Twenty years ago, a night unlike any other changed the course of human history. Across the globe, mysterious tunnels appeared in the mountains, seemingly carved by an unknown force. These tunnels radiated an unearthly aura, captivating and terrifying anyone who ventured near. But what lay beyond them was a revelation both awe-inspiring and harrowing—a gateway to another world.
This new world was breathtaking. Towering trees stretched endlessly toward the sky, their trunks so wide that it took ten men to encircle one. Flowers bloomed with colors so vivid they seemed unreal, their fragrances intoxicating yet alien. Rivers flowed with crystalline water, reflecting a sky that shimmered with hues unknown to Earth. It was paradise incarnate, a dreamland that beckoned to humanity.
But beauty, as they say, often conceals danger.
It wasn't long before the true nature of this realm revealed itself. Creatures emerged—beings so monstrous and grotesque that they defied earthly logic. Their sizes varied from that of wolves to towering beasts the size of buildings. These weren't ordinary animals; they were predators of nightmares, each imbued with power beyond human comprehension. They were demons.
The tunnels weren't mere paths but rifts connecting two worlds. And the demons, driven by instincts unknown, began crossing into Earth, leaving destruction in their wake. They attacked villages, decimated cities, and wiped out anything that stood in their way. Humanity, in its arrogance, tried to fight back with its most advanced weaponry. But bullets and bombs were useless against these monsters. Only pinpoint accuracy and incredible force could even scratch their hides, and even then, victory was rare.
Faced with annihilation, humanity turned to the unlikeliest of saviors—martial artists and sorcerers. These individuals, once dismissed as relics of a bygone era, were humanity's last hope. Martial artists, with their years of training, had honed their bodies to the pinnacle of human strength. Sorcerers, with their ancient spells, wielded magic that could rival the gods. Together, they became the world's first Demon Hunters.
Demon Hunters were not born; they were forged. Each candidate underwent grueling trials to test their physical, mental, and magical capabilities. The process was merciless, designed to weed out the weak. Those who survived were ranked based on their abilities, and their ranks were sealed for life unless a phenomenon called ReAwakening occurred—a rare event where an individual's latent potential exploded, elevating them to unimaginable power.
Demon Hunters were categorized into six ranks:
1. Novice Demon Hunter
The weakest of all hunters. These individuals barely scraped through the trials and were considered expendable. Their tasks involved handling minor threats, and their survival rate was alarmingly low.
2. Apprentice Demon Hunter
Marginally stronger than novices, they were assigned to eliminate small groups of low-ranked demons. However, even a medium-ranked demon spelled their doom.
3. Seeker Demon Hunter
Seekers could defeat demons ranked higher than themselves. They were sent on more challenging missions and often worked alongside apprentices.
4. Elite Demon Hunter
These hunters were powerful enough to take down monsters two or three ranks above their level. Elites could lead teams of lower-ranked hunters, making them invaluable in the field.
5. Grandmaster Demon Hunter
Veterans of countless battles, Grandmasters commanded respect and authority. They led large groups of hunters into war, orchestrating strategies that turned the tide of battles.
6. Supreme Demon Hunter
The rarest and most formidable of all hunters. Supreme hunters were living legends, capable of facing armies of demons alone. They formed guilds and stood as pillars of humanity's defense.
As the hunters were ranked, so were the demons. Their strength was determined by their destructive capabilities, agility, and magical prowess. The tunnels themselves were categorized based on the demons that emerged from them. A low-ranked tunnel spewed weaker demons, while high-ranked tunnels birthed monstrosities that even Supreme Hunters feared to confront.
When the tunnels appeared, they didn't open gradually—they burst into existence simultaneously across the world. Humanity's ignorance of their danger led to countless deaths in the initial days. Cities were reduced to rubble, and governments were powerless against the onslaught.
Testing the rank of a Demon Hunter became a ritualized process. Candidates were thrown into simulation chambers that mimicked the conditions of a demon-infested world. There, they fought for survival. The simulation didn't just assess their physical strength but their ability to strategize, adapt, and endure. Only those who passed were bestowed a rank, a title they carried for life.
But not all ranks were equal. Novice Demon Hunters, the weakest among them, were often scorned. Known as "the world's weakest hunters," they were seen as a burden, a joke among the more skilled. Many novices quit, unable to bear the humiliation. Yet some persevered, clinging to the hope of proving their worth.
In the early days, a team of novice hunters was sent into a low-ranked tunnel as a test of their abilities. The mission was simple: eliminate a small group of demons. Armed with basic weapons and trembling with fear, they entered the tunnel. What awaited them was nothing short of a nightmare.
The demons were unlike anything they had faced during their training. Their grotesque forms defied imagination—elongated limbs, razor-sharp teeth, and eyes that glowed with malice. The novices fought valiantly, but their lack of skill was evident. One by one, they fell, their screams echoing through the tunnel.
From the shadows, a Grandmaster Hunter watched, his face grim. This was a test, not for the novices, but for humanity. Could they rise against the darkness? Or would they crumble under its weight? The answer lay not in their strength but in their will to survive.
Two decades later, the world had adapted. Demon Hunters were humanity's shield, protecting cities and reclaiming land from the monsters. But the tunnels still loomed, a constant reminder of the danger that lay beyond.
In this era of chaos, the line between predator and prey blurred. Humanity's survival depended not on the strongest but on those who dared to rise from the weakest ranks. For in the heart of darkness, even the faintest light could shine bright enough to change the world.
To be Continued