Chapter 5: The First Step (? ?? ??? - Cheot Beonjjae Balkkeoreum)

  The cold reality of the alley clung to Jin-Woo, a stark contrast to the bizarre, blue-tinted world of the System he had briefly inhabited. One hundred days. The countdown echoed in his thoughts, a silent drumbeat urging him towards an unknown future. He was back in his mundane life, yet irrevocably changed by an experience that defied the very understanding of Hunters he had always known.

  The Baby Rift, the grotesque Shadow Beast, the unbelievable level up and the concept of stat points… it all felt like a fever dream. Yet, the small, cool weight of the Shadow Beast Magic Stone nestled in his pocket served as a tangible anchor to that impossible reality. He had survived through a system that seemed to operate by the rules of a game, not the established laws of Awakening.

  He recalled the countless news segments, the documentaries detailing the Awakening phenomenon. When someone Awakened, they experienced a sudden, irreversible influx of mana, granting unique abilities and a fixed rank. These ranks were a rigid hierarchy, a measure of their inherent potential and power.

  F-rank: The absolute bottom, often possessing barely noticeable abilities.

  E-rank: Slightly more capable than F-ranks, but still considered very weak.

  D-rank: Here, Hunters start to become somewhat useful in lower-level dungeons.

  C-rank: Considered mid-tier, capable of handling moderately dangerous dungeons and forming the backbone of many hunting parties.

  B-rank: Powerful individuals who can tackle more challenging high-level dungeons.

  A-rank: Elite Hunters, capable of soloing many high-level dungeons and considered national assets.

  S-rank: Legendary figures, possessing power far beyond A-ranks, often capable of single-handedly clearing incredibly dangerous threats. Their numbers were minuscule, and their very existence was often shrouded in awe and rumor.

  Beyond even the legendary S-rank, there were whispers, almost mythical tales, of S+ ranks and even individuals known as Eternal Hunters – beings of immense and seemingly limitless power, though concrete information about them was virtually nonexistent. However, even reaching the S-rank was considered a once-in-a-generation event.

  His own experience mocked this established truth. Leveling up? Allocating stat points? It was an alien concept in the Hunter world he knew, a glitch in the matrix of reality. A part of him clung to the idea that it was all some elaborate system error. (But a sliver of rebellious hope whispered about the possibilities if this "error" was truly his new reality.)

  Driven by an almost desperate need for clarity, Jin-Woo made a decision. He would take the first step into the world he had inadvertently joined. He sought out the local Hunter Association Academy, a place of learning for aspiring Hunters and a registry for those already Awakened. It was a place to get answers, or at least, official recognition.

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  With a hesitant breath, he registered for the basic Awakening assessment. The process was clinical, measuring the faint traces of mana now present within him. As he underwent the tests, a part of him remained skeptical, convinced that the System’s bizarre mechanics wouldn’t translate to the real world.

  The instructor’s surprised gaze held Jin-Woo’s as he delivered the results. "Congratulations, Mr. Jin-Woo," he announced, a note of genuine astonishment in his voice. "You have indeed Awakened. Your rank is… F."

  F-rank. The very bottom. Yet, a strange sense of validation bloomed within Jin-Woo. The System’s changes weren’t just in his head. He possessed mana now. He was officially a Hunter, even if the weakest imaginable.

  The instructor went on to explain the typical roles of an F-rank Hunter. They often worked in the aftermath of dungeon clearances by higher-ranked teams, meticulously clearing any remaining monsters as Cleaners or carefully cataloging and transporting resources as Porterage Personnel (often called Item Carriers by the teams). It was grunt work, unglamorous and often overlooked, but it was a foot in the door, a way to gain proximity to the Hunter world and perhaps, learn.

  Stepping out of the academy and into the afternoon sun, the weight of his new reality settled upon Jin-Woo. He was a Hunter, yet his path was shrouded in the mystery of the System. He remembered the blue message:

  [You have gained 4 Stat Points (points available for allocation). Would you like to allocate them?]

  He hadn't had a chance back in the Baby Rift. Now, he focused, willing the blue window to reappear.

  It did.

  [Available Stats: Strength (0), Agility (0), Vitality (0), Intelligence (0), Sense (0)]

  [Available Stat Points: 4]

  Jin-Woo hesitated. He had no idea what these stats truly represented. Strength… probably physical power. Agility… maybe speed and reflexes. Vitality… health? Intelligence… magic? And Sense… awareness? With a shrug, he decided to put one point into each of the first four.

  [Strength: 1]

  [Agility: 1]

  [Vitality: 1]

  [Intelligence: 1]

  [Available Stat Points: 0]

  As soon as the last point was allocated, a subtle shift occurred within him. He felt… lighter, yes, but also a fraction stronger, a touch quicker, and there was a faint, almost imperceptible resilience in his step. It wasn't a dramatic transformation, but it was definitely noticeable. The System wasn't just numbers on a screen.

  Suddenly, a new blue window flashed before his eyes.

  [The 100-Day Journey Has Begun.]

  [Daily Quest: Become Stronger.]

  [Objectives:

  Run 1 km.

  Perform 100 push-ups.

  Perform 100 sit-ups.

  Perform 10 squats.]

  [Reward for Completion: Random Reward.]

  [Penalty for Failure: Random Penalty.]

  Jin-Woo stared at the quest. A daily workout regimen? Could this really make a difference against monsters? It seemed… insignificant. Surely a few push-ups wouldn't bridge the gap between a weak F-rank and the horrors of the Baby Rift. But then, he remembered the level up, the stat points. Maybe this was how the System worked – small, consistent improvements. And the "Random Reward" and "Random Penalty" added an unsettling element of the unknown.

  He focused again, willing his status to appear.

  [Status]

  Name: Jin-Woo

  Level: 2

  Title: None

  HP: 75

  MP: 22

  Stamina: 28

  Strength: 1

  Agility: 1

  Vitality: 1

  Intelligence: 1

  Sense: 1

  Available Stat Points: 0]

  His HP, MP, and Stamina had increased slightly with the level up. And now, his base stats were no longer zero. He also noticed something else at the bottom of his vision, in a locked and ominous crimson color:

  [Cancelled Dungeon: Baby Rift]

  [Re-entry Scheduled In: 99 Days, 23 Hours, 57 Minutes, 12 Seconds

  Condition for Re-entry: Unknown]

  The countdown had begun. Ninety-nine days. He had to get stronger. Somehow.