The Multiverse Hunter

Jacob and Ali entered a small, rustic café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filling the air as the door chimed softly behind them.

The moment they stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them.

A group of six players, seated at a corner booth, exchanged hushed whispers as they watched Ali intently. They looked like an independent team, unaligned with any major guild, yet their expressions shifted with a mix of curiosity and awe.

One of the women, a petite girl with short brown hair, leaned toward her friend, whispering just loud enough that Ali's sharp ears picked it up effortlessly.

"He's even more handsome than the rumours. Do you think it's a reward from Paradise?"

Ali's expression remained completely indifferent, but Jacob snorted, biting back a laugh as he led them toward a small table on the second floor.

From their vantage point, Ali could see the streets below, bustling with players of various backgrounds.

Some were dressed in modern Earth clothing, others in robes and armour from ancient civilisations. The occasional high-ranking guild members moved through the crowd, their uniforms distinct and commanding respect.

The café itself had a simple, cozy atmosphere, with wooden beams lining the ceiling and a large stone fireplace in the corner, unlit but still radiating warmth from the day's lingering heat.

An older man, seemingly the sole worker, approached their table, carrying a handwritten menu.

Before he could even speak, Ali casually listed off his order.

"Ten servings of cake, six doughnuts, four croissants, and three hot chocolates." The old man's brows shot up, his hands shaking slightly as he turned his gaze toward Jacob, silently pleading for help.

Jacob, however, looked just as stunned.

He leaned forward, his white eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Hey, it's not nice taking advantage of people like this, you know?"

Ali simply looked at him. "I warned you."

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

A loud disturbance from the street below caught their attention.

He looked down and saw something truly bizarre—

A massive crocodile, at least twenty feet long, slowly making its way through the crowd, its scaled body glistening under the sunlight. The creature wasn't normal, its breath emitting green clouds that caused nearby players to step back cautiously.

Sitting calmly on its back was a small girl, looking no older than ten, her legs casually swinging as if she were riding a docile pet.

"Beast Guild," Jacob muttered, watching the scene unfold.

Ali remained silent for a moment before saying, "One of them flew into my garden yesterday and asked me to join them."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Not surprising. Honestly, if you were going to join a guild, they'd be one of your best options—along with the Lightning Guild or the Death Guild."

Ali's gaze didn't leave the massive reptile below. "Why?"

Jacob leaned back in his chair. "Because all three are first-tier guilds, same rank as the Five Ancient Guilds. But unlike my guild, which forces every player into wind-focused spells, those three guilds don't restrict their members. Instead, they simply enhance what you're already good at. They don't care what you do with your powers—only that you get stronger."

Ali tapped his fingers on the table, still watching the crocodile as it disappeared into the distance. "What do you know about the beast contracts? The girl who visited me transformed into a crow."

Jacob let out a low whistle. "So they sent Crow personally? Damn, they must've really wanted you. She's their Apostle."

Ali finally turned to look at him. "Explain."

Jacob nodded. "The Beast Contracts are a lottery system. You get teleported to a random world, and you have to form a contract with a beast. It could be strong, it could be weak-depends entirely on luck. Each beast has unique abilities, but the Beast Guild knows how to maximise their potential better than anyone else."

Ali listened carefully, absorbing every detail.

Jacob smirked. "Any other questions?"

Ali's expression remained neutral. "Tell me about the other two guilds you mentioned

—Lightning and Death."

Jacob's smirk faded slightly. "Alright. Let's start with Lightning Guild. They're an elite faction-they only accept players who are already strong enough to hold their own. But once you're in, they give you some of the most powerful offensive spells on the Second Level. Lightning spells, to be precise. I've fought against their members in the arena before-trust me, they're dangerous."

Ali nodded slowly, his fingers tapping against the wooden table.

Jacob's expression darkened. "As for the Death Guild..."

His tone shifted, his usual carefree demeanour replaced with something colder.

"They're a bunch of fucked-up psychopaths. There's nothing that brings me more joy than killing those miserable pussies."

A faint wind stirred in the café, making Jacob's white hair flutter slightly as he unconsciously released a bit of his power.

Ali gave him a side glance. "Calm down, idiot."

Jacob exhaled sharply and shook his head. "You don't get it. Trust me, you're gonna hate them soon enough. They're the reason bounties exist in Paradise."

Ali's black eyes sharpened slightly. "Bounties?"

Jacob smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Now l've got your attention, huh?"

He leaned forward. "The Death Guild is Paradise's Assassin's Guild. The other guilds put up bounties through them, usually targeting high-profile players from rival guilds or independent players who are getting too strong. The moment your name appears on their bounty wall, your life turns into a living hell."

Ali raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Jacob's voice dropped lower. "Imagine trying to complete missions in another world while being hunted constantly. Every time you enter a new world, they'll be there, waiting. By the time you kill them all, you run out of time to complete your actual mission. You get teleported back to Paradise with nothing. No rewards. No progression. Nothing but wasted effort."

Ali sat in silence for a few moments, then smirked slightly. "So they're a bunch of parasites."

Jacob chuckled darkly. "That's one way to put it."

Their conversation was interrupted as the old man returned, carefully placing their food on the table.

From that moment on, the two ate silently, though Jacob occasionally grumbled under his breath as he realised just how expensive Ali's order was.

When they finished, they stepped out of the café under the watchful gazes of nearly every player inside.

Ali and Jacob walked slowly toward the arena, passing through merchants and guild members, with Jacob casually pointing out the best places to buy gear, weapons, and potions.

After nearly two hours of exploring the city centre, they finally stood before the gigantic entrance of the arena.

Ali's black eyes traveled upward, taking in the sheer scale of the structure.

The architecture was breathtaking, unlike anything he had ever seen before.

He exhaled. "It's amazing."

Jacob grinned. "Glad you like it. Now hurry up-my match starts in ten minutes, and I can't be late."

With that, they entered the massive structure, stepping into a vast hall where players dressed in formal suits sat behind counters protected by metal bars, giving the place an almost bank-like atmosphere.

A middle-aged woman looked up from her desk.

"Player Tempest Wraith, please proceed t~ Room 525 for your match."

Jacob waved at Ali before jogging off toward his assigned room.

Ali approached the desk, and the woman's cheeks immediately flushed red the moment she saw him.

"H-how can I help you, sir?"

Ali pointed lazily at Jacob. "Where can I watch his match?"

The woman cleared her throat. "You can head to the standard seating for free. Just follow the crowd down the hall. If you'd like, l'd be happy to take you there personally..."

Ali gave her a blank stare.

"I'll find it myself."

With that, he walked away, leaving the woman visibly flustered behind her desk.

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