I Ascend Alone-Chapter 106: Next Plan

Deep within the shadows of SSS-rank dungeon, the air was thick and heavy, the kind of pressure that would crush most hunters the moment they stepped foot inside. Cracked obsidian walls stretched high above, covered in glowing red markings that pulsed like veins.

And in the center of a massive, silent chamber, a creature appeared.

It didn't emerge with a roar or in a flash of light. It was simply there, stepping out from the darkness as if it had always been part of it.

Tall. Lean. Cloaked in armor that seemed woven from the void itself. Its eyes weren't eyes at all—just narrow slits of burning violet, sharp and unblinking.

The creature took slow, calculated steps forward, its clawed hand trailing along the stone wall beside it. As it walked, the glowing red markings dimmed slightly, as if recognizing its presence.

It stopped at the center of the chamber and crouched, running its hand along the floor—feeling it. Sensing something.

A faint shimmer pulsed where it touched, as if it were reading residual energy.

It muttered something in a low, strange language—unintelligible to most, but filled with weight.

Then it stood, turning toward one of the walls. Its gaze pierced through the stone, through the dungeon itself.

It muttered again—this time slower. "Abyss Monarch... has awakened. I need to inform others."

The creature's expression twisted slightly—almost like a grin, though it didn't resemble anything human.

Then it vanished again, melting into the shadows as quietly as it had arrived.

-

The next morning, the skies above the private Hunter Association facility were clear, sunlight casting long shadows across the courtyard as the sound of rotor blades echoed overhead. Transport helicopters and armored convoys lined up for departure, each headed for a different corner of the world.

It was time to return to our cities.

The mission was over. For now.

Hunters moved about the base, some checking gear, others sharing quiet conversations. Medics gave final checkups. Technicians loaded data drives filled with records of the dungeon.

Despite the calm, there was a weight in the air—a shared understanding that what had happened in that dungeon wasn't just another raid. It was something bigger.

I stood near the loading zone, hands in my pockets as I watched teams prepare for departure.

Raiden was the first to approach me. His coat flared slightly in the wind, and despite his usual cocky smirk, there was something genuine in his expression.

"You've got a hell of a presence, Ryzen," he said, extending a fist. "Didn't expect to fight next to someone like you. Guess I should've known better. When you show up, things did change."

I bumped his fist with a nod. "You held your ground. Couldn't have asked for better backup."

Raiden grinned. "Damn right. Just don't make me chase your shadow next time. I'll catch up... eventually."

Next came Gabriel. He moved with a certain grace even outside of battle, his golden eye sharp as always.

"Ryzen," he said quietly, "you saved lives. Mine included. I owe you for that."

"No one owes me anything," I replied. "We did what we had to."

Gabriel gave a faint smile. "Maybe. But when the time comes, and you need someone to watch your back—I'll be there. You have my word."

Leon sauntered over, arms casually slung behind his head. "Alright, alright, before everyone gets all emotional... I just wanna say—badass. Seriously. You're scary in a good way."

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Ji Seong-Ho approached last. Always calm. Always collected.

"We were lucky," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "But you... you made the impossible feel manageable."

I met his gaze. "You supported the team together. That mattered more than you think."

Seong-Ho gave a respectful nod. "If you ever need anything, you call. Doesn't matter where or when."

Then Alexander Graves stepped forward, towering in his presence even without his Absolute Titanform. His armor had been replaced with a sleek black coat, but the weight of his power still hung in the air.

He said nothing at first. Just studied me.

Then: "The path you're walking... is dangerous. Even for someone like you."

I held his gaze. "I know."

Alexander stepped closer and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Then walk it with resolve. Not for vengeance alone—but for purpose."

I nodded, the two of us understanding more in silence than words could say.

Then, one by one, they turned and headed toward their transports, each bound for their own nation, their own fight.

I watched them leave, feeling the echoes of everything we'd faced still lingering in my chest.

The world wasn't safe. Not yet. But we'd made it through this battle. And the war was far from over.

As the final rotors lifted into the sky, I turned away, already thinking of what came next.

-

I stood there a moment longer, watching the last of the National-Level Hunters disappear into the sky, their transports dwindling into the horizon.

Then I glanced over my shoulder at Leon, who was still lingering nearby, stretching his back like he had all the time in the world.

I gave him a light nudge with my elbow. "We should probably head to our ride."

Leon let out a breath and smirked. "Yeah, yeah."

Together, we made our way to the helicopter waiting for us on the other end of the landing pad. Its rotors spun steadily, the pilot already prepping for departure. Nearby, Christa was checking her gear, while Darius Vaughn stood tall beside Alastair Crowe, both deep in quiet discussion.

As we approached, Christa glanced up and gave a short nod. "About time."

Leon flashed her a grin. "Don't tell me you missed me already."

Darius gave us both a quick glance and a curt nod. "Let's move. We're on a schedule."

Alastair Crowe, ever composed, simply gestured toward the open bay of the helicopter. "After you."

We boarded without another word.

The inside of the helicopter was cool and quiet, the soft hum of machinery filling the space. Leon sat beside me, Christa across from us, with Darius and Alastair positioned near the front, reviewing some encrypted data on a tablet.

As the chopper lifted off the ground, I leaned back against the headrest, watching through the small window as the facility shrank below us. For a brief second, it looked peaceful—almost untouched by the chaos we'd left behind in that dungeon.