The Hunt Begins.

South Korea and Japan were in a state of absolute chaos after Jeju Island was sunk. Many high ranking hunters, mostly A-rank, were thought to be lost.

Moreover, their brand new S-rank, Kenjaku was nowhere to be found after he was engaged in battle with unknown entities. This was a humongous blow to South Korea.

Japan on the other hand, had to face the fact that most of if not all their S-rank hunters were eliminated in the Jeju Island raid.

Formerly one of the stronger countries in the world, Japan was now just a shadow of its former self.

Unfortunately, things were about to get much worse.

In the air over the place where Jeju Island once existed, several helicopters could be seen orbiting the area, the passengers looking nervously down into the water.

"The chairman himself and Sung Jinwoo went down there looking for the remains of the hunters in a submarine. I hope they find them...our nation depends on it."

------------

On Jeju Island, Kenjaku could be seen standing atop the ruins of a destroyed building, looking down at a certain figure kneeling on the ground with a look of disbelief written across his face.

"Y-you're...my Lord!! Forgive me! I didn't realize I was fighting against your true vessel!!"

Sillad was breaking into ice cold sweat with every waking moment that passed. After Kenjaku had proved himself to him by even telling him the first words he uttered when he was created by the Absolute, Sillad had no reason to doubt.

After that, his will to fight had been completely subdued.

While trepidation had gripped his very being, he instinctively lowered his head as the memories of his time serving the Absolute Being returned.

Being created from the darkness.

Being apart of his army.

Eventually, the memory of the Monarchs being unable to stop the Rulers from killing him.

The utter embarrassment he felt started to turn that trepidation into a sort of quiet depression, as he felt as if he had failed his creator.

Kenjaku, seeing this, was conflicted. While he had planned to dispose of the Monarchs along with the Rulers, he knew they had no part to play with the Absolute's death.

Even though this feud really had nothing to do with him or his ultimate goal, disposing of perfectly capable warriors who could serve him instead would be complete foolishness.

'I'll just have to kill more Itarim in exchange for leaving the Monarchs alive. If the Absolute's memory is right...then there is no shortage of them to begin with.'

Curious about their true feelings on the matter, Kenjaku asked, "Sillad, tell me, then. Why do you look so dejected? Aren't you supposed to be happy that I'm alive?"

Sillad raised his with a solemn expression on his face, his aged eyes filled with regret as he looked up at Kenjaku.

"My lord. It is cause for great celebration that you still breathe, but the fact that we failed to protect you remains. We never expected those damned Rulers to stoop so low as to turn their spears against you. When we heard of this rebellion, we were all incensed. How could they do such a thing?"

Kenjaku was starting to understand where Sillad was coming from. But, there was one thing he was still unsure about.

"I see. But aren't you Monarchs only agents of destruction? Why would you be worried about protecting me?"

Sillad raised an eyebrow as he heard this question.

"My lord, that's precisely the reason. You were the one that created and enabled us to carry out such sacred acts. The feeling of destruction...is simply unparalleled. It brings us such euphoria that we could not stop. It was our only purpose. And, you loved us for it. What reason would we not have to protect you?"

Kenjaku was left speechless. To think they had such deep thoughts on the matter. If the true Absolute Being was still alive, Kenjaku wondered how he would feel about this situation.

"...I see. Stand up, Sillad."

The Ice Monarch struggled to stand on his two broken feet, but it was an order from his Lord. He couldn't show weakness.

Seeing this, Kenjaku tapped Longinus on the ground, causing a silver wave of light to wash across Sillad, healing him completely.

"I have a mission for you."

Sillad clasped his hands behind his back and lowered his head, ready to receive the order.

'This guy...to think he was this loyal.'

Clearing his throat, Kenjaku continued, "Go back to the Monarchs and tell them that I'm alive. Show them proof whatever proof you need. In one...no two days, bring them here. There might be those who decide to stand against me in the end, but that can't be helped. Understood?"

"It will be done, my lord."

The elderly elf tore space open with a swipe of his arm and left, heading towards the Monarchs domain immediately.

"Heh, if all soldiers were like him, I couldn't ask for anything else."

Kenjaku looked around the island, looked up at the submarines approaching him, and a small smile appeared on his face.

"Jinwoo, Go Gunhee, Woo Jinchul, you're all here. It's a shame you won't be able to penetrate this wall of air surrounding the island. Jinwoo...I should say Ashborn. If my understanding hasn't failed me, his actions indicate that he has sided with the Rulers. Then...there is only one fate left for him. He will be dealt with in time. For now, I have more pressing matters to take care of."

SWOOSH!

Longinus disappeared in a flash of red lightning as Kenjaku grabbed the space in front of him with one hand and ripped it open, walking through the small red gate.

It was time to begin the hunt.

[About one day later, somewhere in China.]

A shirtless man could be seen standing on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, holding two swords in his grasp. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail with several strands hanging off like a tree, yellow eyes and muscular build.

This was Liu Zhigang, one of the five national-level hunters on the planet. Also known as the strongest hunter in Asia.

He was now in a state of deep meditation as the images of the fight on Jeju Island between the one now hailed as the Hero of South Korea, Kenjaku and two mysterious figures flashed across his mind.

'How would I have been able to win that fight if I was in his position? It's too bad that he most likely died in that fight...but he defended his country well. He deserves to be called a her-'

Liu Zhigang suddenly sensed a sinister presence that broke him out of his meditation. When he turned around, he immediately saw a tall figure standing directly behind him, looking down at him a coldly.

'I couldn't sense him when he was standing right behind me! Who is he?!'

Liu Zhigang jumped away and slashed down at Kenjaku with his twin swords, causing two humongous blasts of mana to erupt.

BOOM!

Longinus appeared in Kenjaku's grip as he thrusted it at the center of the blasts, the ensuing clash causing a massive explosion that shook the very landscape around them.

Appearing in the air right behind Liu Zhigang, Kenjaku smacked him into the ground before he could react, sending him burrowing through the mountains from the force.

'Who has such strength?'

Liu Zhigang was utterly confused. The gap wasn't even this big between him and the other national-level hunters. The identity of this person was too much of a mystery to him.

Using telekinesis to slow his descent, Liu Zhigang immediately activated his Spirtiual Body Manifestation, causing him to grow in height as a body of red spiritual armor manifested over him. Even his weapons became crimson and jagged, matching the armor he wore.

With this, Liu Zhigang was at his max power. He was ready for anything. Not even S-rank monsters could withstand a blow from him while he was in this state.

When he broke out of the mountain Kenjaku smashed him through, Liu Zhigang was appalled by the vision he saw in the sky.

The once clear sky had suddenly become stricken by a destructive storm that raged across the lands with incredible power. Tornados, hurricanes, lightning bolts, every type of storm had taken his once beloved land and turned into a scene of absolute destruction.

"Try to dodge, Liu Zhigang."

Longinus no longer took the form of a trident. Now, it was a long red lightning spear that surged with such elemental power that space itself crumbled in its wake.

Stomping on the sky, his pure strength causing it to shake, Kenjaku threw the spear at Liu Zhigang, the erupting power from it making it resemble a red star flying across the sky.

Before he could raise his guard, before his nervous system could even react to the threat, the spear had already pierced him in the chest.

BOOM!!!

The ensuing explosion was nothing short of divine.

All eyes shot up to the sky around China as the entire country shook, buildings fell, entire mountain ranges shifted locations.

Even other nearby countries could see the effects of the explosion in China.

Longinus was now beginning to show its true destructive capability.

In the sky above the explosion, Kenjaku could be seen carrying the remaining half of Liu Zhigang's corpse in one hand, and Longinus in it's trident form in the other.

'Even this couldn't completely destroy the body of a Ruler's vessel. How magnificent.'

Kenjaku crushed the corpse, absorbing the biomass and the Rulers shard contained within.

While he had failed to capture the Ruler responsible for making Liu Zhigang it's vessel for now, gaining the power it bestowed upon him was enough.

But, it was unable to get him to evolve again.

"Compared to the power I got from Rakan and the Heart Of The Absolute, this is nothing. Well, he was just a poor imitation after all."

Ripping space apart once again, Kenjaku walked through the red gate, heading to his next target.

It was time to take a trip to the other side of the world.