The Hunter Association Headquarters stood like a monument of power.
A massive building made of steel and glass towered over the city skyline of New Delhi. The structure reflected the morning sunlight, giving it an almost divine appearance.
At the entrance…
Statues stood tall.
Heroes.
Legendary hunters.
Those who had cleared national-level disasters.
Each statue represented power.
And status.
Kael walked toward the entrance quietly.
He still wore his usual hoodie.
Simple.
Unremarkable.
Like an ordinary civilian.
Which made what happened next…
Expected.
Two security guards stepped forward immediately.
"Stop."
The guard raised his hand.
"E-Rankers use the rear entrance."
"This is the VIP gate."
Kael didn't stop walking.
He simply reached into his pocket.
And pulled out a black card.
[Platinum Access Card — S-Rank Authority]
The guard frowned.
Then took the card.
He scanned it.
Beep.
The scanner turned green.
Then—
A loud mechanical voice echoed.
"Access Granted."
"Welcome, Guest of Miss Elara."
Both guards froze.
Their faces turned pale.
Instantly—
They straightened their posture.
Sweat formed on their foreheads.
"S-Sorry, sir!"
The guard quickly returned the card.
"Please proceed."
They saluted.
Kael walked past them.
Without even acknowledging.
His expression remained calm.
Inside—
He smirked slightly.
"The world doesn't respect strength…"
He thought quietly.
"It respects status."
"Fools."
The lobby inside was massive.
Marble floors.
Golden lighting.
Large holographic screens displayed ongoing dungeon clear reports.
Hunters walked around confidently.
Guild representatives discussed deals.
Power filled the air.
Kael walked toward the elevator.
He inserted the card.
The elevator unlocked instantly.
He stepped inside.
The doors closed.
Then—
The elevator began descending.
But instead of going up…
It went down.
-5
-10
-20
-35
-50
The deeper it went…
The quieter it became.
Then—
Ding.
The door opened.
And Kael stepped into the Vault.
The hall was enormous.
Weapons lined the walls.
Thousands of them.
Swords.
Spears.
Armor.
Relics.
Each one glowing faintly.
Each one radiating power.
This wasn't a vault.
It was a museum of forgotten kings.
But at the entrance—
An old man sat on a chair.
Sleeping.
Holding a wooden staff.
His breathing calm.
Peaceful.
[Bhishma — Vault Keeper]
Retired S-Rank Hunter.
Kael walked toward him.
"Wake up, old man."
"I'm here to shop."
The old man opened one eye slowly.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
His gaze locked onto Kael.
"Elara sent… a child?"
He yawned slightly.
"This place holds S-Rank artifacts."
"Your E-Rank body won't even lift them."
Kael smiled faintly.
"I'm not here for shiny toys."
His eyes darkened.
"I'm here for Sector Z."
The old man's eyes widened.
Completely awake now.
"You…"
He stood up.
"How do you know about Sector Z?"
"That's the cursed section."
Kael walked past him.
"Curse…"
He spoke calmly.
"...is power for those who can handle it."
And Kael…
Had died ninety-nine times.
Curses meant nothing to him.
They entered Sector Z.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Darkness filled the corridor.
Dust covered the shelves.
Red and black aura leaked from sealed glass cases.
Dangerous artifacts.
Forbidden weapons.
Kael's eyes gleamed.
These…
Were what he came for.
Sector Z felt different.
The air itself felt heavier.
Like the items inside were alive… watching.
Dust covered the shelves, but the artifacts still emitted faint red and black auras. Some items trembled slightly inside their sealed cases, as if reacting to Kael's presence.
Bhishma stood behind him quietly.
Watching.
Observing.
Testing.
"These items are banned for a reason," Bhishma said slowly.
"Most hunters who tried using them… died."
Kael didn't respond.
Because he already knew.
In previous timelines…
Many hunters had died trying to use cursed items.
But Kael…
Had something different.
Karma Weaver.
A skill that manipulated misfortune.
And curse…
Was just another form of misfortune.
Meaning—
He could control it.
Kael stopped at the first item.
A black mask.
Half-face.
Smooth.
Featureless.
But it radiated cold energy.
He picked it up.
[Mask of Silence]
Effect: Completely suppresses sound.
Breathing.
Footsteps.
Movement.
Even heartbeat.
Kael turned it slightly.
Perfect for assassination.
Perfect for stealth.
He placed it aside.
"Good start."
He moved forward.
Then—
He stopped again.
Two daggers.
Bone-white.
Carved from something unnatural.
Green poison dripped slowly from their edges.
[Fangs of the Naga — A Rank]
Effect:
Attack Speed +50%
Each hit applies lethal poison
Kael reached forward.
Bhishma immediately spoke.
"Careful."
"Those daggers kill their user."
Kael grabbed them anyway.
Instantly—
Black veins spread across his hand.
The poison tried to enter his bloodstream.
Bhishma stepped forward.
"Drop them—"
Then—
Golden light appeared.
The black veins disappeared.
The poison vanished.
The curse was neutralized.
Hiss—
Silence followed.
Bhishma froze.
His eyes widened.
"Curse… resistance?"
He stared at Kael.
"Who… are you?"
Kael didn't answer.
Instead—
He tested the daggers.
Light.
Perfect balance.
Deadly.
He strapped them to his waist.
Then—
He moved toward the final item.
A dark grey vest.
Light armor.
With a hood attached.
[Nightwalker's Vest]
Effect:
Movement speed increased in darkness
Damage reduction from sneak attacks
Perfect synergy.
Shadow Cloak.
Mask.
Daggers.
Everything matched.
Kael picked it up.
The aura around him changed.
Darker.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Bhishma watched silently.
Understanding something important.
This boy…
Was building an assassin loadout.
Not a hunter.
An assassin.
Kael wore the mask.
Only his glowing eyes remained visible.
He looked at Bhishma.
"I'm the one…"
His voice now muffled.
"...these weapons were waiting for."
The room felt colder.
Even Bhishma felt it.
This wasn't ambition.
This was inevitability.
Something big…
Was about to happen.
Kael stood fully equipped.
The transformation was complete.
Black hood covering his head.
Half-mask hiding his face.
Nightwalker's Vest fitted perfectly around his body.
Shadow Cloak resting across his shoulders.
Naga Daggers strapped at his waist.
The aura around him had changed completely.
He no longer looked like an E-Rank hunter.
He looked like something far more dangerous.
An assassin.
A predator.
Bhishma studied him carefully.
For the first time—
The old S-Rank hunter felt uneasy.
"You're not normal…"
Bhishma muttered quietly.
Kael turned toward the exit.
But before he could leave—
"Wait."
Bhishma called out.
Kael stopped.
The old man walked toward a small drawer near his desk.
He opened it.
Pulled out a ring.
Old.
Simple.
Worn.
But it emitted faint mana.
Bhishma handed it to Kael.
"Take this."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Storage ring?"
Bhishma nodded.
"Small space… but undetectable."
"No scanner can detect items inside."
Kael understood immediately.
Perfect for smuggling.
Perfect for hiding illegal items.
Perfect for… manipulation.
Kael took the ring.
A faint smile appeared behind the mask.
"You're smarter than you look… old man."
Bhishma chuckled slightly.
"Old men survive longer for a reason."
Kael wore the ring.
The items inside his inventory slightly shifted.
Hidden.
Secure.
Then Kael spoke quietly.
"When the new system arrives…"
"I'll make sure you survive."
Bhishma frowned.
"New system?"
But Kael was already walking away.
The elevator doors closed behind him.
Bhishma stood silently.
Confused.
But deep inside—
He felt something unsettling.
Like a storm was coming.
Evening.
Kael stood on the rooftop of his apartment building.
The city lights flickered below.
Wind brushed against his cloak.
His phone screen glowed.
News broadcast.
Vikram stood at a press conference.
Smiling confidently.
"Tomorrow morning."
"8 AM."
"We enter the Red Gate."
The reporters gasped.
Vikram continued.
"This will be India's first live-streamed A-Rank raid."
The cameras flashed.
He pointed directly toward them.
"Don't miss it."
"I'll show you how a real hero fights."
Kael turned off the screen.
A faint smirk appeared.
"Live stream…"
He whispered.
"You made this easier for me."
Footsteps approached.
"Bro."
Ren appeared.
Holding momos.
"I brought food."
Ren sat beside him.
"You saw the news?"
"Vikram is insane."
"A-Rank gates need armies."
Kael took the momos quietly.
"He's not insane."
"He's greedy."
Ren looked confused.
"What?"
"He wants fame."
Kael spoke calmly.
"And that greed…"
"...will kill his entire team."
Ren's face paled.
"T-Then… what do we do?"
Kael stood up.
The wind lifted his hood.
"We?"
He looked toward the distant skyline.
"No."
"I'm going."
Ren froze.
"You what?!"
Kael turned toward him.
"Tomorrow… mark me as sick at the store."
"I have…"
He adjusted his mask.
"...a personal project."
Lightning flashed in the distance.
Far away—
The Red Gate glowed in the sky.
Massive.
Dangerous.
Kael stared at it.
"Tomorrow…"
He whispered quietly.
"The Architect… debuts."
Thunder echoed.
The storm had begun.
And Vikram…
Was the first sacrifice.
Chapter7 End.