Mint City had never been so loud.
Sirens wailed.
Drones buzzed overhead.
Hunters sprinted across rooftops toward the rising Gate alarms screaming through the eastern district.
Kairo felt the vibration in the air the moment he stepped out of the factory.
Zero and the newly formed Titan-shadow flanked him like silent statues. The phase-shadow drifted in and out of visibility behind them.
People were already gathering around the shipping yard, pointing at the soot-covered pavement, whispering nervously.
"What the hell happened here?"
"The whole block shook!"
"Did a raid team destroy the Gate?"
Kairo lowered his hood.
The last thing he needed was attention.
But attention found him first.
A pair of C-Rank Hunters sprinted toward the gate remains, scanning the area.
One froze.
Squinted.
Then pointed straight at Kairo.
"HEY! Stop right there!"
Kairo tensed.
Zero stepped forward, eyes glowing dangerously.
"Master. Hostiles approaching."
Kairo lifted a hand.
"Stand down. They're not hostiles… just idiots."
The Hunters approached cautiously, keeping their distance.
"You—you're the one who cleared this?" one asked shakily.
Kairo shrugged. "Just doing my job."
The Hunter stammered, "No way. No way an E-Rank cleared a mutated Gate alone. That's impossible."
Kairo didn't respond.
The second Hunter stepped closer, voice trembling:
"We… we saw the footage."
Kairo stiffened. "Footage?"
The Hunter lifted his wristband and tapped a screen.
A hologram flickered into the air—
A video from inside the dungeon.
Shadows ripping through mutants.
Kairo fighting the mini-boss.
Zero appearing out of pure darkness.
Kairo's blood ran cold.
"How… who recorded this?"
The Hunter gulped.
"We traced the signal. It leaked from a civilian drone outside. Someone hacked it and uploaded the footage online."
Kairo stared blankly.
Uploaded.
Online.
Which meant—
"People are calling you the Shadow Hunter," the Hunter continued nervously.
"They think you're some kind of new rank."
Kairo clenched his jaw.
This was bad.
Really bad.
Zero leaned in.
"Master. Exposure jeopardizes your safety."
Kairo nodded subtly.
He couldn't afford to draw national attention.
Not when his powers weren't under control yet.
Not with the Sovereigns watching him.
But the Hunters kept going.
"You're all over the Hunter boards," one said, showing more messages.
Theory posts.
Fan edits.
Dozens of screenshots.
People arguing whether he was:
A mutated Hunter
An awakened S-Rank
A new type of Sovereign vessel
Or a monster disguised as a human
Kairo's expression darkened.
He whispered under his breath, "This is a nightmare…"
And the System agreed.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Host identity compromised.
Risk of discovery: EXTREME
Tracking entities may investigate:
— Hunter Guilds
— Government Units
— Unknown Sovereign Agents
Just what he needed.
---
The Higher-Rank Arrival
The air crackled suddenly.
The crowd parted as three armored figures approached—
heavy black armor, gold emblems, long cloaks fluttering behind them.
A-Rank Hunters.
From Titanfall Guild, Mint City's most powerful group.
Their leader, a tall woman with an undercut and a massive warhammer strapped to her back, eyed Kairo coldly.
"You," she said. "Step forward."
Kairo didn't move.
Zero didn't either.
Neither did the shadows behind them.
The woman's eyes narrowed.
"The video is real. We know it's you."
Kairo lifted his chin slightly.
"…And what if it is?"
She wasn't amused.
"A Gate Break almost happened tonight. And someone—an E-Rank—neutralized it alone. You expect us not to investigate?"
Kairo stayed silent.
She stepped closer until she was directly in front of him.
"You're hiding your power. But that ends now," she growled.
"Mint City is on the edge of collapse. An A-Level Gate is forming as we speak. If you can fight—if you're as strong as that recording—you're coming with us."
Kairo raised an eyebrow.
"And if I refuse?"
Her eyes glowed with aura.
"Then we take you in by force."
Zero's shadows surged instantly, swirling like black flames.
The Hunter stepped back, stunned.
"What… what is that?!"
Kairo exhaled.
"I said—stand down."
The shadows retreated immediately.
But the damage was done.
The A-Ranks stared in horror.
"You…" one whispered.
"You command shadows."
Kairo pulled his hood up, ready to leave.
"I don't owe you anything."
The leader gritted her teeth.
"You think you can just walk away from this? You're a city-level asset now. Whether you like it or not."
A drone above them beeped—
broadcasting a live feed of Kairo's face to thousands of viewers.
Kairo froze.
The System blared:
[ALERT]
Public exposure increasing.
Threats converging.
Unidentified high-mana signature approaching.
Zero turned toward the south, eyes glowing.
"Master. Something powerful is coming."
Kairo felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.
He cursed under his breath.
"Not now…"
---
The Rumor Becomes Reality
A massive explosion of light erupted in the distance—
a pillar of golden energy piercing the sky.
People screamed.
Hunters scattered.
The A-Rank leader paled.
"T-that's the A-Level Gate! It's opening too fast!"
Kairo stared at the golden pillar.
He felt the Radiant Tyrant's mark on his chest burn faintly.
Something inside that Gate was calling him.
Zero knelt.
"Master. What are your orders?"
Kairo turned toward the rising energy.
"…Let's go."
Zero and the shadows surged forward behind him as he sprinted toward the chaos.
The crowd whispered in fear and awe.
"There—there he goes…"
"The Shadow Hunter…"
"He's really going in…"
"Is he a hero… or a monster?"
Kairo didn't look back.
He didn't have time to worry about rumors.
Mint City was about to face hell—
and he was the only one ready to walk into it.