Ethan stood in front of the hospital window, his fingers idly flexing as he tested his body’s responsiveness. Every movement felt smoother, more efficient, like his muscles had been rewired for precision and strength.


    Two years had passed.


    And yet, to him, it had only been months—months of suffering, training, and transformation.


    Now, he was back in a world that had moved on without him.


    A world that would soon realize he wasn’t the same man he used to be.


    Leah and Gareth remained seated behind him, still digesting everything he had told them about the Abyss, the Master, and his new existence.


    The silence between them was heavy.


    Finally, Gareth spoke.


    "You need to be careful," he said, his voice steady but firm. "Once word gets out that you’re awake, the Guild will want answers."


    Ethan turned slightly, his sharp gaze meeting Gareth’s. "I figured."


    Gareth leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "I mean it, kid. You didn’t just disappear—you were declared missing. Presumed dead. Then suddenly, you wake up looking stronger than ever? The higher-ups are going to start asking questions."


    Ethan exhaled, his jaw tightening. "Then I’ll give them answers."


    Gareth scoffed. "Not all of them, you won’t."


    Leah crossed her arms. "He’s right, Ethan. If you walk into the Guild and tell them you spent two years training in an eldritch void with some godlike entity, they’ll either lock you up for study or label you a threat."


    Ethan smirked. "They wouldn’t be wrong."


    Leah punched his arm.


    "Be serious!" she snapped. "We don’t know what the Guild will do, and I am not going to stand by while they turn you into some kind of experiment."


    Ethan rubbed his arm, though the hit barely registered. "Fine. I won’t tell them everything. But I still need to go back."


    Leah frowned. "Why?"


    Ethan’s gaze darkened.


    "Because something’s coming," he said. "And whether they trust me or not, they’ll need me when it arrives."


    Gareth studied him for a long moment before nodding.


    "Then let’s get you out of here."


    It took another two hours before Ethan was officially discharged. The hospital staff was reluctant to let him go, citing his mysterious two-year coma and sudden recovery as grounds for extended observation.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    But Gareth had pulled some serious strings, getting them to release Ethan under Guild supervision.


    As they walked out of the hospital doors, Ethan inhaled deeply, letting the cool evening air wash over him.


    The city felt… off.


    Everything looked the same—the towering buildings, the bustling streets, the glow of neon lights in the distance—but something was different.


    It was in the way people moved. The way hunters patrolled the streets more frequently.


    The way the air itself felt tense.


    Leah followed his gaze. "Yeah, you’re noticing it too, huh?"


    Ethan nodded. "Something changed."


    Gareth sighed. "Come on. You’ll see soon enough."


    With that, they began their walk back to the Guild.


    The Guildhall loomed ahead, its massive structure dominating the city skyline. The building was a fortress, reinforced with magic-infused stone and reinforced steel.


    And for the first time in two years—Ethan walked through its doors.


    The moment they stepped inside, silence fell over the room.


    Hunters—rookies, veterans, team leaders—all turned to stare.


    Ethan didn’t flinch.


    He met their gazes head-on, his golden eyes glinting with something new.


    Whispers spread through the crowd.


    "Is that…?"


    "It can’t be."


    "Holy shit. Ethan Voss is alive?"


    A few hunters stood abruptly, as if unable to believe what they were seeing. Others watched cautiously, their instincts warning them that something was off.


    Leah stepped forward, scowling. "Alright, that’s enough gawking! He’s not a damn ghost!"


    The tension lessened slightly, though the stares remained.


    Ethan ignored them, focusing on the counter at the far end of the hall.


    Behind it, the familiar form of Elias, the Guild’s senior receptionist, sat frozen, his normally calm face pale with shock.


    Ethan approached, resting his hands on the counter.


    "Hey, Elias," he said smoothly. "You miss me?"


    Elias blinked rapidly before shaking his head. "Ethan… by the gods. We thought—" He exhaled sharply. "You have no idea what kind of chaos this is about to cause."


    Ethan smirked. "Then let’s get ahead of it. I need to talk to the Guildmaster."


    Elias paled further.


    Before he could answer, a new voice cut through the room.


    "You don’t need to ask twice."


    A tall, imposing figure strode toward them, clad in black and gold battle armor, his presence commanding the room instantly.


    Ethan turned, his smirk fading.


    The Guild master had arrived.


    The man before him was Victor Caelum, a legend among hunters.


    S-Rank Adventurer.


    Leader of the Guild.


    One of the strongest warriors in the country.


    His scarred face was unreadable, his piercing gray eyes locking onto Ethan with intensity.


    "Follow me," Victor said simply. "Now."


    The room remained silent as Ethan, Gareth, and Leah followed the Guildmaster into a private chamber.


    The moment the door shut behind them, Victor turned sharply.


    "Talk."


    Ethan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Straight to the point, huh?"


    Victor’s gaze hardened. "You were missing for two years, Ethan. And now you show up stronger than ever, walking into my Guild like nothing happened. So I’ll ask again. Talk."


    Ethan took a slow breath.


    He had already decided what to say.


    "I was taken," he said. "Not kidnapped. Not lost. Taken. By something that wasn’t human."


    Victor’s eyes narrowed.


    Ethan met his gaze, unwavering.


    "For two years, I was in a place called the Abyss. I was trained. I was tested. And now, I’m back."


    He let that settle before continuing.


    "I don’t expect you to believe me. But I’ll prove it soon enough."


    Victor studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable.


    Then—he smirked.


    "Good," he said.


    Ethan blinked. "Good?"


    Victor nodded. "Because we’re going to need every bit of strength we can get."


    He crossed his arms.


    "The world’s changing, Ethan. And whether you like it or not, you’re going to be in the middle of it."


    Ethan smirked.


    "Wouldn’t have it any other way."