Ryan gripped the steering wheel tightly as he sped toward the Hunter Association's headquarters, but that was hours ago. Now, they were flying toward Siberia in two helicopters—one carrying the hunters, the other filled with the special forces.
THUP...THUP...THUP..THUP…
The rotor blades sliced through the frozen air, each beat echoing like a war drum.
Inside, everyone was laughing, chatting, enjoying themselves as if this was some kind of picnic. Meanwhile, Ryan stared out the window, deep in thought.
Do they even understand where we're going? he wondered. This is no joyride… this is a mission. And yet—no one shows the slightest trace of tension.
He was already sketching out plans in his head when suddenly—
"Hey, Ryan!"
He flinched at the sound of his name. Kaito had moved closer, a grin on his face.
"You're thinking too much. Come on, enjoy the ride like everyone else."
Ryan sighed. "It's nothing. I was just… planning ahead. It bothers me, seeing everyone so carefree on such an important mission."
Kaito chuckled softly. "Ryan, you know as well as I do—every single one of us has gone through something unexpected, something painful. That's why we've become strong enough to be here. None of us know what's waiting out there… or if we'll even come back alive. That's exactly why they're enjoying this moment."
Ryan looked at him for a long moment before replying quietly, "…I hadn't thought of it that way."
Kaito placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll be there for you, Ryan. Whatever support you need, I'll give it. We'll succeed together."
Ryan couldn't help but smile faintly. "…Thanks, Kaito."
Strange how fate works, he thought. He'd first met Kaito about a year ago, in an underground fight… where he defeated him. Since then, they'd been comrades.
Not long after, the helicopter touched down near a secluded region of Siberia. Snow usually blanketed the land here, but this particular area was different—snow fell only for part of the year. And at the base of a towering mountain… there yawned a dark, ominous tunnel.
One by one, they leapt with parachutes.
Whoooosh!
The cold wind roared past Ryan's ears as he descended, the breathtaking scenery spread out below him.
But the beauty vanished the moment they landed.
Silence.No birds, no beasts.
Only a suffocating, unnatural stillness.
That tunnel loomed ahead—like a black maw, silently beckoning them inside.
They stepped in, swallowed by darkness. Grace walked beside Ryan. Suddenly—
Squeak! Scuttle!
A rat darted across her path. She didn't notice until her foot came down on it.
"Ahhhhhh!"
She screamed and grabbed Ryan from behind.
He quickly covered her mouth. "Quiet! If a rat makes you scream like that, how are we supposed to move forward?"
Behind them, Daniel burst into loud laughter. "HAHAHA! They actually sent people this weak on a mission like this? Crying over a rat!"
The special forces joined in his laughter. Grace's cheeks flushed red.
"I-I'm sorry… it bit me suddenly, I panicked."
They pressed onward. Soon, the air grew thin, and they all put on oxygen masks.
Daniel suddenly barked out, "From here on, everyone follows my lead. Do exactly as I say when we fight."
Grace raised her voice in protest. "Why should we? Both teams have their own leaders. We'll follow our leaders, not you."
Daniel's face twisted in what looked like rage. "You stupid girl… how dare you disobey me!"
He stepped forward, but Albert, their senior hunter, moved between them. "If you cause one more problem here—special forces leader or not—I'll kill you before the beasts do."
The air grew heavy, the two groups glaring at each other. But Ryan's eyes—through his contact lens' zoom—caught something in the distance.
His blood ran cold.
"…Everyone, stay alert! Something's coming!"
Grrrrrr… Awooooo!
Out of the darkness, dozens of wolves emerged. Their glowing red eyes pierced the shadows.
The scientist among them gasped, his voice filled with what sounded like horror. "Impossible… these species went extinct thousands of years ago! Then how—?"
No time to think. The wolves lunged.
The battle erupted.
Jackson donned his iron-clawed gloves.
Shrrrk! Thud!
Each strike tore through wolf flesh.
Grace combined her martial arts with her spear, fluid movements piercing and slashing. Daniel's machine gun roared, mowing down beasts in a hail of bullets.
Ryan turned his head—and froze. Someone was controlling wolves, bending them to his will.
"Whoa… what ability is that?" he muttered.
Kaito answered, "That's Evan. He can tame beasts."
Ryan narrowed his eyes. "…He'll be very useful later."
The fight dragged on, but exhaustion crept into the group. Kaito nudged him.
"Ryan. Let's finish this."
"Right."
They surged forward.
Slash! Slash! Whoooosh!
Their blades cut through the pack with lightning speed. Twenty wolves fell within moments.
The sight seemed to reignite everyone's morale. Together, they turned the tide.
Within minutes, the battlefield fell silent—every wolf lay dead.
Bodies everywhere. Blood soaking the ground. But miraculously, none of them had died.
Albert exhaled in what sounded like awe. "They were ancient… terrifying… and yet, not a single casualty. Incredible."
Jackson grunted, glancing around at the carnage. "Over three hundred of them, slaughtered… and still, this place feels like death itself."
Ryan looked down at his blade, dripping with blood. "…Why were extinct beasts here? What the hell is this place?"
Kaito's voice was low, steady. "Ryan, this was only the beginning. Prepare yourself—the real danger is yet to come."
They rested briefly, then pushed deeper into the tunnel. Each step swallowed by the dark.
And with every heartbeat, the silence pressed heavier on Ryan's chest.