Hyun Joon's heart raced as he stared at the familiar wooden beams of his workshop. The scent of clay and kiln filled the air, comforting yet disorienting. His hands shook as he brought them to his face, feeling the smoothness of skin unscarred by the horrors of the dungeon. The reflection in a polished vase confirmed it: he was back. Back to being an eighteen-year-old, before dungeons had robbed him of everything.
"How?" he whispered, his voice cracking. Memories of the dungeon, his death at the hands of the ogre, and the cold, emotionless voice replayed in his mind. The phrase "return to the beginning" echoed like a bell, striking him with its truth.
A sharp knock broke his reverie. The door creaked open, revealing his younger sister, Ji Eun, her bright eyes filled with excitement. "Oppa! Don't tell me you forgot! Today's the Awakening Ceremony!"
Hyun Joon's breath caught. The ceremony. It was the day every eighteen-year-old attended to discover their hunter potential. In his previous life, he'd been given the lowest rank: E. A pathetic excuse for power that doomed him to a life of mediocrity and servitude. But now, as he looked at Ji Eun, the spark of determination ignited within him.
"I didn't forget," he said, forcing a smile. "Let's go."
The town square buzzed with anticipation as hundreds of young adults gathered around the Awakening Crystal, a massive, glowing orb that radiated faint pulses of light. Parents and onlookers stood in the periphery, whispering prayers or gossiping about potential ranks. For most, this was a day of hope. For Hyun Joon, it had once been a day of crushing disappointment.
The queue moved slowly, each participant stepping forward to place their hand on the crystal. The orb's glow would intensify, revealing their rank and any special skills. Hyun Joon watched as one by one, his peers discovered their destinies. Most were D or C rank, with a few B's sprinkled in. The rare A rank drew gasps of awe.
"Next! Hyun Joon!" the examiner called, his voice sharp.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Hyun Joon's family was known for their pottery, not heroics. No one expected much from him, and in his previous life, he had lived up to those expectations. But this time would be different.
He stepped forward, his heart pounding. The weight of his previous life, his failures, and the knowledge of what lay ahead pressed on his shoulders. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the crystal. Warmth spread through his palm, and a surge of energy rushed through his body.
The orb exploded with light, blinding the crowd. Gasps and shouts of astonishment filled the square. Hyun Joon staggered back, his vision swimming with colors. When the light finally subsided, the examiner's face was pale, his hands trembling as he read the results.
"S-S rank," he stammered, barely audible over the murmurs. "And… and a legendary skill: Absolute!"
The crowd erupted into chaos. S rank was unheard of in their small town, and a legendary skill was the stuff of myths. Hyun Joon stood frozen, his mind racing. The system's notification appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.
[Skill: Absolute]
Allows the user to copy any skill they observe.
Increases skill proficiency and leveling speed by 300%.
His fists clenched as the implications sank in. This wasn't just a second chance. This was power. Real, tangible power that could elevate him beyond the struggles of his past life. The murmurs around him grew louder, some envious, others reverent.
"Hyun Joon… S rank?" someone whispered. "But he's just a potter's son!"
The examiner cleared his throat, attempting to regain control. "Congratulations, Hyun Joon. You… you have great potential. Use it wisely."
Hyun Joon nodded, his expression unreadable. As he stepped away from the crystal, Ji Eun rushed to his side, her face glowing with pride.
"Oppa! You're amazing! S rank! I knew you could do it!"
He forced a smile, but his mind was elsewhere. He remembered the dungeons, the monsters, and the hunters who rose to prominence. Power alone wasn't enough. He needed to act, to prepare, to survive. And for that, he needed to begin immediately.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Hyun Joon's mind was consumed with plans and possibilities. When it finally ended, he slipped away from the crowd, heading toward the outskirts of town where the forest began. He needed to test his new skill, to understand the limits of Absolute.
Standing in a clearing, he focused on the system interface that only he could see. A faint hum resonated in his mind as he summoned the skill.
[Skill: Absolute Activated.]
Current Skill Slots: 0/5
Observation Mode Enabled.
"Observation Mode…" he muttered. A rustling sound drew his attention, and he turned to see a wild boar emerging from the underbrush. The creature snorted, its tusks glinting in the sunlight. In his past life, such a beast would have been a challenge. Now, it was an opportunity.
The boar charged, its movements predictable. Hyun Joon sidestepped with ease, his reflexes sharper than before. He swung his fist, and to his surprise, his hand glowed faintly as it connected with the boar's side. The creature collapsed, stunned.
[Combat Proficiency Increased: +1%] [Skill Available: Wild Charge.]
Hyun Joon's eyes widened. The system had already copied the boar's skill. He focused on the notification, and the details of Wild Charge appeared in his mind.
"So, this is how it works," he said, a grin spreading across his face. The potential was limitless. With Absolute, he could become stronger than any hunter, faster than any monster. This was just the beginning.
As the boar regained consciousness and stumbled to its feet, Hyun Joon let it go. He had no interest in killing needlessly. Instead, he turned his attention back to the forest, his eyes scanning for stronger prey. He needed to grow, and quickly.
The forest grew darker as Hyun Joon ventured deeper. He encountered more creatures—wild wolves and even a rogue kobold—each battle adding to his growing proficiency and expanding his arsenal of skills. With every encounter, he felt his body responding faster, his movements sharper. The system's continuous notifications spurred him on.
[Skill Copied: Lupine Reflexes.] [Skill Copied: Kobold's Resilience.]
"I'm starting to see how hunters rise to power," Hyun Joon muttered. The thrill of combat, the constant growth—it was addictive. Yet he remained cautious. He knew that the forest, while dangerous, was nothing compared to the horrors of the dungeons.
As night fell, Hyun Joon returned to town, his body aching but his resolve stronger than ever. He slipped into the workshop, careful not to wake Ji Eun. Sitting by the faint glow of the kiln, he pulled up the system interface again.
[Current Skill Slots: 3/5] [Available Skills: Wild Charge, Lupine Reflexes, Kobold's Resilience.]
He stared at the list, his mind racing with possibilities. Each skill represented an edge, a step closer to rewriting his destiny. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
"I need more," he whispered. "More power, more skills. I need to be ready for the first dungeon break."
The memory of the dungeon's collapse in his previous life haunted him. He could still see the faces of those who had died, the chaos, the despair. This time, he would be ready. He would face the dungeons on his terms.
As the first light of dawn crept through the window, Hyun Joon stood, his fatigue forgotten. The path ahead was clear, and he wouldn't waste this second chance.
"This time," he said, his voice firm, "I'll change everything."
The days that followed were a blur of preparation. Hyun Joon balanced his training with his duties at the workshop, carefully avoiding suspicion. He couldn't risk drawing too much attention, not yet. But with every battle in the forest, every skill he acquired, he felt the gap between his past and present self growing wider.
One evening, as he faced a particularly ferocious direwolf, Hyun Joon felt something shift. The wolf's attacks were faster, its instincts sharper, and for the first time, he struggled to keep up. The system chimed as he dodged a swipe of its claws.
[Skill Mastery Threshold Reached: Lupine Reflexes Enhanced.] [Skill Enhancement Unlocked: Feral Instincts.]
The information flooded his mind, and Hyun Joon's movements became almost primal. He ducked under the wolf's next attack, delivering a crushing blow to its side. The creature fell, and Hyun Joon stood over it, his chest heaving. He wasn't the same man who had died helplessly before.
Returning to town that night, he felt a growing sense of confidence. The first dungeon break was approaching, and for the first time in his life, Hyun Joon felt ready.
"This is only the beginning," he thought, a fierce determination burning in his chest. The Absolute skill was his key to survival, and he would wield it to its fullest potential.