Rain poured relentlessly over the city of Blackridge.
Cold wind howled between the tall buildings while flashing red emergency lights painted the streets in chaos.
High above the city walls, a massive dimensional gate floated in the sky like a wound in reality.
Purple lightning crackled across its edges.
And from within it… monsters were coming.
The world had changed ten years ago when the first gates appeared.
Some humans awakened powers.
They were called Hunters.
They entered the gates, fought monsters, and protected humanity.
But not everyone awakened power.
And some awakened the weakest abilities imaginable.
Kai Draven was one of those unlucky people.
Or at least… that was what everyone believed.
Kai ran through the dark alley, his breath uneven.
Behind him, something heavy crashed through the wall.
BOOM!
Concrete exploded into fragments.
A monstrous creature crawled out from the shattered building.
It was a Shadow Fang Wolf.
Rank D monster.
For a normal hunter, it wasn't dangerous.
For Kai…
It was a death sentence.
Kai slipped on the wet pavement and fell hard.
Pain shot through his leg.
"Damn it…"
His body trembled as he pushed himself up.
He was supposed to be outside the gate perimeter.
But when the emergency alarm sounded, civilians started running everywhere.
Chaos spread.
And somehow… the monster had escaped into the city.
The wolf's glowing red eyes locked onto him.
Hungry.
Predatory.
Kai clenched his fists.
"This is how it ends…?"
For years he had been mocked as the weakest hunter in Blackridge.
His power level barely registered on the guild scanner.
Even trainees were stronger than him.
The academy students laughed whenever he appeared.
The guild rejected him again and again.
Weak.
Useless.
Pathetic.
He had heard those words his entire life.
The wolf growled.
Its muscles tensed.
Then it lunged.
Kai barely rolled aside as its claws ripped through the pavement.
Sparks flew across the ground.
Kai's heart pounded violently.
He knew he couldn't win.
But running was no longer possible.
The alley behind him was blocked by debris.
The wolf attacked again.
This time its claws tore into Kai's shoulder.
Blood sprayed across the wet ground.
Kai collapsed against the wall.
Pain exploded through his body.
His vision blurred.
"So this is it…"
The wolf approached slowly now.
Enjoying the moment.
Kai laughed weakly.
"Figures."
He had spent his entire life trying to become stronger.
Trying to prove everyone wrong.
And yet…
He was dying alone in a dark alley.
The wolf raised its claw for the final strike.
Then—
A strange sound echoed in Kai's mind.
Ding.
Kai froze.
A translucent blue screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
SYSTEM INITIALIZING…
Kai blinked.
"What…?"
Another message appeared.
[Dragon Sovereign System detected.]
[Host compatibility confirmed.]
[Bloodline scan in progress…]
Kai's breathing stopped.
Bloodline?
Another message flashed.
[Ancient Dragon Bloodline detected.]
Kai's eyes widened.
"Dragon…?"
The wolf attacked again.
But suddenly—
A powerful surge of energy erupted from Kai's body.
BOOM!
The monster was blasted backward.
Kai stared at his trembling hands.
Blue flames flickered around his fingers.
The system interface continued.
[Dragon Sovereign System Activated.]
[First Ability Unlocked.]
[Draconic Instinct – Level 1]
Kai felt something awaken deep inside his chest.
A heartbeat.
Not his own.
Stronger.
Older.
Predatory.
The wolf rose again, furious now.
But Kai's vision had changed.
Every movement of the monster felt slow.
Predictable.
Kai stood up slowly.
Blood dripped from his shoulder.
But the pain no longer mattered.
The system displayed another notification.
[First Quest Generated.]
[Slay the Shadow Fang Wolf.]
[Reward: Dragon Core Fragment]
Kai looked at the monster.
Then he smiled for the first time that night.
"Guess I'm not dying today."
The wolf lunged.
But Kai moved first.
His body exploded forward with unnatural speed.
His fist slammed into the monster's jaw.
CRACK.
The wolf flew across the alley and smashed into a wall.
Kai stared at his hand.
"…What the hell?"
The system responded instantly.
[Dragon Sovereign System online.]
[Welcome, Sovereign Candidate.]
Kai's heartbeat thundered in his chest.
Somewhere deep inside him…
Something ancient had awakened.
And this time—
The weakest hunter in Blackridge would no longer remain weak.
But Kai had no idea…
That this power would soon attract enemies far more terrifying than monsters.
Far above the city, the dimensional gate flickered violently.
And inside the darkness beyond it…
Something enormous opened its eyes.