The White Heron

A story about the adventures of Sol, a powerless boy in a world where monsters roam around the world.

A large-scale phenomenon changed the world completely in the year 2025. The beliefs and knowledge of people, according to what we believed was true, were uprooted.

A large-scale phenomenon of tectonic movements had suddenly occurred, causing the entire system of geography to collapse. Countries were ripped apart, and new ones started to form.

Then suddenly, as if the sudden extreme movements of tectonic plates were not enough, different plots of land rose from the ground as they stood mighty in the skies. Tombs rose from below and Temples fell from the skies. Towers pierce the clouds as Labyrinths formed beneath the ground. Structures deemed as Lairs had formed all throughout the entire world.

The phenomenon known as the Rupture which had seemed to have changed the world for the worst suddenly came with opportunities.

These structures that formed with the Rupture stood with many riches. Temples made of gold, Floating islands with new fruits that tasted like those from Eden, Labyrinths containing Treasures, Grand tombs, and towers standing tall puncturing the skies all of a sudden caught the eyes of the many. Those who are filled with greed and desperation came running to the new phenomenon deemed as the "Rising."

Without wasting any time, many surrounded these locations in order to steal their glory and money. Tombs that formed in the deserts, Floating islands standing tall in the skies, Towers in the plains piercing the skies, and even Temples submerged in the oceans were no exception. Many people from different places had slowly reached the door of these structures, ready to claim their loot for their own.

But as they opened the door, expecting to gain salvation from the temples, discovery from the floating islands, and riches in the tombs, the people gained the right to see the face of death.

Monsters rushed out of these structures as they were freed to roam around the world. Beasts that originated in history, mythology, and absurdity escaped the doors, embracing the new world in front of them. They killed everything they saw. Birds twice the size of an airplane made an entire town their nest. Humanoid creatures roamed the earth as they killed everything in their way. Leviathans, Dragons, Ogres, and Monsters that existed in fiction, came to reality.

Tanks were blown apart by the dragon's breath, guns were useless in front of the golems, and the mind of an individual could only take so much. Those who were scared abandoned the people, those who had families escaped their responsibilities, and those who fought died at the hands of the monsters.

The world where humanity stood at the top of the food chain, vanished with the appearance of these mighty creatures.

The phenomenon they sought as salvation turned out to be their demise.Despair and hopelessness have devoured many.

But when worst came to worst, the hope and faith of those who remained didn't stand in vain. Many have suddenly gained the will to fight again. Yet again, an opportunity appeared with despair. The structures not only released the monsters, but they also released different forms of energy, completely changing the laws and the rules of nature that were already escaping humanity's fingertips. This awakened the everyday normal human to someone who could control the law of nature for their personal use

The natural had turned supernatural. Mages appeared as they utilized mana to form things that could not be formed by a human, utilizing the new ability to kill monsters with their powerful attacks. Martial artists fought hand-to-hand with creatures thrice their size. They strengthened their bodies with Ki as they killed everything with their bodies. These individuals who had honed the disaster for their weapons were called "Hunters."

This awakened the courage and eagerness of people to go take what they had back from their oppressors.

In which the third phenomenon, the Resistance, took place.

Only after ten years had humanity reclaimed at least 30% of the world.They had also formed a new civilization, which was even further improved due to the different and unique abilities of humans and the new resources they could get from the monsters.

Many different strongholds were formed across the world to house the Hunters, but there is only one that could be called the best, Terra, commonly known as the capital of humans. A place built by hunters and a place for hunters. It was built with the intent of rebuilding human civilization and raising strong hunters to protect the world and retake it from its rightful owner.

With this intention, the Academy of Hunters, Tree was built to raise upcoming children who dream of power and justice as strong individuals who will be the pioneers of humanity responsible for protecting and reclaiming their freedom.

Almost all of the children born during the three phenomena were Hunters.But Sol was an exemption. Although he was the most enthusiastic about being a hunter, he was born as a Defect. Only 2% of the world's babies were born as defects. They were people who had no ability, and in a world where abilities are seen to be the saving grace of humanity, abilities define your worth.

Although disappointed by this fact, Sol still lived a happy life. Sol lived a happy and slow life in a nice small stronghold. The resident's abilities might be weak, but their empathy is better than most.

They all treated each other like humans, and they were happy with their lives.

...

However, it appears that the world wanted to see bloodshed.

14-year-old Sol, who went out to pick some berries, came home to nothing. The wooden houses of the stronghold had turned to ash. He strolls around the village as he sees the old couple getting mangled by a huge rat. His friends had their heads ripped off with their arms aflame. His parents hung from the top of their house with their stomachs pierced with wood.

Carrying his bucket, he fell to his knees as he looked at what seemed to be Eden turning into hell.

" There's another one? "

He heard a voice from his side. Sol looked in the direction of the voice, and there he saw a robed man. He could not see his face, but there was a distinct mark on his robe.

" HA, I swear to dod, these monsters are useless. They can't even kill a child? " Another robed man walks behind the man. He spoke with contempt to the monsters and the pitiful Sol.

Sol kneeled on the ground as he looked at the burnt soil. Filled with despair and hopelessness

" I mean, such a useless town is the easiest way to get some life. No? "

" If you guys weren't so useless, maybe you would have survived "

The robed men laugh at Sol. Their wickedness shows as they treat human lives as something that could easily be taken.

"Well, let's stop wasting time now. We still have some happy families to destroy " The man at the front slowly walks towards Sol, taking his time while looking at Sol's desperate figure. He was kneeling like the world had taken everything away from him. As he sees this, however, the man seems to be delighted and excited.

" What a psycho " The other robed man looks at his partner as he smiles in disdain.

The man squats down as he lifts Sol's white hair. He wanted to see his expression more. The looks of scorn, while being hopeless, excite him so much that he joined this organization in the first place.

" Let me see."

As the man lifted Sol's head, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck.

" W--- " He was shocked, so he tried to exclaim, but somehow his voice was not coming out.

He stares at Sol and he realizes what has just happened. The kid had stabbed his neck with a hunting knife, piercing his voice box.

This could easily be healed by the healers at camp... This motherfucker though, the robed man thought as he looked at Sol in extreme anger. If he wasn't a 4* Ki Hunter, he would've died that instant. His eyes curved upwards and he formed a wide smile. His veins bulged as he lifted Sol even higher.

His right arm, which he used to lift Sol, started to increase in size.

" Oi, you're using your ability to deal with a child? What an embarrassment! " His partner's provocative words as he laughed angered him even more.

Seemingly bored with the situation, his partner walked off and started carrying the dead bodies scattered around the village.

' YOU - ' As he started to increase the size of his arm more, his knees suddenly fell to the ground.

' Wha - ' The man was even more puzzled. A knife made out of stone had reduced him to this state. Yeah, he was careless earlier, not protecting his body, but that shouldn't be such an extreme wound. He was a KI Hunter, after all.

His vision suddenly became blurry. Not long after, he spits out some blood. Confused by the whole ordeal, he suddenly thought that there was something wrong with that knife. Only then did he realize what had just happened. Besides, there were some berries lying about. And one of them was a long red fruit in the shape of a tongue with 2 increments on one end. This fruit was none other than the viper's tongue. Not only was the fruit poisonous, but its starch was as deadly as the fruit.

'You piece of- ' His arms, which he had increased in size, suddenly shrank back to normal. He used all his power to look at Sol, expecting to see the look of a scared prey who didn't have the urge to kill, but what he saw was a man who had nothing to lose.

He was scared for his life. He wanted to call his partner for help.

"! " Nothing... nothing at all came out.He wanted to run, but he couldn't move his body due to the intense poison.

Condemned to the absolute edge, he started looking at Sol to ask for pity. knelt on the ground, staring at Sol in fear.

Sol picked up the stone knife as he approached the weakened man.

'Please-'

He understood the look that the man was giving him, even if he wasn't speaking.

" I bet this is what it looked like when everyone asked for mercy."

" My friend Tobias " Sol stared at a mangled corpse beneath a tree. His blonde hair was covered in red, with his head lying on his lap.

"Grandma and Grandpa... " He looks at the old couple holding hands as their stomachs are getting mangled by a great rat.

" Mom... " Sol lifts his arm with the stone knife in hand.

" and Dad " Reaching the peak, he stopped as he looked at the robed man in extreme anger.

" Mercy is not something applicable to you " Sol slashes down with all his might, slitting the throat of the robed man, killing him in the process, staining his pure white hair with blood. However, instead of satisfaction, only sadness and emptiness filled his heart.

He fell to his knees as tears flooded his eyes.

Sol felt weak, possibly due to the mental torture his sight gave him, possibly due to the anger and desperation for revenge. All he knew was that he wanted to rest, and he couldn't stay awake any longer.

But it appears that the world expected him to exact vengeance.

+1000SP

Sol had woken up to the sudden chime he heard.

He opens his eyes weakly. He saw what seemed to be a thin translucent light blue rectangle with writing on it.

[ You have awoken the EX ranked ability Hunting Shop ]

Thus started Sol's journey.

...

" So that's the story you've been addicted to lately? " In a cafe sat a handsome young man. He had brown hair, round eyes, fair skin, and a well-built body. He's currently sipping the hot coffee in his hands as he talks to someone.

" Yeah, isn't it perfect? " Another young man stood opposite to him, with looks that did not fall short of the brown-haired man. He had black hair, sharp yet lazy purple eyes, fair skin, and a well-built body.

As they talked casually, many stole glances at the two of them.

" No, can't you find like 100 other stories that have the same concept as that? " The brown-haired man says as he looks at his friend in disbelief. " I can't believe that the No. 1 actor, Mon, was so addicted to reading a fantasy webtoon. I mean, if we were not in the company cafe, you would be flooded with fans. "

"You're the one to talk Shawn aka Mr. Sunshine, smile as bright as the sun, smile as - " Mon decided to tease his friend.

" I won't help you if you do this... " Shawn was an actor, but he also graduated in creative writing. Mon, who was so addicted to "The White Heron," wanted to make a fanfiction of the story. But he lacked the ability to do so, so he sought his friend's advice.

" You're just jealous, it's better than everything you've ever written before." Mon retorts as he smiles mischievously.

" You and your shitty tongue "

" But anyway, this story is the one you're going to write a fanfic on, right? "

"Yeah, here is the concept " Mon, who was drinking his coffee, gave his phone to Shawn.

Mon was excited to hear what his friends wanted to say and stared at Sol's face to guess what he thought of his writing. He had expected a smile, but Shawn's expression just kept on getting worse.

" Hah... " Shawn put down Mon's phone as he held his temple.

" How do I say this... It's shit... " Shawn hides his eyes from his friend, not wanting to see his expression.

" Not only did you make the protagonist absurdly strong, but you are the protagonist? I mean, what is this? " Shawn suddenly points at a line written in the manuscript.

[Mon], the best-looking man on earth, loved this story so much that he decided to bow 10 times in front of the writing firm's company. And suddenly, the next day, he becomes the protagonist with a punch comparable to 10 nuclear bombs... With his knowledge, he made a refrigerator from scratch, earning him a ton of money. ]

" Like isn't the story in a modern, futuristic world? When they have buildings as tall as ours, holograms and everything, but they do not have a fridge?" Shawn continued to explain all the bad and wrong points in Mon's abstract.

" You should stick to acting, that's what I'm trying to say " Shawn cheekily says to his friend.

" You should also stick to writing " Mon retorted as he smiled.

" This fucker... "

Thus began another round of squabbling between the two.

...

After a long day at work, Mon had gone home. He opens the door to a big mansion as he removes his shoes.

" I'm home... " He whispers under his breath.

He steps inside the huge house. He arrives in the living room, and he turns on the TV.

" Superstar Mon", who was rumored to be the next star in the famous TV show - "

Mon was watching the TV until his eyes switched to a frame on the shelf. There was Mon, who was still a young kid. holding a ball as he smiles widely. And beside him was a middle-aged lady with a soft smile but a face full of wrinkles.

He sighs as he stands up and turns off the TV. He heads to his bedroom and opens his computer.

' The White Heron ' He opens the website and his exhaustion seems to be removed. With a huge smile on his face, he reads the story.

' That fucker Shawn," he thinks to himself as he remembers his words earlier. " Who cares for his opinions anyway?" He mutters as he looks at his manuscript.

He gets up from his seat as he lies on his bed.

...

...

...

An entire hour had passed, but Mon was still awake. He turned and turned, but he was still thinking about the fan fiction he had written.

" I mean we could always just undo the changes " Mon sat up from the bed as he opened up his computer.

" Hah.. " He stretches his arms as he starts typing. At the peak of the night, all you could hear in Mon's room was the clicking of keys on his keyboard.

An entire hour passed, and Mon's room was finally silent. His eyes were reaching their limits as they were trying to close themselves.

" I should probably stop here." He whispers under his breath. " As I thought, weak powers and a weak start are just not for me. I mean, who would want to be weak when they are transported to their favorite story? Standing beside the main character you've grown attached to while killing dragons is the best feeling, no? "

"I'll just revert it back to normal tomorrow. I'm way too tired anyway.

Mon stood up from his seat and laid down on his bed. He closed his eyes and, unbeknownst to him, that was the last time he would ever get to revise his work.