Prologue
[A grave mission is bestowed upon you, who has realized the approaching destruction.] [Stop the destruction.] [To stop the destruction, the Unique Ability 'Lord of All Creation' is granted!] [Lord of All Creation: Every action becomes a skill.]
"Wh-what?" Surprised, I sucked in a breath, and immediately, a skill was created.
[Skill 'Breathing' created!] [Breathing Lv.1: Efficiency of all actions increases due to regulated breathing.]
"???" In this world right now, I, the only one convinced that the moment of destruction was approaching, had awakened a unique ability. "This makes no sense...." And a nonsensical ability at that.
[Skill 'Vocalization' created!] [Vocalization Lv.1: Strength is imbued in the voice, and pronunciation becomes more precise.]
No, let me correct that. I awakened a completely damn ability.
Chapter 1
Korea Awakened Management Corporation (KAMC).
It is a public enterprise established after the Gate Incident that struck the world 20 years ago.
As Awakened individuals began to appear like bamboo shoots after rain, 1% of the entire population is currently registered as Awakened.
The organization that manages and supervises these Awakened, and further enables them to use their powers for the public interest, is the Korea Awakened Management Corporation, abbreviated as KAMC (Han-Gak-Gong).
And I am someone who proudly entered KAMC through the open recruitment for Awakened individuals.
Yes, I am an Awakened.
Beep—.
"Clocked in...."
—Armed Enforcement Division, Team 4.
The place where I work is the KAMC Armed Enforcement Division.
As the name suggests, it is a department that executes armed force. It plays the role of subjugating monsters that appear when a Gate opens or those that were missed and escaped.
"Oh, Si-woo. You're here?"
"Brother, your dark circles are huge. I could jump rope with them."
"Ugh... maybe because I drank too much yesterday... it's a bit tough. I overdid it."
"Get some rest. I'll take over from here."
"Okay, whew. What a mess this is."
Manager Kim Ki-jun. He is two years older than me, and we are close enough to call each other brother. Ki-jun also entered through the Awakened open recruitment like me.
"I'm only putting up with this because they give me vacation time...."
"I know, I know. KAMC gives vacation time generously, at least. Since it's a public enterprise."
KAMC manages Awakened and is a group that uses armed force, but at the same time, it is a public enterprise.
"But the higher-ups are too clueless about how hard we work. Did you see the content of the executive meeting last time? I heard they suggested reducing vacation time?"
Just as the military is under civilian control, KAMC also hires non-Awakened individuals and appoints a non-Awakened person as its head by the government, due to concerns that it could become a powerful armed group.
"What would a non-Awakened know?"
"That's true."
So, complaints like this often arise among the Awakened. Well, I understand it, though.
Thud—.
After lightly finishing the small talk and sitting in my seat, I began to ponder.
"Hmm...."
The problem that plunged me into deep thought while re-awakening yesterday.
"The time of destruction is approaching...."
It is a phrase that feels familiar somehow.
20 years ago, the Gate Incident shook the world. At that time, thousands, even millions of Gates were generated simultaneously across the globe, and 'destruction' was on everyone's lips.
And at the same time, as Awakened with supernatural abilities appeared, the situation was overturned, and humanity prevailed.
"But does that mean a situation like that, no... a situation at least several times worse than that is going to happen?"
The time of destruction is approaching.
"What are you muttering to yourself about?"
"Ah? Ahahaha... nothing. Just had something on my mind...."
Ki-jun must have heard me muttering to myself and spoke to me.
"What worry? Do you actually have one?"
"Where would I have the time for that?"
"No, not that... love always blossoms, you know...."
Let's cut him off before Ki-jun's suspicion heads in a weird direction.
"It's just that they say Gates are gradually decreasing, and major corporate guilds are expanding their business into PMCs one after another to prepare, but I wondered what we are doing."
"Ah...."
Only I know that the day of destruction is approaching.
Except for me, everyone believes that since Gates are gradually decreasing, they will eventually disappear.
So private guilds are pioneering a new area called PMC (Private Military Company). Small-scale guilds have started to turn towards private security.
"A public enterprise doesn't move easily...."
"As expected, public institutions are rigid."
"The frequency of Gate generation has significantly decreased compared to the past, yet we aren't making any preparations."
Gates function like a sort of 'Mana Black Hole' that sucks in surrounding mana during the generation process.
And if it has sucked in a sufficient amount of mana, the Gate opens.
"And now research results show that... the mana concentration in the atmosphere is gradually decreasing. That was also revealed by our KAMC Gate Research Center."
Research results after the Gate Incident confirmed that this Earth was filled with pure mana.
As beings from other worlds crossed over, mysterious 'Status Windows' appeared, and some humans were incorporated into the 'System,' becoming Awakened.
And what was later discovered through research was that since the Earth was already full of mana, many people were able to become Awakened.
"But the fact that new Awakened are decreasing means... the amount of mana is gradually decreasing."
Team Leader Han Gye-seon, who was resting nearby, joined our conversation with an expression as if we were talking about something interesting.
"Ah, Team Leader."
"Are you preparing for anything, Team Leader?"
"Me? I'm just... thinking of opening a swordsmanship dojo. It's a niche market, you know. I've already been to see real estate a few times. To look for a spot."
"No, why did you prepare for that alone... I suddenly feel betrayed?"
"Am I crazy to just blab about that...."
According to the Gate Research Center under KAMC, the conclusion was reached that the atmospheric mana concentration had decreased by 40% in the last year alone.
I thought deeply while Ki-jun and Team Leader Han Gye-seon were talking.
'Because the mana amount has already decreased that much, the expectation was that Gates would eventually disappear altogether.'
But the reality must not have been like that.
'If the time of destruction is coming... it means even more massive and numerous Gates will appear. That doesn't match the research results of the Gate Research Center....'
"Right... please let me be wrong."
It wasn't easy for me to accept that such a future was approaching either. Although since the Status Window said so, the probability of it being false is low.
'The country is happy that the number of Awakened to manage is decreasing....'
Since new Awakened to manage are gradually decreasing, it is comfortable from the government's perspective.
Existing Awakened were anxious, but they had no worries about jobs.
Because there are alternatives like PMCs, security companies, and various martial arts dojos.
Everyone was dreaming of a happy future, but I alone was looking at a future of destruction.
"Sigh—."
"But the reality is, it's just before a massive event that will drag the world to destruction occurs."
Thinking that, I prepared for today's work with the conversation between Ki-jun and Team Leader Han Gye-seon as background music.
Even if I say this now, no one will listen anyway.
'The conclusion is that I must become stronger.'
[Skills]
[Agility Lv.X: The speed of all actions increases.]
[Breathing Lv.1: Efficiency of all actions increases due to regulated breathing.]
[Vocalization Lv.1: Strength is imbued in the voice, and pronunciation becomes more precise.]
[Walking Lv.1: Walking posture is corrected and speed increases.]
[Driving Lv.1: Driving posture is corrected and speed increases.]
Excluding the skill [Agility] that I originally had, there are four newly created skills.
[Unique Ability]
[Lord of All Creation: Every action becomes a skill.]
And all of this is because of the Unique Ability [Lord of All Creation].
'It's not a skill awakening, but a Unique Ability.'
In the Awakened grade classification, I could receive at least a B-rank.
Generally, most Awakened awaken skills. Rarely, there are skill-less Awakened whose Status Window just opens without any skills.
This is the general case but… a small number of Awakened awaken Unique Abilities.
An ability that is higher ranked than a skill. If you awaken a Unique Ability, you can consider your future life practically paved with flowers.
But me?
"Suddenly?"
I suddenly awakened a Unique Ability. And a nonsensical one at that.
'Every action becomes a skill... what is this....'
That isn't the end. A mission followed.
But the Status Window clearly told me. 'Stop the destruction.'
But can I stop it with this Unique Ability...?
"Haa...."
[Proficiency of Breathing Lv.1 increases.]
"Turn off alarm."
[Proficiency alarm has been turned off.]
I turned off the setting because the alarm kept popping up annoyingly while I was breathing.
"This...."
I thought about it.
Awakened are roughly divided like this: Combat type, Non-combat type.
Non-combat types handle buffs or crafting. Combat types naturally handle combat.
"But what about me?"
The fact that every action I take becomes a skill means....
'Combat, non-combat, everything is possible...!'
Such an Awakened has never appeared until now. I am also the first to have a Unique Ability where both are possible.
'Reveal it?'
Should I reveal this fact?
Awakened must reveal the fact of their awakening, undergo an aptitude test conducted by the Korea Awakened Management Corporation, and then register in the Awakened registry. It is illegal if you do not register.
The registered Awakened in Korea are approximately 30,000, and unregistered are 20,000. It is estimated that there are a total of 50,000 Awakened.
Of course, since the unregistered count is an estimate, it could be fewer or more than this.
"Do I accept state control... or do I not announce it and act freely?"
Even though large corporate-level guilds have emerged, they are ultimately swayed by KAMC's policy stance. People who do not want to be under someone's control sometimes do not register.
And me?
"I am already a registered Awakened."
But since I re-awakened... I have to re-register. Legally.
"I shouldn't re-register."
I have awakened an unprecedented Unique Ability capable of both combat and non-combat. Although the skills I currently possess are only things like [Breathing] or [Vocalization], the fact that every action I take becomes a skill is very significant.
If this becomes known, I am no longer a free man. KAMC, as well as various guilds, will offer tremendous things to take me. But in exchange for that, I lose my freedom.
'To save a world scheduled for destruction....'
I must not be tied down anywhere.
"Then... to obtain combat-related skills… do I have to attend a dojo?"
If I attend a martial arts dojo, wouldn't I be able to obtain skills? Or I could attend an archery dojo, or shoot a gun at a shooting range.
"It's not like I'm quitting my job, though."
There is a separate training ground for Awakened at KAMC. Since very few people use this, I can go during my free time and use it comfortably at any time.
"I'll have to go in my spare time while continuing to work."
And this was my choice.
Even if Gates open and monsters come out, the presence of guns remains significant.
Because more than half of the creatures coming out of Gates, such as Slimes, Goblins, Gnolls, and Orcs, can be dealt with using firearms.
Of course... from elite Orc warriors onwards, firearms stop working, but anyway, that is the case.
And right now, strong monsters aren't appearing. To stop the destruction, I shouldn't rely on guns, but right now, this is the only thing I can trust.
"And the weapon I originally used was a gun anyway."
KAMC Shooting Range.
"Hello. You are Mr. Lee Si-woo who applied for shooting training, right?"
"Yes, nice to meet you."
"Please come this way first. Now...."
Thud—.
"Which firearm will you use today?"
"A rifle."
Unlike other training grounds, firearms are managed very strictly. So, one must go through this procedure to enter the shooting range.
"K2 rifle has been issued. You can return it as is when the training is over."
I held the K2 rifle in my hand.
'Hmm, this heavy sensation....'
My position is Supporter-Assassin. It is a role that infiltrates the enemy's rear to sabotage or disrupt, reducing the burden on allies fighting in the front.
So I often use guns or grenades. Since the sound of a gun is so loud, even if it doesn't inflict great damage on monsters, it can sufficiently perform the role of disruption.
"First, firearm inspection...."
As I went through the firearm inspection process I always did....
[You have acquired the skill 'Rifle Inspection'!]
[Rifle Inspection Lv.1: You can quickly check for abnormalities through rifle inspection.]
'This means firearm disassembly and assembly will also be registered as a skill later.'
There is no need for disassembly and assembly at the shooting range, but since there might be a need later....
"Then let's start with the prone firing position."
I lay down like that and adjusted my posture.
[You have acquired the skill 'Crawling'!]
[Crawling Lv.1: You can skillfully perform the act of moving while lying prone.]