The room remained quiet for several seconds after Miles finished speaking.Gary stood near the foot of the bed, his arms loosely folded as he considered the explanation. Beside him, Kwon reviewed the notes on his tablet, occasionally adjusting his glasses as he read through the testimony again.Miles kept his expression calm.Inside, however, he waited.If they pushed further, he would need another explanation.If they questioned the potion—If they cross-checked the mana readings—But after a moment, Gary finally nodded.“That explanation is reasonable.”Miles blinked slightly.Kwon also gave a small nod as he finished typing the last of his notes.“The details of your story align with the testimonies given by the other surviving hunters,” he said. “And emergency-grade healing potions would explain the condition you were found in.”He tapped the screen once more before locking the tablet.Gary turned back to Miles.“We appreciate your cooperation.”The tension in the room loosened sl

After leaving the Association building, Miles walked several blocks down the busy district streets. Eventually, he arrived at another massive structure. The Hunter Trade Center. Unlike the formal atmosphere of the Association headquarters, this place was far more lively. Merchants shouted deals. Hunters negotiated equipment prices. Weapon displays filled entire store windows. This was where hunters bought everything they needed for dungeon raids. Miles stepped inside. If he was going to hunt seriously from now on, he couldn’t keep relying on the cheap equipment he used as a porter. He spent the next hour browsing through different stores. A reinforced combat jacket. Lightweight armor plating. A new combat blade forged from monster-grade steel. Durable gloves. Utility belts. By the time he finished, the bags in his hands were noticeably heavier. But the equipment was worth it. This gear would keep him alive inside future dungeons. Miles exited the tra

A few minutes later, several armored vehicles screeched to a halt near the destroyed intersection.Hunters poured out immediately.They wore the insignia of a nearby guild—one that had been stationed in the district precisely for emergencies like this.“Spread out!”“Secure the area!”“Watch for survivors!”The hunters moved quickly through the ruined street.But as they looked around…Something felt strange.One of the hunters frowned.“…Wait.”Another stepped over the charred remains of a kobloid corpse.“…What the hell?”The street was littered with signs of battle.Burn marks.Dead monsters.Destroyed storefronts.But there were no monsters left alive.Not a single one.The hunter crouched beside one of the kobloid bodies.Its body had been completely burned.“Hellfire?” he muttered.Another hunter approached.“Where’s the rift?”The first hunter pointed toward the center of the road.“It closed.”“What?”The man stood up.“That doesn’t make sense.”Normally, a rift remained open

For the next several hours, the hunt continued. Miles moved like a phantom, shadows dancing across his path. Each encounter followed a rhythm he had perfected over years of practice and survival. He would spot a creature, measure its distance, anticipate its attack pattern, and strike before it could react.He harvested mana crystals from the corpses, vital organs, and rare components from the beasts—careful to gather everything that might carry value in the human realm.Every step, every strike, every crystal gathered… it’s for Mia, he reminded himself. Everything I do out here, every risk I take… it’s for her.He paused briefly at a jagged cliff, gazing over a valley alive with residual mana currents. The sun was dipping lower, painting the Outlands in streaks of crimson and violet. His body ached slightly from exertion, but his regeneration ability had long healed his minor cuts and bruises, leaving only a light sheen of sweat across his skin.Finally, after a relentless day of hun

For the next several weeks, Miles maintained a routine that quickly became second nature to him. Every morning, he would leave early, ensuring Mia was either asleep or distracted, careful not to reveal where he was truly going. To her, he was simply taking on small hunter-related jobs, nothing too dangerous—just enough to earn money gradually. She never suspected that her quiet, reserved brother was venturing deep into the Outlands alone day after day, fighting demonic beasts and pushing himself to the brink.Each trip followed a similar pattern. Miles would cross the border gate with minimal conversation, sprint across the familiar terrain, and hunt relentlessly until the sun began its descent. Goblins, kobloids, horned wolves, spiked lizards—anything that crossed his path became prey. His movements grew sharper with every hunt, his reaction speed faster, his control over his abilities more refined. The hell flames he once used cautiously now flowed more naturally, burning hotter and