Hal’s blood was still pumping with excitement. The first reward had been insane, and the rush of power from it hadn’t fully settled in his veins yet. His fingers twitched in anticipation as he dragged the interface back up. “Alright… second reward.” He said, tapping it quickly. [Reward 2: +20 Intelligence.] Hal dumped all 20 points into Intelligence without hesitation, then he exhaled slowly. Everything… was going according to plan. “Now for the last reward.” Reward 3 had been sitting there, untouched, ominous in its vagueness. He was really curious what it would be. Despite being totally satisfied with the first reward, Hal couldn't deny the little nervousness he felt as he claimed the ominous third reward. [Reward 3: Unknown Reward.] Hal narrowed his eyes; he disliked unknown stuffings. They meant possibilities… and risks. “Unknown reward, huh?” He rubbed his palms together. “Let’s see what you’re hiding.” He tapped Claim. The interface flickered. [Reward 3 has been mad

The words sounded strange, unbelievable, and damning all at once to Hal. _Our recent advancement in science… surely nuclear weapons capable of destroying half of Earth in one go can do something… something to stop that bastard…_ The system remained silent and floated before him, its glow faint, almost sympathetic, as if it was giving him a moment to cling to his last sliver of hope before tearing it away. _Fine… then the Hunters. All S-Rank Hunters combined—surely they can put a stop to him. Definitely…_ "The civilization of the Primes was five times more advanced in science than Earth currently is." "And he started his hunt with them." Five times more advanced. Those words didn’t just break Hal’s confidence. They obliterated it. What kind of existence did this have on a civilization that advanced? Was there truly no hope? Was Earth fated to crumble just like the others? “This can’t happen to Earth,” Hal whispered through gritted teeth. “I won’t allow it.” Krygios was a be

Chapter 135 For a long moment, Hal didn’t breathe. Fifty percent. Half. A coin toss. A knife balanced on its edge. A silent, merciless probability hanging over the fate of Earth and everyone he cared about. “…Fifty percent,” Hal repeated under his breath, as if saying it aloud might change the number. It didn’t. The words felt heavy in his mouth, heavier in his chest. “My world… my sister… only has a fifty percent chance of survival?” The Celestial Interface hovered still, its form dimmed slightly, as though giving him space for the weight of the revelation to settle. Hal’s throat tightened. The earlier awe, the fury he felt while watching the fall of the Veyri Hai, the memory of their final stand—it all twisted together inside him into something cold and suffocating. A fifty percent chance. “That’s not enough,” Hal whispered. His hands trembled. He clenched them into fists, nails digging into his palms. “That’s… not enough.” He felt powerless again. Like the weak boy staring

The Testing Reception Room was colder than Hal remembered. He stepped inside after paying at the counter and found himself surrounded by a half-dozen chairs arranged in a nervous semicircle. Holographic posters lined the walls—“Know Your Limitations”, “Safety First, Hunter Second”, and the classic “Reassess Responsibly.” Hal sat down quietly, three others were already there, each clearly waiting for their turn to be evaluated. They all looked anxious, with their feet tapping, knees bouncing, and strained expressions. Exactly how Hal used to sit during his first assessment all those years ago. _Feels like forever now_ he thought, leaning back comfortably. He crossed his arms and exhaled. There was no tension in his shoulders, no racing heartbeat. Just clarity. He already knew exactly how strong he was. The ranking was merely a formality now—a public explanation for what he could already do. The only thing actually strong in his heart was the impending doom that hovered secre

Steven Holmes, Guild Master of Hollow Syndicate, sat with his legs crossed, staring calmly at the rows of screens hovering across his office. The man looked perfectly composed silver tie, dark suit, hair slicked back with military precision, but his eyes were sharp and predatory, always searching, always calculating.The second strongest Guild in Kansas didn’t earn its reputation through raw power like Vanguard did.It earned it through intelligence, speed, and taking opportunities before anyone else.His personal secretary, Liam Ford, burst through the door.“Boss, we’ve got something,” Liam said, a bit out of breath.Steven didn’t turn immediately. A corner of his lip curved upward.“Your footsteps say it’s important,” he drawled. “Speak.”Liam gulped once.“Hal Rodgraim has been spotted at the Organization Bureau.”Steven’s hand stopped mid-air.Slowly, he turned, gaze sharpening.“…The E-rank?”“Not just that,” Liam continued. “Elliot Vorden is already on his way there. He left t