I woke up with a pounding headache. Last night's celebration must have been too much. I rubbed my head, trying to remember why I had celebrated so hard. Then it hit me. "Today is the day you'll be awakened kuro!" I said out loud, excitement bubbling up inside me. I quickly dressed and got ready to head to the Hunter's Association.
I stepped into the Hunter's Association, my heart pounding as I took in the crowd. The line for awakening stretched almost to the door, filled with people chatting excitedly. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to go, before spotting the counter near the awakening line. Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the bustling crowd and made my way over.
The worker behind the desk looked up and asked, "Can I see your Hunter's license?"
"I don't have one yet," I replied nervously. "I'm here for awakening."
"oh i see, That'll be 10 gold," the worker said politely.
Without hesitation, I handed over the 10 gold coins I had spent seven years earning through hard work.
The worker slid a small ticket across the counter toward me. "This will get you into the awakening line," he said.
Clutching the ticket tightly, I joined the crowded line. Carefully weaving through the throng of people, I found the end of the line and waited patiently for my turn.
"Excuse me, is this the line for the awakening?"
I heard a voice behind me and quickly turned around to see who it was.
It was a young woman, probably in her early 20s. From her neat appearance and confident posture, she looked like someone from a rich family—someone who could easily afford the awakening.
I paused for a moment before replying, "Ah, yes, this is the line for the awakening," I said politely.
"Oh, I see! Are you here for the awakening too?" she asked curiously.
"Ah, yeah, I am," I replied with a smile.
"I'm Anna, by the way," she said, raising her hand for a handshake.
I shook her hand and replied, "I'm Kuro. Nice to meet you, Anna," I said politely.
After hours of waiting, it was finally my turn. The man guarding the entrance looking menacingly asked for my ticket, and I quickly handed it over. He nodded, letting me in, and guided me to a room.
"Prepare yourself and wait for someone to assist you with the awakening," he instructed before leaving.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I've heard the awakening test involved killing a goblin, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
After a while, someone finally arrived.
"Hello! Nice to meet you. My name is Adrian, and I'll be your assistant for today," he said kindly, raising his hand for a handshake.
"Hello, Adrian. I'm Kuro. Nice to meet you too," I replied politely as we shook hands.
"So, Kuro, are you ready for your test?"
"Sure, I think I'm ready," I replied confidently.
"Alright, Kuro. Do you know what the test is going to be?"
"Is it the goblin? " I asked.
"Yes" Adrian replied.
He motioned for me to follow him, and we quickly made our way to a room i assumed was The training area.
"Please, suit yourself," Adrian said politely, as a pile of various type of weapons appeared—everything from swords to bows, spears, and even some I had never seen before.
"Wow, amazing," I thought to myself as I carefully inspected the weapons, considering which one would suit me best.
I first tried a bow, but unfortunately, I was terrible at it. Then, I picked up an axe. "Heavy," I thought, quickly putting it down.
Next, I tried a sword. "It's light," I noted, and it had a decent size too. I think I'll go with this one. I took a moment to try the other weapons as well, but in the end, I decided, "Alright, I'm choosing this sword."
"Alright, a sword it is," Adrian replied.
"Alright, Kuro, it's time for the real test," Adrian said, smiling.
I nodded nervously and replied, "Yes."
I entered the room as adrian instructed. At the far corner, I spotted a lone goblin.
Gripping my sword tightly, I braced myself. The goblin noticed me almost immediately and charged at full speed. Thankfully, it wasn't armed and was known to be weak.
The goblin charged recklessly, showing no signs of stopping—an act it soon regretted. As it got close, I swung my sword, striking its right side. The blade connected, and the goblin let out a piercing scream.
Not wanting to lose momentum, I launched into a flurry of attacks, swinging wildly like a madman. The goblin was agile, dodging most of my strikes and avoiding the fatal blows. Then, with surprising speed, it lunged and sank its teeth into my left arm.
I cried out in pain, shaking it off with a forceful shove. Anger surged through me as I retaliated, my sword slashing with precision. The goblin collapsed to the ground, desperately crawling away in a futile attempt to escape my relentless assault.
With one final decisive blow, i struck the back of its neck, ending the fight.
A strange sensation suddenly washed over me, and I could feel it, my self being stronger, the feeling of being awakened.
Almost immediately, I sensed something new within me. I could summon what they called a "status window," As it resembles the one's in RPG games. Without thinking, I called it up, and a translucent screen appeared right in front of me, displaying:
[Name: Kuro Takanashi]
[Health: 94%]
[Stamina: 60%]
[Mana: 100%]
[Race: Human - Level 0]
[Experience: 33%/100%]
[Class: None - Level N]
[Experience: N/N]
[Trait: None]
[Proficiency: N/N]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 13]
[Vitality: 10]
[Stamina: 11]
[Defense: 9]
[Magic Power: 10]
[Perception: 12]
[Will Power: 10]
[Stat Points: 0]
[Skills Acquired: 1] - [Chance]
"Congratulations, you are now officially a hunter," Adrian said with pride.
"Thank you," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Can I check your status window? Just need to see if you're one of the lucky ones," Adrian asked.
"Sure," I replied, summoning my status window for him to see.
He studied it for a moment. "Hmm, not bad. You're slightly above average—and look at that, you've got a skill! Most people don't awaken with a skill. Only about 1 in 10 are lucky enough to get one. Lucky guy, huh?"
"Thank you," I said. Then, curious, I asked, "By any chance, do you know what this 'Chance' skill does? I've never heard of it before."
Adrian nodded. "Yeah, I think it's a skill that gives you a chance to earn extra experience points. Pretty useful, honestly."
"Ah, I see. Thanks for explaining," I said politely.
"Anyway, congrats again! You should head to an E-rank dungeon next," Adrian added.
"Yeah, that's what I was planning," I replied with a determined smile.
"Anyway, drink this," Adrian said, handing me a small bottle filled with red liquid.
"This is?" I asked, examining the bottle curiously.
"A recovery potion," Adrian explained. "It'll take care of the wound on your left arm."
I stared at him, wide-eyed. "Isn't this really expensive!?"
Adrian chuckled. "Don't worry, it's an E-rank and it's yours. We provide it as part of the starter items for newly awakened hunters. You'll still have the other two potions once your registration is complete, and you can also keep that sword."
"Wow... thank you," I said, feeling a mix of surprise and gratitude as I uncorked the bottle.
"Anyway, I'm sure you already know this, but when you level up for the first time, you'll get to choose one of three skill options," Adrian explained. "The choices are usually pretty basic, like Swordsmanship, Magic Manipulation, or some kind of defensive skill. Most of the time, they're passive abilities."
"I suggest you pick something related to close combat," Adrian said thoughtfully. "Your highest stats are agility and strength, so those will give you the best advantage."
"Thanks for the advice, ill keep it in mind" I replied.
"Alright, your awakening test is finished," Adrian said with a satisfied nod. He handed me a folded note. "Take this to the Hunter's Management office—the same place where you got your ticket for the awakening."
"Alright, thanks for the help, Adrian! I really appreciate it," I said sincerely.
"Sure, no worries," Adrian replied with a friendly smile.
With the note in hand, I headed toward the Hunter's Management office. Along the way, I ran into Anna.
"Hey! What's up, Kuro? How was the awakening?" she asked, her tone cheerful.
"Yeah, it's done," I replied, holding up the note. "Just need to hand this over to the Hunter's Management so I can get my license. How about you? Did it go well?"
Anna looked a bit nervous but managed a smile. "Not yet. I'm still on my way to killing a goblin. Honestly, I'm really nervous. I've been training for this moment, but it still feels overwhelming. Hopefully, I can do it."
"You've got this, don't worry," I said with a reassuring smile. "You'll handle it just fine."
"Thanks," she said, her spirits lifting. "Anyway, see you later!" she added before heading off, waving as she went.
I waved back and continued my way toward the Hunter's Management office.
"Hello, good afternoon. I was told by my assistant to hand this over regarding my awakening," I said nervously, handing over the note.
"Yes, of course. Please give me a moment to verify it; it won't take long," the staff member replied politely.
I waited patiently as he disappeared into the back room. It didn't take long before he returned, carrying a small collection of items. He placed two recovery potions, three stamina recovery potions, and a set of leather armor on the counter. Finally, he handed me my hunter's license and a sleek watch.
"This watch will help you locate nearby gates. It's an essential tool for hunters, so make sure to use it well," he explained.
"Thank you," I said, grateful for the equipment and the license.
With my items secured and my license in hand, I was officially ready to begin my journey as a hunter.
I made my way to the nearest E-rank gate, stopping along the way to buy some food and water since I planned to stay there for a few hours.
Checking my watch, I noted the time: 1:40 PM. "If everything goes as planned, I should be able to head home by 8 PM," I thought to myself.
Finally, I arrived at the E-rank gate. The towering structure loomed before me, far larger than I had imagined. After going through the necessary procedures—which thankfully went smoothly—I found myself standing at the entrance, staring at the swirling energy of the gate.
"It's bigger than I thought," I muttered under my breath, gripping my sword tightly as I prepared to step inside.
Upon stepping through the gate, a strange sensation washed over me, almost knocking me off balance. I steadied myself quickly, feeling a bit disoriented.
"That was weird," I muttered, rubbing my head. Do I feel like this every time I enter a gate? I wondered, the uncomfortable feeling lingering for a moment.
But as soon as I looked around, all discomfort faded.
"Woah..." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I took in the sight before me.
An entirely different world stretched out ahead—a vast, breathtaking expanse of wilderness that seemed untouched by time. Towering trees swayed gently in an unseen breeze, their leaves glowing faintly under a pale, otherworldly light. Strange plants and unfamiliar sounds surrounded me, each adding to the surreal atmosphere.
So this is the other side, I thought, overwhelmed by amazement. I've always wondered what it looks like inside a gate, especially since recording devices can't capture anything here.
For a moment, I stood frozen, marveling at the world before me, before finally snapping out of it. Right next to the gate, I noticed a staircase leading down to a small market tucked beneath the gate itself.
Curious, I made my way down the stairs. The market bustled with activity, but not as crowded as I had imagined. Stalls displayed all sorts of items—shiny weapons, shimmering potions, and strange artifacts I couldn't identify. So this is where hunters prepare before heading out, I thought, scanning the scene briefly before continuing on my way.
After about a 20-minute walk, I reached the edge of the wilderness beyond the market. The atmosphere was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and distant animal calls. It didn't take long for me to find my first target—a wolf-like creature grazing near the trees.
But this wasn't any ordinary wolf. It had a single horn on its forehead, and instead of sharp fangs, it had smooth, rounded teeth. Despite its somewhat intimidating appearance, it looked oddly... cute.
This should be easy, I thought, rushing toward it recklessly.
The creature noticed my approach and immediately charged toward me, its horn pointed straight at my chest. As we were about to collide, I swiftly sidestepped to the right and swung my sword, aiming for its side.
To my surprise, the creature was far more agile than it looked. It dodged my attack with ease and countered almost instantly, thrusting its horn toward me. I barely managed to parry the blow, the clash of my sword against its horn sending a jarring vibration through my arm.
Taking advantage of the moment, I grabbed hold of its horn to restrain it and positioned my sword for a decisive strike.
I managed to land a piercing strike to its right side before quickly retreating. My heart pounded as I realized I had underestimated this monster. Unlike the goblin I faced during my awakening, this creature was faster, stronger, and far more aggressive.
The attack I made wasn't fatal—the wolf showed no signs of weakness. Instead, it glared at me with fury in its eyes and charged again, this time with unrelenting anger. I attempted to dodge to the side and repeat my earlier tactic, but this time the creature was ready. Its horn grazed my torso, tearing through my armor. I let out a scream as pain surged through my body.
Stumbling back, I fumbled for the potion I received from the Hunter's Association and quickly downed it. Warmth spread through me as my wound healed almost instantly. Gritting my teeth, I prepared myself for the next attack, gripping my sword tightly.
This time, I decided to face the creature head-on. As it lunged at me, I parried its horn with all my strength, deflecting its attack. Seizing the opportunity, I slashed at its face. My sword connected, leaving a gash across its cheek.
The wolf howled in pain, its movements now slower and less precise, though its fury hadn't waned. It charged again, but the wound on its side clearly affected its speed. I sidestepped its attack, countering with a decisive strike to its left side. My blade pierced deep into its belly this time.
The creature staggered, its movements growing weaker. Wasting no time, I followed up with a swift strike to its neck. The monster collapsed to the ground, defeated at last.
Breathing heavily, I took a step back, my sword dripping with blood. My first real hunt as a hunter had ended in victory.
I felt yet another strange sensation coursing through me. Curious, I opened my status window, only to be greeted with a shocking sight:
[Name: Kuro Takanashi]
[Health: 94%]
[Stamina: 58%]
[Mana: 100%]
[Race: Human - Level 2]
[Experience: 24%/100%]
[Class: None - Level N]
[Experience: N/N]
[Trait: None]
[Proficiency: N/N]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 13]
[Vitality: 10]
[Stamina: 11]
[Defense: 9]
[Magic Power: 10]
[Perception: 12]
[Will Power: 10]
[Stat Points: 5]
[Skills Acquired: 1] - [Chance]
"Level 2!?" I blurted out in surprise, unable to hold back my excitement. "Wow, I didn't expect that monster to give such a high amount of experience. Could this be because of my skill? Yeah, no doubt!"
Feeling triumphant, I scrolled down to distribute my newly earned stat points—only to be hit with another shock.
"Five stat points?" I muttered to myself, wide-eyed. "I'm 100% sure each level only gives two stat points. This has to be the work of my skill again, Chance."
I grinned to myself, feeling a newfound appreciation for the skill that had seemed so simple at first. It wasn't just luck—it was an incredible advantage.
Then, something else caught my eye—a small notification blinking beside my status bar. I tapped on it, and once again, I was floored.
Instead of the usual three skill options, I now had five.
"This... this skill is amazing," I thought, unable to stop smiling. The feeling of triumph surged within me as I prepared to make my next move.
"Its time to choose my fir-, second skill!."