The Red Gate had collapsed.
The nightmare was over.
But as Kai Ren stood in the rain, his vision flickering with new system messages, he knew—
His battle was just beginning.
Because now, the world was watching him.
And something far worse had taken interest.
Seoul – The Aftermath of the Dungeon Raid
The first thing Kai felt was the cold rain hitting his skin.
The Red Gate was gone.
The sky above was dark, storm clouds rolling over the city, illuminated by the flashing red sirens of the Hunter Association's emergency response teams.
His body ached, every muscle screaming in exhaustion.
But he was alive.
Hana lay nearby, barely breathing.
Min-Jae stood frozen, his face pale with disbelief.
Dae-Ho and Yoon-Soo were gone, their bodies left behind in the dungeon.
And surrounding them—
Were dozens of elite Hunters.
The Hunter Association Responds
A helicopter hovered overhead, its floodlights illuminating the wreckage.
Armored Association Enforcers stood in formation, their rifles and mana-blades raised, surrounding the survivors.
"Drop your weapons! Hands where we can see them!"
A woman in black combat gear stepped forward, her eyes sharp and piercingly cold.
Seo Joon-Hee.
S-Rank Hunter.
Deputy Director of the Hunter Association.
Her gaze locked onto Kai.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "And how the hell did an E-rank raid turn into a Red Gate event?"
Min-Jae Turns Against Kai
Min-Jae finally snapped out of his shock.
He pointed a shaking finger at Kai.
"H-He's not normal," he stammered. "He—he controlled a boss monster!"
Hushed whispers spread among the Association Hunters.
Joon-Hee's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Min-Jae stepped forward, his face twisted in fear.
"I saw it. I saw it with my own eyes! The Red King—the boss monster—knelt before him."
Gasps.
Even the hardened enforcers flinched.
Joon-Hee's expression darkened.
Hunters were strong, but no one—not even an S-rank—could command a dungeon boss.
It was impossible.
And yet—
Min-Jae wasn't lying.
Kai Realizes His Situation – The World Fears Him
Kai gritted his teeth.
Min-Jae was throwing him under the bus.
And the worst part?
He wasn't wrong.
Kai had done something unnatural. Something that defied the very laws of dungeons and systems.
Even now, as he stood among the living, he could still feel something lingering—a presence that wasn't there before.
Like shadows watching him from beyond.
He wasn't sure what he had become.
But one thing was clear.
Everyone was looking at him like a monster.
System Warning – The World is Watching
Then—
🔹 [SYSTEM WARNING: ALERT STATUS CHANGED.]
🔹 [New Status: Marked.]
🔹 [The Hunter Association has recognized you as an anomaly.]
🔹 [Your actions are being monitored.]
Kai's blood ran cold.
"Marked?"
The Hunter Association had labeled him a threat.
Which meant one thing.
If he wasn't careful, they would eliminate him.
Hana Tries to Defend Him
Hana, still weak, pushed herself up.
"T-That's not true!" she said. "Kai saved us!"
Min-Jae whirled toward her. "Are you blind?! He came back from the dead!"
"I don't care what happened! He didn't betray us like you did!" Hana snapped.
Min-Jae's face twisted in anger.
"You don't get it," he hissed. "The system isn't just watching him. It's afraid of him."
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
And in that moment, Kai realized the truth.
He had done something outside the system's control.
And now—
It was trying to correct the mistake.
Seo Joon-Hee's Verdict – A Dangerous Decision
Joon-Hee finally spoke.
"Take him in."
The Association Enforcers moved forward, their weapons raised.
Hana stepped in front of him. "No! He didn't do anything wrong!"
Min-Jae hesitated, his face pale. "He's… he's dangerous."
Kai clenched his fists.
They were going to imprison him.
And if they did—
They might never let him go.
His heart pounded.
He had just escaped death.
And now—
The world wanted to bury him alive.
Then—
🔹 [Interference Detected.]
🔹 [Forces Beyond the System Are Watching.]
🔹 [A Choice Must Be Made.]
And in that moment—
A new presence appeared.
A voice, cold and ancient, whispered in his mind:
🔹 [Do you wish to remain their prisoner?]
🔹 [Or will you embrace the path of the fallen?]
Kai's breath caught.
And for the first time, he had a choice.
To submit.
Or to rise.