Ethan Blackwood's eyes scanned the crowded streets of the city, the sounds of merchants and hunters filling the air. As an E-rank hunter, he struggled to make ends meet, taking on low-level quests and battling weak monsters.
His phone buzzed with a message from his guild leader, Rachel. "Meet me at the guild hall. We have a new quest."
Ethan sighed, knowing it would likely be another mundane task. He made his way to the guild hall, passing by towering skyscrapers and bustling markets.
Upon arrival, Rachel briefed him on the quest: exploring a nearby dungeon in search of rare herbs. Ethan assembled his team, consisting of fellow E-rank hunters, Lila and Jax.
As they ventured into the dungeon, Ethan felt a sense of unease. Something didn't feel right. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a mysterious, ancient artifact.
"What's this?" Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's curiosity got the better of him. He reached out to touch the artifact...
And everything changed.
A blinding light enveloped him, and a voice echoed in his mind: "Welcome, Ethan Blackwood. You have been chosen."
The world around him began to distort, and Ethan felt an energy surge through his body. He stumbled backward, overwhelmed.
"What's happening?" Jax shouted, grabbing Ethan's arm.
Ethan's vision blurred, and he felt himself being pulled into a strange, virtual interface...
And then, everything went black.