Max and Sunny sat across from each other in a dimly lit restaurant.
"Hey, idiot. How are you?"
Max smirked.
"You haven't changed."
Sunny leaned back, eyeing Max carefully.
"What will you eat?"
Max glanced at the menu, scanning the options before answering.
"Fresh meat."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Meat? But you used to hate it."
Max paused, his thoughts shifting.
I never had the luxury of eating meat before.
In Hell, he had eaten anything he could. Raw, cooked, charred—it didn't matter.
"Things change."
Sunny shrugged, ordering for both of them.
After eating, Max leaned forward.
"Tell me about the portal in the sky."
Sunny sighed.
"It all started 10 years ago—right when you collapsed. That portal opened above the world, shocking everyone. Soon after, smaller portals began appearing, releasing monsters into the cities. People panicked. It was like a fantasy game coming to life."
Max frowned.
"Like Single Awakening?"
Sunny grinned.
"Oh, so you missed that. It's an anime adaptation of a manhwa. Released in 2024, but the manhwa started in 2018."
Max blinked.
"I was in a coma that entire time. So it's 2025 now?"
Sunny nodded.
"Yeah. And what happened was eerily similar to that story. Monsters came pouring out—stronger than anything humans could handle. But then… something else happened."
Max's fingers tapped against the table.
"What?"
"That massive portal emitted radiation across the planet. It didn't just cause monsters to appear—it triggered mutations in humans. Some people changed, evolved, and gained abilities. We call them Hunters—the ones who fight monsters and protect the world."
Max absorbed the information, piecing together the last decade.
"Are you a Hunter?"
Sunny shook his head.
"No. But I work with them. I manage a guild."
Max narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of manager?"
Sunny groaned.
"Not a receptionist, you idiot. Let me explain."
---
Sunny broke it down.
Guilds—organizations that handled Hunters, assigned work, and cleared dungeons.
The Public Safety Department (PSD)—a government-run force overseeing all portals and Hunters.
Hunters earned money by clearing dungeons, mining crystals and magical materials, and selling monster meat, which was now a luxury food.
"The meat we're eating? Orc meat," Sunny added.
Max listened carefully.
"So you manage all portals in Moscow?"
Sunny grinned.
"Yeah. I'm wealthy now."
"How much do you make?"
"Enough to buy ten cars a month."
Max stared.
Sunny laughed at his reaction.
---
"What do you plan to do?"
Max sighed.
"I have no idea."
Sunny leaned in.
"I heard you have Hunter-level abilities. If that's true, you should take the Hunter test tomorrow at PSD HQ. It'll determine your rank."
Max was about to answer—
When a portal ripped open in front of them.
An arrow shot out, racing toward Sunny.
Max moved instantly, his reflexes kicking in.
His hand snatched the arrow mid-air, saving Sunny's life.
Sunny froze, eyes wide.
"Your speed… that's not normal."
Then—the monsters emerged.
Orcs. Hundreds of them.
---
Max lunged into battle, cutting through their ranks without hesitation.
Sunny alerted the Hunters, guiding civilians to bunkers for safety.
Meanwhile, a streamer recorded everything from the rooftop, broadcasting the fight live.
The comments flooded in.
"Who is he?"
"That's fake—no one can fight this many alone."
"Is this AI?"
"7 million views already—this guy is insane!"
Then—a guild sent a super chat.
"Show us his face, and we'll pay you 1 million RUB."
The streamer sent a drone, trying to capture Max's identity.
But an orc smashed the drone.
The guild increased the offer.
"We'll pay you 5 million—get closer!"
The streamer jumped off the rooftop, trying to approach.
Then—Max was hit.
A massive punch sent him crashing into a parked car.
The orc turned to the streamer, ready to kill him.
Sunny saved him—but broke his arm in the process.
The orc loomed over them, raising its weapon for the final blow—
When a car flew across the battlefield, slamming into the orc.
It was Max.
---
Max activated Bloodlust—his movements turning monstrous.
The fight became savage, his strikes ripping through the remaining orcs with unmatched brutality.
Sunny watched in horror, whispering under his breath.
"Is he… a monster?"
The streamer trembled, unable to believe what he was witnessing.
Sunny grabbed the streamer's phone, smashing it.
"Don't record people without their permission."
Max finished the battle, standing amidst the carnage.
"Monsters don't lose."
---
The Hunters finally arrived, but the fight was already over.
Sunny shouted at them, furious.
"Why the hell are you so late?! If it weren't for him, people would've died!"
Max, standing on a rooftop, left without a word.
---
The next day, the video went viral.
PSD and every major guild searched for the mysterious fighter.
And Max?
He stood outside PSD HQ, staring up at the entrance.
"So this is the place."
He entered, meeting Sunny.
Sunny guided him to the exam center.
Max approached the two magic balls—one for element detection, the other for power measurement.
He placed his hand on the first.
The ball glowed bright red.
"Fire element," the examiner muttered.
Max touched the second ball.
It shattered instantly.
Silence.
Then—chaos.
---
Sunny dragged Max aside.
"I think you're a 7-star fighter."
Max frowned.
"What's that?"
Sunny explained.
Hunters were ranked from 1 to 7 stars—the stronger they were, the higher their rank.
Only 18 people in the world had reached 7 stars.
"You'd be the 19th."
Max absorbed the information.
"I'll take the exam in three days."
Sunny nodded.
As Max stepped outside, he whispered to himself.
"I need more power."
His eyes darkened.
"I need to return to Hell."