Chapter Text
It was a silent, lonely bridge, once a bustling path for travelers, now reduced to shattered fragments after a dungeon opened up a few months ago along the infamous 87th street. The remnants of that chaotic event were still scattered across the ground, left unattended and untouched, almost as if forgotten. The air hung heavy with a strange stillness, the kind that lingers after devastation. Amidst this desolation, a solitary figure cloaked in a cotton, dark hood made their way toward the broken bridge, their footsteps eerily quiet against the cracked earth. Despite the disarray before them, the figure moved with a composed grace, seemingly unbothered by the ruin.
As they approached the most chaotic portion of the wreckage, the hooded figure paused. Without hesitation, they extended an arm, palm facing the wreckage, and a faint, shimmering beam of light emerged from their fingertips. The light spread over the ruins, lifting the shattered pieces of the bridge effortlessly into the air. Each fragment glowed softly as it floated, gently swirling in the air as if obeying an invisible command. The figure’s eyes, once a tranquil shade of teal, now glowed a vivid, almost unnatural green as they focused intently on their task.
With fluid precision, the figure gracefully knelt down, their hand now resting on the ground, the ruins obediently aligning themselves. Slowly, piece by piece, the broken bridge reassembled itself. The stones and wood slotted back into place, as though time was reversing itself, the destruction undone with a mere thought. Despite the magnitude of the task, the hooded individual moved with an air of calm mastery, as if repairing such devastation was second nature to them.
Once the bridge stood once more, whole but intentionally imperfect with small cracks left behind, the figure rose effortlessly to their feet. Not a trace of strain marked their expression. The wind picked up at that moment, tugging at the hood, pulling it back to reveal a shock of grey, fluffy hair that shimmered in the fading light. The figure— Kwon Till, the only S-Class Restorer — sighed softly. His bright green eyes faded back to their usual teal as he ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his handiwork with nothing but a blank stare. The bridge stood, a testament to his power, yet imperfect by choice — left with a few scars, like memories of a past that could not be fully erased.
A few decades ago, a strange phenomenon began to unfold across the globe. Dark rifts, which would come to be known as ‘Dungeons,’ started appearing seemingly at random in cities, towns, and even remote areas. These Dungeons were not mere voids, but gateways to otherworldly realms filled with dangerous creatures and ominous forces. Chaos ensued as the world struggled to comprehend the scope of the devastation these Dungeons brought. Structures crumbled, landscapes were scarred, and lives were lost in the wake of their appearance.
However, alongside these Dungeons emerged a new kind of human, those imbued with extraordinary abilities. These individuals, known as the ‘Awakened,’ possessed powers that defied logic—some could control elements, others wielded incredible strength, and a few could manipulate time or space. It quickly became clear that the only way to stop the destruction brought on by the Dungeons was for an Awakened to enter and defeat whatever forces lay within. These brave souls became humanity's last defense against the endless chaos that threatened to consume the world.
But the victory of an Awakened was never the end. When a Dungeon was cleared, its immediate threat was neutralized, but the destruction it left behind remained—a grim reminder of the havoc it had wreaked. Entire neighborhoods could be leveled, and landscapes marred beyond recognition. This was where the 'Restorers' came into play—those gifted with the rare ability to repair the damage left by the Dungeons. Using their powers, they could reconstruct buildings, heal ravaged lands, and restore what had been lost.
Among them, Till Kwon stood apart. He was the only S-Class Restorer.
"...I've finished restoring the 87th street's bridge," Till mumbled into his phone, leaning lazily against the bridge's side. He appeared almost serene, unaffected by the enormous task he had just completed. For any other Restorer, such a feat would have drained them of energy for days, but for Till, it was just another routine job, done with little effort and no visible signs of strain.
On the other end of the call, a burst of cheerful laughter erupted. "Woah! Restorer Till, you've done it again!" Ezra, his ever-enthusiastic manager, practically shouted through the phone. The sound of their laughter filled Till’s ear as he absentmindedly fiddled with the drawstring of his hoodie. "You’re always doing so much every time. Aren’t you too talented for your own good?" Ezra teased, reclining back into their chair with a grin, clearly pleased with Till's consistent excellence.
Till sighed softly, leaning back further against the cold stone of the bridge, feeling the rough texture of the recently restored surface beneath his back. "Leave some work behind from now on," he muttered, though his tone was more fatigued than accusatory.
Ezra, unfazed, only laughed harder. "Then I suppose you won’t be getting any work from now on!" they shot back teasingly. Ezra’s voice was bright and familiar, the kind that could draw out a smile even from someone as stoic as Till. Still, Till couldn’t help but frown slightly at the teasing, his eyes narrowing.
"...Then I won’t receive any work from now on," Till replied flatly, as if stating a fact, though his lips curled ever so slightly into a smirk.
"Hey! You’re so rigid!" Ezra hollered back in mock exasperation. Till could imagine his manager, hands flailing dramatically, struggling to make a point. But before Ezra could continue with more teasing, Till cut in, his voice deadpan and unimpressed.
"I'm hanging up now," he stated, already preparing to disconnect the call.
"Wait, wait! Hold on!" Ezra sputtered on the other end, desperation creeping into their voice. "Just give me a second! You know that A-Class Dungeon that appeared in front of the district office a few days ago? The damage was classified as B-Class, but the reward is like A-Class! It’s a good opportunity!"
Till blinked, his face remaining neutral as he processed the information. He waited only a moment before responding in his usual calm, unaffected tone. "I'm not going," he said simply.
Ezra groaned dramatically on the other end, their voice rising with exaggerated despair. "Till, come on! The reward for this is great. I’m seriously worried about you! How can I not be when you’re still living in that tiny apartment in Cure? You could do so much better with this job. Think about it for a second!"
Though Till appreciated the concern, he remained unmoved. "I'm grateful that you are thinking about me," he replied with a touch of finality in his voice, "but I am not taking this job. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be hanging up now."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Ezra quickly interrupted before Till could press the button to end the call. There was a pause on the line before Ezra spoke again, their tone shifting into something more serious. "Till... what about the ANAKT Guild?"
Till's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "What about them?" he asked cautiously.
Ezra hesitated for a moment, as if weighing their words. "Choi Ivan... he’s looking for you."
Choi Ivan, the infamous Shadow Hunter, stands as a towering figure in the world of Awakened, representing the prestigious ANAKT Guild—Korea's most powerful and influential guild. With an air of unwavering authority and skill, Choi Ivan has solidified himself as the best among the elite S-Class, a tier of power that few can hope to reach, let alone surpass. His presence alone strikes both awe and respect into the hearts of those who know his reputation, for he is not just any S-Class; he is the pinnacle of their kind.
As the leader of ALNST324, an elite team known for their flawless execution in Dungeon invasions, Choi Ivan and his team have forged an unbreakable legacy. ALNST324 has never failed a mission, not even once. Their precision, coordination, and sheer strength are unrivaled, and they are often called upon to handle the most dangerous Dungeons that others wouldn’t dare approach. In every high-risk operation, Choi Ivan’s mastery over shadows—a unique ability that allows him to manipulate and traverse through darkness with lethal efficiency—has become a key factor in their unbroken streak of success.
But perhaps their greatest achievement came eight years ago, when the City of Cure was threatened by an unprecedented disaster—a Dungeon classified at the highest S-Class level. When the Dungeon first appeared, it created chaos on an unimaginable scale. The creatures that poured out from its depths devastated the city, leaving it on the brink of collapse. It seemed as though nothing could stop the carnage until Choi Ivan and his team stepped in. They battled through the nightmare within the Dungeon, facing horrors that few could withstand, and in the end, they emerged victorious. The Dungeon was cleared, and though the city bore deep scars from the encounter, it was saved from total annihilation.
Soft footsteps echoed down the empty streets of Cure as Till made his way back to his apartment, his hood drawn low to shield him from the cool night air. In one hand, he carefully held a box of cake, while his mind churned with thoughts of what Ezra had told him earlier.
’Why would Choi Ivan look for me?’ Till's gaze narrowed, though there was nothing but an empty street ahead of him. He had always been told by his friends that he had a resting expression that made it seem as if he was perpetually glaring at someone — even when his thoughts were miles away.
’I don’t have a good feeling about this.’, he thought uneasily, adjusting his hood lower over his face with his free hand, an instinctive gesture to conceal himself further from the world. The other hand, still cradling the cake box, tightened its grip when suddenly, without warning, a car came barreling down the road, drifting sharply to a halt right in front of him.
Till froze for a moment, instinctively stepping back as his heart raced. His eyes darted to the car, and the man who stepped out was instantly recognizable — sharp black eyes with an unsettling hint of red. The tailored suit, the commanding presence — it was him. Choi Ivan.
Till swallowed hard, his body tensing. ’Choi Ivan?!’ His mind screamed, but his lips stayed shut. He took another small step back, his hand unconsciously pulling his hood even lower as if to shield himself from the piercing gaze of the ANAKT Guild's most powerful S-Class Hunter and the leader of the elite ALNST324.
“I’ve been searching for you for a long time, Kwon Till-nim,” Choi Ivan said smoothly, his voice carrying a calm authority as he approached with deliberate steps. His hand extended in greeting, his eyes momentarily closed as a smile touched his lips. Till, however, remained rigid, unmoved by the gesture, his eyes fixed on the man with suspicion.
Choi Ivan’s outstretched hand hung in the air for a beat longer before he seemed to realize that Till had no intention of reciprocating. Without a hint of irritation, Choi Ivan simply raised his hand slightly higher as if to reset the moment, his smile still in place. "Shall we say our introductions first?" he offered, his tone as calm and controlled as ever.
But Till wasn’t interested in pleasantries. He tugged his hood further down over his face, a shield against the looming presence of the taller man. The restorer avoided Choi Ivan's gaze, his voice low and wary. "...What do you want?" he asked, his grip tightening around the cake box in a futile attempt to ground himself in the situation.
Choi Ivan, lowering his hand at last, chuckled softly, unfazed by Till's reluctance. His smile never wavered. "Oh my. Did Ezra-nim not explain?" he asked in a teasing yet gentle tone, as though this were all some casual misunderstanding.
Till stayed silent, his guard up, his body tense. Choi Ivan, noticing the lack of response, finally dropped the pleasantries and moved closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that felt uncomfortably close to Till’s ear. "I’m scouting you for ALNST," Choi Ivan murmured. His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of what that could mean. "We need you, Kwon Till-nim."
He stepped back, giving Till some space, but his demeanor remained soft, almost disarmingly so. "Contract, salary, house, insurance," Choi Ivan listed casually, his tone as smooth as ever. “You can have whatever you want,” he added with another closed-eye smile, a gesture that seemed oddly out of place given the seriousness of the offer.
Till blinked, his usually composed expression cracking with surprise. He stared at Choi Ivan, wide-eyed, trying to process the sudden, unexpected proposition. For a moment, the weight of Choi Ivan's words hung heavy in the air between them. The idea of joining ALNST — the most elite team in the most powerful guild — was not something one easily brushed off. But the thought of public involvement, of becoming a part of that world, leaving them, stirred a discomfort within Till that he couldn’t ignore.
After a long pause, Till mentally shook himself out of the shock. He straightened, his grip still tight around the cake box as he began to walk past Choi Ivan. His voice was quieter this time, but firm. “I’m sorry,” he said without looking back. “But I don’t do public activities.”
Choi Ivan moved swiftly, his hand sliding out in front of Till with precision, halting the Restorer in his tracks. The sudden movement startled Till, forcing him to step back, eyes wide with shock. "Why not?" Choi Ivan's voice cut through the quiet tension, sharp and direct, leaving little room for Till to retreat further.
Choi Ivan’s gaze slid to the side, catching Till’s nervous expression with a hint of amusement. His smirk widened as he continued, "Does it have something to do with why you've stayed in Cure all by yourself?" The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Till felt a shiver run down his spine, his pulse quickening at Choi Ivan's unnervingly accurate guess. How did Choi Ivan know so much? His eyes trembled as they darted away, unable to meet the sharp gaze of the Hunter.
“There is… no reason for me to answer…” Till mumbled, his voice softer than before, tinged with nervousness. His mind was racing, searching for an escape from this uncomfortable confrontation. He wasn’t used to people prying into his life, and Choi Ivan's invasive curiosity was putting him on edge.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Till turned his back on Choi Ivan, hoping to leave the encounter behind. "I will be leaving now. I'm quite busy." He managed to get out, his tone forced but polite. But as soon as he took a step forward, Choi Ivan’s hand grasped his arm firmly, halting him once more. "Wait," Choi Ivan said, his voice carrying an edge that made Till tense even further.
In a quick motion, Till shook Choi Ivan’s hand off, glaring at the taller man with a rare flash of irritation in his eyes. Choi Ivan’s response, however, was only a disarming smile. "I've been a bit too interrogative without realizing," Choi Ivan admitted, the smile softening as he tried to diffuse the tension. But the apology felt hollow in Till’s ears, and his glare only deepened.
“I’m sorry, Kwon Till-nim,” Choi Ivan continued, sliding his hand into the inner pocket of his suit with a smoothness that made Till’s heart skip a beat. Was Choi Ivan truly apologizing, or was he playing another angle? Before Till could react, Choi Ivan pulled out a small name card and pressed it into Till’s hand without waiting for any sign of acceptance. Till stared down at the card in bewilderment as Choi Ivan leaned closer, his voice calm and assured. "I would prefer it if this wasn’t our last meeting."
The weight of Choi Ivan’s presence lingered in the air as he took a step back, giving Till a moment to breathe. "Let me know a date and place that works for you. Let's talk again then." His tone was surprisingly gentle, almost as if he was making a casual invitation rather than extending the offer of a lifetime. Till couldn’t help but lock eyes with Choi Ivan one more time—those deep, piercing black eyes that seemed to hold far more than they revealed.
Before Till could muster any response, Choi Ivan offered him a simple farewell, his smile never fading. "Have a good time today."
Till stared down at the name card in silence, noticing that it wasn’t the typical corporate card given during recruitment. Instead, it was Choi Ivan’s personal card—a subtle yet powerful indication that the offer was direct and serious. Rolling his eyes, Till shoved the card into the depths of his hoodie pocket with a dismissive thought, *I’ll throw it away later.* With a sigh, he punched in the code to his apartment door, muttering to himself, “I have more important things to do…”
As the door clicked open, Till stepped inside and called out softly, “I’m home.” For a moment, the room was silent—eerily so—before the sound of footsteps echoed through the apartment. A slow smile spread across Till’s lips as a peculiar group shuffled their way into the living room. Their movements were sluggish, almost zombie-like, and their eyes appeared dull, soulless.
But to Till, this was normal—these were his housemates, and their familiar groans and awkward shuffling filled the room. The sight of them brought warmth to Till’s heart, and his grin widened in genuine excitement.
“Sorry! I was late, right?” Till beamed, holding up the cake in his hands as if it were a peace offering.