Aiden stood alone in his training chamber, his mind swirling with possibilities. He had successfully secured support from the most powerful hunters in the world, yet his instincts told him that there was far more to uncover, far greater forces lurking in the shadows. As he paced back and forth, a thought crossed his mind, and without hesitation, he called upon the system.
"System, is it possible to see the potential, stats, the strongest class suitable for a person, their intentions, even their thoughts?" he asked, curiosity driving his every word.
The system responded almost instantly, its calm mechanical tone filling the room.
"Affirmative. With focused vision on an individual, combined with system capabilities, the requested data can be analyzed and displayed in real-time. All important information regarding potential, intentions, and more can be accessed."
Aiden's eyes widened. This was a game changer. Not only could he create a force of his own, but now he could ensure that every member of his future organization was of the highest caliber. He could hand-pick talent, develop them into powerful hunters, and craft a team that would stand above all others.
"Perfect," Aiden muttered to himself. "I will form a force that stands apart from the guilds and the Association. But I'll always stay on humanity's side. I won't become like the Hunter Killers."
He paused, determination hardening his resolve.
"And every member of this force will be at least an SSLR-ranked hunter, with at least 50 of them rising to M-Rank."
The thought of creating a force of this magnitude gave him a sense of control and purpose. With the system, he could make this dream a reality.
Just as he was about to continue his thoughts, the system pinged.
"Warning: Unidentified forces detected on Earth. Analysis in progress..."
Before Aiden could react, the system began to glitch. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning, until suddenly everything went dark. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vision—an ominous one.
He stood on a battlefield, surrounded by devastation. Bodies of hunters, both young and old, littered the ground. The once indomitable titans—Lord of Shadows, Wrath's Fist, and the Angel of Dawn—lay defeated, their powers useless against the force that had come for them. Even the Old Generation M-Rank hunters, the legends who had only recently returned, had fallen.
Aiden's heart raced as he recognized the faces of his future allies—members of the very force he intended to create. Each one had been trained by him, hand-picked and molded into powerful hunters. And yet, they too lay broken, their bodies strewn across the battlefield.
Then he saw them.
A mysterious group of hunters loomed in the distance, far more powerful than the M-Rank hunters he had known. They were divided into two terrifying ranks—"God Rank" and "Celestial Rank". Their mere presence warped reality, bending the very fabric of space around them. Aiden felt their overwhelming power, a force that seemed almost beyond comprehension.
At the center of it all stood five figures, radiating an aura that sent chills down his spine. These were no ordinary hunters—they were "Celestial Rank", beings whose power dwarfed even that of the M-Rank hunters. And behind them, 25 more hunters, each one of "God Rank", a rank Aiden had only learned of through the system.
In the vision, Aiden was the last one standing. His body trembled with exhaustion, but his eyes burned with defiance as he faced these monstrous beings alone. And then, just as they moved toward him, the vision shattered.
He was back in his training chamber, the cold sweat on his brow betraying the calm he tried to maintain. His heart still pounded from what he had seen.
"System... what was that?" Aiden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The system's response was delayed, as if recalculating something it hadn't anticipated before.
"Apologies. Previous data regarding the M-Rank hunters being the most powerful was inaccurate. New analysis reveals the existence of God Rank and Celestial Rank hunters on Earth. These individuals operate in secrecy, far beyond the public eye."
Aiden's mind raced as he processed this new information. "God Rank" and "Celestial Rank?" He had only just begun to grasp the extent of the M-Rank hunters' power, and now there were even more dangerous forces?
"How did I not know about this? M-Rank hunters are supposed to be the pinnacle," he muttered, almost to himself.
The system answered with an explanation.
"Data was incomplete. The existence of God and Celestial Rank hunters has been hidden for centuries. Their influence shapes events from the shadows. Their power eclipses even that of the Old Generation M-Rank hunters. Your goal must now evolve, as these entities represent a new level of threat."
Aiden closed his eyes, trying to make sense of it all. His vision had shown him a future where even the mightiest hunters fell. If he was to survive, if he was to protect humanity, he would need more power—and not just for himself.
"I'll have to rise higher," Aiden said. "I'll need to create a force capable of reaching these ranks... to cultivate hunters beyond M-Rank."
The system's voice echoed in his mind once more.
"New objective initiated. Rise to OMN%^&%#@ Rank. Unknown rank details cannot be fully calculated at this time."
Aiden furrowed his brow, the words cutting off in a garbled mess. The system had spoken of a rank he had never heard of—"OMN?"—but it was unclear. Whatever it was, it seemed to be a key to unlocking the next level of power.
"OMN...?" Aiden repeated, trying to make sense of it, but the system offered no further clarification.
In that moment, Aiden made a decision. Not only would he have to rise in power, but he would need to cultivate others—hunters who could reach "God Rank" and perhaps even "Celestial Rank". Only then could they stand a chance against the hidden forces lurking in the shadows.
But just as Aiden solidified his resolve, the scene shifted.
The vision zoomed into a hidden location, far away from prying eyes. A group of 30 figures stood in a circle, their identities cloaked in secrecy. Among them, 25 were of "God Rank", their power palpable even through the vision. But it was the five "Celestial Rank" hunters who stood out, their presence like a black hole, consuming all light and hope.
They spoke in hushed tones, their conversation too muffled to be heard clearly. But one thing was certain—they were planning something. And Aiden was now on their radar.
The vision faded, leaving Aiden standing alone, his path clear but fraught with danger. He knew now that the forces at play were far greater than he had ever imagined. His goal was no longer just to create a powerful force—it was to ensure the survival of humanity against the celestial powers that threatened to consume everything.
With new determination, Aiden turned toward the horizon.
"Let the shadows rise."