Dungeon King of the New Era

The next morning, Leo woke up determined.

He had spent most of the night thinking about it. No matter what, he wanted to prove himself to Raven. 

He had trained for years, pushed himself beyond his limits, all for the sake of competing in the arena. He refused to believe that Raven, someone frozen in time for a decade, could still outmatch him without effort.

If Raven wasn't interested in fighting, then Leo would force him to take it seriously.

He quickly changed into his workout clothes, mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. Today, he would make Raven acknowledge him.

But when he walked out of his room and went searching for him, he was met with a sight that instantly soured his mood—his mother, calmly sipping tea at the dining table.

Diantha looked up from her cup and raised an eyebrow at Leo's hurried footsteps.

"Looking for Raven?"

Leo nodded. 

"Yeah. Where is he?"

She took another sip before answering. 

"He already left."

Leo's eyes widened. 

"What?"

"Your father took him to the association early this morning. Apparently, they had some important matters to discuss."

Diantha said casually. 

Leo clenched his jaw, feeling a wave of irritation wash over him.

He had planned everything out. He was going to confront Raven, challenge him to a fight right then and there. He was going to make him take the arena seriously.

But instead, Raven had just… left?

Without even a word?

Leo let out a frustrated groan, running a hand through his hair.

"That bastard totally dodged me on purpose."

______

Raven whistled as he stared up at the towering structure before him. 

The Association's headquarters was a gleaming monument of steel and glass, stretching so high into the sky that it almost looked like it could pierce the clouds.

"Damn. You never told me the Association made this much money. They must be making bank" 

Raven said, eyeing the pristine marble entrance, the holographic billboards displaying various hunter rankings, and the high-tech security drones patrolling the perimeter. 

Shura, standing beside him with his hands in his pockets, remained silent. He had long since stopped bothering to argue with Raven about things like this.

Raven nudged him with his elbow. 

"Come on, old man. Don't tell me you're not swimming in cash. I bet they paid you enough to retire in luxury."

Shura sighed. 

"Just focus, Raven. We're here for business, not for you to act like a tourist."

Raven chuckled but didn't push the topic further.

Just as they were about to enter, Raven suddenly sneezed.

He blinked, rubbing his nose. 

"Damn. That was sudden. You think someone's talking about me behind my back?"

Shura gave him a dry look.

"Get off your high horse. No one's wasting their time thinking about you."

Raven smirked.

"Oh, come on. You and I both know that's a lie. I'm a big deal, after all."

Shura rolled his eyes, but inwardly, he had to admit that if this ridiculous superstition were true, then Raven would be sneezing every other second. The sheer number of people who talked about him—whether with admiration, curiosity, or controversy—was impossible to count.

As much as he hated to admit it, Raven was still a legend, even after ten years.

They finally stepped forward, approaching the massive entrance, but before they could take another step, two uniformed security guards immediately moved to block their way.

"Stop right there." 

One of them said firmly. 

"State your business."

Raven raised an eyebrow, then turned to Shura with a playful grin. 

"So, should I deploy some… alternative tactics?"

Shura pinched the bridge of his nose. 

"No, you are not causing a scene."

The second guard eyed Raven suspiciously. 

"Sir, we need identification before allowing entry."

Raven looked like he was about to say something snarky, but before he could, Shura let out a small sigh and reached up, removing his sunglasses.

The effect was immediate.

The first guard's eyes widened in shock.

"W-Wait… aren't you—"

The second guard straightened immediately, his posture turning rigid. 

"Shura Vale…! One of humanity's heroes!"

The first guard stammered. 

"S-Sir! We didn't realize it was you!"

Shura simply nodded.

"It's fine. Just let us in."

The guards quickly stepped aside, bowing their heads slightly. 

"Of course, sir! Please, go right in!"

Raven, watching the exchange with an amused expression, leaned in slightly.

"Damn, old man. I didn't realize you were still such a big deal. Kinda jealous. Me offing myself sure got you all kinds of benefits in life. Where is my share?"

Shura shot him a look. 

"Just behave yourself, Please."

Raven chuckled as they stepped inside the building, already looking forward to whatever chaos awaited them.

As they walked through the grand lobby of the Association's headquarters, Raven took in everything around him with an impressed whistle.

The interior was just as extravagant as the exterior—gleaming marble floors, high ceilings with intricate gold designs, and massive digital displays showing real-time rankings of hunters. 

There were even holographic projections displaying past battles from the arena, showcasing top fighters in action.

"Man, they really went all out, huh? This place looks more like the headquarters of a megacorporation than a hunter's association. Do you think they would notice if I took something from here and sold it?" 

Raven muttered, watching as people bustled about, some in suits, others in combat gear. 

Shura didn't respond, already making his way toward the reception desk. Raven followed, hands in his pockets, casually glancing around. 

A few people gave him strange looks—after all, he wasn't exactly dressed for business. 

Unlike Shura, who had a dignified and commanding presence, Raven looked like someone who had just rolled out of bed and wandered in by accident.

As they reached the reception desk, a young woman in a sleek uniform greeted them with a professional smile. 

"Welcome to the Global Hunter's Association. How can I assist you?"

Shura leaned in slightly. 

"We're here to meet with the higher-ups. Tell them Shura Vale has arrived."

The receptionist's eyes widened slightly at the name before quickly nodding. 

"Right away, sir. Please, have a seat while I notify them."

Raven smirked. 

"Look at you, old man. People still jump when they hear your name."

Shura sighed. 

"Why did I bring you here again?"