Nathan woke up before his alarm.
His eyes opened suddenly, the dim light of early morning filtering in through the gap in the curtains. For a second, he lay there staring at the ceiling.
'I still don't understand why it didn't work.'
Last night, after dinner Nathan had spent a lot of time trying to understand what his ability did.
Although the system provided all present data, what it didn't provide was what this data exactly meant.
'What could reversal be? And why is it an active ability.'
According to what the posts on various forums said, abilities were divided between passive and active.
As the name suggest, passive abilities like enhanced regeneration amplifying your ability to heal, while active abilities could be casted like fireball.
But he could not figure out what his ability did.
'Screw it!'
He sat up immediately.
'I will find it out one way or another.'
Nathan swung his legs off the bed and stood heading straight for the washroom.
Cold water splashed against his face, chasing away the last remnants of sleep. He brushed his teeth faster than usual, wiped his face, and looked at his reflection.
He looked the same, same messy hair same slightly nervous eyes.
But the his expression on his face was different.
He was focused and excited.
He stepped out just as Ethan's voice carried down the hall.
"Nathan! Breakfast!"
Nathan opened his door and peeked into the kitchen.
Ethan stood by the counter, sleeves rolled up, stirring something in a large bowl. The smell hit him immediately.
'Is that fish?'
Nathan's face twisted in horror.
Ethan lifted a piece of fish and dropped it into the bowl with a wet plop sound.
"I think I'll skip out on breakfast today," Nathan said quickly.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder. "Well, suit yourself."
Nathan backed away slowly, as if whatever Ethan was making might leap out of the bowl and attack him.
Just then, Lena stepped out of her room, hair slightly messy and eyes half-open.
"Good Morning," Nathan said.
She blinked at him. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Good day," Nathan replied simply.
He retreated back into his room before she could question him further.
Nathan grabbed his bag and dropped it onto the bed. The spear rested against the wall.
He started packing.
'Extra shirt,' he hesitated, holding up a folded black tee.
He glanced down at what he was wearing.
A white t-shirt.
Nathan frowned.
"Is this going to get dirty?" he muttered to himself.
He considered it seriously for a moment.
"…It'll be fine."
He folded the black shirt and placed it into the bag anyway.
Better safe than sorry.
Next came the regeneration potions, he slid them into an inner pocket where they wouldn't clink together.
The leather vest followed, folded neatly and placed on top.
As he adjusted the strap of the bag, a sudden shout echoed down the hallway.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Nathan froze.
"No way I am eating this," Lena continued loudly. "That thing is still alive!"
Nathan put his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter.
From the kitchen, Ethan's voice followed, calm and completely unapologetic.
"I saw this recipe on newtube, it's pretty popular."
"Popular?" Lena shot back. "That fish is staring at me!"
Nathan shook his head, grinning, and finished packing.
He slung the bag over his shoulder, picked up his spear, and stepped back into the hallway.
The scene in the kitchen was exactly what he expected.
Ethan stood near the table, coffee in hand, looking far too relaxed. In front of him sat a bowl containing what could only be described as a suspicious stew. A fish head protruded from the surface.
Lena had retreated to the stove, aggressively scrambling eggs as if she had a vendetta against the pan.
Ethan took a sip of his coffee and glanced at Nathan. "Going already?"
Nathan nodded. "Yeah."
Lena glanced over her shoulder. "This is the first time I've seen him get up this early."
Ethan's expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious.
"Nathan," he said, setting his mug down. "Make sure you don't go too deep into the tunnels."
Nathan met his gaze. "I won't."
"Stay near the administrated area," Ethan continued. "And if anything feels off, anything at all, call for help."
"I will," Nathan said again.
Lena turned off the stove and looked at him. "You want some eggs before you go?"
Nathan hesitated, then shook his head.
"No," he said. "I read that it's better not to eat too much before entering a rift. Don't want to feel sluggish or… puke."
Lena grimaced. "Fair."
Nathan adjusted the strap of his bag one last time.
"I'll be back later," he said.
"Be careful," Lena said.
Ethan nodded. "Take care."
Nathan smiled, then turned and opened the door.
As he stepped out, he didn't look back.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Nathan stood in the hallway for a moment, spear in hand, heart pounding.
Then he took his first step forward.
Toward the tunnels.
***
The city hadn't fully woken up yet. Shops were still closed, shutters down, and traffic moved at a slow, unhurried pace.
His spear rested against his shoulder as he walked towards the transit hub.
After a few minutes the transit hub came into view. Nathan tapped his card at the entrance and moved toward the bus platforms, looking at the the digital boards.
Hunter Association Shuttle —> Sunken Maintenance Tunnels
Departure: 09:00
He checked the time.
Still had a few minutes.
Nathan stepped aside and waited.
The platform was quieter than the main city routes. There were no half awake students and no salaryman stressing to get to work.
The only people Nathan saw around him were people equipped with leather armor and various weapons.
Just as he finished observing, he heard the hum of an engine getting closer.
The bus had arrived on time, its doors opened with a hydraulic hiss, and the driver glanced out briefly before nodding. One by one, they boarded.
Nathan took a seat near the middle, his spear held up between his knees. The others spread out, filling the bus without crowding it.
The ride was quiet.
The city slowly gave way to less developed areas. Buildings grew farther apart and roads widened. Reinforced barriers and warning signs became more common.
Nathan watched the scenery pass, his reflection faintly visible in the window.
He didn't feel scared, just excited.
Twenty minutes later, the bus slowed.
A synthesized voice spoke overhead.
"Destination reached. Sunken Maintenance Tunnels Access Point."
Nathan stood as the bus doors opened.
The air outside felt heavier.
He stepped down and looked around.
Soldiers stood guard around the perimeter, rifles held loosely but ready. Their uniforms were clean, standardized, and unmistakable. Barricades guided foot traffic toward a single structure ahead.
The building looked ordinary.
Roughly the size of an average supermart. Rectangular with reinforced walls. No windows along the sides.
If Nathan hadn't known what it was, he might have walked past it without a second glance.
People moved toward the entrance in small groups.
Some of the hunters he'd ridden with were already heading inside. Others paused, adjusting equipment or checking straps.
Nathan realized this was his moment.
He set his bag down briefly and pulled out the leather vest.
The material was stiff but flexible, the faint smell of treated leather rising as he slipped it on. He adjusted the straps carefully, tightening them until it fit.
'Not too tight, not too loose.'
He picked up his spear again and straightened himself.
'Okay.'
He followed the others inside.
The interior was larger than the outside suggested.
Bright lights illuminated the space evenly. The air hummed faintly, charged in a way Nathan couldn't quite describe.
And then he saw it.
In the center of the building, surrounded by railings and soldiers, was a tear in space itself.
'Blue...'
The rift was blue, glowing like light filtered through deep water. The edges rippling subtly, as if the air itself were struggling to hold shape.
Nathan stopped.
This was his first time seeing a rift in person.
Videos didn't do it justice.
The rift felt… scary.
Nathan swallowed.
'The Sunken Maintenance Tunnels', he thought.
On the other side of that tear lay darkness, water, concrete, and monsters.
He glanced around.
Some of the people who had arrived with him were already gone, likely having completed their check-in earlier or moving quickly toward the gate.
Others stood near a counter set off to the side.
A man in a suit stood behind it, speaking calmly to each person in turn. Papers were exchanged. Devices scanned. Short instructions given.
This was the last step.
Nathan took a deep breath.
Then he walked toward the counter.
Stopping a few feet from the counter, he waited his turn, eyes flicking once more to the blue tear at the center of the room.
He was ready to face it.