THE HUNT BEGINS
871 Words
Patrick stared at the sky.
Dozens of crimson eyes floated above the Golden Zone.
Watching.
Waiting.
Searching.
For him.
The sight alone made his legs feel weak.
A single Watcher had nearly destroyed the secure chamber.
Now there were dozens.
The implications were terrifying.
Elena cursed under her breath.
"This is bad."
Patrick glanced at her.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it keeps getting worse."
A loud alarm suddenly echoed across the Golden Zone.
The sky turned red.
Notifications exploded before every participant.
---
GLOBAL EMERGENCY
Watcher Activity Detected
Threat Level Increased
All Participants Advised To Avoid Contact
---
Patrick didn't think avoiding contact was an option anymore.
The Watchers were already looking directly at him.
One of the crimson eyes suddenly moved.
Then another.
And another.
Patrick's stomach dropped.
They weren't randomly scanning the city.
They were converging.
Toward his location.
Toward him.
Elena grabbed his arm.
"We need to move."
Before Patrick could respond, she pulled him through a glowing portal.
The world blurred.
A second later they appeared inside a crowded marketplace.
The streets were packed with participants.
Shops sold strange weapons.
Armored warriors negotiated contracts.
Groups of adventurers prepared for missions.
For a moment, everything looked normal.
Then people noticed Patrick.
The whispers began immediately.
"That's him."
"The Watched One."
"The beginner."
"The guy the Watchers are hunting."
Patrick groaned.
His fame was spreading too quickly.
A notification appeared.
---
Attention Ranking Updated
Patrick Han: #1
---
He was starting to hate rankings.
Elena guided him deeper into the crowd.
"Stay close."
Patrick nodded.
For now, blending into the crowd seemed smart.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
A young man stepped into their path.
He wore expensive armor and carried a silver sword.
Several followers stood behind him.
The newcomer smiled.
"Patrick Han."
Patrick immediately knew this wouldn't end well.
The man bowed dramatically.
"My name is Victor."
Patrick waited.
Victor's smile widened.
"I challenge you."
Of course.
Why wouldn't he?
A notification appeared.
---
Official Duel Request
Participant: Victor Kane
Rank: 5,912
Accept?
YES / NO
---
Patrick frowned.
"Why would I fight you?"
Victor laughed.
"Because defeating you would increase my reputation."
At least he was honest.
Patrick selected NO.
The notification vanished.
Victor's smile disappeared.
"You're refusing?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to fight."
The crowd laughed.
Victor's face darkened.
Before he could respond, Elena stepped forward.
The temperature seemed to drop instantly.
Every participant nearby became nervous.
Victor's confidence vanished.
"Oh."
He recognized her.
Smart man.
"Problem?" Elena asked.
Victor immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Good."
The young challenger left without another word.
Patrick raised an eyebrow.
"People are afraid of you."
Elena smiled.
"They should be."
They continued walking.
But Patrick's Observation skill suddenly activated.
Danger.
His instincts screamed.
He stopped.
"What is it?" Elena asked.
Patrick scanned the crowd.
At first he saw nothing unusual.
Then he noticed an old man sitting near a fountain.
Simple clothes.
Gray hair.
Ordinary appearance.
Yet Observation displayed something strange.
---
Name: Unknown
Danger Rating: Impossible
---
Patrick froze.
Impossible?
The old man slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
And he smiled.
A chill ran down Patrick's spine.
The old man stood.
Then began walking toward him.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
The crowd unconsciously moved out of his way.
Nobody seemed aware of him.
Nobody except Patrick.
And Elena.
The moment she saw him, her face turned pale.
Very pale.
"Impossible..."
Patrick had heard that word far too often lately.
The old man stopped in front of them.
His smile was warm.
Friendly.
Normal.
Which somehow made him even more frightening.
"So."
His voice was gentle.
"You finally arrived."
Patrick frowned.
"You know me?"
The old man chuckled.
"I knew you before you were born."
Silence.
Patrick's heart nearly stopped.
"What?"
The old man's eyes became serious.
"For eighteen years, I hoped you would remain hidden."
The marketplace suddenly became quiet.
Not physically.
It was as though the world itself had become silent.
The old man sighed.
"But the Watchers have found you."
Patrick's pulse quickened.
"Who are you?"
The stranger smiled sadly.
"My name has been forgotten."
He looked toward the crimson eyes in the sky.
"And soon, yours may be as well."
Before Patrick could ask another question, the old man placed a small golden key into his hand.
A notification appeared instantly.
---
Legendary Item Acquired
The First Key
Item Rank: Unknown
Description: Locked
---
Patrick stared at the key.
When he looked up again—
The old man was gone.
Completely gone.
No portal.
No movement.
Nothing.
As though he had never existed.
Elena looked at the key.
Then at Patrick.
Then back at the key.
Her expression contained something Patrick had never seen before.
Fear.
Real fear.
"What?" Patrick asked.
Elena swallowed.
"Patrick..."
"What is this key?"
The woman took a deep breath.
Then answered.
"The item every Supreme Participant has searched for over the last thousand years."
Patrick's eyes widened.
Before he could react, the key suddenly began glowing.
A hidden message appeared.
Only for him.
The First Door is opening.
Patrick has obtained the legendary First Key. What is the First Door, and why have the strongest participants searched for it for a thousand years?
- Writer
