After absorbing the soul of Lei Feng, China's pride and second strongest hunter, Xu Liangchen transformed into an unstoppable force. The fire of vengeance in his eyes threatened to incinerate the entire world. He was no longer a hunter but a wild beast focused solely on destruction.
From the moment he trapped Lei Feng's power within himself, Xu's aura grew exponentially. His Wolf's Tooth daggers were no longer mere weapons; they had become cursed extensions of himself, whispering the secrets of the souls he had devoured. His first targets were the B-rank, A-rank, and finally the S-rank hunters of the Chinese Hunter Association, all of whom had remained silent and left Lei Feng to die alone. Each of them fell victim to Xu's rage and newfound power. As he absorbed their souls one by one, his might increased, and the energy waves he emitted made even the surrounding buildings tremble.
The Chinese Hunter Association was in a state of shock and terror. The chaos that began with Lei Feng's death quickly spiraled into an uncontrollable catastrophe. As sirens blared at the main headquarters in Beijing, an emergency alert was broadcast across the entire nation. China's prestige and security were under threat. They were left with only one option against this rising menace: to deploy Wu Zixian, China's strongest hunter and one of the three Z-rank hunters in the world.
This news instantly shook the entire World Hunter Community. The deployment of a Z-rank hunter against a 13-year-old boy was an unbelievable event. "China's Z-Rank Hunter vs. A Child," and "The Flame of Vengeance Rises: The World's Strongest Hunters in Danger" were headlines that focused the eyes of the entire Hunter Community on China. Everyone was anxiously waiting to see where this tale of vengeance would lead.
As Xu Liangchen turned every hunter headquarters in his path into a pile of rubble, he advanced toward his ultimate goal: the main headquarters of the Hunter Association in Beijing. For him, this was not just a building, but the physical embodiment of all his hatred and desire for revenge. With every step he took, the ground trembled, and his aura became so dense that the hearts of all who approached were filled with fear. He was no longer just a hunter; he was vengeance itself.
As he neared the headquarters, Xu's aura enveloped the city like a black cloud covering the sky. This pressure, only perceptible to S-rank hunters, instilled a subconscious sense of dread in everyone. Finally, he stood before the colossal gates of the Beijing Hunter Association Headquarters, the focal point of his revenge.Standing in front of the headquarters was Henry, an S-rank American hunter, resisting with all his might. His towering, muscular body made him look as solid as a mountain, yet he was as helpless as a snowflake against Xu. Henry used all his skills and power to attack Xu; his ground-shaking punches and wind-slicing kicks couldn't even scratch Xu's armor. Xu Liangchen nonchalantly parried every blow, then clawed at Henry, throwing him against the wall. Henry lay on the ground, covered in blood, trying to get up one last time.Xu extended his Wolf's Tooth dagger toward Henry's throat. In that moment, Henry's entire life flashed before his eyes like a movie reel. His family, loved ones, achievements... everything suddenly seemed meaningless. Feeling the cold breath of death, he had no choice but to await the arrival of the Grim Reaper.But just then, a massive explosion echoed in front of the Headquarters. When the dust and smoke cleared, Henry, seeing Xu had vanished, looked up at the sky with his blood-covered face. He was met with a terrifying sight: two horrific auras were clashing in the sky.One was Xu Liangchen's bloody aura of vengeance. The other was Wu Zixian's aura, a destructive energy that sounded like thunder. The terrifying noises and explosions from each dagger strike shook the ground and engulfed the surroundings in flames. Wu Zixian formed a mystical magic circle with his hands, and the sky instantly turned dark. He reached for the heavens, catching a bolt of lightning and forging it into a sharp, single-edged katana. The sword was named Raijin Fang. It gleamed with veins of blue electricity on its black steel surface. Its hilt resembled dragon scales, and every time the sword was drawn, it generated static electricity. The sword's passive ability, Heavenly Conduction, made Wu a conductor for lightning, preventing him from taking damage from electric attacks and even allowing him to absorb them. His other passive ability, Raijin's Blessing, elevated his reflexes, speed, and nervous system responses to superhuman levels. The most impressive ability, Thunderous Presence, could paralyze nearby low-level creatures just by drawing the sword. With the power of his sword, Wu turned the sky and lightning itself into a weapon against Xu.
When Wu Zixian swung his Raijin Fang sword, a sea of lightning surged from the sky and rained down on Xu. The first strike pierced Xu's monstrous aura, leaving him completely defenseless. One after another, electric currents plunged into the young hunter's body, searing his flesh and bone and burning his internal organs. Each bolt of lightning left deep burn marks on Xu's body, and his Wolf's Tooth daggers shattered into pieces against the ferocious onslaught. Xu's body, drenched in blood, no longer resembled a hunter; it was a mere wreck.
Reeling from the sudden and lethal damage, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. His vision blurred as his consciousness slowly faded. Just then, a transparent screen appeared before him. It was the system screen he'd only ever seen when hunting low-level monsters.
WARNING: Player is on the brink of death.
This cold, robotic voice echoed in Xu's mind. Then, another mission notification appeared.
URGENT QUEST: Defeat the Z-rank opponent.Notification: Dark Monarch's Bonus +50.Following these notifications, Xu felt a sudden surge of energy course through his body. The look of agony on his face was replaced by savage determination. He rose to his feet with all his might, making one last attempt to attack Wu Zixian. But Wu's sword was far faster. Seven consecutive lightning strikes flung Xu dozens of feet away.
The people of Beijing watched the terrifying spectacle from their windows. The energy released was so immense that the city's power grid failed, and terrified residents thought the apocalypse had arrived. To them, this was no ordinary hunter's fight—it was a clash between gods.
Lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, Xu struggled to reach for his neck and pulled out the blood-stained locket his mother had given him. Inside the locket, a picture of his closest companion, his dog Ace, was smiling. Ace, whom he'd adopted with his family in Luoyang when he was a child and who had stood by him during his most difficult times... But he'd lost Ace while on vacation in Busan. As he touched the photo with his bloody hands, the rage and pain within him were suddenly replaced by deep regret. A single tear rolled down Xu's cheek. It was the first time he had shed a tear in a very long time.
The energy waves above Beijing shook everything as if a small atomic bomb had exploded. Lying on the ground, young Xu took one last look at his bloody locket. Through his tear-filled eyes, Ace's loyal gaze smiled back at him, full of despair. At that moment, he cast aside all his rage and vengeance, rising for a final stand. Every inch of his body screamed in protest, but he threw one last punch just for the sake of the innocent smile in Ace's photo. The punch evaporated before it could even reach Wu Zixian's aura, and for a fleeting moment, Wu's eyes filled with a flash of mercy. But as was required by his duty and as an example to the world, he struck Xu with the final blow.
Wu Zixian raised Raijin Fang, summoning a lightning bolt from the sky. The lightning struck Xu directly. In the blink of an eye, the young hunter's body was split in half, and following an explosion that spread across the area, only a cloud of dust remained. Wu lowered his sword and walked slowly back to headquarters. The Chinese government immediately initiated "Emergency Protocols."
Having lost all consciousness, Xu Liangchen heard the sound of a dog barking and asked, "Ace, is that you? What are you doing here?" When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a lush green place that resembled a paradise garden, surrounded by colorful flowers. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. He saw a silhouette running among the trees a silhouette that was very familiar. It was Ace, his long-lost dog. Ace barked with joy and ran toward him. Xu, with tears in his eyes, hugged Ace tightly. "Ace, did I die too? I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you," he said.
Ace's warm fur and innocent gaze washed away all of Xu's regret and pain. This child, who was once a bloodthirsty monster, was now just a 13-year-old boy again. As Ace wagged his tail, inviting him to play, Xu left all the bad memories behind and began to stroll with Ace through the Paradise Garden. They played ball, ran, and laughed. At that moment, the fire of vengeance within Xu was completely extinguished. He was now just a boy who had found eternal peace with his best friend.
Xu Liangchen and Ace continued to play peacefully in the Paradise Garden. There was no rage, no vengeance, no fear. There was only a child and his loyal dog, in eternal bliss. During their game, the ball accidentally rolled into a secluded corner of the garden. Rushing to retrieve the ball among the flowers, Xu suddenly stopped. The ball was at the feet of a divine figure, its back turned to him, clad in ancient armor covered in shadows, standing in a small clearing in the rose garden. The presence of this figure seemed to have drained all the joy and life from the surroundings.Xu paused for a moment, looking at the figure with a mix of fear and curiosity. He had never seen such a powerful aura before. Even Wu Zixian felt insignificant next to this figure. Just then, the figure slowly turned around. Its eyes glowed with a golden light that pierced Xu's very soul. The figure's voice was like the echo of the cosmos:
"To die and to live... Humanity exists on this balance. Death is depicted as a terrifying end for every person. Why do we fear Death? Why do people deny the essence of their souls, that they are mortal?"Xu tried to speak, but the words were caught in his throat. The figure continued, its voice growing even deeper:"This world was not created for good. If you try to be good, you will break. Just like a glass cup shatters... The good always lose, and the wicked are the absolute masters of the order. And that is why, Xu..."
At the end of his words, the figure gave Xu a deadly look. This gaze froze Xu's entire soul. All his optimism, his peace, and his happy memories with Ace were instantly erased. Unable to withstand the gaze, young Xu lost consciousness and fell into darkness. At that very moment, deep in Beijing, the Chinese Hunter Association was holding a secret meeting. Z-rank Hunter Wu Zixian, the Guild Masters, the Chairman of the Chinese Hunter Association, and the Chairman of the Chinese Government were discussing the recent events.The Chairman of the Chinese Government began to speak: "This incident has greatly damaged our reputation. Our Z-rank hunter, Wu Zixian, has once again shown the might of his power, but I do not want such a situation to happen again."
The Chairman of the Chinese Hunter Association bowed his head and replied: "Mr. Chairman, the entire hunter community is saddened by what happened. We will work harder to ensure the safety of our people."
Just then, there was a knock on the door. The Chinese Chairman said, "Come in!" But no one entered. Everyone looked at the door in surprise, and when they turned their gaze back to the Chairman, they were met with a horrific sight. The Chairman's body lay on the ground, separated from his head. Holding the head was Xu Liangchen, radiating a terrifying red aura, with a red, dragon-scaled dagger in his hand. The expression on Xu's face was no longer that of a child, but of death itself