The Awakening Hall rose like a monument to destiny. Tall. Unyielding. Merciless.

Kiaro gazed up at its enormous gates, catching a faint glimpse of his own reflection in the polished metal surface. All around him, people gathered in clusters—some buzzing with excitement, others trembling with nerves, a few already celebrating as though victory was guaranteed.

For many of them, this day marked the beginning of everything.

For others…

It would be the death of their dreams.

Kiaro let out a slow breath.

This is it.

At twenty-one years old, he was far older than most first-time awakenings. People usually went through the ritual at fifteen, sometimes even younger. But Kiaro had chosen to wait. He had trained. He had pushed his body to its absolute limits every single day.

Not because he was gifted.

But because he had nothing else.

In a world like this, a boy without power was already dead.

He stepped forward and entered the building.

Inside the Awakening Hall, the atmosphere was suffocating. Rows of wooden benches filled the enormous chamber, all of them facing a raised platform at the center. On that platform rested a large crystal—transparent, radiating a faint blue glow.

The Awakening Crystal.

The object that decided fates.

A man dressed in official robes stepped forward, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

“Welcome, everyone. Today, you will discover where you belong in this world.”

No comforting words. No empty encouragement.

Just the raw truth.

“One by one, you will approach, place your hand on the crystal, and unlock your power. Your rank will be decided instantly.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Kiaro stayed silent.

“Remember this well,” the man continued, his tone growing sharper. “Once your rank is assigned… it can never be changed.”

Kiaro’s fists tightened.

He already knew that.

Everyone did.

Names were called out.

One after another.

“E-rank!”

“D-rank!”

“C-rank!”

Every so often, someone received a B-rank, and the room erupted with excitement. Those individuals stood taller, pride written across their faces.

They were already above the average.

Kiaro watched it all carefully.

His turn was approaching.

His heart began to pound—not from terror, but from anticipation.

This is it.

This is where it all begins.

“Kiaro.”

The name echoed through the hall.

Silence followed.

He stepped forward.

Each footstep felt heavier than the last, but his expression remained calm. He felt eyes on him—judging, curious, indifferent.

None of it mattered.

He reached the platform.

The crystal stood before him, its glow pulsing softly.

For a moment, memories flashed through his mind.

A sky torn open.

Screaming.

Blood.

His parents.

He slowly raised his hand.

“I refuse to be weak,” he whispered.

Then—

He touched the crystal.

Light exploded outward.

A blinding, brilliant glow filled the hall, forcing many people to cover their eyes.

Kiaro felt something rush through his body—cold, sharp, overwhelming.

For a single second…

He thought—

This is it.

This is my power.

Then the light faded.

The hall fell into silence.

The official looked at the result… and his expression didn’t change.

No surprise. No excitement.

Nothing. Just… emptiness.

“F-rank.”

Silence.

Then—

Whispers erupted.

“…F-rank?”

“At his age?”

“How pathetic…”

Kiaro didn’t move.

He just stood there.

F-rank.

The lowest of the low.

The weakest of the weak.

The rank given to those who could barely even call themselves hunters. Some F-ranks never set foot inside a portal—they were too fragile to survive.

The official’s voice cut through again.

“Next.”

Just like that.

It was over.

Kiaro walked off the platform.

Nobody stopped him. Nobody looked at him with respect. Nobody cared.

To them, he was already irrelevant.

A failure.

---

Outside, the sky looked exactly the same. Bright. Clear. Peaceful.

As though nothing had changed.

But for Kiaro…

Everything had.

He walked through the streets of Aurelios, his mind completely blank.

F-rank.

All those years. All that training. All that effort.

Meaningless.

People passed him by, laughing, talking, living their lives.

Some hunters walked with obvious pride, their ranks displayed on their gear for all to see.

Kiaro lowered his gaze.

…So this is it.

His voice was quiet inside his head.

Almost hollow.

I can’t even step into a real portal…

F-rank hunters were rarely accepted into teams. They were liabilities.

Weak. Replaceable. Disposable.

His hands tightened.

…No.

His thoughts hardened.

This isn’t the end.

Even if the entire world insisted he couldn’t grow—

Even if his rank was supposedly permanent—

He refused to accept it.

I’ll find a way…

---

By the time he reached his home, the sun was already beginning to set.

A small, rundown apartment. Nothing special. Nothing impressive.

Just a place to exist.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Silence filled the room.

Kiaro leaned against the wall and slowly slid down until he was sitting on the cold floor.

For the first time that day…

He let himself feel it.

Frustration. Anger. Helplessness.

His fist slammed into the ground.

“Damn it!”

The sound echoed off the walls.

“…Damn it…”

His breathing grew heavier.

“I trained… I did everything I could…”

His voice cracked slightly.

“And this is what I get?”

An F-rank.

A dead end.

Silence.

Then—

A faint noise.

Ding.

Kiaro froze.

“…What?”

Another sound.

Clearer this time.

Ding.

A faint blue light flickered in front of him. Thin. Transparent. Like a sheet of glass.

Slowly…

Words began to take shape.

[System Activated]

Kiaro’s eyes widened.

“…What is this?”

The screen hovered in front of him, pulsing gently.

He reached out.

His fingers passed right through it.

Not solid. Not real.

But it was definitely there.

More words appeared.

[Welcome, Kiaro]

[Initializing Status Window…]

His heartbeat accelerated.

“This… isn’t normal…”

The screen shifted.

A new interface materialized.

— Status —

Name: Kiaro

Rank: F

Level: 1

Strength: 5

Agility: 6

Endurance: 5

Mana: 3

Skills: None

Kiaro stared at the display.

“…Level?”

“…Stats?”

This wasn’t how the world worked.

Hunters didn’t have levels. They didn’t have numbers. They didn’t grow like this.

Once you awakened—

That was the end of the road.

But this…

This was different.

[Notice]

[You have been granted a unique ability: The System]

Kiaro’s breath caught in his throat.

“…A unique ability?”

[The System allows unlimited growth]

[Defeat enemies, complete quests, and train to increase your stats]

Silence.

Then—

“…Unlimited?”

His voice was barely audible.

[Yes]

Kiaro’s hands began to tremble.

“No… this means…”

He looked at his status again. Then at the words. Then back.

“I can actually grow stronger?”

[Confirmed]

Something shifted in his eyes.

The frustration. The anger. The helplessness.

All of it—

Was replaced.

By something far more dangerous.

Hope.

Kiaro slowly pushed himself to his feet.

…So the rules don’t apply to me anymore.

A small smile crept across his face.

For the first time since the Awakening Hall—

He felt truly alive.

“Good.”

The screen flickered again.

[New Quest Available]

Kiaro’s gaze sharpened.

“A quest…?”

[Quest: First Step]

Objective: Defeat 10 monsters

Reward: +5 Stat Points, Basic Skill Unlock

Penalty: None

Kiaro read the words carefully.

“Defeat ten monsters…”

For a normal F-rank—

That would be suicide.

But for him…

He clenched his fist.

…This is my chance.

A new message appeared.

[Location Assigned]

[Low-Rank Portal Detected Nearby]

Kiaro’s eyes narrowed.

“So it even tells me where to go…”

The screen pulsed softly, as if waiting for him.

Kiaro grabbed his worn jacket and headed for the door.

No hesitation. No fear.

As he stepped outside, the night air hit his face.

Cool. Sharp. Alive.

He looked up at the darkening sky.

Somewhere out there—

A portal had just appeared.

Kiaro took a step forward.

Then another.

Then he broke into a run.

“Just wait…”

His voice was low, but brimming with determination.

“The whole world said I’d stay weak…”

A faint glow reflected in his eyes.

“I’m going to prove every one of them wrong.”

And somewhere in the distance—

A faint, shimmering rift began to take shape.

The hunt…

Had begun.

The streets beyond Aurelios lay empty at this late hour.

Even in the central kingdom, danger never truly slept. Portals could tear open anywhere, anytime, and monsters didn't care about city borders.

Kiaro’s boots struck the cobblestones in a steady rhythm as he ran. His cloak whipped behind him in the cold night air. The system’s interface hovered in the corner of his vision, glowing faintly, guiding him forward.

[Current Quest: First Step]

[Objective: Defeat 10 monsters]

[Target: Low-Rank Portal Detected Nearby]

He crested a small hill and stopped.

There it was.

A faint rift shimmered in the darkness below, swirling with shades of green and black. It looked like the surface of a pond disturbed by a thrown stone—but this pond led to somewhere else. Somewhere dangerous.

Kiaro reached for the dagger strapped to his belt. The weapon was old, worn, and far from sharp. But it was all he had.

F-rank… this is my test.

He drew a deep breath. The cold air filled his lungs. Then he stepped forward and crossed the threshold.

---

The moment he entered the portal, the world transformed.

The cobblestones and lanterns of Aurelios vanished. In their place stood jagged rocks and twisted trees beneath a sickly green sky. The air smelled of decay, wet soil, and something unnatural—something that didn't belong in any sane world.

[Portal: F-Rank]

[Threat Level: Low]

The message blinked softly before his eyes.

Kiaro pulled up his status one last time.

— Status —

Level: 1

Rank: F

Strength: 5

Agility: 6

Endurance: 5

Mana: 3

No skills. No tricks. Just raw potential and burning determination.

He crouched behind a large rock and listened.

Then he heard them.

Guttural snarls. Low and harsh.

From the shadows between the jagged rocks, small creatures emerged.

Goblins.

Their skin was green and rough. Their bodies were hunched, twisted, and armed with crude wooden clubs. Their eyes glowed faintly red, reflecting the portal’s eerie light.

Kiaro counted silently.

One. Two. Three.

All the way to ten.

Perfect.

He dashed forward before fear could catch up.

[New Action Available: Basic Attack]

[Recommended: Use agility to strike first]

Kiaro lunged. His dagger sliced through the cold air and buried itself in the first goblin’s throat.

The creature screeched and staggered backward, black blood spraying from the wound.

“One down,” Kiaro muttered.

The remaining goblins noticed him immediately. They hissed and charged, clubs raised.

But Kiaro was faster.

He rolled to the side as a club smashed into the ground where he’d been standing. The impact cracked the stone beneath. Another goblin swung from his left—he ducked, pivoted, and drove his dagger into its ribs.

Stats help. But timing matters more.

He moved like water. Ducking. Striking. Rolling. Every motion flowed into the next.

One by one, the goblins fell.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #1]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #2]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

His heart pounded—not from terror, but from pure focus. Every dodge, every slash, every breath mattered.

Then the system flashed a new message.

[New Skill Unlocked: Swift Strike]

Effect: Increases attack speed for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 10 seconds.

Good. That’ll help.

Two goblins charged him together, swinging their clubs in unison. Kiaro pivoted, letting one club glance off his shoulder. Pain flared, but he ignored it. He drove his dagger into the second goblin’s side and twisted.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #3]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

A fourth goblin lunged from behind a rock. Kiaro dropped low, rolled beneath its swing, and kicked a loose stone into its face. The creature screeched and stumbled backward, clutching its broken nose.

“Come on,” Kiaro whispered, adrenaline burning in his veins. “Is that all you’ve got?”

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #4]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

The next few exchanges became a blur.

Kiaro’s body moved on instinct. The system guided him subtly—dodge now, strike there, pivot left—and he obeyed without thinking.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #5, Goblin #6, Goblin #7]

[Experience Gained: 6 XP]

Halfway done. His arms ached. His breathing grew heavier. But he couldn't stop.

The remaining goblins regrouped. Their red eyes glowed brighter. Their snarls grew more vicious. Even low-rank monsters became deadly when cornered.

But Kiaro had something they didn't.

Strategy.

He crouched, grabbed a loose rock, and threw it to the right. The sound echoed off the stones. Three goblins turned toward the noise.

Now.

He dashed left, dagger ready, and struck two in rapid succession.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #8, Goblin #9]

[Experience Gained: 4 XP]

Only one remained.

The last goblin circled him slowly, club raised. It was smarter than the others—or maybe just more afraid. It didn't charge recklessly. It waited.

Kiaro waited too.

Then he feinted forward with his dagger. The goblin flinched and raised its club to block. That was the opening he needed.

He dropped low, swept the creature's legs, and drove his blade into its chest as it fell.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #10]

[Experience Gained: 5 XP]

Silence.

The portal area fell completely still. Ten goblins lay scattered across the rocky ground, black blood pooling beneath their bodies.

Kiaro stood in the center of it all, breathing hard. His dagger dripped. His cloak was torn. But he was alive.

The system screen appeared again, glowing softly.

[Quest Complete: First Step]

[Reward: +5 Stat Points, Basic Skill Confirmation]

His status updated instantly.

Strength: 7 (+2)

Agility: 8 (+2)

Endurance: 6 (+1)

Mana: 3

And a new skill appeared in his interface.

[Skill Unlocked: Blade Precision]

Effect: Increases critical hit chance for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Kiaro let out a long, slow breath. The tension drained from his shoulders.

This is only the beginning.

[New Quest Available: None at this time. System monitoring active.]

He turned to leave. But as he walked toward the exit, a faint rumble echoed through the portal. The ground trembled slightly.

A reminder that portals were unpredictable. That even F-rank dungeons could hide dangers he hadn't yet seen.

Kiaro didn't flinch.

He adjusted his grip on his dagger and stepped through the rift.

Behind him, the green-black swirl shrank, hissed, and vanished. The rocky landscape faded into nothing.

He emerged into the cool night air of Aurelios.

The stars looked the same as before. The city looked the same. But Kiaro felt different.

Stronger.

Faster.

Alive.

He looked up at the sky and smiled.

F-rank? Maybe for now.

But tomorrow… tomorrow he would be stronger.

And the day after that? Stronger still.

He began the long walk back to his apartment, the system’s interface pulsing softly in the corner of his vision. Ten goblins. One quest. One step closer to breaking every rule the world had ever written.

The night air struck Kiaro’s face like a cold blessing.

He stepped out of the fading portal rift and onto the rocky outskirts of Aurelios. Behind him, the green-black swirl shrank, hissed, and disappeared entirely—leaving nothing behind except the faint scent of ozone and fresh blood.

Kiaro exhaled slowly.

Ten goblins.

His very first real hunt.

And he had survived.

[Quest Complete: First Step]

[Reward already distributed.]

He glanced at his status window one more time.

— Status —

Name: Kiaro

Rank: F (Hidden)

Level: 3

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Endurance: 6

Mana: 3

Skills: Blade Precision (Active), Swift Strike (Active)

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

This is only the beginning.

He wiped his dagger clean on a patch of grass and slid it back into its sheath. The walk back to Aurelios would take nearly an hour. He could already picture his cramped apartment, the cold floor, the heavy silence—

“You.”

Kiaro froze.

The voice came from behind a cluster of sharp rocks. Low. Rough. Uncertain.

Kiaro’s hand drifted back toward his dagger.

“Who’s there?”

A figure emerged from the shadows.

He was young. Maybe early twenties. Lean but not muscular, wearing dirt-smudged leather armor and a rusted shortsword hanging at his hip. His face was narrow, and his eyes held a mix of desperation and burning curiosity.

But what caught Kiaro’s attention was the small badge pinned to the man’s chest.

E-rank.

The stranger stared at Kiaro for a long moment. Then his gaze shifted to the spot where the portal had just vanished.

“You… you walked out of that portal alone,” the man said. His voice trembled slightly—not from fear, but from sheer disbelief. “I watched you go in. Two hours ago. By yourself.”

Kiaro’s chest tightened.

Someone had been watching.

“You’re mistaken,” Kiaro said flatly. “I was just passing through.”

The man laughed—a short, bitter sound. “Passing through? At this hour? In the monster zone?” He shook his head. “I know what I saw. You’re that F-rank from the Awakening Hall last week. Everyone was talking about you. The orphan who trained for years and got the lowest possible rank.”

Kiaro’s jaw clenched.

“What do you want?”

The man hesitated. He looked down at his own empty hands—trembling slightly. When he raised his gaze again, his eyes had changed.

Less accusation. More… hunger.

“I want to know how you survived.”

Silence stretched between them like a wire.

Kiaro’s mind raced. Deny everything? Attack? Flee? The system pulsed faintly in the corner of his vision, but no new quest appeared. No warning. Just cold, silent observation.

“I got lucky,” Kiaro said carefully. “The portal was almost empty. Three goblins. Weak ones.”

“Liar.”

The word cut through the night like a blade.

The man stepped closer. Kiaro’s fingers tightened on his dagger.

“My name is Renn,” the man said. “I’ve been an E-rank for four years. Do you know what that means? It means I’m strong enough to enter F-rank portals… but too weak to matter. No party wants me. No guild looks at me. I survive by scavenging leftover cores from portals after real hunters leave.”

He pointed at the ground where the portal had been.

“I was waiting for that one to collapse so I could pick through the remains. But you walked in. Alone. An F-rank. I thought you’d be dead in ten minutes.”

“Yet here I am,” Kiaro said coldly.

“Yet here you are,” Renn repeated. He tilted his head. “So either you’re the luckiest fool alive… or you’re hiding something.”

Kiaro said nothing.

Renn’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not here to fight you. I’m not even here to blackmail you. I just—” He stopped. Swallowed hard. His voice dropped to a near whisper. “I just want to stop being useless.”

For the first time, Kiaro saw past the desperation.

He’s like me.

Another low-rank nobody, trapped by a system that said he would never grow. Never matter. Never become anything.

Kiaro’s hand relaxed slightly.

“Even if I had a way to get stronger,” Kiaro said slowly, “why would I share it with a stranger?”

Renn’s face hardened. “Because if I wanted to ruin you, I’d already be on my way to the Hunter Guild. An F-rank clearing a portal alone? That’s illegal. They’d revoke your license. Jail you for reckless endangerment. Maybe even execute you if they thought you were hiding something dangerous.”

Kiaro felt ice crawl down his spine.

He was right.

F-ranks weren’t allowed to enter portals without supervision. It was a law meant to protect the weak—but in truth, it was designed to keep low-rank hunters in their place.

If Renn reported him…

“So that’s your angle?” Kiaro’s voice turned sharp. “Help me or I destroy you?”

“No.” Renn shook his head firmly. “I’m saying: I could have already reported you. But I didn’t. I waited. Because I want in.”

Kiaro studied him.

The man was desperate. Hungry. But not deceitful. At least, not obviously.

The system… can it read people?

He glanced at the interface.

No such skill. Not yet.

But then—

Ding.

[Optional Quest: Silence the Witness]

Objective: Ensure Renn does not expose your secret.

Methods: Kill him (0/1) OR Secure his loyalty (0/1)

Reward for Loyalty: +100 XP, New Ally Unlocked

Penalty for Exposure: Reputation loss, Hunter license revoked, possible imprisonment

Kiaro stared at the screen.

Kill him.

The option sat there like a cold stone.

He looked at Renn. The man was thin, exhausted, wearing armor that hadn’t been properly maintained in years. His sword had rust near the hilt. His hands bore the calluses of someone who trained alone, without guidance, without any hope.

Kiaro knew that face.

It was his own, from one week ago.

He made his choice.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Kiaro said.

Renn blinked. “What?”

“I said I’m not going to kill you. And I’m not going to let you report me.” Kiaro stepped closer. He was shorter than Renn, but something in his posture made the other man take a half-step back. “Here’s my offer. You keep my secret. You help me when I need it—information, supplies, a second pair of eyes. In return, I’ll help you get stronger.”

Renn’s lips parted. “You… you can do that? Make others stronger?”

Kiaro hesitated.

The system was his. Unique. Bound to him alone.

But could he share its benefits indirectly? Train Renn? Feed him cores? Push him past his supposed limit?

He didn’t know.

But he could find out.

“I can try,” Kiaro said. “That’s more than anyone else has ever offered you.”

Renn was silent for a long time.

The wind carried the distant howl of something in the hills. A reminder that monsters didn’t only live inside portals.

Finally, Renn extended his hand.

“You’ve got a deal.”

Kiaro looked at the offered hand.

Then he took it.

The moment their palms touched, the system flickered.

[New Ally Registered: Renn (E-rank)]

[Loyalty: Untested]

[Shared Objective: Survival and Growth]

Kiaro pulled his hand back.

“One more thing,” he said. “If you ever betray me…”

He let the sentence hang in the air.

Renn nodded slowly. “I understand.”

Kiaro turned and began walking toward Aurelios.

After a few steps, he heard Renn’s footsteps falling in behind him.

“Where are you going?” Renn asked.

“Home. I need to rest.”

“And then?”

Kiaro glanced over his shoulder. The faint glow of the system reflected in his eyes.

“Then we find another portal.”

Renn’s expression shifted—uncertainty mixed with something that looked almost like hope.

“You’re really not going to tell me how you do it?”

“Not yet,” Kiaro said. “Trust is earned. Not given.”

He faced forward again and kept walking.

Behind him, Renn followed.

Two low-rank hunters.

One impossible secret.

And a world that would soon learn to fear them both.