Forsaken Hunter-Chapter 7: Shadows of Survival Emergency Room – Libeus City Hospital

The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sterile glow across the cluttered desk where Dr. Roy hunched over a mountain of paperwork. His pen scratched furiously against the forms, the only sound in the otherwise still room—until the door slammed open with a BANG. Papers fluttered to the floor as Nurse Lila burst in, her face flushed and her breaths coming in sharp gasps.

Nurse Lila (panting): "Doctor Roy, it's an emergency!"

Dr. Roy's head snapped up, his tired eyes narrowing behind his glasses. He shoved the pen down, ink smearing across the page. "What now?" he growled, his voice rough with exhaustion.

Nurse Lila (stammering): "The patient... he's back."

Dr. Roy's brows furrowed, his fingers tightening around the edge of the desk. "Who?" The word came out sharp, like a blade slicing through the tension.

Nurse Lila swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she clutched her clipboard. "Beno Mark. He survived."

For a heartbeat, the room froze. The air grew thick, heavy with disbelief. Then—CRASH—Dr. Roy shot up, his chair skidding back and his coffee mug teetering dangerously on the desk's edge. His pulse thundered in his ears, a wild drumbeat that drowned out everything else. Beno Mark—alive? It was impossible. He'd seen the kid's odds, calculated the risks. A ghost couldn't walk back through those hospital doors.

Dr. Roy (shouting): "Move! Out of my way!"

He bolted past Nurse Lila, his white coat flapping like wings as he tore down the hallway. Nurses flinched out of his path, patients peeked from their rooms, wide-eyed and whispering. His footsteps echoed off the tiled floors—thud, thud, thud—a relentless rhythm matching the storm raging in his chest.

Hospital Ward – Beno's Room

The door to Room 304 creaked open, revealing a figure propped up against a pile of pillows. Beno Mark grinned weakly, his face pale beneath a mess of tousled black hair. Bandages crisscrossed his chest and arms, stained faintly with dried blood. His hazel eyes flickered with a spark of defiance, despite the exhaustion weighing him down.

Beno Mark (hoarse): "Hey, Doc."

Dr. Roy froze in the doorway, his breath catching. Relief flooded him first—warm and overwhelming—only to be swallowed by a tidal wave of fury. This reckless, infuriating kid—alive. He stormed forward, his hands clenched into fists.

Dr. Roy (roaring): "You reckless idiot!"

Beno barely had time to blink before Dr. Roy grabbed him by the collar of his hospital gown, yanking him forward. The bed creaked under the sudden movement, and Beno winced, his body protesting the jolt.

Dr. Roy (voice trembling with rage): "Do you have a damn death wish?! Sneaking into a dungeon without telling anyone?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

Beno's grin faltered, his hand drifting to rub the back of his head. "Uh... sorry?" he mumbled, his voice small against the doctor's thunder.

Dr. Roy (snapping): "SORRY?! Look at yourself! Do you even see how wounded you are?! Every damn time, you come back looking worse!"

Beno glanced down, his eyes tracing the bandages wrapping his torso like a second skin. Blood had seeped through in patches, a grim map of his latest brush with death. He hadn't noticed—hadn't let himself notice—until now. The sight made his stomach twist.

Dr. Roy exhaled sharply, his grip loosening as his anger ebbed into something softer, more fragile. "...I swear, kid," he muttered, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You pull another stunt like this, and I'll personally break your legs. You'll be stuck at home for the rest of your life."

Beno (stunned): "Wait, what—?!"

Dr. Roy smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Test me."

A ripple of stifled laughter broke the tension as the nurses hovering near the door nodded in silent agreement. Beno slumped back against the pillows, defeated. "Understood, Doc," he sighed. "I'll behave."

Luna's Arrival

The room settled into a fragile calm—until the door creaked open again. A slender figure slipped inside, her silver hair catching the light like moonlight on water. Luna carried a small burlap sack of apples, her steps silent as a shadow. She didn't speak, didn't even glance at Dr. Roy or the nurses. She simply crossed the room and sank into the chair beside Beno's bed, her movements deliberate, almost mechanical.

Beno watched her, his throat tightening. "Hey, Luna," he said softly.

No response.

He tried again, gentler this time. "Luna?"

Her hands moved with practiced precision, peeling an apple with a small knife. The blade glided through the skin in smooth, curling strips—but her fingers trembled, betraying the storm beneath her calm exterior.

Beno Mark (guilt creeping in): "I... I should've told you about the dungeon."

A single tear splashed onto the apple's glistening surface, shimmering like a jewel. Luna's shoulders stiffened, her breath hitching.

Luna (voice shaking): "You... you weren't breathing."

Beno's body went rigid, his blood turning to ice.

Luna (sniffling, still peeling): "You were ice cold, covered in blood... if I hadn't brought a healing potion..."

Her voice cracked, and the knife slipped, slicing a thin red line across her finger. She didn't flinch—didn't even seem to notice—until Beno lunged forward, panic flaring in his chest.

Beno (shouting): "Luna!"

He grabbed her hand, his rough fingers brushing against her soft skin as he inspected the cut. It was shallow, barely a scratch, but the sight of her blood sent a jolt through him.

Luna (tears streaming now): "I thought I lost you."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Beno wasn't used to this—to people caring enough to cry over him. His chest tightened, a strange, unfamiliar ache blooming there. Slowly, he squeezed her hand, his bandages rasping against her skin.

Beno Mark (softly): "I'm sorry. For making you worry."

Luna nodded, biting her lip to stifle a sob. Beno forced a weak smile, trying to lighten the weight between them. "But I'm not dying anytime soon."

She wiped her tears with her sleeve and punched his arm—lightly, but enough to make him wince. "You better not," she pouted, her voice still thick with emotion.

Libeus Investigation Team – Arrival

The tender moment shattered as the door swung open with a sharp click. Two men stepped inside, their black suits crisp and their expressions colder than the steel walls of a dungeon gate. The air grew heavy, suffocating, as their polished shoes tapped against the floor.

Man 1 (calm but firm): "Beno Mark?"

Beno turned, his stomach sinking. He knew those uniforms—Libeus Dungeon Investigation Team. The badge on their chests glinted ominously under the hospital lights.

Man 2 (nodding): "We're glad to see you alive and well. May we have five minutes of your time?"

Luna shot to her feet before Beno could respond, her eyes blazing. "Are you serious?!" she snapped, planting herself between him and the investigators. "He's injured! He needs rest, not questioning!"

Beno (raising a hand): "It's fine, Luna."

She hesitated, her fists clenched, but stepped back with a reluctant huff. The investigators exchanged a glance before closing the distance, their shadows stretching across the bed.

Investigator 1: "We'll keep this short. We need details about the dungeon you entered."

Investigator 2: "A Cursed Dungeon, reportedly D-rank. Four hunters entered... and died." He paused, his gaze piercing. "Except you."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down like a guillotine. Beno's fingers twitched, memories flickering in his mind like a broken reel—blood, claws, burning eyes.

Investigator 1: "Yet you—an unawakened—walked out alive. And according to reports, the boss was a C-rank monster. A Houndler."

Beno's breath hitched. He could still see it—the Houndler's jagged fangs, its molten gaze. But beyond that... nothing. A void swallowed the rest.

Investigator 2 (voice low): "Who killed the boss?"

Beno's lips parted, but no sound came. He didn't know. The question hung in the air, unanswered, as the investigators leaned closer, their eyes dissecting his every twitch.

Closing Scene – The Whisper

The atmosphere thickened, the investigators' stares boring into him. "Mr. Mark," Investigator 1 pressed, "did you—personally—slay the Houndler?"

Beno's heartbeat roared in his ears, drowning out the room. The truth clawed at him—he couldn't remember. But deep within, something stirred, a shadow unfurling in the recesses of his soul. A voice—not his own—whispered, low and chilling.

??? (echoing): "Glory of the Dead."

His breath caught, his body locking up as the words slithered through his mind. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. The air grew colder, heavier, as if the shadows themselves were watching.

Investigator 1 (sharper): "Mr. Mark?"

Beno jolted, blinking rapidly as the room snapped back into focus. "S-Sorry," he stammered, shaking his head. "I was just... lost in thought."

The investigators exchanged another glance, their expressions unreadable. "Can you recount what happened in the dungeon?" Investigator 2 asked, his tone deceptively calm.

Beno rubbed his temples, fragments of memory cutting through the haze. "I... I remember entering the dungeon," he began, his voice unsteady. "It was supposed to be simple. D-rank. But then... something went wrong."

His fingers clenched the bedsheet, the terror flooding back. "I saw the Houndler. Its eyes—they burned. And then... I saw my brother. Renzo." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I was dying."

Luna tensed beside him, her hand hovering near his.

"I remember the hounds tearing into me," Beno continued, his gaze distant. "I collapsed. Everything blurred... and then I woke up in Luna's arms." He exhaled, frustration etching his features. "That's all I know."

The investigators scribbled notes in silence, their pens scratching like claws on stone. Then, Investigator 1 looked up. "Would you be willing to take a mana test?"

Mana Test – Awakening

Beno blinked. "Mana test?"

Luna cut in before the investigators could explain, her voice steady despite the tension. "It's a device that measures the mana flow in your body. If it's higher than average, you're officially 'Awakened.' Standard procedure for kids at ten."

Beno's mind flashed to Renzo—his brother's wide grin when his own test had barely tipped the scale. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."

Investigator 2 pulled a sleek, silver device from his coat and fastened it around Beno's wrist. It hummed faintly, a soft vibration tingling against his skin. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—BEEP!—a faint glow pulsed from the device, and numbers climbed rapidly on its screen.

Investigator 2 (impressed): "Congratulations. You're officially Awakened."

Beno's heart thudded. He'd suspected it, but hearing it confirmed felt like a spark igniting in his chest. "Do you see anything unusual?" Investigator 1 asked. "A status window, health bar, system interface?"

Beno frowned, scanning the air around him. "No... nothing."

The investigators shared a look, their brows creasing. "That's strange," Investigator 2 muttered. "Normally, those who awaken—naturally or through mana exposure—get a System interface." He handed Beno a card, his tone firm. "If you notice anything unusual, contact us immediately."

Beno took the card, his mind racing.

Luna's Explanation – The System's Rules

As the investigators left, Beno turned to Luna, his voice low. "What's this about status windows? Why don't I have one?"

Luna hesitated, then sighed, setting the half-peeled apple aside. "Status windows don't appear for everyone. They're tied to Double Dungeons or Dark Systems—rare cases where someone's forcibly bound to a higher power."

Beno's brow arched. "So those people become... overpowered?"

"Sort of," Luna said, nodding. "They get quests, tasks—abilities that grow unnaturally fast." She leaned back, her silver hair spilling over her shoulders. "But for normal hunters like me, it's different. We awaken through exposure or training. Killing monsters boosts our mana, and our rank climbs over time."

Beno tapped his fingers against the bed. "Rankings... how do they work?"

Luna's eyes lit up, eager to explain. "It's based on mana density. Hunters start at F-rank and climb to S-rank. At C-rank, you unlock Inventory—a function to store weapons, potions, anything you need." She grinned. "The higher your rank, the more the System reveals itself. S-rankers can sense power levels instantly."

Beno absorbed it all, a flicker of excitement stirring within him. But one question lingered. "So... how do I know my rank?"

Guild Master Franky's Arrival

A deep, gravelly voice rumbled through the room. "By taking a Mana Stone test at the Guild."

Beno and Luna whipped around. A towering figure filled the doorway—Guild Master Franky, his broad shoulders straining against his leather coat. A jagged scar slashed across his nose, and his golden eyes gleamed like a predator's. He radiated power, an aura that made the air hum.

Luna (shocked): "Guild Master Franky?!" she greeting

Franky's laugh boomed, shaking the walls. "Hoohoho! You still listen to me, huh? Good."

Beno studied him warily, unease prickling his skin. Then—Franky's gaze sharpened, and for a split second, Beno felt a strange pressure, like invisible hands probing his core. Franky's expression flickered—surprise, curiosity, something darker—before smoothing into a grin.

Franky (calmly): "Beno Mark, you should join my guild."

Beno jolted. "Wait—what?"

Franky: "You're Awakened now. I'd be happy to have someone like you in my ranks."

Luna's face lit up. "Really?! He can join?!"

Franky chuckled, crossing his arms. "Of course. I always welcome talent."

Beno's pulse quickened, a fire igniting in his chest. This is it, he thought. My chance to get stronger. To save Renzo. He clenched his fists, resolve hardening his voice. "I accept."

Guild Master Franky's Condition

Franky's grin widened, but he held up a hand. "Before you get ahead of yourself, kid, you need to pass the guild ranking test."

Beno tensed. "Guild ranking test?"

"Once you recover," Franky said, "come to the Guild Hall. We've got a device for newcomers. Measures your true combat potential and assigns your rank."

Beno nodded, his determination flaring brighter. "Fine. I'll do it."

Franky's golden eyes glinted. "Good. That's the spirit."

Doctor Roy's Revenge

A smug voice cut through the air. "Alright, alright, enough talking. Now it's my turn."

Beno turned—and froze. Dr. Roy stood there, a massive syringe gleaming in his hand, the needle glinting like a dagger. Horror washed over Beno's face.

Beno Mark (stammering): "W-Wait... what is that?!"

Dr. Roy adjusted his glasses with a smirk. "An injection. You've been exposed to dungeon bacteria and infections. We need to make sure you're healthy."

Beno scrambled back, his bravado crumbling. "W-Wait a second! I'm Awakened now, right?! I can heal myself! No need for needles!"

Franky's laugh roared again. "Nope. That's not how it works, kid. Guild rules—medical protocols come first."

Beno shot Luna a pleading look. "Luna! Help me!"

She smirked, crossing her arms. "This is your punishment for making me worry."

Laughter erupted—nurses, patients, even Franky joining in. Beno groaned, trapped. "This isn't fair..."

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Dr. Roy stepped forward and—jab—the needle sank into his arm. Beno yelped, "Ouch ohh ouch!" as the room dissolved into chaos and laughter.

But beneath his complaints, a small smile tugged at his lips. For the first time in forever, he felt it—warmth, camaraderie, a flicker of hope.

It wasn't just survival anymore.

It was a new beginning.

[End of Chapter 7]

---

[System Message]

Ding!

A presence looms before you.

Beno sits in silence, his piercing gaze locked onto you. The storm has quieted... but the true disaster has yet to begin.

[Reader Quest: Join the Forsaken]

Objective: Add Forsaken Hunter to your collection and offer a Power Stone.

Reward: A glimpse into the truth... and a bonus Chapter.

Beno's voice is low, unwavering—

"Join me... and I will show you what is truly coming."

[YES] [NO (Then face the storm alone.)]