Dust still floated in the air where the dungeon gate had collapsed.
Chunks of broken stone and fading purple energy scattered across the abandoned parking lot.
Hunters stood frozen in shock.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because standing in front of them… covered in dust and blood…
Was Kai Draven.
Alive.
Ronan Blake's face had gone pale.
"That's impossible…" one hunter whispered.
"The dungeon collapsed… How did he come out alive?"
Kai slowly stood up from the ground. His body felt completely different now—lighter, stronger, almost overflowing with energy.
But he forced himself to look weak.
Confused.
Like nothing had changed.
"W-what happened?" Kai asked quietly.
One of the hunters stepped forward.
"You're asking us?" the man said. "You were the one still inside."
Kai looked at the shattered remains of the dungeon gate.
The boss monster.
The devouring.
The system.
All of it flashed through his mind.
But he simply shook his head.
"I thought I was dead…"
The hunters exchanged uneasy glances.
Something about this didn't make sense.
***
The Boss Problem
A female hunter crouched near the broken gate and inspected the energy residue.
Her eyes widened.
"The boss… is gone."
Ronan stiffened.
"What do you mean gone?"
"The dungeon collapsed because the core guardian died," she explained.
"That means someone killed it."
Silence fell over the group.
Every hunter slowly turned toward Kai.
The only person who had been inside the dungeon when it collapsed.
Kai felt their gazes.
But his face remained calm.
"That monster…" Kai said quietly. "It attacked me. The tunnel collapsed. After that… I don't remember anything."
Technically, that wasn't a lie.
Not entirely.
But the suspicion in the hunters' eyes didn't fade.
Because everyone knew one thing.
An E-Rank hunter killing a dungeon boss…
Was impossible.
***
Sirens
Moments later, the sound of vehicles echoed through the street.
Several black trucks arrived quickly.
The doors opened.
Uniformed officers stepped out.
The Hunter Association had arrived.
A tall man wearing a long gray coat approached the group.
His sharp eyes scanned the area.
Then they landed on Kai.
"You're the survivor?"
Kai nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The man pulled out a tablet and typed something.
"My name is Director Han. I'm from the Hunter Association investigation division."
He gestured toward the collapsed dungeon.
"This dungeon was registered as E-Rank."
"But a boss monster strong enough to wipe out a raid team suggests something else entirely."
His gaze sharpened.
"And you were inside when it died."
Kai remained silent.
Director Han stepped closer.
"I need you to undergo an energy scan."
***
The Scan
The association officers brought out a strange device.
It looked like a metal ring attached to a small console.
"Step inside," one officer instructed.
Kai did.
The ring lit up with blue light.
Energy waves scanned his body.
Kai felt the Abyss System stir inside him.
Then—
A message appeared before his eyes.
Warning
External scan detected.
System interference recommended.
Kai's eyes widened slightly.
Interference?
Before he could react, the system activated on its own.
Dark energy moved through his body, hiding the abyss power.
The scanner beeped loudly.
Director Han studied the screen.
His eyebrows rose.
"Hm."
The surrounding hunters leaned closer.
"What does it say?"
Han turned the screen toward them.
Energy Rank Detected
Current Rank: E
Potential Growth: D-Rank
The hunters gasped.
"D-Rank potential?!"
"That's rare…"
Even Ronan looked stunned.
Kai pretended to be confused.
"Is that… good?"
Director Han nodded.
"Very."
"Most hunters never grow beyond their initial rank."
"But occasionally someone experiences delayed awakening."
He looked directly at Kai.
"You might become stronger."
Ronan clenched his fists slightly.
Because if Kai became stronger…
Then the man he abandoned inside the dungeon…
Might eventually surpass him.
***
Hidden Message
As the officers packed up the scanner, another system notification appeared before Kai.
Only he could see it.
Scan Successful
Abyss Energy Hidden
New Quest Generated
Quest: Grow Stronger
Objective: Devour stronger enemies.
Reward: Unknown Evolution.
Kai's heart beat faster.
This system…
Was pushing him forward.
Encouraging him to devour more.
To grow stronger.
To become something else.
Something dangerous.
***
Leaving the Scene
Director Han closed his tablet.
"The investigation will continue, but for now you're free to go."
Kai nodded politely.
He turned and began walking away from the scene.
The hunters whispered behind him.
"That guy is lucky…"
"Delayed awakening… maybe he'll reach C-rank someday."
But Ronan remained silent.
His eyes followed Kai's back.
Because deep inside…
He felt something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Kai's Realization
Kai walked through the empty streets toward home.
The city lights flickered in the distance.
For the first time in years…
He felt powerful.
The system screen appeared again.
Host: Kai Draven
Level: 4
Strength: 17
Agility: 16
Vitality: 18
Intelligence: 12
Skills:
• Abyss Devour
• Predator Instinct
Kai smiled slightly.
Just yesterday he had been the weakest hunter.
But now…
Everything had changed.
Yet as he walked past a dark alley…
His Predator Instinct suddenly activated.
His body froze.
Because something was there.
Something hidden.
A faint purple glow appeared in the shadows.
Kai slowly stepped closer.
Then he saw it.
A tiny swirling vortex.
Another dungeon gate.
But this one wasn't registered by the Hunter Association.
A hidden gate.
And the system displayed a new message.
Hidden Dungeon Detected
Reward: Growth Opportunity
Kai stared at the gate.
Then he smiled.
"Looks like…"
"My hunt isn't over yet."
END OF CHAPTER 3