Jae-eun's calculating smile lingered as the battle's aftermath settled over the devastated street. Corpses of monsters sprawled around them, their twisted forms slowly dissipating into black mist—a sign of the Nexus reabsorbing their essence. Ah Sun-ho stood frozen, gripping his blade tightly, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
"Allies?" he repeated, his voice uncertain.
Jae-eun stepped closer, her boots crunching against the debris. "You've got talent, Sun-ho, but raw talent isn't enough to make it out alive. If you want to stand a chance in this world, you'll need to be part of something bigger."
Ah Sun-ho frowned, unsure of her intentions. "You're saying I should join you?"
"Not just me," Jae-eun said, gesturing to the other Hunters who had begun to regroup. "We're a squad—a team that watches each other's backs. And from what I just saw, you'd be a valuable addition. What do you say?"
Ah Sun-ho hesitated. He barely knew these people, and trusting strangers didn't come easily. But the fight had shown him one thing: surviving alone would be nearly impossible. He glanced down at his bloodied blade, the weight of the decision pressing on his shoulders.
"Fine," he said at last, his voice firm. "I'll join. But if this goes south, I'm out."
Jae-eun laughed, the sound sharp and full of confidence. "Good. But don't worry, newbie—we're not like the others out here. We play fair. Mostly."
2 hours later...
The squad's hideout was tucked away in the ruins of an old industrial district, its walls fortified with salvaged steel and concrete. Inside, the air buzzed with activity. Hunters sharpened their weapons, sorted supplies, and exchanged strategies.
Jae-eun led Ah Sun-ho to a table surrounded by her core team.
"This is the squad," Jae-eun said, motioning to the group. "You've already met me. That's Woo-jin, our sharpshooter."
Woo-jin, a wiry man with sharp eyes and a rifle slung across his back, gave Ah Sun-ho a nod.
"Ji-soo, our medic."
Ji-soo, a petite woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, glanced up from organizing a med kit. "Don't die on me, and we'll get along fine," she said curtly.
"And finally, Tae-min, our tank."
Tae-min, a towering figure with a massive shield strapped to his back, grinned. "Stick close, kid. I'll make sure you don't get squished."
Ah Sun-ho couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Each of them exuded confidence and experience, a stark contrast to his own fledgling abilities.
"Alright," Jae-eun said, clapping her hands. "Let's get to it. We've got a mission."
The mission was simple on paper: investigate reports of a new Gate corruption spreading in the city's outskirts and eliminate any monsters in the area. But as Ah Sun-ho had already learned, nothing in this world was ever simple.
The squad moved in formation, their footsteps echoing through the empty streets. Jae-eun took the lead, her sharp eyes scanning for threats, while Woo-jin covered their flank. Ah Sun-ho stayed in the middle, his hand on his blade, ready for anything.
"Stay sharp," Jae-eun warned as they approached the Gate. The air around it shimmered with a dark energy, the ground cracked and scorched.
A low growl rumbled through the air, and suddenly, the monsters appeared—hulking beasts with jagged claws and glowing red eyes.
"Positions!" Jae-eun shouted.
The squad sprang into action, each member falling into their role with practiced precision. Woo-jin's rifle cracked, taking down the smaller creatures before they could close the distance. Tae-min held the line, his shield absorbing the brunt of the monsters' attacks. Ji-soo stayed behind, ready to heal anyone who fell.
Ah Sun-ho found himself face-to-face with one of the beasts. It lunged at him, its claws slicing through the air. He dodged to the side, his blade flashing as he struck back. The creature howled in pain, but it wasn't enough to take it down.
"Focus, Sun-ho!" Jae-eun yelled, her daggers carving through another monster.
Gritting his teeth, Ah Sun-ho activated Nexus Surge. Energy flooded his body, heightening his speed and strength. With a swift, powerful slash, he cut through the monster's neck, its body collapsing in a heap.
[Monster Defeated!]
[EXP Gained: 200]
[Level Up!]
The notification flashed before his eyes, and he felt the familiar rush of leveling up. But there was no time to celebrate. More monsters were pouring out of the Gate, their numbers seemingly endless.
"This isn't normal," Jae-eun muttered, her brow furrowed. "Gates don't usually spawn this many. Something's wrong."
As if in response, the Gate began to glow brighter, its energy pulsing ominously. A shape emerged from its depths—a towering figure cloaked in shadow, its presence radiating power.
"Looks like we've got a boss," Tae-min said grimly.
Ah Sun-ho tightened his grip on his blade. This was it—a chance to prove himself. But as he stared at the monstrous figure, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
The Shadow Titan:
The monstrous figure stepped fully out of the Gate, its towering form shrouded in a swirling aura of dark energy. Its glowing crimson eyes scanned the squad, and with a deafening roar, it sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"Fall back!" Jae-eun shouted, her daggers already spinning in her hands. "This thing is no joke!"
The Shadow Titan charged, its massive claws tearing through the air. Tae-min braced himself, his shield barely holding against the monstrous force.
"Sun-ho, flank it!" Jae-eun commanded, leaping to the side to avoid a devastating swipe.
Ah Sun-ho didn't hesitate. Activating Nexus Surge, he darted around the Titan with incredible speed, slashing at its legs. His blade struck true, carving into the monster's shadowy flesh, but the wounds quickly regenerated.
"This thing's healing!" Woo-jin shouted, firing round after round at the beast's head. "We'll never kill it at this rate!"
Ah Sun-ho's mind raced. The Titan's strength was overwhelming, and their attacks barely made a dent. He needed to find a way to tip the scales.
Suddenly, the Nexus Allgona interface appeared before him.
[Special Notice: Boss-Level Monster Detected]
[New Function Unlocked: Overclock]
[Overclock: Temporarily sacrifice health to amplify all stats by 300% for 60 seconds.]
Ah Sun-ho's heart pounded. It was risky, but it was their only chance.
"Jae-eun, buy me some time!" he shouted, activating Overclock.
Energy surged through him, but pain followed immediately after. His muscles burned, and his vision blurred, but his body moved faster and hit harder than ever before.
With a roar of determination, Ah Sun-ho leapt high into the air, his blade glowing with the amplified energy. The Shadow Titan swiped at him, but he twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"This ends now!" he yelled, plunging his blade into the Titan's head.
A massive explosion of energy erupted, engulfing the battlefield. When the light faded, the Shadow Titan's body crumbled into black dust, leaving behind an eerie silence.
[Boss Defeated!]
[EXP Gained: 25,000]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
Ah Sun-ho collapsed to his knees, gasping for air as the system chimed with a new notification.
[Congratulations! Unique System Function Unlocked: Nexus Marketplace]
[Nexus Marketplace: Use Level-Up Points (LP) to purchase stat boosts, weapons, armor, and unique items.]
[Current LP: 75 (15 Levels Earned)]
As the words appeared, so did another surprise.
[New Function Unlocked: Hunter Insights]
[Hunter Insights: Gain detailed information about other Hunters, including stats, abilities, and EXP requirements.]
[EXP Tracker Unlocked: Monitor EXP gains and level requirements in real-time.]
Ah Sun-ho stared at the notifications, barely comprehending the monumental changes. But the surprises weren't over yet.
[Class System Unlocked at Level 30!]
[Choose Your Class: Healer, Warrior, Assassin, Magician, ???]
The last option was marked with question marks, and no further information was provided. Ah Sun-ho's fingers hovered over the options.
"Healer," he said aloud. The team turned to him, stunned.
Jae-eun blinked, her expression hardening. "Healer? Are you serious? That's the weakest class! You're wasting your potential."
Tae-min crossed his arms. "You could've been a Warrior, man. Why would you throw that away?"
Ah Sun-ho stood firm. "It's my choice. If this world is built on destruction, I want to heal it. If that makes me weak in your eyes, so be it."
The room fell silent. Then, Jae-eun shook her head. "We can't carry someone who's not pulling their weight. You're on your own, Sun-ho."
Without another word, the squad turned and left, their footsteps echoing in the empty hideout.
Strength in Solitude:
Ah Sun-ho stood alone in the aftermath, his resolve unshaken. The Nexus Allgona chimed again, bringing another notification.
[Congratulations! Unique Class Function Activated: Divine Mend]
[Divine Mend: Instantly regenerate health for all allies within range and remove debuffs. Bonus: Can be used on self.]
And then another:
[Special Passive Acquired: Resilient Heart]
[Resilient Heart: Increases healing effects by 150% and grants immunity to fatal damage once every 24 hours.]
He clenched his fists. His team had abandoned him, but he wouldn't let that break him. He would prove them wrong, not with brute force, but with the power to endure and heal.
A Lone Journey:
As days turned into weeks, Ah Sun-ho honed his abilities, mastering the Divine Mend and exploring the depths of the Nexus Marketplace. Each fight brought new challenges, and though he fought alone, he grew stronger.
He discovered that by strategically investing his LP, he could purchase rare items and abilities. While others focused on raw stats, he diversified his power, acquiring tools that amplified his healing and defensive capabilities.
One day, as he roamed the ruins of a long-abandoned city, he encountered a group of desperate Hunters under attack by a horde of monsters. Without hesitation, he jumped into the fray, using Divine Mend to save them from certain death.
The Hunters looked at him with awe and gratitude. "You're… a Healer?" one of them asked, disbelief evident in their voice.
Ah Sun-ho smiled. "A Healer who fights. Remember that...."