Gi Min Ji's Report and Hyun Woo's Awakening
Gi Min Ji, having issued her final orders to her squad, proceeded to headquarters to report on the anomalies within the Gate and the lone surviving hunter. Kang Jae Ho, following her command, instructed the remaining hunters to return to Post 37 for further investigation. Their footsteps echoed along the empty corridors of the cave, while elsewhere, within the Association's medical wing, Park Hyun Woo began to awaken.
Hyun Woo slowly opened his eyes. Before him hovered a familiar projection, softly glowing in an azure hue. His heart began to race as he read the words suspended in the air.
System:
Mission Completed.
Rewards:
1. 10 Attribute Points.
2. Full Restoration of Host's Functions.
System: Select Action:
"Accept"
"Minimize"
"Decline"
He lay in the bed, overwhelmed. Everything about this seemed surreal. His fingers moved almost involuntarily as he reached out to touch the projection, selecting "Accept." The instant he did, the text on the display shifted.
System: "Rewards Accepted!"
Immediately, a powerful surge of energy coursed through his body. The exhaustion and pain that had plagued him for days vanished as if they had never been. He felt a profound lightness — a sensation he had not experienced even during times of peak health. His muscles no longer ached, and his lungs filled with air as though he had just relearned how to breathe.
Clenching his fists, Hyun Woo raised his hands in front of him. They were his hands, but somehow they felt different — stronger, more resilient. His gaze shifted back to the projection, noticing new details now appearing in the upper left corner of the screen.
Hyun Woo (internally): "Is that... me?"
In the upper left corner, he saw his name: "Park Hyun Woo." Below it were two bars labeled "HP" and "MP," both completely filled. Beneath them, the labels read "Level: 1" and "Rank: E."
His focus then moved to the lower left portion of the projection, where a tab labeled "System" caught his eye. He tapped it, and it expanded, revealing a long list that was currently empty.
Frowning slightly, he minimized that tab and directed his attention to the lower right. Several icons, each resembling a button, were displayed. He carefully moved his finger to the first icon — a backpack labeled "Inventory." When he tapped it, a grid-like space appeared, completely empty.
Hyun Woo (internally): "Just like in a game..."
The next icon was shaped like an anvil — "Repair." Tapping it brought up a description: "Use this tab to restore items. Materials and souls required for completion."
He moved quickly to the next icon — "Shop," which was depicted by a scale. Tapping it displayed a list of items that could be purchased. In the upper right corner of the screen, a message read: "Your Balance: 0 Souls." He frowned, understanding that he could not afford anything for now.
Then he opened the "Abilities" tab, represented by a book. The window expanded to show an empty list, though at the bottom there was a note: "New abilities will be unlocked as you progress."
After that, he navigated to the "Player" icon, which displayed a schematic of his body. Surrounding the figure were slots designated for equipment — helmet, armor, weapons, and accessories. Below the schematic were his attributes: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Endurance, Willpower, and Vitality. Each attribute had a value listed, and at the bottom were 10 unassigned points.
The final icon bore a question mark — "Quests." Tapping it revealed a list of completed and active quests. At present, only one quest was listed: "Survive at All Costs."
His attention shifted to the upper right corner, where three small icons were located. The first, shaped like a heart, indicated "Buff: Accelerated Regeneration." The second, a shield, displayed "Enhanced Defense." The third, resembling a flask, indicated "Immunity to Negative Effects."
Hyun Woo (internally): "This... is a system? But why? Why is it here, and why do I have it?"
His breathing quickened, a sense of unease swelling within him as he contemplated the strangeness of it all. He reached out, attempting to close the projection, but it did not vanish entirely — its translucent outlines remained at the edge of his vision, a constant presence.
Hyun Woo (whispering): "What does this mean? What is happening to me?"
At that moment, the door to the room creaked open. It was the doctor. He paused briefly, taking in the sight of Hyun Woo sitting upright in bed, looking remarkably healthy. A frown creased his brow as he tried to process the impossible.
Doctor: "You... stood up? How?"
Hyun Woo glanced at the doctor, then back at his own hands, still at a loss for words.
The silence of the room was broken by Hyun Woo's voice — low and slightly raspy from the long period of sleep. He lifted his gaze to the doctor, trying to organize the fragmented thoughts racing through his mind.
Hyun Woo: "How long... how long have I been here?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment before pulling a tablet from the inner pocket of his white coat. He frowned as his fingers moved swiftly across the screen, checking the medical records.
Doctor (astonished): "You've been here for two weeks."
Those words echoed in Hyun Woo's mind. Two weeks? His breathing quickened. He strained to recall what had happened, but all that surfaced were hazy images and an overwhelming sense of darkness.
Hyun Woo (after a pause): "The girl... the one who came here... when was she last here?"
The doctor narrowed his eyes slightly, scrolling through the data thoughtfully.
Doctor: "Officer Gi Min Ji from the "Delta Squad" was here three days ago. She stayed briefly, just long enough to check on your condition and leave instructions for us."
Hyun Woo frowned, trying to pull any memory from the void in his mind, but nothing came. Meanwhile, the doctor stepped closer, his face reflecting an incredulity he could no longer mask.
Doctor: "Do you even understand what's happening to you?"
He took a small flashlight from his pocket and began examining Hyun Woo's pupils, then checked his pulse, listened to his heart, and monitored his lungs. Each movement grew slower, as if the doctor couldn't quite trust his own observations.
Doctor: "This is simply unbelievable... You were in critical condition. We didn't expect you to wake up anytime soon. And now, here you are — sitting up and seemingly in perfect health."
His voice wavered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure before continuing with the next question.
Doctor: "What do you remember? What happened in the Gate?"
Hyun Woo closed his eyes, struggling to pull even a single clear memory from the murky darkness. His hands curled into fists, but no concrete images surfaced. He opened his eyes, looking up at the doctor.
Hyun Woo: "I... I remember nothing. Just cold... darkness... and that's all."
The words hung in the air, leaving the doctor even more perplexed. He stepped back, studying Hyun Woo from head to toe as though trying to comprehend something beyond explanation.
Doctor: "This... it's impossible. Your body was depleted, your bones were damaged, and no medication could have healed you to this point in just two weeks. It defies everything we know."
Hyun Woo wanted to respond, but the doctor's next words caught his full attention.
Doctor (continuing): "There's a girl who comes by every day. She says she's your younger sister, Park Yuna. She's been begging us to let her see you."
Hyun Woo's eyes widened, his heart clenching at the mention of Yuna. He immediately tried to get up, but the doctor raised his hands, attempting to restrain him.
Doctor: "Wait! You can't just get up like that!"
Hyun Woo: "Where is she now? Why won't you let her in?"
Doctor: "It's not up to me. The Association's medical division has strict protocols. Only personnel with clearance level A or higher are allowed access here."
Hyun Woo paused, struggling to accept that Yuna had been so close all this time, yet he couldn't see her. His fists clenched even tighter.
Hyun Woo (quietly but firmly): "I need to see her."
The doctor looked at him, noting the unwavering determination in Hyun Woo's eyes — there was no room for negotiation. He sighed and nodded.
Doctor: "I'll see what I can do. I'll speak to the higher-ups and try to get her access. But I can't make any promises."
Hyun Woo closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He knew that everything had changed, and deep within, something urged him to be ready for whatever lay ahead.