The world changed forever on that fateful day in 2025.
It all started with the system—a mysterious force that awakened supernatural abilities in people between the ages of 18 to 40, granting them what became known as Talents. Some of these gifts were weak and ordinary, but others… they were monstrous. Those blessed with SSS-rank Talents stood at the pinnacle of power, unmatched and unrivaled. Society revered them as gods.
But not everyone was so lucky.
For the one percent of us who drew the short straw, we were given nothing more than F-rank Talents, virtually powerless. Society labeled us as "wastes." I, Sung Jihoon, was one of them.
Or so I thought.
When the Talents first appeared, it didn't take long for the world to discover the Nether Realm—an alternate dimension filled with monsters. Stepping into this world meant manifesting an avatar, a body shaped by our abilities, and fighting beasts that defied comprehension. It was terrifying at first, but we quickly realized nothing in the Nether Realm carried over to our real bodies. Even if we were fatally wounded, we'd simply return to our world, our avatars just a little worse for wear. A hit to our stats, sure, but no real consequences.
With no true danger, it became a game—a sport. People streamed their battles, chasing fame and fortune. It was entertainment for some, a livelihood for others.
And that's where we went wrong.
Instead of using this world as a training ground to prepare for real danger, we developed pain connectors that dulled the sensation of injury. We numbed ourselves, filtering out 85% of the pain that should've made us cautious, resilient. We grew complacent.
Then the Great Cataclysm came.
Portals tore open the sky, spilling monsters into our world. It wasn't a game anymore. It was real. But humanity, blinded by greed and overconfidence, didn't take it seriously. They thought they could handle it like they did in the Nether Realm, with the same cocky attitude. By the time they realized the truth, it was too late. The monsters rampaged across the globe, and ten percent of humanity was wiped out in a single day.
That was our crushing defeat.
We managed to push back the tide of beasts, but the scars they left behind—both on the land and on humanity's soul—still lingered. The day we suffered that crushing blow became known as the Great Cataclysm. From that point on, the world began to understand. The two years we had been given after the Talents appeared had only been a tutorial, a warning. And we had failed it.
The war wasn't over. It had only just begun.
Now, only five percent of humanity remains. Those left either huddle in one of the ten remaining Safe Zones or scrape out a meager existence in the wastelands. Society split into three classes:
The Royals, those who had wealth and power before the world changed and managed to cling to it even now.
The Working Class, the fighters and protectors who risk their lives to keep the Safe Zones secure.
And the Under-Classed Citizens, the poor souls barely surviving, resorting to whatever means necessary just to make it to the next day.
Me? If I had to classify myself, I'd say I'm a rogue. A scavenger. Living on the fringes of society, doing whatever it takes to survive.
My morning routine? Simple. Steal, pickpocket, get what I need to make it through the day. The sky's still red from the lingering remnants of the portals, but it doesn't bother me anymore.
Today was supposed to be just like any other. I snatched a few fruits, took a bite, feeling a small surge of satisfaction.
And then, boom.
A deafening explosion shook the streets. People scattered in all directions, screaming. My heart sank as I looked up. A massive figure loomed in the sky—an enormous frog-like monster, its body pulsating with power.
"Are you kidding me?" I muttered.
My eyes instinctively flicked to its status.
Status:
Name: Behemoth
Rank: S+
Shit. There was no way I could take something like that on my own. I turned, ready to retreat, but the creature moved faster than I expected. It unleashed a devastating attack, and everything around me erupted into flames and ash.
I barely had time to react, throwing up my shield at the last second. The force of the impact sent me flying, my ribs cracking from the recoil, but it was enough to save me. I staggered to my feet, wincing through the pain, only to see the captain of the One-Horn Riders charging toward the beast.
The battle was brutal. At first, the captain was being pushed back, his attacks barely leaving a mark on the monster. But in the final moments, he unleashed a devastating blow, striking the Behemoth down.
Boom.
The massive creature collapsed, shaking the earth beneath it. But the victory was short-lived. The captain, battered and bloodied, stumbled forward, part of his body scorched from the Behemoth's attacks. He wouldn't make it.
And here I was, powerless, watching the world around me crumble once more.
I had just begun to learn my place in this forsaken world.