The city was a cruel place for the weak, and John had long since learned to keep his head down. Orphaned young, the only family he had ever known was Ren a steadfast young man with fierce eyes and a protective spirit who had stood by John through the darkest days. Together, they carved out an existence amid the shadowed back alleys, surviving on scraps, courage, and the flickering hope that one day life would be kinder.
But fate had other plans.
The night it happened was forever etched in John's memory the sounds, the chaos, the horror.
They'd been cornered by a ruthless gang, desperate and brutal. The air was thick with the stench of sweat and menace as the thugs closed in, their voices snarling demands and threats. Ren, ever the shield, stepped forward without hesitation, his fierce glare trying to buy time.
John had hidden in the shadows nearby, heart pounding, powerless.
The first clash of steel rang out a savage symphony of violence. And then Ren's scream pierced the night a raw, agonized cry that tore through John's soul.
He scrambled forward, hands trembling, as the gang retreated into the darkness. Ren lay crumpled, blood staining the cracked pavement beneath him.
John fell to his knees, desperate, choking on tears.
"Ren... please, stay with me."
Ren's eyes fluttered open, locking onto John's. A faint smile cracked through the pain.
"I'm... sorry, John. You must... be strong."
His fingers squeezed John's hand weakly, before his gaze dimmed forever.
---
For days, John wandered through the city like a ghost. The warmth and laughter Ren had given him were gone, replaced by a hollow ache and a burning resolve. To survive was no longer enough—he needed power. Strength. The ability to never be helpless again.
He scoured the streets for work, stealing what he could, doing any task that brought coin. Each coin was a step closer to a dream he dared not speak aloud to transcend his fate and claim a place where no one could take him down.
Eventually, the last remnant of Ren's legacy money hidden away for emergencies fell into his hands. With it, John bought Awakening Stone and two rare skill books objects whispered about with awe and envy among hunters.
Awakening stones is a stone that came out of the dungeons that help the hunters to awaken their power.
While the skill books are books that help the hunters to awaken their skills.
---
The night was thick with mist as John left the city behind, moving silently toward the forest at its edge. Here, beneath the gnarled branches and cold watch of ancient trees, hunters came to awaken their hidden potential.
The clearing he found was shrouded in pale moonlight. The earth was soft, moss-covered, and the scent of pine and damp leaves filled the air. The stillness felt sacred, like a breath held in reverence.
Before he asked Ren to awaken many times but Ren always said it was not the time yet but this time he was doing it.
John knelt, fingers trembling slightly as he pulled the first Awakening Stone from its worn pouch. The gem glowed faintly, alive with energy that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.
He pressed it against his chest.
A fierce heat flared, spreading like wildfire through his veins. His vision blurred as raw power surged from the stone deep into his soul. Shackles invisible to the eye shattered one by one, and the world around him twisted and shifted.
In that moment, an ethereal interface bloomed before his eyes—transparent yet radiant.
[ Name: John Ardent ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Class: Unassigned ]
[ HP: 100 / 100 ]
[ MP: 50 / 50 ]
[ Strength: 12 ]
[ Agility: 14 ]
[ Endurance: 10 ]
[ Intelligence: 11 ]
[ Perception: 13 ]
[ Luck: 8 ]
[ Skills: none ]
[ Inventory: Empty ]
John's breath hitched as the numbers glowed softly, hovering in midair. This was the system that every awakened hunter received the living record of their power, their growth, and the endless path ahead.
He felt his body hum with energy. His mind sharpened, senses tingling with a newfound clarity.
---
Next, he took the first skill book, its pages flickering with ancient script. The symbols rearranged themselves as his eyes scanned, the knowledge flowing directly into his soul.
He felt power coalesce inside him—pure, condensed spiritual energy.
His first skill had awakened.
[System Update]
Skills:
[ Void Pulse (Active) – Lv.1 ]
Cost: 20 MP
Cooldown: 10 sec
Description: Compresses void energy into a concentrated sphere and unleashes it forward in a shockwave, dealing (150% Intelligence) + (100% Strength) as damage in a small radius. Ignores 20% of target's magical resistance. At higher levels, radius and resistance penetration increase.
---
He turned to the second skill book, inhaling sharply before immersing himself in its glowing pages. The ancient knowledge seeped into his bones.
His second skill bloomed inside him.
[System Update]
Skills:
Void pulse(Active)
[ Void Brand (Active) – Lv.1 ]
Cost: 15 MP
Cooldown: 5 sec
Description: Marks a target with a Void Sigil for 15 seconds. All damage you deal to marked targets is increased by 25%. If the marked target dies while under the effect, you instantly recover 10% of your maximum MP. At higher levels, damage amplification and duration increase.
---
The forest seemed to hold its breath as John's senses attuned to the invisible currents of energy flowing through the land.
He felt alive in a way he never had before, as if every cell in his body sang with power.
The awakening was only the beginning. The skills he now bore were tools but it was his will and his unyielding drive that would carve the path ahead.