The Multiverse Hunter

Ali set the cup of water down on the counter, his left eye slowly returning to its normal state.

Something was wrong.

His instincts screamed at him, a deep-rooted sense of danger whispering from the back of his mind. It wasn't physical-it wasn't something he could see, hear, or smell-but his body was reacting as if an invisible predator was in the room with him.

Across from him, Ciline's ghostly form hovered silently, watching him with growing curiosity.

"He sensed something."

Her initial amusement faded when she noticed the way Ali's body tensed, the way his fingers flexed slightly, the way he slowly, methodically, turned his head in her exact direction.

The moment his black eyes locked onto hers—

COLD.

An unbearable chill shot through her very being.

Her ethereal form trembled involuntarily, and for the first time since awakening her ability, she felt something she had never experienced before—

FEAR.

The air around her grew heavier, pressing down on her like an invisible force crushing her from all sides. The walls seemed to close in, the space shrinking, suffocating, pulling her into an abyss of pure dread.

And Ali's eyes—

His pitch-black voids bore into her, not just seeing her, but tearing through her spirit, stripping her bare, exposing every vulnerable, weak part of her soul.

Hah... ha... hah... ha...

Ciline's chest rose and fell rapidly, despite the fact that, in her spirit form, she had no need to breathe.

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, but no sound came out.

Her vision darkened, her mind spiralling into an uncontrollable panic attack as the world around her seemed to collapse inward.

Then—

VO0000000000M!

A roar of energy erupted as lightning cracked through the air, illuminating the room in a violent red glow.

CRACKLE. CRACKLE. BOOM.

Ali's entire body blurred, vanishing from his spot in a flash of speed so fast it was unnatural, reappearing in the corner of the room where Ciline had been hovering.

His arms were completely engulfed in crimson lightning, the energy crackling along black veins that crawled up his skin.

His muscles coiled, his stance set like a predator ready to strike, his hands positioned like they were about to tear something apart.

At that moment, Ciline's spirit form shattered.

Her ability forcefully broke as she was yanked back into her physical body, the last thing she saw being Ali's eyes ripping through her very existence.

Her final thought before blacking out—

'HELP.'

Back in the Guild of Death's base...

Ciline's eyes snapped open, her body jerking upright as a wave of unbearable pain shot through her.

"UGH-! COUGH, COUGH, COUGH! AHHHH!"

She clutched her stomach, her body convulsing as she violently vomited onto the bed, her entire system rejecting whatever unnatural force had affected her.

Evelyn was on her feet immediately, a red vial materialising in her hand as she rushed to Ciline's side, holding her by the shoulders as she continued to puke.

"Breathe, just breathe," Evelyn muttered, rubbing her back soothingly, her expression far more serious than usual.

"Ah... hah... hah..." Ciline gasped, her body drenched in cold sweat.

Evelyn didn't hesitate—she tilted the vial and forced half of its contents into Ciline's mouth.

But before Ciline could even swallow—

BLURGH.

She vomited it back out, her body rejecting the potion entirely.

Evelyn clicked her tongue in frustration, but she didn't let go, instead continuing to soothe her friend's trembling form as she waited for her to stabilise.

A few minutes passed.

Ciline's breathing slowed, though her hands still shook uncontrollably.

"Evelyn..." she whispered hoarsely, her voice filled with raw fear.

Evelyn's grip on her tightened slightly.

"He sensed me. He saw me... and-"

She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Her mind replayed the memory, and she physically shuddered, her nails digging into her own skin.

Evelyn's expression turned ice-cold, and for the first time, her calm expression was completely gone.

She wrapped her arms around Ciline, pulling her into a firm embrace.

"I'm sorry."

Ciline didn't respond.

She just hugged Evelyn back, still shaking.

Five minutes later.

"Can you talk now?" Evelyn asked, her sharp gaze watching Ciline closely.

Ciline took a shaky breath.

"Everything was fine," she started. "I got to his house, and the lower floor was empty. Then... he stepped down from the stairs."

Her lips trembled slightly.

"He had just come out of the shower... He was drinking a cup of water... He had no idea I was there... Everything was fine."

Evelyn remained silent, letting her continue.

"Then he looked straight at me."

Her body shuddered violently.

"His eyes... it felt like knives, Evelyn. Like they were stabbing into me, cutting me apart piece by piece."

She squeezed her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together.

"He wanted to kill me. I could feel it. And it felt like... I was dying. Slowly.

Every second that passed."

Evelyn's nails dug slightly into the armrest of the chair, but she remained composed.

"After that... I don't remember. The Spirit Form broke on its own."

Ciline finally looked up at Evelyn, her eyes filled with lingering terror.

Evelyn let out a slow exhale, then stood up.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know, Ciline."

Her tone was low, unreadable.

"His name is Ali. He's a newcomer from the Slum."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I already received a bounty request for him earlier."

Evelyn walked toward the door.

"Get some rest. Stay here."

She glanced over her shoulder.

"And don't worry about him."

Her voice dropped into a whisper.

"With the reward he has on his head, he won't live long here."

She left without another word.

Ciline remained curled up on the bed, still hugging herself. Even now, whenever she closed her eyes, she could still see his.

The next morning, Ali opened the door of his house, stepping outside into the crisp morning air.

Waiting just outside the gate stood a tall, lean young man with white hair, his hands casually tucked into the Air Guild's uniform.

The moment he saw Ali, a smirk spread across his face.

"Took you long enough."

Ali stepped onto the street, walking toward him at a steady pace.

"To get out of the house, or to ascend up here?"

Jacob chuckled. "Both."

Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he added —

"So, how was yesterday? You were like a golden nugget-everyone wanted a piece of you."

Ali stopped walking.

His black eyes shifted toward Jacob.

Cold. Unamused. "Don't call me that."

Jacob froze for half a second, feeling a sharp chill creep up his spine.

Then he forced a grin, raising his hands. "And I nearly forgot how terrifying you can be. My bad, my bad. A slip of the tongue. I swear it won't happen again."

"Friend request: Tempest Wraith."

An alert popped up on Ali's interface. Ali accepted it without a word.

Jacob smirked. "Congratulations. You just made your first friend in Paradise."

"Take me to the arena."

Jacob blinked, caught off guard by Ali's direct request.

"The arena? Damn, you don't waste time, huh?"

Ali didn't respond. He simply gave Jacob a blank stare, waiting.

Jacob exhaled dramatically, running a hand through his white hair. "Alright, alright.

You're in luck-I have a fight scheduled there today. I'll take you with me, but first". He grinned, "Breakfast. It's on me."

Ali raised an eyebrow. "You sure your pockets are deep enough? I'm hungry."

Jacob smirked as they started walking. "Try me."

They walked through the morning-lit streets, moving toward the centre of the city.

The sun bathed the wooden and stone structures in a golden hue, and the air was crisp with the scent of freshly baked bread from the nearby markets.

As they neared the city centre, Ali's sharp ears picked up on a series of loud, rhythmic sounds coming from his left.

BANG. BANG. HAH! AH! ONE-TWO! ONE-TWO!

Ali's eyes flickered toward a walled-off area, his gaze landing on a large wooden sign above the entrance.

"Tiger Dojo."

He slowed his pace slightly. "What's that?"

Jacob followed his gaze and shrugged. "Oh, that? That's the Tiger Dojo. It's a training school-players are in there all the time."

Ali's expression didn't change as they walked past the tall wooden walls, the sounds of combat growing louder from within. "Is it a guild or just a school?"

Jacob shook his head. "Just a school. They offer lessons to anyone who can pay the fee. Mostly hand-to-hand combat and general fitness. It's actually pretty good— and cheap for what they offer."

Ali glanced up at the large dojo entrance, noting the players moving in and out. Some looked completely exhausted, sweat dripping from their bodies, while others looked sharp and focused, ready for their lesson.

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