Sara’s eyes flashed with a hint of shyness at Calvin’s words but she said nothing.Eric’s gaze, however, burned with rage as he stared at the money in Calvin’s hand.Three years.He had been with Sara for three whole years. In all that time, she had never let him hold her hand, never allowed him closer than an arm’s length. And he had accepted it. Endured it. Believed that if he worked harder, if he proved himself, one day she would look at him differently.But now?She and Calvin hadn’t even been together long. Days, maybe less, he had no idea. And yet…So this was the power of money.Of rank.And the audacity to tell him to buy them protection.‘I should be S-rank pathetic at this moment,’ Eric thought bitterly. ‘So pathetic it’s almost laughable.’What made it worse was the truth he couldn’t deny.He needed that money.Five hundred SLC could cover part of his little sister’s tuition for the new year, adding to his savings. It could ease the weight crushing his chest just a little.

Eric found himself in a cavern so vast it seemed endless. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth from the ceiling, dripping water that echoed through the cavern and the ground beneath his feet was uneven, littered with rocks and debris. Strange glowing moss clung to the walls, faintly illuminating narrow passages that split off in multiple directions. “Jeff, light the place up,” Regan ordered. “Everyone else, stay alert.”Eric watched in awe as a young man named Jeff extended his hand and conjured a bright, circular light that floated above them.The rest of the hunters looked so calm, he could tell this wasn't their first rodeo. They were already adjusting their armor, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the cavern.And Eric? Every step he took was making the backpack feel heavier. He had never been in this situation before and had no idea what to expect or what he would do once he saw a monster.He had read about monsters, seen their images in books, watched videos of Hunters fighting, but

Several Hunters turned to look at Eric, their expressions immediately darkening.Some frowned openly, others clicked their tongues in clear displeasure.“Are you sure about that?” one of them asked Regan. “I don’t think this is the right call, Regan.”Another Hunter crossed his arms. “He’s just an E-rank. Bringing him inside makes no sense.”Regan did not look bothered in the slightest.“Don’t worry,” he said calmly. “Killing the Alpha will be easy. There’s no way an E-rank will be in danger… under my watch.”Then his gaze shifted to Eric.“Come here, Eric.”Something about the way Regan said his name made Eric frown. The tone was casual, almost dismissive, as if he were calling over a tool rather than a person.Eric hesitated.‘Why me?’ he wondered as he stepped forward. ‘Why not one of them?’They were experienced Hunters. Fighters. People who actually belonged in places like this. And him? He was just a carrier. Someone who should stay in the back, far away from danger.Wasn’t tha

Eric stared blankly at Regan. His eyes followed the movement of Regan’s hand as the bloodied sword slowly lifted and pointed straight at him. The blade was still slick with monster blood, droplets sliding down and staining the stone between them. Eric swallowed hard. His breathing was uneven, shallow, his heart hammering so violently it felt like it might tear out of his chest. “Why?” he asked hoarsely, forcing himself to meet Regan’s gaze. “I’ve done nothing to you, Regan. Why would you want to kill me?” Regan let out a low, mocking chuckle. His teeth clenched as pain rippled through him and he reached up with one hand to clutch his ribs, blood seeping between his fingers. “You really can be a dummy, Eric,” he said, shaking his head. “You handed me a rare opportunity on a silver platter. You walked your dumb E-rank ass straight into my domain and even signed the contract without thinking.” His eyes narrowed, sharp and cold. “I guess that just proves how desperate you really a