Year 2122 earth almost 100 year since the monster invaded.
Several countries survive and one of the lucky country to survive is the Philippines where Kael is living.
The Philippines lacked the hunters needed to stop the monster invasion. Cities fell, hope began to fade—until he arrived. Victor, the Thunder Mage. Not just the strongest hunter in the country, but the strongest in the world. A storm in human form, and the nation's last line of defense
USA have 22 S rank hunters.
Russia have 32 S rank hunters.
South Africa have 18 S rank hunters.
China have 17 S rank hunters.
Japan have 8 S rank hunters.
Korea have 13 S rank hunters
And Philippines only have 6 S rank hunters.
They say Victor fought three God-tier monsters—alone—for three straight days without sleep. No breaks. No help. Just pure willpower and desperation. The battle was so brutal, so overflowing with mana, that all of Mindanao was left in ruins. What used to be thriving land is now nothing but a barren wasteland—too twisted, too dangerous for any human to live in.
"And that's exactly why you all need to work harder," the male teacher said firmly, his voice echoing through the hall. "Monsters are still roaming the world, and new rifts appear every single day. The war isn't over. You—students of Valencia University—are the future. The world is counting on you."
*Classes dismissed.
"Hey, Kael! Are you ready for tomorrow? It's our big day—we're finally becoming hunters!" Anthony grinned from ear to ear, his excitement almost overflowing.
"Yeah, dude, calm down," Kael said with a smirk. "We all know I, the Great Kael, will awaken with a powerful five-star combat profession and S-rank mana stats."
He laughed, clearly joking, as he nudged Anthony—his best friend since high school.
"Hahaha! You're seriously full of yourself, Kael," Anthony said, grinning. "You do remember there are only six S-ranks in the whole country, right? And the last one showed up eight years ago! Even hitting A-rank would make every guild in the Philippines fight just to get you."
"Yeah, bro... even if I only awaken with a one-star combat profession and C-rank mana, I'd still be happy," Kael said, his tone turning serious. "As long as it's enough to provide for my four siblings… and let Mom finally quit those two jobs she works just to keep us going."
He looked down at his hands—rough and covered in calluses from years of sword training. Slowly, he clenched his fist, the weight of his dream burning in his chest.
"I have to awaken with a combat profession," he whispered to himself.
"I must."
After school, Kael walked home to their small, rundown two-story house. It wasn't much—just 50 square meters—but it was theirs. His father had managed to buy it years ago, back when prices were still climbing. Now, a house like that would cost nearly a hundred million. Land was rare, and homes had become luxuries.
His father was once a D-rank hunter, a decent one. Not a hero, but strong enough to provide. That is, until five years ago—when he was badly injured during a monster tide at the frontlines. Since then, he'd been in a coma, hooked to machines and silent ever since.
The Philippines currently had a population of around 70 million—but nearly 40 million of them lived inside S-Class Dimensional Rifts now owned by major guilds.
These rifts, once dangerous gates crawling with monsters, had been cleared by hunters and officially claimed through the System. Ownership could be purchased via the status window, using magic crystals harvested from monsters—commonly known as monster cores.
Through these claimed rifts, guilds created safe zones, cities, and even entire economies. In this new era, the world no longer revolved around nations, but around rifts—and the power to control them.
It was said that only the major guilds had the resources to purchase rifts. Claiming ownership through the System required an unimaginable amount of magic crystals—often costing billions of dollars' worth in monster cores. But the cost wasn't just in crystals. Maintaining a rift also meant supplying it with a steady stream of mana to keep it stable.
Even then, not every rift was worth owning. Only S-rank gates were usually stable and safe enough to be converted into habitable Dimensional Rifts, and even among them, truly livable ones were extremely rare. Strategic purchases were critical, since the System set fixed prices regardless of size or location. For the investment to be worth it, a rift needed to span at least 500 square miles.
Once purchased, the gate would be registered under the name of the Guild Master, who held full authority over the land within. In today's world, guild masters wielded power equal to presidents. Some of the biggest guilds had so much influence, even small nations would surrender at the mere mention of their names.
In this new age, the world was no longer ruled by politics or diplomacy—it was ruled by strength and power.
Kael opened the door and was immediately greeted by the sound of little feet rushing toward him.
"Big bro!" his three younger brothers shouted in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement. Inside, the smell of food filled the air—his sister was already busy in the small kitchen, preparing their dinner.
All of his siblings had stopped attending school this year—just to support him through college and give him a shot at becoming an awakener.
Their mother was still out, working overtime as a dishwasher at a nearby restaurant. She rarely came home before midnight.
His younger brother Mel quickly grabbed Kael's backpack.
"I got it, bro! I'll put this in your room," Mel said cheerfully as he dashed upstairs.
"Big bro, let's eat!" called his sister Maya, seventeen and already taking care of the entire household. She had stopped going to school last year and now handled all the cooking, cleaning, and looked after the younger kids.
Sitting at the table were the always-cheerful twin brothers—Luke and Duke, both brimming with excitement.
"Big big bro!" Duke beamed. "Are you gonna become a superhero tomorrow? Sis Maya said it's your graduation!"
"Yeah!" Luke added, eyes sparkling. "Are you gonna be like Sword Saint Jayson or the Necromancer Si-Woo from Korea?"
Kael let out a half-hearted chuckle and flexed his arm jokingly.
"Of course! Look at these biceps—I've trained so hard, there's no way I won't become a strong hunter."
But deep down, he said to himself:
"I have to become a hunter—for them. To give them the future they gave up for me."
"Hahaha! Bro, once you become a hero, can we eat meat every day?" Duke asked, eyes wide with hope.
Kael laughed and patted both twins on the head.
"Not just meat—you can eat all the sweets you want. I'll buy you anything once I make it big."
"Oi, stop bothering big bro!" Maya scolded gently as she set down a bowl in front of him. "Kael, eat your dinner. I added extra meat to your soup, and more eggs too—Mom said you need strength for tomorrow."
Kael smiled warmly, his heart full.
"Hahaha… Thanks, Maya."
Next day graduation
"Kael, you bastard! You actually look amazing today!"
Anthony's voice boomed from across the crowd, earning a few surprised looks as he pushed his way toward his best friend.
Kael grinned. "Of course I do. This is the day I've been waiting for—the day I finally start chasing my dream."
Anthony let out a loud, mocking laugh and clapped him on the back. "Bro, don't be dramatic. We both got good grades, and you've got the highest physical stats in our whole batch. Even the teachers are betting you'll awaken a combat class. You've got this."
The two stood out in the crowd—not just because of their loud banter, but because they both looked majestic.
Anthony stood tall at 193 cm, with elegant brown hair and warm brown eyes. Being Wasian—half-Filipino, half Italian—he carried a sharp, noble look. His father was an A-rank hunter and the guild master of Blue Dragon Guild, one of the largest mid-tier guilds in the country. Everyone expected Anthony to inherit the position someday.
Kael, though from a poor family, was no less striking. He stood at 186 cm, with a strong build from years of training. His dark black hair stood out under the morning sun, and his sharp, slightly chinky eyes gave him a quiet intensity. Despite everything, he had a natural charm and presence that turned heads.
As the two chatted, several girls nearby couldn't help but admire them.
"Kael's so handsome and smart," one girl whispered. "Did you know he's ranked No. 1 in monster research for the whole school?"
"Not just that," another added. "He deadlifted 450 kilograms last week—and he's not even an awakener yet!"
"That's like a D-rank hunter's strength," two more girls gasped.
But then came a new voice—cool and a bit smug.
"Tsk. You girls are too shortsighted," said Cindy, adjusting her glasses. "Young Master Anthony is the real prize. He's the sole heir of Blue Dragon Guild—over two thousand hunters under its name and a billion-peso net worth every year."
"Yeah, and he's humble too," another girl chimed in. "Tall, rich, polite... he doesn't even flaunt his status."
"I talked to him once!" said a girl with blushing cheeks. "He's so well-spoken and charming. I'm in love."
"Keep dreaming, girls," scoffed Shiella, one of the school's top beauties. "A guy like Anthony? You better be drop-dead gorgeous and awaken at least a three-star profession with C-class mana if you want a shot."
Nearby, a group of boys overheard the conversation—and not everyone was thrilled.
"Tch. Blue Dragon? My dad's guild could crush them," said Rowel, son of the White Tiger Guild's master. "And Kael? He's just a dirt-poor loser."
His loud voice drew attention from the crowd.
Kael and Anthony heard it clearly—but said nothing. Rowel wanted a scene, and they both knew it.
Despite being from a well-known guild and having good looks, Rowel was known for being lazy, arrogant, and full of himself. Most students stayed away from him, though he still had a group of followers hoping to leech off his status.
"You know his dad's crippled, right?" muttered Rodney, one of Rowel's lackeys. "And his mom's just a dishwasher. Works at one of our family's restaurants."
The crowd began to murmur.
Rowel looked at the whispering students, then smiled mockingly at Kael.
"You losers don't need hope. Once a loser, always a loser."
Kael's eyes darkened. He clenched his fists.
"I tried to ignore you since it's an important day… but you don't get to insult my parents."
He stepped forward, his body tense—ready to throw a punch.
But Anthony quickly grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.
"Not today, Kael." His voice was low but firm. "He's not worth it. You've got bigger things ahead. Don't let him drag you down."
Kael took a deep breath, forcing himself to step back. The crowd watched in silence.
Reminding himself that he wouldn't let today be ruined. Today… was his awakening.
A loud boom echoed through the coliseum as a spiral of wind magic shot into the sky, twisting into a glowing green vortex. The crowd of students and spectators immediately fell silent, eyes turning toward the center of the arena.
There, standing tall and composed, was James—an S-rank Wind Elemental Mage and the Vice Guild Master of Azure Guild, one of the Four Major Guilds in the Philippines.
He was striking to behold. Around thirty years old, with long silver hair that flowed down past his shoulders, pointed ears revealing his half-elf bloodline, and sharp, elegant features. His piercing blue-green eyes and calm charisma drew the attention of everyone in the arena. Even standing still, he radiated a quiet storm of power.
The wind swirled gently around him as he raised a hand, his voice cutting clearly through the silence.
"Listen well. Today marks the beginning of your journey as hunters," he said, his tone steady and commanding. "But this is not about status or recognition. It's about duty."
"To be a hunter is to stand between humanity and destruction. The rifts will not stop. The monsters will not show mercy. The only thing holding the line… is you."
He scanned the rows of young faces.
"Some of you will awaken with power. Others may not. But remember—true greatness isn't determined by the stars given to you today. It's forged through courage, sacrifice, and the will to protect others."
The wind around him lifted his robes ever so slightly, as if nature itself bowed to his presence.
"Step forward with pride," he finished. "And never forget: you are humanity's shield. Be worthy of that burden."