The city streets were quiet that evening, but Min Jae-hyun couldn't relax. The Echo lingered beside him, a faint swirl of black mist. Its white eyes glimmered as it followed his movements, alert and patient.
He had survived his first public Gate battle. The other hunters had seen his Echo in action. Some were impressed, some suspicious. And that attention… it was dangerous.
Inside the guild, the mood was tense. Hunters whispered in corners, eyes occasionally darting toward him. Jae-hyun passed the training hall, hearing snatches of conversation.
"That F-rank… controlling a monster?"
"Did you see that? Several wolves, at once!"
Jae-hyun clenched his fists. He had expected curiosity, maybe jealousy—but he didn't like the stares. Not because he was proud; because he knew attention brings risk.
Kwon Se-jin approached him quietly, eyes narrowed. "Your Echo… it's unusual."
"I know," Jae-hyun said simply. "It's not just a weapon. It's alive."
Her gaze softened slightly. "Then be careful. People don't understand power like that. They want it… or they want to destroy it."
He nodded. She had a point. Even friendly hunters could become dangerous if power threatened them.
That night, the guild announced a training exercise. Probationary members, including Jae-hyun, would participate. The exercise involved clearing a simulated Gate, designed to test teamwork, strategy, and control over personal powers.
Jae-hyun's heart pounded. Training was one thing—but showing the Echo to other guild members? That was another.
The simulation began in a large chamber deep underground. The walls shimmered faintly with glyphs that reacted to movement. Holographic monsters appeared—spectral, glowing in ghostly blue. They attacked in waves.
"Stay close, F-rank," Hyun-woo called cheerfully. "We'll watch your back!"
Jae-hyun forced a smile. He summoned the Echo carefully, keeping its form compact. The wolf prowled beside him, silent and ready.
The first wave of spectral monsters attacked. The Echo struck, shadows tearing through the illusions with precision. Even the instructors raised eyebrows.
But soon, the simulation escalated. The monsters adapted to the Echo, predicting attacks, forcing Jae-hyun to change strategy constantly.
He realized the Echo could learn, just like real monsters. The more he used it, the more intelligent it became—but controlling multiple attacks drained him physically and mentally.
During a break, Lee Hae-min approached. "That thing of yours… how can you control it?"
Jae-hyun hesitated. "It's… a bond. I can't explain fully."
Lee studied him carefully. "Interesting. But you'll need practice. If you lose focus, that thing could turn on you—or others."
"I know," Jae-hyun said, quietly grateful for the warning. Even in training, the Echo was dangerous if misused.
The next morning, news spread of a real Gate opening near the industrial district. This one pulsed irregularly, and the city's magical sensors detected unstable energy readings. Even high-level hunters were cautious.
The guild prepared teams. Se-jin approached Jae-hyun.
"You're coming with me," she said. "We need to see how your Echo handles a real Gate. I'll watch, but don't make a mistake."
"Yes," he said. His heartbeat quickened. The Echo flickered at his side, sensing danger.
At the Gate, the air shimmered unnaturally. Shadows emerged, unlike anything Jae-hyun had seen: long, twisting forms that slithered like smoke, some with jagged, crystalline limbs, others with glowing eyes that scanned for weaknesses.
Hunters hesitated. Even Se-jin and Hyun-woo readied their spells cautiously.
Jae-hyun summoned the Echo fully. This time, he tried something new: instead of a single large wolf, he split it into three smaller wolves, each semi-independent. The wolves darted around the monsters, striking and retreating, forcing the enemies to split focus.
The effect was immediate. The monsters faltered, giving the guild time to move in.
But the Gate was smarter than they expected. A massive shadow rose, dark and amorphous. Its energy disrupted the Echo's bond. Jae-hyun felt his strength waver.
"Focus!" Se-jin shouted. "Control it, or it's over!"
He gritted his teeth. Pulling every ounce of concentration, he merged the three wolves back into one larger Echo, forcing a surge of energy that stabilized control. The combined creature struck with precision, dispersing the large shadow.
The team advanced carefully, clearing the remaining monsters.
After the battle, the Echo dissolved into mist, leaving Jae-hyun panting, drained. Se-jin approached, eyes narrowed.
"You're strong," she said. "But your bond with that thing… it's dangerous. You risk your life every time you use it."
"I know," he said. "But I don't have a choice."
She studied him a moment longer. "Then I'll watch you. Others will notice soon. And when they do, be ready."
Back at the guild, whispers spread fast. A probationary F-rank with Echo control surviving multiple waves of monsters? Some were impressed. Some were jealous. And some… were plotting.
Jae-hyun sat quietly, drained, reflecting on the Gate and the Echo's limits. The wolves had fought well, but the bond had taken a toll. Every strike had drained him, every surge of energy had brought him closer to collapse.
He knew now: the Echo was powerful—but it came with a price.
Late that night, in the shadows beyond the city, a figure observed. Cloaked and hidden, they muttered under their breath.
"So… the F-rank has Echoes. Interesting."
A dark mist swirled around them, almost like the Echo itself, but far more controlled. "He will be useful… or dangerous. Either way, we'll keep watching."
The city slept unaware. But the Gates, the hunters, and the mysterious forces behind the Echoes were beginning to converge.
Min Jae-hyun had survived battles, gained allies, and tested his power—but the next challenges would be far greater.