The Lowest Rank

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.

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