The café near the K.G.H.A headquarters was quiet.
Evening rain whispered softly against the glass, and the air smelled faintly of roasted coffee and wet asphalt.
Jae-min sat across from Beak Eun-ji, the vice-captain of the Blue Ravens Guild—one of the top five guilds in the entire country.
Her sharp eyes studied him like she was examining a rare artifact.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then she finally began.
---
"Before anything," she said, placing her cup gently on the table, "I'll be honest with you. We've been watching you for a while."
Jae-min blinked, puzzled. "Watching me?"
Eun-ji nodded slightly, her silver hair catching the dim café light.
"My guild and I passed by you earlier, and all of us—every single one—sensed something... different. You have a certain aura around you, something we couldn't identify. It's unlike anything we've ever felt before."
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze steady.
"So, we decided to test you."
Jae-min's eyes narrowed. "Test me? How?"
A small smirk curved her lips. "That exorcist from the Black Bull Guild—the one who hired you during the chamber incident? He wasn't really with them. He was one of ours."
Jae-min froze for a moment.
"So you were behind that?"
Eun-ji smiled faintly. "We wanted to see how you'd perform under pressure. And from what we saw…"
She exhaled softly. "You exceeded all expectations."
---
Jae-min sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You could've just asked."
"Maybe," she said, "but where's the fun in that?"
Her tone shifted back to business as she straightened in her chair.
"We're prepared to offer you an annual contract—₩42,000,000 a year."
Jae-min raised a brow. "₩42,000,000?"
"That's roughly $30,000 USD," she clarified. "It includes medical support, weapon funding, and combat training. You'd also gain access to high-rank missions and Ghost Essence research facilities."
He looked at her quietly, expression unreadable.
Eun-ji continued, confident that she already had him.
"We know about your sister," she said gently. "She's in a coma, right? You've been paying for her treatment. With this, you wouldn't have to worry about the bills again."
Her voice softened, almost kind. "You'd be able to give her the best care in Seoul's private ward. Think about it."
---
For a long while, silence filled the space between them.
Then Jae-min finally spoke.
"…Thank you for the offer," he said slowly.
Eun-ji's eyes brightened slightly.
"But I'll have to decline."
Her expression froze. "...What?"
He stood up, bowing his head slightly.
"I appreciate what you and your guild have done. But I can't accept."
Eun-ji blinked in disbelief. "You're turning down the Blue Ravens? Jae-min, this isn't just about pride—it's about opportunity. You could become one of the strongest ability users in Korea."
Jae-min looked at her quietly.
"It's not about pride," he said simply. "It's about direction."
Her brows furrowed. "Direction?"
"I need to walk this path myself," he continued. "If I rely on a guild for protection or resources, I'll never know if my strength is truly mine. My sister…"
He paused, his gaze lowering.
"She's the reason I fight. But she wouldn't want me to take shortcuts."
The rain outside grew heavier, tapping against the window like an echo of his resolve.
Eun-ji sat there for a long while, speechless.
Finally, she gave a soft, amused smile.
"You're one of a kind, Jae-min," she said quietly. "Most people would've sold their souls for half that amount."
Jae-min chuckled faintly. "Maybe I'm just bad at business."
She stood as well, her expression calm again. "Then I'll respect your decision."
He nodded, bowing once more before turning to leave.
As he walked away, she murmured to herself, "What a strange man…"
---
Blue Ravens Guild Headquarters – Later That Night
Beak Eun-ji entered the captain's office, where Park Ji-hoon stood overlooking the glowing skyline of Seoul.
The city below shimmered like a sea of stars, endless and bright.
"Well?" Ji-hoon asked without turning.
"He declined," Eun-ji replied softly.
There was a short pause.
Then Ji-hoon exhaled, eyes still fixed on the horizon.
"So he refused a ₩42,000,000 contract?"
"Yes."
He chuckled faintly, shaking his head. "Let him go if he wants to. He's talented, sure—but I won't risk our guild for one exorcist. The Blue Ravens are doing just fine without him."
Eun-ji frowned slightly. "You don't think he could become a problem later?"
Ji-hoon finally turned, his expression serious.
"Oh, he will," he said quietly. "But maybe that's exactly what this world needs—someone who doesn't belong to anyone."
---
One Month Later
The days passed quickly.
Jae-min trained harder than ever—running six miles every morning, lifting weights, and pushing his limits.
His Spirit Enhancement ability had evolved to Level 2, his body sharper, faster, and stronger.
The Pain Link ability, too, had improved.
> [Pain Link Skill Progression: 30% → 34%]
His improvement was slow but steady.
And then, one evening, while reviewing his stats, something new appeared on his interface.
> [New Feature Unlocked: Alternate Ghost Chambers]
> [The Masterpiece has created Alternate Ghost Chambers in an unknown dimension to prepare you for your true role.]
[Objective: Survive. Adapt. Become the Main Character.]
[Warning: Death is permanent.]
Jae-min stared at the message in disbelief.
"The Masterpiece…?"
Before he could even process it, another message appeared.
> ["Winning and being the strongest isn't just about never being defeated…"]
["It's about overcoming the fear of defeat."]
The words burned into his mind, heavy and profound.
Jae-min slowly smiled to himself.
"Fear of defeat, huh?" he whispered.
He tightened his fists, eyes glowing faintly with that ghostly blue aura again.
"Then I'll overcome that too."
---
---
💰 ₩42,000,000 ≈ $30,000 USD per year
---
---
The morning was quiet.
The world outside Jae-min's window was drowned in gray light, clouds hanging low like smoke before a storm.
He had been preparing for this day.
The First Level of the Masterpiece's Ghost Chamber awaited him — the beginning of an 88-floor hell designed to break even the strongest of exorcists.
Jae-min stood in front of the glowing portal that led to it, tightening the strap on his gauntlet. His weapons gleamed faintly on his back — the silver dagger that had accompanied him through countless near-deaths.
> [System Notification: Entering Alternate Ghost Chamber – Level 1]
[Warning: Danger Level – High]
[Tip: The stronger the opponent, the greater the essence you gain.]
He took a deep breath, eyes sharp.
"Alright… let's begin."
---
Inside the First Chamber
As soon as he stepped through the portal, the world changed.
The air thickened with heat — flames roared from cracks in the ground, and rivers of molten rock flowed between blackened stones.
It was hell.
And yet, Jae-min's expression didn't falter.
> [Temperature: 950°C and rising]
[GE Consumption Rate Increased]
"Perfect place for a warm-up," he muttered, unsheathing his dagger.
All around him, twisted shadows began to form — ghosts cloaked in black smoke, their hollow eyes glowing with hatred.
Each one shrieked like tortured souls, rushing at him from every direction.
Jae-min didn't move back. He moved forward.
His dagger sliced through the air like lightning.
The first ghost lunged — he ducked low, spun, and slashed upward in a clean arc.
It vanished in blue flames.
Another came from behind — Jae-min flicked his wrist, and the dagger flew from his grip, spinning through the air like a silver comet before burying itself into the ghost's chest.
> [Skill Activated: Telekinesis of Weapon Lv.2]
[Effect: Allows user to freely control blade trajectory within 20 meters.]
The dagger curved mid-air and flew back into his hand.
He smiled. "Guess all that training paid off."
He cut, twisted, dodged, and struck — each motion fluid, precise, and deadly. Even without Spirit Enhancement, his power was monstrous.
But this was only the beginning.
---
The First Boss Appears
The ground trembled.
Flames burst upward, forming a massive figure bound in molten chains. A towering ghost, its body scorched and cracked, eyes burning like furnaces.
> [Boss Detected: The Prisoner of Flames – D+ Rank]
[Abilities: Chain Control / Flame Burst / Hell Heat]
The ghost's voice was like scraping metal.
"You dare enter my prison… human?"
Chains erupted from the ground, lashing toward Jae-min with blinding speed. He barely rolled away as they smashed into the earth, leaving deep craters.
Jae-min dashed forward, slashing through the heat waves, but every strike was deflected by the ghost's molten aura.
Each movement grew harder as the air thickened with flame and ash.
> [Warning: Physical temperature limit approaching.]
"Tch—this thing's tough," he hissed, wiping sweat from his brow.
Then, the ghost roared, swinging its chains again. One clipped Jae-min's arm, drawing blood.
He gritted his teeth.
"Alright, enough playing around."
---
Spirit Enhancement: Level 3
The moment he activated the skill, the temperature dropped around him — his aura burst forth in a spiral of ghostly blue flame, countering the heat.
> [Skill: Spirit Enhancement – Level Up → Lv.3]
[New Effect: Aura Manifestation Enabled.]
[All Stats +45% for 60 seconds.]
A spectral glow wrapped around his body. The flames around him bent backward, as if bowing to his power.
His eyes burned brighter — the color of ghostlight.
He blurred forward.
The prisoner ghost barely saw him before the first slash came. Then the second. Then the third.
Each cut precise, each strike heavier than the last. The chains lashed again — but this time, they missed. Jae-min's speed was too much.
> [Skill Activated: Stunner Lv.1 – Target Paralysis for 3 seconds.]
The ghost froze mid-motion, its burning eyes widening in horror.
Jae-min stood before it, dagger glowing faintly.
"You've burned enough," he whispered.
He raised his hand — and his dagger flew upward, piercing straight through the ghost's skull like a lightning bolt.
> [Boss Eliminated.]
[Copying Ability: Chain Control (75% Efficiency).]
[Reward: +3200 GE, +1 Stat Point.]
[Next Level Unlocked.]
The flames died. The ground cooled.
The once-fiery prison faded into darkness as a glowing mystic door appeared in front of him.
Jae-min exhaled softly, wiping ash from his cheek.
He smiled faintly. "Level one cleared."
Then he walked through the door.
---
A Few Days Later
Seoul was alive again.
Neon lights reflected off sleek cars, and the city hummed with the noise of evening traffic.
Jae-min walked down the street toward the hospital where his sister rested.
He was different now — taller, sharper, his body more refined and athletic. Even his aura felt heavier, more controlled.
He didn't notice how much he'd changed.
But others did.
Especially her.
From across the street, a familiar voice called out. "Jae-min…?"
He turned slightly.
It was Yoon Se-ra — his ex. The same woman who had dumped him for her boss months ago.
She stared at him, frozen. For a moment, she didn't even recognize him.
The man in front of her wasn't the weak, quiet boy she'd left.
He was radiant — confident — almost untouchable.
Se-ra, thinking he was a stranger, walked up with a nervous laugh. "Hey… you look really good. Can I get your number?"
Jae-min looked at her, expression blank. "...Se-ra?"
Her smile faltered. "Wait… Jae-min?"
Her eyes widened as she realized. "You— You look so different…"
He said nothing, just gave a polite nod and walked past her.
"Hey! Don't just walk away!" she shouted, embarrassed by the stares from people nearby. "You'll regret this!"
But Jae-min didn't even glance back.
Instead, he walked calmly into one of Seoul's most expensive weapon and accessory stores — Eclipse Armory, where elite exorcists bought rare gear.
Inside, rows of shimmering weapons lined the walls, each worth a fortune.
> [Twin Destruction Daggers – A-Rank Loot]
[Price: ₩12,000,000 ≈ $8,500 USD]
The clerk smiled nervously as Jae-min handed over a platinum card.
He simply said, "I'll take them."
When he stepped out, the daggers strapped neatly across his belt, Se-ra was still standing outside—mouth half-open, disbelief in her eyes.
Then, the sound of an engine cut through the noise.
Vroom!
A black power bike gleamed in the evening light, parked right beside her.
Jae-min swung a leg over it, adjusting his gloves, the faint blue glow in his eyes catching the reflection of the city.
Se-ra stumbled forward. "Jae-min, please! I made a mistake, okay? I— I didn't mean—"
He put on his helmet, his voice calm and cold.
"People don't realize what they had until it's gone."
The bike roared, leaving trails of wind as he zoomed off into the night.
Pedestrians turned their heads, watching him disappear, while Se-ra stood there trembling — her heart filled with regret.
---
Later That Night
Jae-min returned home to his new apartment — simple but modern, overlooking the Han River.
He walked into his sister's room, smiling softly as she slept peacefully in her bed.
He'd paid off her bills, secured the best doctors, and even managed to get her transferred to a private facility.
> [System Notification: Current Balance – ₩54,000,000]
[All Debts Cleared.]
[Next Objective: Enter Level 2 of the Masterpiece's Chamber.]
Jae-min looked out the window at the city lights below.
His reflection stared back — no longer the boy he once was.
He smiled faintly.
"Let's see what the next level has in store for me."
The faint whisper of the system echoed in his ears:
> [Welcome to the Path of Ascension.]
[Survive, Adapt… and Rise.]
---
💰 ₩12,000,000 ≈ $8,500 USD
💰 ₩2,000,000 ≈ $1,400 USD
---