As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, Jae-Ho found himself in a secluded clearing, far from the bustling city and its constant reminders of the changed world.
"Alright, it's time to begin," Jae-Ho murmured, steeling himself for the challenge ahead.
With a deep breath, he lowered himself to the ground, crossing his legs and straightening his back, his hands coming to rest lightly on his knees. The cool morning air nipped at his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth he hoped to find within.
"First, clear the mind of any distractions. Everything has to be done with extreme carefulness."
Closing his eyes, Jae-Ho began the arduous task of quieting his mind, each measured breath an attempt to still the tempest of thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. The gentle symphony of nature - leaves rustling in the breeze, birds greeting the new day with their cheerful songs - gradually faded into the background as he turned his focus inward, searching for even the faintest glimmer of the extraordinary power he believed lay dormant within the depths of his being.
Time seemed to lose all meaning as Jae-Ho sat motionless, his concentration unwavering despite the sun's steady climb across the sky. Hours slipped by unnoticed, the world around him changing while he remained steadfast in his pursuit. He delved deep into the recesses of his consciousness, probing every corner of his psyche for any hint, any spark of the extraordinary. At first, there was nothing to be found but the steady, familiar rhythm of his own existence - the constant thrum of his heartbeat, the ebb and flow of breath in his lungs. But as the day wore on, something began to shift. It was subtle at first, barely perceptible, like the faintest whisper of a breeze on an otherwise still day. This new sensation teased at the edges of his awareness, elusive and intriguing.
'Focus,' Jae-Ho urged himself. 'I'm almost there.'
A surge of excitement threatened to break Jae-Ho's hard-won concentration as he became aware of this new presence within himself. With great effort, he forced himself to remain calm, to maintain the delicate balance he had achieved. He focused intently on the elusive sensation, attempting to grasp its nature, to understand its essence. It felt like a warm current flowing just beneath his skin, a wellspring of untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. With painstaking effort and unwavering determination, Jae-Ho attempted to direct this newfound energy, to shape it according to his will, his mind straining with the effort of controlling something so foreign yet so intrinsically part of himself.
Without warning, a jolt of electricity seemed to course through Jae-Ho's body, the sudden surge of power causing his eyes to fly open in shock. His breath came in short, rapid gasps as he struggled to process the profound change that had occurred. The world around him seemed transformed, colors more vivid, sounds sharper, every sensation heightened to an almost painful degree. It was as if a veil had been lifted from his senses, allowing him to perceive reality in its true, unadulterated form for the first time. His gaze dropped to his hands, half-expecting to see visible manifestations of the power now coursing through his veins - perhaps a glow, or sparks of energy dancing across his skin. While there were no outward signs of the transformation, the change within was undeniable. Jae-Ho could feel it in every fiber of his being, a profound shift that marked the beginning of his journey as a Hunter, a moment that would forever divide his life into "before" and "after".
"Is this what it feels like to be awakened?"
As the initial shock began to subside, elation washed over Jae-Ho, tempered by a bone-deep exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. Even as he reveled in his success, he understood with perfect clarity that this was merely the first step on a long and arduous path. The real challenge lay ahead: learning to harness and control this raw, untamed power, to shape it into a force he could wield effectively in the face of the dangers that now lurked in every shadow. With renewed determination burning in his eyes, Jae-Ho rose to his feet, his legs unsteady but his resolve unshakeable. He was ready to begin his training in earnest, to push himself beyond the limits of what he had once thought possible. The path of a Hunter stretched out before him, a road fraught with peril and uncertainty, but also rich with possibility and the promise of a future where he could make a real difference in this changed world.
As Jae-Ho stood, still reeling from the profound transformation he had just undergone, a sudden shimmer in the air before him caught his attention. His eyes widened in disbelief as three golden cards materialized, hovering gracefully in mid-air. Each card pulsed with an otherworldly energy, their edges glowing with an ethereal light that seemed to beckon him closer.
"!!!"
Instinctively, Jae-Ho knew that these cards represented more than just a test of chance - they were a pivotal moment in his journey as a newly awakened Hunter. The weight of the decision before him settled heavily on his shoulders. He understood, with a clarity that surprised even himself, that his choice would shape not only his abilities but potentially the very course of his future in this perilous new world.
Time seemed to slow as Jae-Ho studied the cards, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Each card, though identical in its golden sheen, seemed to resonate with a different energy—one thrumming with raw power, another whispering of agility and stealth, and the third radiating an aura of mystical knowledge," he mumbled.
The choice before him was clear: select wisely, and he would set himself on a path to becoming a formidable Hunter, one capable of facing the myriad challenges that lay ahead.
With a deep breath, Jae-Ho steeled himself, knowing that this moment would define the trajectory of his newfound powers.
His hand reached out, trembling slightly with anticipation and the residual energy of his awakening. As his fingers hovered over the cards, he could feel the potential futures branching out before him, each card a gateway to a different destiny.
"No! Ugh... This is so nerve-wracking. If I don't choose the right card, I'll be stuck with a mundane class for the rest of my life." At the last second, Jae-Ho withdrew his hand. His hesitation was understandable; after all, no one would relish being confined to a mundane class for the rest of their existence.
After a moment of contemplation, Jae-Ho steeled himself and, with unwavering resolve, reached for the card that resonated most powerfully with his awakened senses.
"There's no turning back now," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Jae-Ho's fingers trembled as they hovered over the middle card, a palpable energy radiating from its golden surface. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. Time seemed to slow as he reached out, his fingertips barely grazing the edge of the card before grasping it firmly. In one fluid motion, he pulled it towards him, the card's ethereal glow intensifying as it neared. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears as he held the card before him, poised on the precipice of revelation. The world around him faded into insignificance, his entire being focused on this singular moment - the unveiling of his Hunter class, the defining characteristic that would shape his journey in this new, perilous world. With bated breath and wide eyes, Jae-Ho prepared himself for the truth that lay within the shimmering card, knowing that whatever it revealed would irrevocably alter the course of his destiny.