Ken blinked open his eyes to the dull gray walls of the Hunter's Guild infirmary. A faint ache pulsed through his limbs, but he was alive. Again.
Dragging himself up, Ken limped toward the main hall. Voices echoed in the bustling room — hunters planning, arguing, laughing. Maybe here, he could find allies.
He spotted a small group gathered around a worn wooden table. One of them, a tall young man with sharp eyes and dark hair, noticed Ken approaching.
"Hey, you look like you want in on a team," the man said.
Ken nodded. "Yeah. Mind if I join you?"
The man smiled faintly. "Name's Kenji. This is Akira, Yuki, Haru, and Mika." He gestured to the others, who nodded politely.
Akira was lean and quiet, eyes always scanning the room. Yuki, small but quick, gave Ken a small smile. Haru, broad-shouldered and serious, crossed his arms. Mika held a satchel, her calm expression hiding a fierce determination.
Kenji leaned forward. "We're heading out soon. There's a C-rank mission to take down five wild bears in the mountain. You in?"
Ken hesitated a moment, then said, "Yeah. Let's go."
After gearing up and gathering supplies, the group set off toward the mountain. The forest grew thicker, shadows longer, and the air colder with every step.
Along the path, they found an old carriage abandoned near two restless horses tied to a tree.
"Someone's been here recently," Yuki whispered, eyes narrowed.
Ken's heart beat faster. This mission was no joke.
Kenji glanced at the group. "Stay sharp. The bears around here are bigger and more aggressive than usual."
They pressed on, the mountain looming ahead.
Halfway up the trail, the mood grew tense but focused.
Suddenly—a flash of movement and a sharp, cruel strike.
Betrayal.
One of the team lunged forward, steel gleaming in the fading light.
Chaos erupted. Shouts, screams, and the brutal finality of the attack.
Ken barely had time to react before darkness swallowed him once more.
Ken woke again in the infirmary, chest tight and mind racing.
"I died again," he muttered, eyes burning. "Maybe it's time I quit being a hunter... and find somewhere else to survive."