woke up, breathing heavily.
The dungeon was silent. The smell of burnt stone and old blood still lingered, but my body… it was whole. The pain from the statues' attacks had faded to nothing, as if my very life had been rewritten.
I thought of Somi. My little sister, in high school, probably worried sick. My heart tightened. "I can't fail… I have to get stronger."
Beside me, Chae-won crawled to her feet, bruised but alive. "Jinyoung… you made it."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah… but I feel… different. Stronger somehow."
When I moved, I realized my strength was still far from enough. My hands were steady, but my reflexes… my stamina… still weak.
A soft glow appeared before me. A floating screen hovered in the air:
[Welcome, Player.]
[Your role as Successor has begun.]
[No abilities unlocked yet. Recovery and training recommended.]
I stared at it. Successor… Player… I didn't understand yet, but I could feel something awakening inside me. A faint warmth in my chest, like life itself had grown sharper.
[Tip: Begin with exercises to restore stamina and prepare your body.]
I nodded. "Exercises… alright. Let's start slow."
For hours, I ran, jumped, punched the air, and twisted my body. Every muscle ached. My breath burned. But with every strike, every kick, I felt progress. Strength, coordination, balance… small, but noticeable.
Then the system spoke again:
[Gate Detected Nearby. Enter to gain experience.]
I froze. A gate? Another dungeon? But the memory of the statues, the sacrifices, the terror—it burned in my mind.
I swallowed. "No choice. I have to get stronger… for Somi… for everyone I care about."
I approached the glowing portal. The air shimmered with mana. I took a deep breath, focusing. I remembered the faint lessons from before—how movement felt when energy flowed. Martial arts weren't just about strength; they were about mana control, timing, precision.
And as I stepped through the gate, I realized… this was the beginning. Not of power, not of abilities, not of glory… but of a long, grueling journey.
The first gate awaited. And I would level up, fight, train, and survive—the way a real Player should.
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