Two weeks had passed since the rift had torn through the world with unparalleled fury. The destruction was far-reaching, a cascade of devastation that had left no corner of the earth untouched. In its wake, the world had fallen into a new, chaotic order — cities once brimming with life now lay abandoned or half-destroyed, and the streets that had once been filled with the hum of human activity were now silent, save for the occasional hunter's footsteps.
The world was recovering, but it was a slow, painful process. Despite the cataclysmic loss of life — an estimated 20% of the global population perishing in the initial days of the rift's explosion — things were beginning to stabilize. The creatures, once overwhelming in their numbers and brutality, were now retreating or lying dormant in areas where the rift's influence had been diminished. The remaining monsters were being hunted down, one by one, as the hunters began to organize and reclaim the lands that had been lost.
In the midst of this rebuilding, a new order was emerging — and in this new world, hunters were the new elite. They were the ones who had fought in the trenches, slaughtering the creatures with their own hands, restoring some semblance of order to a world that had once seemed destined for ruin. The governments, the organizations, and the people all relied on them to be the protectors, the warriors, the saviors of what was left.
And at the top of this new world stood Kael Darnis, the highest-ranked hunter in the world.
The hunter's headquarters, a massive structure built in the heart of a now-secure city, buzzed with activity. Hunters of all ranks, from the lowly D-rank to the elite A-ranks, moved through the halls with purpose, preparing for their next missions or resting after their most recent hunts. The air was thick with the scent of steel and sweat, a constant reminder of the battles they had fought and the ones that were yet to come.
Kael stood in front of a massive board covered in maps, his gaze scanning the locations marked in red. The monster population had been drastically reduced, but pockets of resistance still remained. The rift had not been sealed, and though the worst was over, the world was far from safe. He could feel the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, the pressure of being the world's most powerful hunter.
It wasn't just a title. It was a position earned through blood, sweat, and countless battles. Kael's abilities, once chaotic and unpredictable, had grown sharper, more controlled. His power had skyrocketed after the regression, as if the rift had given him a second chance to harness his abilities, to reshape his destiny. But even now, he wasn't sure what to make of it. The deeper he delved into his powers, the more questions arose — questions about who he truly was and what the rift had done to him.
His SSS-rank status, a title that only one in a hundred million could ever achieve, had made him a legend. He was a symbol of hope for the world, the embodiment of humanity's resilience in the face of unimaginable horror. But even with all the recognition and accolades, Kael could not shake the feeling that something was still wrong. There were pieces missing, parts of his past that remained just beyond his reach, hidden in the depths of his mind.
Still, he pushed forward. There was no time for doubt. The world needed him, and for now, that was enough.
In the weeks since the rift's eruption, the average hunter's rank had seen a sharp rise. Most countries, which had once been accustomed to a handful of skilled hunters, now had a steady stream of new recruits. But the vast majority were still far from the top ranks. On average, only one in ten thousand people could even achieve a C-rank, a status that was considered respectable but far from exceptional. Higher ranks, such as B and A, were rare — a mere handful of hunters across the globe had reached those levels.
And then there was the S-rank. Only one in ten million hunters ever managed to attain this level of power and skill. To be an S-rank was to be a living legend, to be recognized across the world as one of the elite few capable of taking on the deadliest threats the world had to offer.
But Kael was not just an S-rank. He was the SSS-rank, a title that carried with it an unimaginable weight. There were fewer than a dozen hunters worldwide who had reached that status, and Kael had outstripped them all, carving his name into history with every battle he fought. His power, his skill, his very presence on the battlefield had become a beacon of hope in a shattered world.
He wasn't the only one with incredible abilities, though. Across the globe, there were whispers of other hunters rising through the ranks, some even surpassing their peers with abilities that defied logic. But even so, none had reached the level Kael had achieved. He was a symbol, a protector, a force of nature.
But even in this new age of hunters, Kael could not escape the looming shadow of the rift. Though the monsters had been driven back and humanity had begun to rebuild, the rift itself remained, an unpredictable, ever-present force. It pulsed with an ancient energy, a dark promise of more to come. And Kael knew that the peace they had now was fragile — a brief reprieve before the next wave of destruction.
In a small, secure base on the outskirts of what had once been a thriving metropolis, a group of lower-ranked hunters sat around a table, studying a large holographic map. They were deep in conversation, discussing their next mission. Their voices were filled with determination, but beneath that, there was an undertone of awe as they spoke of the SSS-ranked Kael Darnis.
"Can you believe it?" one of them asked, eyes wide. "He's the highest-ranked hunter alive. SSS-rank, just like that. It's insane. We're just C-ranks, barely scraping by, and he's already wiped out hundreds of monsters. He's like a walking weapon."
Another hunter, a seasoned A-rank, snorted in amusement. "It's not just his rank. It's the way he fights. You've seen it. His abilities... they're on a whole different level. I've fought beside him a few times, and I swear, it's like the monsters know to fear him before he even raises his weapon."
A third hunter, a rookie, looked up at the older hunters with a mixture of awe and fear. "Do you think we'll ever reach that level? SSS-rank? I mean, we're just small fish compared to him."
The A-rank laughed softly. "Maybe one day, if we're lucky. But don't forget, Kael wasn't always this powerful. He's climbed his way to the top. He's a product of the rift's influence, and maybe... just maybe, the rest of us have the same potential, even if we don't understand it yet."
The conversation faded into a hushed murmur as they turned their attention back to the map. The world was still a dangerous place, and even with the power of the hunters, there were still threats lurking in the shadows. Kael Darnis was the top of the food chain, but the true battle — the battle for humanity's future — had only just begun.
Kael stood at the balcony of the headquarters, gazing out over the city below. The streets were quiet, but there was a subtle energy in the air, a sense of anticipation. He could feel the weight of his position, the responsibility that came with being the world's most powerful hunter. It was more than just a title. It was a promise — a promise to protect what remained of the world, to ensure that humanity had a future.
But deep down, Kael knew that the calm they were experiencing was temporary. The rift, the monsters, the chaos — it was all part of something much bigger. Something that was still unfolding.
He had climbed to the top, but what awaited him at the summit was still unknown.
The only thing he could be sure of was this: the real battle was yet to come.