2026-06-20 11:55:27
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 17 PART 2
The horde surged forward in a wave of claws and snarling mouths, dozens of creatures pressing into the narrow corridor at once, desperate to close the distance before Aria could organize any real defense. She didn't retreat a single step.She raised both hands, magic gathering at her fingertips in patterns the other Hunters had never seen, formulas that belonged to no circle based system taught anywhere on Earth. The spell she cast wasn't elegant or precise, deliberately oversized, far larger than the situation strictly required, the kind of brute overkill nobody trained in modern magic would have considered efficient.The ground in front of her split open in a massive trench, swallowing the charging horde whole, dozens of creatures tumbling into the gap before they could register what was happening. Dust and debris filled the corridor, the sound of furious shrieking echoing up from below as the trapped monsters clawed uselessly at the trench walls, unable to find purchase against t
CHAPTER 17 PART 1
The arena went silent for a half second that felt like an eternity, the kind of silence that swallows sound before chaos rushes in to fill it. Then the screaming started. Hunters scattered backward, tripping over each other in their rush to put distance between themselves and the troll, camera operators frozen at their stations, uncertain whether to keep filming or run.Ryan collapsed where he stood, his severed arm sitting uselessly several feet away, blood pooling beneath him at an alarming rate. His face had gone the color of ash, his mouth opening and closing without producing any real sound, shock stealing whatever scream his body wanted to release.The troll loomed over him, mouth opening wide, preparing to finish what it had started, the corrupted flesh around its jaw twitching with anticipation, saliva dripping in thick dark strands toward the stone floor.Aria moved before she fully registered deciding to move.She tore free of her disguise in one motion, the outer layer of f
CHAPTER 16 PART 2
Aria reached her seat among the reserve Hunters and sat down as gracefully as the unfamiliar armor allowed, acutely aware of every eye still locked onto her.Her face had gone faintly pink the moment the doors closed behind her, embarrassment creeping up her neck despite her best efforts to appear composed, her hands folding tightly in her lap as though that might somehow make her smaller.The Hunter seated beside her, a woman with sharp eyes and an unreadable expression, leaned over slightly, her gaze sweeping the armor with open curiosity. "Bold choice for a comeback. Most people wouldn't risk looking ridiculous on national television.""It wasn't really my choice," Aria muttered, not quite meeting her gaze."Could've fooled me."Aria said nothing further, staring straight ahead at the staging area, mentally rehearsing every excuse she could offer if anyone asked her directly why she'd shown up looking like she'd walked off a game loading screen.She thought about the headlines that
CHAPTER 16 PART 3
The dungeon entrance loomed ahead, a wide stone archway humming faintly with residual magic, the kind of structure most civilians never saw up close in their entire lives.Cameras lined the perimeter, capturing every angle as Hunters filed inside in their assigned groups, Marcus Reed leading from the front with the confidence of someone determined not to become the first team leader in the show's history to fail a raid.Aria walked near the rear of the formation, the weight of her new armor settling differently against her skin than anything she'd worn in years.It felt strange, almost foreign, despite how naturally it seemed to move with her, the plates shifting smoothly with every step instead of restricting her the way she'd braced herself for.The dungeon interior stretched out longer than the standard C-rank classification suggested it should, narrow stone corridors branching unpredictably, the air thick with a mineral dampness that clung to every breath.Torchlight flickered wea
CHAPTER 16 PART 1
The briefing room buzzed with restless energy, Hunters shuffling into rows of folding chairs while staff checked equipment and cameras adjusted their angles.Aria's seat at the reserve section sat conspicuously empty, drawing more attention with every passing minute than her actual presence ever could have."Where is she," one producer muttered, scanning his clipboard, tapping his pen against the edge in irritation."We're supposed to start the introductions in five minutes.""Maybe she chickened out," someone else offered, not bothering to hide the smirk in his voice. "Wouldn't be the first hunter to fold once the cameras actually showed up."Whispers rippled through the room, mocking speculation building on itself the way it always did when nobody had real information to work with.A few Hunters exchanged knowing glances, already constructing the narrative in their heads. The Great Mage, too afraid to face the lens after three years hiding from it. The story practically wrote itself
CHAPTER 15 PART 2
Derek didn't go far. He found a quiet corner near the equipment trucks, his hands still trembling slightly from the humiliation of being exposed in front of half the production crew.The sting of it hadn't faded at all in the few minutes since, if anything it had grown sharper, gnawing at him with every step away from the staging area. He pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and found the name he needed.Ryan answered on the second ring. "What.""We need to talk," Derek said, keeping his voice low, glancing over his shoulder to make sure nobody stood within earshot. "Privately. Now."Ryan met him behind one of the supply tents a few minutes later, arms crossed, his expression already sour before Derek said a single word. He hadn't forgotten the bruises, even if they'd long since healed. Some injuries left marks deeper than skin."The recruitment didn't work," Derek admitted, deciding honesty was faster than dancing around it. "Her manager exposed the bracelet before I
You may also like
The Return of The Richard Dwayne
Dragonix Loki72.4K viewsBack From Prison!
KMyay179.7K viewsRags To Riches: The Riveting Tale Of Jason Smith
Chukwuemeka_101124.9K viewsTHE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR
Victor Amos Regannez75.6K viewsI failed my mother and sister, Returned as a Billionaire
Author Al-Wahhab84 viewsThe War King Returns For Vengeance
Kayode Adesina109 viewsArthur Williams: Rise of the Untouchable
Shikemi60 viewsAfter Being Humiliated, I Awaken An Infinite Spending System
Ummu's Pen283 views