The protagonist sat in his tent, nursing his injuries from the failed breakthrough. His chest still ached where his meridians had ruptured, and rage burned in his heart.
Someone sabotaged me, he thought bitterly. Someone deliberately disrupted my breakthrough.
But who? And why?
His fists clenched. Tomorrow's evaluation was his chance to enter Hunter Academy, to begin his rise. He couldn't afford to fail.
A voice echoed in his mind—ancient, powerful, filled with authority.
{Do not despair, boy. What was stolen can be reclaimed. What was lost can be recovered.}
"Master?" Kim Si-woo whispered, addressing the ancient soul that had taken residence in his consciousness after a childhood accident.
The soul of an Immortal Emperor who had fallen in an ancient war, now bound to Kim Si-woo as his mentor and guide.
{Your fate is that of an emperor. One setback means nothing. During tomorrow's evaluation, I sense a great opportunity awaiting—one that will propel you beyond your current limits.}
"The Ancient Training Ground?" Kim Si-woo asked. "The one beneath the arena that you mentioned?"
{Yes. Only those with emperor's fate can access it. There, you will find what you lost—and more.}
Kim Si-woo's expression hardened with determination. "Then I'll claim it. No matter what."
{Good. But be warned—I sense another presence. Someone whose fate is... unusual. Twisted. As if they don't belong to this world's natural order.}
"An enemy?"
{Potentially. Or an opportunity. Be cautious during the evaluation. Trust no one.}
Kim Si-woo nodded, his protagonist aura beginning to reassert itself despite his injuries.
The world's will had sensed Jun-woo's interference and was already working to compensate, buffing the protagonist with additional advantages.
---
Wu Xue finally descended back to the ground, the red lightning fading. When her eyes opened, they glowed with a faint crimson light before returning to normal.
She looked at her hands in wonder. "I... I can feel it. Power. Real power flowing through me!"
[Partial Awakening Complete!]
[Wu Xue has awakened: 〈War God's Bloodline - Stage 1〉 (A-Rank)]
[Note: Full SSS-Rank potential remains sealed until conditions are met]
[New Stats for Wu Xue:]
- Strength: 180 (F+ Rank)
- Agility: 200 (F+ Rank)
- Endurance: 150 (F Rank)
- Combat Instinct: Innate Master Level
[Skills Acquired:]
- 〈Martial Intent (Basic)〉
- 〈War God's Strike〉
- 〈Battle Trance〉
[REVERSAL SUCCESSFUL!]
[Rewards:]
[+75,000 Reversal Points]
[+500 RP/month (Wu Xue loyalty bonus activated)]
[Favorability increased: 35 → 85 (Deeply Grateful & Loyal)]
[Title Acquired: 〈Fate Thief〉 - All reversal actions have 10% increased success rate]
Jun-woo's entire interface lit up with notifications. His RP balance had skyrocketed from 0 to 75,000 in an instant.
Wu Xue dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Young Master... you've given me everything. My life, my power, my hope. I swear on my parents' names—I will serve you faithfully until my last breath!"
[Favorability increased: 85 → 95 (Fanatically Loyal)]
Jun-woo helped her up, genuinely moved by her sincerity. "Then serve me by becoming strong. Strong enough that no one can ever hurt you again. Strong enough to find your parents and protect what matters to you."
"Yes, Young Master!"
'System, with 75,000 RP, what should I prioritize for tomorrow's evaluation?'
[Recommended purchases:]
〈Talent Evolution Token (Major)〉 - 15,000 RP
- Evolves Host's EX-rank talent to its next stage
〈Skill: Fate Severing Strike〉 - 25,000 RP
- Allows Host to sever karmic connections, preventing protagonist's luck from activating
〈Ancient Knowledge Package: Hunter Academy Secrets〉 - 10,000 RP
- Complete information about all hidden opportunities in the academy
〈Protective Talisman (S-Rank)〉 - 20,000 RP
- One-time protection from fatal attacks
[Total: 70,000 RP]
'Purchase all of them.'
[Confirmed. Remaining RP: 5,000]
Knowledge flooded Jun-woo's mind. He now knew everything about the Hunter Academy's hidden secrets, including the Ancient Training Ground that Kim Si-woo was destined to discover.
'Except now, I'm going to get there first.'
As dawn approached, Jun-woo stood at his tent entrance, Wu Xue now standing beside him with newfound confidence and power.
"Wu Xue, during today's evaluation, stay close to me. Things are going to get dangerous."
"I'll protect you, Young Master."
Jun-woo smiled. "No. We'll protect each other."
12 Hours Until Evaluation
[Current Status:]
- Kim Si-woo: Injured, destined opportunities prepared by world's will
- Kang Ye-jun: Powered up, first reversal successful, ready to steal everything
[The real battle begins at dawn.]
---
The sky turned blood-red as the sun rose over the Hunter Academy preliminary training grounds.
Thousands of aspiring hunters gathered in the massive central arena—a structure that could hold 50,000 people in its tiered seating, with the evaluation grounds large enough to accommodate multiple trials simultaneously.
Jun-woo arrived with Wu Xue, both dressed in the Kang family's distinctive black and gold training uniforms. Immediately, whispers erupted.
"That's Masochist Kang..."
"I heard he finally lost his mind completely."
"Did you see his maid? She's actually standing confidently now. What happened?"
Jun-woo ignored the gossip, his eyes scanning the crowd for Kim Si-woo.
He found him easily—the protagonist stood near the center of the gathering, surrounded by a small group of admirers. Despite his injuries, Kim Si-woo's presence was magnetic. His protagonist aura was already at work, drawing people to him.
Their eyes met across the crowd.
Kim Si-woo's expression flickered with surprise, then suspicion. Something about Kang Ye-jun felt... different. Dangerous.
Jun-woo smiled coldly and turned away.
'Let the games begin, protagonist. Let's see whose fate is stronger.'
A thunderous voice boomed across the arena as a figure appeared on the central platform in a flash of light.
Academy Director Sung Jin-woo—an SS-rank Hunter and one of Korea's five Great Pillars. His mere presence made the air feel heavy with power.
"Aspirants!" His voice carried to every corner without amplification. "Welcome to the Hunter Academy Entrance Evaluation! Today, you will face three trials that will determine your worth!"
"First Trial: Combat Assessment! You will fight in ranked matches to demonstrate your abilities!"
"Second Trial: Team Survival! You will be placed in groups and sent into a C-rank Gate simulation! Survive for one hour and collect beast cores!"
"Third Trial: The Final Challenge! Only the top 100 performers will face this—details to be revealed!"
The crowd erupted in nervous excitement.
Jun-woo's eyes gleamed. 'The Final Challenge is where Kim Si-woo awakens his SS-rank talent and discovers the Ancient Training Ground. But not this time.'
[MAIN QUEST UPDATE: Dominate All Three Trials]
[Bonus Objective: Defeat Kim Si-woo directly in combat]
[Reward: 100,000 RP + Unknown Legendary Item]
Director Sung raised his hand, and holographic brackets appeared in the air showing the combat matchups.
Jun-woo's first opponent: Park Min-ho.
The same trainee who'd led the beatings against him for the past hundred days.
Park Min-ho's face went pale when he saw the matchup. Despite his bravado, something in Kang Ye-jun's eyes made his instincts scream danger.
Jun-woo cracked his knuckles, his 523 Strength stat eager to be tested.
'Perfect. Let's show everyone that Masochist Kang is dead.'
'Long live the Fate Thief.'
---
[Combat Trial - Beginning]
[To Be Continued...]