The world burned.
Cities were nothing more than ruins, overrun by monsters birthed from the collapse of reality. The sky bled crimson. Screams echoed through the ashes. But standing amidst the chaos, his coat torn and blood dripping from his jaw, Jin-Woo Han—the First Hunter—fought alone.
Not out of heroism.
Out of duty.
His blade carved through a grotesque, towering beast with one final arc, severing its neck in a flash of silver light. The ground trembled as it collapsed behind him. He breathed heavily, collapsing to one knee.
"That's... the last of them," he muttered.
His body was ruined. There was no healing this time. His regeneration had long since failed him. The system that had helped him survive this long had shattered. He looked up to the broken sky as space itself twisted.
And then...
[You have completed your final quest.][New World Detected.][Initiating Soul Transfer...]
His eyes widened. "What...?"
Before he could finish his thought, everything turned to white.
Somewhere Else...
Warmth.
A heat unlike any he'd ever felt. But it didn't hurt—it comforted him. Like floating in flames that recognized him as one of their own.
Jin-Woo opened his eyes slowly.
He was in a grand chamber made of black obsidian and gold-lined marble. He stood before a mirror.
The reflection staring back at him was not his own.
Blonde hair. Crimson eyes. Aristocratic features. And that overwhelming power beneath the skin—it felt alive.
"Riser Phenex...?" he whispered, recognizing the face from memory. But he wasn't just inhabiting a body. He could feel the flames in his blood, the regeneration already beginning to repair a scar on his arm. His power was real—and growing.
Then, a voice echoed in his mind.
[System Initialized.][Welcome, Host.][You have received the Flameborn Sovereign Gift Pack.]
He smirked. "Looks like I'm back in the game."
Later That Day – Phenex Estate
Riser's room was luxurious, but he barely paid it any mind. His focus was on the System Interface, hovering silently before him. He scanned through his status, his flames, the skills he'd been granted—and the locked quests involving sacred gear.
"Issei Hyoudou… Boosted Gear. Gasper Vladi… Forbidden Balor View. I'll be seeing you both soon," he muttered with a calm chill in his voice.
There was a knock at his door.
"Riser? Can I come in?" came a smooth, confident voice.
He turned. The door opened, revealing Rias Gremory—her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders, her noble presence as striking as ever.
She stepped in, raising an eyebrow. "You're quieter than usual. Not trying to flirt with me today?"
He met her gaze and smiled—not like the old Riser, but with a different kind of presence. One that caught her slightly off guard.
"No need to rush things. You'll get to know the real me soon enough, Rias."
She blinked. "…Huh."
It was subtle, but she looked at him a second longer than she normally would've. Her usual disdain wasn't there. Instead, curiosity sparked in her eyes.