William sat on the ground in the passageway leading to the room with the matrix. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his body aching from the exertion. Though he had managed to regain some of his breath, his mana reserves were dangerously low. It would take time for his mana to heal, and unfortunately, he didn't have enough wealth points to exchange for any quick remedies. He had no choice but to wait and try to regain his mana through the usual methods. Resting until his body stabilized was one such method; only then would his mind follow suit. A stabilized mind would initiate the process of regaining mana, allowing him to return to his full strength.Further down the passageway, Carson was engaged in a fierce battle. His swords clashed with those of multiple masked men. There were about twenty of them, all identical in height, weight, clothing, and even their masks. Not a single detail distinguished one from the other.Why was this? It was because they were clones!"
"In the future, chaos will befall this world. The secret of that chaos lies within this scroll. When the time comes, the scroll will open on its own and reveal its secrets. Initially, the scroll stated this prophecy, but when I reached the peak stage of Rank 3, I managed to open it, catching only a glimpse of the secret. The scroll is likely to reveal all its secrets to you, and I hope you will use them wisely."Carson informed William, but William found the whole message confusing. Though he comprehended everything, he didn't truly believe that this world would plunge into further chaos than it already experiences, nor could he grasp how a scroll could hold a secret accessible only at a certain rank or during the onset of the chaos mentioned."Alright, I will keep it with me," William stood up, sliding the scroll into his ring."You said you were leaving? Where to, if I may ask?" William inquired, his curiosity piqued."I haven't decided yet, but I might go to a place inaccessible to
Three helicopters flew over the Storm family mansion, their rotors cutting through the dark, turbulent air. From one of the helicopters, Johnson peered down, his eyes fixed on the Bloodcrest brothers who stood outside, awaiting the emergence of their siblings so they could make their escape.Unfortunately for them, their plans were about to be thwarted. The hunter organization had arrived on the scene, their presence marked by the ominous approach of the helicopters."Damn it," one of the Bloodcrest brothers cursed, his voice a mix of anger and fear as he looked up at the approaching helicopters.Each helicopter bore the unmistakable symbol of the hunter organization, a vivid emblem that left no doubt about their identity.Johnson shifted his gaze from the villains below and turned to address his fellow hunters. Speaking through his mouthpiece, he commanded, "Attack at once. Make them surrender, and if they don't, kill them.""Understood," the hunters responded in unison, their voices
It was a dark space, reminiscent of Earth, but without the sun, moon, or any other source of natural light. This place, though similar to Earth in appearance, was not as expansive. At most, it had the size of the smallest continent on Earth. The vast emptiness of the space was punctuated by a single dominating feature.In the center of this mysterious realm stood a towering mountain that covered most of the available land. This mountain, with its sheer cliffs and jagged peaks, seemed almost otherworldly. Surrounding the mountain was a serene lake, its waters glowing with a soft, ethereal light, much like the moonlight that it sorely lacked. The tranquility of the lake was mesmerizing, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the dim light in a manner that made it appear almost magical.In addition to this mountain and lake, the space was adorned with various types of vegetation. Tall trees with lush foliage produced golden fruits that seemed to shimmer with an inner energy. These fruits, ra
Inside a dimly lit room at the regional headquarters of the Hunter Organization, cries of pain echoed through the air. The sounds of torment were everywhere"Ahhh! Please, don't hurt me anymore!" one voice begged, filled with fear."Ahhh, you bastard! I'll kill you once I manage to escape from here, and I will murder your entire family alongside you. Just try that again... ahhhh!" another voice screamed, defiant even in pain.The room was a place of despair and bravery. Some captives begged for mercy, their fear of pain overwhelming them. Others, despite their agony, stayed defiant and issued threats.The captives were members of the Blood Crest Brotherhood, chained to metal chairs. Their bodies were marked with injuries—some had severe wounds, others were missing fingers. They all shared one thing, they were in great pain.Standing before them was Johnson, a man with a cruel grin. He held a bloodied, sharp knife. His eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he wielded the instrument of t
Before William, Clarissa, Charles, and Lady Storm were released from the hunter organization, they were subjected to numerous interrogations, most of which revolved around Carson's whereabouts. The relentless questions seemed never-ending, and the intensity of the interrogations was exhausting.William was the only one who knew how Carson had left and where he was. He understood the intricacies of Carson’s escape plan, and even if he had disclosed this information to the hunter organization, they would have been unable to locate Carson. Lady Storm and her grandchildren also withheld any information regarding Carson's location. This frustrated Mark Grayson to no end. Though his annoyance and fury were hidden beneath a calm face, he managed to conceal his frustration in front of the family. He knew that any overt display of anger might compromise his position and weaken his authority.Determined to find Carson, Mark Grayson summoned a special task force within the hunter organization.
Starkcom HotelA beautifully dressed Clarion could be seen walking beside a casually dressed William. Despite the casual clothes he wore, William stood out, making several ladies tilt their heads in his direction. His height and handsome face were a divine magnet for women. However, unfortunately for the women, he was already taken.Walking behind them was Penber. His huge figure stopped the passersby from getting close to William and Clarion. Penber was not just a bodyguard; his presence was intimidating enough to deter anyone who might have had the idea of approaching too closely. Today was the date of the meeting where the top shareholders of Starkcom would meet and discuss several important matters. This meeting was crucial as it involved significant decisions about the company’s future, investments, and strategic directions. TAlthough William didn't want to attend, he was forced to because his share was threatened. His position as a major shareholder meant his presence was nece
Earlier that day:Jack Froster was in his luxurious room, preparing for both a meeting and the school reunion later that day. He wore a red suit and was putting on a very expensive shoe when his phone rang.He walked over to the table and picked it up."Sir, I have prepared everything. Should I take them to the location now?" a man's voice came through the phone.A smile crept onto Jack's face. "Great, take it there. I'll discuss with my secretary to send your payment immediately.""Understood, sir," the man replied before the call ended.After hanging up, Jack chuckled to himself. ‘Haha, I can't wait to see how William reacts to all the humiliating things I have on him. He will pay for talking dirty at the car shop,’ Jack thought.* * *At the meeting hall:‘What is this bastard doing here?’ Jack Froster was shocked to see William walking into a room only millionaires could enter.Jack kept staring at William with puzzlement, as though he was awaiting an explanation. He never expecte
The world had changed, but it was slowly mending. The scars left by the apocalypse were deep, and the memories of those harrowing days would never truly fade, but humanity was resilient. Two weeks had passed since the hunters had emerged victorious from the Death Tower, and in that short time, the earth had already begun to heal.The sky was a clear blue, the clouds soft and white, drifting peacefully above a world that had been plunged into darkness for so long. The air, once thick with the stench of decay and the virus that had plagued humanity, was now clean and fresh, a reminder of the life that had been restored. Birds, absent during the apocalypse, had returned, their songs filling the air with a sense of normalcy that had been absent for far too long.The government, once crippled by the chaos, had reestablished itself. Leaders who had survived the ordeal stepped forward, determined to rebuild the world that had been nearly destroyed. They worked tirelessly, organizing effo
William blinked as the light surrounding him began to fade, the familiar, comforting warmth of reality returning to him.The oppressive darkness and twisted landscape were gone, replaced by the cool air and the solid ground beneath his feet.He felt the weight of exhaustion settle over him, but with it came a profound sense of relief. He had won.As his vision cleared, William found himself standing at the entrance of the Death Tower, the same place where their perilous journey had begun. He wasn’t alone. Around him, the surviving hunters appeared, emerging from their own battles, their faces a mixture of disbelief, exhaustion, and profound relief.They were fewer in number—much fewer. What had once been a group of sixty had been reduced to a small, ragged handful. They looked at each other, their eyes wide with surprise and then, slowly, with growing joy as they realized what had happened. They had survived. They had made it out alive.Carson was the first to speak, his voice hoars
William stared at the figure before him, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the twisted reflection standing just a few paces away. The smirk on the doppelganger's face was chilling, filled with an arrogance and darkness that William recognized but had never embraced himself. This was not just a reflection; it was something far more sinister. "Who are you?" William demanded, his voice steady, though the unease gnawed at him. "Why do you look like me?" The doppelganger tilted its head slightly, the smirk widening. "I am the Dark One," it said, its voice a distorted echo of William's own. "The force behind the apocalypse, the one who brought chaos and ruin to your world." William’s eyes widened in shock, and then narrowed in anger. "You... You’re the one who unleashed the zombies, who turned the world into a living nightmare?" His grip tightened on his sword, the blade beginning to glow faintly with the power of his blood magic. "Why? Why would you do something so monstrous?
After venturing into the portal, the fate of all the hunters were left in their own hands. Each of them were sent to a new world to face a different challenge. A large numbers of the hunters died the moment they appeared!Some fought with their last bits of strengths, the zeal to survive pushing them further. Nevertheless most of them were unable to wrestle against their own fate. Some like Carson and Gregor survived. A lot faced unfortunate deaths, their fates ended! This was the job of the death tower after all. ....Mark found himself standing in a desolate wasteland, the ground cracked and barren, with jagged rocks jutting out of the earth like broken teeth. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds, and the air was thick with the smell of sulfur. There was no sign of life, no movement, only the oppressive silence of a world that had been long abandoned."Where am I?" Mark muttered to himself, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. He looked aroun
Gregor awoke to a world of fire and smoke. The ground beneath him was hot, the air thick with ash and the smell of burning flesh. He groaned as he pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the strain of the previous battles. But as he looked around, he realized that he was alone.“Carson? William?” he called out, but his voice was swallowed by the roar of the flames that surrounded him.He was standing in the middle of a volcanic wasteland, the ground cracked and scorched, with rivers of molten lava flowing through the fissures. The sky above was a dark, stormy gray, with ash and embers swirling in the air like a deadly blizzard. In the distance, he could see massive volcanic peaks, their slopes glowing with the intense heat of the lava flows.There was no sign of his comrades, no trace of the others who had fought by his side. Gregor clenched his fists, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. “Where am I? What is this place?”But there was no time for a
As the hunters leaped into the light, they felt a sudden, jarring sensation as if the very fabric of reality had shifted around them. The blinding brightness enveloped them, and for a moment, it felt as though they were floating in an endless void. But then, just as quickly, the sensation ended, and they found themselves standing on solid ground once more.The light receded, and with it, the warmth that had surrounded them. Each of them opened their eyes to a new reality—one that was far from the serene landscape they had glimpsed before. Instead, they were plunged into separate worlds, each one a twisted, chaotic reflection of the challenges they had already faced. And worst of all, they were alone.Carson blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He was standing in a dense forest, but it was unlike any forest he had ever seen. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the
The robotic voice barely finished speaking when the ground beneath the hunters began to tremble violently. Before they could react, the floor cracked open beneath their feet, creating a gaping tunnel that spiraled downward into darkness. Without a moment’s hesitation, William shouted, “Into the tunnel! Move!”The hunters, their instincts honed by the countless battles they had fought, didn’t waste time questioning. They jumped into the tunnel, their bodies sliding down the smooth, obsidian-like surface as the walls blurred past them. The descent was steep, and the sensation of speed was dizzying, but none of them allowed fear to take hold. They knew that whatever awaited them at the end of this tunnel was the final challenge of the tower.The tunnel seemed to stretch on endlessly, the darkness oppressive and suffocating. But far ahead, a faint light appeared, growing brighter as they drew closer. The sight of it brought a spark of hope to the hunters—they were nearing the end.Howeve
In the inferno purgatory, Willaim and the hunters heard a very loud shriek that pierce through the core of emotions and inflicts all sort of negative emotions, including fears. William quickly pun around, his eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the noise. The flames flickered and danced in the distance, casting long shadows across the cracked ground, but there was nothing else in sight.But then the shadows began to move.From the darkness between the flames, figures began to emerge. At first, they were little more than dark shapes, but as they drew closer, their forms became clearer. They were tall, towering over the hunters, with long, tattered robes that billowed around them like smoke. Their faces were hidden beneath deep hoods, but their eyes—glowing a sickly green—burned with a cold, unholy light.Each figure carried a massive scythe, the blades glinting wickedly in the firelight. They moved with a slow, deliberate grace, their skel
As William stepped through the portal, the world around him dissolved into a blur of light and energy. The sensation was disorienting, as if he were being pulled through a tunnel at breakneck speed, but it lasted only a moment. When the light faded, he found himself standing in a place that defied all sense of reality.The ground beneath his feet was blackened and cracked, as if the very earth had been scorched by an unrelenting fire. Flames flickered and danced across the landscape, casting an eerie, orange glow that bathed everything in a hellish light. The air was thick with heat, and the smell of sulfur and burning flesh hung heavy in the air, making it difficult to breathe.All around them, the landscape stretched out in a twisted, nightmarish expanse. Jagged mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks wreathed in fire and smoke. Rivers of molten lava snaked through the land, their glowing currents radiating an intense heat that made the skin prickle. And everywhere they l