When Jiho was taken to the dorm prepared for him, he realized just how tired he truly was. The events of the day had drained him more than he had anticipated. He quickly took a shower, and collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep, heavy sleep almost instantly.

In the early morning, a knock on his door woke him.

“Who could it be at this hour…?” he muttered, dragging himself out of bed.

When he opened the door, a school officer stood before him.

“Park Jiho?” the man asked.

Jiho nodded. The man handed him a note.

“This was sent by Henry Acton,” he said before turning and walking away without another word.

Jiho recalled hearing Henry Acton’s name the day before—Acton was the master hunter assigned as his mentor. Beyond that, Jiho knew little about him. No reputation, no stories, not even rumors of his skills.

The note read:

“Tonight at ten o’clock, you will begin your first training. Don’t be late.”

It included an address and a rough sketch of the training location.

“I can’t believe this is really happening. I’m really at Cheonji Academy,” he whispered, his heart pounding with excitement.

He glanced out the window, eyes bright. It was a clear, sunny day. Staying in his room felt impossible. Jiho decided to explore the academy and head outside.

He noticed that, Academy was far larger than he had expected. Training areas sprawled in every direction, each one unique. Some were open to all students, while others were marked with enchantments and barriers, accessible only with special permission. Ancient runes and spells adorned the restricted areas, their power palpable even from a distance.

The open areas bustled with activity. Students practiced mana techniques and physical combat, their shouts and the clash of weapons filling the air. Jiho watched them for a moment before moving on.

Jiho only returned to his room as evening began to fall. It was almost time for his lesson with Henry Acton; he put on his training clothes and went outside. The building where the lecture was to take place was in a remote corner of the campus, so he set off at a brisk pace along a path through the dense woods.

Jiho walked deeper into the forest, following the faint path until the trees thinned out. Soon, he found himself standing in front of a large, old building. It looked like a church, with tall windows and spires that reached toward the sky. The place felt silent and heavy, like it was frozen in time.

The two big wooden doors were closed tight, their surface covered in scratches and wear. Jiho pushed one open with both hands, the creaking sound echoing through the empty space. He stepped inside and stopped.

The room stretched out in front of him. it was almost empty but at the end of it, a large cross hung on the wall.

In front of the cross there were six students in their training uniforms. Jiho’s eyes were drawn to the man in the center. He was tall, with golden hair. His One foot rested on a large chest but that chess seemed special. It was covered in glowing runes.

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“Good,” Acton said with a smile. “Now that Jiho is here, the team is complete.”

Everyone turned to look at him. Jiho gave a slight bow. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean to be late.”

“No need to apologize,” he said warmly. “You’re right on time.”

Jiho joined the group. Acton’s gaze swept over the students, his expression still friendly, but the air in the room started to change.

A strong aura burst out from him, filling the room like a tidal wave. Jiho’s body tensed up as a cold chill ran down his spine. The energy was overwhelming, sharp and heavy, making it hard to breathe.

The other students weren’t doing much better. Some flinched, while others stepped back, their faces pale. That was Henry Acton’s aura. It was like a storm, pressing down on everyone without mercy.

A strange noise suddenly rumbled from the chest beneath Acton’s foot, drawing everyone’s attention. The chest trembled, muffled creaks echoing from within, as if something restless and trapped was inside.

“So, you felt my aura, huh? Maybe you're not as weak as we thought.”

His hand moved slowly toward the lid. The room seemed to hold its breath, every student fixated on the unfolding moment.

Acton opened the chest and pulled out a figure—it was a girl. He grabbed her tightly by the hair, dragging her a few steps away from the chest.

She was in a simple white dress, but stained with blood. Her marble-like skin, pale and cold, was marked with fresh wounds. The chains that bound her glowed with faint runes, coiling around her wrists and neck. Every time she struggled, the chains flared to life, their light a cruel reminder of her helplessness—each movement felt like a torment.

Despite her weakness and exhaustion, Jiho could still sense an undeniable beauty and nobility in her.

“A… vampire,” Jiho muttered under his breath, barely able to speak.

Acton nodded, “This is the most important lesson you will ever learn. This is the fate of the weak...”

He gestured toward the vampire girl with a cold stare. “This vampire is weak. She’s here because she couldn’t protect herself. In the hunter world, weakness is a death sentence. If you don’t grow stronger, you won’t even get to choose how you die.”

The vampire’s trembling gaze swept over the room like trying to find a way to help or run away, her gaze was moving from one student to the next, her desperation growing with each passing moment—until it settled on Jiho.

When her crimson eyes locked with his, an almost imperceptible shift passed across her face. The fear didn’t vanish completely, but something else broke through—a shock, as if she had seen something entirely unexpected.

That was just a moment no one noticed but only Jiho.

After a brief moment, her expression shifted, as if she had made a decision. Whatever realization had hit her, it was enough to make a decision—one that felt heavy, final, and unwavering.

The girl then turned her focus back to Acton, her eyes shining with hatred and contempt.

Suddenly, nn overwhelming aura erupted from the vampire girl. Her aura clashed with Acton’s, sweeping it aside. Acton’s aura was like a raging storm, but hers was cold—like death itself, seeping into the bones.

For a moment, Acton’s aura was completely overwhelmed by hers. The runes on her chains flared, desperately attempting to suppress her, digging into her skin and causing excruciating pain. She screamed in agony, her power intensifying with each passing second. With a final, heart-wrenching cry, the chains couldn’t withstand the force any longer and shattered into dust.

She broke free and lunged toward Jiho with a speed so fast it was a blur. Her crimson eyes locked onto him.

Jiho couldn’t even follow her with his eyes—within a heartbeat, she was behind him. Her claws dug into his neck, barely a touch, but enough to draw blood as they gripped him tightly. Her fangs hovered just inches from his skin, sending a cold shiver down his spine.

The students gasped in shock, fear evident on their faces. Even Acton, who had been in control of every situation, felt fear in his heart as he saw Jiho in this position.

The vampire girl flashed a sinister smile at Acton, her expression mockingly calm, but her eyes—those cold, empty eyes—sent a chill through Jiho’s spine.

Death was a breath away from Jiho.