The guild master never bothered waiting for Ray’s reply. His grin widened, the challenge already set in his mind. But before he could even take a step forward, Ray’s form blurred like an afterimage being erased from existence. In the blink of an eye, Ray reappeared right in front of him, sword already arcing toward the man’s chest. The guild master reacted quickly, steel flashing as he brought his blade up to meet the strike. "That’s more like it," he said with a grin that suggested he had been waiting for this exact moment. Their blades clashed sharply, metal ringing against metal. A small shockwave rippled through the room, the force traveling down both their arms, yet neither of them budged. They stood firm, their swords locked. "It seems our strength is almost the same," the guild master said with an expression that mixed satisfaction with curiosity. Ray said nothing. He didn’t feel like entertaining small talk. He wanted this over and done with. Any benefit he once thought he

In New Italy, the organization responsible for overseeing all awakened activity was known simply as the Italian Association. Like its counterparts around the world, it had been established by the government to maintain order in a world that had been turned upside down by the Day of apocalypse. The Association was made up of high-level Gifteds whose authority rivaled that of the strongest guilds. Their responsibilities were broad. They regulated Gifteds nationwide, monitored the Abyss Gates that already existed, and handled every newly appearing Abyss Gate across the country. No Abyss Gate could be entered without their approval. No monster-hunting expedition could begin without permits signed by The Association and other major ruling entities in New Italy. They decided who was allowed inside a Abyss Gate, what level restrictions applied, and which organizations were permitted to handle dangerous territories. Their power was absolute. Even the Church could not bypass the system. Altho

After stripping the Tiger Guild down to its bones, Ray didn’t head anywhere near his usual haunts. Instead, he crossed the city completely, weaving through back streets and quiet districts until he was certain that nobody was trailing him. It wasn’t paranoia. It was common sense. He had just robbed a rising guild backed by one of the most dangerous martial families in New Japan, so it was better to be cautious. He knew he was strong, easily somewhere among the strongest one hundred Gifteds alive. Realistically, he would probably land somewhere around the top fifty or sixty. And that wasn’t because he lacked power, but because everyone else kept growing. The world was advancing at a pace that made his head hurt. The Lin family alone was ridiculous, stacking Ki cultivation on top of Gifted skills as though they were running some kind of cosmic cheat code. Even with everything he could do right now, Ray didn’t harbor the slightest illusion that he could survive a confrontation with the

"Time to level up." [You are facing more than ten opponents.] [The effect of the title 'Solo Hunter' has been activated.] [All your physical attributes will temporarily increase by 10%.] Ray tightened his grip on the Monster Slayer and charged straight ahead. The first Plague Silk Spider lurched toward him, its massive legs scraping across the web-coated ground. Ray slid under it in one smooth motion and weaved through its eight legs as if he had rehearsed this dance a thousand times. He drove his blade deep into the soft underside, ripping the flesh open. A spray of thick, green blood splattered across the ground. The creature screeched, but it refused to die. Even a strike to its weakest spot was not enough to drop it instantly. Plague Silk Spiders were tough creatures. Their bodies were encased in scale-like armor everywhere except the underbelly. If Ray reacted fast enough and dodged their venom spit and those rope-thick webs, he could handle them. The trouble came from the

Ray squinted toward the faint thud he felt through the ground. Someone had landed about ten meters away, the presence sharp enough to cut through the lingering smoke. Behind that figure, several kilometers out, he sensed more signatures heading in his direction. They were strong, but not as strong as the one who had arrived first. He let out a quiet sigh. He already had a solid guess about who it was. All he could hope for was that they were not stupid enough to start a pointless fight. He turned slowly, letting the smoke shift around him, and finally got a clear look at the visitor. The figure was a woman, her silhouette unmistakable even beneath the dark hooded attire that clung to her like a second skin. The veil and shape of the gear made her look like the type of assassin who would show up in the final act of an action movie. But Ray noticed something more important. On her arms and chest, bright even in the low light, he saw the Church insignia. She held a spear ready at her