Max Ranker

The shrill beep of his phone woke him up.

Jin Hwan groaned, barely managing to pry his eyes open. His body felt like lead, every muscle aching from last night's fight. The bruises, the cuts, the soreness—it all hit him at once.

I feel like I got hit by a damn truck.

He reached for his phone, blinking at the notification on the screen.

[Deposit Confirmed: ₩450,000 added to your crypto wallet.]

For a moment, he just stared.

450,000 won.

Just for killing three demons.

It wasn't a crazy amount, but for someone like him, who had barely made money in the last few months, it was huge.

Slowly, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

So, this is how it works.

He pushed himself up with a grunt, his body screaming in protest.

Even F-rank demons could've killed him if he had slipped up last night.

Weakest of all demons or not, they were still demons.

Still monsters that could rip a man apart if he wasn't careful.

The memory of the fight flashed in his mind—the way the demons moved, the way their claws barely missed him, the way he had driven his axe into their skulls.

Jin Hwan exhaled.

No room for mistakes next time.

His entire body ached, but he still forced himself to get out of bed.

Dragging his sore body to the bathroom, he turned on the shower.

The cold water hit him like a shock, making him suck in a breath, but it did its job—waking him up and easing some of the pain.

After cleaning up, he threw on some comfortable clothes and went downstairs.

The house was quiet.

A small note was left on the table.

(Jin Hwan, I left early for Hunter training. Don't skip meals. I cooked for you! – Yun Hee)

Jin Hwan rubbed the back of his neck, a small chuckle escaping him.

 This girl…

He walked over to the pot, lifting the lid.

A wave of hot steam slammed into his face.

"Ah—!"

He dropped the lid immediately, stepping back like he had just narrowly escaped a fireball.

Jin Hwan scowled at the innocent-looking pot, as if it had personally offended him.

Did she cook this or forge it in a volcano?!

He cautiously poked the side of the pot, making sure it wasn't about to explode with more steam.

A long sigh escaped him.

I survived three demons, but almost died to my sister's cooking.

Shaking his head, he grabbed a plate and served himself some food.

With the TV on in the background, he slowly ate, letting his mind wander.

His body was still sore, but he was alive.

And more importantly—

He was getting stronger.

[Notification: Bounty Alert]

Jin Hwan's phone beeped again.

He grabbed it, eyes scanning the screen.

Several new bounties had been posted.

All F-rank demons.

Seems like business is booming.

Without hesitation, he accepted them all.

He had made 450,000 won in one night.

If he kept going, he'd rank up in no time.

Tonight, he'd clear them all.

Jin Hwan wasn't just going to sit around all day.

He knew that if he wanted to survive tonight's hunt, he needed to be stronger, faster, and sharper than before.

So he started working out.

Push-ups. Even though his arms burned from yesterday's fight, he forced himself to keep going.

Sit-ups. His stomach clenched with every motion, but he needed his core to be stronger.

Squats. He needed endurance. Running, dodging, and swinging an axe required strong legs.

By the time he was done, his shirt was soaked with sweat and his muscles ached even more.

But it was worth it.

He checked his phone.

6:45 PM.

Almost time.

After taking a quick shower, he threw on a dark hoodie, black jeans, and a pair of gloves. He slipped his small axe into a sheath under his hoodie.

He was ready.

As he stepped toward the door and grabbed the handle—

It swung open before he could pull it.

And standing there was—

Baek Yun Hee.

Her eyes narrowed. "Where are you going?"

Jin Hwan kept his face blank. "I have something to do. I won't be long."

She tilted her head, scanning his outfit. "Dressed like that? At this time?"

Sharp as always.

Jin Hwan forced a casual shrug. "Just some personal stuff."

Yun Hee didn't seem convinced. She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Just don't come home looking like a zombie again."

He smirked. "No promises."

With that, he stepped out into the night.

Jin Hwan followed the location from the bounty listing.

It was in an abandoned mall—a place long forgotten, its walls covered in graffiti, its glass doors shattered, and its interior swallowed by darkness.

As he stood before it, his breath came slow and steady.

F-rank demons. They're weak. I can handle this.

He exhaled and stepped inside.

The first thing he noticed was the air.

It was thick—with the stench of blood, decay, and something foul.

The second thing he noticed was—

The eyes.

Dozens of red glowing eyes.

He froze.

His heart pounded as his gaze adjusted to the darkness.

What the hell…?

The bounty only marked one F-rank demon.

But here he was—standing before a nest.

At least ten… maybe twenty demons.

Their bodies were thin but muscular, their claws long and sharp, their fangs glinting under the dim light of the broken mall signs.

And they were all staring at him.

Silence.

For a brief moment, no one moved.

Then—

A low, guttural growl echoed.

One of the demons stepped forward, its claws dragging against the ground.

Jin Hwan slowly reached under his hoodie and gripped his axe.

His breath steadied.

His heart pounded.

 I could run.

 I should run. 

But instead—

He lifted his axe.

And stood his ground.

"Come on, then."