The morning light slanted through the narrow windows of Kim Suho's modest apartment, glinting off the worn surface of the coffee table cluttered with instant ramen bowls, half-read dungeon reports, and an old, blackened sword leaning casually against the wall. The quiet hum of the television filled the room, its soft blue glow painting Suho's features in flickering light as he sat cross-legged on the floor, finishing the last of his cereal with rhythmic clinks of metal against ceramic.
On-screen, the anchor's voice trembled with urgency:
"BREAKING NEWS: The Hunter Association has called for an emergency national summit involving all active S-rank hunters within South Korea. This marks the first such congregation in over three years."
Suho's spoon paused mid-air.
His eyes, once indifferent, sharpened.
The screen transitioned into a dramatic montage, faces flashing one by one, each introduced with the reverence of legends.
The 14 S-Rank Hunters of South Korea
1. Lee Hyeonjin – Association President
An aged sentinel in a tailored dark suit, flanked by radiant pressure and known not for brute strength but for a commanding presence. His mana alone could silence a battlefield. His title was not a mere formality—he was the Hunter Association.
2. Baek Dohyun – Stormlight Guild
Clad in sleek armor, his lightning aura constantly shimmered like a thundercloud on the verge of release. A soldier through and through, respected for turning disarray into discipline.
3. Yoo Hana – Silvermoon Guild
The 'Blade Witch' was a whisper in the air, her blades more rumor than reality. Footage showed her slicing through monsters without ever being touched—each move a deadly dance.
4. Ryu Jinho – Titan Fist Guild
A man carved from granite. Shirtless in most clips, fists wrapped in mana-infused bands, he shattered dungeon walls with punches alone. A storm of muscle and primal fury.
5. Seo Ilhoon – Midnight Guild
A loner draped in obsidian armor, quiver across his back. His arrows blurred through space—rumored to pierce even teleporting enemies.
6. Choi Gunwoo – Crimson Blaze Guild
Explosions always marked his presence. He once incinerated a mutant chimera army in three seconds. Loud, proud, and feared.
7. Kang Sooyeon – Silent Star
Clad in white robes, her sword shimmered faintly with starlight. She never raised her voice, but legends said she once cut a dungeon boss clean in half with a single slash.
8. Han Taeseok – Obsidian Guild
Surrounded by shadows, his footage was often redacted. Even among S-rankers, his power was a mystery. People whispered he communed with death itself.
9. Jin Mira – Skyblade Guild
A whirlwind of dual daggers and wind magic, young and deadly. Her eyes were calm, but her kills—uncountable.
10. Park Seungjae – Team Reaper
The ghost of the battlefield. Footage of him showed nothing but silhouettes—silent kills, vanishing bodies.
11. Oh Kyungmin – Team Monsoon
His hands moved like flowing water. Fights ended before they began. He was the calm before a storm—and the flood that followed.
12. Cha Yoori – Team Ash
Draped in black with glowing red eyes, she wielded fire not as a weapon, but as an extension of her will. Her victims never screamed—they suffocated in silence.
13. Jang Minho – Ironfort Guild
The immovable wall. Suho remembered a clip where a dungeon beast smashed its claws onto his chest. The claws broke.
14. Min Sora – Valkyrie Guild
The only airborne hunter in the country. Her wings of light left scorch trails in the sky, and her spear fell like a judgment from above.
Inside the Hunter Association Headquarters
The 13 hunters sat around a giant round table. At the head stood President Lee Hyeonjin. The room was tense with mana—any normal person would've fainted from the pressure.
President Lee began the meeting.
"Thank you for coming. This isn't a regular summons. There has been an unusual energy fluctuation in Sector 5."
A screen behind him lit up, showing maps and magical energy readings—fluctuating red waves rising like spikes from the earth.
"There's no gate yet. But the levels of deep mana and chaotic magic readings… suggest a gate may open soon."
He paused.
"And it might not be an ordinary one. It might be an S-rank gate."
The room fell silent. Everyone's eyes widened.
Whispers broke out.
"S-rank… again?"
"Could it be like last time…?"
President Lee nodded grimly.
"Three years ago, an S-rank gate opened on Hawaii Island. Korea, China, and Japan sent elite hunters. We lost 80% of them."
He tapped the screen again.
Images flashed—burned forests, torn buildings, and pale humanoid monsters with red eyes and fangs.
"Inside that gate was a vampire army—intelligent, fast, and ruthless. They spoke, fought in formation, and hunted hunters like prey."
Gasps filled the room.
"We can't allow Korea to face the same fate."
All the hunters nodded seriously.
But suddenly, Jin Mira raised her hand.
"Sir. There's another matter. I've heard… strange rumors. About a small team clearing unclaimed gates quickly."
"Same," added Ryu Jinho. "The name came up a few times—'Team DEATH', right?"
President Lee raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I've heard of them. But they're only clearing low-ranked gates. It's not our concern."
But Choi Gunwoo frowned.
"Even so, they've been clearing C-rank gates easily with just three C-ranks and one D-rank. That's not normal."
Then Cha Yoori spoke quietly.
"I've heard they even beat a team of B-rankers… and didn't lose a single member."
That made the whole room go still.
The idea that a group of low-ranked hunters was making waves like that—was enough to unsettle even the elite.
But President Lee waved a hand.
"We'll investigate later. For now, the potential S-rank gate in Sector 5 is the priority. We must prepare. Stay on high alert."
Everyone nodded.
"Meeting adjourned."
Suho had watched the entire meeting broadcast on the news, his expression unreadable.
He leaned back on the couch, thinking.
"Vampires… Sector 5… and now they're talking about us too."
There was a knock on the door.
"Suho!"
It was Mirae, Minho, and Jinho.
They'd seen the same broadcast.
"Did you hear?" Mirae said. "Vampires… and an S-rank gate."
"Yeah. That's… not something we can take lightly," Minho muttered.
Suho nodded.
"We don't have much time. If something like that opens… we'll need to be ready. Stronger. Together."
The Next Step
They packed their gear, checked their licenses, and got into a cab to head for the Hunter Association.
More gates. More battles.
More chances to grow.
They had a long way to go—
But now, Team DEATH was no longer in the shadows.
The world had noticed them.
And soon… it would remember their name.
To Be Continued...
Kim Suho: Level 27
Undead: 36/50
New Skill: Corpse Explosion
Team DEATH – First Mission Cleared
Areum's Soul Fragments: 3/7
Next Target: Sector 19 (Locked)
New Threat Detected: Unknown Faction Pursuing Soul Fragments