Just as Reyansh’s feet landed on the other side of the portal, natural air breezed past his cheeks. The heat drastically reduced, this place felt cold compared to the dungeon.

He darted his eyes around, the numbers of hunter had reduced from earlier.

After taking a fresh deep breath, he walked forward to look for any cab, he had to reach home in under hour. As he took few steps, suddenly, a shout from behind stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, who are you? When did you enter?" the gate clerk asked.

Reyansh turned, looking at the gate clerk, he answered, "I entered around 3 hrs ago. I cleared the dungeon, so I am going."

"Why didn’t you log your entry? I don’t remember seeing you," the gate clerk shot back.

Reyansh understood the reason behind this, the Sanguine Parallax, ’everything has its pros and cons.’

He didn’t answer instead he took out the ID card and handed it to clerk, "you can check."

The gate clerk looked at him suspiciously as he took ID card from his hand, "Follow me."

Reyansh followed him to the cabin, the clerk matched the ID with the entry book. A look of surprise appeared on his face.

"That’s odd, I am good at remembering faces. So, why don’t I remember you?" He wondered aloud.

"Ahh...I just have one of those faces, people forget easily about me." Reyansh spat an excuse to move things along.

"Hmm...okay, your entry is noted. You can leave, sorry for the inconvenience," the gate clerk apologized, returning the ID card.

"No problem, you were just doing your job," Reyansh took back the ID card and turned around and left.

A few seconds after Reyansh left, the irony hit the gate clerk, "Shit, in hurry I forget he went in solo and cleared the Emberfall Chasm."

"I don’t know what’s more frightening? I still can’t remember his face or that he cleared it solo." He blurted out as a sweat bead formed on his head.

"I better inform the office about this." He decided as he took out his phone while unaware of this development, Reyansh left with ease.

Reyansh hailed a cab after walking for about a minute, as the cab started its journey. ’First let’s see what this title is about.’

He mentally clicked on the title, a panel popped up in response.

– - –

[Title: One Shot, One Kill]

[Type: Conditional Execution]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Description: A title born from moment of absolute precision where skill, timing and killing instinct align perfectly; turning a single strike into inevitable death.]

’Wow, that’s some description but it accurate,’ he mentally commented as he remembered the state of mind he was in.

[Core Effects:]

1. Execution Authority (Passive)

• First attack against enemies of higher rank deal +10% True Damage (ignores all defense, resistance or mitigation) and is guaranteed to apply (cannot be blocked, dodged or nullified).

2. Fatal Threshold (Passive)

• First attack against enemies of equal or lower rank have 50% chance of any clean, direct hit to trigger Instant Kill. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

• If Instant Kill fails, the attack deals +200% Critical Damage.

’Well, Damn, both of the effects are awesome and passive too. This will be a big help in any kind of fight in future,’ he exclaimed.

3. First Strike Verdict (Conditional Passive)

• First successful hit in a combat gains, +100% Accuracy & +50% Critical Chance.

• If the target is unaware or unprepared, the Critical Chance become guaranteed.

4. Hunter’s Focus (Scaling Passive)

• The longer you prepare for a single attack, higher damage (+10% damage for 1 sec, max for 5 sec). However, breaking focus cancels the bonus.

– - –

’This title is worth all the effort and pain I went through,’ he nodded his head in agreement as he finished reading the panel.

’I should check the changes in my stats,’ with this thought, he mentally commanded, ’Hunter’s Profile.’

A blue panel manifested in front with the all the details:

[COSMIC BROADCAST NETWORK]

[Hunter’s Profile]

Name: Reyansh Kaul (StarWalker)

Age: 15 years

Gender: Male

Species: Homosapien

Dimension: Low rank Dimension, L0514 (Earth)

Title(s): Blessed by AAKASHA; The One Who Knows Beyond; One Shot, One Kill; Pioneer of Skills

Talent: Adaptive Apex (Elite)

Mana Core: E Rank

Trait Spark(s): Pain Resistance; Mental Resistance; Minor Regeneration

Basic Stats:

– Physical Stats: Strength = D (lvl 4 –> 6); Agility = E (lvl 7 –> 10); Endurance = D (lvl 5 –> 8)

– Arcane Stats: Mana = E (lvl 4 –> 7); Intelligence = C (lvl 6 –> 10); Perception = D (lvl 2 –> 5)

Skills: Slash (Uncommon), Pinpoint Stab (Common), Parry (Common), Swiftstep (Common)

Inventory: Lava Stone ×76, E-rank Mana Stone×38, D-rank Mana Stone, Flame fragments ×4

– - –

A sense of satisfaction appeared on his face, reading his profile. Even without trying he had gained 4 skill, only today he gained three skill compared to one yesterday.

’Maybe because I fought stronger opponents?’ he wondered as his eyes landed on the title he had read about, Pioneer of Skills.

’This completely slipped my mind.’ Before he could mentally command to check, the cab made a hard break.

SCREEEECHH!

This broke his attention as the momentum pushed him ahead a little, though seat belt saved him from banging his head against passenger seat in front.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I don’t know, all vehicles ahead started stopping abruptly, so I had to atop too." The driver explained looking through the window.

He also rolled down the window and looked outside to see multiple people frantically running in opposite direction of us. The cars and bikes looked in hurry too.

This scene appeared familiar to Reyansh, he had experienced them personally and even watched many such videos.

"It’s probably a New Gate Manifestation," Reyansh concluded from the situation as he hurriedly took out his mobile.

A part of him wished that it was a White rank Gate, this will allows him a chance to visit a gate that had yet to be cleared.

He checked the Hunter’s app for any alerts. Just as he opened the app, the alert popped up.

WARNING! WARNING!

A new Temporary Gate has manifested in Panvel neighbourhood.

Threat Level: Violet Rank

Advice: For non hunters, evacuate the area with the help of personnel from State Hunter’s Council.

For Hunters, those in the nearby area and eligible to enter can try to clear the gate. Ineligible hunters, either leave the premises or help if needed. The discretion depends on the LGO (Local Gate Officer).

If gate is not cleared within 4 hours, the council will deploy a team or instruct the nearby Guilds.

Any further decisions depends on the LGO, please cooperate.

– Be Calm and follow the instructions, you will be SAFE –

’Violet rank, huh,’ reading this deflated his enthusiasm, ’no worry, soon.’

He looked at the driver, before he could address him, he spoke up.

"Brother, this path will remain blocked for long time. I could take a detour to reach our destination, it will cost you extra though." He stated.

"Can we reach within the hour?" Reyansh questioned.

"If we hurry."

"Then take the detour, I have to be there within the hour," Reyansh agreed.

Amidst the honking of vehicles and shouting of people, their cab took the longer route.

When the cab entered the alternate route, Reyansh relaxed a little. As at the moment, he had a deadline to reach home within hour, before Sandra contact again.

He mentally clicked on the title to check the title.

– - –

[Title: Pioneer of Skills]

[Type: Growth/Creation]

[Rank: Epic (evolvable)]

[Description: A title granted to the only one who walk without inheritance and carve his own path from nothing.]

[Core Effects:]

1. Genesis Affinity (Passive)

• Greatly enhances the ability to create any new skill from scratch. Reducing the conceptual difficulty when forming skill framework.

• Increase success rate of skill creation by a significant margin.

’Now, this explains the three skill I created today. This title is getting interesting with ability to evolve itself in rank.’ He remarked as many ideas bloomed in his mind.

2. Skill Evolution Potential (Passive)

• All skills of the title holder gain 100% evolution potential and are no longer capped by their initial rank.

• Each skill can evolve into higher form through usage, insight or breakthrough.

3. Adaptive Skill Growth (Passive)

• Skills created by title holder adapt faster to combat scenarios with higher chances of mutation, enhancements or branching evolution paths.

4. Purity of Origin (Passive)

• Skill created are more efficient, stable and personalized with reduced mana wastage and minimum backlash during skill usage.

[Note: The current requirement for evolution of Title rank is creation of more skills.]

– - –

’This is just fan-frigging-tastic, after my talent that works on mostly the physical aspect. This title works on skills or rather arcane aspect if termed broadly.’

’This just reassures me further on my journey as a hunter.’ He concluded.

After dismissing the panel, he laid back in the seat, allowing his body to amend itself from every small scratch to wounds on his hands. While the cab sped through the streets of Mumbai towards its destination.

After nearly an hour later,

"Brother, we have reached," the driver’s words prompted Reyansh to open his eyes.

"What’s the total fare?" He asked as he exited the cab.

"1500 credits."

Reyansh paid the amount immediately, just two days back he would have worked for hours to earn this much. Now, he just paid the amount without a thought.

He looked at the time, he had 5 more minutes before Sandra contacts. He quickly entered his home.

The first thing he did was checking upon his mother. His mother was still sleeping peacefully, the pale look of her hadn’t changed. Her breathing remained shallow while her face looked exhausted.

’Wait a day or two, mother. I will get you the best treatment.’ He mentally reminded himself as went towards his room.

Just as he entered the room, a panel popped up in front of him.

[The Stellar Emperor has subscribed to your channel.]

[The Stellar Emperor: Hello, StarWalker.]

"WHAT!!" He screamed as his leg wobbled, forcing him to take the support of the door.