The world changed twenty years ago.
On an ordinary day, blue portals tore through the sky like open wounds in the fabric of reality. From them emerged monsters—grotesque creatures with fangs, claws, and starving eyes. Cities fell within hours. Governments collapsed. Humanity stood on the brink of extinction.
Then came the System.
A voiceless presence echoed in the minds of every surviving adult. Classes were granted. Skills awakened. Levels began to rise. Those who fought became Hunters. Those who organized formed Guilds. Those who ruled became nations of Hunters.
Today, portals are routine. Everyone knows the ranking scale: Rank F to Rank EX. Rank F cleans up the battlefield afterward. Rank C can enter mid-tier dungeons and earn respect. Rank S is a national celebrity. Rank SS is a government's secret weapon. Rank SSS…? They say only gods possess that. And Rank EX? It shouldn't even exist.
In South Korea, just like everywhere else, the Awakening Ceremony takes place at age 18, inside schools. It's the day that defines the rest of your life.
And today was Han Ji-An's day.
The bell at Seoul National Hunter High School rang early. Third-year students crowded the hallways, nervous, laughing too loudly, trying to mask their fear.
At the center of it all, as always, was Han Ji-An.
Black hair deliberately tousled, uniform impeccably neat despite being the cheapest on the market, an easy smile that made half the girls sigh and the other half seethe with envy. He walked the corridor like the world revolved around him—because, in a way, it always had.
"Ji-An!" Park Min-Jun, his best friend since first year, called out. Min-Jun was the polar opposite: short, thick glasses, backpack bigger than his body. "Dude, you're way too calm. Everyone here's dying of anxiety, and you look like you're about to grab coffee."
Ji-An gave his friend a light pat on the shoulder.
"Anxiety doesn't change the outcome, Min-Jun. Relax. Today's just another day."
A lie. His heart was pounding harder, but it wasn't fear. It was anticipation.
Han Ji-An wasn't from this world.
Exactly one year ago, he had opened his eyes in a hospital bed in Seoul, memories of another Earth flooding in—one without portals, without monsters, without the System. Classic novel transmigration. He had waited for the golden finger, the absurd cheat every protagonist gets. Nothing came. No blue panel, no divine voice.
But he didn't despair.
Because even without the System, Han Ji-An was already abnormal.
In his first month of school, he slept through every theoretical class. Scored 100 on every test. Teachers thought he cheated. They installed cameras. He kept sleeping—and kept scoring 100.
In physical education, he shattered every school record that had stood for decades. 100-meter dash in 9.2 seconds. Bench-pressed 200 kg as a first-year. Endurance: ran a full marathon without breaking a sweat.
And then there was the bullet incident.
Last year, during a Class E portal outbreak in the poor neighborhood where he lived, a stray bullet from a nervous Hunter flew toward him. It hit his shoulder. Everyone screamed. When they reached him, the bullet lay on the ground, crumpled like it had struck steel. The doctor said, "Incredible luck. It must have lost momentum." Ji-An smiled and said nothing about how the impact felt like a pinch.
Teachers whispered: "He doesn't seem like a normal human."
Students idolized or envied him. Girls confessed every week. Boys wanted to be him.
Everyone bet Han Ji-An would awaken at least Rank A. Many said S. A few crazies even whispered SS.
Including his girlfriend.
Kim Soo-Ah, the most beautiful girl in third year, walked hand-in-hand with him down the hall. Long hair dyed light brown, big eyes, a body that looked sculpted. High social class, father a Rank B Hunter in a mid-tier guild. She smiled proudly beside him.
"Oppa," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "After the ceremony, let's celebrate, just the two of us, okay? My dad already booked a table at the five-star hotel restaurant."
Ji-An gave a half-smile.
"Sure, Soo-Ah. But only if you get a good class too, alright?"
She laughed, confident.
"Rank C at minimum. My dad hired a private mana tutor since I was 15. And you…" She looked at him with sparkling eyes. "You'll be S. I know it. We'll form the perfect party."
Min-Jun, walking behind, rolled his eyes discreetly.
The school auditorium was packed. A thousand third-years seated in rows. On stage, the principal and three government-contracted Rank A Hunters prepared the Awakening Circle—a massive mana crystal at the center, surrounded by runes.
The ritual was simple: each student placed their hand on the crystal. The Universal System read their soul and granted a class.
One by one, names were called.
"Lee Dong-Hyun — Class: Warrior (Rank D)"
Polite applause.
"Choi Mi-Young — Class: Archer (Rank E)"
Disappointed sighs.
"Park Min-Jun — Class: Shieldbearer (Rank E)"
Min-Jun returned to his seat beside Ji-An, head down.
"At least it wasn't F," he muttered. "Shieldbearer is basic tank. I can live with that."
Ji-An gave his arm a light punch.
"You'll level up fast, man. I believe in you."
Min-Jun gave a weak smile.
Then came her turn.
"Kim Soo-Ah — Class: Elemental Mage (Rank C)"
The auditorium erupted in applause. Rank C at 18 was outstanding. Soo-Ah returned beaming, kissed Ji-An on the cheek in front of everyone.
"Your turn, oppa. Show them."
The principal called:
"Han Ji-An."
Dead silence.
A thousand pairs of eyes followed him to the stage. Teachers leaned forward. The guest Hunters exchanged curious glances.
Ji-An placed his hand on the crystal calmly.
Blue light enveloped his body.
Then a giant holographic window appeared above the stage, visible to all.
[AWAKENED CLASS: GARBAGE COLLECTOR (RANK F)]
[MAIN SKILL: TRASH COLLECTION]
[DESCRIPTION: CAPABLE OF CLEANING AREAS AFTER BATTLES, COLLECTING MONSTER REMAINS AND DAMAGED ITEMS. MINIMAL PHYSICAL STRENGTH INCREASE FOR CARRYING SACKS.]
Utter silence.
Then laughter.
First quiet, then loud, then uncontrollable.
"Garbage Collector?!"
"The school genius… became a trash collector?"
"What a waste of that physique!"
Soo-Ah covered her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
Ji-An stood still, staring at the window.
Garbage Collector. Rank F. The absolute worst class. The one that doesn't even enter portals—just cleans up after real Hunters finish.
His chest tightened. For the first time in two worlds, Han Ji-An felt something close to despair.
But he kept smiling. Weak, but he kept it.
No applause. Just laughter and whispers.
He returned to his seat. Min-Jun tried to say something, but Ji-An shook his head slightly.
Soo-Ah stepped away from him.
When the ceremony ended, the hallway turned into hell.
"Hey, trash guy! Gonna take my garbage home today?"
"What a shame, huh? All that talent for nothing."
Ji-An ignored them, walking straight ahead.
Soo-Ah caught up to him in the school garden, away from prying eyes.
"Ji-An…" she began, voice low.
He stopped, turned with his usual smile.
"It's fine, Soo-Ah. We knew it could go wrong."
She hesitated. Glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Then lifted her chin.
"No, it's not fine. I… I'm going to be an Elemental Mage Rank C. My dad is already talking to the Blue Star Guild. I'll rise fast. I'll enter real dungeons."
Ji-An nodded slowly.
"I know. You deserve it."
"But you…" She sighed. "You're Rank F now. Garbage Collector. No future. I can't… I can't stay with someone like that."
The words hit like a slap.
"Let's break up here," she said, voice firm—and loud enough for nearby students to hear and start recording on their phones. "I'm sorry, Ji-An. But I have my dreams."
She turned and walked away, hair swaying, without looking back.
The videos spread in minutes.
Han Ji-An, the genius who became trash.
Han Ji-An, publicly dumped by his Rank C girlfriend.
He walked home alone.
The neighborhood was poor—old buildings, narrow streets. His adoptive parents lived in a tiny fifth-floor apartment with no elevator.
When he opened the door, the smell of homemade kimchi and grilled meat enveloped him.
"Ji-An-ah! You're home!" his adoptive mother, Eun-Ji, shouted from the kitchen. A short woman with a huge smile, Rank F, worked cleaning Hunter offices.
His father, Tae-Soo, Rank E, a supply truck driver for portals, was setting the table.
"How was the ceremony, son?" he asked excitedly.
In the living room, a girl with a ponytail jumped up from the couch and ran over.
Han Ji-Yoon, adoptive sister, 17 years old, one year younger, big eyes and a smile identical to his.
"Oppa! Tell us already! What class did you get? I bet S!"
Ji-An entered, took off his shoes, forced the most convincing smile he could muster.
"Calm down, calm down. Let's eat dinner first."
During dinner, light conversation. Mom talking about a Rank D Hunter who left a good tip. Dad complaining about traffic near a new portal. Ji-Yoon talking about tomorrow's test.
Ji-An ate in silence but responded when spoken to. Laughed at the right moments.
No one asked about his class again.
After dinner, he helped wash the dishes.
"Go rest, son," his mother said. "Big day today."
He nodded.
In the small room he shared with Ji-Yoon (a curtain divided the beds), he threw himself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
For the first time since transmigrating, Han Ji-An felt like crying.
Garbage Collector.
Rank F.
All that perfect body, all that absurd mind, all that potential… just to collect trash.
He closed his eyes.
And then, a voice echoed—not in his mind, but in his soul.
Deep. Solemn. Unlike anything he'd ever heard.
⟦UNKNOWN SYSTEM ACTIVATED⟧
⟦IDENTITY VERIFICATION... COMPLETED⟧
⟦WELCOME, AETHERION⟧
Ji-An shot up in bed.
Before him, floating in the air, a black interface with golden borders. Not blue like the Universal System. Black as the void.
Golden letters appeared one by one.
⟦YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN⟧
⟦UNIQUE SKILL AWAKENED: FOUR FACES OF ETERNITY (RANK EX+)⟧
⟦THE FACES ARE LIVING, CONSCIOUS ENTITIES, ETERNALLY LOYAL⟧
Then came the descriptions, one by one.
⟦1. THE INFINITE⟧
⟦MANIPULATION OF INFINITY⟧
⟦2. THE UNBOUND⟧
⟦NO PRISON CAN CONTAIN HIM⟧
⟦3. THE LIMITLESS⟧
⟦GROWTH POTENTIAL WITHOUT CEILING⟧
⟦4. THE ENLIGHTENED⟧
⟦SUPERIOR CONSCIOUSNESS. PERFECT ANALYSIS, ABSOLUTE CALCULATION, ETERNAL GUIDANCE⟧
A new voice emerged—masculine, charismatic, with an ancient touch of amusement.
[[HELLO, MASTER.]]
[[I AM THE ENLIGHTENED, THE FOURTH FACE.]]
[[THE OTHER THREE ARE STILL SLEEPING A BIT, BUT I WAS TASKED WITH WAKING YOU FIRST.]]
Ji-An blinked, heart racing—this time with excitement.
"Who… who are you?"
[[I AM PART OF YOU. AND YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU APPEAR.]]
[[THE UNIVERSAL SYSTEM THE WORLD KNOWS HAS NO IDEA OF MY EXISTENCE.]]
[[AND IT MUST NEVER KNOW.]]
[[NEVER REVEAL THIS TO ANYONE. NOT FAMILY. NOT FRIENDS. NOT ENEMIES.]]
[[IF YOU DO, MANY THINGS WILL MOVE AGAINST YOU.]]
Ji-An swallowed hard.
"Understood."
[[GOOD.]]
[[NOW, LOOK AT THE INTERFACE.]]
[[YOUR TRUE NAME IN THIS SYSTEM IS NOT HAN JI-AN.]]
In the center of the black screen, giant golden letters formed slowly.
AETHERION
[[YOU ARE NOT TRASH, MASTER.]]
[[YOU SIMPLY WOKE UP LAST.]]
Ji-An stared at the golden name glowing in the darkness of the room.
And smiled.
This time, for real.