Chapter 18 - First Round Table Meeting

[ALERT]

[REWARDS OBTAINED]

[Skill Acquired: Spectral Presence]

[Artifact Obtained: Shadow Veil Ring]

[Hidden Reward Condition Not Met]

[Skill: Spectral Presence]

[Description: Instilling fear in the hearts of those who face you]

[Shadow Veil Ring Upgradable]

[Rank: E]

[Description: Conceals the demonic aura]

"Where is Elara? What will happen to her? I didn't even help her seek vengeance for her family's death," Heo yelled at the system, his heart heavy with unease. The memories of their brief encounter and the promise they made to bring justice replayed in his mind, leaving him with a lingering sense of responsibility and concern.

[ALERT]

[You made her realize her own path. She will forge her own destiny. You helped her realize her potential, just as I am helping you.]

[You will meet her again through a System Quest.]

Heo's heart swelled with a newfound sense of hope. He realized that his promise to find Elara had not been in vain. There was a glimmer of possibility that they could meet again and shape their destinies together. For the first time, he contemplated the idea that walking alongside someone might be better than facing the world alone. The thought of fighting against the injustices of the world with a companion by his side kindled a fire of determination within him.

"Elara, stay strong. I hope that when we meet again, you'll have grown even stronger," Heo whispered into the void, his words carrying his wishes across the space that separated them. With a renewed determination, he turned his attention to the path ahead, ready to face whatever challenges the world had in store for him.

"Thank you, system. The Shadow Veil ring you provided was exactly what I needed, and I had planned to acquire it in my next dungeon adventure," Heo acknowledged with gratitude, realizing that the system had indeed guided him in the right direction.

[ALERT]

[Rewards are randomly determined, and the probability of receiving rewards is influenced by your level of desire]

"Now I need to take the Hunter Association's rank advancement test. I need it to access higher-ranked dungeons," Heo muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a mix of determination and a hint of frustration.

Heo took his Shadow Veil ring from inventory and wear it to hide his Demonic Aura but it rank was E which is not enough to hide his Demonic Aura from higher rank hunter, he needed to upgrade.

"I suppose I should upgrade my ring before heading to the Hunter Association. System, how exactly can I upgrade my ring?" Heo inquired, a mix of curiosity and eagerness in his voice.

[ALERT]

[A Side Quest: Shadow Veil Rank Upgrade quest has commenced]

[Collect 150/10 Undead Bones]

[Collect 0/20 Ogre Blood]

[Collect 0/20 Orc Blood]

[Collect 0/20 Bat Wings]

The System's notification flashed before Heo's eyes, displaying the requirements for the Shadow Veil ring Rank Upgrade quest.

"Looks like I'll have to venture into three different types of dungeons to gather all these materials. This quest is going to be quite the journey," Heo exclaimed with a mix of resignation and determination, his voice tinged with a hint of both challenge and anticipation.

"I already have 150 undead bones. I've already cleared out the undead dungeon in the past," Heo stated with a note of relief, his voice carrying a touch of triumph. The advantage of prior accomplishments was evident, casting a positive light on his side quest.

"It's late at night. Let's head home. I could use some sleep. Today was quite exhausting, " Heo suggested, his voice carrying a weariness that echoed the taxing day he had experienced.

Inside the Phoenix Reborn Guild, all the top A-rank hunters were gathered around a round table. Even President Jang was there. Things got tense as they talked about the guy Eun had bumped into at the Hunter Association. Athena got pretty mad at Eun because she didn't catch the guy, who apparently had the Demonic Aura.

"I'm disappointed in you, Eun. How did a fledgling demonic hunter manage to slip away from you?" Jang's voice boomed with frustration as he directed his dissatisfaction toward Eun.

"How in the world did you manage to overlook a brand-new demonic hunter? Quite unexpected from you, our fiery witch," A fellow A-rank hunter taunted Eun from across the round table, a sly grin playing on his lips.

"Yu Hajoon, seriously, enough. I couldn't sense any demonic aura because I was rushing to find my brother, who's still missing, and you damn well know that," Eun fired back at Yu Hajoon, her voice carrying the weight of her exasperation and worry.

"Enough of this quarrel. Arguing won't solve anything. Yu Hajoon, go find that hunter. Eun, go find your brother. Consider this an order," Jang's voice cut through the tension, his command leaving no room for further dispute.

"Yu Hajoon, I have full faith in your assassin skills. I believe you'll handle it without any issues," Jang's voice carried assurance and confidence in Yu Hajoon's abilities.

"Leave it to me, Jang. This is going to be a blast," Yu Hajoon responded to Jang with a sinister smile and a suppressed chuckle, his demeanor suggesting a twisted sense of excitement. As he spoke, he slid his dagger along his tongue, adding a dark edge to his demeanor.

"Eun, keep in mind, we need to clear the Dragon Dungeon tomorrow. I can't delay it further due to your brother's absence. It would reflect poorly on our guild if others beat us to it. I won't stand for that," Jang reminded Eun, his voice unwavering as he stressed the critical nature of the situation.

She nodded in response to Jang, his face reflecting the concern he felt for her brother, who had been missing for an quit long period of time. Eun shared his worry, the uncertainty of her brother's whereabouts weighing heavily on her mind.

"Now, dismissed. I require some time alone," Jang's voice held a touch of authority as he issued the command, his expression reflecting a need for solitude.

"Is there any prophecy related to this Demonic Hunter? Just like with Heo back then, I didn't receive any information from you," Jang inquired, addressing his Ego with a sense of curiosity. His tone conveyed a desire for clarity on the matter.

"No need to worry. If he posed even the slightest obstacle in your path, the Gods of Fate - Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos - would have informed me about him. Remember, they're imprisoned by Zeus now, bound to his absolute authority, " Ego reassured Jang, brushing away any concerns about the demonic hunter. The tone of his voice held a hint of amusement, as if he found the situation somewhat amusing.

"Yes, you're well aware that Zeus' authority is also your authority, and you know perfectly well why," Ego continued, his voice carrying a sense of suspense and enigma, leaving a lingering air of mystery in his words.