The hunter academy turned into a beehive of activities the moment hundreds of hunters from the association arrived.

Ashton and Logan, who had just returned from the supermarket where they went to purchase snacks, were beyond astonished to see myriads of powerful and seasoned hunters strolling around the academy.

The two of them exchanged worried looks and continued down to the hostel, observing their surroundings with care as they feared the reason for the influx of people could be due to a danger-zone appearance, dark hunters, or rogue beasts.

Nonetheless, when they reached the hostels, they were baffled to see even more hunters surrounding the place.

Luckily, Logan spotted one of the hunters who worked under his mother and immediately asked him about the situation.

The hunter, a black-haired man in his early thirties, turned to the two with a troubled expression and replied,

"We weren't given the full details, but we were all summoned because a student inside attempted the 5-star breakthrough trial."

Ashton and Logan exchanged puzzled looks at once, and then their eyes widened.

"Marlon!"

Both of them yelled at the same time.

"Yes, that's the kid. Are you two familiar with him?"

"Of course. He's our friend!" Logan barked.

They found it difficult to believe their friend had taken such a drastic step.

Why didn't he tell us? the two wondered.

They were with him barely an hour ago, and now this? It was too sudden.

Like everyone in the world, they knew exactly what the 5-star breakthrough trial was — basically inescapable death under the nickname "5-star." Only one person had ever attempted it and survived. Others who dared it had died.

Though they had seen their friend fight and believed he was one of the strongest peers they had seen, they still knew it was impossible for him to survive.

"But why is everyone gathered?" Ashton asked.

There were at least five hundred hunters present in the school right now, and the weakest among them could be D-rank.

Which was strange, considering Marlon was only F-rank, and even if he failed, he would only turn into an E-rank monster.

Five hundred-plus powerhouses were far more than enough.

"Apparently, the higher-ups aren't answering everything," the black-haired hunter replied. "But I heard rumors it has something to do with the kid returning as a higher-level threat. That's why so many people are here."

"A higher-level threat?" Ashton and Logan repeated.

"How high?" Logan asked.

The black-haired hunter shrugged.

"Above B-rank… I think. I have no idea."

Ashton and Logan inhaled deeply.

They became speechless.

====

Marlon awoke in the same room as his last two trials.

This time, he didn't bother trying to gather his thoughts as he quickly rose from the bed and rushed out of the door.

Outside, there were no squads of soldiers waiting for him like in the second round, and there were no strange sounds that indicated anything bad was happening.

"Strange," he whispered to himself, but he didn't waste time and immediately walked down the passageway he had gotten accustomed to.

As he turned the curve, ready to descend the medieval-looking staircase, Brandon appeared.

"Young master…"He saluted.

Marlon nodded and signaled for him to escort him.

"How is my uncle, Ronaldo?" he asked as they walked down the staircase.

Brandon's face twisted with sadness.

"Young master, today makes it two years since your uncle died from cancer."

"Oh…"

Marlon was honestly surprised.

The same man who tortured him and killed his father in the previous trial didn't exist in this one?

What else might have changed? he wondered.

The memories in his head were still the ones from the first trial. Nothing had changed.

'I guess I'll have to find out all the changes by myself,' he concluded.

"Where is my father?" he asked.

"At the library."

Another change in the flow of events.

But a positive one.

Without wasting time, he told the soldier to lead the way to the library.

And after a few minutes of walking, they arrived.

"Son, you're awake."

Orlando dropped the book he was reading onto the stool beside him and smiled at him.

"Yes, Father."

Marlon smiled back as he took the seat opposite him.

"I have something very important to discuss with you," he said, his expression turning serious.

Orlando hummed and gestured for him to continue.

"What I'm about to say is of grave importance," Marlon began.

Orlando frowned slightly.

What was serious enough to make his ever-cheerful son act like this?

"Let me hear it, son," he said.

Marlon nodded.

"The world is about to end…"

The sentence made Orlando's frown deepen, and Marlon continued, slowly building the explanation to make it believable.

It lasted for over two minutes.

"So that's why you've been skipping school lately?" Orlando muttered.

"Yes. I made a lot of discoveries, and everything I'm saying is true. Unfortunately, all the evidence is still at the secret warehouse where we carried out our little research. I would've gone to retrieve it, but it's too late now," Marlon said.

Orlando fell into deep thought.

"You know… before Ronaldo died, he mentioned something like this," he said.

"Really?"

Marlon's eyes brightened.

'Everything in this third round seems to be falling into place,' he thought.

"His cancer came from the radiation he endured during his research. Even after learning his condition, he still continued because he believed the world was on edge. I thought he was crazy back then, but hearing you now… I was the crazy one for not believing." Orlando sighed, covering his face in regret.

"Do not blame yourself, Father."

Building on the mood, Marlon continued gently.

"If it were any other person telling me this, I wouldn't believe either."

He continued speaking, explaining how his uncle would be happy if they acted immediately.

And surprisingly, it worked.

"I've heard you, son," Orlando said, sitting up. "How much time do we have left?"

Marlon grinned.

He called out the apocalypse panel he hadn't checked since he respawned.

But as it appeared, his expression froze.

[ Apocalypse Panel ]

—World: Aerth

—Population: 7,999,999,999

—Time remaining: 0 days, 0 hrs, 9 mins

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