The morning sun had just risen when Lee Seong-jun stepped out of his home, his stride steady and filled with new vigor. After four days of peaceful rest with his family and the dramatic leap in strength brought by the twin elixirs, his spirit brimmed with energy. It had been the perfect holiday—rest, growth, and warmth. But now, the time for leisure was over. It was time to move forward.
Yet as he walked, a subtle pressure caught his senses. Someone was following him. This was no wandering reporter chasing headlines; the movements were too refined, too weightless. They belonged to a skilled expert—at least an S-rank.
Having once felt this same presence near his home but lacking the strength to confront it, Seong-jun now had no such hesitation. With sharp resolve, he launched himself onto the rooftops, using his wind-borne footwork, closing the distance in an instant. Dropping into the alley where the shadow moved, he came face-to-face with the pursuer.
A man in a black suit stood waiting, neither panicked nor fleeing. His gaze met Seong-jun's directly. He introduced himself calmly: Yoon Ki-seong, an S-rank villain. Though he appeared composed, beneath the surface his instincts screamed. The aura before him was crushing, monstrous, far surpassing what he expected of a hunter who had returned to Earth barely two months prior.
This was no ordinary rookie. This was someone already radiating power on par with S+ rankers, perhaps soon beyond even SS. And Yoon Ki-seong knew: such a being could never be treated as an enemy.
Choosing his words carefully, he bowed and spoke of urgent news. It was not about himself, but about danger to Seong-jun's family. That was the only reason the hunter allowed him to continue.
The warning was clear. The Honor Group, one of the most notorious villain guilds, had brought a man to Korea: Jo Se-hyeok, the "Rookie Slayer." An SS-rank villain, infamous for his obsession and cruelty. His strength rivaled the great guild masters of the nation. But worse than his power was his madness. He sought not only to kill his targets, but to shatter their spirits by striking at their families, lovers, or friends. To face such a foe unprepared was to invite despair.
Seong-jun's eyes narrowed. This was not information he could ignore. Still, he demanded to know why a villain would hand him such secrets.
Yoon Ki-seong, though suffocated by the oppressive weight of Seong-jun's gaze, did not flinch. He insisted it was out of respect. His eyes, steady and unwavering, betrayed no lie. Seong-jun accepted the words for now, though he knew there must be hidden motives. For villains, there was always another layer.
Indeed, Yoon Ki-seong's true intent was darker. By arming Seong-jun with knowledge, he set in motion a clash between the hunter and the Honor Group. The destruction that followed would weaken his rivals and allow his own Scavenger Crew to rise unchallenged. It was a gamble—using Seong-jun as both shield and spear—but if it worked, the entire villain underworld of Korea could fall into his hands.
But as Yoon Ki-seong quietly celebrated the success of his ploy, Seong-jun's lips curved faintly. The hunter's next words would shatter the villain's assumptions and flip the game entirely.