Ten years ago, the world changed forever. Strange black voids, known as Abyssal Gates, began appearing randomly across the earth. These eerie, swirling portals led to another dimension—a vast labyrinth filled with monsters, hidden treasures, and a new element that revolutionized human civilization: Abyssal Crystals. Ranked as the third hardest material on Earth, these crystals became the foundation of new technology, weapons, and economic power.
With the emergence of these gates came an even more astonishing phenomenon—The Awakening. Every human across the world gained a Class, a unique role suited for traversing the labyrinths. Some became Attackers, wielding immense strength; others were Healers, mending wounds with a touch; Assassins who moved like shadows; Tankers who withstood monstrous blows; and Miners, those tasked with extracting Abyssal Crystals. Society evolved rapidly, structured around these newfound abilities.
However, among the billions who awakened, there were anomalies—the Unawakened. Those who never received a Class. They were outcasts, denied entry into the Abyssal Gates, unable to participate in dungeons or the riches they held.
And I was one of them.
Jin-Seok's Perspective
The sound of a fist meeting flesh echoed in the dim alleyway. I collapsed to the cold pavement, gasping for breath as pain radiated through my ribs. Laughter rang in my ears, sharp and cruel.
"Still acting tough, Unawakened?" sneered one of my attackers, Joon-ho, a low-level Attacker who, despite his mediocre stats, loved picking on those weaker than him. "No Class means no future, Jin-Seok. Face it—you're worthless."
Another kick sent me sprawling. I clenched my fists, rage boiling in my chest, but what could I do? Without a Class, I was powerless. No strength, no speed, no abilities. I was just a regular human in a world where everyone else had evolved.
"Let's leave him," Joon-ho finally muttered, sounding bored. "He's not worth our time."
Their footsteps faded, leaving me lying there, bleeding and humiliated. I stared up at the dark sky, the towering buildings casting long shadows over me. Why was I the only one left behind?
Dragging myself to my feet, I stumbled home, each step a reminder of my insignificance. I lived alone in a small, abandoned district—areas the government had long since stopped maintaining due to the frequent appearance of Abyssal Gates. Most people had relocated to safer zones, leaving behind empty buildings and cracked streets. It was a ghost town, but it was the only place I could afford.
But as I approached my apartment, something felt… off.
A low hum filled the air. The hair on my arms stood on end. The moment I turned the corner, my breath hitched—
A gate.
Right in front of my apartment.
Impossible. Gates were always detected and registered by the government. There was no way one could appear without authorities sealing it off. But there it was, swirling with an ominous dark mist, its abyss-like entrance radiating an unnatural energy.
I hesitated. Stepping into an unregistered gate was suicide. But what did I have to lose? I had no future, no power, and no one who cared if I disappeared.
With a deep breath, I stepped forward and entered the abyss.
The moment I crossed the threshold, the world twisted. A suffocating force gripped my chest, and a cold chill seeped into my bones. When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a vast, ancient cavern. Stone pillars stretched toward the unseen ceiling, glowing symbols pulsating along their surfaces. In the distance, the faint sound of something… moving.
Then, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"You have come at last."
I spun around, my heart pounding. A figure stood before me, draped in tattered robes, their face obscured by a deep hood. Not a monster. Not a human. Something… beyond.
"You are the anomaly. The one denied a path."
I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The presence before me exuded an overwhelming aura, something ancient, something powerful. Then, the figure raised a hand, and golden symbols burned into the air.
"Then I shall grant you one."
A blinding light engulfed me, and for the first time in my life—
I Awakened.
Darkness swallowed me whole. The air was thick, suffocating, pressing against my skin like an unseen force. A low hum vibrated through the cavern walls, sending shivers down my spine.
A torch flickered ahead, revealing an ancient corridor lined with towering statues. Warriors, sorcerers, assassins—each figure frozen in time, their weapons poised as if guarding something long forgotten. Symbols etched into the stone pulsed faintly, casting eerie shadows across the floor.
Then, a voice echoed.
"You who have been forsaken... step forward."
I tensed. The voice was neither male nor female—an otherworldly whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"You are a mistake in the world's design. But even mistakes can be repurposed."
The ground trembled. Light flared from the statues' eyes, illuminating the chamber in a blinding glow. A glowing glyph formed beneath me, its intricate patterns shifting like a living entity.
Pain tore through my body. My muscles burned, my bones ached, my mind felt like it was splitting apart. I gasped, unable to scream.
And then, knowledge surged into me. Not one path—but all of them.
The blade of an Attacker. The endurance of a Tanker. The speed of an Assassin. The wisdom of a Healer. The instincts of a Miner.
All Classes. All at once.
I collapsed onto the stone floor, my heart pounding in my chest. The glyph's light dimmed. The pain faded, leaving only power in its wake.
"Rise, bearer of all paths."
A glowing screen materialized before my eyes. For the first time in my life, I had a status.
The sword in my grip felt weightless, yet every fiber of my being screamed that it was real. The moment the Abyss Guardian lunged again, my body moved on instinct.
I sidestepped at the last second—Assassin's Reflexes activated. My reaction speed shot up, and time seemed to slow. I twisted my wrist and slashed upward. The blade bit into the monster's arm, sending sparks flying as it clashed against its hardened flesh.
> [Skill Acquired: Blade Mastery (F)]
A sharp pain shot through my mind, followed by a flood of information. My grip adjusted, my stance shifted, and my swing became cleaner—all in an instant. Skill Assimilation was working.
But the Abyss Guardian wasn't done. It roared in fury and swung its claws in a wide arc. I barely had time to raise my sword before the force of the impact sent me crashing into a nearby wall.
My chest burned. One hit, and I was already struggling.
> [HP: 72/100]
I groaned and pushed myself up. I need to think. I had more than just a swordsman's skills—I had all classes.
A memory flickered through my mind. Tanker's Endurance.
I focused, and my body steadied. My breathing evened out, the pain dulling as my stamina recovered faster than before.
The Guardian charged again. But this time, I stood my ground.
> [Skill Activated: Stone Skin (F)]
A faint, rocky layer covered my arms. The beast's claws slammed into me, but the impact was duller, less sharp. I gritted my teeth and countered—this time with all my strength.
> [Skill Activated: Heavy Slash (F)]
The sword gleamed with power as it cleaved through the Guardian's chest. Dark blood splattered across the chamber floor. The creature staggered back, growling, but I could see it now—I could win.
I stepped forward. My muscles tensed as multiple instincts from different classes merged into one seamless movement. The Guardian roared one last time, raising its claws for a desperate final attack.
But I was faster.
I lunged, spinning mid-air—a move combining Assassin's agility and Attacker's power. The blade found its mark, slicing clean through the monster's neck.
Silence.
Then, a dull thud as the Guardian's head hit the ground.
> [You have defeated the Abyss Guardian!]
[You have leveled up!]
A warm rush of energy surged through my body. Strength. Speed. Awareness. Everything felt sharper, clearer. I wasn't just surviving—I was growing.
As the monster's corpse dissolved into glowing embers, something else remained in its place—a floating, radiant crystal.
I stepped forward and reached out. The moment my fingers brushed against it, the voice returned.
"The path has been chosen. Now, prove you are worthy of it."
A new doorway appeared before me, leading deeper into the unknown.
I clenched my fist. I wasn't the forgotten one anymore. I was the first of my kind. And this was just the beginning.