[The air around the gate hummed with energy as it prepared to close. Just before the massive doors slammed shut, Hydro activated his Shadow Exchange skill, vanishing from the dungeon in an instant. Outside the gate, the strike team members stood, waiting for Hydro to emerge. A single Shadow Knight stepped through instead, causing confusion among the group.]
[The Queen glanced around, perplexed by Hydro's absence. The gate groaned as it sealed itself completely, leaving the others to wonder what had happened. Woo and the other hunters exchanged puzzled looks, clearly unnerved by the sudden disappearance of their leader.]
QUEEN: Where... where is Hydro?
[Woo narrowed his eyes, trying to piece together the situation.]
WOO: I don't understand. He was right behind us... he should have been here by now.
[The team fell into a murmur of concern, their voices blending into the background noise of the wilderness. The atmosphere was tense, but there was little they could do now that the gate had closed. Their leader was gone, but the mission had been completed.]
[Far away from the dungeon, in the bustling heart of Seoul, Hydro emerged from the shadows. The transition from the dungeon to the city was jarring-the chaotic sounds of city life replaced the eerie silence of the dungeon. Hydro stood in the middle of a busy street, the towering buildings of Korea's capital city rising around him like steel giants.]
[Hydro inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar scent of the city. It had been a long time since he walked these streets, and even longer since he felt the need to revisit Earth. The familiar sight of Seoul brought a rare moment of nostalgia as he started to walk down the sidewalk.]
[His steps were purposeful as he made his way through the crowds, blending in with the throngs of people. Despite the modern surroundings, his mind was still sharp, and he remained vigilant. Checking his interface, he noticed that the cooldown for Shadow Exchange was set at three hours and thirty-four minutes. Hydro had some time to kill before he could return to his mission.]
[His thoughts drifted to something he had been avoiding for some time-his rank. He had been labeled an E-Rank Hunter for so long that it was almost a part of his identity. But now, with his newfound power, it was time to re-evaluate where he stood.]
HYDRO: Now I need to learn the truth. Everything that I need to know about my alternate counterpart. It's bugging me...
[As he wandered through the city, he noticed a familiar building in the distance. The emblem on the logo was unmistakable-the Hunters Association building. Hydro pulled out a card from his pocket, comparing the logo to the one on his old Hunter License. It was a match. He had found the place where his journey as a Hunter had begun.]
[The inside of the Hunters Association building was just as he remembered it-hunters dressed in casual clothes sat in the waiting area, chatting among themselves as they waited for their ranks to be evaluated. Hydro took a seat, remaining silent as he observed the scene around him.]
[There was a nervous energy in the air, as hunters speculated about their ranks. A nearby group was consoling a man who had just emerged from the evaluation room, tears streaming down his face.]
CRYING MAN: C-Rank! I'm just a C-Rank! I can't believe it!
[One of his friends patted him on the back, trying to comfort him.]
FRIEND: Hey, it's better than D-Rank, right? Come on, it's not the end of the world.
[The woman at the front desk glanced at Hydro, noticing that he was next in line. She waved him over, and Hydro stood up, making his way to the evaluation room. As he entered, the woman behind the counter gave him a polite smile.]
YOU ARE READING
Kairiki: Before the Nightmare
Adventure(This is a Prequel to the Comic: Kairiki) Hydro Undergrove was just an ordinary high schooler in our world until the Temporal Prism caused global chaos, leading to his and his family's death. However, he is mysteriously revived by an unknown presenc...
