The female news anchor's voice from the flat-screen TV broke the silence of thedimly lit apartment."...The damage on this inter-sector highway is estimated to reach trillions of rupiah. The police and Hunter Association who arrived at dawn found a truly horrifying scene. Six luxury cars burned to a crisp, the asphalt melted within a one-kilometer radius, and over fifty bodies were found dismembered."The television screen showed drone footage highlighting the completely destroyed highway. Yellow police tape was strung up everywhere."The Central Hunter Association has released an official statement that the Black Dragon Syndicate has been wiped out overnight. However, the main concern is the Mana traces at the scene. This scale of destruction indicates an unclassified S-Class Disaster. The Association has declared a state of maximum alert for the entire capital."Click. The television was turned off. Luna tossed the remote onto the coffee table roughly."Bastards," Luna cursed softl

The soft, rhythmic hum of the Cryo-Regeneration machine sounded like a gentle lullaby. Thousands of tiny bubbles drifted upward inside the futuristic cylindrical glass tank. Dian floated peacefully in the glowing green fluid, wearing a specialized breathing mask. The pale, fragile face that had haunted Jihan's nightmares for years was now completely gone. Her cheeks flushed with health. Her chest rose and fell with a steady, natural rhythm, free from that piece of junk ventilator.Jihan pressed his palm against the cold, thick glass. He had been living inside this five-star fortress masquerading as the Number 1 Guild's headquarters for a few days now. The sheer luxury of this place was absolutely sickening.Jihan clearly remembered the blood-red warning from the Death Bank System when he shook hands with Guild Master Suryo a few nights ago. That cosmic loan shark had screamed a warning that the smiling man wasn't human, but an entity connected to the cosmic energy of death. Jihan knew

Jihan's breath seemed to freeze in his throat. His pitch-black eyes stared intently at the wall of the circular room.On top of the stone altar smeared with thick blood, a symbol was painted very prominently. A red hourglass with a cracked skull in the center, wrapped in thick chains. It was the exact same logo that constantly haunted his retinas. The logo of the cosmic loan shark, the Death Bank System."Bastards," Jihan cursed in his head. The veins in his neck tensed. "I thought I got asylum. Turns out I walked right into another one of their pet dog's cages."The sound of leather shoes clicking against the concrete floor suddenly echoed from the end of the hallway behind Jihan. The footsteps were calm, steady, and very elegant.Jihan's survival instincts instantly took over. He didn't panic. His ego, already numbed by the memory liquidation penalty, made him think like a cold-blooded killing machine. He darted soundlessly, slipping behind a stack of empty shipping crates in a dark

Jihan shut the door to his VIP suite tightly. The slam of the solid teak door muffled the noisy luxury outside.He let out a harsh breath, loosening his collar which felt suffocating. Before he could even throw his body onto the silk bed to formulate a plan to murder Suryo, the room temperature suddenly plummeted. His breath formed white clouds of mist.Zing.In the middle of the room, the blood-red screen of the Death Bank System glowed brightly, tearing through the air with an annoying burst of static.[DEATH BANK: COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT] [Warning: Monthly Interest Installment is due in 72 Hours 00 Minutes.][You are required to deposit 'Black Essence' as your regular interest payment.][In the event of default, 2 Years of your Lifespan will be forcibly deducted.][Corporate Advice: The five trillion in your bank account might be worthless here, but it is enough to order a gold-plated coffin. Happy hunting, Employee!]Jihan stared at the screen with his empty black eyes."Fucking lo

The air inside the A-Rank Poison Forest Dungeon was a thick, dark purple. The foul stench of sulfur mixed with rotting leaves slapped them in the face the moment they stepped through the spatial distortion gate.Arthur walked at the very front, strolling casually with his chin held high. His silver combat armor emitted a faint blue glow, an expensive protective artifact that automatically filtered the toxic air. Behind him, three low level lackeys followed obediently, their elite weapons neatly sheathed.And at the very back of the line, Jihan walked in silence.He wore no armor. He simply wore a black leather jacket over a dark t-shirt, carrying a standard-issue Guild steel sword that felt far too light in his hands. The white hair at both his temples stood out in stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere of the dungeon."How does high-class air feel, Han?" Arthur glanced back, smirking condescendingly. The blond youth kept walking without looking ahead. "You must be used to breathing