The day began without warning. The sky above the metropolis shone brightly, dotted with slow-moving white clouds. The sound of car horns, the hurried footsteps of workers, and the aroma of coffee from corner shops formed a dull yet comforting routine. People went about their day with absolute confidence that tomorrow would be just like today.
They were very wrong.
At exactly twelve noon, the sun seemed to blink. Not obscured by clouds, but by something that tore apart reality itself. A pitch-black line streaked across the blue sky, slicing through the sky as if a giant canvas had just been slashed by an invisible knife. The deafening ripping sound echoed across the continent, shattering the glass of skyscrapers.
People stopped in their tracks. Thousands of pairs of eyes stared blankly upward, filled with a primal confusion that hadn't yet turned into fear.
From behind the black slit in the sky, darkness poured out. Portals appeared one by one, blooming like festering wounds in the air. And from within the void of those portals, they came.
There were no negotiations. No elegant spaceship landings like in science fiction films. Alien entities—monsters with forms that defied human sanity—fell from the sky like a meteor shower of flesh and metal. They were the Invaders.
Within minutes, screams replaced the sound of horns. The city, once pulsing with life, was now drowned in a sea of blood and dust. Giant monsters trampled the asphalt streets as if they were dried mud. Building after building collapsed, wiping away thousands of years of history and civilization. The world's militaries mobilized quickly, but their modern weaponry was nothing more than child's play before the thick hide and destructive magic of these other-dimensional creatures.
Humanity is falling into an abyss of absolute despair. Extinction is no longer a threat, but a reality unfolding before our eyes.
However, right at that lowest point, when the remnants of the earth's population could only curl up and close their eyes waiting for death to come... the world suddenly fell silent.
It wasn't that the monsters had stopped attacking, but that time itself seemed to freeze. The booming of cannons, the roars of monsters, and the cries of humans were drowned out by the eerie silence.
Amidst the dust of the ruins and the blackened sky, a blue light flickered. Before the eyes of every living human, whether hiding in underground bunkers or lying dying on the streets, a rectangular panel floated in the air. The holographic screen radiated an unnatural, cold light.
[Alert: Dimension Has Been Attacked]
[Alert: Dimension Has Been Attacked]
The warning message flashed repeatedly. A moment later, the text on the blue screen changed, displaying a series of sentences that would be a turning point in the fate of humanity.
[System Window: Unregistered Dimension Detected. This Dimension Is Not Registered in the Battle Dimension Roster.]
[System Window: Halting Invasion Protocol. We Will Give This Dimension Time to Develop and Prepare.]
[System Window: The Time Given Is... 50 Years]
No one understood the meaning behind the strange text. However, what happened next compelled them to believe.
The force of gravity on Earth seemed to be reversed. A low-pitched humming sound vibrated the air, and in the next instant, millions of Invaders, who were destroying the city, were pulled into the air. The giant creatures struggled, howling in rage as an invisible force lifted them from the ground, sucking them back into the black portals in the sky.
It took less than five minutes for the Earth to be empty of interdimensional invaders once again. The portals closed tightly, sewing back together the rift in the sky, as if the apocalypse had just occurred as a mass nightmare.
Unfortunately, the scenery around them proved otherwise. Major cities were now mere wastelands. Giant craters gaped amidst densely populated settlements, silent witnesses to the monsters' passing.
Humanity survived, but they weren't left empty-handed. As the Invaders disappeared, the blue screen flickered again, infusing every survivor with a strange energy. A spark of power called an Ability.
The System has changed the world order. Earth is no longer the same. They were given 50 years to prepare for the Battle Dimension, and the weapons the System gave them for survival now flow in their veins. However, with this terrifying new power, humanity's true test has only just begun.
At least, that's the exaggerated story I always heard from my history teacher who liked to dramatize situations.
Every year, on the same date, TV stations, radio stations, and social media will replay grainy footage of the event. History books refer to it as "Resurrection Day." An epic moment in which humanity was saved from the apocalypse and granted supernatural powers.
But for me? That's just the past. The portal and monster incident happened forty-five years ago. That means the countdown to the System's much-vaunted Battle Dimension is now only five years away. And frankly, the interdimensional apocalypse in five years feels like nothing compared to the critical crisis I'm facing this morning.
Kringgg! Kringgg!
A hand flew out from under the thick blanket, slamming the rectangular alarm clock on the nightstand into the air, causing it to fall with a thud to the floor. Its ringing stopped instantly.
I groaned softly, pulling the blanket over my head, before realization hit me hard. My eyes shot open. The morning sun was already shining brightly through the gaps in my curtains. Too bright.
"Unlucky."
That single word escaped my lips as I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes passed in pure chaos: a shivering, icy shower, a haphazard drying of my body, and grabbing my school uniform, which had thankfully been ironed the night before.
Standing in front of the sink mirror, I adjusted the collar of my uniform, which felt a little snug around my chest and shoulders—the result of a light workout in my room that had made my body somewhat toned, though not exactly muscular. My face, without glasses, reflected in the mirror, revealed a defined jawline.
There was only one main problem: my hair. Having thin, straight hair that easily gets limp is quite a hassle. If I let it air dry, it would fall on my forehead like a coconut shell helmet. With practiced movements, I sprayed sea salt spray into the creases of my hair, sprinkled a little hair powder, then combed it with my fingers into a curtain-style center part. I tousled it a bit until I got the right messy texture.
Perfect. At least if I have to be punished by the on-duty teacher later, I'll still look cool with my fairly well-proportioned height.
Slinging my backpack over one shoulder, I stepped out of my room and ran down the wooden stairs of my house with a thud like a local earthquake.
Oh yeah, while we're on our way down the stairs, let's get one thing straight. My name is Kang Ryumin. I'm just an ordinary high school student—well, at least as ordinary as you could hope for in a world where your neighbor can probably shoot flaming bullets from his hands.
"Ryumin! Don't run on the stairs! The boards will break!"
A shrill voice greeted me just before my left foot touched the ground floor. It was Eomma's voice. She was standing behind the kitchen counter that doubled as a dining table, wielding a spatula like a holy sword. Her bear-print apron contrasted sharply with her piercing, deadly gaze.
On a plate, a pile of fried rice, still steaming, gave off the tempting aroma of garlic and sesame oil. But time wasn't on my side.
"Eomma, Ryumin is really late! The district bus leaves in five minutes!" I said in a panic, darting to the dining table just to snatch a piece of omelet from the pile of fried rice.
"Hey! You haven't washed your hands yet and you're just picking them!" Eomma glared, her spatula raised as if preparing to land a smackdown. "That's why I told you not to keep pushing your game rank at night! You wake up late, you skip breakfast. Do you really think that if a monster suddenly appears, you won't need the energy to run?"
"Yeah, yeah, talkative Eomma, promise not to be late tomorrow! This egg alone is enough energy to catch the bus!" I replied quickly. While munching on the still-hot omelet, I grabbed the sneakers on the rack near the front door. "Let's go, Eomma! Love you!"
"Drink your water first, you naughty brat! You'll know what it's like if you choke!" Eomma shouted from inside. Her voice slowly faded as I slammed the door and ran frantically down the sidewalk.
The morning breeze hit my face as I sprinted to the bus stop at the end of the street. Catching my breath and cursing under my breath as I watched the yellow bus begin to close its doors in the distance, I thought back to the remaining five years.
The world may be preparing to face its end. But my morning remains a regular one, filled with Mom's nagging, a missed breakfast, and the school bus that nearly left me behind.
Luckily, the yellow bus stopped a little later than usual because a group of women were slowly boarding. I managed to squeeze through the hydraulic door gap just before it hissed shut. Catching my breath, I inserted my access card and trudged unsteadily to the only empty seat in the back corner, right next to the window.
I flopped back into my seat, leaning my head against the cool window. The ride to school took about twenty minutes, just enough time to cool the sweat on my neck.
Seoul's morning streets are always packed. As the bus stopped at a major intersection at a red light, my gaze involuntarily drifted out the window. On the wall of a skyscraper across the street, a giant videotron screen was showing a morning infotainment program broadcast across the city.
On the enormous screen, a rising young actor—whose name is Cha Do-jin, I believe—is being interviewed by an overly enthusiastic host. Flashy yellow text flashes across the bottom of the screen: "EXCLUSIVE: CHA DO-JIN AWAKENS A UNIQUE ABILITY?!"
The idol actor smiled arrogantly at the camera, straightened his expensive suit, then dramatically snapped his fingers.
Instantly, her hair strands emitted a soft, shimmering golden light, accompanied by a micro-whirlwind that appeared out of nowhere, purely to make her suit and hair flutter aesthetically as if she were in the middle of a photo shoot for an elite fashion magazine. The presenters in the studio immediately stood up and applauded wildly, almost hysterical at the visual 'miracle'.
I propped my chin on the bus window sill, staring at the giant screen with half-closed eyelids.
Seriously? I snickered to myself. Just being able to make your hair glow like a neon sign on a food stall and summoning the wind from a portable fan is enough to make it onto national TV?
What kind of ability is that? If he used that ridiculous power in the Dungeon or in front of real monsters, he'd just be a walking disco light, begging to be eaten by hungry carnivores.
I snorted softly, looked away from the giant screen and stared at my own reflection in the slightly dirty bus window.
My cynical smile slowly faded.
But yeah... no matter how bad or useless his abilities were, at least he had already experienced 'Awakening'. He had been recognized by the System. I took a deep breath, leaning my head deeper into the chair cushion. What about me? Never mind having unique abilities to show off to seek validation. Up until this moment, I was just a mere human crumb. A complete zero. Powerless, unawakened, and nothing.
Remembering that flaming-haired clown on TV earlier, my mind wandered back to the past. Specifically, to 2030, the year the apocalypse was postponed and the 'Day of Resurrection' occurred.
My history teacher—and almost every cheesy documentary on the internet—always framed that moment as if it were a divine gift from heaven. But the reality? According to old records that happened to be uncensored by the government, the moment after the System granted power was the beginning of Hell Chapter Two.
Just imagine. Millions of people, deeply traumatized, suddenly saw a blue screen flashing in front of their faces with the words:
[Congratulations, you have Awakened and received a Unique Ability in the form of: [ ... ] - Lv. 1]
That's it. Every Awakened human gains a single, absolute, and unique ability. This system is highly exclusive; no two people in the world will ever possess the exact same ability. It's pure, original, and unique to each individual. This ability cannot be enhanced; it can only develop into new sub-abilities as the person levels up or earns a specific "Title" later.
The problem is, since everything starts at Level 1, this system is essentially a cosmic gacha. If you're lucky, your Level 1 ability might be able to split the ocean. If you're not? Well, at most, it'll make your hair glow like that TV star.
The results of this random distribution of power were predictable: absolute chaos. In the first months of 2030, many people accidentally blew up their own homes. But far worse were those who deliberately used it.
The law of the jungle reigns. The strong rule. Massive looting and territorial disputes ensue. Those with advanced abilities act like new gods. Courts and regular police are utterly powerless against criminals who can block bullets with their skin or teleport through major bank vaults.
The world that had just been saved from the apocalypse of monster invasion, was almost destroyed by the actions of humanity itself.
Fortunately, the madness didn't last forever. Some of the humans with the strongest abilities in the world at the time finally had enough and stepped in to take control. They realized that if humanity continued to kill each other, Earth would be unprepared for the Battle Dimension the System had decreed in 2080.
Furthermore, these pioneers discovered one crucial fact: Abilities couldn't level up if they were only used to beat other humans. To gain experience points (EXP) and level up an ability, they had to kill monsters or entities from beyond Earth's dimension.
Based on this, the possessors of these most powerful abilities agreed to unite. They were smart enough not to destroy the existing state order. The republican, imperial, or kingdom systems of various countries were left in place to manage the civil and political infrastructure of ordinary humans.
Instead, they founded an independent global organization that stands firmly alongside world governments: the World Hunter Coalition (WHC).
This organization monopolizes all matters related to superhumans, from formulating the Hunter Rank system and registering Guilds to uniting the world's fighting forces. Of course, the WHC has branch unions in every country to ensure its bureaucracy is in order. Here in my country, that branch operates under the name of the Korean Hunter Association (AHK).
With the establishment of these organizations, humanity finally stopped strangling each other and began to obey new rules. Now, in 2075—forty-five years after the incident—the world order has stabilized. The attention of all mankind turned completely to the only source of EXP that the System had deliberately left behind on our beloved earth.
Of course, I'm talking about dimensional cracks—the mysterious holes in the sky and ground left behind after the monsters were forcibly pulled away by the System.
In the early months after Resurrection Day, no one knew what lay beyond the rift. Some, feeling superior due to their newly acquired abilities, ventured in to show off or seek their fortune. The result? Nothing. Not a single one returned. They simply vanished into the void.
Seeing the countless lives being wasted, 30 individuals with the strongest Abilities in the world at the time—the pioneers who would later found the WHC—decided to intervene directly. Of those 30, five were Awakened representatives from Korea.
They didn't enter just any rift. They chose one that radiated the most incredible energy. However, the historic expedition ended in bloody tragedy.
Of the 30 strongest men on earth who entered, only 12 made it back, gasping for breath. Only two Korean representatives remained.
According to secret records later leaked to the public, the 12 survived not by successfully slaying the monsters within. Rather, their focus from the start wasn't on attacking, but on exploring the area in search of a way out, treasure, or mysterious information. Thanks to this survival tactic, they managed to find and bring back a crucial artifact that would change everything: the Return Stone.
Before that moment, humanity had no definitive name for the rift. However, armed with the Return Stone, which allowed humans to safely enter and exit, they eventually agreed to name the dimensional rift the Gate.
Based on the results of ongoing exploration using Return Stones, the WHC then mapped the Gates' difficulty levels based on the color of their energy glow. The order, from most life-threatening to safest, is as follows:
First, there's the Red Gate. This is the type of Gate the 30 pioneers entered. Its difficulty level is ridiculous. The monsters inside are no ordinary wild monsters; they're intelligent, can talk, and have their own civilization or tribal system. Red Gates usually have a specific 'theme' or rules for clearing them, and most annoyingly, the System often throws in sudden sub-quests or branch missions in the middle of a critical battle.
Second, the Yellow Gate. Its difficulty level falls just below red. The monsters that inhabit this place are usually 'Legendary' types—giant creatures with incredible destructive power. Fortunately, they are not intelligent and cannot speak, although sub-quests from the System still frequently appear at this yellow Gate.
Third, the Blue Gate. This is a normal or neutral Gate type. There are no legendary giant creatures or intelligent tribes here. The area inside the Blue Gate is usually a vast grassland or open field. The challenge lies purely in quantity; you must face a large crowd of sufficiently powerful monsters and defeat them with raw combat power.
Lastly, there's the Green Gate. High school students aspiring to become modern Hunters often refer to it as the Practice Gate. This type is the easiest and safest to enter. The monsters inside are simply normal monsters, roughly the same size as wild animals on Earth. Typically, Green Gates feature caves or underground labyrinths that aren't too complex.
That's how the system works. Once one Gate is cleared, another Gate will glow in a completely random location with an equally random difficulty level.
Years passed since the Day of Awakening. Humanity's fear slowly faded, replaced by greed and ambition. Exploring the Gates became the most promising new profession. Humans began to settle into a routine of slaying monsters, leveling frenziedly, and hunting for Titles—special titles granted by the System that could grant sub-abilities or significant stat boosts.
In fact, the first Red Gate that had slaughtered the pioneers was finally conquered. The remaining 12 strongest, after furiously leveling, gathered hundreds of Ability Users—a new, more practical term for ability users—as support troops and launched a second Raid. They won. But at a terrible price. Five of the 12 pioneers died tragically, and Korea officially lost all of its first generation's strongest representatives.
However, the false sense of security that humanity had built was shattered in 2047.
A new Red Gate has appeared in the heart of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Due to the deep trauma of the first Red Gate tragedy, fear has reigned supreme. World organizations are shifting blame, and elite Ability Users are refusing to risk their lives there.
The red gate was left untouched for an entire year. And it was the most fatal mistake in modern history.
The system, it turns out, has a brutal hidden rule: Gates that aren't cleared within a certain time limit will experience a Gate Break. The portal will collapse from within, and the monsters within will spill out into the real world without any dimensional walls to hold them back.
When Tokyo's Red Gate was broken, the Japanese sky was literally turned into a sea of blood. The densely populated district was wiped out in a matter of hours by a race of intelligent monsters who brought their own civilization and weaponry.
The World Hunter Coalition (WHC) was in a state of panic. With many of its older pioneers having fallen or retired early, they had no choice but to undergo compulsory military service. Hundreds of young and talented Ability Users from around the world were deployed to Tokyo. Over 250 participants from across the country were deployed to ground zero. From Korea itself, the Association sent 10 of its best young Ability Users, touted as the country's future.
What happened next was not war, but slaughter.
These young Ability Users might be skilled at conquering Blue or Yellow Gates, but their experience against Red Gates—especially those that had already experienced Gate Breaks—was practically nil. They were slaughtered like insects. Magic, screams, and blood stained the ruins of Tokyo for days.
When the storm finally subsided and the monster race commander was beheaded, the world fell silent in horror at the final report.
Of the more than 250 participants from around the world, only 20 survived. The rest returned home in body bags, or even without a body at all. However, the tragedy gave rise to a new anomaly. The remaining 20 survivors of the Shinjuku hell received an unprecedented surge in EXP and titles. Their power skyrocketed, surpassing normal limits, even far surpassing the strength of the 30 pioneers in the early days of their awakening. They were immediately crowned the strongest Ability Users on earth, a status they still hold to this day.
Of the 10 young men sent by Korea, only five returned safely. Their names are now written in gold ink in every textbook: Park Tae-sung, Lee Ji-yeon, Choi Min-jun, Yoo Soo-ah, and... Kwon Tae-jin.
Just remembering that last name makes my blood boil, even as I sit leaning back in this creaky school bus seat.
If the other four are revered like elite celebrities, then Kwon Tae-jin is a hero in the purest sense. I idolize him not because he's good-looking enough to be on TV, but because of what he did on that darkest day in Tokyo.
As the world's defenses crumble and millions of displaced civilians face slaughter in a wave of monsters, Tae-jin chooses to separate from the Raid group. He stands alone on the main evacuation route, holding back thousands of monsters single-handedly so the civilians can escape.
At that moment, the true form of his Unique Ability—[Vanguard's Domain]—was revealed to the world in its full capacity.
His ability is no ordinary shield. Vanguard's Domain allows him to transform all of his own pain, physical wounds, and blood into an absolute, crimson dome that is impenetrable by even god-level physical attacks and magic. Not only does it defend against it, but any destructive force that strikes the dome is absorbed, multiplied, and reflected back as a destructive shockwave that flattens thousands of monsters in a single blow.
The grainy footage from that day's news helicopter is still stored neatly on my phone. In the video, Tae-jin's armor is shattered. His body is covered in horrific lacerations, one eye is bloodied, and his ribs are barely visible. Normally, a human would have bled to death. But he stood there, his greatsword planted firmly in the cracked asphalt, refusing to back down even an inch until the final evacuation sirens stopped sounding and the Gate was declared clear.
He is the absolute definition of an unbreakable fortress.
The yellow bus made a sharp turn, making my body sway a little and breaking my reverie about the Tokyo footage.
I sighed, staring at the drizzle that was starting to wet the window glass.
Many people on internet forums often debate: Why doesn't Kwon Tae-jin, our greatest hero, establish an organization or take over the country instead?
The reasons are simple. First, he simply had no ambition for power. And second—the most devastating reason for his fans—the Tokyo incident took too much from him. The price of holding off thousands of Red Gate monsters alone was a shattered body. Tae-jin survived, but he lost his left arm, his right eye, and half of his lungs, which were destroyed by the aftereffects of reflecting the massive attack.
With a permanent disability that even the highest-level healing magic failed to restore, Tae-jin rejected all offers of promotion from the Association, preferring to live in the shadows as an ordinary Ability User whose whereabouts are unknown.
Unfortunately, this nobility of heart did not spread to his four colleagues.
Returning from the hell of Shinjuku with god-like powers, Park Tae-sung, Lee Ji-yeon, Choi Min-jun, and Yoo Soo-ah realize one thing: the post-resurrection world is no longer driven by the government, but by those who monopolize the Gate.
Armed with their fame as the Heroes of Tokyo, they began to establish an independent fighting faction legalized by the Association. In the present day, 2075, there are indeed hundreds of small and medium-sized Guilds scattered throughout the country. However, the Hunter ecosystem in South Korea is completely dominated by five top leaders, known as "The Big Five."
Wait, aren't there only four heroes left?
That's right. That's the most interesting part of history. The fifth guild wasn't founded by a Tokyo hero, but by a mere mortal who climbed from the bottom of the food chain to become the equal of the other four giants.
If ranked based on their area of power, the current formation of The Big Five is:
[Eclipse Guild]
Led by Park Tae-sung. This is a highly aggressive, purely military faction Guild. The Association grants Eclipse a monopoly and exclusive rights to handle all Red and Yellow Gates in Korea. But make no mistake, they don't clear Red Gates easily. Every time a Red Gate appears, Eclipse must spend weeks preparing, sacrifice dozens of its members, and often face near-misses. However, they vehemently reject interference from other Guilds. If you see an Ability User walking around in a pitch-black combat uniform and acting like the streets are their battleground, it's definitely an Eclipse bloodhound.
[Guild Sovereign]
Led by Lee Ji-yeon. If Eclipse rules bloody battles, Sovereign rules the nation's economic lifeblood. Ji-yeon focuses her Guild on monopolizing Gate resources—from mana stone mining, auctioning high-level artifacts, to processing monster carcasses into weapons and medical materials. They are the richest Guild in Korea. Their members are more often seen wearing expensive designer suits than bloody armor.
[Cipher Guild]
Led by Choi Min-jun. This is the most slippery and dangerous Guild without having to raise a sword. Cipher focuses on intelligence, media, and information brokers. They decide which Gates' information can be made public, which rookie Ability Users are worth recruiting (or eliminating), and what news can be aired on TV (including that news about the neon-haired celebrity). They are the eyes and ears of the Korean Hunter Association.
[Genesis Guild]
Led by Yoo Soo-ah. An exclusive guild that only recruits magic-type ability users, support, and healers. Soo-ah transformed Genesis into the largest research and medical center in the Awakened world. Without Genesis's medicine, magic equipment, and healing services, the Eclipse Guild's death rate during raids would surely double. They are the neutral party everyone needs.
[Atlas Guild]
Now, here's the anomaly. Led by a newcomer named Baek Jin-woo. Jin-woo isn't a hero of Tokyo, but rather a former low-class Ability User porter who was fed up with seeing small Guilds always being oppressed and used as cannon fodder by the four giants above. Jin-woo united hundreds of small Guilds and founded Atlas.
They are called Atlas because they carry the heaviest burdens. Atlas doesn't have god-level members, but they are overwhelmingly superior in numbers and solidarity. They control 90% of the Blue and Green Gates across the country. Due to their massive numbers, like a rebel army, the four heroes of Tokyo are forced to acknowledge Atlas' existence and include them among the higher ranks of the Big Five to prevent civil war.
I snorted softly, feeling the bus start to slow down.
Guilds, Ranks, Gates, Associations... all of them are grand stages for the chosen ones. Bloody stages where a worthless youth like me isn't even allowed to be a spectator in the back seat.
The hydraulic brakes screeched loudly. The yellow bus finally came to a complete stop, shattering any remnants of my reverie of the past. The door opened, and reality hit me again.
It's time for school.
I jumped off the bus and jogged towards the half-closed main gate of the high school. Damn it, the gate was guarded by an S-rank disciplinary 'monster'.
"Kang. Ryu. Min."
The deep, raspy baritone voice stopped me just a meter from the gate. I looked up and grinned awkwardly. Teacher Hwang, the district's gym teacher and the most ruthless on-duty teacher, stood with his arms crossed, a thick attendance book in his right hand.
"Morning, Mr. Hwang. The weather is very sunny today, isn't it?" I said, trying to buy time.
Mr. Hwang glanced at his watch slowly, then fixed me with a deadly glare. "Three minutes, Ryumin. You're three minutes late! If this were an emergency Gate Break, you'd be Hobgoblin food for being late in entering the defense line!"
"Sir, I swear, the yellow bus was going really slow today. And there was a group of women—"
Slap! Mr. Hwang slapped his rolled-up attendance book against my shoulder. Not too hard, but enough to make me wince. "Excuses! You think the monsters in the Dungeon will care about the reasons why mothers take the bus? Discipline is the key to survival, Ryumin! After school, clean out the gym equipment storeroom! By yourself! Got it?!"
"Ready, understood, sir..." I answered weakly, holding my shoulders.
"Good. Get in before I increase your punishment to running around the field wearing a weighted vest!" Mr. Hwang yelled as he turned to intercept another student who had just gotten out of the taxi.
I took a deep breath and trudged through the gate. I had barely made it a few feet into the front garden when laughter erupted from behind the large oak tree.
"Pffft... Bwahahaha! Hobgoblin Snacks! I swear, Mr. Hwang's analogies are getting more and more out of the box!"
A tall guy with a deliberately messy comma hairstyle stepped out from behind a tree, clutching his stomach. It was Kim Do-yoon, my best friend since junior high. He had a laid-back, cool aura, a slightly twisted sense of humor, and a mischievous smile that somehow always managed to make the underclassmen uncomfortable.
Right next to Do-yoon, a girl stepped out, shaking her head slightly, though her lips were clearly curved into an amused smile. Han Yoo-jin. With her straight black hair flowing neatly down her back, her uniform always fitting perfectly without seeming to violate any rules, and her distinctive floral scent, Yoo-jin was the very definition of a 'popular girl'. If there was a ranking of the most popular female students in this school, she would definitely be in the top three. Hundreds of upperclassmen were willing to line up just to buy her strawberry milk in the cafeteria.
"You're a habit, Ryumin," Yoo-jin said, handing me a tissue after noticing the sweat on my forehead. "If you knew you were going to be late, why did you even have time to style your hair in the middle? Why didn't you straighten it first so you'd be completely late?"
I took the tissue and wiped my forehead, then combed my curtain hair with my fingers to restore some volume. "Priorities, Yoo-jin. Priorities. Better to be punished by cleaning the warehouse and still look perfectly handsome, than to show up on time and look like a bum who hasn't showered."
Do-yoon roughly put his arm around my shoulders, still chuckling. "How's that for being handsome? You're so upset after being scolded, you look like you're wanted by the Hunter Association. Besides, why were you running around? If you knew you'd be late, you might as well have hung out at the convenience store in front and eaten some ramyun."
"That's a great idea. Then the next day, you two's names will be on the dropout list," Yoo-jin said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, though she was still laughing softly. "Let's get going, don't let us get angry with Mr. Hwang again for being caught hanging out in the front garden."
"Yes, yes, Princess," Do-yoon teased, releasing his embrace and starting to step in line with Yoo-jin.
The three of us finally walked down the main corridor to the classroom building. The morning sunlight filtered through the hallway windows, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.
"Seriously, Ryumin," Do-yoon said, shoving his hands in his pockets and glancing at me with a lopsided smile. "Do you want me to help you clean out the storage room this afternoon? I just happen to be looking for a good basketball. It'll be a nice souvenir before we graduate."
"What souvenir? Just say you're going to skip the extra physical education class to prepare for the Academy exams, right?" Yoo-jin cut in sharply, folding her arms across her chest and rolling her eyes.
Hearing the word 'Academy', my steps reflexively slowed down a bit, though I quickly regained my balance so they wouldn't notice.
Ah, that's right. Amidst Eomma's nagging, the chaotic morning routine, and Mr. Hwang's punishment, I almost forgot this bitter truth. It was our last semester in regular high school uniforms.
In the coming months, our paths will diverge completely. Those who have Awakened and attained sufficient power will continue their education at the Academy—an exclusive institution where pioneering and talented Ability Users are forged into elite professional fighters. The Academy is the gateway to major Guilds and the ultimate preparation for the Battle Dimension.
And these friends of mine? Of course, they belong to that elite group.
As for me? Graduating from here with an unawakened status means I'll just be an ordinary civilian. An office worker, maybe a convenience store cashier, or whatever profession I'll eventually find myself hiding behind the dome's walls when the Gate Break siren sounds.
I quickly shook off those gloomy thoughts and laughed softly, patting Do-yoon's shoulder to cover my thoughts. "There, listen to the Princess. But thanks for the offer, Yoon. As long as you don't disappear when it's your turn to mop the floor."
"Don't worry, I'm the expert when it comes to cleaning," Do-yoon replied with a proud grin.
"Besides," I continued in a mischievous tone, looking at them both in turn, "while there are still a few months left before you're busy wearing Academy uniforms and becoming important people, at least let me enjoy ordering the elite Hunter candidates to mop the dusty warehouse floor."
"Damn you, Min," Do-yoon chuckled, punching my arm lightly, while Yoo-jin just chuckled at that.
Leaving the remnants of that burden behind us, the three of us walked side by side down the long hallway bathed in the morning sunlight, chatting about trivial things as if the future wasn't preparing to tear us apart.
Walking alongside the two most prominent people in my class truly requires nerves of steel. As I walked down the hallway to Class 3-B, I could feel hundreds of eyes staring at us like spotlights.
Of course, that look wasn't for me.
"Wow, crazy, Han Yoo-jin's damage today is no joke," whispered a student from the next class who happened to pass by, his voice deliberately raised as if we were deaf.
"Yeah, but why is she always with that guy with the middle-parted hair? Ryumin hasn't Awakened yet. He's not on my level, you know," his friend replied with an undisguised sneer.
I just snorted softly, pretending to be deaf. Beside me, Do-yoon chuckled and nudged my arm, while Yoo-jin rolled her eyes lazily, completely unconcerned by the cheesy whispers.
As soon as we entered class 3-B and put down the bags, my real daily disaster began. Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on which way you look at it—Yoo-jin and I were lucky enough to sit together at the start of the semester.
As soon as Yoo-jin's bottom touched her wooden chair, a social miracle occurred. Out of nowhere, a group of male and female students swarmed our table like ants upon a lump of sugar.
"Yoo-jin, are you done with your math homework? Do you want me to check it?" a female student called out from the front desk. "Yoo-jin, I brought some extra strawberry milk, just for you!" a large student said, handing me a drink box with a blushing face. "Hey, Yoo-jin, can you accompany me to the cafeteria?"
I, who was sitting by the window, was immediately pushed into a corner. My space was mercilessly taken away. My shoulders were pressed against another student's back, and my face was almost pressed against the windowpane.
"Excuse me, excuse me! This table has a maximum capacity, hey!" I grumbled, trying to push away someone's arm that was almost covering my face. "If you guys want to hold a fan meet, rent a hall over there! I can barely breathe!"
Yoo-jin laughed heartily at my distress. Instead of shooing them away, he took the strawberry milk, inserted the straw, and placed it right in front of me. "Here, just for you to calm down," he said with a wink, then patiently returned to his friends' conversation.
I could only sigh in resignation, sipping on the free strawberry milk while staring intently at Do-yoon who was sitting comfortably in his own seat, laughing at me from a safe distance.
The first three hours passed like a typical high school torture. Advanced Math, Korean Literature, and Basic Biology. My mind wandered, and I nearly fell asleep if I hadn't pinched my own thigh. The world might end in five years, but algebra and cell cycle formulas were still a pain to learn.
However, the classroom atmosphere changed drastically after the lunch break.
The fourth and fifth hours are not ordinary subjects. This is a special class focused on those going on to the Academy: History and Theory of Ability.
The teacher for this class was Mr. Jung, a middle-aged man in a neat suit and thick glasses. As soon as he walked in, the previously noisy atmosphere in the classroom fell silent. In this class, the class divide between ordinary students like me and those who had Awakened was palpable.
As I listened to Mr. Jung open the lesson by reviewing the history of the year 2030, my eyes scanned the classroom. Of the thirty students in the class, only about eight had successfully Awakened and were emitting a faint mana aura from their bodies.
One of them is of course the idiot sitting in the back corner: Kim Do-yoon.
Despite his only job being sleeping and playing games, the System was kind to him. Do-yoon gained a Unique Ability called [Aero Dash]. This ability allows him to manipulate the wind currents around his feet. When activated, he can move at speeds undetectable to the naked eye, perform double jumps in the air, and move silently. He's deadly as a scout or assassin if he ever enters the Gate.
Then at the front of the line, there's Song Jae-hyun, our hulking class president. Last month, he showed off on the school field after successfully awakening a Unique Ability called [Granite Skin]. As the name suggests, Jae-hyun can transform his entire body into solid granite. His movements are indeed very slow, but his skin won't even be scratched even if hit by a car at full speed. A typical front-line tanker.
Even Mr. Jung, who was standing in front of the class, was an Awakened. I heard his Unique Ability was called [Echo Whisper]. It allowed him to condense sound and send it directly into a specific target's ear, as loud as he wanted, without anyone else around him hearing it. A mediocre ability for fighting in a Dungeon, but an SSS-rank ability for waking up a sleeping student in class.
Gemini said
"Okay, everyone pay attention to the front," Mr. Jung's deep voice echoed throughout the classroom, making several of the previously drowsy students sit up straight. He tapped his marker on the whiteboard, which now read: RANKING & ABILITY CLASSIFICATION.
Mr. Jung crossed his arms over his chest, looking at each of us. "Before we talk about Rank, let's review the most basic facts about the System. How does Awakening work?"
The class was silent. Of course we knew the answer, because it was the most annoying open secret in the world.
The system is like a drunken god rolling dice. Ability grants are completely random. No one knows when, where, or what power you'll gain. You could be straining in a public restroom and suddenly a blue screen appears giving you the ability to shoot lasers from your eyes. You could be taking a nap and then wake up with the ability to manipulate gravity. Pure gacha luck.
"Exactly. Random," Mr. Jung continued, as if reading our minds. "And when that blue screen appears, you officially begin your journey from Level 1. On your status screen, the System will provide three pillars of basic attributes, or Base Stats, that support your body: Strength (STR), Stamina (STA), and Speed (SPD)."
I scribbled randomly in my notebook. STR, STA, SPD. Three magical abbreviations that determine whether you'll become an elite porter or die a horrible death at the hands of a monster.
To increase these Basic Stat numbers, the method is quite reasonable and can be achieved by anyone: you just have to increase your Ability level, diligently complete Gates, or get a Title from the System.
But there's one more thing about this stat that always manages to make Hunters obsessed. If you achieve a crazy feat within the Gate and the System grants you a special Title, you have a chance to unlock a Special Stat.
Yes, Special Stats are absolute anomalies that can only be obtained through Titles, not from simply leveling up regular Abilities.
And what makes it even more complicated is that the way to increase these Special Stats isn't a secret deliberately hidden by the big Guilds, but rather because the requirements are very unique and personal for each stat. Special Stats won't increase even if you clear a hundred Gates, unless you meet specific requirements. For example, if someone gets the special stat of Darkness Element (DRK), the number might only increase by 0.1 points every time they successfully slay a shadow-type monster. Each Special Stat has its own farming method and 'key'.
"So, how does the Association determine your value in society?" Mr. Jung wrote again on the board. The letters of the alphabet, from bottom to top: F, E, D, C, B, A, S.
"These are your Ability User Ranks. From the weakest, F, to the strongest, S. But remember," Mr. Jung stared straight at Song Jae-hyun, the granite-bodied class president. "The Association doesn't raise your Rank just because you have the biggest muscles. Rank evaluation is very strict and complicated."
Mr. Jung quickly began to outline the factors. A Hunter's Rank upgrade depends on many factors: First, of course, the Ability Level itself. Second, the number of Sub-Abilities successfully developed. Third, their overall Stat accumulation. And fourth, and most importantly when forming a party to enter the Gate: Role Advantage.
What this means is, if you have a Healer-type ability, the Association will compare your healing efficiency with other Healers of the same Rank. If your ability can heal a severed arm in five seconds while others take five minutes, congratulations, your Rank will immediately skyrocket.
And of course, this rank determines which doors of death you're allowed to open. F and E-rank Hunters are typically only allowed to harvest mana grass or fight dog-sized monsters at the Green Gate. Only those at B-rank and above are allowed to set foot in the Yellow Gate, and of course, the Red Gate is a complete monopoly on S-rank monsters from the major Guilds.
"Now, the last question," Mr. Jung smiled faintly, adjusting his glasses. He pointed at Do-yoon, who was busy twirling a pen with a small wind in his finger. "Kim Do-yoon. You've Awakened. Jae-hyun has too. There are eight people in this class who already have deadly powers at Level 1. Why are you all still sitting here listening to me ramble, and not going to the nearest Green Gate to show off your strength and level up?"
Do-yoon stopped spinning his pen. He grinned. "Because if the Association finds out, we'll be jailed, sir."
"Worse than that," Mr. Jung interrupted, his voice turning very serious and cold. The class suddenly froze. "You will die ridiculously, and the country will lose its war assets."
Mr. Jung turned on the projector, displaying the Korean Hunter Association logo of a shield and crossed swords.
"The Association's absolute law: No Hunter License Card, no Gate entry. And those License Cards are impossible for high school students or first-year Academy students to obtain."
That's the most adorable and infuriating reality in this world. Even though my friends have acquired superpowers, they're locked in a bureaucratic cage. They're forcibly stuck at Level 1 because there aren't any monsters out there for them to kill to gain EXP.
The reason is purely for safety and to protect the human population. If unstable children who have just gained powers are allowed to enter the Gate, what will happen is not a hunt, but mass slaughter. The human population is already critically low after the Tokyo tragedy. The country doesn't want to lose young people with the potential to become elite soldiers just because they act like they're level 1.
Therefore, the education system was completely overhauled. Awakened students had to graduate from high school, enroll in the Academy, and spend the entire first year studying solely survival theory, monster anatomy, and tactical simulations.
Only after they reach their second year of the Academy will the Association issue them temporary Hunter Licenses. At that point, their shackles are lifted. They are allowed to enter the Gate, experience the blood of real monsters, and begin their level-up race in preparation for the Battle Dimension.
I rested my chin on my hand, staring blankly at the blackboard.
A perfectly reasonable, gradual education, I thought cynically. For those with power, the future is laid out like a red carpet to the battlefield. As for a level zero like me... I don't even have the right to think about the second year of the Academy.
The bell finally rang, saving me from the existential crisis that Mr. Jung had caused me. I was so busy daydreaming about my bleak fate that my body moved automatically like a zombie. I got up from my chair, walked out of the classroom with a blank stare, went down the stairs, bought a bowl of jjajangmyeon from the cafeteria, and sat quietly on an empty bench in the corner.
Just as my chopsticks touched the black noodles, a tray was placed with a soft thud right in front of me.
"Wow, wow. Our Mr. Kang Ryumin seems to have given up hope to the point of losing his memory, huh?"
I jumped in surprise, nearly dropping my chopsticks. In front of me, Han Yoo-jin stood with her hands on her hips, staring at me with a sweet smile that somehow seemed very menacing. Next to her, Kim Do-yoon set down his own tray and laughed out loud.
"I swear, Min. You just walked straight out of the classroom like you were possessed," Do-yoon teased, pulling out a chair and sitting next to me. "Even when you were yelled at from behind, you didn't even look back, you just left us both. Is that what you're thinking because you're in danger of becoming an unemployed civilian?"
"N-nothing like that! I was just... really hungry, so I just reflexively went to the canteen first," I carelessly avoided it, trying to cover up my embarrassment.
Yoo-jin chuckled softly at my panicked expression. He finally sat down across from me, tossing his black hair behind his shoulder. "It's a good thing you're our friend, Min. Otherwise, I'd have put you on the blacklist of people Han Yoo-jin shouldn't eat with, you know."
The three of us laughed and began eating lunch. But of course, eating in peace is a luxury when you're sitting at the same table as Han Yoo-jin. In less than five minutes, our table was surrounded by a circle of fanboys—from those just stealing glances from the next table to groups of guys deliberately wandering around, looking for a way to say hello or hand out free snacks.
In the middle of a mouthful of food, Yoo-jin suddenly slapped her forehead. "Ah, I left my carton of strawberry milk in the classroom desk drawer! You guys go ahead and eat, I'll go get it."
She stood up, trying to push through the invisible crowd of her secret admirers. Her progress was hampered by the boys, who were busy trying to get a closer look at her. Yoo-jin struggled to squeeze through, being pushed slightly by the crowd.
Bang!
"Ouch!"
The sound of metal trays hitting the cafeteria floor echoed loudly. Do-yoon and I turned our heads simultaneously.
In the middle of the cafeteria walkway, Yoo-jin accidentally bumps into the broad chest of a large student from class 3-D. His name is Hwang Dong-soo, a stocky boy known for his bad temper. A bowl of hot soup and rice spills over, staining Dong-soo's uniform shirt and splashing a bit onto the hem of Yoo-jin's skirt.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to," Yoo-jin said quickly, her expression panicked. "Let me clean it up, and I'll compensate you for your food and the cost of your uniform laundry."
Instead of accepting the apology, Dong-soo's jaw clenched. He roughly slapped Yoo-jin's hand away as she tried to wipe the stain off his uniform with a tissue.
"Compensation? You think this is all about money?" Dong-soo growled. His loud voice suddenly silenced the cafeteria. "Just because you're pretty and the school idol, you think you can just hit someone, apologize, and then everything's over? You have a good life, Miss Han."
Yoo-jin took a step back, his brow furrowed in confusion and displeasure. "I already said it wasn't intentional, I was pushed by the crowd, and I'm taking responsibility. What do you want now?"
Dong-soo grinned, his gaze sweeping Yoo-jin up and down. "Responsibility? Okay. Be my girlfriend for a week. If you accompany me everywhere and obey my commands for seven days, I'll consider this uniform paid for."
"What? Are you crazy? No way!" Yoo-jin refused firmly, her face flushed with anger.
Seeing my female friend being verbally abused like that made my blood boil. The annoyance that had been building up in my head since Mr. Jung's lesson suddenly exploded. I slammed my chopsticks on the table, got up, and walked quickly over to them. I immediately placed myself between Yoo-jin and this monster disguised as a high school student.
"Hey, gorilla," I said, looking up at Dong-soo with an annoyed expression. "He said it wasn't on purpose, right? He already promised to pay him a fair amount of compensation. There's no need to take advantage of a difficult situation. Are you deaf?"
Dong-soo looked down at me with a look of disdain. Before he could reply, two of his friends standing behind him whispered softly into his ear.
"Boss, that's Kang Ryumin from class 3-B. He's a trash kid who hasn't Awakened at all."
Hearing that whisper, Dong-soo's grin widened. His back straightened, and suddenly, a thin, dirty blue aura of mana radiated from his body. He had Awakened.
"Oh... an oversleeping hero who doesn't even have a Level, huh?" Dong-soo sneered, crossing his thick arms over his chest. "You've got a lot of attitude. If you care that much about her, let's spar. Prove you're worthy of defending her."
Instantly, my guts sank to the pit of my stomach. Damn. Fighting an Awakened barehanded? That would be suicide. My palms were sweating slightly, and my brain was screaming at me to retreat, but my pride refused to let Yoo-jin alone.
Just as I was gritting my teeth to force myself to agree, a hand patted my shoulder from behind.
"Tch, wasting your time fighting someone who hasn't Awakened yet," Do-yoon's voice sounded casual, but his eyes were fixed on Dong-soo coldly. Small whirlpools of wind—the effect of his Aero Dash—began to swirl around the tips of his sneakers. "How about a worthy opponent, Hwang Dong-soo? I'll take his place."
Dong-soo scoffed, but his eyes glinted with challenge as he watched Do-yoon manipulate the wind. "Sure. Let's finish it on the field right now."
The entire cafeteria, which had been watching silently until now, immediately erupted in excitement. Fights between Awakened were always the most anticipated free spectacle. We walked in groups to the dusty field outside the school.
The rules of the game are simple and typical of a high school student with Awakening Syndrome: Whoever wins gets to issue one absolute command that the loser must obey. And judging by Dong-soo's grin, the stakes are clear. If he wins, he'll use that command to force Yoo-jin to be his girlfriend.
News of the fight between the two Awakened spread like wildfire across a dry prairie. In less than ten minutes, the sandy field behind the gym was surrounded by dozens of students who had skipped recess.
Mr. Hwang, our gym teacher who also doubled as our discipline teacher, was somehow already standing in the middle of the field with a whistle around his neck. Instead of dismissing us, he officially officiated the duel. In a world ruled by Hunters, official duels under the supervision of a teacher were considered normal 'mental training.'
Dong-soo stood on the left side of the court, flexing his neck muscles until they crackled. His dirty blue mana aura radiated, making the gravel around his shoes vibrate slightly. Across from him, Do-yoon stood with his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed despite the slight wind swirling aggressively around his ankles.
"Heh, Kim Do-yoon," Dong-soo chuckled, his voice deep and dismissive. "You think just running around using the wind can break through my [Titan's Vigor]? I'll break your legs so you can't run anymore."
Do-yoon grinned, took a hand out of his pocket, and gestured forward with his index finger. "You're a big talker for a gorilla who moves slower than a pregnant snail. Just try to catch me if you can, you fat lump."
Mr. Hwang raised his hand high. "Standard rules! No life-threatening attacks, and the duel ends if one of you surrenders or steps out of bounds! Ready... Begin!"
Prit!
As soon as the whistle blew, Do-yoon disappeared from sight.
Whoosh! A sharp whistling sound of wind. In the blink of an eye, Do-yoon was on Dong-soo's left side, landing a spinning kick right into the gorilla's temple. Bam! The impact was loud, but Dong-soo only staggered two steps.
The fight initially seemed very even, even dominated by my friend. Do-yoon used [Aero Dash] brilliantly. He leaped into the air, kicked from blind spots, and landed a flurry of punches. Dong-soo could only protect his face with his thick arms, which now glowed a bluish glow like muscle shields.
However, stamina is key. Level 1 abilities drain physical energy very quickly. By the fourth minute, Do-yoon's breathing began to become labored. His movements slowed by a beat, and that was the opening Dong-soo had been waiting for.
As Do-yoon darted in to land a kick to the knee, Dong-soo didn't dodge. He let the kick land, sacrificing his balance momentarily to catch Do-yoon's ankle in his bear-claw grip.
"Got you, you stink bug!" roared Dong-soo.
He spun around and slammed Do-yoon into the sandy ground with full force. Bang! A thick cloud of dust rose up. Before Do-yoon could get up, Dong-soo's knee was already pressing into his chest, while his mana-clad fist stopped just a centimeter in front of Do-yoon's nose.
"Enough! The winner is Hwang Dong-soo!" Mr. Hwang shouted, blowing a long whistle.
Cheers erupted from the Class 3-D camp. Dong-soo stood up, dusting off his uniform with disgusting arrogance. He puffed out his chest and waved to the crowd like a gladiator who had just won a world championship. On the sidelines, I saw Yoo-jin's face turn pale.
Suddenly, Dong-soo's laughter stopped. His ferocious eyes stared straight at me, who was pushing aside the crowd to help Do-yoon up.
"Mr. Hwang!" Dong-soo called out loudly, pointing right at my face. "I'd like to ask permission for one more match! That unawakened loser was talking a lot in the cafeteria. I want to teach him a little lesson. The stakes remain the same."
Mr. Hwang frowned, looking at me doubtfully. "Ryumin hasn't Awakened yet. It's unbalanced."
"Just a light spar, sir. I promise I won't use my abilities," Dong-soo challenged, grinning slyly at me. "Or... will Kang Ryumin run and hide behind Yoo-jin's skirt and let her be my girlfriend as we agreed?"
All eyes were now on me. The atmosphere suddenly became suffocating. Do-yoon, clutching his chest, looked at me and shook his head slowly, signaling for me to step back. Yoo-jin was already half-running toward me to stop me.
But my pride, and the fact that this gorilla was going to sue Yoo-jin, made my feet move forward before my brain could process it.
Damn. Damn. Damn. My heart screamed in panic as I walked out into the middle of the field. The end of the world was still five years away, why was I meeting my death in this dusty field?!
I stood face to face with Dong-soo. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of my throat. My legs were trembling slightly. This was insane. This was pure suicide.
"Start!"
As soon as the whistle blew, Dong-soo immediately broke his promise. His blue aura flared. He shot toward me like a truck with broken brakes. His giant fist swung through the air, aiming straight for my jaw.
My mind went blank. Only a primitive survival instinct made me reflexively drop to the ground. Whoosh! The fist passed millimeters above my head, sweeping away a few strands of my hair.
"Tch, your reflexes are pretty good!" Dong-soo growled. He turned and kicked.
I rolled frantically across the sand. Dodging, dodging, and dodging. My lungs burned. My eyes stung from the dust. I had absolutely no way to counterattack. Every time his fist missed and hit the ground, sand exploded into the air. If even one of those punches landed on me, my ribs would surely shatter.
My steps tripped over a large pebble. My balance wavered, and I fell to my knees.
In front of me, Dong-soo pulled his right fist back. His blue aura gathered thickly in his fist. His sadistic grin was fully formed. There was no time to dodge. The corner of my eye caught Yoo-jin's muffled scream, and Mr. Hwang running to stop the fight.
But everything felt like it was moving so slowly. Time seemed to freeze.
At the absolute point where my fear turned into despair, and my refusal to lose reached its maximum limit... the darkness before my eyes was suddenly split by a blinding blue light.
A transparent holographic screen suddenly appeared floating right in front of my face. It was a screen that only I could see.
[Warning: Will to survive reaches maximum!] [Scanning potential...]
The text on the screen flashed rapidly, illuminating my sweaty face.
[Congratulations! Due to your absolute refusal to submit, you have been resurrected!] [Unique Ability Acquired: [Starfall Greed] - Lv. 1]
[Ability Description:]
Allows the user to absorb 25% of the effectiveness of a targeted enemy's abilities, while instantly weakening that enemy's original power by 2%. The absorbed power can be freely used by the user for 1 hour. Additional Note: Any absorbed abilities will not be lost, but their data will be permanently stored within the [Ability Subspace] for the user's future development.
Time seemed to crawl. Dong-soo's fist, enveloped in a giant blue aura, moved toward my face in terrifying slow motion. At the same time, the blue screen in front of me flickered again, ignoring the laws of physics and time.
[Passive System Active: Detecting the presence of Ability Users within a 20 meter radius!] [Preparing target list for [Starfall Greed] assimilation...]
My eyes widened as a transparent window extended downwards, displaying the names and abilities of the people gathered on the sidelines. My brain—pumped with adrenaline—somehow managed to read the text at lightning speed while my body desperately rolled to avoid Dong-soo's follow-up kick.
[Potential Target List:]
Song Jae-hyun - [Granite Skin]
Kim Do-yoon - [Aero Dash]
Hwang Dong-soo - [Titan's Vigor]
Lee Min-ho - [Flame Spark]
Kang Tae-oh - [Minor Heal] ... (There are 12 other targets)
Choose! Which one should I choose?! My mind screamed in panic. My hands clenched the sand, pushing myself to the side as Dong-soo's heel slammed into the ground where my head had been a second ago. Crack! The sandy ground cracked.
Without needing to touch the screen, my gaze focused on the names on the list, and the System immediately brought up a small description window next to it.
I glanced at [Flame Spark].
[Flame Spark - Lv. 1] Produces a spark from your fingertip with a maximum temperature of 150°C. Suitable for lighting a campfire.
Damn it, I need defense, not a satay stall! I cursed under my breath. My eyes shifted to Do-yoon's abilities.
[Aero Dash - Lv. 1] Manipulates the wind currents around the feet. Increases movement speed by 150% and dampens the sound of footsteps.
Twenty-five percent of Aero Dash? That'll only be a breeze! My legs are too numb to run! I glanced at the gorilla Dong-soo, who was catching his breath to deliver his killing blow. We were only half a meter away. If I copied his [Titan's Vigor], I could weaken him by 2%, but a 25% increase in physical strength wouldn't be enough to withstand a direct impact from his fully swung fist. I needed absolute defense, now!
My eyes fell on the name of my class president, who was standing tensely in the front row of the audience. Song Jae-hyun.
[Granite Skin - Lv. 1] Transforms the user's entire skin epithelium into solid granite. Increases physical defense to the point of being immune to blunt force impacts, but sacrifices 40% of agility.
Here he is.
Dong-soo swung his fist straight at my jaw, accompanied by a triumphant roar. "You're dead, loser!"
"System! Copy Song Jae-hyun's Granite Skin!" I shouted in my mind.
[Confirmed. Activating [Starfall Greed]...] [Absorbing 25% of the effectiveness of [Granite Skin] from the target: Song Jae-hyun.] [Target (Song Jae-hyun) has his attributes weakened by 2% for 1 hour.]
On the sidelines, Jae-hyun suddenly staggered and held his suddenly dizzy head, as if his energy had just been sucked out by an invisible mosquito.
Simultaneously, a cold energy coursed through my veins. Instead of dodging, I crossed my arms in front of my face, bracing myself for the impact.
"You've given up, have you?!" Dong-soo taunted. His fist slammed into my arm with full force.
BAM!
The impact sounded like a steel hammer hitting a rocky cliff. The shockwave swept up the sand around us, creating a dusty halo. Several girls on the sidelines screamed, and Do-yoon yelled my name. They all must have thought my arm had shattered.
However, as the dust began to clear, absolute silence fell over the field.
Dong-soo pulled his fist back, wincing in pain. His knuckles were red, dripping with fresh blood. His previously ferocious eyes were now wide with disbelief, staring at my arms, still crossed in front of my face.
Under the midday sun, the skin on my arms was no longer tan. It had taken on a rough, jagged, grayish-stone texture. It didn't cover my entire body like Jae-hyun's, but rather thickened on my arms and chest like a piece of half-finished stone armor.
"R-Rock? How... you haven't Awakened yet! And that's Jae-hyun's Ability!" Dong-soo stuttered, taking a step back with a pale face.
I lowered my arm slowly. The pain from the impact was barely noticeable. Feeling the first pulse of mana in my life pulsing through my fingertips, the corners of my lips involuntarily turned upwards, forming a wide, crooked smile. My fear evaporated without a trace, replaced by a strange, greedy euphoria.
"Who says I haven't Awakened yet, Hwang Dong-soo?" I replied casually, clenching my fist until tiny granite shards fell from between my fingers. "Well, since the one-sided clapping warm-up is over... how about we start round two?"
Right in front of me, the System window flashed again, displaying my new weapon that would change the hierarchy of this school forever.
[Active Ability: Granite Skin (25% Copy Version)]
Remaining Duration: 00:59:58 Effect Description: Transforms the skin layer in a specific area of the user's choice (arms/chest/legs) into a partial granite slab. Grants physical defense strong enough to absorb a lethal blow, at the cost of only 10% of the user's agility (thanks to 25% assimilation). Status: This ability's data has been permanently copied into the [Ability Subspace].
To Be Continued