"Ugh, my head… Did I drink too much last night?" I groaned, pressing my fingers to my temples as a strange, unfamiliar rush of memories surged through my mind—memories that felt both foreign and oddly familiar, like pieces from a puzzle I'd never seen but somehow knew exactly how to fit together.
Then, just as I was about to shake it off, a sudden mechanical voice echoed in my head, cold and clear:
[System Initializing]
[Recovering memories from wish selections…]
The voice felt like an anchor in the fog of my mind, pulling the scattered fragments together. One by one, the images and moments clicked into place, like someone arranging snapshots in a long-forgotten photo album. My head throbbed as the memories solidified, revealing a picture I'd never seen before, yet somehow… understood. I took a shaky breath, barely managing to keep my footing as I processed it all.
"Wait… Did I actually transmigrate into "Solo Leveling"?" I muttered, my pulse racing with excitement and a touch of disbelief. The name alone was enough to send a thrill down my spine. "Solo Leveling"—a world of hunters, monsters, and unimaginable power. My hands began to tremble as I felt the system's influence settle over me, like some invisible web tying me to this world. As if on cue, the voice returned, accompanied by a new notification:
[Character Templates Fusion Initiated…]
[Naruto Uzumaki (War Arc) – 10%… Madara Uchiha (Six Paths) – 1%… Dio Brando – 1%]
[Body Configuration Template Fusion…]
[Saitama (OPM) – 1%]
I blinked at the strange percentages. Only fragments of each character's power? "System," I asked, curiosity filling my voice, "what's with these template percentages? And what functions do you offer?"
The response came in the same cold, calculated tone, as if the system had anticipated my questions.
[System: Template percentages increase as the host adapts to each character's abilities. Available functions include shop, missions, and dimensional travel.]
[Note: Functions are currently locked due to host's level.]
A smirk spread across my face at the possibilities hinted at in those lines. "Locked, huh?" I mused, crossing my arms as I considered the system's constraints. "So, what are the requirements to unlock them?"
[System: Requirements for unlocking—Shop: Level 5; Missions: Level 20; Dimensional Travel: Level 150.]
My grin widened as I clenched my fists, feeling the faintest hint of raw power surging beneath my skin. Whoever—or whatever—was responsible for all of this… I'd make sure to push these abilities to their absolute limits.
I finally took a moment to glance around, realizing just how unfamiliar the room felt. The surroundings were plain, unadorned, almost sterile. My new memories whispered that my predecessor, Kai, had led a painfully ordinary life. No family, no friends, just a routine existence without anything—or anyone—anchoring him. Black hair, striking red eyes, and a handsome face… It was almost laughable how much he resembled the standard transmigrator trope.
But something in those memories made my heart beat faster. Kai's thoughts revealed an important detail: he lived in the same apartment complex as the protagonist of this world, Sung Jin-Woo. And if my timeline was correct, Jin-Woo hadn't even received his system yet. The possibility sat heavy in my mind. I could seize that power, take it for myself before he ever knew it existed. For a moment, the temptation lingered, but I shook it off with a smirk. Sung Jin-Woo was one of my favorite characters. I had no intention of stealing his moment; in fact, I wanted to see him rise.
"System, show me my status," I commanded, curious to see just what kind of foundation I was working with.
[Status]
Name: Kai Strom
Level: 1
Bloodline: ???
Templates Fusion: Naruto Uzumaki (War Arc) – 10%, Madara Uchiha (Six Paths) – 1%, Dio Brando – 1%
Body Fusion: Saitama (OPM) – 1%
Strength: Country Level (capable of destroying a country with full power)
Speed: Level 1 (capable of moving at superhuman speed, but not at speedster level)
[Note: Strength includes punch force, durability, and recovery]
[Note: Speed includes reflexes, movement speed, and perception]
The stats left me momentarily speechless. Even at this initial level, I could contend with some of the most formidable hunters in the world. The sheer potential of what I could become left me nearly breathless. This world was about to get very interesting.
I grinned as I collected my documents and phone, deciding to pay a visit to the Hunter Association to begin my evaluation. If I was going to get stronger, I'd need experience points, and becoming a hunter seemed like the quickest way to rack them up.
As I moved to leave, a soft voice from the apartment next door caught my attention, every word crystal-clear thanks to my enhanced senses. A girl's voice—soft, pleading, worried. "Oppa, where are you going? You were just discharged from the hospital yesterday. Can't you rest a bit?"
The voice triggered a flash of recognition. Jin-Ah… Sung Jin-Woo's little sister.
Then came a calm, reassuring response—Sung Jin-Woo himself. "It's just a D-rank dungeon. It won't be a problem, and there'll be other hunters there, so it's safe."
My pulse quickened. This was it. The story was beginning. But first, I had my own plans to set in motion.
---
*Near a D-rank Dungeon*
Sung Jin-Woo trudged toward the assigned dungeon, his sister's words echoing in his mind. Her concern wasn't misplaced; he knew better than anyone just how dangerous each raid could be, especially for someone like him, the "Weakest Hunter." But he didn't have the luxury of resting. No matter how low the rank, every dungeon was an opportunity to earn a little money, to carve out a little more security for his sister.
"Hey, Sung! Over here!" The familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Looking up, Jin-Woo saw Lee Joohee approaching, her warm smile a comforting presence. Relief washed over him. She was one of the few hunters he trusted—a rare thing in this line of work. She'd become a friend over the course of several raids, despite being a B-rank. Like him, Joohee struggled with her own limitations; her psychological trauma kept her from attempting higher-level dungeons, making her a frequent face in the lower ranks.
"Ready for today's raid?" she asked, falling into step beside him.
Jin-Woo nodded, managing a small smile. "Same as usual."
The two of them joined the rest of the group near the dungeon gate, a small crowd of familiar faces readying their weapons and gear. For a moment, Jin-Woo's thoughts drifted back to his sister's worried expression, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford to be distracted here.
As they neared the gate, a strange sensation prickled at the back of his neck—a tingling, uneasy feeling. It felt as though someone was watching him, an unseen presence lurking just out of reach.
---
*At the Hunter Association building*
The building looked even more impressive in person than I'd imagined from the manhwa, its gleaming exterior exuding a mix of power and professionalism. I stepped up to the reception desk, where a polished blonde woman glanced up from her screen. Her eyes widened for a split second, as if taken aback, before she regained her professional composure.
"Good morning, sir. How can I assist you?"
"I'm here for my Hunter evaluation," I replied, watching her carefully.
She blinked, quickly nodding as she recovered. "O-Okay, sir. Just a moment while I add your details to the database." She motioned for me to follow her down a hallway, eventually leading me to an assessment room where a large, dark sphere stood at the center—a device designed to measure mana levels and determine a hunter's rank.
"Place your hand on the device and release your mana," instructed the technician at the control panel, his expression wary but professional.
I placed my hand on the sphere, taking a deep breath as I prepared to release my energy. Thanks to the system, the various energies within me had been converted to mana, pooled together into a wellspring far beyond what I'd expected. I had to be careful—I could easily overload the device if I wasn't cautious. Focusing, I released only a fraction of my mana.
Almost immediately, a shrill alarm echoed through the room. The device beeped, and the red warning lights began flashing. The technician's face paled, his hands trembling as he fumbled with the controls, trying to silence the alerts. He looked up at me, shock painted across his features as he came to a realization.
There was only one possibility.
Korea had just gained a new S-rank hunter.