Darkness.
Then, consciousness.
Markus Tenebris' eyes snapped open, his body reacting before his mind could fully process the situation. His breathing remained steady, his muscles coiled, his instincts already primed for survival.
He was alive.
Yet, the last thing he remembered was dying.
The lab. The explosion. The violent rupture in space-time as his experiment collapsed in on itself. He had always known pushing the boundaries of reality came with risks. But what he hadn't expected was this.
Because this wasn't his world.
His fingers curled, feeling the texture of expensive sheets beneath them. Not a hospital. Not a containment cell. His senses sharpened, analyzing every detail of his surroundings.
A modern apartment, minimalist, stylish, and expensive. Whoever he was now, he was not a nobody.
Markus stood up, his movements fluid, controlled. Too controlled.
The body responded too well.
Then, the memories hit.
A storm of foreign thoughts rushed into his mind, threatening to clash against his own identity.
But Markus was no ordinary man.
He seized control, crushing the chaos beneath sheer force of will, sorting through the information with methodical precision.
His name was still Markus Tenebris.
But this version of him was not a scientist.
29 years old. Born in the U.S.A high-level mercenary. Not a soldier, not a Hunter, a professional problem solver. A man for hire, trained in combat, tactics, and survival. No official records, no attachments. A sizable bank account, multiple identities, and absolute independence.
Markus exhaled slowly.
His new body was significantly stronger than his previous one. The original owner had trained relentlessly, his entire life built around combat and survival.
At 2.15 meters tall, he was an absolute monster of a man, his frame a perfect blend of raw power and precision.
His hair, silver-white, his eyes a piercing turquoise, holding the sharp intelligence of a man who never stopped calculating.
But there was something far more important.
The date.
5 March 2024
Markus frowned. Something about this date felt significant.
He picked up the phone beside him, his phone now, and scrolled through the news.
Then, he saw it.
[BREAKING NEWS: A Korean E-Rank Hunter Barely Survives C-Rank Dungeon!]
His sharp turquoise eyes narrowed.
The name Sung Jin-Woo was mentioned in passing, a nobody Hunter who barely made it out of a minor dungeon.
Markus stared at the screen, his mind working at inhuman speeds.
This was before the Double Dungeon.
Before Jin-Woo became the Player.
His lips curled into a smirk.
I know what's coming.
His knowledge of the future had one massive flaw, it was centered on Korea.
The System, the Monarchs, the war between the Rulers, everything that would reshape the world would happen there.
But he was in America.
The powerhouses here were different. The Hunter structure, the strongest Guilds, the upcoming threats, none of it was in his favor.
If he stayed in the U.S., his foreknowledge was practically useless.
Markus' mind raced through the possibilities.
Does he relocate to Korea?
He could arrive early, establish himself before the chaos begins. He knew who would rise and fall. He could control the board. But it was risky, his presence could alter events unpredictably.
Does he remain in America and build his power independently?
Korea was the epicenter, but that didn't mean he couldn't become a monster on his own terms. The U.S. had its own S-Rankers, its own untapped potential. He could surpass the world's expectations from the shadows.
Both had advantages. Both had risks.
But he needed power first.
A strange presence in his mind suddenly surged forward, an instinctive awareness of something hidden within him.
With a simple thought, it manifested.
[Status Window]
Name: Markus Tenebris
Level: 1
Class: None (Upgradeable)
Titles: None
HP: 150/150
MP: 80/80
SP: 100/100
Stats:
Strength: 18
Agility: 14
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 19
Luck: 11
Abilities:
Card Copy – Passive/Active
(Allows the user to copy up to 3 skills, traits, or abilities per day from any target within a 20-meter radius. Copied abilities retain their original level.)
Copied Skills: None
EXP to next level: 0/500
Markus' eyes scanned the screen, absorbing every detail.
A leveling system. The presence of EXP and stats confirmed that he could grow beyond his current limits. Card Copy as his core ability. The description was deceptively simple, but he already knew its true potential. Three copies per day. This meant he could steal skills, traits, or abilities from anyone, without them realizing tithe target loses nothing. Unlike most stealing abilities, this left no trace. No one would know he had their power. Stats gained with every copy. If he copied from someone with 100 STR, he would gain +10 STR permanently. If the target had 200 INT, he would gain +20 INT. This meant he didn't even have to train. He just had to take from the right people. Skill evolution. Any copied skill could evolve once it reached level 10. A basic Fireball could become a city-burning inferno. A Blink ability could evolve into instant teleportation with no cooldown. Nothing was fixed. Everything could grow. Level-up benefits. Every level grants:+1 to all stats.+4 free stat points to allocate anywhere.
Markus smirked.
This wasn't just an advantage.
It was broken.
More than that, it was limitless.
He could steal. He could evolve. He could perfect.
The world had no idea what was coming.
Markus leaned back against the couch, his turquoise eyes gleaming with cold calculation. The logical choice was clear, he had to go to Korea.
His knowledge of the future was only useful in Korea, where the true events of the System, the Monarchs, and the war between Hunters and Rulers would unfold. Staying in the U.S. meant gambling on unknowns, wasting time trying to locate powerful abilities that he knew for a fact existed in Korea. He had already made the decision, he would relocate immediately.
The first priority? Stealth.
Unlike the Guild-controlled Gates of the U.S., Korea's Gates were monitored primarily by the Hunter Association (HA), and their security was… laughable. Most Gates were guarded by simple agents of the HA, not powerful Hunters. If he could acquire a stealth ability, he could move undetected, enter dungeons at will, and steal abilities without anyone realizing it.
And he knew exactly who had such an ability.
A rogue Hunter within the Korean HA. Markus recalled an incident where a low-level official abused his position, smuggling criminals into dungeons and killing them for sport. The man possessed a unique Stealth skill, allowing him to bypass HA monitoring undetected. The moment Markus found him, that skill would be his.
Once he had Stealth, his next priority was Healing and Regeneration.
Lee Joohee – The hot female Hunter from Jin-Woo's party in the Double Dungeon. She had a powerful healing ability despite being low-ranked. Markus could use her as a stepping stone, evolving the healing ability far beyond what she ever could. A-Rank Healer in the White Tiger Guild. Korea had few dedicated healers, and Markus recalled a high-level healer working within one of the top Guilds. If he stacked multiple Healing and Regeneration abilities, he could eventually create something on the level of instant self-repair.
Next, Magic.
Markus would not swing a sword like a caveman. Magic was the ultimate weapon, and Korea had some of the best elemental specialists before the System changed everything.
Hwang Dongsoo (Korea's strongest Mage before Jin-Woo) – This arrogant bastard was an A-Rank Mage with high-level Lightning Magic. More importantly, his mana control was incredible. A perfect stepping stone. Baek Yoonho (S-Rank Beast Shifter) – The Guild Leader of White Tiger had enhanced senses, superhuman strength, and the ability to partially transform into a beast. His Predator Instincts were something Markus could evolve into something far greater.
Then, there was Jin-Woo.
That was the biggest question mark.
Jin-Woo wasn't just another Hunter, he was the Player chosen by the Architect. His power came from the System itself.
What will happen if I try to copy the System?
Markus frowned. Would it even appear as a skill card? Or was the System something completely separate from what he could steal?
If it did appear as a skill card, would copying it give him the System too?
The thought alone sent a rush of excitement through him.
Markus smirked.
There was only one way to find out.
The first time he activated Card Copy, the effect was… unexpected.
Standing in an airport lounge, waiting for his first flight, he focused on a target, a pilot walking past him, a man who had likely logged thousands of flight hours.
And then, he saw them.
Glowing cards, hovering around the man's body.
They appeared semi-transparent, floating in his field of vision, neatly arranged in a circular pattern around the pilot. Each card had a title, a description, and a level indicator.
[Select up to three cards to copy.]
[Advanced Aviation Knowledge – Level 6] (In-depth knowledge of flight mechanics, aircraft handling, and emergency protocols.)
[Situational Awareness – Level 4] (Enhanced perception of one's environment, reducing blind spots and improving reaction time.)
[Multilingual Proficiency (English, Spanish, French) – Level 5] (Fluent communication in multiple languages.)
[Emergency Landing Expertise – Level 6] (Specialized skill in handling critical aircraft malfunctions and forced landings.)
[Enhanced Focus – Level 3] (Increased ability to stay concentrated under pressure.)
[Quick Decision-Making – Level 3] (Ability to rapidly assess and react to dynamic situations.)
Markus' eyes scanned the selection, absorbing every detail.
"I can only take three…"
Without hesitation, he selected:
[Advanced Aviation Knowledge – Level 6]
[Situational Awareness – Level 4]
[Multilingual Proficiency – Level 5]
A new prompt appeared.
[Would you like to integrate the copied cards now?]
[Yes] [No]
Markus paused.
He had assumed he would simply gain the abilities instantly, but this meant he had a choice, to integrate now or store them.
He selected "No."
And then, something even more surprising happened.
The cards didn't vanish. Instead, they moved into a separate screen, neatly stored.
[Inventory Unlocked]
[Available Storage: 10 Slots (Linked to INT: 20)]
Markus' breath hitched slightly.
An inventory.
A personal subspace, linked to his Intelligence stat. Right now, with an INT of 20, he had 10 slots available. If he increased his INT, he would gain more.
That… was invaluable.
As a precaution, he immediately stashed his cash and valuables inside. A large sum of physical currency, gold bars, and high-value bearer bonds, all safely hidden inside his personal subspace.
But he didn't stop there.
Weapons came next.
A pair of pistols, both with silencers, easily concealed yet effective. He wasn't planning to return to his mercenary ways, but he liked options. This way he didn't have to register the firearms and all the headache that generally came with it.
"If I ever go back to that life… this will make things much easier."
Markus smirked, closing the inventory.
Each day, he targeted high-value individuals.
Security Officers:
[Hand-to-Hand Combat Proficiency – Level 5] (Basic proficiency in close-quarters combat.)[Firearm Accuracy – Level 6] (Increased precision and recoil control with firearms.)[Situational Awareness – Level 5] (Enhanced ability to detect threats.)
Pilots & Engineers:
[Advanced Aviation Knowledge – Level 7] (Flight operation, aircraft mechanics.)
[Emergency Response Training – Level 5] (Crisis management techniques.)
[Technical Diagnostics – Level 6] (Troubleshooting complex mechanical systems.)
Doctors & Medics:
[Basic Medical Training – Level 5] (Ability to perform first aid and basic medical procedures.)
[Physiological Understanding – Level 6] (Knowledge of human body mechanics, useful for injury prevention and treatment.)
Athletes & Fighters:
[Reflex Enhancement – Level 6] (Faster reaction time in combat or emergency situations.)
[Endurance Training – Level 6] (Enhanced stamina and energy conservation techniques.)
[Muscle Control – Level 5] (Improved fine motor control and precision movements.)The
On the fifth day, Markus saw a scientist sitting across from him in the business lounge of an airport.
His old life flashed before his eyes.
The research. The endless hours spent pushing the boundaries of physics and reality.
A bitter smirk crossed his face.
"Old habits die hard, huh?"
He activated Card Copy.
[High-Level Theoretical Physics – Level 8] (Advanced understanding of matter, energy, and space-time.)
[Advanced Computer Science & AI Development – Level 8] (Expertise in artificial intelligence, data security, and software engineering.)
[Mathematical Modeling & Simulations – Level 7] (Ability to construct high-level simulations for prediction and analysis.)
[Cybersecurity & Hacking – Level 6] (Understanding of network vulnerabilities, encryption, and digital warfare.)
[Nanotechnology & Material Science – Level 7] (Expertise in advanced materials and microengineering.)
Markus hesitated… then selected three.
[High-Level Theoretical Physics – Level 8]
[Advanced Computer Science & AI Development – Level 8]
[Cybersecurity & Hacking – Level 6]
The moment he integrated the skills, his mind felt like it had been set on fire.
His thoughts became clearer, sharper, faster.
It was like the fog that had always existed in his mind had suddenly lifted. The world made more sense, patterns appearing where before there had been none.
"This… this is incredible."
It wasn't just knowledge. It was understanding.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Markus felt genuinely exhilarated.
[Updated Status Window]
Name: Markus Tenebris
Level: 1
Class: None (Upgradeable)
Titles: None
HP: 430/430 (END x 10)
MP: 315/315 (INT x 5)
SP: 608/608 (AGI + END) x 8
EXP to next level: 0/500
Stats (After 7 Days of Copying)
Strength: 35 (+27)
Agility: 33 (+19)
Endurance: 43 (+28)
Intelligence: 63 (+43)
Wisdom: 47 (+28)
Luck: 19 (+8)
Abilities Acquired (Stored in Inventory)
[Advanced Aviation Knowledge – Level 7]
[Situational Awareness – Level 6]
[Multilingual Proficiency – Level 6] (Fluent in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.)
[Hand-to-Hand Combat Proficiency – Level 7]
[Firearm Accuracy – Level 7]
[Basic Medical Training – Level 6]
[Physiological Understanding – Level 7]
[Reflex Enhancement – Level 7]
[Endurance Training – Level 7]
[Muscle Control – Level 6]
[High-Level Theoretical Physics – Level 8]
[Advanced Computer Science & AI Development – Level 8]
[Cybersecurity & Hacking – Level 7]
[Mathematical Modeling & Simulations – Level 7]
Inventory (31 Slots Available – Linked to INT: 63)
Stored Cash, Gold, Bearer Bonds (Secured in subspace.)Twin Silenced Pistols (For emergencies.)Encrypted Laptop & High-Security Hard Drives (For future use.)
Markus smirked as he reviewed the final results of his journey.
Seven days in, and he was already ahead of the game.
Each copied skill had not only granted him raw power but had also expanded his strategic options. His mind was sharper, his body stronger, and his reaction speed inhumanly fast.
And now, with his feet finally touching Korean soil…
It was time to begin the real hunt.
Seven days in, and he was already far ahead of the game.