Chapter 15

Chairman Go Gun-Hee sat across from Kade in his office, the tension between them visible. The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the ticking of an ornate clock on the wall. Chairman Go's expression was serious, his gaze steady as he looked at Kade, who sat with his usual unsettling smile.

"Kade," Chairman Go began, choosing his words carefully, "we've discussed your request to raid an A-rank dungeon alone. While your abilities are indeed exceptional, this is not a decision we can take lightly. There are too many risks involved."

Kade's smile didn't falter. "I understand your concerns, Chairman. But as I've said, I am more than capable of handling it."

Chairman Go nodded slowly. "We've come to a compromise. We will allow you to enter the A-rank dungeon, but you must take a small team of elite hunters from the Hunter's Association as backup. They will not interfere unless absolutely necessary. This way, we can ensure your safety and the integrity of the mission."

For a moment, Kade's expression remained unchanged. Then, he leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "I can work with that. As long as they understand that I lead the raid and their role is purely observational unless I deem otherwise."

Chairman Go hesitated but finally agreed. "Very well. We will proceed with these terms. You can start with a dungeon owned by The Hunter's guild, I'm sure they won't mind you borrowing it for a bit."

Kade stood, his unsettling smile still in place. "Thank you, Chairman. I'll contact Mr Choo"

The entrance to the A-rank dungeon loomed before Kade and his small team of elite hunters from the Hunter's Association. The team consisted of experienced and confident hunters, one of them is Woo Jinchul himself.

As they stepped into the dungeon, the air grew thick with mana, and the darkness seemed to swallow them whole. The elite hunters spread out, maintaining a perimeter around Kade and their eyes vigilant.

Kade moved with relax posture, almost like he was walking in a park. The first wave of monsters emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malevolence. The elite hunters tensed, ready to spring into action, but Kade raised a hand, signalling them to stay back.

In a blur of motion, Kade engaged the monsters. Deciding it was time to reveal his true power now that he was officially an S-rank and didn't need to hide it anymore, he transformed, black tendrils extending from his arms as he tore through the creatures with savage efficiency. The elite hunters watched in stunned silence as Kade's form shifted, consuming the monsters' as whole with black tendrils coming out of his body and eating the monsters.

With each kill he grows stronger until his 20th or so monster, there seem to be a random limit of how much he can consume living beings with the same DNA instructures.

His ability, consuming the monsters and shapeshifting his limbs was a first for the hunters that came with Kade. 

It made him a one-man army, it was as if he never gets tired, never gets hurt…he seemed almost invincible.

Minutes turned into hours as Kade advanced deeper into the dungeon, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake. The elite hunters followed at a distance, their initial skepticism apart from Jinchul, turned to awe and fear. Kade's power was beyond anything they had ever seen.

When they finally reached the dungeon's core, a massive creature awaited them. The elite hunters prepared for a fierce battle, but Kade stepped forward, his smile unnerving. In a display of raw power, he engaged the creature head-on. His black tendrils wrapped around the beast, constricting and consuming it in a matter of moments.

The dungeon was cleared, the silence that followed almost deafening. Kade turned to the elite hunters, his smile unchanged. "I believe that concludes our raid. Let's return."

News of Kade's solo raid spread like wildfire. The hunting community and the world at large were stunned by the reports. An A-rank dungeon, cleared by a single hunter? It seemed impossible, yet the elite hunters who had accompanied Kade confirmed it.

As the news circulated, the reactions ranged from disbelief to admiration. Hunters and guild leaders alike were forced to reconsider their understanding of power and capability. Kade had not only proven his strength but had also established himself as the strongest in Korea within a matter of weeks.

The Hunter's Association received a flood of inquiries about Kade's new guild, with many expressing interest in joining. Kade's reputation skyrocketed, and he became a symbol of a new era in the hunting world.

Chairman Go Gun-Hee, watching the unfolding events, couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and apprehension. Kade had delivered on his promise, but his methods and the implications of his power left many questions unanswered.

Chairman Go Gun-Hee sat in his office, the sunlight streaming through the large windows behind him. He leaned back in his chair, deep in thought about the recent events. The news of Kade's solo raid on the A-rank dungeon had spread far and wide, and the reactions were nothing short of extraordinary. As he pondered the implications, a knock on the door broke his reverie.

"Come in," he called out.

The door opened, and Woo Jin-Chul, one of the elite hunters who had accompanied Kade into the dungeon, stepped inside. His face was pale, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. He approached the desk and bowed respectfully before taking a seat.

"Chairman Go," Jin-Chul began, his voice slightly trembling, "I wanted to report on what I witnessed during the raid with Kade."

Chairman Go leaned forward, his expression serious. "Go ahead, Jin-Chul. I'm eager to hear your account."

Jin-Chul took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "From the moment we entered the dungeon, it was clear that Kade was unlike any hunter I've ever seen. His movements were precise and almost mechanical, and he seemed to know exactly where the monsters would attack from. It was as if he could predict their every move."

Chairman Go nodded, listening intently. "And what about his combat style? The reports say it was… unusual."

Jin-Chul's eyes flickered with a hint of fear. "Unusual is an understatement, Chairman. It was terrifying. When he engaged the monsters, he didn't just fight them—he consumed them. Black tendrils emerged from his body, wrapping around the monsters and absorbing them. I've never seen anything like it. His power… it's not human."

Chairman Go's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're saying he used some sort of ability to consume the monsters? Did he explain what it was?"

Jin-Chul shook his head. "No, he didn't explain anything. But watching him, it was clear that his ability is far beyond anything we've encountered before. He moved through the dungeon like a force of nature, he's unstoppable . The monsters didn't stand a chance. By the time we reached the core, I was convinced he didn't need us there at all."

Chairman Go leaned back, absorbing Jin-Chul's words. "And how did the other hunters react?"

Jin-Chul swallowed hard. "They were as shocked as I was. None of us dared to intervene or even speak up. We simply watched as he annihilated everything in his path. By the end, there was a sense of relief that we survived, but also fear. We realized just how insignificant we were compared to him."

Chairman Go remained silent for a moment, processing the information. "Thank you, Jin-Chul. Your report is invaluable. You may go now."

Jin-Chul bowed again and left the office, leaving Chairman Go alone with his thoughts. The Chairman sighed, rubbing his temples. Kade's power was a double-edged sword, capable of great good but also potentially catastrophic.

Later that day, Chairman Go convened a meeting with key members of the Hunter's Association and government officials to discuss Kade's request and the implications of his abilities. The room was filled with serious faces as Chairman Go began to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a significant situation on our hands. Kade has proven himself capable of soloing an A-rank dungeon. However, his methods and the nature of his abilities require us to tread carefully. Woo Jin-Chul, who accompanied Kade, will provide his firsthand experience ."

Jin-Chul stood up and repeated his harrowing tale, describing Kade's terrifying prowess and the fear it instilled in the elite hunters. The room fell silent as he spoke, the gravity of his words sinking in.

When he finished, Chairman Go addressed the group. "We must decide how to handle Kade moving forward. He is an asset, but also a potential threat. We need to establish protocols for his actions and ensure that his power is used for the benefit of all."

A heated discussion ensued, with some advocating for closer monitoring of Kade and others suggesting forming an alliance to leverage his strength. In the end, a consensus was reached, Kade would be allowed to continue his operations, but with strict oversight and regular reports to the Hunter's Association.

As the meeting adjourned, Chairman Go couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Kade was an enigma, a powerful ally, but one that needed careful handling.