Chapter 1: The Weight of Weakness
The shrill sound of the alarm clock jolted Raine Asher awake. His tiny, cluttered apartment smelled of instant noodles and damp laundry. Sunlight filtered weakly through the grimy window, casting a pale glow on the battered Hunter badge lying on the bedside table.
E-Rank Hunter—the words on the badge seemed to mock him, just as the world did every day. Raine let out a sigh and ran a hand through his disheveled black hair. He couldn't afford to wallow. Rent was overdue, and his sister's medical bills weren't going to pay themselves.
He dressed quickly, pulling on his patched-up combat suit. The armor was cheap, barely functional, but it was all he could afford. Slinging his rusty sword onto his back, Raine left the apartment, ignoring the stares of his neighbors. He knew what they thought—a Hunter who couldn't even clear a C-rank Domain? Pathetic.
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The guild hall was bustling with activity. Bright screens displayed the latest Domain appearances, each marked with a rank. High-ranked Hunters, clad in gleaming armor, laughed and chatted as they formed parties for lucrative raids. Raine's presence went unnoticed, just as it always did.
"Hey, Dead Weight!" a sneering voice called out. Raine turned to see Mark, a burly C-rank Hunter, leaning against the counter. "What are you doing here? Looking for scraps?"
Raine clenched his fists but said nothing. Mark wasn't worth the energy. He walked past the man, heading to the mission board. Most of the higher-ranked Domains were out of his reach, but one caught his eye—a low-tier C-rank raid. The payout was decent, and the group was still looking for one more member.
"Taking that one?" Mark laughed. "Good luck. You'll probably drag the team down and get them all killed."
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The team leader, a sharp-eyed woman named Clara, frowned as Raine approached. "You're the E-rank, huh?"
"I'll pull my weight," Raine said, his voice firm despite the doubt in her gaze.
She sighed. "Fine. We need the numbers. Just don't screw this up."
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The Domain entrance loomed like a gaping maw, its swirling blue light reflecting on the faces of the team. Clara gave a sharp nod, and they stepped through, the world twisting around them as they entered the pocket dimension.
Inside, the air was heavy with the stench of decay. The Domain was a labyrinth of dark corridors and flickering torches. Monsters lurked in the shadows, their glowing eyes a constant reminder of the danger.
Raine stayed at the back of the group, his sword drawn. He struck when necessary, his movements precise but lacking the raw power of his teammates. The others grumbled about his weakness, but he ignored them.
They reached the boss chamber faster than expected—a vast cavern with a pulsating, glowing crystal at its center. The Rift Boss emerged from the shadows, a towering beast covered in black armor, its eyes burning with malice.
"It's… It's not supposed to be this strong," Clara whispered, her face pale.
The team fought valiantly, but the monster was relentless. One by one, the Hunters fell, their screams echoing through the chamber. Clara turned to Raine, her eyes wide with fear.
"We have to retreat! Cover me while I—"
She didn't finish her sentence. The beast's massive claw struck her down, leaving Raine alone.
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He was bleeding, his breaths ragged. His sword lay shattered at his feet. The Rift Boss loomed over him, its claws poised to strike the final blow.
"Am I… going to die here?" Raine muttered. Memories of his sister's smile, of the life he had struggled to build, flashed before his eyes.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind—cold, commanding, and ancient.
"Do you wish to live?"
Raine froze. The voice wasn't his own, nor was it coming from the Rift Boss. It seemed to resonate from the very shadows around him.
"Do you wish for strength?"
"Yes!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "I'll do anything!"
The shadows twisted, coiling around him like living things. A screen appeared before his eyes, its text glowing ominously.
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SYSTEM INITIALIZING...
Welcome to the Sovereign's Codex.
Trial of Shadows: Begin.