The guilds of Korea were still reeling from the shock of the Raid Gate's outcome.
At the headquarters of Nuri Guild, the legendary swordsman Yoon Min-soo sat deep in thought. His disciple, Song Seung-jun, had admitted that to defeat Baekho's rookie, Lee Seong-jun, he would need to fight with nearly ninety percent of his strength. That admission alone carried weight.
Yoon Min-soo, the Sword Master and the nation's strongest, laughed in disbelief. A returnee of only two months had already reached a level bordering on S+ rank—a pace of growth that defied every convention. For a decade, guild rankings had remained unchanged, but now, a storm was rising.
Yet he did not despair. His disciple, Seung-jun, was no ordinary hunter. Born with talent that surpassed even his master, he was destined to reach realms Yoon Min-soo himself had failed to touch. To Yoon, there was no question—in the end, Nuri would reclaim the throne.
Meanwhile, at Baekho Guild's headquarters, celebration filled the halls. The guild's stock value soared, the media sang praises, and their rivals faltered. But what truly pleased Guild Master Oh Kyung-hyun was not just the rise of Baekho's fame—it was the downfall of Kim Dong-hyun of Hwanseong, who had let anger cloud his judgment and was forced to bow his head before the entire nation.
Amid laughter, Oh Kyung-hyun's thoughts turned to Lee Seong-jun. The rookie was more than a warrior. He was clever, politically sharp, and unyielding in presence. A true treasure had fallen into Baekho's hands. And treasures had to be guarded.
Thus, when Seong-jun requested a priceless artifact—the Tears of the Spirit, a cure for Mana Syndrome—Oh Kyung-hyun did not hesitate. The price was staggering: three hundred billion won in cash, demanded by the seller. Even for Baekho, such a transaction threatened to disrupt their finances.
But the Guild Master refused to falter. His instincts, honed as both a hunter and a leader, screamed that Seong-jun was worth far more than gold. He resolved to buy the Tears himself, even at personal risk. For Baekho's future, and for the rising comet named Lee Seong-jun, no cost was too high.
While guilds schemed and masters planned, Seong-jun rested at home, recovering from the grueling battle with Eliorus. Three days of quiet passed, but restlessness stirred within him. His body still bore the ache of combat, yet his growth could not be denied.
From level 60, he had risen to level 68—an extraordinary leap. For hunters, progress past the second advancement was notoriously slow; even the strongest required months to gain a single level. Yet Seong-jun had soared eight steps higher in mere days, proof of his endless potential.
Still, his greatest reward was not his new strength. It was the small wooden box he now cradled in his hands. Inside lay the Tears of the Spirit, the miraculous cure for Mana Syndrome—the illness that had tormented his mother for years.
The pain of Mana Syndrome was relentless, burning like fire through the body without warning. He had witnessed his mother collapse countless times, powerless to help. But no longer. At last, he held in his hands the means to free her from suffering.
With a heart full of anticipation and trembling resolve, Seong-jun rose from his seat. He stepped into the hallway, the wooden box secure in his grip, and knocked on the bedroom door where his parents rested. The path of a hunter had brought him glory, but this moment—this act of saving his mother—was his true victory.