The morning sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of the small apartment, casting a warm glow across the cluttered space. Zero sat at the tiny dining table, meticulously chopping vegetables. His knife moved with precision, each cut measured and exact, the blade glinting in the light. The aroma of spices and broth simmering on the stove filled the air, creating a strange sense of peace amidst the chaos of the world outside.
"Another day, another mission," Zero muttered to himself, glancing at the faint glow of the system panel floating in his peripheral vision.
[Daily Mission Complete: Prepare a Nutritious Breakfast.]
Reward: Cooking Talent +5, Strength +1.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Cooking had always been something he enjoyed, even before he was thrust into this strange world. But now, thanks to the system, it was more than a simple hobby. Every meal he prepared made him better—stronger, faster, sharper. The stats he gained might seem small, but they added up, and he could feel the difference every single day.
The front door creaked open, and Kara stepped inside, her presence filling the room with a quiet intensity. She still wore her combat gear, her S-class hunter badge glinting on her chest. Her dark hair was tied back into a messy ponytail, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her forehead.
"Another quest?" Zero asked without looking up, focusing on plating the meal.
Kara sighed, dropping her gear bag by the door. "Yeah. A B-class dungeon this time. Nothing too dangerous, but still tiring."
She approached the table, her eyes softening as she took in the sight of the perfectly arranged plates. "You didn't have to do all this, you know."
"You just got back from risking your life," Zero replied, setting a bowl of soup in front of her. "The least I can do is make sure you eat something good."
Kara hesitated, her gaze lingering on him. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself, instead picking up the spoon and taking a bite. Her eyes widened slightly, and Zero couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride.
"Good, right?" he teased, sitting across from her with his own plate.
"Yeah," she admitted, her voice softer than usual. "It's really good."
As they ate, the system chimed again in Zero's mind.
[New Mission Available: Morning Exercise Routine.]
Objective: Jog for 5km.
Reward: Stamina +2, Agility +1.
He sighed internally. The missions always seemed so simple—cooking, cleaning, running—but they had become a part of his life now. He couldn't afford to slack off, not when every stat point brought him closer to his goal.
Kara broke the silence. "Zero, have you thought about... you know, doing something more? Maybe learning self-defense or trying to awaken? You can't just stay cooped up here forever."
Zero's hand froze, his fork hovering mid-air. She didn't know, of course. She thought he was just a regular guy, a civilian trying to survive in a world where power was everything. And he let her believe that because it was easier.
"I'm fine as I am," he said finally, forcing a smile. "I don't need to awaken. You're strong enough for both of us."
Kara frowned, setting her spoon down. "Zero—"
"I'm serious," he cut her off, his tone firmer than usual. "I don't want to put myself in danger. My job is to make sure you come home to a hot meal and a clean house. That's enough for me."
She studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Just... promise me you'll stay safe, okay?"
"I will," he said softly, more to himself than to her.
Because staying safe wasn't his real goal.
As Kara left for another quest, Zero stood by the window, watching her disappear into the bustling streets below. He clenched his fists, the faint glow of the system panel reflecting in his eyes.
[Current Stats]
Level: 15
Strength: 72
Agility: 65
Stamina: 80
Intelligence: 56
Dexterity: 68
For someone who wasn't "awakened," he was far from normal. But he wasn't strong enough. Not yet.
Zero turned away from the window, his jaw tightening. Kara had no idea how much he'd been doing to protect her from the shadows. The system had made him stronger than most hunters would ever realize, but he wasn't going to stop.
One day, he promised himself, he would be strong enough to stand beside her—not as someone she had to protect, but as someone she could rely on. Until then, he would keep growing, one mission at a time.
And no one could know.
The sun was beginning to set as Zero returned to his apartment, groceries in hand and sweat still clinging to his brow from his earlier run. The system hadn't given him any more surprises after the daily mission, and for that, he was grateful.
As he climbed the stairs to his floor, Zero's instincts prickled. The air felt... off, like a storm was brewing in a perfectly clear sky. He shook the feeling off as paranoia and unlocked the door, only to freeze as he heard the faint murmur of voices coming from outside the building.
Zero stepped out onto the balcony and spotted a group of figures standing in the alley below. His stomach twisted. Kara's guild.
He recognized their leader immediately—a man named Dorian, an A-class hunter who was known for his aggressive nature. Beside him stood a few other hunters from the guild, their uniforms and badges gleaming in the fading sunlight.
Zero sighed and set his groceries down inside before heading downstairs. He had a feeling this confrontation was unavoidable.
As he approached the group, Dorian's sharp gaze locked onto him. The A-class hunter crossed his arms, his expression one of pure disdain.
"Zero," Dorian said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Finally decided to show your face, huh?"
Zero raised an eyebrow, keeping his tone calm. "Didn't realize I was hiding. What do you want, Dorian?"
Dorian smirked. "It's not about what I want. It's about what's best for Kara."
Zero's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, waiting for Dorian to continue.
"You're a nobody," Dorian said bluntly. "A civilian with no rank, no power, no future. Kara's wasting her time with you. You're dead weight."
One of the other hunters, a woman with short black hair, chimed in. "You should just let her go. She's too good for you, and everyone knows it. Why are you holding her back?"
Zero's fists clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to stay composed. "Kara doesn't seem to think I'm holding her back."
Dorian sneered. "She's too kind for her own good. But we're not. We've had enough of watching her carry you like some pathetic burden. If you really care about her, you'll step aside."
Zero's eyes narrowed. "And if I don't?"
Dorian stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over Zero. "Then we'll make you."
For a moment, the air seemed to crackle with tension. Zero stood his ground, refusing to be intimidated.
"I'm not stepping aside," he said firmly. "Kara's with me because she wants to be. That's her choice, not yours. If you don't like it, that's your problem."
Dorian's smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of anger. "You think you're tough, don't you? Just because you've been lucky enough to stay alive this long. You have no idea what kind of world you're messing with."
Zero met his gaze without flinching. "You don't scare me, Dorian. And you don't decide what's best for Kara. She does."
Dorian stared at him for a long moment, then scoffed. "You're a fool." He turned to the others. "Let's go. This isn't over."
As the group walked away, Zero let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
[Mission Completed: Stand Your Ground]
Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Charisma
Zero's lips twitched into a faint smile. He didn't need their approval. All that mattered was Kara—and he'd do whatever it took to protect her.
Zero watched as Dorian and the rest of the guild hunters disappeared into the distance. He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Arrogant idiots..."
Just as he turned to head back to his apartment, the now-familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind, accompanied by a soft chime.
[New Mission: Clear the Dungeon]
Details: A dungeon has been detected nearby. Clear it within 2 hours to receive the following rewards:
System Subspace (an inventory for storing items and tools).
Class Awakening (unlocks the first stage of your class progression).
Failure Penalty: Permanent weakening of all stats (-20%).
Zero's eyes widened at the notification. A dungeon? Now? And so close?
"Two hours," he muttered, scanning his surroundings. He opened the system interface to get more details. Sure enough, a small map appeared in his vision, marking the dungeon entrance just a few blocks away.
He frowned. Clearing dungeons wasn't part of his usual routine. The system had always focused on tasks like jogging, cooking, or light training. The sudden escalation in difficulty felt… suspicious.
Still, the rewards were too good to pass up. The promise of a System Subspace alone made his heart race—he'd no longer need to rely on physical storage or lug items around. But the real kicker was the Class Awakening. He had no idea what that meant, but it sounded like the key to unlocking a whole new level of power.
Failure wasn't an option either. A 20% stat reduction would cripple him, and he wasn't about to let that happen.
Zero took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Fine. Let's do this."
Following the system's map, Zero found himself standing in front of an old, abandoned building tucked away in a quiet alley. The structure looked decrepit, with cracked windows and peeling paint. To any passerby, it would seem like just another derelict site. But Zero's system map clearly marked it as the dungeon's entrance.
As he stepped closer, he felt a faint hum of energy. A swirling vortex shimmered faintly in the doorway, visible only to him. The air around it felt charged, almost like static electricity.
[Dungeon Detected: F-Class]
Difficulty: Beginner
Zero exhaled sharply. "Beginner, huh? Let's hope it's as easy as it sounds."
The system chimed again.
[Mission Updated: Time Remaining: 1:57:42.]
"Alright, no time to waste."
With a deep breath, Zero stepped through the vortex, the world around him dissolving into a swirl of light and shadow.
On the other side, Zero found himself in a dimly lit cavern. The air was damp, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the space. Jagged rocks jutted out from the walls, and faint glowing moss provided the only illumination.
The system chimed once more.
[Dungeon Objective: Clear all monsters and defeat the dungeon boss.]
Zero clenched his fists, feeling his pulse quicken. His stats were far above average thanks to the countless missions he'd completed over the past few months. He wasn't the same weakling he'd been when he first arrived in this world.
Still, this was his first dungeon. He'd have to be careful.
From deeper within the cavern, a low growl echoed. Zero's heart pounded as he saw several pairs of glowing red eyes emerge from the shadows.
"Here we go," he muttered, dropping into a ready stance.
[Battle Initiated.]