The night had grown deep. The sky over Seoul was dark, illuminated only by faint stars veiled behind a thin haze of pollution. Kang Hyunwoo trudged along the narrow sidewalk, each step weighed down by exhaustion. In his hand, he clutched a plastic bag containing bread and milk for his younger siblings. His body felt weary, but his mind was far more burdened.

The world had changed ten years ago when the first Void appeared on Earth—a mysterious black hole that brought destruction, chaos, and, in some cases, opportunity. From the Void, monsters emerged, devouring cities and human lives without mercy. But alongside the catastrophe, humanity discovered something new: Mana, a mysterious energy that allowed them to fight back.

With the arrival of Mana, a new profession was born—the Hunter, warriors tasked with protecting humanity from the threat of the Void. However, not everyone could become a successful Hunter. Hyunwoo was proof of that. He was merely an F-Class Hunter, the lowest tier in the ranking system. His earnings were barely enough to support his family, even though he took on small missions almost every day.

As Hyunwoo approached his apartment, he paused for a moment, gazing up at the old building. The paint was peeling in several places, and the windows were riddled with cracks. It was far from an ideal home, but at least it was still a place where the three of them could stay together.

He carefully unlocked the door, hoping not to wake his siblings. But the sound of small footsteps echoed from the living room.

"Oppa?" A soft voice called out—it was Kang Seyeon, his sixteen-year-old sister. She stood by the doorway, looking exhausted in her simple pajamas. Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had just been crying.

"Why are you still awake?" Hyunwoo asked gently as he placed the plastic bag on their small kitchen table.

"I was waiting for you," Seyeon replied. "You've been coming home late too often lately. Did you eat dinner?"

Hyunwoo gave a small smile. "I'm fine. How's Minjoon?"

Seyeon nodded. "He's been asleep for a while. I made sure he ate enough."

"Thank you, Seyeon," Hyunwoo said, trying to hide the guilt gnawing at him. As the head of the family, he felt like a failure. He wasn't just weak as a Hunter—he was weak as a brother, too.

Seyeon looked at him with concern. "Oppa, you don't have to push yourself so hard. If being a Hunter is too dangerous, maybe we can find another way..."

"Don't worry about me," Hyunwoo interrupted, ruffling her hair. "My job is to protect you and Minjoon. That's what matters most."

Even though Seyeon tried to smile, Hyunwoo knew she didn't fully believe his words. And deep down, neither did he. What he said was only half the truth. He didn't just want to get stronger for his family—he wanted strength for himself. He was sick of being weak.

After making sure Seyeon had gone back to her room, Hyunwoo sat down at the kitchen table. He unwrapped a piece of bread and began eating slowly. In the stillness of the night, his thoughts drifted—to his mother, who had passed away two years ago. Han Hyerim had been a strong woman, always supporting them despite the hardships they faced. When she died, it felt as if the weight of the world had fallen onto Hyunwoo's shoulders.

Their father, Kang Sihwan, had disappeared long ago. No letters, no messages—just a lingering absence that left an open wound in their hearts. Hyunwoo often wondered if his father was still alive somewhere or if he had died long ago. But in the end, it didn't matter. What mattered was surviving another day.

---

The next morning, Hyunwoo walked toward the Seoul Hunter Association headquarters. The towering building stood in the heart of the city, boasting sleek, modern architecture. Inside, hundreds of Hunters moved about, each driven by their own goals and ambitions.

But Hyunwoo wasn't like them. He could only take low-ranking missions—hunting weak monsters in Low-Class Voids or running errands for guilds. The risk was minimal, but so was the pay.

"Kang Hyunwoo?" A receptionist called his name from the mission desk.

Hyunwoo stepped forward and handed over his Hunter ID. The receptionist quickly scanned his information.

"Your last mission has been completed. Good. Would you like to take on another one?"

Hyunwoo nodded. "Yes, please give me an F-Class mission."

The receptionist glanced at him with pity. Hyunwoo knew what people like her thought when they looked at him. They saw someone desperate, struggling to survive in a world that had no place for the weak. But Hyunwoo didn't care. He had no other choice.

"Alright," the receptionist said, handing him a slip of paper. "Here's the list of available missions. Pick one."

Hyunwoo scanned the list carefully. Most of them involved exterminating minor monsters near newly-formed Voids. He selected one close to his apartment and handed back the paper.

"Thank you," he said, trying to sound polite despite his exhaustion.

With his mission confirmed, Hyunwoo left the building. On the streets, he spotted a group of high-ranking Hunters walking with confidence. Their armor gleamed under the sunlight, and their weapons looked advanced and powerful. Hyunwoo could only dream of becoming like them.

But he knew that dream was nearly impossible. For someone like him—with below-average Mana and no combat talent—the road to strength was nothing more than a cruel illusion.

"Hyunwoo!" A familiar voice called from behind.

He turned to see a man in his twenties approaching. It was Park Donghyun, an E-Class Hunter who occasionally worked with him.

"Donghyun? How's it going?" Hyunwoo asked.

"I'm good," Donghyun replied with a grin. "I heard you took another mission. Be careful—there have been a lot of unstable Voids lately."

Hyunwoo nodded. "I know. But I don't have a choice."

Donghyun patted his shoulder. "If you ever need backup, don't hesitate to call me. We have to look out for each other, right?"

Hyunwoo gave a small smile. "Thanks, Donghyun. I'll keep that in mind."

After parting ways with his friend, Hyunwoo continued toward the Void where his mission awaited. Along the way, he replayed Donghyun's words in his head. Unstable Voids were a dangerous issue. If he wasn't careful, he could lose his life.

But for Hyunwoo, the risk was worth it. He refused to give up—no matter how impossible the odds seemed. For his family, for himself—he would keep fighting.