What If Sung Jin-Woo Chose to Remain Independent Instead of Joining a Guild?

Hunters often joined guilds for protection, resources, and access to better dungeon raids, but Sung Jin-Woo’s abilities set him apart from the usual path most hunters followed.

If he had never aligned himself with any guild, his journey would have taken a different course, affecting not only his personal growth but also the balance of power within the hunting world.

Guilds sought to recruit powerful hunters to strengthen their influence, and his refusal to join would have caused major disruptions. Large organisations like the Hunters Guild or the White Tiger Guild would have faced difficulties maintaining their dominance without him.

Operating independently meant he would have had fewer restrictions but also less support when facing dangerous enemies.

The question remains: would his solo approach have made him stronger or put him at greater risk? The impact of his decision would have shaped both his personal battles and the larger war against greater threats.

Increased Freedom but Greater Challenges

By staying independent, Sung Jin-Woo would have had complete control over his choices, including dungeon raids and battles. Guilds often assigned missions based on collective strategies, which could have limited his ability to act freely.

Without those constraints, he could have focused on his own growth without answering to any organisation. However, the lack of guild resources would have presented difficulties.

Powerful hunters received financial and logistical support from their guilds, which allowed them to acquire high-level equipment and intelligence about upcoming threats.

While his abilities were exceptional, going alone would have required him to gather information and resources by himself, making his battles even harder.

Without a guild’s influence, he might also have attracted more attention from rivals looking to eliminate a rising force before he became too powerful.

The Impact on the Hunter Association and Guilds

If Sung Jin-Woo had never joined a guild, the power structure among hunters would have been different. Large guilds often relied on top-ranked members to maintain their reputation and influence. Without him, the balance of power would have leaned toward those who controlled the strongest hunters.

The Hunter Association might have struggled to manage dungeon outbreaks without an independent force capable of handling high-level threats. Instead of working within the system, he would have been seen as an unpredictable wildcard, possibly facing opposition from both guilds and officials.

While he could survive on his own, the absence of guild affiliation could have made his journey even more challenging, forcing him to constantly fight alone without the alliances that made certain battles easier.