NOVEL WEB Chapter 6: The Hunter's Examination
Katsumi's rapid growth didn't go unnoticed. The Hunter's Association summoned him for questioning, suspicious of how an E-Rank had survived an S-Rank dungeon. He knew he couldn't reveal the truth about his Shadow Monarch abilities, so he played the role of a lucky survivor, claiming he had hidden while the monsters killed each other.
The examiner, a sharp-eyed B-Rank Hunter named Akira Saito, didn't seem convinced. "You don't look like a frightened survivor," he said, eyeing Katsumi's steady gaze. "How about a test?" With that, he tossed a C-Rank beast into the room—a mutated wolf, its fangs dripping with venom. Katsumi remained calm. With a flick of his wrist, his shadow stirred, and before the beast could lunge, Kuro emerged and sliced through it in an instant.
The room fell silent. Akira smirked. "I don't know what trick you're using, but you're no E-Rank." He handed Katsumi a new ID. "Re-evaluation complete. Rank: B." Katsumi clenched his fist, hiding his excitement. His new life was truly beginning.