A faint hum filled the room as the red system window hovered before Ha Jinhyuk, casting a soft glow across the white walls.
He stared at it, eyes narrow, voice low. "So… you're telling me—with you, I can be free?"
[That is correct, Host.]
The words appeared instantly, the digital chime following like a heartbeat.
He gave a slow nod, still processing the enormity of what was happening. "…Then why did my appearance change? And where am I?"
There was a brief pause. Then—
[To answer that, the Host must first understand that… they died.]
The room seemed to fall silent.
[Your original body was severely damaged. When the Host went to sleep in their old world… they passed away. You have been reincarnated into a body more suited to your soul—physically healthy, mentally compatible, and aligned to your aesthetic preferences.]
[The Host is currently in the "Solo Leveling" universe. This setting has been selected to provide a stronger foundation for growth.]
Jinhyuk stood frozen. His breath caught in his chest.
"…So I died. And got reincarnated… into Solo Leveling. And I've got a system window… just like Sung Jin-Woo?"
[That is correct!]
His knees felt weak. He dropped onto the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. 'Solo Leveling… the manhwa I used to read. They even made an anime. It was about this guy—Jin-Woo. Humanity's weakest hunter. E-rank.'
He exhaled slowly and looked toward the ceiling. 'In that world, these gates started opening—portals to dungeons full of monsters. At first, humanity was helpless. But with the gates came mana. And some humans began to awaken… developing powers strong enough to fight the monsters.'
His gaze returned to the red system window floating patiently in front of him.
'Jin-Woo went into one of those weak gates. An E-rank dungeon. But inside that was a second gate—a double dungeon. Inside were these living statues, an altar, and hidden rules you had to follow or die. Half the party got wiped out. Jin-Woo stayed behind so the others could escape… then the system appeared. Offered him a deal: become a Player.'
Jinhyuk whispered, "I remember… and in that world, once you're awakened, your rank is permanent. You can't get stronger. Jin-Woo broke that rule. He started to level up."
He sat up straighter and said aloud, "Hey, System—if you're really a system, can you show me my status window?"
A digital hum echoed as the display shimmered into existence:
Name: Ha Jinhyuk
Job: None
Title: None
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50
Strength: 34
Agility: 20
Sense: 20
Vitality: 20
Intelligence: 20
Points: 0
He leaned forward, eyes scanning every line. 'Huh… This… this looks so familiar. Just like Jin-Woo's interface—but no fatigue stat.'
"Um, System… why does this look so much like Jin-Woo's?"
[While it may appear similar, this system has been uniquely created for your journey toward freedom. As you grow, your system will evolve—revealing new features designed solely for your path.]
Jinhyuk nodded slowly.
"…Okay. Well… what do I do now? I want to ask who made you, but I'm guessing I won't get a straight answer."
Silence.
"Thought so. So… should I go to the Hunter Association and get ranked? But with just 50 MP… that probably puts me at E-rank. And E-ranks can't enter gates alone."
[The System has accounted for this limitation. A special item has been prepared. Please check your inventory.]
'An item…?' he thought.
A new screen opened at his mental command, revealing a glowing key hovering in digital stasis. He tapped on it—and with a soft flash, it materialized in his palm.
A simple, blackened iron key. Cool to the touch, ancient in design, with red markings etched along its spine.
"…Wait. Is this like that key Sung Jin-Woo got? The one that led to Cerberus?"
[Correct. Use the item, and you will be transported into a personal dungeon designed for your current level. You may begin leveling up immediately.]
Jinhyuk took a deep breath.
"Alright. Here goes…"
He closed his eyes, focused on the key—and it pulsed with light. The air in front of him shimmered, then split, as a dark gate tore open midair with a burst of red light. The air rushed inward like a vacuum pulling at the soul.
"…Time to move forward."
He stepped into the gate.
—
He emerged into a world unlike anything he'd ever seen.
The air hit him first—thick, cold, and heavy with the scent of damp earth and copper. He stood in a forest bathed in perpetual twilight, where trees towered like ancient gods. Their bark was dark, almost obsidian, with roots so massive they broke the ground open like scars.
Above, the sky was starless, but a blood-red moon hung low, casting an eerie crimson hue over everything. Mist clung to the forest floor like a shroud, swirling around his ankles with every step. The wind rustled the leaves in sharp, whispering patterns—as if the forest itself were alive and murmuring in some forgotten tongue.
A chill crawled down his spine. "This… doesn't feel like a beginner dungeon."
He turned slowly, alert.
Then—crack.
A twig snapped behind him.
His instincts kicked in. He spun toward the noise, eyes scanning the dense underbrush.
Another sound. Then—
A goblin leapt from the shadows, claws outstretched, its yellow eyes gleaming with primal hunger.
"Shit—!"
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Man it was ages ago since I read the solo leveling manhwa so somethings might be wrong don't blame me but I am going to reread it as I work on this. If you want to please leave a comment, reviews, and powerstones.