The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Tristan sat with his fingers interlocked, forearms resting on his knees, his mind scrambling for words that didn't exist. Every explanation he formed sounded either insane—or unforgivable.
Can I really tell them?
Should I tell them?
Slowly, he lifted his head.
Kade sat directly across from him, unreadable as ever. Jin stood to his left, stiff, arms crossed. Mira was on his right, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Tristan exhaled.
"I…" His mouth felt dry. "I can regress."
The words slipped out quietly, almost timidly.
"It started the day we first tried to raid the dungeon," Tristan continued, his gaze lowering. "I woke up with my head pounding. In my dreams, I saw images—our deaths. Over and over aga—"
"We already know that."
Kade's voice cut clean through Tristan's rambling.
Tristan froze.
He looked up sharply.
Jin's eyes were wide with disbelief. Mira looked pale, her lips slightly parted. Only Kade met his gaze evenly, as if he'd been waiting for this confirmation.
"Well… yeah. I did tell you that part," Tristan said awkwardly, loosening his hands and resting them back on his knees. "So… I don't really know what else you want me to say."
He hesitated, then continued.
"Every time I die, I go back to the beginning of that day. I return with fragments of what's going to happen." His voice steadied. "That gate we cleared—I saw everything. The dragon. Its master. Our deaths."
His fingers tightened against his knees.
"And after dying enough times, I realized something. The only way to overcome it… was to adapt."
He looked up now, eyes sharp.
"So I fought him. Hundreds of times. I learned how his sword moved. When to evade. When to counter. The rhythm of his attacks. His style." Tristan swallowed. "I learned everything."
Silence followed.
"Then I understood," Tristan said, lifting his head fully now. His eyes burned with certainty. "This power isn't a curse. It's the solution."
Kade frowned slightly.
"No matter what I face, the version of me that fails doesn't matter," Tristan continued. "If I die, I come back stronger. I adapt. I overcome."
He stood.
"That's why I made that declaration. It wasn't pride." His voice hardened. "It was certainty."
No one spoke.
The silence stretched—thick, uncomfortable.
"M–Maybe I'm missing something," Mira finally said, her voice trembling. "But… the trigger for your regression is death, right?"
"Yes," Tristan replied, confused. "That's how it works."
Mira's hands trembled. "Then how are you so calm about this?"
Jin stepped forward, disbelief written across his face. "People aren't afraid of death itself," he said. "They fear what comes after. Regret. Loss."
Tristan met his gaze calmly. "You can choose not to fear death."
Kade's expression darkened.
"But you still need to value your life," Kade snapped. "Do you even know why you regress?"
Tristan frowned. "I don't get why you're all so angry. I'm doing this for the team. For humanity. Isn't it a good thing that we clear gates?"
"Killing yourself to win isn't normal," Mira said quietly. Her eyes shimmered. "Is that really adaptation… or are you just restarting?"
Tristan stiffened.
"Is the you that comes back still the same person who started?" Mira whispered.
Her words echoed in his mind.
The same… person?
"What does that even mean?" Tristan snapped, standing abruptly. "I don't care what you think. Every version of me that comes back is better than the last."
He looked down at Mira, his eyes cold.
"I know you're worried. But trust me. I promise—this is for all of humanity."
He turned and left.
The door shut behind him.
"…."
Kade exhaled slowly, rubbing his face.
"Leave him," he muttered. "Every action has a consequence."
His eyes lingered on the closed door.
"He'll learn eventually."
Jin glanced up. "Learn what?"
Kade's voice was quiet.
"That this isn't certainty."
"It's arrogance."
---
Tristan barely noticed his phone vibrating in his pocket.
"?"
He glanced down—and froze.
[To all A-rank and S-rank Hunters]
You are expected to attend the Hunter Association on January 15th, 2026.
A celebration for the clearance of 250 million gates worldwide.
"A gathering of power, hosted by—"
"!"
"The Association Chairman?!" Tristan exclaimed.
His heartbeat quickened.
"That makes sense… of course he'd be there," Tristan muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "An opportunity to meet him again."
His excitement surged.
"Maybe he can teach me something."
---
Association Hall Scene (Polished, Info Preserved)
The Association's main hall was alive with murmurs.
Mana signatures brushed against one another like clashing tides, the air thick with pressure as hunters from across the world gathered beneath the towering chandeliers.
"I'm glad everyone could make it this evening."
The voice cut through the noise effortlessly.
Benjamin stepped forward, a calm smile on his face.
[Benjamin, the Hawk Eye]
[S-rank Hunter]
[Main weapon: Long bow]
"It's rare to see so many familiar names in one place," he continued. "So let us properly acknowledge the best of the best."
A holographic display flickered to life.
"Lukas."
[Lukas, Master of Mayhem]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 10th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Long sword]
A ripple of whispers followed.
"Tristan."
[Tristan, the Apostle of Time]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 9th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Sword]
Tristan felt several gazes settle on him at once.
"Stella."
[Stella, the Child of Mana]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 8th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Staff (Mage)]
"Lucy."
[Lucy, One Slash]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 7th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Katana]
"Joshua."
[Joshua, Longest Hands]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 6th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Spear]
"Micheal."
[Micheal, Healing Hands]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 5th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Gauntlets (Healer)]
"Sharon."
[Sharon, Battle Maniac]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 4th world-wide]
[Main weapon: Nagamaki]
"Leao."
[Leao, Quick Blade]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 3rd world-wide]
[Main weapon: Dao]
"Penelope."
[Penelope, Mountain Destroyer]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 2nd world-wide]
[Main weapon: Staff]
A brief pause followed.
"And finally—"
"Eze."
[Eze, the Reaper]
[S-rank Hunter, ranked 1st world-wide]
[Main weapon: Scythe]
The hall fell silent.
Benjamin stepped aside.
"And now," he said, his tone shifting, "allow me to welcome the host of this gathering."
The temperature dropped.
Mana surged.
A figure stepped forward, each footstep carrying an overwhelming weight.
"Welcome."
The single word shook the hall.
[Evander, the Apostle of Wisdom]
[S-rank Hunter]
[The Association Leader]
[Main weapon: Great sword]
"Firstly," Evander said, his gaze sweeping across the room, "this entire event—"
A faint grin formed.
"Is a ruse."
A wave of astonished murmurs erupted.
"To pique my interest," he continued calmly, "all hunters present tonight—"
His aura flared.
"Will participate in a global ranking game."