Jinhyuk woke up before dawn. His body still ached from the dungeon battle, but his mind was sharper than ever. The words of The Forgotten echoed in his thoughts.
"Your power will set you apart... but it will also make you a target."
He clenched his fist. If he wanted to reach S-Class, he couldn't afford to be weak anymore.
Training started today.
A Morning of Determination
Jinhyuk stepped outside into the cold morning air. The streets were nearly empty, save for the occasional jogger. He took a deep breath and began his warm-up.
His body had always been frail, slow, weak. Even before awakening, his stamina had been terrible. But now, with "Lord of Illusions," he had a weapon.
A weapon is useless if you're too weak to wield it properly.
For the next hour, he ran laps, did push-ups, and shadowboxed.
His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed through.
Step by step.
Day by day.
Testing His Power
After his workout, Jinhyuk found a quiet alleyway. It was time to experiment.
He held out his hand and focused.
Slowly, an illusion flickered into existence. A simple one—just a small, floating orb of light.
It hovered in the air, pulsing softly.
So it works... but how far can I take it?
He concentrated harder. The light shifted, twisted, morphing into the shape of a dagger.
Jinhyuk reached out to grab it.
The moment his fingers touched it—the illusion shattered.
He frowned.
So I can create illusions... but they're not tangible yet.
He needed to find a way to make them real.
The First Step Toward Power
Jinhyuk knew that illusions alone wouldn't make him stronger. He had to train his mind, body, and ability together.
He set a goal:
Physical Strength – Get his body in better shape.
Illusion Mastery – Learn how to make illusions more convincing.
Combat Training – Find someone to spar with.
The sun was rising now, casting golden light over the city.
Jinhyuk wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He wasn't strong yet.
But he would be.
No matter how long it took.
The climb to the top had begun.
---
Jinhyuk stood at the edge of the training grounds, sweat dripping down his face. The early morning workout had drained him, but his mind remained clear.
The world has changed so much in just a few decades…
He sat on a nearby bench, taking a moment to reflect.
The Birth of the Hunter Era
27 years ago, the world was as ordinary as ever. Then, out of nowhere, the Gates appeared.
Massive, shimmering portals opened across the world, leading to dungeons filled with monsters.
The first few years were chaotic.
Countries struggled to contain the beasts pouring out of the Gates.
Governments tried using military weapons, but they barely made a difference.
Cities fell. Millions died.
Then, something even stranger happened—humans started Awakening.
People gained supernatural abilities—enhanced strength, elemental powers, magic, and more. These first-generation hunters pushed back against the monsters, preventing the total collapse of civilization.
With time, humanity adapted.
The Department of Hunter Regulations (DHR) was formed to register and manage hunters.
Guilds were established by powerful hunters, leading expeditions into dungeons.
The economy shifted, with mana-infused resources from dungeons becoming valuable commodities.
What started as a global disaster became a new era.
The era of Hunters.
The Gate System
The Gates weren't just random. Over time, researchers discovered patterns.
Ranked Gates – Each Gate had a designated rank, from D to S-Class.
Dungeon Breaks – If a Gate wasn't cleared in time, the monsters would invade reality.
Mana Influence – Prolonged exposure to mana affected humans and animals, leading to mutations.
South Korea, despite its small size, was a major player in the Hunter world.
It had 8 S-Class Hunters.
6 of them controlled powerful guilds.
1 worked directly for the government.
The last vanished years ago, leaving behind only rumors.
For an average D-Class hunter like Jinhyuk, these people might as well have been gods.
The Role of Hunters
Not everyone could become a Hunter.
Only a small percentage of people ever Awakened.
Among them, many ended up in the weaker D or C-Ranks.
The gap between D-Class and S-Class was like comparing an ordinary soldier to a mythical hero.
Hunters had three main paths:
Independent Hunters – Like Jinhyuk, they worked without guild backing. It paid less but gave them freedom.
Guild Hunters – They joined major guilds, earning high salaries and access to elite resources.
Government Hunters – They worked directly under the DHR, handling dangerous Gates and national security threats.
Jinhyuk had always dreamed of becoming an S-Class Hunter… but right now, he was barely making ends meet.
He needed a plan.
A New Opportunity?
Jinhyuk checked his phone.
A message from Kang Jisoo, the C-Class hunter from his last dungeon raid.
Kang Jisoo: "We're heading into another D-Class dungeon tomorrow. Want in?"
Jinhyuk's heart raced.
This was his chance.
I need more experience. I need to push my limits.
His illusions were still weak. His body wasn't strong enough. But he wouldn't back down.
Jinhyuk typed out his reply.
Jinhyuk: "I'm in."
The next dungeon awaited.