The entire hall fell silent.
Evander's recent revelation sent a ripple of shock through all 3,500 hunters present—A-rank and S-rank alike—each awaiting his next words.
"Since the beginning of the Gate phenomenon," Evander began calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly across the vast hall, "hunters worldwide have been graded on two singular factors."
"Individual power… and individual value."
A holographic screen ignited behind him.
"We do hold parties and guilds in high regard," Evander continued, hands clasped behind his back, "but at the end of the day, it is the combination of individual strengths and individual worth that allows a party—or a guild—to function properly."
"So you may be wondering," he said, eyes narrowing slightly, "what exactly constitutes power?"
"To put it simply…"
"Raw combat capability. Mana output. Management and control. Weapon mastery. Adaptability…"
"…and experience."
The echo of his final word lingered.
The display shifted.
"And value?" Evander resumed, sliding his hands into his pockets. "That is far simpler."
"Are you worth your rank?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"What is your impact?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the hunters. "Not just within parties or guilds—but upon humanity itself."
"Gate clear contributions. Civilian rescues. Strategic importance."
"Reliability."
The murmurs grew louder.
"However," Evander said, his tone sharpening, "the world is changing."
"The appearance of Gates has become more frequent. Their difficulty is increasing at an alarming rate."
A countdown timer appeared above him.
"We must evolve."
Silence fell as confusion followed, the ticking of the timer echoing ominously throughout the hall.
"This ranking game exists for a singular purpose," Evander declared.
"To refine the hierarchy of hunters worldwide."
"No longer by reputation."
"No longer by rumors."
"No longer by history."
His gaze bore down upon the crowd as the timer continued its descent.
"But by proof."
A hologram of a massive island materialized above the hall. Every hunter looked up in unison, tension thickening the air.
"Prove that you belong where you stand," Evander said evenly.
"Show the world that you deserve to be called a hunter."
"You will either rise…"
"…or you will fall."
"Your choice remains with you."
Despite the suffocating pressure, excitement crept through the hall—spreading, igniting.
"There will be three phases," Evander continued. "Each designed to reduce the number of participants until only the strongest remain."
"Phase One:The Cull.
A large-scale battle royale involving all hunters."
"Phase Two:Fades.
One-on-one matches. Rankings will be determined by consistency, performance, and victory."
Some hunters swallowed hard. Others clenched their fists.
Evander paused.
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"The final phase… Ascension."
The hall held its breath.
"An evaluation to determine the final Top 20 hunters worldwide."
"To see who truly deserves to be called…"
"The Strongest."
A smile crept onto Tristan's face.
"Hah…" he scoffed under his breath, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.
"Holy shit."
Evander straightened.
"This is not entertainment."
"Not politics."
"And not some publicity stunt."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"This… is a stage."
The hologram vanished.
"A stage I have prepared," Evander said, arms spreading wide.
"So show me."
"Show the world…"
A storm of emotions churned through the hall.
Anticipation.
Excitement.
Responsibility.
Resolve.
"That you are Quintessence."
Silence.
"Round One…" Evander said quietly.
"…begins now."
The hall erupted.
A massive magiccircle flared beneath every hunter's feet, bathing the room in a blinding blue haze.
In an instant—
All 3,500huntersvanished, scattered across the island.
Some appeared close together.
"The old man really knows how to rile people up," Lukas said casually, sitting atop a massive tree trunk.
"Don't you agree?" he added, grinning.
"Haha…" Maximilian replied shakily, gripping his sword.
"Now this is just my luck…"
[Maximilian]
[A-rank hunter, ranked 2567th worldwide]
[Main weapon: Sword]
Some appeared far apart.
"Well, well… if it isn't foresight's beautiful mage," Cara remarked lazily.
"Aren't we lucky?"
[Cara]
[A-rank hunter, ranked 541st worldwide]
[Main weapon: Whip]
Some found themselves alone.
"Where are you guys…?" Mira whispered, tightening her grip on her staff as mana surged around her.
Others were completely hidden.
"That was nauseating," Tristan muttered, his skin faintly glowing blue.
"They couldn't warn us first?"
He scanned his surroundings.
"No one nearby…" he noted. "Lucky."
"Let's scout."
His figure blurred as he vanished into the forest.
"I must succeed," he whispered.
"I will become Quintessence."
And then—
Some were not lucky at all.
"Sh-shit…" Paul muttered, sweat pouring down his face as his hands trembled around his spear.
"Why… why me…?"
"Why did I get sent next to…"
"…that fuckingdemon?"
A figure emerged silently from the shadows.
A massive scythe rested on his shoulder.
His footsteps made no sound.
A calm—almost eerie—smile rested on his face.
"Why are you shaking?" the man asked gently.
"Are you cold?"
Paul's vision swam.
[Eze]
[S-rank hunter, ranked 1st worldwide]
[Main weapon: Scythe]
3,500 contestants.
But only one would stand at the summit.
"Let us see," Evander murmured faintly.
A voice echoed across every screen worldwide.
"Welcome, viewers, to the golden stage of high-ranking hunters."
"Brought to you by the Hunter Association."
"The Apotheosis."