Nathan moved cautiously through the jagged terrain of the SS-class portal world, the dark tendrils of shadow still coiling protectively around his arms. Every step was calculated, measured. The air smelled of ozone and scorched earth, and the faint hum of residual energy from the portal vibrations made his hair stand on end. He had survived an S-rank monster once, but he knew the portal was far from empty. The feeling of being watched pressed down on him like a physical weight.
I have to find a safe place, he thought, scanning the horizon. Cracks in the ground glowed faintly orange, marking unstable energy zones, and jagged spires of rock jutted out like teeth. Somewhere in the distance, he glimpsed movement—a figure, small against the looming shadows, moving with purpose and caution.
"Hello?" Nathan called out cautiously, raising a hand to signal peace.
The figure froze. A young woman, clad in a sleek, dark-blue combat uniform with subtle armor plating, stepped into view. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, and her stance suggested she was no ordinary hunter. A small emblem on her chest read "Alkham."
Nathan's pulse quickened. "Alkham…?" he muttered, recognizing the guild's insignia. His mind raced. This world was filled with guilds, powerful hunters, and leaders far stronger than he. Any misstep could mean death.
The woman studied him for a moment, her gaze piercing. "You're not from here," she said finally, her voice calm but firm. Not an observation, but a warning.
"I… I'm not," Nathan admitted. "I fell through a portal… SS-class. I survived, somehow." His words sounded ridiculous even to him, but her eyes didn't betray skepticism—only curiosity.
She tilted her head. "Few survive SS-class portals on their first try. Fewer survive an encounter with an S-rank predator. You…" she paused, studying him, "…you're rare."
Nathan swallowed hard. Rare? That's… my awakening. She knows. He felt a flicker of pride, mingled with caution. How much does she know about this world?
"I'm Selena," she said, extending a hand. "And you are?"
"Nathan." He shook her hand, noting the firm grip and the strength coiled beneath her calm demeanor. "I didn't come here to fight anyone. I'm just… trying to survive."
Selena's lips curved slightly. "Survival in this world isn't a choice. It's the only way forward." Her eyes scanned the horizon, assessing dangers Nathan couldn't yet see. "You'll need more than shadows to make it through. Guilds are rising. Power matters. Strategy matters more."
Nathan nodded, absorbing the weight of her words. Guilds… strategy… I thought survival was about skill and strength. This is… another level.
They moved together cautiously, shadows curling around Nathan like a cloak. Selena's movements were precise, economical, every step minimizing risk. Nathan noticed the faint glow along her gloves—energy conduits, likely a personal enhancement or artifact. He realized quickly that she was not just a member of Alkham, she was elite.
"Why are you here alone?" Selena asked, her voice steady but probing.
"...I have no one," Nathan admitted. "I died once… and woke again. I have… abilities now, I think. Shadows." He demonstrated, letting a tendril of darkness stretch from his arm, slicing through a jagged stone nearby. It hissed as it cut.
Selena's eyes widened slightly. "Rare indeed. That ability… most hunters never reach such control, even with years of training. You'll be valuable. Or dangerous."
Nathan swallowed. Dangerous. To whom?
"Follow me," Selena said abruptly, signaling for him to move faster. "We need to reach a temporary safe zone. Portals leak monsters unpredictably. There's a higher concentration near the eastern fissures."
The terrain shifted as they moved. The ground trembled faintly, and Nathan realized with a jolt that minor creatures—smaller than the S-rank he had faced—were emerging from fissures, drawn by the presence of living beings. Selena dispatched them efficiently, her energy conduits slicing through creatures with lethal precision. Nathan followed, the shadows around him moving instinctively, adapting to the creatures' speed and attacks.
Minutes—or perhaps an hour—later, they reached a partially collapsed outpost. A crude barricade of stone and energy barriers marked it as a temporary guild outpost. Inside, Nathan could see the faint glow of a map display and a few armored figures monitoring screens.
"This is Alkham's forward position," Selena explained, lowering her guard slightly. "We monitor portal activity and weak points. It's not much, but it's enough to survive for now."
Nathan stepped inside, awe creeping over him. The outpost was basic, but every detail screamed efficiency and strategy. Holographic displays floated above tables, showing portal rifts, monster movements, and hunter deployment patterns. The complexity of it made Nathan's head spin. So this is what guilds do… they don't just fight. They observe, plan, manipulate. Survival is only part of the game.
Selena noticed his gaze. "Don't let it overwhelm you. The first days here are the hardest. Learn fast, or you die fast."
Nathan nodded, determination settling into his chest. I survived once. I can survive again. I will learn.
As night fell in the portal world, shadows stretching long and ominous, Nathan felt a surge of energy he hadn't known before. The tendrils of shadow along his arms pulsed, responding to his intent, no longer just a defense but a potential weapon. He knew he had crossed a threshold. He was no longer merely surviving—he was evolving.
Selena handed him a small device, a communication tool linked to Alkham's network. "If you want to survive, stick close. Watch, listen, and follow orders. You'll get your chance to prove yourself soon enough."
Nathan accepted it, flexing his fingers as shadows curled protectively around the device. He was ready.
Tomorrow, he thought, I fight not just to survive, but to rise.
But deep in the shadows beyond the outpost, a faint, chilling hum vibrated through the air. Nathan didn't notice it, but Selena did—a ripple in the portal's energy that spoke of creatures far stronger than they had yet encountered.
The first step toward legend had been taken, but the path ahead was darker, deadlier, and infinitely more unpredictable than Nathan could imagine.