He was half-asleep when they dragged him away, body heavy, vision flickering in and out. The sound of a car door slamming was the last thing he remembered before everything went dark again.
When he opened his eyes, the world had changed. They were driving through a narrow, mountainy road — fog crawling down the cliffs. At the end stood a massive iron gate built into stone. The car drove through and descended into a long tunnel lit by blue lights.
It wasn't just a place. It was a whole underground city.
Hunters, merchants, and staff walked everywhere — some sharpening weapons, some trading monster cores, some whispering as soon as they saw him pass by. Everyone could feel the presence of the man walking beside him — and their eyes immediately darted to Erlen.
"Who's that kid with him?"
"He's being taken to the president?"
"No way. He's just a rookie…"
The whispers followed him all the way until they reached the end of the corridor — a massive reinforced door guarded by two elite hunters. The man in black suit nodded, and the doors opened.
Inside, the air shifted.
A tall man stood at the center of an empty arena. No aura, no killing intent — but his presence alone made the space feel smaller. The president.
He turned, looking directly at Erlen. "So this is the one?"
"Yes, sir. Survived the Ghost Incident alone," the man replied.
The president studied Erlen like a predator measuring prey. "Step forward. Let's see what you're capable of."
Erlen clenched his fists, his heartbeat steady. He didn't know why he was here or what was about to happen — but one thing was clear: he wasn't backing down.
"Alright," he said, cracking his neck. "Let's go."
He dashed forward with blinding speed, throwing sharp strikes and kicks, but every single one was dodged like nothing. The president didn't even move his feet much — just swayed his body slightly, avoiding every attack by a hair.
"Too slow," the president said calmly.
Erlen gritted his teeth, attacking faster — the sound of his fists cutting air filled the room. He aimed low, then high, then feinted, but the man didn't even blink.
Then, with one swift motion, the president countered. A single tap on Erlen's shoulder — and his knees hit the floor. Another strike to his gut sent him sliding meters away.
He gasped for air but pushed himself up again, vision blurry. "I'm… not done yet!"
The president smiled faintly. "Then come."
Erlen dashed again, faster than before, but before he could blink — a shockwave hit him square in the chest. He flew back, smashing into the wall, and everything went black.
Silence filled the room.
Then, it happened.
A thin crack of light formed above him. Slowly, it expanded — glowing brighter, pouring down like sunlight piercing through heaven itself. His body started glowing. The ground beneath him trembled.
The hunters watching from the upper decks froze. The staff dropped what they were holding.
"What the hell… is that?"
"Is that… divine light?"
"He's… awakening!"
His body levitated slightly — light wrapping around him, his aura expanding like a storm. The temperature dropped, then rose again violently.
The president stared, unmoved. His eyes softened for a second. "So it's true," he muttered. "He inherited it."
The man beside him looked shocked. "Inherited what, sir?"
"The Limitless Gift," the president said, turning away. "The trait that only one man was ever born with — and his son just awakened it."
He watched the unconscious Erlen as the glow slowly faded. "He won't understand it now… but when he does, the world will change."
"Take him to my private quarters. No one touches him except me."
The guards immediately moved, lifting Erlen's body carefully. As they walked down the hall, whispers spread again — louder this time, mixed with fear and awe.
"Did you see that light?"
"He awakened a divine trait…"
"The president looked… impressed."
Inside the elevator, the president looked up through the glass roof, where the faint remnants of light were fading.
"Your bloodline didn't disappoint," he said quietly, almost like he was speaking to someone long gone. "Let's see if you can control what you've been given… or if it'll consume you."