Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

Mai Lee stood his ground, his eyes locked onto Kaito's. The tension in the air was thick, a silent battle of wills between two powerful individuals. Kaito's smirk hadn't faded, but there was an edge to his expression—a sharpness that spoke of years of battle experience.

"An offer, huh?" Mai crossed his arms, his stance unwavering. "And what exactly does an S-rank hunter want with me?"

Kaito chuckled, his hands slipping into his pockets as he took a slow step forward. "Straight to the point, I like that. Word's been spreading about a certain hunter tearing through dungeons like they're made of paper. A rising star with an... interesting ability." His gaze flickered to Mai's status window, which had yet to fully fade. "You're attracting attention, kid. And not just from me."

Mai remained silent, his mind processing the information. He had known that staying low-profile for long wouldn't be an option, but to already be on the radar of high-ranking hunters?

"So what's your angle?" Mai finally asked. "You're not the type to come all this way just to have a chat."

Kaito grinned. "Perceptive. My organization is interested in exceptional individuals. We're forming an elite unit—one that operates outside the boundaries of national guilds and associations. A faction that doesn't answer to anyone but itself. And we want you in."

Mai narrowed his eyes. "Sounds like a fancy way of saying you want to recruit me into some kind of rogue faction. Why should I even consider it?"

Kaito's smirk faded slightly. "Because sooner or later, you're going to need allies."

Mai scoffed. "I've been doing just fine on my own."

"For now," Kaito admitted. "But what happens when the higher-ups see you as a threat? When S-rank hunters start hunting you down not out of curiosity, but out of fear? When organizations want to control or eliminate you? Going solo has its perks, but it also has its limits."

Mai clenched his fists. He had thought about this before—what it meant to grow too strong, too fast. He had witnessed it in stories, in history. A force that couldn't be controlled was seen as dangerous.

Kaito sighed. "Look, I'm not here to pressure you. But think about it. You wouldn't be just another hunter in our group. You'd be a force. An asset. And in return, we'd have your back when things turn ugly."

Mai remained silent, weighing his options. He had always preferred to work alone, but Kaito wasn't wrong. If he kept growing at this rate, it was only a matter of time before the world took notice—and not in a good way.

A notification popped up in Mai's vision.

[Partial Status Update]

Strength: +10

Agility: +8

Mana: +12

New Talent Copied: [Predator's Instinct] (Enhanced danger sense and tracking ability)

Kaito took out a small black card and flicked it towards Mai, who caught it with ease. "That has my contact. You don't have to decide now. But if you're ever interested, reach out."

With that, Kaito turned and walked away, his figure vanishing into the dungeon's shadows.

Mai exhaled slowly, glancing down at the card. He wasn't sure what his next move would be, but one thing was certain.

The game had changed. And he needed to be ready.