The early morning sun filtered through the cracks in Jin Seo's curtains, casting faint golden rays across the cluttered floor of his small apartment. Jin stirred awake, groaning softly as his sore muscles reminded him of the trials he'd faced in the last few days.
Reaching over to his nightstand, he grabbed his phone, expecting the usual quiet morning routine. Instead, he was greeted with a flood of notifications. The screen lit up with countless news alerts, social media posts, and articles, all featuring one name: Tae Joon.
"Tae Joon, The Rising Star of the Harmonic World!"
"Tae Joon Saves Hundreds from a Rogue Harmonic."
"The Golden Boy of the Century: Tae Joon."
Jin's fingers hesitated as he scrolled through the headlines. His eyes landed on an image of Tae Joon standing triumphantly in front of the defeated rogue Harmonic, his signature cocky grin plastered across his face. The comments were overflowing with praise:
"Tae Joon is unstoppable!"
"I wish I could be like him someday."
"He's the hero we need!"
Jin tossed his phone onto the bed, leaning back against the wall with a heavy sigh. His chest tightened with an emotion he couldn't fully suppress—envy.
"I'm stronger now… but I'm still nothing compared to him," he muttered. "How am I supposed to catch up to someone like that?"
The memory of the crowd cheering for Tae Joon flashed in his mind. It wasn't just admiration that filled those cheers; it was awe and worship. Jin clenched his fists.
"I don't want admiration," he said under his breath. "I just want to be strong—strong enough to never feel powerless again."
As if responding to his thoughts, the system notification appeared in front of him, glowing faintly in the dim room:
[New Ascension Trials Available]
[Today's Trials: 3 Tasks]
Defeat the Shadow Sentinel
Complete the Abyssal Run
Defeat the Chaos Spawn
Jin stared at the screen, his heartbeat quickening. Normally, the idea of facing such tasks would've filled him with dread. But today, he felt different. Today, he was ready.
"Bring it on," he muttered, a fire igniting in his eyes. "I'll complete all of them."
The Harmonic Agency headquarters was a massive, sleek skyscraper located in the heart of the city. It was a symbol of hope and strength for the populace, the place where Harmonics trained, strategized, and coordinated their efforts to protect humanity.
Inside the grand lobby, Sae Rin walked alongside Min Jae, a young C-Class Harmonic she had taken under her wing. Min Jae was lanky and nervous, his eyes darting around as if he didn't belong. His Talent, Earth Manipulation, was only at Stage 2, making him one of the weakest Harmonics in the agency.
"S-Sae Rin, are you sure I'm allowed to be here?" Min Jae asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sae Rin smiled gently, her calm demeanor immediately putting him at ease. "Of course, Min Jae. You're part of the agency. This is your home too."
As they walked, the sound of laughter and loud chatter reached their ears. They turned a corner to find none other than Tae Joon surrounded by a group of admiring colleagues. He leaned casually against the wall, his arms crossed, recounting the details of his latest victory with an exaggerated flair.
"And then, just as he was about to launch his final attack, I struck him with a bolt of lightning so powerful that the ground shook. He didn't stand a chance," Tae Joon said, flashing his trademark grin.
The group erupted into laughter and applause, hanging on his every word.
But as Tae Joon's eyes scanned the hallway, they landed on Min Jae. His expression immediately soured. He pushed off the wall and strode toward them, his presence commanding the room.
"What's this?" Tae Joon said, his voice dripping with disdain. "A C-Class? In the headquarters? What are you even doing here, kid?"
Min Jae froze, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
Tae Joon chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know why the agency wastes resources on weaklings like you. You're a liability, not an asset."
"That's enough, Tae Joon," Sae Rin said, stepping between them.
Tae Joon's cocky demeanor faltered slightly as his gaze met Sae Rin's. She wasn't just an S-Class Harmonic; she was a legend within the agency, known for her quiet strength and unparalleled Talent.
"Stay out of this, Sae Rin," Tae Joon said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.
Sae Rin's expression didn't change, but the air around her grew heavy. Her presence alone was enough to make Tae Joon take an involuntary step back.
"Min Jae is under my protection," she said simply.
For a moment, no one spoke. Tae Joon looked away, muttering something under his breath before turning and walking off. The crowd dispersed, the tension in the air dissipating as quickly as it had come.
Min Jae exhaled shakily, looking up at Sae Rin with gratitude. "Thank you…"
Sae Rin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't let people like him get to you, Min Jae. You have potential—don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Meanwhile, Jin Seo stood in the center of a dark, otherworldly forest. The trees around him were gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like claws. The air was thick with fog, and the only sound was the distant howl of wind.
In his hand, his blade materialized, its surface glowing faintly in the dim light.
The system notification appeared once again:
[Trial 1: Defeat the Shadow Sentinel.]
From the shadows, a figure emerged. The Shadow Sentinel was a towering, humanoid creature covered in black armor that seemed to absorb all light. Its eyes glowed a haunting purple, and its movements were unnaturally fluid.
Jin tightened his grip on his blade, his heart pounding. But there was no hesitation this time—no fear.
The sentinel lunged at him with incredible speed, its massive blade cutting through the air. Jin activated Dash, narrowly avoiding the attack as he circled behind the creature.
With a swift motion, he slashed at the sentinel's side, but his blade barely left a scratch. The creature turned, its glowing eyes locking onto him.
"This is going to be tougher than I thought," Jin muttered.
The battle was relentless, the sentinel's attacks growing more ferocious with each passing moment. But Jin refused to back down. He relied on his speed and agility, striking whenever he saw an opening.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jin found his moment. He activated Dash one last time, appearing behind the sentinel and driving his blade into its back. The creature let out an unearthly roar before collapsing to the ground.
As its body disintegrated into black smoke, the system notification appeared:
[Shadow Sentinel Defeated.]
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Resistance Lv1.]
[Ascension Progress: 14%.]
Jin dropped to his knees, breathing heavily. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, but a small smile played on his lips.
"I'm getting stronger," he said quietly.
Before Jin could catch his breath, the ground beneath him began to tremble. The system notification appeared once again:
[Trial 2: The Abyssal Run Begins.]
Jin looked around as the dark forest shifted and warped, transforming into a vast, open chasm filled with glowing red veins. The air grew heavier, and the sound of distant growls filled his ears.
"Here we go again," he muttered, gripping his blade tightly.
With no time to prepare, he stepped forward into the unknown, ready to face whatever came next.