The tavern was alive with chatter, its dimly lit interior filled with the sound of clinking mugs and hurried conversations. In the corner, a group of hunters huddled together, eyes wide with awe.
"Did you hear?" one whispered. "That kid—the one who closed an A-rank gate by himself—it's been downgraded to a C-rank now!"
"No way. A teenager?" another scoffed. "You mean the one who always has that cat with him?"
"Yeah, the same. They say monsters are getting stronger, and the rankings are all over the place. There were almost a hundred S-classes six years ago. Now? Only seven."
"I heard Elias and Kael are still holding their spots," someone else chimed in. "The rest are the big guild masters."
Just then, the tavern door creaked open, and silence fell over the room. Alex stepped in, a calm, almost emotionless expression on his face. At sixteen, he was tall, but still carried a quiet, lethal grace. Alexius, in cat form, curled around his neck like a scarf, his piercing gaze scanning the room.
Alex moved toward the quest board, ignoring the stares and hushed whispers that followed him. He grabbed a quest, barely glancing at it, then turned to leave as quickly as he had come, his aura cold and unapproachable.
As soon as the door shut behind him, the buzz resumed.
"That's him, right?" someone whispered. "The one who doesn't speak to anyone?"
"Yeah, they say he's been taking on high-ranked quests for years now. Keeps to himself. No guild, no allies, just him and that cat."
"Strange kid," another muttered. "But one hell of a hunter."
*****
As Alex walks through the snowy mountain, the cold air biting at his skin, Alexius, perched on his neck as usual, comments with amusement, "You know, you make quite the mysterious figure, trudging through the snow like this."
Alex sighs, the weariness in his voice evident. "You've been saying that for six years. I'm tired of it."
Alexius, unfazed, shifts slightly. "Well, it's true. Six years ago, you were just a kid trying to survive. Now, look at you—stats nearly maxed out, and you're taking on these alien officers like it's just another day."
As Alex continues walking, he breaks the silence, glancing at the blue screen flickering before his eyes. "What happens when I pass 200, Alexius? What changes?"
Alexius stretches lazily on Alex's neck, his feline eyes narrowing in thought. "If you break past 200, you'll step into the realm of the superhumans. Superhuman strength, speed, and durability will be the norm for you then. But with that power comes a price. Your connection to the gods will deepen, and they'll start paying more attention to you. You'll attract divine and alien forces alike. Things will get… more complicated."
Alex raises an eyebrow, still walking steadily through the snow. "And what about the others? What happens to normal awakeners if they surpass 200?"
Alexius purrs, almost amused. "Most won't make it past that point. Breaking past 200 isn't just about physical strength; it's about mental and spiritual fortitude. Only those blessed by the gods—or cursed, depending on your perspective—will be able to go beyond. Those who do? They become something more than human, something even stronger than the average awakened. But they'll also be more bound to their god's influence."
Alex frowns, his mind racing as he processes this. "So, it's not just about stats. It's about whether I'm willing to get closer to the gods… to let them control me."
Alexius smirks. "That's the trade-off. You can gain unimaginable power, but every step you take beyond human limits puts you further under their watchful eyes. And once you pass 500 and ascend to the level of a demigod, you'll no longer be able to live the quiet life you're clinging to."
"Then what about the gods themselves?" Alex questions, his breath visible in the freezing air. "If I keep pushing, what's to stop me from catching up to them?"
Alexius falls silent for a moment before replying, his tone serious. "That's the real danger. The gods won't allow a mortal to rival their power without a fight. If you go beyond 500, they'll see you as a threat. And if you somehow break into the level of the lower gods, well… let's just say you'll have a target on your back from beings far more powerful than you can imagine."
Alex nods, understanding the weight of what Alexius is saying. "So it's either become stronger and risk everything or stay where I am and watch the world fall apart around me."
Alexius's voice softens slightly. "That's the dilemma, kid. But you already know there's no turning back. The world won't stop for you to decide."
*****
Six years ago, the gate in front of Alex would have struck fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned hunters. The ominous crimson light that leaked from its swirling surface had once signified an A-rank threat—monsters capable of annihilating whole cities, leaving destruction in their wake. Back then, Alex would have barely been able to comprehend such power. But now, at sixteen, standing calmly in front of the once-feared gate, it was merely a C-rank challenge.
The snow crunched under his feet as he stared at the gate, his breath fogging the cold air. The soft, persistent snowfall blanketed the mountain around him in quiet serenity, an odd contrast to the chaos he knew awaited inside the gate. Alexius curled around his neck like a scarf and stirred slightly, his feline eyes glinting in the dim light.
"It used to be quite the sight, huh?" Alexius's voice broke the silence, a tone of amusement threaded through his words. His sharp eyes studied the gate with a critical gaze. "Six years ago, hunters would have run the other way."
Alex sighed, his cold breath barely visible in the icy air. He glanced down at the screen that hovered in front of him, watching as the glowing blue letters displayed his stats: Strength 193, Speed 191, Stamina 190, Intelligence 195, Divinity 192. These numbers had grown steadily, but they had stopped just shy of the 200 mark, the supposed barrier that separated superhumans from something greater.
"I wonder what happens after I cross that threshold." Alex's voice was calm, but there was a slight undertone of fatigue. He had pushed his body relentlessly over the years, hunting, training, and growing stronger, but the higher he climbed, the more distant and isolated he felt from the world around him. The memories of those who had fallen behind haunted him, even as he had surged forward.
"Becoming more than human," Alexius said, licking his paw absently, "comes with a price, just like everything else. When you surpass 200, you'll be closer to the demigods than anyone else, and that kind of power... well, let's just say it tends to attract attention."
"From who?" Alex asked, his eyes narrowing. "The gods?"
Alexius chuckled darkly. "Perhaps. Or something worse. You remember what we're dealing with out here, don't you? The Lunatic may still have a few surprises up their sleeve, and gods only know what's lurking on the other side of these gates."
Alex remained silent for a moment, watching the red light of the gate pulse slowly like a heartbeat. Over the years, he had grown used to the idea that the threats he faced were far beyond ordinary monsters. The aliens had become more intelligent, their invasion tactics more calculated. Soldiers and officers had emerged from the gates, leading the monsters with chilling efficiency. The alien officers were no longer just beings of brute strength but carried the kind of strategy and intelligence that hinted at a far greater threat looming behind the scenes.
Despite it all, Alex knew he couldn't afford to stop. The gates had to be closed, the aliens had to be pushed back. The world still depended on hunters like him. Even with only seven S-rank hunters in the world, it wasn't just a battle of strength anymore—it was about survival.
"There's no turning back now," Alex said softly, more to himself than to Alexius. He took a deep breath, adjusting the sword strapped to his side. His hand rested momentarily on the hilt, the familiar warmth of the weapon offering him a small sense of comfort in the cold wilderness. "Let's finish this."
With that, Alex stepped forward, his boots crunching through the snow as he approached the swirling red vortex. The gate hummed with energy as if it sensed his proximity, the crimson glows growing more intense with every step he took.
Alexius shifted on his neck, his body tensing slightly. "Careful in there," he warned. "Even if this gate is ranked lower now, you can't underestimate the creatures inside."
"I know," Alex replied quietly. His grip tightened on his sword as he took the final step into the gate's energy field.
As soon as his body passed through the threshold, the temperature around him changed drastically. The cold mountain air vanished, replaced by a thick, humid atmosphere that clung to his skin. He found himself standing in a dense forest, the trees towering overhead with dark, twisting branches that seemed to block out any natural light. The only illumination came from the faint glow of the gate behind him, and the distant glimmers of red and orange that flickered through the trees.
"This place hasn't changed much," Alexius muttered. "Still as eerie as ever."
Alex scanned the area, his sharp eyes picking up movement in the shadows. He could hear the rustle of leaves, and the low growls of creatures lurking just beyond the trees. The monsters may have been downgraded to C-rank, but that didn't mean they weren't dangerous. He had learned that sometimes the lower-ranked monsters were more cunning than their stronger counterparts.
"Let's get this over with," Alex said, drawing his sword. The blade glowed faintly with a soft blue light, the result of the enchantments he had received from Apollo years ago. It hummed with power in his hand, a reminder of the divine blessings that still lingered within him.
With a swift motion, he moved forward, cutting through the dense foliage with ease. The forest seemed to close in around him as he ventured deeper, the sounds of the monsters growing louder with each step. His heart remained steady, his mind calm, even as the tension in the air grew thicker.
"Stay sharp," Alexius murmured, his voice low and serious. "We're not alone here."
Alex nodded his senses on high alert. He could feel the presence of the creatures watching him from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hunger. But he wasn't afraid. Not anymore.
He had faced worse.
And he had survived.
The gate's power pulsed behind him, a reminder that there was always more to come. But for now, he focused on the task at hand—closing the gate, defeating the monsters, and moving forward, just as he always had.
*****
Alex moved through the forest with the efficiency and precision of someone who had done this countless times. The monsters lurking in the shadows barely posed a threat to him anymore. Their snarls and attempts to ambush were met with swift, calculated strikes of his blade. Each swing cut through the air with deadly accuracy, felling the creatures one after another, leaving them sprawled lifeless on the forest floor.
His body moved like a machine, fluid and precise, hardly a sign of effort shown on his face. He'd been doing this for so long that the rhythm of battle was second nature to him. He dodged, struck, and weaved through the horde of monsters as if he were dancing through a rehearsed routine. The creatures, though numerous, were predictable. In the past, they would have overwhelmed him with sheer numbers, but now, they were little more than obstacles in his path.
"Too easy," Alexius muttered, his voice carrying a hint of boredom. He perched comfortably on Alex's shoulder, watching the fight with mild interest. Despite the constant movement and chaos, the cat remained perfectly balanced, never once disturbed by Alex's rapid strikes and agile maneuvers.
Alex, his expression calm, barely broke a sweat as he dispatched the last of the creatures. His sword sliced cleanly through the final monster, a large wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes. It collapsed to the ground with a thud, its body dissipating into the familiar mist that accompanied the death of gate creatures.