Kuroki Katsumi had always been weak. As an E-Rank Hunter, he barely made enough money clearing low-level dungeons to help his sick mother. While others soared in strength, he remained stuck, his abilities too feeble to make a difference. He was often mocked, and forced to team up with stronger Hunters who treated him as nothing more than baggage.
One fateful day, a D-Rank dungeon suddenly spiked to an S-Rank. His party was wiped out within minutes, leaving Katsumi alone. Bloodied and exhausted, he collapsed before the monstrous Shadow Reaper, awaiting his inevitable end. But just before the killing blow, a strange message appeared before his eyes: "You have been chosen. Do you accept the System?"
With no other choice, he accepted. Power surged through his body, and the darkness around him whispered his name. His once-weak presence changed—his shadow trembled as if alive. As his consciousness faded, he heard a voice echo: "Welcome, Monarch."