A city near the Green Zone Forest stood surrounded by tall walls, guarded by sentries stationed along the ramparts. It served as the first line of defense against the monstrous storms.
A boy, around five feet tall, blue eyes, shiny white hair, dressed in golden-brown fur clothing, stepped through the city gate. His head was covered by a hood made from the head of a bear. The guards at the gate froze for a second. A kid—maybe fifteen—wearing the hide of a D-rank monster? That wasn't something you saw every day.
Alex walked up to one of the guards, who stood holding a spear, his armor gleaming steel-white.
"Hello, sir," Alex said, voice calm but weary.
"Hello, kid," the guard replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Can I ask you something?" Alex asked. The guard scanned him, head to toe, and figured he must be a first-year at the academy. He nodded.
Alex took a breath. "Do you know what happened to the village near the Green Zone?"
The guard's face darkened.
"That place was hit by a monster storm three years ago. Not a single soul made it out alive."
He narrowed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"
Alex's heart stopped.
*Three years? I was in that cave… for three years?*
His throat tightened. Everything blurred for a second.
"Oh… nothing in particular," he said quickly. "I just saw it and… wanted to know."
"Thanks."
Alex turned away, his mind spinning.
*Three years… Anna…*
Before he could think more, the guard called out to him.
"Kid, be careful in Romania City. People are watching you. That armor… it's not something just anyone wears."
Alex turned his head slowly. He saw them—dozens of eyes from the crowd, sharp and greedy, fixed on his clothes. His skin crawled. A cold shiver went down his spine.
*Why are they looking at me like that? It's just a D-rank…*
But he didn't know. Only Masters could kill D-rank monsters. And Masters were rare—respected, feared, envied.
Trying to ignore the stares, Alex kept walking. The streets buzzed with life. Shops lined both sides—selling herbs, monster materials, gleaming weapons, even roasted monster meat at food stalls. Hunters of all kinds passed by, loud and carefree.
Alex looked down at his empty hands.
*I have no money. First thing—I need to register as a hunter. But where's the guild?*
He looked around, eyes darting from sign to sign, but couldn't find it.
Then, a girl appeared in front of him.
Dark hair, brown eyes, sharp nose, thin lips. Her smile was… too sweet. Too perfect. She bent down to his eye level.
"Hello, kiddo."
Alex blinked. His face turned red. He could see straight down her loose top.
"H-H-Hello…" he stammered.
She smirked.
"My name's Laila. You lost or looking for something?"
"I-I'm l-looking for the H-Hunter G-guild," Alex replied, flustered.
"You're in luck," she said, her voice like honey. "I'll show you the way. Come on."
He followed. The streets grew narrower. Then darker. She turned into a shadowy alley, almost empty, and said,
"We're almost there. Just a bit further."
Then—*crack!* Something hit the back of Alex's head. His body dropped. Darkness swallowed everything.
---
Laila turned around. A bulky man with a scar on his right cheek stood behind her, holding a wooden club.
"Hansen! I told you not to hit him that hard," she said, but laughed anyway.
Walking over, she kicked Alex in the stomach.
"Stupid brat couldn't even handle looking down my cleavage. I hate these spoiled weaklings."
She snapped her fingers.
"Take his stuff."
Hansen knelt down, ripped off the bear hide armor, and snatched the ring from around Alex's neck.
"Nothing else, Laila. Just the armor and this ring."
"That'll do. Let's move."
---
Alex woke up hours later, the world spinning, pain burning at the back of his head and in his stomach.
He groaned. His throat felt dry.
"It's already night…" he mumbled, eyes struggling to focus.
He sat up slowly. Then it hit him.
"Wait… where… where is my stuff?"
He looked down. Naked. Again.
"They… took everything."
His breathing quickened. Hands trembling, he searched the ground desperately. Nothing.
Then he realized.
"The ring… no, no, no… Not Father's ring!"
Panic surged. He scrambled on his hands and knees, eyes wide, searching the trash, the cracks, the corners of the alley.
"Not the ring… not that one thing…"
He searched until his fingers bled. Until he knew—*they took it.*
He slumped against the wall, chest heaving.
"I'll find you…" he muttered.
His voice was low, but cold.
"I swear… I will find you both."