's Rookie Lee Seong-jun Takes First Place at Raid Gate."
"Hwanseong Guild in Crisis as Rising Star Lee Dong-ju Falls."
"Kim Dong-hyun Bows Before Baekho."
"The Crown Prince Dethroned: Song Seung-jun Loses to a Newcomer."
Baekho's stocks soared, while Hwanseong's future teetered on the edge.
At Nuri Guild headquarters, Yoon Min-soo—the only SSS-ranked hunter in South Korea—read the reports with narrowed eyes. Across from him sat Song Seung-jun, silent but contemplative.
Yoon asked if Baekho's rookie was truly so skilled. Song answered with uncharacteristic seriousness: Seong-jun's mastery of martial arts, his ability to read stealth, and his overwhelming final strike placed him above all other rookies. He was someone who could rival Jung Yun-ho and claim second place outright.
But when pressed further, Song hesitated. Seong-jun's last technique, a devastating crimson fist that shattered Eliorus in one blow, lingered in his memory. It carried the weight of a strike belonging to hunters far beyond their rank.
Finally, he admitted the truth. To defeat Lee Seong-jun, he would have to fight not with seventy percent of his strength, but with eighty—perhaps even ninety.
The balance of power among rookies had shifted, and a new star had risen—one that even the "Crown Prince" could not ignore.