< World Monster Hunter Organization Headquarters, 1 Year Later >
The meeting room was a mess. The representatives of the world's top fifty hunter guilds were agitated, after all, a rift was threatening to open. Exactly the same as a year ago. Some of the people there were familiar faces, such as *Ma Yoon-jae*, from the White Reflection guild, or rather, the *rgest* hunter guild in South Korea, and *Shi Jianyu*, leader of the Extreme Lotus guild, the *rgest* hunter guild in China. At the circur table, everyone sat down, and Yoon-jae began:
— We all know the danger that is coming, don't we? - He said, with an analytical face and a cold expression. - We need more awakened ones with truly useful skills! Attack, defense, support... Anything! - He pointed out.
— Indeed, but... In China, we have the most varied hunters and awakened ones. And I'm not just talking about Extreme Lotus, I'm talking about all the guilds and even those not affiliated with guilds! - He said, ughing at the end. - Korea is the fifth strongest country in the world, but... If that's true, we're doomed! - Jianyu ughed again.
Indeed. Lately, Hunters have been getting "weaker" by the day, after all, when you awakened, you were still at level 1. Not all of them had been awakened in the "Great Crisis", the event that started this new world. Hunters who once had imposing skills like "Obsidian Guardian" (Protection), "Tearing Cws" (Attack) or "Attack Buff" (Support), have evolved so much that common skills like "Night Vision" (Support) or "Bde Arm" (Attack) ended up falling far behind.
Ma Yoon-jae kept his face expressionless, but deep down, he knew it was true. Korea urgently needed a savior, a promising young hunter or something like that. However, while they didn't have any of that, they would have to make do with what they had and train the newly awakened with ever greater determination.
— Well... We know that skills are divided into 4 categories: Attack, Protection, Support and Absolute. - He said, as a holographic graph appeared in his hand, which was now extended. - An attack skill is, obviously, focused on dealing damage, a protection skill on defending and a support skill on helping. But... The Absolute Css is a mystery to this day. - Yoon-jae said, pausing to clear his throat. - We know that it exists through some studies, but, so far, we haven't found any registered hunters who have such a skill. That's why we're testing the forced awakening process, which increases the chances of a person being born with one of these skills from just 0.4% to up to 1.4%. It may seem like little, but in numerical terms, it's a lot. - It might seem like a small amount, but a difference of just one percent could be what brings the hero of New Korea to save the country, and not just the country, but the entire world!
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< Elsewhere, Yangcheon-gu's ruins >
Since the "Great Crisis", the Yangcheon-gu residential district has been completely abandoned and taken over by monsters. But now, the New Korea government wants to try to recim the area, as it was once a rge living pce, and it would be interesting to explore there and find out what was left behind, recover bodies (or the remains) of people who were left behind, and also recover the bodies of old monsters to compare with new ones and thus find out how their growth and evolution curve works.
A team consisting of some D and C-Rank Hunters, Demolishers, and Researchers was assigned by the government to explore and hunt for new things in the rubble of one of the former rgest residential buildings in Yangcheon-gu.
One of them then spoke;
— I hope we find something at least decent… - said one of the hunters, as he accompanied the others on their walk to the rubble.
— It would be a shame if we came here for nothing… - agreed another, a D-Rank hunter.
— Stay positive! - said one of the scientists, with a smile on his face. - We’ll find something incredible, I’m sure.
But as they walked, one of the scientists’ eyes shone; the mana detection radar he had brought was glowing green.
GOTCHA!
And then, the excavations began. After a few minutes, the sounds of the jackhammers continued, until finally, one of the excavators found something that wasn’t stone. And then, one of the D-Rank Hunters used his “Superhuman Strength” ability to remove the stones from the path, and then, they found an unconscious young man; but even so, he still had a residual mana barrier on him. His body seemed weak, but even so, his mana was being burned and transformed into vitamins at every moment to keep him alive.
— That's fascinating! - The initially optimistic scientist said, with a smile on his face. - This boy... is still alive!-
And then, the hunters picked him up and put him on their backs, saying that the excavation there was already over.
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< A few hours ter, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital - New Seoul >
When he woke up, Hojin was on a hospital stretcher, a little groggy. His body was limp and he couldn't feel his legs or arms. After all, it had been a year without movement. Even though his body was being nourished by his own mana, all of his muscles were still atrophied. But at least... He was alive. And the world was more peaceful than he thought... And that was good.
"What the hell?"
Those were Hojin's first words that year. The young man was receiving IV fluids to get all the nutrients he needed. At his bedside was a familiar face... Ma Yoon-jae. The leader of the White Reflection guild had personally gone to see the "new discovery" that had been made, and just by looking at that young man, he realized;
— You... Were on that train, right? - He asked, as he looked at Hojin's face, remembering him. - You abandoned the group and said you would "manage yourself".
Hojin looked at Yoon-jae and, despite some physical differences and a slightly deeper voice, he already realized who was speaking;
— Ma Yoon-jae, huh? Really... Things have changed. - Hojin said, coughing. - You really were a good leader from the beginning, huh?
Yoon-jae just smiled, and soon told him to rest, because ter, he would go through some physical tests to be able to be integrated into the monster hunter system.
Hojin, inside, was really impressed. In the game, that would be almost impossible... Humans would never be able to even challenge the monsters' strengths using basic or low-level skills, but nowadays, they actually managed to contain the Dungeons, bel them with rankings and even low-rank hunters were able to hunt other monsters... That wasn't right. But now, it wasn't the time to think about that. At least, not yet. However, Hojin rexed and snuggled into the hospital bed, wanting to recover as quickly as possible...
He clenched his fist, because he didn't want to be a burden. He wanted to get up, hunt, and above all... Be the top 1. Just like when "Chronicles of God's Disciples" was just a game... He wanted, and would, be the best. As he had always been in everything he set out to be. A few days ter, then, he was already well recovered. He could already open his status window just by thinking about it;
╔════════【? STATUS ?】═══════╗
║ ? Strength: ? 10
║ ? Agility: ? 25
║ ? Endurance: ??? 5
║ ? Intelligence: ? 5
║ ? Vitality: ? 5
║ ? Senses: ??? 5
║ ? Mana: ? 5 (+100)
║ ? Free Stat Points: ? 0
╚════════════════════════╝
— Nothing has changed, haha... - He said, until he saw a (+100) on his mana. - What does that mean? - Hojin wondered.
He knew that, while unconscious, he still had a thin yer of mana that covered and protected his body, but he hadn't been the one who had designed it, and in the game's lore there was also no character capable of increasing their mana exponentially while unconscious... At least not that he could remember. He put a hand to his head and, with a sigh, heard the door to his room open once more;
— So, are you recovered yet? - He heard Ma Yoon-jae's now familiar voice.
— Yes. And it's time to get stronger and surpass everyone. - Hojin replied, cooling down his usual personality.
— Hah, you never change. Well, the White Reflection Guild---
— Fuck it, I don't feel like joining any guild yet. - He replied, as he got up from the stretcher and headed towards the bedroom door.
— HEY! You can't do this to me... I paid all your medical expenses and even paid for new equipment for you! - He said, as he pointed to a briefcase on top of Hojin's stretcher.
— Hm... Thanks, anyway. It'll help me evolve. - Hojin said, assuming his usual cold tone.
Then, with a mischievous smile, the young man picked up the briefcase and then used his agility to run away from there. Ma Yoon-jae could very well keep up with him or surpass him in speed, but he preferred to "leave it alone", after all, he would know his pce when he evolved and realized that he could not do everything alone.
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On the other side of New Seoul, Nam Hojin was wearing his new equipment; it was a carbon fiber and velvet armor that was between Rank D and C, the maximum that equipment produced by HUMANS (and not dropped by monsters or Dungeons) could reach without enchantments or contracts with external monsters. But, for them at that moment, it was enough.
— STATUS! - Hojin said, to see the benefits he had gained;
╔════════【? STATUS ?】═══════╗
║ ? Strength: ? 10 (+10)
║ ? Agility: ? 25 (+5)
║ ? Stamina: ??? 5 (+20)
║ ? Intelligence: ? 5
║ ? Vitality: ? 5 (+15)
║ ? Senses: ??? 5
║ ? Mana: ? 5 (+100)
║ ? Free Stat Points: ? 0
╚═══════════════════════╝
There were SO MANY physical benefits! And he would definitely abuse that...
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< Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Ability Assessment Room >
The pce was quite busy, after all, it was a weekday. A day where unawakened people went to see if they had finally gained some ability, or where people who already had abilities went to assess their conditions and see if they had evolved in Rank. But, in a specific wing of the Assessment Room, there were two mysterious figures. One of them was male, tall, drinking a gss of champagne, observing the situation with his amber eyes; The other one was female, also tall, but she, unlike the first one, said something:
— It seems that his evaluation test really was a success... - She said, giving a small smile. - We have the first pyer in our hands.
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╔═════【? SKILL UNLOCKED ?】═══╗
║ ? Name: Third Person Eye
║ ? Css: Absolute
║ ? Description: ??? ╚═════════════════════════╝
*END OF CHAPTER 4.*
