The clash with Kang Do-jin left Jin shaken, his entire body still reverberating with the weight of a power far beyond his current reach. His fists clenched as he walked through the quiet streets of Seoul, the shadows wrapping around his figure like an old friend.
He had tasted the difference.
No matter how much he evolved, a true Rank S Hunter was still a mountain that towered over him. His rage demanded vengeance, but reality whispered the cruel truth—he wasn't ready. Not yet.
Jin raised his gaze to the night sky, his eyes burning with hunger.
"Then I'll carve my own path forward… step by step. If I'm not strong enough now, I'll simply slaughter until I am."
As if answering his thoughts, the black system flared to life before his eyes.
[New Mission: Blood Harvest]
– Kill 100,000 monsters
– Portal Location: Seoul, Underground Ruins
– Portal Rank: A
Jin froze. His brow twitched, and for the first time in a while, his voice carried disbelief.
"One hundred thousand…? And in an A-Rank portal?"
The streets were empty, but his laughter echoed in the night, sharp and twisted.
"Fine. If that's what it takes, then so be it. I'll drown this city in the blood of monsters until I reach that number."
His boots struck the pavement as he marched toward the portal coordinates. His mind sharpened, his will honed into steel. The mission wasn't just a challenge—it was an invitation. An opportunity to ascend far beyond what ordinary hunters could ever dream of.
By the time he reached the underground entrance, a crowd of hunters had gathered. They stared at the swirling gate of void-like energy and whispered nervously. None dared to step inside.
"It's suicide," one muttered.
"A solo raid on an A-Rank portal? He won't last five minutes."
Then the crowd fell silent. Jin's presence spread like a suffocating mist as he approached. He ignored the stares, ignored the whispers. His cold gaze was fixed only on the portal.
Without hesitation, he stepped through.
The air on the other side was thick with death. The ruins stretched endlessly, littered with broken pillars and scorched stone. From the darkness, eyes glimmered—hundreds of them.
Jin's lips curved into a dark smirk.
"Looks like I'll be stuck down here for a long time…"
The first wave of creatures lunged. His fists moved like shadows, every strike breaking bones, tearing flesh. Black flames burned in his wake, reducing monsters to ash. The system notifications rang in his head with every kill.
[Monsters killed: 1]
[Monsters killed: 27]
[Monsters killed: 122]
Blood coated his boots. His breathing was steady, his eyes alight with grim determination. And yet, the counter mocked him—122 out of 100,000.
"This… will take time." His voice was low, almost a growl. "But no matter how long it takes, I'll finish it. I'll slaughter them all."
The shadows around him trembled, alive, hungering for more.
This was only the beginning.