Requiem Of A Failed Hero

It is a component of the human essence that they always seek solace in a certain thing or place. If not why do humans decide to spend the rest of their lives with someone based on their flimsy feelings? Finding a home in the arms of a person, in a place, some could even do it in the hands of an animal, hell? Yea, dogs, pets.

The fact that Raith finally felt welcome for the first time was amazing, to him at the very least, he finally found comfort, and he could finally call somewhere home. And be confident that he is not mistaken about it.

Of course, all these were possible because of the abyss. Because he had gone through quite some trials to get here.

But for every moment, Raith knows that this is not enough, every moment he tries to think if he could handle his brother and father, and isn't even sure if that is possible. Until he was sure he could handle his father, and beat the shit out of the demons, he can't stop dying, failing, and growing.

He sighed, "I don't know what to say... but I answered your question. And I want you to prepare your strongest hunters, no... the right word is: look for more hunters, don't stop recruiting hunters, whether it is guilds or the association I don't really care. But I do know that a day will come when we will have to defend this world."

Knock Knock

"Ah, that should be him"

"Him, who?"

"Mok Jae-Hwa. He said he had something important to discuss and I happened to be with you, so I thought it won't be a bad thing to have you here as we discuss these things, it is after all a way to get you familiar with how the hunter world works."

"Hm, I see..." Raith nodded.

Mok Jae-Hwa bowed as he entered and sat on the single-seat black couch that was beside Raith's.

"Hm, so what news do you have." The chairman said as he raised the tea in front of him, "...hm, cold tea is just so good." He mumbled as he took in the aroma.

Who loves cold tea? How do you even enjoy that?

Mok Jae-Hwa sighed, he was finding it very hard to smile right now. He placed the black smart tab in his hands on the table and looked at the chairman, his expression still rigid and stiff, he had a face that insinuated this was no laughing matter.

The chairman looked at the tab and looked at Mok Jae-Hwa's face, that expression of his had naturally washed on the Chairman's face– his cute smile had worn off, and he was now looking with caution.

He played the video and the voice of people speaking Hindu could be heard.

"Help us!"

"Arrggghh!"

"How can a gate be this big?!"

"No one can enter! It keeps spreading corruption on even the hunters!"

"Their bodies are corroding!!"

The ravaging noise stopped and an English news anchor with an Indian accent started.

"This is the situation of a strange gate that emerged in Bengaluru in Karnataka India, six months ago and had been dormant because it was considered dormant. Two months ago, the gate started to grow big and now it is as big as a building. The India Hunters Association has put together several hunters to enter this thing and raid it but none of them have been able to enter because black corruption is spreading on everyone's body and rendering them incapable of movement."

The tab went off.

Chairman Mok Jun-Seo leaned his head on his locked fingers which were being supported by his thighs.

Now, he understood why Mok Jae-Hwa was like that, a gate that wouldn't allow hunters to enter it.

"If it is like this, then they are certainly going to be hit by a gate break."

Mok Jae-Hwa nodded.

"Is that a situation where the monsters come out of the gates?" Raith asked.

"Yes," Chairman responded respectfully, shifting his gaze to Raith.

Raith lifted the tablet and watched it again. "If you have this, then it is all over the news already.

Raith focused on the video and his eyes immediately narrowed.

"Hunter Raven, do you recognize something?"

"Is it alright if I show this video to someone?" Raith asked, looking at the chairman, that rigid look was contagious upon watching the video.

No one would see that dreadful sight and not be serious. But Raith was angry for another reason.

He immediately speed-dialed Min-ho's number.

"Hyungnim!" Indeed Min-ho was happy that he called.

"Give the phone to Absalom, is he there..."

"Yes, he won't stop watching Korean movies. Absalom-san, hyungnim wants to talk to you."

"Ha! I don't want to get distracted by this thing. Tell him to call later."

Raith could hear them from his side. He gritted his teeth and really would have snapped at him if they were together.

"Tell him I will grant him a second chance to fight him."

"Did you hear that, hyungnim said, you can figh–

"Hello, Raven." Absalom's voice was now clearly behind the phone.

"I will send a video to you... I'm having speculation but only you can confirm it."

"Okay," Absalom casually responded.

Raith looked at Chairman Mok Jun-Seo and nodded. The chairman nodded too in response.

"He wants you to send it..." Mok Jae-Hwa hinted at the old man.

"Oh?" He was gobsmacked, '...I should reconsider my thoughts on him being a nice person' The chairman took the tab and was in it for a few seconds–

"Ha! I've received it! These humans are truly amazing, to be able to do something like this." Absalom replied vibrantly as he started watching the video.

Raith could hear the same screams and the news anchor's voice underneath. Absalom went silent after hearing it. He probably already had that same rigid look on his face.

"Seeing how silent you are... my speculations must be right."

"This... I am sure about it, this is fiendish energy."

Raith sighed, his eyes glowing. "As I suspected. Fiendish energy. But why is fiendish energy on this world and a gate?"

Chairman Mok Jun-Seo and his son's anticipative eyes could be seen drawing nearer to Raith as he mentioned 'Fiendish energy'

"That is probably a demonic gate..."

Raith's frown became even more intense.

'A demonic gate...?'