The sun peeked over the broken horizon, casting long shadows on the muddy ground. Jae-sung walked through the growing slum, the baby—Yoo—bundled in a torn blanket against his chest.
The air smelled of smoke and wet dirt, and clang! clang! rang out from workers hammering steel into new walls.
Shiny towers rose in the distance, gleaming like promises, but here in the slums, people huddled in shacks made from scrap. "This place is falling apart already," Jae-sung thought, stepping over a puddle.
"But it's home for now. Got to find food for the kid."
Yoo wiggled, his baby eyes wide at the noise. "This world's a mess... I need to get stronger, fast," he thought, his adult mind racing.
The energy from the core seal break still tingled in his tiny body, like a fire waiting to ignite. He didn't ask Akasha Archive yet; he wanted to see for himself. "Training... that's how I'll grow. But as a baby? This is nuts."
A random slum kid ran by, kicking a can. "Hey, mister! You got food?" the boy asked, his voice high and hopeful. Jae-sung shook his head. "Sorry, kid. Trying to find some myself."
The boy sighed. "Everyone's hungry now," he thought, running off. Kick! Clatter!
Jae-sung spotted a line for rations, people muttering.
A woman ahead grumbled, "I felt that surge yesterday—got a bit stronger, maybe Iron rank. But what's it good for if I can't train?" Her voice was tired, her clothes ragged. A man next to her nodded. "Yeah, the big schools only take the talented ones. Us normal folks are stuck."
Jae-sung listened, rocking Yoo. "Ranks... that's new. I feel it too—stronger than Silver. Gold now?" he thought, a spark of hope in his chest. He flexed his hand, feeling energy flow like warm water. "This could help me protect the kid."
Yoo's ears perked up at the talk. "Schools? Training? That's my way in," he thought, his baby gurgles hiding his excitement. "I remember games like this—train hard, get stronger, and...But I need a sponsor."
At the ration stand, a gruff worker handed Jae-sung a packet. "For the baby too? Cute kid. How'd he survive?"
Jae-sung shrugged. "Found him in the rubble. He's a fighter." The worker nodded. "Good luck, man. World's changing—heard some got ultimate skills from the surge. Rare stuff, like controlling space or something."
Jae-sung's eyes widened. "Ultimate skills? If I had one, I could keep him safe." He walked away, feeding Yoo a soft mush.
The baby slurped it, but Yoo thought, "This tastes awful... but I need energy."
Boom! Hum! A distant rumble shook the ground, but it was different—energy waves still pulsing from the core. A hologram screen flickered on a wall, a reporter's face appearing.
"Update: The core's reaction removed Earth's limiter!" she said, her voice steady. "Hunters are jumping ranks—Bronze to Iron, Silver to Gold! But experts say it's not for everyone. Low ranks need training to catch up."
The screen switched to a researcher in a lab. "It's like a seal broke," he explained, pointing at a glowing map. "Internal energy's free now. Talented ones get stronger fast, but weak folks... it's harder. Academies are sponsoring talents with special items—to help them level up."
The crowd buzzed. "I want in!" a young hunter shouted. "Gravity rooms, blood stuff—sign me up!" An old man sighed. "Only for the talented. Us old timers are left behind."
"Not fair," he thought, shuffling away.
Jae-sung stared at the screen, the baby cooing in his arms.
"An academy? If I get sponsored, I can train... for him." He looked down at Yoo. "You hear that, little guy? We're gonna make it."
Yoo gurgled, but inside, "Special items? Sounds like a shortcut. I need one."
A scout from the Vanguard School approached Jae-sung, eyeing his rifle.
"You look strong—Silver rank before? Felt the surge?"
Jae-sung nodded. "Yeah, Gold now, I think."
The scout grinned. "Talented! We sponsor folks like you—gravity rooms to train, even blood from rare beasts to boost strength. But it's hard—low ranks can't handle it, and only talented ones can maximize its potentials. Interested?"
Jae-sung paused. "This could be our chance. The kid needs a safe place." "Yeah, sign me up." The scout handed him a chip.
"Test tomorrow—show what you got."
As they walked, Yoo thought, "Gravity training? Perfect—I'll grow fast. But as a baby... how do I join?" A random kid ran by. "Cool rifle, mister!" Jae-sung smiled.
"Thanks, kid. Stay safe." The boy nodded, thinking, "I want to be strong like him someday."
The sun set, slums lighting up with fires. Jae-sung held Yoo tight. "He's lonely without parents... I'll be his family." Yoo felt the warmth. "This guy's okay... for now."
The world was rebuilding—Academies sponsoring talents, ranks rising, slums struggling. And in Jae-sung's arms, a secret force grew, ready to train.