Hunter Ascension: Reberu

The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the distinct scent of the hospital an overwhelming antiseptic aroma mixed with a silence broken only by the beeping of patient monitors. Slowly, Dzeth's eyelids fluttered open, and the world greeted his consciousness once more.

The sterile white ceiling of the Academy Hunter Hospital (A.H.H.) was the first thing he saw. His head felt heavy, his vision slightly blurred. He tried to sit up, but his body was still weak. A dull pain pulsed in his eyes, reminding him of yesterday's events Hwang Hawk, that punch, and the darkness that swallowed him whole.

I'm still alive.

He took a deep breath and tried to sit up straight. At that moment, the door creaked open, and a doctor stepped inside.

"You're awake," the doctor said while checking his condition. "Good, but you still need rest. Your eyes suffered serious injuries, and you must stay here for a full month to recover completely."

A month?

Dzeth's eyes widened. That was too long. He couldn't afford to fall behind in his training if he wanted to get stronger.

"Doctor, I need to return to the academy. I can't just sit here wasting time!"

The doctor shook his head while jotting something down on his clipboard. "That's impossible. You're still recovering, and we don't yet know the long-term effects of your injury."

Dzeth clenched his fists but didn't argue further. However, something was bothering him.

If his eyes were injured… why could he still see clearly?

Then, something happened.

At the far end of the room, a trainee doctor stumbled and a scalpel slipped from his grasp. The sharp blade twirled through the air, heading straight for Dzeth.

Time seemed to slow.

Without thinking, Dzeth tilted his head to the side. The scalpel struck the floor, just inches from his hand.

The entire room fell silent.

"I… dodged it?" Dzeth muttered, touching his forehead, trying to process what had just happened. He hadn't seen the scalpel fall, yet… he somehow knew it was coming.

What's happening to me?

-

One Month Later

Every day, Dzeth pleaded with the doctors to let him leave early, but they refused.

Finally, the day arrived. Dzeth stepped out of the hospital, feeling stronger than before.

But before heading home, he made a decision.

He ran four kilometers around the academy, savoring the freedom he had longed for. His muscles screamed for rest, but he pushed forward. By the time he finished, sweat dripped down his face as he paused to catch his breath.

Upon reaching home, he didn't stop.

40 push-ups. 40 sit-ups. 40 squats. Train his instinch. Train his skill. And Trying to get the Power Technique for every day.

His body ached, but his mind had never been sharper.

When night fell, he collapsed onto his bed, exhausted.

As his eyes grew heavy, one thought lingered in his mind.

I have to get stronger.

-

The Next Morning

Morning arrived with sunlight streaming through his window. Dzeth woke up early, feeling more refreshed than usual. After getting ready, he headed to his Grade D Hunter class like always.

No one taunted him.

Perhaps they had all forgotten about him.

Upon entering the classroom, he and the other students waited for their instructor. Not long after, the teacher stepped inside and stood before them.

"Today, you will receive your first mission as Hunters."

The students immediately focused.

"You will be sent to a tunnel that has been identified as having multiple Grade D Curses. This is your chance to prove yourselves."

Dzeth nodded.

This was the first step in his journey as a Hunter.

-

Inside the Tunnel

Upon arrival, they were met with darkness and an eerie silence. The damp scent of earth filled the air.

But something felt wrong.

All the Grade D Curses were already dead.

"Are we too late?" one student whispered.

Then

Something moved in the shadows.

A black blur shot forward at incredible speed. Before anyone could react

SLAK!

Blood splattered.

A student from Dzeth's class collapsed onto the ground. His eyes were lifeless. Blood pooled around his stomach, where a gaping hole had been carved.

Silence fell.

Everyone knew what had happened.

Standing before them was a humanoid figure, its body lean but muscular. Its eyes glowed red, and a sinister grin stretched across its face.

"Shit…" another student muttered. "That's… Speed Cursed."

The name alone was enough to send shivers down their spines.

This Curse possessed incomprehensible speed.

Even Hwang Hawk, usually full of confidence, turned and sprinted toward the exit without looking back.

But Dzeth wasn't fast enough to escape.

In an instant, Speed Cursed appeared before him.

Before Dzeth could react, a hand gripped his throat, lifting him off the ground. His breath caught in his lungs.

He struggled, but the Curse's strength was overwhelming. The world darkened.

-

One Second Later

His eyes snapped open.

The Curse still stood before him but this time

Something felt different.

His body moved on its own.

With one swift motion, his fist collided with the Curse's chest.

BOOM!

The creature was sent flying, crashing into the stone walls of the tunnel.

The Curse slowly rose, brushing dust off its body.

"Oh?" it chuckled, its sharp teeth gleaming. "You've got some strength, huh?"

In a blink, it vanished

and reappeared right in front of Dzeth.

But this time, Dzeth saw it coming.

He could see everything.

I can see the future…?

He didn't understand it.

But right now, that didn't matter.

Calming his breath, he raised his hands. He felt something unfamiliar coursing through his body

Negative Reversal.

The power pulled in all the surrounding energy before he delivered a final punch

DUM!

The Curse shattered into pieces.

As Dzeth walked out of the tunnel, several Grade A Hunters arrived, prepared for battle.

But when they stepped inside, they found nothing.

No enemy.

No danger.

Only a lone teenager, emerging from the shadows calm, unscathed.

They had no idea.

They had no idea that he was the one who defeated the Curse.

-

Chapter 2 – End..