INTRODUCTIONS
This was a world that defied the laws of nature and physics. Civilization was divided into five great races: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Giants, and Beast Folk. Across the lands roamed monsters of every shape and size, from Goblins and Hulks to Beast Wolves and Demons.
Humans – A race capable of wielding Ekrin, harnessing aura, and mastering swordsmanship techniques. Many of them train relentlessly in the Burst Realm, gradually leveling up to become Burst Gods.
Elves – A race renowned for their ethereal beauty, their elongated ears extending gracefully from their heads. Elves possess unparalleled control over nature, capable of manipulating the land itself. While Elven nobles can summon wings to soar through the skies, this power is not exclusive; any Elf with sufficient willpower and mastery can awaken it.
Dwarves – Famous for their craftsmanship and sword arts, dwarves possess firm, well-defined physiques granting them extraordinary strength and speed. Their deep-set eyes often seem to peer into the past, reflecting ancient knowledge.
Giants – Towering humanoids who resemble hulks but retain human features. Not all are bulky; some stand ten feet tall by the age of fifteen, their sheer size alone striking awe into anyone who beholds them.
Beast Folk – A rare and enigmatic race capable of shifting into mythical forms, becoming full beasts. Only a select few can fully awaken this power. In their human form, traces of animalistic features remain, symbolizing the blessings of the mythical gods.
The monsters and demons were creations of the Honor Gods.
The Gods – There exist three primary deities under the command of the God Monarch, also known as the Monarch of Gods. The God Monarch created both the Holy and Honor Gods. The Holy Gods are deities worshipped by mortals, while the Honor Gods embody valor and honor in battle.
The Holy Gods shaped the five races to inhabit the world and revere them, in return gaining glory and divinity. The Honor Gods, in contrast, created monsters and demons to challenge the supremacy of the Holy Gods.
Monsters – Monsters are categorized into three stages: ordinary monsters (within the tenth class), Monsternoids or humanoid monsters, and Emperors—those who have touched the Burst and claimed divinity.
Demons – Similarly, demons have three stages: ordinary demons, Dukes (dreadful and powerful), Arch Dukes (the elite level of Dukes), and finally, Demon Lords—a title claimed by only one demon after countless battles.
Burst Gods – These beings were not created by the God Monarch. Instead, they discovered the Burst, transcended its power, and created the Burst Realm—a training ground for all races seeking to surpass the limits of godhood. While not divine by birth, many Burst Gods choose to follow the God Monarch for their own motives.
Unbound Gods – These gods live entirely by their own rules, forming their own tribes and creating independent races.
The God Monarchs – There are not just one, but nine God Monarchs, existing beyond all verses. They dwell outside the multiverse in their own Veil Palaces, each so vast it encompasses everything. Only one monarch can occupy a Veil Palace at a time. Beyond these palaces exist the nine fragments of reality—the Nine Verses. Though many exist, this story focuses on a single fragment.
Within the Fifth Fragment Verse lies the High Outer Verse, home to the realms of the gods. The Holy Gods inhabit the Sovereign Realm, the Honor Gods reside in the Vitra Realm, Burst Gods train in Abstrania, and the Unbound Gods rule their own domain.
Beyond this is the Outer Verse, a hidden place containing realms like the Shattered Realm, No Realm, the Burst Realm, and others still undiscovered. Within it lies the Omniverse, encompassing all multiverses, each uniquely constructed with its own planets, galaxies, and universes.
In a corner of this vast universe, within the Fifth Fragment, existed a planet divided into seven continents:
Elarion – Vast plains, gleaming cities, and magical ley lines. The Kingdom of Luminas resided here, known for its radiant crystal towers and noble Hunters' Guild.
Vertheris – Ancient lands scarred by forgotten wars, dotted with floating isles and elemental temples. The Kingdom of Aeralith, a skyborne kingdom that reveres air spirits, is known for its flying hunters and aerial cities.
Thalmra – Frozen, storm-lashed northern lands where resilience and unity sustain kingdoms. The Kingdom of Frosthaven boasts honor-bound warriors and frost mages defending against tundra beasts.
Mytrador – Lush, vibrant forests teeming with life, home to Beastfolk tribes. The Kingdom of Virendell, a nature-aligned monarchy, is led by a council of elven warriors and Beastfolk elders.
Sokaris – A sun-blessed desert land with golden cities and buried relics. The Kingdom of Soltara, proud and ancient, thrives amidst the sands.
Cadrion – Once devastated by an arcane catastrophe, now a land of innovation and magic. The Kingdom of Virelia is renowned for its magical academies, noble artificers, and a progressive queen striving for unity.
Noctyra – A continent built on hard work and diligence. The Kingdom of Alestria is a peaceful land of hunters and magical scholars.
In Alestria lived a twelve-year-old boy named Grey Lucas. His hair, like strands of midnight, fell in soft, deliberate disarray across his brow. His piercing cerulean eyes carried the brilliance of ice and sky. His young, rounded face masked a body strengthened by daily training, his muscles firm but not tender.
Grey dreamed of becoming the greatest Hunter of all time. Despite being born without inherent potential, he was determined to protect his family and reach the heavens.
After a week of scavenging and mining in the Labrets, Grey pushed his body to the limits with intense training. His breaths came in heavy, exhausted gasps, each one fortifying his strength, stamina, and speed. Yet, his Hunter assessment yielded an unexpected result: F-Rank.
Disappointed and frustrated, Grey wondered why he had received such a low rank.
"Ah… today the Hunter results came in… and it's a complete mess!" he murmured, frustrated.
He rushed to the living room, thoughts immediately turning to his younger brother, Jayson Lucas, who would one day undergo his own assessment. Grey hoped Jayson's results would differ from his own.
While Grey embodied the twilight between storm and serenity, Jayson was the whisper of a winter moon—ethereal, otherworldly, quietly haunting in his beauty.
His hair resembled freshly fallen snow, cascading in soft, weightless layers, shimmering faintly as though kissed by starlight. Each strand seemed to remember the chill of forgotten realms. Bangs often slipped across his pale forehead, softening the intensity of his gaze and casting subtle shadows across features too delicate for someone untouched by hardship.
Jayson's eyes—blank, gleaming orbs of pure white—seemed to pierce through the very veils of the world. Though void of pigment, they held unspoken depth. At seven years old, his gaze felt ancient, as though it could unravel the truth of anyone's soul.
Unlike Grey's firm and honed physique, Jayson's body was lithe and unassuming—deceptively fragile, like glass beneath moonlight. Yet beneath his slender form lay quiet strength, relying not on brute force but on speed, precision, and control. His movements were almost soundless, his footsteps lighter than a breeze over cold floors.
His face radiated an unnatural purity, slightly inhuman—an eerie blend of innocence and distance. Cheeks rounded in boyish softness, his rare smiles were fragile, fleeting, like snowflakes melting in a warm hand. His skin was nearly translucent, cool to the touch, flawless in texture, and yet, beneath the frost, flickered a deeply human soul, yearning to be understood.
Jayson grinned at his older brother.
"Big brother, come and play this game with me!"
"No… I have work to do," Grey replied.
Their mother, Jenna Lucas, intervened with a gentle smile. She possessed a timeless beauty that lingered in memory—soft, luminous, wrapped in the quiet grace of motherhood. Her long, flowing white hair cascaded like a silken waterfall down her back, reaching her waist. Always neatly brushed and tied with a simple ribbon, it caught the light like strands of moonlight.
She wore a pale pink gown, modest but elegant, layered and soft, with an apron bearing faint traces of flour and broth. Her hands moved with the rhythm of care, balancing gentleness and labor effortlessly. Her face radiated warmth, love, and quiet strength. A tiny glimmer of stew at her mouth betrayed her habit of tasting her cooking—a small act of devotion.
"Now, now, you two, come have breakfast," she called.
The scent of warm bread, meat, and stew drew them in, and they ate heartily.
After breakfast, Grey set off for the Labrets Detection Centre, a place where Labrets were researched and catalogued before being sold to wealthy Hunter guilds or hunting groups.
Leaping across rooftops with a grin, Grey admired Alestria, a city of extremes—rich and poor, all interwoven in beauty and chaos. Arriving at the center, he marveled at its technical advancement, the detection assistants, and bustling employees.
"Wow," Grey grinned, breathing deeply. "I know it's not my first time here, but goosebumps still hit me every time."
Inside, Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Giants, and Beast Folk formed groups, preparing for dungeon expeditions. Grey noticed a team assembling: a B-Rank captain (Knight class), five C-Ranks (two Archers, two Mages, one Warrior), two D-Ranks (Knights), and an E-Rank. He approached.
"Hi, my name is Grey Lucas. I'm an F-Rank Hunter," he introduced himself, trying to sound confident.
A gruff man in imposing armor, Crevan Freatte, eyed him skeptically.
"Hasn't anyone told you yet? The Labrets isn't for kids! Scram!"
Grey looked at a boy near the team—he seemed his age. Before he could respond, the team leader intervened.
"Stop it, Crevan!"
"Hi, I'm Brook David. I appreciate kids like you striving to make the world better by working hard in the Labrets," he said, inviting Grey to join as a carrier. Grey eagerly accepted, hoping to gain experience.
As the team set off for the Labret, Grey felt both excitement and trepidation—this was only the beginning of his journey as a Hunter.
Within the dungeon, the group battled hordes of monsters. The sound of steel clashing and the roar of combat echoed through the chambers.
"Onward, everyone!" the captain shouted. They approached an ominous door. Beyond it, a monster sat on a throne made of human corpses. Its dark skin and matted, blood-stained hair moved as if alive in the wind. Most terrifying of all, a shattered flow of Ekrin swirled around it like a storm, waiting.
"F*ck! Is that a Hulk?" one hunter whispered, voice trembling.
The Hulk rose—dark brown mixed with green, black hair matted with blood, body larger than two tanks combined. It screamed, radiating fear.
Crevan, a Warrior class, charged.
"Come on, you monster!" he yelled, releasing his Aura. The Hulk countered with an Ekrin shield, sending Crevan flying across the room with a bone-jarring impact.
Boom.
The Hulk struck again, crushing Crevan into the wall, his body bouncing violently. Blood sprayed across the floor.
The captain intervened, blocking the Hulk midair and kicking it away. The creature swung a massive bashing maul, ready to attack again.
"Everybody, get ready for battle!"
The Hulk moved faster than sound itself. Two mages formed bindings:
"BEND THE EARTH AND KEEP HIM PRISONED! ROCK CAGE!"
"FIRE PRISON!"
Archers rained Aura-infused arrows, while Brook David and the remaining hunters attacked relentlessly.
Young F-Rank Hunter Grey watched in awe as the team's coordination brought down the monstrous boss.
Afterward, a strange portal appeared, pulsating with ominous energy.
"What the…?" whispered a hunter.
"Let's be careful. We don't know what's on the other side," Brook David cautioned.
Despite the risk, the team entered. The air was thick with otherworldly energy.
"What the hell? Isn't this another realm?" a member whispered.
"This is bad," another muttered.
"What do you mean bad? Look at all the Ekrin stones and core stones!" Crevan said greedily.
Grey thought: It's good to see Ekrin stones, but core stones? Here? That means someone wiped out a huge number of monsters…
Ekrin stones manifest in areas of high density, like dungeons or mines, while core stones are rare, gained only by defeating monsters.
The E-Rank hunter Carl Runefall, with heightened senses, warned:
"I sense a strong presence… and it seems they've noticed us too. They'll be here any moment now…"
From the shadows emerged an overpowered monster—an Emperor. Clad in obsidian flesh, muscles rippling with raw energy, every movement crackled like restrained thunder. His eyes burned like twin voids, cold and calculating. Dominance radiated from him.
"You're just weak humans?" he snarled.
"What are you doing in this realm?" he demanded angrily.
"Oh no… we're dead," one archer whispered.
The Emperor flung the archer through the planet, obliterating him instantly. The team froze in fear. Only the captain, Brook David, remained standing, ready to buy time with a final attack.
"Cavster Bleak!" he yelled, hair bristling with blue-and-white lightning. His Aura manifested as liquid vapor, crackling violently around him.
"This is my secret technique, the result of years of training. I can only hold it for a few seconds and unleash one or two attacks—enough to survive as a B-Rank," Brook explained.
The Emperor smirked, cloaking his claws in void energy and dark flames. They collided, generating planet-shaking blasts.
Grey seized the moment to grab the surviving hunters and flee.
Brook was overwhelmed, hurled toward Grey by a brutal kick. The Emperor snarled:
"Weaklings shouldn't ask questions."
Then, with sadistic delight, he targeted Grey, unleashing a flurry of blasts. Grey was slammed skyward, then facepalmed midair into the ground.
"Haaaah!" Grey screamed, pain and fear coursing through him.