The sunlight streaming through Jinwoo's small bedroom window was almost blinding. He stood in front of the mirror, still in disbelief. His youthful face stared back at him. The same kid he had been fifteen years ago, long before the dungeon invasions had reached their peak and the world plunged into chaos. Except this time, everything was different.
He wasn't the weak, F-rank Ascendant who barely survived low-level dungeons anymore. He had lived through fifteen years of battle, betrayal, and hardship. And now, he had been given a second chance.
"Okay," Jinwoo muttered to himself, clenching and unclenching his fists. "Let's see if this is real." He blinked and the same translucent window from earlier popped up in front of him.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have been chosen as the Limitbreaker.
The path to unlimited growth is now open to you.
New Quest: Break the Shackles of Fate.
Objective: Reach Level 5 within three days.
Reward: Skill Enhancement - Basic Combat Mastery
Failure: Death.
"Of course. It had to be a death penalty," Jinwoo sighed. He had almost forgotten how the system worked. In this world, quests were either a blessing or a death sentence. At least he had three days, but for an F-rank to level up so quickly? It had taken him weeks to get to Level 5 in his past life.
"Three days…" Jinwoo rubbed his chin, thinking. "But I'm not the same as I was back then. I have my memories, my experience, and…" He paused, feeling the raw energy surging within him. He could feel it—this strange power that allowed him to break through limits. But how exactly it worked, he had no idea yet.
First thing's first: He needed a dungeon.
Later that morning, Jinwoo made his way through the crowded streets of Seoul. He passed adventurers and civilians alike, all going about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking in the countless dungeons spread across the world. Ascendants—people like him—were the only ones who stood between humanity and total destruction. Though right now, no one would believe Jinwoo could protect anyone. He still looked like a powerless, F-rank joke.
He arrived at the Ascendant Association's Guild Hall, a bustling building where adventurers signed up for dungeon raids. Jinwoo scanned the board, searching for a low-level dungeon he could tackle alone.
"C-rank… B-rank… too high," he muttered. "Aha! Here we go. F-rank dungeon."
The listing read: [Icefang Cave], a beginner-level dungeon just outside the city. It was a perfect start for him. But even low-level dungeons could be deadly if you were careless. Luckily, he wasn't the same reckless rookie anymore.
Jinwoo headed to the receptionist's desk, where a familiar face greeted him.
"Jinwoo? Is that you?" The young woman behind the counter smiled. "I haven't seen you in ages! You looking to join a party?"
This was Jisoo, the friendly receptionist who had always been kind to Jinwoo, even when the other Ascendants mocked him. In his past life, she had watched him struggle, but now, things were going to be different.
"Actually, Jisoo," Jinwoo said, his voice calm and confident, "I'm going solo this time."
Jisoo's eyes widened in surprise. "Solo? Are you sure? I know you've been training hard, but—"
"I'll be fine," Jinwoo cut in, giving her a reassuring smile. "Just a little F-rank dungeon to stretch my legs."
She hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Well, if you say so. But please be careful, okay? The Icefang Cave might be an F-rank dungeon, but it's still dangerous."
"I will," Jinwoo replied, signing his name on the roster and heading out toward the dungeon gate.
The entrance to the Icefang Cave loomed ahead of Jinwoo, a dark, gaping hole in the side of a mountain. The air around it was cold, unnaturally so, with wisps of frost clinging to the rocks. Jinwoo stepped inside, drawing his cheap, starter sword—a weapon barely worthy of any real adventurer.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, gripping the sword tightly. "Let's see what I can do."
As he ventured deeper into the cave, the familiar icy chill from his past life settled in. The walls were slick with frost, and his breath came out in visible puffs of mist. He knew what was waiting for him further in: Frost Wolves. They weren't particularly strong monsters, but for someone like his old self, even a few of them would've been a death sentence.
But this time, things were different.
Growl.
A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, followed by the sound of claws scraping against the icy ground. Jinwoo didn't flinch. He'd faced these creatures a hundred times before. They were fast and vicious, but predictable.
A Frost Wolf lunged at him from the shadows, fangs bared and claws extended. In his past life, this would have been a moment of panic. But now?
Jinwoo's eyes sharpened, and without hesitation, he sidestepped the attack with ease. His sword flashed, and with a single strike, he severed the wolf's head clean off.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have defeated Frost Wolf.
+10 EXP.
"That was too easy," Jinwoo muttered, a smirk forming on his lips.
More growls echoed through the cave. Three more Frost Wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes locked on him. Jinwoo didn't back down. Instead, he raised his sword and charged.
The wolves leaped at him, but Jinwoo moved like a seasoned fighter, weaving between their attacks with a fluidity that shouldn't have been possible for someone his rank. His sword danced through the air, cutting down one wolf after another with precise strikes.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have defeated Frost Wolf.
+10 EXP.
You have defeated Frost Wolf.
+10 EXP.
You have defeated Frost Wolf.
+10 EXP.
Jinwoo stood over the bodies of the fallen wolves, his breath steady, his mind clear. This power… this feeling of absolute control. It was intoxicating.
"Three wolves down… let's see if there's more," he said, wiping his sword clean. He had barely broken a sweat.
As Jinwoo ventured deeper into the dungeon, the cave opened into a large, icy chamber. There, at the center of the room, a massive Frost Wolf Alpha stood waiting, its fur shimmering like ice crystals, its eyes glowing a deep blue.
"This one's tougher," Jinwoo muttered, tightening his grip on his sword. "But…"
He grinned. "I've been waiting for a challenge."
The Alpha roared and charged, its massive paws shaking the ground beneath it. Jinwoo charged right back, his sword gleaming in the dim light.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New Skill Unlocked: Combat Instinct (Lv. 1)
Temporary Enhancement: Speed +10%
Jinwoo felt a surge of energy flood his body. His movements became faster, sharper. He dodged the Alpha's swiping claws by a hair's breadth, then rolled to the side and slashed at its exposed flank. The creature howled in pain but quickly retaliated, swinging its massive tail at him.
He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and then, in one swift motion, leaped forward, driving his sword deep into the Alpha's neck.
The beast let out one final, deafening roar before collapsing to the ground, its icy body shattering into a thousand pieces.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have defeated Frost Wolf Alpha.
+100 EXP.
You have leveled up.
Jinwoo stared at the glowing message with satisfaction. He was getting stronger—far faster than he ever had before.
"I can break through… even faster than I thought."
He smiled to himself as he left the dungeon. His quest to break the limits had only just begun.
End of Chapter 1