They descended the winding staircase leading to the lower floor, the sound of their boots echoing in the otherwise empty space. The glass door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the shattered training ground ahead.

Most of the scientists had already fled—fragments of glass still littered the floor where Kaito and Raito had clashed, each mark a reminder of their ferocity.

Raito looked toward them as they entered. "So… are you here to fight me too?" His voice was low, cold, but there was fatigue behind it. "Even after leveling up… my body feels heavy. My SP's higher, but my stamina's fading fast."

He steadied his breathing, his expression hardening. "That last battle… if my dagger hadn't grazed him—if the venom hadn't kicked in—I would've lost. A Rank A was already pushing me to my limit."

His eyes narrowed as he watched Takura step forward. "And now… a former Rank S Hunter stands before me."

Raito tightened his grip on the dagger, mana flickering faintly around him.

But then—

"Wait," Takura said, raising a hand. His tone was calm, steady. "I'm not here to fight."

Raito froze for a moment, his gaze locked on him.

"I'm sorry for what happened," Takura continued as he took a step closer. "I didn't come to challenge you. I came to talk."

Raito's voice broke the silence of the ruined training hall. "So tell me, what do you three want to talk about? Because I don't feel like talking. I just want to leave. You forced me into this without my approval. Someone tried to fight me. I handled it. Now I'm done."

Takura stepped forward slowly, his expression calm but deliberate. "You're an outstanding hunter, Raito. You've proven that much. And I want to offer you something, something every hunter dreams of."

He straightened, voice firm with authority. "The Dragon Fang Guild. You know the name. Not every hunter who applies gets in. We treat our own, support them with materials, gear, and exclusive quests. It's an honor in this country to wear that badge. So I'll ask once, will you join us?"

Raito's eyes dropped for a moment, then lifted with quiet resolve. "You're right. It's every hunter's dream. If you'd asked me a year or two ago, I probably would've said yes. But I'm not the same person I was back then. I've changed. And for now, I want to be alone. So I'll have to decline."

He paused. "Are you going to stand in my way like before?"

Takura exhaled lightly. "No. You're free to leave. We've already pushed you enough. But maybe one day, you'll change your mind."

"Maybe," Raito replied softly. He turned to go, but Takura's voice stopped him again.

"That dagger," Takura's eyes locked onto it. "I've seen rare weapons before, but that one's different. The craftsmanship, the aura, it's worth at least a hundred and fifty million yen on the market. Tell me, how did you get it?"

Raito's tone turned sharp. "That's not your business. Don't ask again."

Takura raised his hands in surrender. "All right. I understand."

A faint buzz came from Raito's pocket. He pulled out his phone—Aiko. His sister. He glanced at the clock. 7:02 p.m.

He sighed. I went to buy groceries, and ended up fighting that guy for over an hour and forty minutes.

The thought made him smirk faintly before the exhaustion returned. He declined the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

He started walking past Takura and the others, Ichika and Seizo standing by silently. He didn't look back.

Raito spoke without turning his head. "Listen, you do something like this again, I don't care who you are, the head of whatever guild, I'll make you pay. Understand?"

He stopped for a brief moment, his voice low and serious. "Also, Keito's dying. I'm sure you have an anti-scorpion venom. Use it. Combine it with a healing potion. Healing alone won't be enough."

He continued walking toward the exit.

"Wait," Takura called after him.

Raito turned slightly, just enough to see Takura holding out a small black card.

"If you ever change your mind," Takura said quietly, "call this number."

He slipped it into Raito's pocket himself.

Raito didn't flinch. He just nodded once. "Okay."

He climbed the stairs toward the upper balcony. Ayane was there, standing by the railing. Their eyes met briefly. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Then she looked away.

Raito didn't wait. He stepped into the elevator, descended in silence, and walked out of the guild.

Raito stepped out into the quiet street. The night breeze brushed against his face as he turned his head back toward the massive Hunter entrance. Its towering structure glowed faintly under the streetlights, blue energy pulsing from within like a living heart.

He stood there for a moment, just watching it.

That thing… it really does look different at night.

He walked to the side of a nearby building, where no one could see him. Making sure the street was clear, he exhaled slowly.

"System," he muttered, "activate Shadow Phase."

[Skill: Shadow Phase Activated]

[You are now invisible to all visual and mana detection systems]

Dark energy wrapped around him like smoke, and his body faded into the shadows. He crouched slightly and whispered, "Activate Flight."

[Skill: Flight Activated]

A faint shimmer appeared under his feet before he lifted off the ground. The air split with a quiet hum as he shot upward, the city lights shrinking below him.

"Wow," he murmured as he soared across the skyline. "This actually feels… amazing."

He moved like a silent blur across the rooftops, the night wind brushing against him. Five minutes later, he landed softly in front of his apartment balcony.

[Flight Deactivated]

[Shadow Phase Deactivated]

The dark aura dissolved into faint wisps as his body returned to normal. He straightened his jacket and looked around. "Flight is actually really useful," he muttered with a grin. "And fun."

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