That morning, a thin mist still blanketed the city.
Min Hu stood before a small mirror in the living room. His blue eyes looked weary, yet they still reflected the same determination — the will to survive.
The orange cat, his loyal companion, meowed softly from the table.
"Zeco, I'm heading out…" Min Hu said with a faint smile, gently patting the cat's head before leaving.
He bid farewell to his family; his mother embraced him tightly, while his sister, Min Sina, stood in silence. Their mother noticed the worry in Sina's eyes — the same worry Min Hu himself could already feel.
"Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise," he said softly.
Min Sina's eyes welled with tears as she suddenly hugged her brother tightly.
"Promise me," she whispered in a trembling voice.
"I promise."
With that, Min Hu turned and left.
---
Like usual, Min Hu went to fulfill his duties as a Rank-F Hunter, clearing Realms alongside a newly formed mixed party.
Even though he had once been kicked out of his previous group, he never refused any job — as long as the payment could help his mother and his sister, Min Sina.
At the designated meeting point, he met two new companions.
One was a young woman with long brown hair and hawk-like black eyes — Soh Yun, his friend and a Rank-C Mage Hunter, user of elemental magic. She was well-known among younger Hunters for both her strength and her beauty.
Beside her stood Mr. Ki Han, the party's leader, a seasoned Rank-B Hunter with a sturdy build. Despite his stern appearance, his eyes carried a quiet kindness and concern for his teammates.
"So, you're Min Hu — the Rank-F Hunter joining my team?" one of the members asked.
"Yes, sir. I'm ready to take on any task," Min Hu replied firmly.
Soh Yun gave him a doubtful look at first, but when she noticed the half-healed wounds on his hands, something in her gaze softened — a small glimmer of respect.
---
Entering the Realm
This Realm was located on the outskirts of Sunghwa Forest — a place notorious for being the den of Wolf Blue, a higher-ranked wolf species with razor-sharp fangs and rapid regeneration.
A dark aura filled the forest. Leaves fell soundlessly, and the air was colder than usual.
Min Hu walked in the rear, quietly observing his surroundings while gripping his old Hunter knife — its blade dull and rusted.
"Don't stray too far from us," Soh Yun said without turning around.
"Understood," he replied simply.
But not long after they entered the forest's core, the ground began to tremble.
A deafening howl echoed from all directions.
In an instant, dozens of Wolf Blues burst out from between the trees, their glowing blue eyes flickering like lightning in the dark.
---
The Battle Begins
"Formation! Defensive stance!" shouted Mr. Ki Han.
Soh Yun immediately chanted a spell — an Ice Element barrier rose before them, forming a massive wall to block the first assault. But there were too many wolves — too fast, too savage.
"These… they're not ordinary wolves," Soh Yun gasped, her breath unsteady.
Min Hu's heart pounded as he watched the onslaught. He knew his strength was nothing compared to theirs. But when one of the Wolf Blues leapt over the barrier, aiming straight for Soh Yun—
He didn't think. He moved.
Claws slashed across his chest. Blood splattered onto the ground.
"Min Hu!!" Soh Yun screamed.
Mr. Ki Han rushed forward to pull him away, but Min Hu only smiled through the pain.
"I can still stand…" he muttered, staggering to his feet.
"We're outnumbered!" Ki Han shouted. "Retreat now!"
"But—"
"That's an order!" he barked. "Better one life lost than everyone's!"
"I'll hold them off," said Min Hu firmly.
Soh Yun's tears began to fall. "I won't leave him!" she cried, memories flashing before her eyes.
Mr. Ki Han clenched his jaw, then struck the back of her neck with the flat of his sword, knocking her unconscious.
"I'm sorry… young man," he whispered, lifting Soh Yun onto his shoulder.
Min Hu smiled faintly.
"Please tell my family… I'm sorry I couldn't come home."
Mr. Ki Han's eyes glistened as he nodded. "Thank you, Min Hu."
And with that, the rest of the party ran — leaving Min Hu behind in the collapsing Realm.
---
Min Hu's Final Stand
Now, Min Hu stood alone in the midst of the snarling pack.
His body was covered in wounds, blood dripping onto the cold earth — yet the fire in his eyes still burned.
"If I must die… then let this death have meaning," he whispered.
Images of his mother and sister flashed before him — their warm smiles, the scent of home-cooked meals, and his mother's gentle voice calling out his name.
> "Min Hu…"
"Brother!" cried Min Sina's voice in his memory.
Tears streamed down his blood-stained face.
With every ounce of strength left, he swung his rusted blade. One by one, the Wolf Blues fell.
The knife glimmered faintly — as if it too refused to give up.
But the enemy was endless. A claw pierced through his chest, blood spilling onto the ground as his body trembled.
"I'm sorry… Mother… Sina… I couldn't come home…"
As his vision faded, a sudden blue screen appeared before his eyes — a mysterious system activating from within him.
> [ System Activated ]
[ Skill: Shadows — Active ]
Do you wish to rise again?
Choices:
1️⃣ No
2️⃣ Yes
Min Hu stared at the screen with his final breath. His lips curved into a faint smile.
"If there's still a chance… then I'll… come back…"
His trembling hand slowly pressed Yes.
The system flashed.
A blinding blue light enveloped his entire body.
To be continued…
---
#Next: The sorrow of Min Hu's family — and Zeco's encounter with a mysterious strangers