The Hunter Guild's lobby bustled with activity: new recruits discussing potential missions, seasoned hunters boasting about their latest dungeon runs, and guild clerks processing requests. The scent of mana-infused potions and synthetic coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the faint hum of holographic displays showcasing available jobs.
Raziel observed the scene with mild interest. He had fought celestial wars, executed demigods, and brought divine judgment upon entire galaxies, yet standing in this guild as a mere B-Rank hunter was a stark contrast to his former existence.
"First things first," he muttered. "I need a mission."He approached the mission board, where digital postings flickered in and out of existence. The tasks ranged from simple resource gathering to dangerous dungeon expeditions. Some were marked Solo, while others required a team.
Before he could make his selection, a voice scoffed beside him."A rookie looking for a mission already? Bold."
Raziel turned to see a young man leaning against the board, arms crossed. He had short blond hair, a cocky grin, and a badge signifying A-Rank pinned to his jacket. His build was athletic, his posture relaxed but confident."You must be new," the blond continued. "Name's Dante Moreau. And you are...?"
"Raziel," he replied simply.
Dante raised an eyebrow. "No last name?"
Raziel shrugged. "Does it matter?"
Dante let out a low chuckle. "Mysterious. I like it. Though, I should warn you; B-Rank or not, the real challenge is surviving your first mission. Especially without a team."
Raziel scanned the mission board, uninterested in Dante's prodding. The Divine Bounty System flickered in his vision, overlaying additional rewards over the existing mission descriptions.
Mission: Material Gathering (Guild Rank: F)
Objective: Help gather timber for reconstruction of Sectors 10-12
Hunter Guild Rewards: 500 credits
[DBS Rewards]: 20 EP
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Mission: Escort Government Official (Guild Rank: D)
Objective: Help escort a lower government official with a group of other hunters.
Hunter Guild Rewards: 750 credits
[DBS Rewards]: 50 EP
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Mission: Hunt Basic Corrupted Beasts (Guild Rank: C)
Objective: Eliminate a group of 3 or 4 normal Corrupted Beasts.
Hunter Guild Rewards: 5,000 credits, basic equipment.
[DBS Rewards]: 500 EP
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Mission: Culling the Infested (Guild Rank: B)
Objective: Eliminate a growing nest of Corrupted Beasts in the city outskirts.
Hunter Guild Rewards: 8,000 credits, basic equipment, increased guild standing.
[DBS Rewards]: 1,500 EP, [Lesser Cursed Talisman – Reduces corruption buildup by 10%]
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Mission: Special Beast Hunt (Guild Rank: A)
Objective: Eliminate the target (Mutated Nightfang) before it reaches the city perimeter.
Hunter Guild Rewards: 12,000 credits, mana-infused gold greatsword, rare potion set.
[DBS Rewards]: 3,500 EP, [Executioner's Whisper (Basic Relic) – An enchanted cloak that dampens footsteps]
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His gaze lingered on the Special Beast Hunt mission. It was a straightforward hunt, something he was more than accustomed to. The DBS reward was of particular interest; In addition to 3,500 EP and the Executioner's Whisper, an uncommon relic, what caught his eye most was the gold greatsword. In the past, the main weapon he wielded was a greatsword forged from the depths of Hephaestus. Obviously, this was just a regular, mortal sword, but it would still be of great use before he could purchase anything from the EP shop.
Dante noticed Raziel's choice and let out a low whistle. "An A-rank mission? And it's the mutate Nightfang. I just want to let you know, most rookies take material gathering missions, rarely even a B-rank corrupted beast hunt."
"I'm not most rookies," Raziel said, selecting the mission tag.
Dante smirked. "I figured. Tell you what, since I'm heading out for a different A-Rank job, how about we make a wager?"
Raziel raised an eyebrow. "What kind of wager?"
Dante's grin widened. "Whoever finishes their mission first wins. Loser buys drinks."
Raziel couldn't care less. He had no interest in socializing, but understanding the hunters around him could be useful. Plus, Dante's confidence suggested he wasn't just talk, perhaps someone worth keeping an eye on.
"Fine," Raziel agreed.
Dante laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "I like you already, Raziel. See you on the other side."
With that, he turned and walked off, leaving Raziel to head for his first official mission.
...
When Raziel went to register for the mission, the pretty receptionist told him to wait for team members to be assigned.
"Since this mission is a rank higher than yours, you need at least 2 other hunters of B rank of higher."
...
After waiting for a few minutes, a scoff sounded beside him.
"You're are team member? Didn't take you for the reckless type, rookie."
Raziel turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man with cropped dark hair and a jagged scar runnning down his right cheek. His hunter ID badge was clipped to his belt:
-Garrick — A-Rank Hunter-
His arms were crossed, with an expression of amusement and warning.
"You just got your license, and you're already going after a Nightfang?" Garrick said, tilted his head, scratching it. "Either your confident, or you've got a death wish."
Raziel met his gaze, unfazed. "Should I be concerned?"
Garrick let out a short laugh. "Only if you're not a complete idiot. Didn't Dante tell you this? He is supposed to guide rookies and help them choose missions. Anyways, n
ewbies stick to D-Rank hunts. C-Rank Beasts can rip apart any hunter below B-Rank, and even be a danger to B-Ranks."
"I'll manage," Raziel replied simply, confirming the mission.
Garrick narrowed his eyes, studying his physique. "You some kind of ex-soldier?"
"You could say that."
Before Garrick could question further, another voice cut in behind Garrick.
"I think he'll be fine, Garrick. He doesn't look like the usual fresh meat. And he got B-Rank from his first evaluation, it's very impressive."
A woman approached, arms folded accross her chest. She had fiery red hair tied into a loose ponytail, sharp green eyes, and a confident smirk. Her badge read:
-Selene — B-Rank Hunter-
Unlike Garrick, she didn't seem skeptical, but more intrigued.
"Most rookies piss themselves when they see their first real mission," she continued, looking Raziel up and down. "But you? You look like you've been hunting things your whole life."
Raziel chuckled. "Something like that. But before we continue, I wanted to let you know that I work alone."
Selene raise a brow. "Oh? That's a shame. I was hoping to see how a rookie like you handles a real fight."
Garrick shook his head. "If he wants to fight alone, let him. Not our problem if he gets torn apart. All we miss out on is the rewards anyway."
Selene shrugged. "Suit yourself, Raziel. But don't die too quickly—I'm curious to see what you're made of."
Raziel said nothing as he turned and walked out of the guild.
...
The air was thick with the scent of rot. The outskirts of the city were far less maintained than the bustling inner districts, with old, crumbling buildings standing as remnants of a time before the Gods abandoned this world.
Raziel moved silently through the ruined streets, his senses sharp. The mission details mentioned that the Nightfang had been sighted near an abandoned industrial sector, hunting stray scavengers and lower-ranked hunters who wandered too close.
He crouched, scanning the ground. Fresh claw marks on the pavement. The beast was close.
A low growl rumbled through the air.Raziel turned just in time to see red eyes gleaming in the darkness.
The Nightfang emerged from the shadows—a massive, wolf-like creature with obsidian fur matted with corruption. Its body pulsed with dark mana, its fangs dripping with venom.
[Divine Bounty System]
[Analysis: Mutated Nightfang – C-Rank]
Strength: High
Speed: Above Average
Weakness: Exposed core beneath ribcage
Raziel cracked his knuckles. "Let's see how strong you are."
The Nightfang lunged.
Raziel dodged effortlessly, shifting to the side as its claws slashed through the air where he had just been. He countered with a sharp kick to its ribs, sending it skidding backward.
The beast snarled but didn't hesitate—it attacked again, this time faster. Raziel narrowly avoided the swipe, but the beast twisted mid-air, adapting to his movements.
Clever.
Raziel's instincts screamed at him to counter, but his current mortal body lacked the overwhelming strength he once wielded as an executioner. He couldn't overpower it directly.
Then he remembered that he had gotten a basic sword from the Hunter Guild resources.He unsheathed the sword from his waist with a relaxed grip just as the Nightfang lunged again. This time, instead of dodging, Raziel sidestepped and slashed.
The blade dug deep into the creatures side, spraying black fluid onto the pavement. It staggered back, momentarily disoriented. Raziel didn't waste this opening. He dashed forward, sword aimed for the exposed weak point beneath its ribs.
But before he could land the finishing blow—
Another snarl echoed through the air.
Raziel's eyes flicked upward. A second pair of red eyes glowed in the darkness.
There wasn't just one Nightfang.
There were three.