Night had just faded into a pale blue morning sky when the first helicopter touched down near the abandoned construction site on the Chennai coast. The earth trembled from the impact as the blades spun thunderously, spraying dust everywhere.
A massive A-Rank Dungeon Gate floated above ground — giant, swirling, sapphire-blue — like a storm frozen in time. The air around it buzzed with danger.
A lone hunter in a black suit stood near the restricted zone, arms folded, face unreadable. He wasn't nervous. He was waiting.
With a sharp gust of wind, another helicopter approached. The door slid open before it even landed. Stepping down one by one were five Korean hunters, members of the Apex Association's elite raid squad. They walked with perfect discipline, hardly speaking, their eyes locked on the A-Rank gate.
Then came her — Ananya.
Black tactical uniform, long hair tied high, expression sharp enough to cut steel. She scanned the gate once, evaluating danger with pure calculation. The awe of civilians, the screams of reporters, the cries of onlookers… none of it even flickered across her face.
And then — one final helicopter arrived.
The atmosphere shifted.
People recognized the figure before they fully saw him — someone wrapped in rumors, fear, and legend.
Agilan Shaktivel.
Dark hoodie, emotionless stare, steps heavy with purpose. Every hunter at the site unconsciously straightened their posture. Even the black-suited hunter widened his eyes slightly.
Ananya's fingers twitched for a microsecond.
Not in fear — but in recognition.
(He came…)
She quickly forced her expression back to neutral, arms tightening behind her back so no one saw her reaction.
The pilot yelled over the sound of the blades:
"WE MOVE OUT NOW! BOARD THE CHOPPER!"
The seven elite hunters climbed inside — Agilan last. The moment he stepped in, space felt tighter, like the air itself knew a predator had entered.
No one dared make small talk.
The helicopter cut through the wind toward the horizon — destination: Apex Association Headquarters, Korea.
Only the roar of engines filled the silence… except for her eyes.
Ananya stared straight forward, but her mind wasn't quiet at all.
(He didn't look tired… after everything that happened yesterday. His recovery speed… impossible.)
She remembered the moment he protected her in the previous raid — when death was inches away, yet he pushed her behind him like she weighed nothing.
Nothing shook Ananya. Nothing scared her.
But him?
He made her heart move — and that was the one thing she refused to show.
So she kept her gaze strict, her body cold, her voice absent.
But inside?
(Why does it bother me… that someone like him exists?)
---
Apex Association — Arrival
Hours later, the helicopter landed on the private platform of the Apex Tower — the most fortified hunter base in Korea.
Waiting for them — Raiden Jang.
Muscular, tall, hair white as silver, electricity sparking faintly from his shoulders. He grinned the moment he saw Agilan.
"Glad you're back, kid."
Agilan nodded respectfully.
Before Raiden could speak more, an officer ran in, flustered.
"Sir— we have… a problem."
Raiden's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"Two… civilians somehow entered the base. Security caught them at the main gate."
Raiden cursed under his breath.
"Civilians in Apex Tower? How the hell—?"
He turned to the raid team.
"Agilan. Ananya. With me."
Ananya walked silently. Agilan followed.
Both could sense Raiden's tension — Apex Tower was a war fortress. Civilians were never supposed to get this close.
They reached the holding lobby and stopped.
Agilan froze.
His eyes widened for the first time since the heist incident.
Vinod and Shalini stood there — frightened, surrounded by guards.
Vinod rushed forward before anyone could speak.
"Bro! Finally!! We've been searching for you everywhere!"
Shalini, eyes small and shaking, spoke next.
"We were scared… when you left suddenly…"
Raiden placed his hand on his gun holster.
"These two don't belong here. They'll be—"
Agilan stepped in front of him instantly.
"No."
The word was quiet — but powerful enough to silence the room.
Raiden stared at him. Everyone stared.
Agilan continued, voice steady:
"They are my friends. If anything happens to me… they are the only ones who wait for me outside. They didn't come here for trouble."
Shalini swallowed hard, eyes filling.
Vinod nodded repeatedly.
Raiden didn't reply right away. He looked straight at Agilan — the unspoken question clear:
Do they matter to you?
Agilan didn't flinch.
"Yes. They do."
For a moment, Raiden studied his face — then slowly pulled out his communication device.
"This is Raiden Jang. I need to speak with Chief Seung-Ho."
Everyone held their breath. Even Ananya.
Minutes later, the speaker crackled:
> "If Agilan vouches for them… they stay."
Vinod and Shalini gasped with relief.
Agilan lowered his head respectfully.
Raiden smirked and patted his back.
"You owe me one, kid."
But something else happened — something only one person noticed.
Ananya.
She didn't look surprised… or jealous… or angry.
But her eyes lowered one millimeter.
(Not just a monster… he protects the people he cares about.)
And that tiny thought made her chest tighten — so fast she had to hide it by turning away.
Vinod and Shalini were escorted to private quarters. Finally, the night settled.
---
Midnight
Exhausted from the day, Agilan returned to his assigned room — a quiet space with dim lights, a large bed, and silence heavy like the sky before a storm.
He lay down.
For the first time in days, he slept without pain.
No blood.
No screaming.
No monsters.
Just… calm.
Then everything turned dark.
---
The Dream
Agilan stood in a void — endless darkness. Black clouds swirled above him like storms. An ancient throne towered in the center, broken, rusted, wrapped in chains.
A voice echoed — chilling, ageless.
"Your reign ends here… Flesh Monarch."
A massive faceless god rose from the throne, its body shaped like a king carved from shadows and bone. Its presence crushed reality.
Agilan couldn't move.
He wanted to scream.
But darkness swallowed everything.
---
Awakening
Agilan snapped awake, gasping for breath, sweat dripping down his temple.
He held his chest.
"What… was that…?"
His heartbeat thundered — not on its own.
Something was responding.
A voice echoed from within him — calm, deep, almost ancient.
"Finally… you heard me."
Agilan froze.
He knew that voice.
"Y'therax…"
The mold that fused with his heart.
The thing that turned him into the Flesh Monarch.
Y'therax spoke again — not evil, not hostile… but heavy.
"I did not appear in your dreams. Something else did. And we need to talk — before it finds you."
Agilan's blood turned cold.
"What do you mean?"
Silence for a long moment.
Then the final line:
"The god on the throne… wasn't your enemy."
"It was your predecessor."
Agilan's eyes widened.
And the chapter ends