The sun hadn't yet broken the horizon, but the slums were already alive in a chaotic symphony of sounds.
Clang! Clang! Metal on metal, hammering away as workers toiled to patch broken walls. Nearby, a pack of kids laughed and chased one another, their feet pounding the dirt like war drums.
Among them was Min-ho, a boy whose wooden sword swung recklessly as he declared: "This block's mine now!"The stray dog yelped, dodging the wild swings.
Not far off, Ka-jin sat brooding on a pile of rubble, the silver cloak draped over his shoulders fluttering in the cold breeze.His eyes narrowed, scanning the flickering holo-map that displayed monstrous movements near the city.
"Damn fools..." he muttered. "Nobody knows what they're in for."Inside a cramped room dimly lit by a sputtering candle, Mira punched slow, deliberate strikes at empty air.
Her hands were raw, muscles burning, but determination burned brighter."Just a bit longer... control, focus," she whispered, grinding her teeth.At the marketplace, traders hawked rare goods; monster gem vials gleamed in the fading light.
A crowd gathered around a loudspeaker broadcasting the day's news."Hunters rising fast but so are dangers," the voice boomed. "Only the tough ones will survive the coming storm."
An old man leaned on his cane, shaking his head from across the square."They think strength is magic handed out for free,"
he grumbled. "Strength is earned through a lifetime of struggle."Back in a shadowed hovel, baby Yoo's fingers twitched as a faint glow pulsed beneath his skin.
Unseen by all, this tiny spark was the seed of something ancient and powerful, waiting to unfold.
Morning blossomed, and the city's underbelly prepared for a dangerous expedition.
Min-ho and Mira met with a group of hunters—faces hardened by fights and losses.Plans were drawn on the cracked floor, roles assigned carefully."Stick close," the leader ordered. "No one dies today."
As the party moved toward the newly discovered ruins, tension crackled like static in the air.
Rumors flared about a shadowy factions pulling strings from the background, its goals unknown but deadly clear.
The ruins trembled beneath unseen forces, promising traps, secrets, and untold power.
Hours later, under shattered stone and ghostly light, warriors tested their mettle.Ka-jin fought side by side with a rookie, their Gi flaring as they repelled creeping beasts.
Mira, though inexperienced, held her ground with steady blows, learning that strength was more than power—it was heart.
Min-ho, wide-eyed and eager, avoided danger but soaked in every lesson, his wooden sword forgotten but his spirit sharpened.
Around a campfire that night, stories wove through the smoke.Hunters reflected on losses and victories, on alliances and betrayals.
Whispers of political upheaval, monstrous mutations, and cosmic watchers stirred unease.Despite fears, a shared resolve united them—survival demanded courage, unity, and sacrifice.
As embers died, Yoo slept soundly, oblivious to the storm gathering beyond.
Tomorrow would bring new battles, new choices, and the rising flame of destiny.
The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks drifting up into the cool night air.
Around the campfire, the hunters exchanged tales—not all filled with hope.Ka-jin's voice was rough but steady. "Every victory comes with losses. Ain't no easy path, just bloody roads and hard choices."Mira nodded, hands still aching.
"I thought power would come with a bang. Turns out it's sweat, fight, and grit."Min-ho sat close by, eyes wide in wonder.
"I wanna be strong... like you all. But how do you keep going when it hurts so bad?"A grizzled veteran smirked, drawing on a stubby cigar. "You keep going 'cause quitting isn't an option. Out here, weakness means death."
A soft breeze whispered through the ruins near their camp, carrying distant growls and the faint smell of smoke.
From beyond the shadows, a figure watched the firelight flicker—hidden but keenly interested in the tiny pulse of power resting inside baby Yoo.
Inside the small hut where Yoo lay sleeping, the faint glow beneath his skin pulsed steadily.
Unaware of the watchers or the dangers gathering, his future waited beyond the horizon.
In the slums, whispers turned to rumors, rumors to fear as unseen forces moved, threatening to ignite old conflicts anew.
Tomorrow was uncertain, but as always in this broken world, it would demand bravery—and sacrifice.The hunt had only just begun.