Max Ranker

The city was changing.

Jin Hwan could feel it.

The Hunter Association had started securing the abandoned zones, one by one. Every time he arrived at a usual hunting ground, it was already locked down. Patrols in black-and-white suits roamed the perimeters, their presence making it impossible for an unregistered hunter like him to slip through unnoticed.

He gritted his teeth.

It was his hunting ground.

It was his path to getting stronger.

But the Association was closing in.

After hours of searching, he finally found one.

An old, ruined apartment complex on the outskirts of the Underpass District. Unlike the others, no Hunter Association patrols were in sight.

That meant one of two things:

1. They hadn't discovered this place yet.

2. They knew about it but didn't want to get involved.

Jin Hwan tightened his grip on his dagger.

Either way, it was his chance.

With a silent breath, he activated his Stealth Skill and moved forward, disappearing into the shadows.

The moment he stepped inside, a chilling stench filled his nose.

The smell of rotting flesh and blood.

Jin Hwan's body tensed. His instincts screamed at him—something was here.

Then he saw them.

A group of demons feasting on a pile of human remains.

Four of them. Larger than the usual F-rank demons he had faced before. Their clawed hands ripped into the flesh, tearing chunks of meat apart as their glowing red eyes burned in the darkness.

Jin Hwan gritted his teeth. His grip on his dagger tightened.

No fear.

He had killed dozens before. He would kill them again.

Jin Hwan exhaled and activated Stealth.

His body became one with the shadows, and he slipped forward without a sound.

His target was the closest demon.

It was hunched over, chewing on a severed arm. Its guard was completely down.

Jin Hwan struck first.

SLASH!

His D-Rank Dagger sliced through the demon's neck like butter.

[Rank Up +1]

The demon gurgled, collapsing in an instant.

But before he could move, the others noticed.

Three sets of burning red eyes snapped toward him.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the room.

Then—

They lunged.

Jin Hwan barely had time to roll sideways before claws ripped through the air where he had just stood.

Fast.

Faster than the F-rank demons he had fought before.

Jin Hwan clicked his tongue. "Tch… so you guys are a little tougher, huh?"

The demons snarled, circling him.

Jin Hwan grinned.

"Good. This'll be fun."

The first demon charged at him.

Jin Hwan ducked, his dagger flashing in the dark.

SLASH!

His blade cut deep into its torso.

But it didn't die.

It staggered back, blood dripping from the wound, but it didn't fall like the first one.

Jin Hwan narrowed his eyes.

"Tougher bodies… but they still bleed."

The second demon came next.

Jin Hwan reacted fast.

He used Stealth—disappearing for half a second, appearing behind the demon before it could track him.

STAB!

His dagger pierced the back of its skull.

[Rank Up +1]

The body slumped forward, lifeless.

Two down.

The last two didn't hesitate.

They attacked at the same time.

Jin Hwan barely managed to dodge, but one of their claws raked across his shoulder.

Pain shot through him.

"Shit!"

He rolled back, pressing a hand to his wound. Not deep, but painful.

The demons snickered as if they knew they had drawn blood.

Jin Hwan gritted his teeth.

"Alright, you bastards…" He raised his dagger. "Let's finish this."

The demons rushed him again.

This time, he didn't dodge.

He ran toward them.

The first one swiped at him—he ducked.

The second one lunged—he stepped aside.

And then—

He struck.

With all his strength, he drove his dagger into the demon's open mouth, piercing through the back of its head.

[Rank Up +1]

Before the last demon could react, he twisted his dagger free and spun around.

SLASH!

A clean cut—right through the throat.

The demon collapsed, choking on its own blood.

[Rank Up +1]

Jin Hwan exhaled, panting. His arms were trembling. His shoulder still ached from the claw wound.

But he had won.

Jin Hwan leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

The smell of demon blood was thick in the air. His dagger dripped with black ichor.

He looked at his system notification.

[Rank Up System: E Rank – Progress 14/200]

Almost there.

He sheathed his dagger and pushed himself off the wall.

"I need to find another nest."

He had no time to rest.

The Hunter Association was closing in.

And if he wanted to survive, he had to rank up. Fast.

Jin Hwan exhaled.

His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His dagger, slick with black demon blood, felt heavier in his grip. His arms were aching, his body protesting every movement.

But he wasn't done.

Not yet.

The abandoned apartment complex was deeper than he expected. He moved through its dark, crumbling hallways, the walls lined with old bloodstains and shadows that seemed to breathe.

Then—he found them.

Two E-Rank demons hunched over a fresh kill.

Bigger. Stronger.

Their muscles bulged, their claws sharper than the F-rank demons he had fought before.

Jin Hwan clenched his dagger.

"This is gonna hurt."

One of the demons lifted its head.

Its glowing red eyes locked onto him.

And then—

It roared.

The first demon charged at him, its massive claws swiping down.

Jin Hwan dodged, barely avoiding the strike as the claws sliced into the concrete floor, sending dust and debris flying.

"Fast."

The second demon came from behind.

Jin Hwan rolled forward, spinning mid-air to face them both.

They were stronger than F-rank demons. He could feel the difference.

"If I fight them like I did before, I'll die."

Jin Hwan gritted his teeth.

He had to be smarter.

The first demon lunged again.

Jin Hwan didn't dodge—he stepped forward.

The moment the demon swung its claw, Jin Hwan ducked low and drove his dagger straight into its stomach.

SHHK!

The demon howled in pain, staggering back.

Jin Hwan pulled his dagger free and jumped back before the second one could strike.

But the first demon wasn't dead.

"Tough bastards."

Jin Hwan exhaled sharply.

If one stab wasn't enough—

He'd just have to stab it again.

The wounded demon snarled and lunged at him again, but this time—Jin Hwan was ready.

He activated Stealth—

Disappearing into the shadows.

The demon froze, its eyes darting around in confusion.

Jin Hwan reappeared behind it.

SLASH!

His dagger sliced through the back of its neck.

[Rank Up +1]

The demon fell.

One down.

The second demon growled, realizing it was alone now.

Jin Hwan smirked and raised his dagger.

"Your turn."

The demon charged.

Jin Hwan sidestepped, using his Stealth Skill again to throw it off.

He appeared at its side and—

STABBED.

The dagger pierced deep into its ribs.

But it didn't die.

Instead, it grabbed him by the throat.

Jin Hwan choked, his feet lifting off the ground as the demon's grip tightened.

Shit.

He struggled, his vision blurring—

Then, with the last of his strength—

He jammed the dagger straight into its eye.

POP!

The demon screamed, dropping him instantly.

Jin Hwan gasped for air and stabbed again—

Right into its skull.

[Rank Up +1]

The body collapsed.

Jin Hwan sat there, panting.

His hands trembled. His body ached. His throat still burned from where the demon had grabbed him.

He checked his system.

[Rank Up System: E Rank – Progress 16/200]

He groaned.

"Still a long way to go."

His entire body was screaming at him to stop. To rest.

But—

"I need to get stronger."

He forced himself to stand up.

He wiped his dagger clean and turned to leave.

The moment he stepped outside—

A voice called out.

"Yo."

Jin Hwan froze.

Three men stood in front of him, blocking his path.

Hunters.

But not the Association kind.

"Rogues."

They were young, dressed in cheap armor and carrying basic weapons.

One of them, a guy with a scar across his nose, grinned.

"You had a fun hunt, didn't you?"

Jin Hwan said nothing.

The second guy, a tall one with a shaved head, pointed at Jin Hwan's dagger.

"That's a nice blade you got there."

The third one laughed.

"Must've looted it off some dead Hunter, huh? No way a loser like you could get his hands on something like that."

Jin Hwan's eyes darkened.

"Loser, huh?"

The scarred guy took a step closer.

"You know, we don't like unregistered Hunters running around stealing our kills."

The bald one cracked his knuckles.

"And we really don't like it when weaklings like you act tough."

The third guy sneered.

"Baek Jin Hwan, right? You're the Baek that didn't awaken. The useless one."

Jin Hwan exhaled.

He clenched his dagger.

The scarred guy smirked.

"Be a good boy and hand over that fancy dagger. And maybe—maybe—we won't break your legs."

Jin Hwan grinned.

A cold, sharp grin.

"You want my dagger?"

He raised it.

"Come and take it."

The rogue hunters charged.

Jin Hwan moved first.

Stealth.

He disappeared—

And reappeared behind the scarred guy.

SLASH!

His dagger sank into his back.

[Rank Up +1]

Blood splattered onto the pavement.

The remaining two froze, their eyes going wide.

Jin Hwan smirked.

"You guys really thought I was weak?"

He stepped forward.

"Your turn."