Ah Sun-ho was home, in his small, modest apartment in Seoul. He had always been a bit of a recluse, preferring the quiet comfort of his room to the chaos of the outside world. That day, he had no idea what was happening around the globe. His phone had been on "Do Not Disturb" for hours, and he was immersed in a book, with the faint sounds of television murmuring in the background.
It wasn't until the apartment shook—an unnatural rumbling that sent a glass of water spilling off the table—that he pulled himself from his bubble. A piercing siren blared in the distance. The emergency broadcast system interrupted all channels, screaming warnings of Gate Corruption. But by then, it was too late.
He saw it through his window: a dark, writhing tear in the sky just above the Han River, distorting the evening light. And then, like a drop of ink bleeding into water, a shadow emerged.
Hours later, the world was in shambles. Ah Sun-ho had stayed in his apartment, stunned and confused by the sounds of gunfire and explosions that filled the night air. When morning came, he ventured out, driven by hunger and curiosity.
The streets were empty, eerily quiet save for the distant echoes of growls and screams. It wasn't until he reached the nearby convenience store that he saw them: twisted, insect-like monsters prowling among the wrecked cars. They were feasting on a fallen Hunter, whose body lay motionless.
Without thinking, Ah Sun-ho grabbed a discarded pipe. His heart raced. A strange compulsion tugged at him, urging him to act. With a scream, he swung the metal with all his might, smashing it into the creature's head.
At that moment, he felt a surge of energy. The world seemed to pause as a translucent window appeared before his eyes
[NEXUS ALLGONA ACTIVATED]
Welcome, User.
You have slain your first creature.
You are now a Hunter.
Ah Sun-ho's hands trembled. He blinked at the window, which faded into a simple interface
[Ah Sun-ho - Level 1]
HP: 100 | MP: 50
Strength: 10
Agility: 8
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 7
Remaining Stat Points: 0
His mind reeled. What was this? Some kind of game? The same compulsion that pushed him to kill the monster now nudged him to check the status menu, whispering of power.
Another notification appeared:
To gain EXP, you must slay creatures with life.
To level up, collect EXP.
The New World:
In the weeks that followed, Ah Sun-ho learned quickly. The Gate Corruption was everywhere, tearing open in unexpected places and releasing horrors that shouldn't exist. Cities became battlegrounds, where normal people fled while Hunters fought for their lives—and the promise of power.
Ah Sun-ho became a reluctant Hunter, guided by his stat window, the mysterious Nexus Allgona. He had learned that killing wasn't limited to monsters—anything with a heartbeat offered a chance to gain experience points. Animals, even insects. This knowledge was unsettling, but the stat points were essential for survival. He couldn't ignore it.
Each kill brought him strength, agility, and the promise of more abilities. His body became faster, his reactions sharper. He soon discovered he could allocate stat points, choosing which aspects of himself to improve: Strength for power, Agility for speed, Intelligence for tactical decisions, Endurance for resilience. It was all about choices, and Ah Sun-ho chose to survive.
He began to hunt cautiously, alone, avoiding the chaotic, deadly skirmishes between factions of Hunters who had formed in the aftermath of the Corruption. They were competing not just for survival but for dominance.
One day, Ah Sun-ho stumbled upon a high-ranking Hunter—a battle-hardened woman named Kang Jae-eun—battling a monstrous beast twice her size. From the shadows, he watched her fight with a grace and brutality that left him in awe. But then, something happened. As she struck the finishing blow, a new type of window appeared before both of them.
[Party Request: Kang Jae-eun]
Do you accept?
Without hesitation, he hit Yes. The moment he did, their stat windows merged for a brief moment, and Ah Sun-ho felt a strange surge of power. A flood of information washed over him—techniques, weaknesses, and abilities.
[Skill Gained: Shared Awareness - You can temporarily sense the skills and attributes of another Hunter while in a party. Duration: 1 hour]
Jae-eun's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of him, realizing what had happened. Instead of anger, she gave him a calculating smile. "Looks like you've got potential, newbie," she said. "And if you want to survive in this hell, you'll need allies."
To Be Continued...