Chapter 5: Before the Storm
Inside the Black Tiger Guild's headquarters, a heavy silence filled the room after the explosive surge of Lionel's aura.
Some hunters stared at him in astonishment, others with wary gazes, while a select few showed an unprecedented interest.
"That kid… he's not ordinary."
"How could someone his age possess such power?"
"Has he been hiding his true strength all this time?"
But amidst the murmurs, Lionel stood firm, indifferent to their stares. Beside him, Marco Redman and Selena Valstein stood ready to assist him in explaining the situation.
Lionel Explains the Situation
Taking a step forward, Lionel spoke in a clear, steady voice:
"The area that was once our city… is now a fortress for demons. The black dome that appeared wasn't just a barrier—it was a declaration of conquest."
Marco added grimly:
"The demons inside the dome aren't mere monsters. There's order, a hierarchy… and they all serve an unknown Demon King."
Selena continued, her eyes filled with concern:
"We saw them bow before him… all of them. Even the strongest among them knelt as if he were their god."
Some hunters swallowed hard before one of them spoke up nervously:
"If they're that powerful… how did you escape?"
Ray, looking at Lionel, answered:
"It was pure chance. We got out just moments before the dome fully formed… if we had been a second late, we'd be trapped inside with the others."
A heavy silence filled the room until René, the guild leader, spoke in a firm tone:
"Then we cannot allow this to continue. We have to launch an attack."
Formulating the Attack Plan
After hours of discussion, a solid battle plan was set:
100 Rank A hunters would take on the B+ ranked demons.
20 Rank S hunters would face the four royal guards.
René and Lionel would confront the Demon King himself.
Marco, Ray, and Selena didn't like this decision.
Selena (stubbornly): "I'm coming with you! I can't just sit back and do nothing!"
Marco: "Don't even think about leaving us behind!"
Ray: "We survived together—we'll fight together!"
But Lionel shook his head resolutely.
"No. You'll be with the main force—I don't want to lose you."
Before they could protest further, René interrupted, extending his hand toward Lionel, holding a small black-and-silver ring.
"Take this."
Lionel looked at the ring, raising an eyebrow in question.
"What is this…?"
"An S+ rank ring." "It holds a single-use destructive spell—use it against the king when the time is right."
Lionel took the ring in silence, clenching his fist around it, feeling the weight of the responsibility now resting on his shoulders.
Final Preparations for War
In the following hours, everyone began preparing:
Equipment and weapons were checked.
Hunters bid farewell to their families in case they didn't return.
Some sat quietly, either praying or mentally preparing themselves.
"Will we all come back alive?"
"Don't think like that—we're strong. We'll make it."
"But this time… the enemy is different."
Lionel sat on the guild's rooftop, staring at the distant city, when Selena quietly joined him.
"Are you afraid?" she asked softly.
Lionel didn't answer immediately before finally saying in a calm voice:
"I'm not afraid of dying… I'm afraid of failing."
Selena looked at him for a moment before offering a faint smile.
"Yo
u won't fail. I know that."
—
Two Days Until the Attack… The Countdown Begins.
End of Chapter 5.