Nova awoke in darkness.
For a terrifying moment, he realized he was inside the giant worm's maw, swallowed whole. The crushing pressure and fetid heat made him gag. His mind raced — I'm dead… this is it…
But instinct and the surge of his newly awakened power took over. His hands glowed as he poured mana into his Level 3 magic caster spell, Flamethrower.
A torrent of fire erupted from his palms, scorching the worm's inner walls. The beast roared in pain, thrashing violently. Black bile and half-digested debris exploded around him as the worm's stomach ruptured like a boiling furnace.
Nova was ejected, flying through a cave-like tunnel that the worm had dug deep underground. Dust, chunks of stone, and broken wood cascaded around him as he tumbled out into the open near a ruined building.
The intensity of the battle outside fed him. His heart pounded, and a fierce, uncontrollable will rose within him. Every scream, every roar, every dying beast only strengthened his resolve. I will fight harder. I will fight bravely.
As he staggered to his feet, stunned villagers and guards looked on in shock. Even Walter, still mid-battle, paused, his sword frozen in disbelief.
"He… he didn't die?" Walter muttered, fury flashing in his eyes.
Walter relaxed slightly, assuming Nova would collapse after the battle. But the reaction that mattered most was from the sister of the beast he had killed.
Her eyes blazed crimson, filled with rage. She screamed, summoning her powers. With a single monstrous leap, she slammed into Nova with a fist that could crush stone. He was thrown into a shop, wood splintering and dust clouding the air.
As he lay there, dazed and battered, the memories of his grandfather's words pierced his mind:
"Power is meaningless without will. Face it. Fight. Even against death."
Nova's chest rose and fell. His fear vanished, replaced by determination.
It was in that moment that the Book of Nox reappeared before him, floating in the smoky light. Its voice, low and hungry, whispered:
"Do you want full access? All the power you desire?"
Nova didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The change was immediate.
His body heated from the core, cracking with the pressure of raw mana.
Blazing red eyes—temporary, only active when power surged—flared, piercing the darkness.
The world blurred around him. Every muscle, every nerve, every thought thrummed with limitless energy.
When he opened his eyes, the chaos of the village battlefield sharpened around him. He felt insanely powerful — more than he had ever imagined.
And then, a thought crossed his mind. He had to hide this power. His identity must remain a secret if he wants to use it freely.
Glancing around, he realized he had landed in a costume shop, surrounded by broken shelves and scattered garments. He laughed coldly, a sound that cut through the smoky ruin.
"Perfect," he muttered. "Let's see how far this goes."
From the smoky entrance, he sensed twenty-five beasts approaching, all intent on ending him.
Then, a figure emerged—a man standing tall amid the chaos.
His body radiated power, every movement commanding the air itself. Dark black hair framed a sharp, striking face, and blazing red eyes burned from beneath a wolf-mouth mask, a symbol of absolute authority.
The man's aura intensified with each heartbeat. Flames licked around his form.
With a single swing of his hand, he unleashed Level 3 Weapon Style – Fire Ignite Slash.
A wave of fire erupted, a blade of pure heat slicing through the battlefield.
In an instant, the twenty-five 2-Star beasts' heads were severed, rolling across the scorched earth. Their corpses smoldered, marking the path of destruction.
The man walked slowly over the corpses, flames dancing on his boots.
"This… is going to be my starting hunt," he said, voice cold and low.
"Huh."
The battlefield froze around him, even the fires seemed to pause, as though acknowledging the arrival of a true predator.
And somewhere inside Nova, a spark of thrill ignited. He wasn't just a survivor anymore.
He was a hunter.