========== 9.1 ==========
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One Year Later – A Fragile Peace
It had been exactly one year since the Battle of Eastwind Shore.
That day was now remembered in history as the "Silent Tide"—the day when the strongest Awakened of America fought side by side to stop a catastrophic rift. Since then, no S-level rift had appeared.
Cities began to heal.
Destroyed buildings were rebuilt. Tourism returned to beaches and forests once scarred by monsters. Families who once lived in fear now walked the streets with laughter in their hearts.
But not everyone trusted this silence.
Some believed this peace was like the stillness before a storm—the breath before the world changed again.
==========
Rosalind's Home – Sunday Afternoon
A soft breeze passed through the sunlit veranda.
The house was a modern villa on the outskirts of the capital. Protected by high-level magic seals and under AHCA surveillance, it was where Rosalind Farley and Adrian Darius now lived with their newborn son.
Carl sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor, holding a small baby with light brown hair and glowing orange eyes.
Alfred Darius blinked up at him with innocent wonder, gripping Carl's finger with his tiny hand.
"He's strong," Carl said quietly, almost smiling. "He's going to be stronger than both of you one day."
Rosalind chuckled softly as she sipped her tea nearby. "Let's hope not too soon. I'd like him to learn how to walk before learning how to fight."
Adrian leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "He already broke one of his cribs by accident last week. The wood snapped like candy."
Carl looked down at Alfred again, his cold eyes warming just slightly.
"…He's lucky," he said.
Rosalind glanced over. "Why?"
"He'll grow up with both his parents."
The room went quiet for a few seconds. Adrian didn't say anything. Rosalind just gave Carl a soft smile, one filled with both understanding and gratitude.
==========
Later – On the Porch with Adrian
As Rosalind put Alfred to sleep, Carl and Adrian stepped out to the porch.
The evening was calm. A faint breeze stirred the trees, and the sky had turned orange and violet.
They sat on wooden chairs, a bottle of old cider on the table between them.
They didn't talk about monsters. Or rifts. Or politics. Not today.
Just small things.
Carl mentioned a stray cat that kept following him home. Adrian complained about how Rosalind had replaced all his workout gear with baby toys in the living room. They laughed quietly, shared a few sarcastic remarks, and let the world slow down.
For the first time in a long time… they let their guard down.
==========
Back on the Porch
Carl stood up to leave.
Adrian waved lazily, sipping the last of his cider. "Don't be a stranger."
Carl nodded, looking out at the peaceful garden. "I won't. I'll visit again."
He walked to his motorcycle, helmet in hand. Before starting it, he looked back at the house once more. Alfred's tiny laughter echoed faintly through the window.
Carl closed his eyes for a second.
Then rode off—unaware that peace was counting its final days.
========== 9.2 ==========
=====
Chapter: Quiet Days in the Shadow
One Year Later – Mid-Spring
The world moved on.
While no S-level rift had appeared since the Silent Tide, low-level and mid-level rifts still emerged regularly. It was the nature of the Awakened Era—monsters would come, and someone had to stop them.
D-level and C-level rifts became routine cleanup tasks, usually assigned to rookie hunters or training squads. B-level rifts were still taken seriously, though experienced hunters could finish them without too much risk. A-level rifts remained dangerous, but they were manageable with proper teams.
Only S-level rifts remained absent. For some, it was a relief. For others, an unnerving quiet.
==========
AHCA Headquarters – Rift Dispatch Center
Carl leaned against a wall near the mission board, arms crossed. The huge screen in front displayed rift activity across the country in real time. Colored dots blinked slowly: blue for D-level, green for C-level, yellow for B, red for A.
No purple. Not since last year.
A notification chimed. Another C-level rift appeared near Ohio. Already assigned. Hunters moved quickly, chatting casually.
Carl watched for a moment, then turned away. His name wasn't called today.
He had earned rest days. He barely took them.
==========
Hunter's Market – West Wing, Central City
The Hunter's Market, located in a fortified district near AHCA HQ, remained as vibrant as ever.
Vendors shouted over one another, selling upgraded gear, monster cores, potion elixirs, and specialized Awakened clothes. Banners fluttered overhead, advertising everything from rift insurance to limited-edition gauntlets forged from Leviathan scales.
Carl passed through the crowd, his black jacket and quiet aura instantly recognizable.
Whispers followed him, respectful and hushed.
"That's Carl, right?"
"The Shadow Manipulator… S-level Awakened."
"Didn't he fight during Silent Tide?"
"Yeah. Alone took down an S-rank serpent beast."
Carl ignored the chatter.
He walked toward one of the quieter alleys near the back of the market where his favorite vendor, an old woman named Maya, sold hand-bound notebooks and special ink. Perfect for writing his novels between missions.
"Still writing those stories of yours, Carl?" Maya asked, grinning.
He nodded once. "Helps keep the mind sharp."
She handed him a wrapped bundle of fresh notebooks. "On the house. For protecting us from nightmares."
He gave a small bow. "Thank you."
==========
Later – Hunter Café
Adrian slid into the booth seat across from Carl, yawning. His light brown hair was longer now, loosely tied. "Rosalind's parents came over. Alfred wouldn't sleep. I got kicked in the face."
Carl smirked slightly. "You're the one who said fatherhood would be 'easy if the baby's half-S-level.'"
"I was wrong," Adrian said flatly, taking a long sip of coffee.
Their conversation drifted—about recent missions, monster types, a new squad of rookies, a guild that kept showing off in public rifts.
It was nothing heavy. No tension. Just two friends living as they should have years ago—with time to talk, not just to survive.
==========
Outside – The World Moves On
Across the country, hunters trained, rift alarms buzzed and were silenced, guilds recruited new blood, and cities built stronger barriers and better defenses.
People lived.
Children played on sidewalks. Teenagers dreamed of becoming Awakened. Adults rebuilt homes, shops, and dreams that had once crumbled.
The world wasn't perfect, but it was breathing again.