The morning sun barely pierced the clouds over Haneul City, painting the wet streets a dull gray. Min Jae-hyun walked quietly through the city, the Echo at his side. The wolf-shaped creature flickered between solid and mist, its white eyes following every movement.
He wasn't just weak anymore. The Echo had saved him—and maybe others too—but that also meant attention.
As he approached the Hunter Association, hunters whispered behind their hands. Some stared openly. The rumors of a solo dungeon clear were spreading fast.
"F-rank cleared a C-rank dungeon alone?" one hunter muttered. "Impossible…"
Jae-hyun ignored them. His focus was on the guild recruitment notice plastered near the entrance. Unlike random hunters, guilds could provide training, contracts, and resources. He had no choice if he wanted to survive.
Inside the guild hall, the air was thick with chatter, clanking weapons, and the smell of sweat and metal. Banners representing different hunter factions hung along the walls. A large emblem above the main desk caught Jae-hyun's eye: "Nightfall Vanguard".
A tall man with a sharp gaze and scar across his face noticed him immediately. "You're Min Jae-hyun?" he asked. His tone was neutral, almost bored.
"Yes," Jae-hyun replied quietly.
"I heard about your dungeon," the man said. "A solo clear… unusual for an F-rank. Why are you here?"
"I want to join the guild," Jae-hyun said. "I need… training, guidance, and contracts."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Training? Guidance? You're an F-rank with a single dungeon clear. Most wouldn't even consider letting you in."
"I can fight now," Jae-hyun said, feeling the Echo stir beside him. The wolf shimmered, sensing his determination.
The man studied him, then nodded slowly. "Fine. You can join as a probationary member. But be warned: failure gets punished. Not by us… but by the city, the Gates, and other hunters."
Jae-hyun bowed. "I understand."
Over the next few days, he met other members.
Kwon Se-jin, an S-rank hunter with icy blue eyes. Calm, ruthless, and talented in sword magic. She seemed to calculate every move before acting.
Park Hyun-woo, a cheerful B-rank, full of jokes but skilled with elemental attacks. He immediately noticed Jae-hyun's nervous glances.
Lee Hae-min, a C-rank with strength beyond normal humans. He carried heavy armor and weapons casually.
Most ignored him at first. F-rank was considered a joke. But when the Echo flickered at his side, some couldn't hide their curiosity.
That afternoon, an alarm rang across the guild. A new Gate had appeared on the outskirts of the city. Not a simple dungeon—this one pulsed with unstable energy. Even low-level hunters could sense danger.
The guild leader, the scarred man, addressed the team. "This Gate is unstable. Anyone who goes alone will die. I want a team ready. F-ranks, stay back… for now."
Jae-hyun's pulse raced. Stay back? No. This was his chance to test the Echo in a real situation.
He stepped forward. "I can handle it," he said.
Several hunters turned, shocked. "Are you insane?" Hyun-woo asked.
The leader's gaze was sharp. "You? F-rank? This isn't a training exercise. You'll die without proper support."
Jae-hyun clenched his fists. He couldn't hide anymore. The Echo was alive, strong, and… he had to use it. "I'll take the risk."
At the Gate, chaos awaited. Shadows writhed around the portal, forming twisted shapes: creatures unlike anything Jae-hyun had seen. Some were skeletal, others humanoid but distorted, with strange glowing sigils on their skin.
The other hunters hesitated. Even B-ranks and C-ranks paused, assessing the monsters.
Jae-hyun took a deep breath. The Echo appeared beside him, larger and more defined. Its fragmented body swirled, claws sparking with faint energy.
"Focus," he thought. The creature responded instantly, growling and crouching in attack stance.
A humanoid monster lunged. The Echo met it, claws flashing. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground. Nearby hunters blinked, astonished.
But the battle was far from over. These monsters worked together, coordinating their attacks in ways Jae-hyun hadn't seen before. One tried to flank the hunters, another shot spikes of shadowy energy.
He realized quickly: this Gate wasn't random. It was controlled. Someone—or something—was orchestrating it.
During the fight, the Echo's energy began to drain him. Every strike, every defensive maneuver cost a fraction of his stamina. Unlike normal weapons, the bond between host and Echo was life-linked. If he pushed too hard, he could collapse—or worse.
He gritted his teeth. The skeletal creatures were closing in on the hunters. With a deep breath, he tried something new.
"Merge," he thought, sending a pulse of control into the Echo. The fragmented wolf expanded, its body stretching and twisting. It became larger, more solid, and several shadowy wolf pups sprouted from its misty body, each capable of independent attacks.
The other hunters stared in disbelief. The wolves darted around, tearing through the monsters. One hunter whispered, "What… is that?"
Jae-hyun didn't answer. He couldn't. Controlling multiple Echoes at once was exhausting, but it worked. The Gate monsters faltered, then collapsed under the combined assault.
After the fight, the gate shimmered and closed. The city breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Jae-hyun collapsed onto a bench, drained. The Echo dissolved into shadow, leaving him weak but alive. Hyun-woo approached, eyes wide.
"You… you survived that? F-rank?"
Jae-hyun forced a smile. "Yeah… barely."
Se-jin's cold eyes studied him. "Interesting. You're hiding something. Be careful… people like you draw attention."
Jae-hyun understood immediately. It wasn't just the monsters. It was other hunters, guilds, and the mysterious powers behind the Gates.
Back at the guild, he was scolded, praised, and questioned in equal measure. F-rank? Yes. But a new rumor spread: a hunter had Echoes at their command.
And far beyond the city, in shadows no human had yet seen, someone—or something—noticed. The Echo was not just a tool. It was a signal. A warning.
The world of hunters, Gates, and Echoes was about to get much, much bigger.