CHAPTER 1 — "THE TRAITOR'S SON"
Grey clouds hovered over the ruined district as the morning alarm rang through the cracked streets of East Seoul.
People rushed to their jobs, students hurried to the academy—
—and everyone avoided one house.
A tiny, broken apartment.
Windows shattered.
Graffiti on the walls:
"SON OF THE TRAITOR."
"MONSTER FAMILY."
"DIE."
Inside that cold room…
A boy sat quietly, tying his torn shoes.
Name:Lee Ji-ho.
17 years old.
FFF rank.
The lowest of the low.
His body was always aching.
Bruises covered his arms.
He stood up slowly, looking in the cracked mirror.
Eyes—tired.
Face—pale.
Expression—empty.
He whispered to himself:
"Just endure today… just survive one more day."
He picked up his bag and opened the rusty door.
Immediately—
THUD!
A stone hit his forehead.
"HEY! The traitor's son is awake!"
Three neighborhood kids laughed.
"Go die already, Lee! Your father killed thousands!"
"He started the first Rift!"
"You should be in prison, not school!"
Lee' didn't reply.
He couldn't.
Words would only make it worse.
He walked away silently…
…blood trickling down his forehead.
Inside East Seoul Hunter Academy
As Lee, entered the gates, whispers spread immediately.
"That loser is still coming to school?"
"Why doesn't he just disappear?"
"If I was him, I'd kill myself."
One girl whispered louder—
"His father opened Rifts! Imagine being born from garbage."
Lee, kept walking. Chest tight.
Heart hurting.
But he forced a smile.
"Ignore it… It doesn't matter… It doesn't hurt…"
It did hurt. Every day.
Training Hall – F Class
Lee entered the hall where all the weakest students trained.
Instructor Han glared at him.
"You're late, Lee Ji-ho Again."
"Sorry…" Lee' said weakly.
"Sorry? Your father destroyed the world and you still can't follow rules?"
The entire class laughed.
Lee bit his lip.
He bowed his head.
—
Skill Test Time
Students used their awakening skills on test dummies.
"C Rank – Fire Burst!"
Boom!
Cheers.
"D Rank – Wind Arrow!"
Boom!
More cheers.
Then…
"Next—"Lee Ji-ho'
Silence.
Everyone smirked.
Lee stepped forward nervously.
He placed his hand on the dummy.
Nothing happened.
Not even a spark.
Instructor Han laughed.
"AHAHAH! What a joke! Even F-rankers show something!"
"Try harder, traitor boy!"
Lee' clenched his fist.
He focused again.
Still nothing.
His heart whispered:
Why am I alive?
Students laughed louder.
One boy deliberately tripped him.
THUD!
Lee' fell face-first onto the floor.
His nose bled. Tears formed.
Someone kicked his back.
"Stay down, trash."
Another kick.
"Kneel like your father did before he ruined the world."
Everyone laughed.
Only one girl looked uncomfortable—
Mira Seo.
C rank.
Strong, beautiful, cold exterior…
…but kind inside.
She turned away, but her hands clenched.
She hated bullying.
But before she could speak—
THE MONSTER SIREN RANG!
WEEOOO—WEEE—OOO—!!
Students froze.
"MONSTER BREACH NEAR THE ACADEMY!"
"All student hunters, evacuate!"
"Teachers form a barrier!"
Chaos erupted.
A giant wolf monster appeared behind the building—
A C-Rank Blood Fang Wolf.
Students screamed.
"It broke through the barrier!"
"We're gonna die!"
"Run!!"
Lee looked around.
People ran.
People pushed each other.
But one little girl, maybe 5 years old, stood frozen on the road—
crying, unable to move.
The monster turned its head toward her.
Lee's heart stopped.
No one was saving her.
Everyone ran for themselves.
But Lee…
…he ran toward the girl.
Not away.
Toward.
His legs trembled.
He could barely breathe.
He knew he might die.
But he still ran.
"MOVE!!" someone shouted.
"RIN, ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
Rin dove forward—
Grabbed the girl—
And shielded her with his own body.
The wolf leaped—
Claws raised—
And—
DING!
A blue screen appeared in front of Lee's eyes.
Floating… glowing… divine.
[GOOD KARMA +1]
[SYSTEM ACTIVATING…]
[WELCOME, HOST.]
[YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE "FORSKEN CHILD OF DESTINY."]
Lee's eyes widened.
"W-What… what is this…?"
[CHEAT SYSTEM UNLOCKED — THE KARMA SYSTEM]
[GAIN KARMA BY SAVING OTHERS, HELPING PEOPLE, OR KILLING EVIL.]
[KARMA CAN BUY: SKILLS, STATS, WEAPONS, EVOLUTIONS.]
Lee froze.
And then—
[FIRST REWARD: BEGINNER SKILL — ENERGY BURST (F Rank)]
A small orb of glowing blue light appeared in his hand.
Everyone watching froze in shock.
Even the wolf stopped for a moment…
Lee stood up slowly.
Body shaking.
Eyes glowing blue.
For the first time in his life…
He had power.
The students stared in disbelief.
"D-Did he just awaken?!"
"That trash?!"
"No way!"
Mira Seo whispered softly:
"…Lee…?"
Lee tightened his fist.
And whispered—
"Energy Burst."
BOOOOOOM!!
A blast of blue energy exploded from Lee's hand—
colliding directly with the wolf's head—
KILLING IT IN ONE SHOT.
Everyone went silent.
Completely silent.
No one laughed now.
No one insulted him.
They stared at Lee…
Like they were seeing a monster.
Mira's eyes widened.
"…Who are you…?"
Lee, looked at his trembling hand.
His heart raced.
His breathing shook.
But for the first time…
He smiled.
"I… I finally have something."
And the screen appeared again.
[GOOD KARMA +5]
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: WALK THE PATH OF JUSTICE]
Lee Ji-ho...
the weakest boy…
the bullied "traitor's son"…
had just taken his first step…
…toward becoming the strongest existence in the world.
Chapter 1 Completed.