Around twenty years ago, the Earth experienced an event that defied all logic. In the remote mountainous regions scattered across the world, mysterious tunnels began to appear—gaping voids carved into the rock as if the planet itself had been wounded. These tunnels led to a realm that no human had ever imagined, a world untouched by history, where the air was thick with an intoxicating fragrance, and the trees towered high, their lush green canopies dwarfing even the tallest buildings of civilization.
At first, humanity marveled at this newfound paradise. Scientists and adventurers rushed to explore this hidden world, eager to uncover its secrets. But beauty, as always, came at a price. Within the depths of this world, lurking beneath its mesmerizing flora, were creatures that defied nature's design.
They were not mere animals.
They were demons.
Beasts with grotesque forms, their eyes burning with an unnatural glow. Their skin, scales, or fur were as hard as steel, capable of withstanding bullets and blades alike. Some bore jagged horns that gleamed like polished obsidian, while others had wings that spread wide enough to eclipse the sun. Their roars could shatter boulders, their claws could slice through reinforced walls, and their mere presence was enough to strike terror into the hearts of those who dared to enter their domain.
Humanity, in its arrogance, believed that technology would prevail. Armies were deployed, tanks rolled into the tunnels, and fighter jets darkened the skies above. But the demons did not fall like ordinary beasts. Bullets bounced off their hides, missiles shattered against their bodies, and even nuclear warheads failed to bring complete destruction.
The world was at war with an enemy it could not comprehend.
As the death toll climbed and nations trembled, a desperate solution was sought. Governments turned to the shadows—toward those who had long been dismissed as myths and relics of a forgotten age. Martial artists who had mastered their bodies to the brink of impossibility. Sorcerers who had honed their arcane arts in secrecy for centuries. Individuals who had transcended the limits of ordinary humans.
Thus, the era of the Demon Hunters began.
The emergence of the Demon Hunters was humanity's last hope. These were individuals who had survived the trials of awakening, their bodies and souls pushed beyond human capabilities. They were categorized into strict ranks, each assigned based on their combat abilities and survival rates against the monstrous threats.
1. Novice Demon Hunter – The weakest of the hunters. They were the disposable foot soldiers, tasked with eliminating only the lowest-ranked creatures, barely considered a threat. People called them the "World's Weakest Hunters."
2. Apprentice Demon Hunter – One step above novices, they were assigned to small groups of lesser demons. However, if faced with a medium-ranked creature, their death was almost guaranteed.
3. Seeker Demon Hunter – These hunters had proven themselves against stronger adversaries. They could fight demons a rank above them, taking on challenges that lesser hunters wouldn't survive.
4. Elite Demon Hunter – Elites were warriors of immense skill, capable of slaying creatures two or even three ranks higher than their own. They often led teams of lower-ranked hunters into battle.
5. Grandmaster Demon Hunter – The leaders among hunters. Grandmasters commanded entire legions, organizing large-scale hunts and strategies against demon outbreaks. Their presence on the battlefield could shift the tide of war.
6. Supreme Demon Hunter – A rare existence. Supremes were near-mythical figures, their strength and magic surpassing imagination. Alone, they could defeat armies of demons, standing at the pinnacle of human combat. Some even formed guilds—powerful organizations that governed the laws of demon hunting.
Becoming a Demon Hunter was not a matter of choice—it was a matter of survival. The process of awakening was not something one could train for or predict. It happened only once in a lifetime. When a candidate showed potential, they were forced through The Awakening Trial, a ritual that determined their fate.
The trial was brutal. Candidates were thrown into a battle against demons, their rank decided by how long they survived and how many they could kill. If they faltered, they died. If they succeeded but showed weakness, they were labeled a Novice—a death sentence in itself.
There was no second chance.
Once a rank was assigned, it was permanent. No training, no amount of effort could push a hunter beyond the level they were given. There was only one exception—ReAwakening.
ReAwakening was an anomaly, so rare that it had only occurred a handful of times in history. Those who underwent ReAwakening shattered their limits, transforming into beings of unprecedented power. But the process was unpredictable, often resulting in death rather than advancement. No one knew what triggered it.
Thus, the ranks were both a hunter's pride and curse.
Just as hunters had their hierarchy, so did the creatures that roamed beyond the tunnels. The classifications were designed based on the strength of the Demon Hunters who could combat them.
1. F-Tier Demons – Weak, often small creatures that could barely put up a fight. They were used to train novice hunters.
2. E-Tier Demons – Slightly stronger but still manageable by apprentice hunters.
3. D-Tier Demons – Monsters that seekers were assigned to eliminate.
4. C-Tier Demons – The first true test of an elite hunter. Their strength was enough to devastate entire villages.
5. B-Tier Demons – Demons that required full elite teams or a single grandmaster to exterminate.
6. A-Tier Demons – Beasts of destruction. Even grandmasters struggled against them.
7. S-Tier Demons – Creatures that could single-handedly wipe out a city. Only supreme hunters could challenge them.
8. SS-Tier Demons – Legends. There were less than five ever recorded. They were so powerful that even a supreme hunter could not guarantee victory.
The tunnels did not appear all at once. They surfaced gradually, one by one, as if testing humanity's limits.
The first tunnel appeared in the Himalayas, where explorers vanished without a trace. Then another was discovered in South America, deep within the Amazon rainforest. Soon, tunnels erupted across Africa, Europe, and the desolate landscapes of Siberia.
Each time a new tunnel surfaced, the creatures that emerged were more dangerous than before. Humanity learned quickly—every tunnel was ranked based on the creatures within.
F-Rank Tunnels housed only the weakest demons, manageable by novice hunters.
E-Rank Tunnels were slightly deadlier but still controllable.
D and C-Rank Tunnels were where true danger began, often requiring teams of experienced hunters.
B and A-Rank Tunnels were sites of large-scale operations, where only grandmasters led expeditions.
S-Rank Tunnels were catastrophes waiting to happen.
SS-Rank Tunnels were sealed immediately, for no human dared to enter them and return alive.
The balance between humanity and these tunnels was fragile. Cities were fortified, guilds were formed, and the war against the demons became an eternal struggle.
And yet, within this world of chaos and death, something had changed.
A single event had occurred that would disrupt everything.
The awakening of an individual who should have remained powerless.
A transformation that would rewrite fate itself.
TO BE CONTINUED