I Ascend Alone-Chapter 54: President of Hunter Association

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the exit, his steps precise, controlled—like a man who always knew exactly what needed to be done.

I took one last look at the battlefield—the cracked floor, the fading remnants of abyssal energy, and the three S-Rank hunters still watching me.

Leon's expression was unreadable, but his golden eyes held something close to concern.

Selene's silver gaze was sharp, calculating—as if memorizing every movement I made.

Dorian... just exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk. "Try not to get yourself executed, yeah?"

I rolled my shoulders, shaking off the lingering tension in my muscles. "No promises."

Then, without another word, I followed Hale out of the ruined chamber.

-

The elevator ride was silent.

Hale stood beside me, his expression unreadable as always. The faint hum of the machinery was the only sound, but even that seemed dull against the weight pressing down on my shoulders.

The moment the doors slid open, I stepped forward.

The office was massive, lined with dark marble and towering windows that overlooked the city skyline. The air was thick with authority—this was the domain of Darius Vaughn, the President of the Hunter Association.

And there he was, sitting behind a polished desk, fingers laced together, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Darius Vaughn wasn't just a politician.

He was once an S-Rank Hunter. A legend. A man who had fought on the front lines against calamities that most hunters wouldn't even dare to speak about. His presence alone carried a weight that few could withstand.

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His piercing gray eyes locked onto me the moment I entered.

"Ryzen Kael." His voice was deep, steady.

I met his gaze without hesitation. "President Vaughn."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, he gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."

I did. Hale took his place at the side of the room, his arms crossed.

Vaughn studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, he leaned forward slightly.

"Tell me," he said, "what exactly happened back there?"

I exhaled slowly. There was no point in lying—not to him.

"...I lost control."

His fingers tapped against the desk. "That much was obvious. What I want to know is why."

I clenched my fists. "Because it... is trying to consume me."

Vaughn's eyes narrowed.

Hale remained silent, observing.

"I managed to suppress it," I continued. "For now."

Vaughn was quiet for a long moment. Then, he leaned back, his gaze still sharp. "And how long do you think that will last?"

I hesitated.

The Abyss wasn't something I could ignore. The system had to lock it away because I wasn't strong enough to control it yet. I had conditions to meet—insane conditions, like defeating a Sovereign-Class Entity.

"...I don't know," I admitted. "But I won't let it take over."

Vaughn exhaled, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You're playing a dangerous game, Mr. Kael."

I did not respond.

The silence in the room thickened. Vaughn's gaze bore into me, unreadable, assessing.

Then, without a word, Hale reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek black device—a small holo-projector. He placed it on Vaughn's desk and tapped the surface.

A soft hum filled the air.

A translucent screen flickered to life, and then I saw myself.

The footage played in crisp, high-definition clarity. The ruined chamber. The abyssal storm raging around me. The moment my control snapped.

There I stood, or rather—it stood.

Dark tendrils coiled around my form, shadows writhing like living entities. My silhouette was barely human, cloaked in abyssal might. Where my eyes should have been, only an eerie, burning void remained.

The air itself seemed to tremble.

The moment my presence fully manifested, the recording's visuals glitched for half a second—too much power, too much distortion for even high-grade sensors to properly capture.

And then, the wave of destruction.

The footage showed the abyssal force erupting from me, the sheer pressure sending three A-Rank Hunters sprawling. The floor cracked like fragile glass beneath my feet, and the very walls of the chamber shuddered under the weight of my presence.

The screen flickered as the last few seconds played out—the moment I fought back, forcing the abyss down, regaining control.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, It ended.

The screen dimmed, leaving only silence in its wake.

Hale tapped the projector once more, his expression blank. "That wasn't just 'losing control,' Ryzen. That was something else."

I kept my face impassive.

Vaughn didn't speak immediately. His gray eyes, sharp as blades, studied me with renewed intensity.

Then, he leaned forward, his voice calm, but unyielding.

"Explain."

I exhaled slowly. "I already told you—I suppressed it."

Vaughn's fingers tapped against the desk, his patience evident, but his demand for answers even clearer.

Hale, on the other hand, narrowed his gaze slightly. "That form." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "That wasn't just some high-tier ability, was it?"

Vaughn's voice cut through the silence. "The Association has records of every known class, every ability ranked from F to S. And yet..." His eyes darkened slightly. "Yours doesn't match anything."

I met Vaughn's gaze head-on.

"I can't reveal anything aside from what I've already said." My voice was steady. Unwavering. "I will... but in the right time."

The room fell into silence.

Vaughn's expression didn't change, but the weight in his stare sharpened. Hale, standing at his side, let out a slow exhale—whether out of frustration or amusement, I couldn't tell.

"That so?" Vaughn murmured, fingers lacing together. His gaze didn't waver. "You expect me to accept that answer?"

"I expect you to understand," I replied.

Hale let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "You've got some guts, I'll give you that." His gaze, however, remained sharp. "But you're walking a thin line here, Kael."

Vaughn remained silent for a few moments, considering my words. Then, he exhaled. "Fine. Keep your secrets." His voice was calm, but firm. "For now."

The pressure in the room lessened slightly, but I knew better than to think this was over.

Vaughn leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface of his desk. "But understand this—the moment your power becomes a risk to the Association, to this city, or to humanity as a whole... you won't get the chance to explain yourself."