Chapter 17

Kade is back to clear the A-rank dungeon again, his elite team from the Hunter's Association assembled behind him. Today, the hunter felt something wrong, it's like their own body warning them of something. 

Kade's unsettling smile lingered as he glanced back at his team, each of them looking very uncomfortable .

"Let's move," Kade commanded, with his kind voice and friendly smile.

The team advanced into the dungeon with their senses on high alert for some reason. Kade led the way, his eyes gleaming with an eerie light.

As they progressed, they encountered several groups of powerful monster but Kade dispatched them quickly. The elite team followed his lead, collecting Essence stones from the fallen monsters.

But Kade had a different plan for this raid. As they reached the heart of the dungeon, where the boss lurked, he paused, his unsettling smile growing wider. The team, unaware of his true intentions, prepared to distanced themselves from the battle.

"Kade, the boss is just ahead," Woo Jin-Chul, one of the elite hunters, reported. "We should proceed with caution."

Kade nodded, but his mind was already calculating his next move. "Indeed. But before we engage, there's something I need to do."

Without warning, Kade turned to his team, his eyes darkening. He activated his newly acquired ability, a sinister energy radiating from him. The elite hunters, caught off guard, recoiled as Kade lunged at them with inhuman speed, injecting his biomass into their mouth in the form of black tendrils.

One by one, the hunters succumbed to his control, their eyes glazing over as Kade's influence took hold. Panic spread through the team as they realized what was happening. Woo Jin-Chul, recognizing the danger, tried to flee. He sprinted down the dark corridor, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Kade, what are you doing?!" Jin-Chul shouted, his voice echoing through the dungeon.

But Kade stayed silent. He pursued Jin-Chul with his movements fluid and predatory. In a matter of seconds, he caught up with the fleeing hunter. With a swift, brutal motion, Kade overpowered Jin-Chul, injecting him with his biomass and forcing his will upon him. Jin-Chul's resistance faded as his eyes lost its light.

With the entire elite team now under his command, Kade turned his attention to the dungeon boss. The grotesque creature roared in defiance, but Kade's controlled hunters attacked with a newly acquired ferocity and precision that left it no chance.

One hunter got his arm cut off, but black tendrils came out of his body and immediately attached itself back to his body

Kade surveyed the scene, his unsettling smile never faltering. The dungeon was cleared, and his control over the elite hunters was absolute. He gathered the Essence stones and other resources, knowing that their combined efforts had yielded a significant haul.

Back at the Hunter's Association headquarters, Chairman Go Gun-Hee sat at his desk, reviewing reports. The door to his office opened and Woo Jin-Chul, now under Kade's control, entered the room. His movements were stiff as his eyes devoid of their usual spark.

"Chairman," Jin-Chul said, his voice flat. "Kade has successfully cleared the A-rank dungeon."

Go looked up, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "And the team?"

Jin-Chul's expression didn't change. "The team performed admirably. We gathered a substantial amount of resources."

Go studied Jin-Chul for a moment, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint it. "Very well. Inform Kade that I wish to speak with him."

Jin-Chul nodded and left the room, his movements seem almost robotic.

A few days later, the towering building that Kade had acquired for his guild stood resplendent against the city skyline, its facade gleaming under the sunlight. The renovations had transformed it into one of a kind building, a true bastion of power and wealth. Inside, the air buzzed with anticipation as the final touches were being applied.

The main hall, now spacious and elegantly designed, was ready to host the first official recruitment event. The walls were adorned with screens displaying footage of previous dungeon raids, showcasing the guild's master capabilities and successes.

Of course, it was edited and some parts of it were removed, he didn't exactly want to show everyone all his powers.

The training rooms, meeting areas, and tactical planning stations were all fully equipped and ready for use. The deep basements had been converted into secure storage for equipment, a parking garage, and additional training rooms.

Kade stood at the entrance, his usual unsettling smile firmly in place. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched the newly renovated building.

Word had spread quickly about the new guild and its impressive headquarters, drawing hunters from all over. 

Kade watched as he looked at the people going inside the building in the hope that they could join his guild, for now, he will do quality over quantity as he wants competent people as the founding father of his guild then once he's amassed a bunch of competent hunters, he'll focus on improving the quantity of his guild members.

As the recruits entered, they were greeted by a team of Kade's trusted lieutenants—the elite team from the Hunter's Association he had subtly taken control of minus Jinchul as he ordered him to stay by the Chairman's side. Their presence was a testament to Kade's influence and power and their disciplined demeanor set the tone for the event.

The atmosphere was electric, filled with murmurs of awe and excitement as the newcomers took in the impressive facilities. 

Kade stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Welcome to the future of hunting," he began, his voice resonating through the hall. "You are standing in the headquarters of what will become the most powerful guild in existence"

The crowd listened intently, their eyes fixed on Kade. Among them were elite hunters, eager novices, and specialists from various fields.

A tall, muscular hunter named Park Ji-Hoon, known for his critical thinking, approached Kade with a skeptical expression. "Kade," Ji-Hoon began, his tone respectful but firm, "I have a question."

Kade turned his attention to him, his unsettling smile never faltering. "Of course, what is it?"

Ji-Hoon crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "You've made impressive claims about this guild and its potential. But how does it compare to the strongest guilds around the world? Guilds like the Scavenger Guild in America or the Rising Sun Guild in Japan are renowned for their power and influence. What makes you think you can rival them?"

The room grew quieter as other hunters turned their attention to the exchange. Kade's eyes gleamed with amusement. He knew this question was inevitable.

"An excellent question," Kade replied smoothly. "The so-called strongest guilds around the world have built their reputations over years of hard work and strategic planning. They have achieved remarkable feats, no doubt. But let me make one thing clear, their time at the top is numbered."

Ji-Hoon raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure of that?"

Kade's smile widened, and a sharp edge entered his voice. "Because I'm the strongest"