When Talent Awakens
The city of Incheon was unusually quiet.
A wide street, light traffic—and at the center of the square stood a glowing gate of deep blue light.
Soldiers had secured the area. A metal barricade was in place, and in front of the gate sat a temporary desk where an Association officer was coordinating teams.
Jin sat on a metal bench facing the gate.
His back straight, his left hand resting on the sword's scabbard, his eyes observing without interest.
A team arrived.
A massive swordsman with bulging muscles, a greatsword strapped to his back.
A slender mage in heavy armor.
And a healer calmly holding a staff.
Four roles.
One empty slot.
Swordsman:
"We need a fifth member.
At least C-rank."
Jin raised his hand.
Jin:
"I'll join."
They stopped.
Appraising looks… then quiet laughter.
Mage:
"A kid?"
Tank:
"What's your rank?"
Jin:
"B."
The swordsman burst out laughing.
Swordsman:
"Stop messing around.
This isn't a picnic."
Jin (calmly):
"I'm not."
Healer:
"You don't look experienced."
Swordsman (scornfully):
"Listen, kid…
Stick with porter teams.
Dungeons aren't a place to test your bravery."
Mage:
"The Tower devours the reckless."
Jin smiled.
A careless smile… cold.
Jin:
"As you wish."
He turned away.
Only his back was visible.
His left hand tightened around the scabbard.
Half of his lower face showed—
a faint, wicked smile.
…This was going to be very fun.
Inside the Dungeon
A massive cavern.
A high ceiling, stone pillars, suffocating humidity.
Hours passed.
The ground was littered with kobold and hobgoblin corpses.
The team's breathing was heavy.
The others were exhausted—wounded, mana nearly depleted.
Jin leaned against the wall.
His sword was still sheathed.
He was watching.
Poor positioning…
Overconfidence…
A foolish leader.
He closed one eye and spread his perception.
Then—
Something was wrong.
He opened his eye.
He smiled.
Jin (quietly):
"…Finally."
The Scream
Hunter:
"Run!!
What is that?!"
A panicked man came running from one of the side tunnels, his eyes filled with terror.
Then they appeared.
Werewolves.
Not kobolds.
Taller bodies, tightly coiled muscles, dark fur, sharp fangs—
and a savage aura that assaulted the nerves.
An entire pack.
The cavern descended into chaos.
Screams.
Blood.
Claws ripping through armor.
No one died…
but everyone was injured.
The leader—the boastful swordsman—charged forward, shouting.
Swordsman:
"Follow me!"
An elite werewolf leapt at him.
Its fangs closed in on his neck.
Time froze.
Slash—!
The werewolf's head split apart.
Jin stood behind him.
He looked at the swordsman—
with undisguised contempt.
Jin:
"If your death right now
wouldn't cause the party to collapse…"
He stepped forward.
Jin:
"I would've let it chew your head off, you bastard."
The swordsman froze.
Jin (coldly):
"Stop posturing.
Fight properly… or get out of the way."
Descent into Hell
Jin charged.
Not with blind force—
but with calculation.
His sword flashed.
Aura formed, shattered, and reformed.
A strike that saved a hunter at the last second.
A dash that cut down a wolf before its claws reached the healer.
Clean swings… lethal ones.
Thirty elite werewolves.
Each one rivaled a C-rank hunter.
And Jin?
He faced them alone.
It was as if the world itself made way for him.
The party watched—
awe… shock… fear.
This wasn't normal.
Jin looked at the leader.
Jin:
"To the boss.
You bastard."
Boss Room
It was there.
A gigantic werewolf.
Six meters tall.
Claws thirty centimeters long.
A ferocious aura—
approaching A-rank.
The team swallowed nervously.
Healer (anxious):
"Jin… this—"
A step forward.
Mage:
"We'll support—"
Jin raised his hand.
Real tension spread across their faces.
He's going to die.
Even Jin felt it.
Genuine unease…
then a smile.
Jin:
"It's fine.
The harder it is… the greater the reward."
The Battle
The werewolf attacked.
Kaaaang!
Jin blocked—
and was sent flying.
He slammed into the wall.
Stone shattered.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Healer (panicked):
"Jin!!"
Jin lifted his head.
An exhilarated smile… terrifying.
Jin (shouting):
"No one interferes!!
This is my fight!!"
Blows were exchanged.
His wounds piled up.
His breathing grew heavy.
The werewolf leapt.
And in that moment—
An idea.
Jin's eyes widened.
He steadied himself.
A thrusting stance.
A stance he had practiced…
alone…
countless times.
He breathed.
Absolute calm.
Then—
The thrust.
A surge of mana
shot forward twelve meters.
The ground cracked.
The body was pierced.
The beast collapsed.
Silence.
It wasn't power.
It was pure talent.
[Tower System]
A new thrust skill has been acquired.
Rank: C
Growth Potential: Yes
Skill Name?
Jin:
"Momentum Thrust."
The leader stared—
stunned.
Manipulating mana… releasing it through a sword…
That required seven stars… years of training…
But Jin?
Just talent… and training.
The leader smiled bitterly.
…I really was arrogant.
Jin sat down, exhausted.
Congratulations.
Reverence.
Respectful silence.
Until they exited through the gate.
End of Chapter