The night was quiet, almost unnaturally so. The streets were empty, bathed in the dim glow of flickering streetlights. I moved through the alleys with silent precision, my senses sharper than ever. The system hovered in my vision, calm and calculating.
[New Objective: Investigate Increased Gate Activity — Level C → B]
[Suggested Action: Reconnaissance]
"C to B… huh?" I muttered under my breath. "Guess things are heating up."
A faint pulse shimmered in the distance. Three Gates had opened near the outskirts, each smaller than the ones I'd encountered before, but still dangerous. The system immediately highlighted targets emerging from the first Gate. Two C-Rank monsters, slightly larger than yesterday's, stepped into the street, sniffing the air.
I crouched behind a stack of crates, assessing the situation. "Two at once… I can handle this. Just… stay calm."
[Target Detected: 2 x C-Rank Monsters]
[Recommended Action: Engage Sequentially]
I took a deep breath. Reflexes, Shadow Assault, Silent Movement—all were ready. I moved like a shadow, striking the first monster's legs with a precise blow, then rolling to dodge its counterattack. It stumbled, letting me strike again.
"Not bad," I whispered, testing my limits. "But I can do better."
The second monster charged, claws outstretched. I leapt onto a nearby wall, letting Shadow Assault trigger automatically. Both monsters staggered, howling, but I kept my distance, careful not to let anyone see.
[Skill Upgrade Available: Shadow Assault → Shadow Storm]
[Experience Gained: 40/100]
I hesitated for a split second, then applied the upgrade. My movements became fluid, almost instinctive. Each strike was faster, each dodge sharper. I was stronger than I had ever been, but still invisible to the world.
One monster lunged at me from the side. I rolled, Shadow Storm activating perfectly, striking both creatures simultaneously. They shrieked and retreated into their Gates, leaving me alone in the empty street.
Panting, I crouched on the pavement. "Not bad… for a weak F-Rank," I muttered, letting the words taste like a secret victory.
The system blinked in my vision. [Daily Quest Complete: Multi-Target Engagement]
[Rewards: Reflex +5, Strength +3, Skill Points Available]
I let the adrenaline fade, eyes scanning the area. More Gates could open anytime. I had to be ready, stronger, faster, smarter. My hands flexed, muscles coiling like springs, while my mind ran through strategies and escape routes.
"Tomorrow… I'll push even further," I whispered, glancing at the city lights below. "They think I'm weak… but they don't know. Not yet."
The system prompted quietly, almost like a warning. [Higher Threat Approaching — B-Rank Monster Predicted]
I smiled faintly. "Good… I like a challenge."
As I returned home before dawn, keeping to rooftops and back alleys, my family remained blissfully unaware. My little sister tumbled past me, calling for breakfast. My mother glanced up, frowning, worried about me staying out late.
"I'm fine," I said, smiling as casually as ever. "Just… walked a lot."
They didn't know. They couldn't know. And for now, that was exactly how it had to be.
The city slept, Gates shimmered in secret, and one hidden F-Rank hunter had begun a journey the world would never forget.
---
The sun had barely set when I slipped out again. The city lights flickered in the distance, and the outskirts were darker than ever. Three faint pulses glimmered ahead—B-Rank Gates.
The system's calm blue light floated in my vision. [Warning: B-Rank Monster Detected — High Threat]
[Recommended Action: Avoid Engagement if Possible]
I shook my head. Avoid? Not an option. I had come this far. Survival wasn't just about living—it was about getting stronger.
From the first Gate emerged a creature unlike any I had seen before. Taller, thicker-skinned, with claws like curved blades and teeth that glinted in the dim light. Its eyes burned red, scanning the area.
[Target: B-Rank Monster — Confirmed]
[Suggested Action: Engage with Caution]
I crouched behind a low wall, assessing its movement. "Alright… let's see what you've got," I muttered, gripping the pipe I had been training with.
The creature lunged. Reflex Enhancement kicked in immediately, my body reacting faster than thought. I rolled, letting Shadow Storm trigger automatically, striking its legs. It staggered but didn't fall. This was far stronger than the C-Rank monsters.
The system's blue text blinked: [Adaptation Opportunity Detected — High Risk]
[Option: Apply Reflex, Strength, or Stamina]
I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then chose Strength. My muscles surged with raw power, my strikes landing harder than before.
"Not bad… not bad at all," I whispered, circling carefully. Every movement counted. One misstep and I'd be dead.
The monster swiped with its massive claw. I jumped, landing on a nearby crate, and immediately rolled behind it, triggering Shadow Assault. My strikes landed perfectly, exploiting weak points the system had highlighted.
[Skill Upgrade: Shadow Storm → Shadow Tempest]
[Experience: 60/100]
It roared in frustration, stumbling backward, giving me a brief window. I took the chance to test a new maneuver I had practiced in secret—Silent Movement combined with Shadow Tempest. I moved unseen, striking the monster's flank, then flipped back to a safe distance.
[Adaptation Successful: Reflex +3, Stamina +5]
[Experience: 85/100]
The monster growled, its movements slowing. I could feel my body adapting faster than the creature could attack. This was more than raw power—it was survival, training in real time.
With one final calculated strike, I forced the creature to retreat into its Gate. My body trembled with exhaustion, but I was alive—and stronger than ever.
[Daily Quest Complete: B-Rank Encounter]
[Rewards: Strength +5, Reflex +5, Skill Point Available]
I crouched in the shadows, letting the adrenaline fade. My heart still raced, my mind alert. The city was quiet, unaware of the battle I had just fought, unaware that the weak F-Rank student they all ignored had just faced a B-Rank monster—and survived.
I whispered to myself, smiling faintly. "They think I'm weak… they have no idea."
The system blinked once more. [Warning: Multiple B-Rank Gates Detected — Prepare Strategically]
I flexed my fingers, letting the faint glow of the system energize me. The danger was growing. The world would soon demand more than survival. But I had time. I had the system. And I had hidden strength.
For now, nobody could know. Not my family, not the city, not the hunters around me. My growth would remain secret… until the day I chose to reveal it.
And when that day came, the world would remember the name Seo Jinwoo.