Nineteen Years AgoA domain broke into the small town of Grimhaven without warning, opening a rift between reality and a place no ordinary human was ever meant to see.Within minutes, the once peaceful town descended into chaos. Monstrous creatures poured out of the domain, spreading through the streets and attacking everything in their path. Buildings crumbled beneath their assaults, vehicles were overturned, and fires spread from one block to another as people desperately fled for their lives.Screams filled the air.Parents ran through the streets, calling out their children’s names. Children cried for mothers who were nowhere to be found. Some people stumbled through the smoke with blood running down their faces, while others dragged injured loved ones away from the creatures hunting them. Families who had been sharing meals only moments earlier were torn apart in the space of a few heartbeats.Some tried to hide inside their homes, locking their doors and pushing furniture agains

The moment the Hunters stepped through the fog, they found themselves in a beautiful forest. The sky above was clear, sunlight streamed through the towering trees, and lush greenery covered everything in sight, including the ground beneath their feet.“Wow!”Several Hunters couldn’t help but marvel at the scenery.Most Level One domains they had visited were far less inviting. Some consisted of dark underground caves, while others were filled with winding mazes and treacherous paths that required them to proceed with caution.But this forest was different. It felt as though they had stepped into another world, one so beautiful and peaceful that it was difficult to believe they were standing inside a domain.One of the women suddenly rushed toward a patch of glowing plants.“Glowing herbs! These could be worth a fortune!”Excited, she began picking the herbs and stuffing them into her bag.Seeing this, several other Hunters started searching the surrounding vegetation for similar plant

Alan opened his eyes and found himself on an island.He staggered to his feet, staring at his surroundings in shock. Just moments ago, he had been stabbed in the back and fallen into a stream inside a domain. He could still remember the pain, the cold water, and the terrible realization that he was going to die.Yet here he was, standing on unfamiliar ground with no visible wound on his body.‘Am I not dead? Or is this the afterlife?’A gentle breeze swept across the island, carrying an inexplicable sense of sorrow. The landscape was filled with vast meadows, beautiful lakes, and winding streams. Everything looked peaceful, almost like the forest where he had died, but something about the place made him uncomfortable.The flowers seemed to droop beneath an invisible weight, while the trees stood silently beneath the pale sky. Even the air felt heavy, as though the island itself had experienced more suffering than any living being could bear.Translucent clouds drifted across the sky,

Alan had no idea who this Lord Sorrowshade was, but if the fear surrounding his name was anything to go by, the man was certainly no ordinary opponent.He clenched his fists, trying to steady his thoughts.He had barely survived as an E-rank Hunter in his own world. Now, after being killed by the so-called Liberator Alliance, he had somehow ended up in a strange place where even death was considered a luxury.And he was expected to defeat its ruler.What the hell have I gotten myself into?Still, if this was a trial, there had to be a reward for completing it. There also had to be something he could use to fight whatever awaited him.After all, what if Lord Sorrowshade was a monster usually found in Level Four or Level Five domains? Those were the kinds of threats that typically required A-rank or S-rank Hunters to handle.And Alan?He was an E-rank Hunter who struggled against even the most basic monsters.‘Is there something I can use?’ he asked silently, hoping for an answer from w

Inside the cave in the mountain, a series of lamps cast a dim, flickering light along a narrow path that seemed to ascend indefinitely, giving the impression of a trail meant to be followed. Alan couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that crept over him as he stood there with his unknown friend. As they ventured deeper into the cave, they came across a wooden staircase with a rope railing on one side. The stairs climbed toward an unseen destination, disappearing into the darkness above.Alan swallowed nervously and turned to his companion, the unease clear in his voice. “Is this how it always is? What happened to the others who were sent here?” he asked, his eyes darting around as if expecting someone or something to emerge from the darkness and attack them.The man shrugged, though his restless movements made it clear that he was just as uncomfortable.“All I know is that others have been sent hither before, and none have ever returned. There is manifestly something amiss in this