I Am Dead

20 years ago, something terrible happened—an existence that threatened to tear humanity apart. Creatures of monstrous bestiality filled the earth.

Demons strong enough to wipe out the entire world plunged existence into total bloodshed. Weapons crafted by man couldn't stop them.

The hordes of demons grew larger by the day, nearly driving humanity to extinction.

That's where a group of people came in, calling themselves the Hunters—a force bestowed with inhuman abilities that allowed them to overwhelm the demons.

Thanks to the Hunters, the world was restored, protecting humanity against the demonic hordes. But the demons never truly retreated. Instead, they stepped back, restoring their strength to launch a final attack on humanity—one that could end the human race.

The Hunter Rankings

Hunters are ranked in an order of power:

SSS Rank – The rarest of all, with only a few Hunters ever attaining this level. Individuals at this stage are considered demi-gods.

SS Rank – The second rarest, attained by only a few, usually occupied by Guild Chiefs or powerful warlords.

S Rank – Known for their immense magic power. A single S-Rank Hunter at their peak can take on an entire army of lower-ranked enemies.

A Rank – B Rank – C Rank – D Rank – E Rank – F Rank – The hierarchy continues downward, with power levels decreasing accordingly.

Each Awakened Ranker can choose a skill class, and after passing through the Rankers Academy, they can be recruited by a guild and registered as a professional Hunter/Ranker.

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Location: The West

Red Tiger Guild

Situated in the West, the Red Tiger Guild is one of the world's most powerful guilds—second only to the Ranker Association.

Among all the guilds, it is considered the strongest, containing hunters with unique abilities and skills. Against demons, it serves as humanity's first line of offense.

Inside the Guild

A figure strode toward the guild's most secured chamber—a part of the guild accessible only to those with the highest clearance.

The Guild Chief's Chamber.

The man stopped before the door, presenting his ID to an eye-like scanner embedded in the wall. A soft hum of light passed over the card, scanning it.

[Permission Granted.]

A voice echoed from the scanner, an AI-generated feminine tone.

The heavy doors slid open, and the man stepped inside.

This was the guild's most secure chamber—if he hadn't been granted access just now, the consequences would have been disastrous.

The room was silent, filled with a magnificent fragrance from flowers carefully arranged in various spots. The platinum walls reflected the light, giving the chamber an almost divine aura.

Yet, despite the beauty, the air was unnaturally still.

A presence flowed through the room—an indestructible force of doom. If he were any lower than an S-Rank, he would have collapsed onto his knees, clutching his chest in agony.

"I told you—I don't want any visitors."

A voice rang from the shadows, cold and unforgiving. Even a fool could sense the chilling authority within those words.

"I'm sorry, my lord."

The man bowed his head slightly. He knew better than to provoke the Red Slaughterer—the feared chief of the Red Tiger Guild.

A formidable being.

Stepping out of the darkness, his monstrous physique came into view.

A towering, muscular figure. His crimson hair stretched down to his shoulders, his very presence radiating an aura so overwhelming it could crush weaker beings in an instant.

He wore black leather pants, his upper body bare, revealing massive muscles and a tiger-head tattoo imprinted on the right side of his chest.

"What do you want?" The Red Slaughterer asked, settling onto a golden throne-like seat at the side of the chamber.

The man adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "There is a report from one of our spies in the Association."

The Red Slaughterer raised an eyebrow.

"The Association has discovered a demon—one powerful enough to annihilate their First Assault Team."

The Red Slaughterer's eyes darkened. The First Assault Team…

Then just how strong is this demon?

"The demon is said to be a Ghost-Type, from the Possession Class," the man continued.

No wonder… Ghost-Type demons are notoriously troublesome, able to possess different kinds of power.

"What's the demon's current status?" The Red Slaughterer's voice held an unmistakable hint of interest.

"It was last seen in the woods. We've deployed the best Tracking Hunters in the guild to investigate further," the man replied.

His master's expression twisted slightly—whether in intrigue or something darker, it was hard to tell.

"Hmph. Interesting… Let's see how this plays out."

His lips curled into a wicked smirk.

"Keep the investigation at high priority. Do not disclose this information to anyone without relevance to the guild."

He leaned forward, his crimson eyes gleaming with sinister intent.

"Let's see what use this demon can be."

---

Meanwhile…

Rey collapsed onto the hospital bed.

After completing his latest quest and receiving his rewards, the system had somehow teleported him back here.

His eyes fixed on the ceiling, his mind flooded with thoughts.

With this system, I can get stronger. Wiping out an entire army of Orcs, including the Boss, wasn't an easy feat…

He clenched his fist. But I did it. Thanks to the system.

'Pull up my stats.'

[Basic Stats]

[Player: Rey Reed]

[Race: Human]

[Age: 19]

[HP: 50/50]

[EXP: 30/100]

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[Level 3]

[Strength: 17]

[Speed: 16]

[Agility: 17]

[Stamina: 16]

[Intelligence: 16]

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[Skills]

[Active Skills]

Inspect [Lv1] – Analyzes opponents, revealing their abilities and stats. Effectiveness increases with level.

Willpower [Lv1] – Passive skill. Reduces fatigue and boosts all stats by 40% in battle.

[Special Skill]

Reaper – Temporarily boosts all stats to their maximum potential, making the user unstoppable unless the enemy's power level is equal or higher.

Duration: 1 hour

Cooldown: 2 hours 4 minutes

Now that I have three skills… I can finally get my revenge.

Rey's eyes darkened.

You killed me once. Let's see if you can do it again.

The memory burned in his mind.

The dagger thrust into his chest. The mocking smile. The agony.

'I will make sure they all pay.'

A knock on the door broke his thoughts.

Turning, he found a nurse standing at the entrance.

"Hi."

She walked in uninvited, making Rey scoff. At least wait to be called in.

"I see you're recovering well," she said, setting a tray on the bedside stool.

Rey ignored her—until he noticed something strange.

His vision shifted, a system-like overlay appearing before his eyes.

Focusing on the nurse, a screen appeared:

[Name: Clary Black]

[Race: Human]

[Abilities: None]

[Threat Level: 0%]

[?????]

[?????]

So this is Inspect's ability… Interesting.

Just as he was processing this, his phone buzzed with a notification.

Rey's eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh—today's the last day for Hunter Academy registration!"