Kopi was in the middle of a coma, or better to claim he was completely unconscious.
However, he was conscious he was currently dreaming.
He levitated, bringing hysteria and child-like behavior after flying in circles and sometimes to the sky.
However, there seemed to be a limited space for him.
Up to now, his vision was limited… so limited, like he was in the middle of the fog.
When he finally cooled down, he began to wonder.
"Is this what they call lucid dreams?"
Soon, his vision expanded.
Expanded and expanded until… a horror expression painted on his face.
It was a horrible sight to see.
It seemed like he witnessed the apocalypse… or more like its inception.
"So they were not exaggerating," he mumbled.
His throat quivered, remembering his instructor's words.
"In the apocalypse era, dimensional portals were everywhere. One couldn't deny the whole world became inhabited by variations of creatures who fought against each other for supremacy.
Through that, our heroes, many of whom are known up to this day, took this advantage and drove them out.
Dimensional Portal began to disappear, and soon, their arrival calmed down."
"But…" Kopi slid his vision in horror and saw myriads of Dimensional Gates threatening to cloak the land with darkness. "This is just too many…"
Creatures after Creatures left from the Dimensional Portal, and they didn't even have time to rest when they saw a creature not belonging to them.
They battled like lunatics, and chaos ensued.
The skirmish was so chaotic that made Kopi worried about the aftermath.
Could nature even survive after this battle?
Kopi couldn't even help but tremble in fear when he saw them tearing each other and quickly replaced the image of them as him.
He shuddered in terror.
'Is this the fate of being a hunter?'
Kopi could never dare to imagine what would be the job of the hunter once they were inside Dimensional Gate.
Their training alone was a million times more arduous than the Navy SEAL.
It was inevitable for him to hesitate to pursue his dream now that he faced the reality of being an Awakener.
Despite Awakener and Hunter having different jobs, the fact they battled and killed beasts for their living meant their life was at risk.
Regardless of the fame, money, and strength you gained, with your leg already placed on the grave, all would be meaningless in the face of death.
However, soon, Kopi simmered down.
For some reason, his emotions weren't as intense as before.
He discerned it obviously, but couldn't find the time to analyze it.
After all, he was distracted by something he saw below.
There was… a small settlement, with at least 2 km circumference, surrounded by a stone wall of at least three meters in height.
He perceived there were at least five hundred people shivering in their hiding place.
How could he see it from above despite the obstacle that blocked his vision?
It was also something he didn't know.
And he didn't care about it because he saw…
He saw Elder White Beard.
But, why was he so different from what he knew?
He appeared older and skinnier, and his beard wasn't even white.
They were a mix of white, but it was the sign of an elderly.
He was clearly a mortal!
Kopi was astonished.
"That is obviously Elder White Beard. There's no way!"
"Grandpa Isolde!"
Kopi was stunned when he heard the voice clearly.
It belonged to a little girl, aged 4, running to Elder Isolde with innocent big eyes.
She extended both of her arms forward while moving her fingers, opening and closing.
She ran cutely towards Elder Isolde, who kneeled, waiting to embrace her.
"My little child!" Elder Isolde couldn't help but comment when he hugged his grandchildren tightly.
"Father…" Elder Isolde's son soon entered the small living room from their personal room.
Shortly followed by his wife.
This was the only family Elder Isolde had.
Or the remaining one…
"Elder Isolde…"
"How is my baby girl?" Elder Isolde tried to smile with an emaciated face. "You don't cause any problems to your parents, right?"
"Oum! Oum!" The little girl closed his eyes and nodded frantically.
She beamed a smile.
"I'm a good girl and a big one now! I will help you soon, Grandpa!"
Elder Isolde couldn't help but smile.
"You are-"
"Chief!"
An anxious voice echoed from the main door; a curtain was put aside by the bulky hand of a middle-aged man with a Dali mustache.
"What's wrong?" Elder Isolde's expression turned grim, and he gave a side glance to his son.
"Let's go, Anya." Elder Isolde's son grabbed his daughter's hand.
Though unwilling, the daughter was sensible and could only watch Elder Isolde walk to the person on the door with a worried expression and disappear to their private room.
"The-"
"Lower your voice!" Elder Isolde hushed.
"Let's go outside."
The Dali mustache man left first, and Elder Isolde followed.
"Report," ordered Elder Isolde.
"Yes!" The Dali mustache man saluted first.
Elder Isolde is a retired Navy Seal.
Despite being unawakened, he received the approval of many to become the chief.
He meticulously selected the place where, regardless of the appearance of the Dimensional Portal, they were hidden.
Furthermore, with how he selected the stone as a wall finely blended with its surroundings, offering an illusion it was a stone hill.
Aside from that, he was also the one who trained the hunters, an old term for an Awakener of Kopi's era.
He contributed a lot to the point he gained respect, even though one could overthrow him for being passed by his prime.
"We couldn't continue to hide anymore. The beasts are already approaching. The hunters are already on the standby-"
BANG!
A thunderous crash reverberated on the east side of the wall.
They simultaneously turned their heads and gasped in horror as they saw rubbles flying everywhere.
Screams of terror resounded and even the Dali mustache man was shaken to the core.
Elder Isolde's expression turned sour.
He didn't like how things were proceeding.
He had to make a move.
However, unknown to him, another dimensional portal began to form just above them…