Hunters are human warriors who possess magical powers and use them to fight magic beasts and clear dungeons.Â
Hunters first appeared around the same time humanity was first exposed to the existence of magic. Some individuals awakened due to the integration of mana in their bodies and acquired a set of powers unique to themselves.
As hunters turned out to be the only ones who could kill magic beasts and close gates, a global billion-dollar industry eventually developed around them. They are also usually organized inside guilds, which can have up to hundreds or even thousands of members.
An international S-E system ranks hunters to show how strong they are, with E being the weakest and S being the strongest, and can possess a wide range of abilities. A hunter's rank and stats are determined at the time they receive their powers and cannot be increased. However, there are rare cases of hunters receiving a second awakening and climbing up in rank. It is also estimated that only 0.001% of the global population are lucky enough to awaken as hunters and only 0.0002% have ranks of C or higher.
The Hunters Guild is the strongest and largest guild among the top five Korean guilds. It is active in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and is the only guild in Korea to have two S-Rank Hunters.
The bright, sterile lighting of the Hunter's Guild training room hummed softly, illuminating the smooth, polished floors of the sparring arena. Han Taejin stood on one side, his dark skin glistening faintly with the sweat of preparation. His twin katanas, Murasame and Muramasa, rested comfortably at his sides, their polished scabbards catching the light. Opposite him stood Cha Hae-In, her expression calm but focused, her longsword gleaming in her grip.
Hae-In is an attractive young woman with gray eyes and blonde hair in a bob cut. She is short in stature with a slender build and a large chest. Taejin was a striking figure, standing tall with a lean, athletic build that reflected his rigorous training. Brown skin, white hair, and sharp features highlight his mixed heritage. Amber eyes carried an air of determination and focus.
A small group of onlookers, including Guild Master Go Gun-Hee, watched from the sidelines. Among them, several A-rank and B-rank hunters whispered in excitement, eager to see a duel between two of the guild's most formidable swordsmen.
"Can't believe we're about to see The Dancer vs The Crimson Shadow"
"It makes sense"
"Huh, how?"
"There is no A-rank hunter in this or any guild that can keep up with him, he might just be the strongest A-rank hunter in Korea"
"Are you sure you're ready, Taejin?" Hae-In asked, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She adjusted her grip on her sword, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Taejin tilted his head, his hand resting lightly on Muramasa's hilt. "Ready as I'll ever be. The question is, can you keep up?"
A ripple of laughter spread through the onlookers, though it was quickly silenced by Go Gun-Hee's low chuckle. "Let's see if you two can give us a proper show. Begin when ready."
Hae-In moved first. A flash of steel as she dashed forward, her longsword sweeping in a wide arc. Taejin sidestepped gracefully, his movements fluid as water, and drew Muramasa in one smooth motion. The clash of their blades rang out like thunder, reverberating across the room.
Taejin pushed back, disengaging with a practiced flourish. "Not bad," he said, his tone teasing, "but you're going to have to try harder."
Hae-In smiled faintly. "I was hoping you'd say that."
She lunged again, faster this time. Her blade came down in a vertical slash aimed at his shoulder. Taejin responded with a quick draw of Muramasa, parrying the strike and pivoting to her side. He flicked his wrist, sending a precise counterstrike toward her flank.
Hae-In twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the blade, and retaliated with a swift thrust. Taejin leaped backward, the tip of her sword missing him by a hair's breadth.
Taejin's stance shifted his hand now on Murasame's hilt. "Let's pick up the pace."
In an instant, he drew Murasame, releasing a crimson wave of energy that surged toward Hae-In. She raised her sword, the air around her shimmering as she countered with a burst of mana, dispersing the attack. The force of the clash sent a gust of wind rippling through the room, causing the audience to step back.
Hae-In smiled. "You're not holding back, are you?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Taejin replied, his tone serious now.
They clashed again, their movements a blur. Hae-In's sword strikes were sharp and precise, her footwork was impeccable. Taejin, meanwhile, flowed around her attacks like a shadow, his twin blades moving in an intricate dance.
Taejin's hand shifted to Muramasa's scabbard. He drew the blade in a flash, releasing a Lotus Bloom Slash aimed directly at Hae-In's midsection. She reacted just in time, her sword deflecting the energy with a powerful parry.
"You've improved," she admitted, her voice calm despite the rapid exchange.
"And you're as sharp as ever," Taejin responded, sheathing both swords in a single motion.
Without warning, he vanished, his movement so fast it seemed as if he had teleported. The crowd gasped as he reappeared behind Hae-In, both swords partially drawn.
"Silent Gale Execution," Taejin muttered.
Hae-In spun instinctively, her sword blocking the twin slashes that followed. Sparks erupted as their blades collided, the sheer force of the exchange shaking the air.
The room fell silent, the tension palpable as the two hunters stared each other down. Taejin's breathing was steady, his hands firm on his blades. Hae-In, though equally composed, had a thin sheen of sweat on her brow.
"Let's finish this," she said, her voice unwavering.
Taejin nodded. "Agreed."
They moved simultaneously, their blades colliding in a dazzling display of skill and power. Hae-In's mana flared, enveloping her sword in a brilliant golden light. Taejin responded with a surge of Sword Ki, his blades glowing with crimson and silver energy.
Their final strikes met in a blinding flash, the impact creating a shockwave that forced the audience to shield their eyes. When the light faded, the two hunters stood in the center of the arena, their swords locked together.
"Enough!" Go Gun-Hee's voice boomed, breaking the tension. "I think we've seen enough for today."
Taejin and Hae-In stepped back, lowering their weapons. They exchanged a small smile, a silent acknowledgment of their respect for each other's skill.
"You've gotten faster," Hae-In admitted, sheathing her sword.
"And you're as relentless as ever," Taejin replied, his tone light but sincere. As the audience erupted into applause, Taejin couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.Â
As the applause died down, the tension in the room gave way to a buzz of excitement. Taejin sheathed Muramasa and Murasame, their familiar weight grounding him. He turned to the sidelines, where Guild Master Go Gun-Hee stood with his usual air of authority, arms crossed, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"That was quite the performance," Go Gun-Hee said, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "Both of you are as sharp as ever. Hae-In, you're relentless. And Taejin, your speed is something else entirely."
"Thank you, sir," Taejin replied, bowing respectfully.
"Your growth is impressive, Taejin," Hae-In added, walking up beside him. "It's not every day I find myself having to push this hard in a sparring match."
Taejin smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. But don't think I didn't notice you holding back. Next time, go all out."
Hae-In's smile widened. "Be careful what you wish for."
From the sidelines, the other hunters whispered among themselves.
"Did you see that last exchange? I couldn't even keep track of their movements!" one hunter exclaimed.
"Yeah, no kidding. Taejin's Sword Ki is terrifying. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was S-Rank," another added.
A young B-rank hunter, barely able to contain his excitement, approached Taejin as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Taejin, that was incredible! How do you move so fast? Can you teach me?"
Taejin chuckled, patting the hunter on the shoulder. "It's all about practice. And patience. Lots of patience."
As the crowd began to disperse, Go Gun-Hee motioned for Taejin to join him. The two walked toward the far side of the training room, where the Guild Master leaned against a railing, his expression thoughtful.
"You've improved significantly, Taejin," Go Gun-Hee said, his tone serious now. "Your techniques, your speed, your precision—it's all a step above what I saw just a few months ago."
Taejin nodded, his expression calm. "I've been pushing myself harder. After what happened during the last dungeon raid, I realized I wasn't strong enough. I won't let that happen again."
Go Gun-Hee's eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. "That's good. But remember, strength isn't everything. Control, discipline, and knowing when to act are just as important. If you ever feel like you're at your limit, don't hesitate to rely on your comrades."
"I understand," Taejin replied. "Thank you, Guild Master."
Later that evening, Taejin sat alone in his quarters at the Guild's base. Both Murasame and Muramasa rested on their stands, their polished blades gleaming faintly in the soft light. Taejin stared at them, his mind replaying the day's sparring match.
Hae-In's words echoed in his head. Your growth is impressive.
He clenched his fists. It wasn't enough. Not yet. His father's words from years ago rang louder.
"A sword must be sharper than its wielder's doubts. If you hesitate, you're already dead."
He exhaled slowly, his resolve hardening. If today's match had shown him anything, it was that he was still far from his goal.
A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. It was an urgent knock, the kind that promised something important. Taejin rose and opened it to find one of the Guild's staff members standing there, looking anxious.
"Taejin, there's an emergency. A dungeon has appeared in the city—an unranked gate."
Taejin's brow furrowed. "An unranked gate? How close?"
"Barely a few kilometers from here. We're assembling a team now. The Guild Master wants you on it."
Taejin nodded, his heart already racing. "I'll be there in five minutes."
Taejin's hunter attire was a seamless blend of practicality and style, designed to match his fluid fighting style and enhance his movements. As he suited up, each piece of the ensemble seemed to transform him from a skilled swordsman into a warrior ready to face the unknown.
His outer coat was a lightweight, dark gray combat jacket reinforced with thin, flexible layers of Kevlar-like material, offering protection without sacrificing speed. The jacket was sleeveless, allowing for unrestricted arm movement, and had faint red accents along the edges, matching the crimson energy of his Sword Ki.
Beneath the coat, he wore a fitted combat shirt, black with subtle patterns resembling dragon scales, made from a fabric that was both heat-resistant and durable. The shirt's material was designed to endure the strain of dungeon battles while keeping him comfortable.
His pants were equally functional—tactical black, reinforced at the knees, with compartments for carrying small, essential items like healing potions or mana stones. They were designed to endure long fights, with extra flexibility for his quick footwork.
On his feet, he wore lightweight combat boots, their soles designed for grip and agility, ensuring he could pivot, slide, and sprint without losing balance.
Strapped across his chest was a utility harness, holding several small pouches and slots for emergency tools. The harness also served as a mounting point for his twin katana sheaths, which were positioned diagonally across his back for quickdraws.
Taejin's gloves were custom-made, black with reinforced plating along the knuckles and palms. The gloves provided a better grip on his swords while offering protection during close combat.
His outfit was finished with a red scarf, worn loosely around his neck. The scarf had been a gift from his late mentor and carried a sentimental value. Its flowing material often moved with his lightning-fast attacks, almost giving him the appearance of a crimson streak on the battlefield.
Once fully dressed, Taejin glanced at himself in the mirror. His dark skin contrasted strikingly with the muted tones of his attire, while his eyes burned with quiet determination. He adjusted the straps of Murasame and Muramasa, ensuring they were perfectly balanced.
"Time to get to work," he muttered before stepping out of his room.
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Name: Han Taejin - (Cover is how he looks)
Rank: A-Rank Hunter
Guild: Hunters Guild
Role: Fighter (Swordsman)
Skills ;
Sword Ki:
Taejin channels his mana into his katana, sharpening its edge with lethal precision. This allows him to cut through durable materials and deal significant damage to monsters with high defenses. When fully unleashed, the energy around the blade extends, creating ranged slashes of destructive force.
Critical Eye:
Taejin's sharp instincts and heightened perception allow him to spot weak points in his opponent's defenses, increasing his chances of landing critical hits. This skill enhances his awareness of enemy patterns and vulnerabilities during combat.
Accelerate:
A burst movement skill that temporarily boosts Taejin's speed and reaction time, enabling him to close gaps, evade attacks, or strike with incredible swiftness. When used, he appears as a blur, making it difficult for enemies to track his movements.