AFTER THE CEREMONY…
The crowd hadn't calmed down. Students flooded the courtyard with laughter, disbelief, and pride. Everyone was buzzing about their new powers—showing off flashy skills, comparing ranks, already dreaming about joining top-tier guilds.
I was about to step off the stage when someone called my name.
"Jack. Emma. Liam."
It was the principal. His tone was calm, but the smile he wore… something about it was strange. Knowing. Almost too casual.
"Come with me," he said.
Emma gave him a skeptical look. "Sir, where are we going? Shouldn't we be resting?"
"You'll see," he replied, eyes glinting. "Just follow."
The corridors of the academy were empty now, quiet and cold. Only the flickering of floating crystal lamps lit our path. We walked past the usual halls and stairways until we reached a steel-reinforced door—one I had never seen before.
The principal placed his hand on a crystal panel beside it. It glowed, scanned him, then blinked green.
Beep.
A second panel emerged—a numeric pad. He typed something quickly. A long code, at least 12 digits.
Click.
With a hiss, the vault door unlocked.
Inside, the air felt different—dense with magic. At the center sat a black case glowing softly with red light. He opened it, and pulled out three red cubes, each pulsating like a slow heartbeat.
Emma gasped. "Are those...?"
Liam's voice dropped. "System devices... but these are red. Aren't red cubes restricted?"
The principal nodded. "Yes. These aren't your standard system cubes."
He walked closer, holding the cubes out like sacred relics.
"Ordinary students get white or blue cubes, designed for lower-tier awakenings—Rank B or below."
He looked directly at the three of us.
"But these... are reserved only for those awakened at Rank A or higher. These are pure-interface cubes—no limiters, no pre-loaded classes, no restrictions."
I stared at the cube. "What does that mean for us?"
Emma turned to me, puzzled. "Wait, you seriously don't know what a system cube is?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
She sighed. "It's how we activate our system properly. Without it, your stats are just raw numbers. With it… you access everything—skills, class evolution, party support, even dungeon linking."
Liam grinned. "Basically, it turns you into a real player in this world."
The principal handed me one.
"Focus your mana into the cube's core."
I held it carefully and concentrated.
Then—
A sudden burst of energy exploded in my palm.
Emma's cube turned a sharp crimson red. Liam's pulsed bright silver.
And mine—
Mine glowed gold.
The cube hovered above my hand for a moment, radiating power, before sinking into my chest like a sun melting into my bones. I felt a warm wave surge through my body. It didn't hurt—but it was heavy. Like my soul had been locked inside a shell, and something had finally freed it.
The principal was watching me closely. "As expected from you, Jack…"
He turned and walked toward the door. "The systems are now fully bonded with your awakened cores."
Emma looked at her hands, flexing her fingers. "It feels… real."
Liam's cube had disappeared as well. He was just smiling, like always. "Guess the fun starts now, huh?"
The principal stopped at the threshold. "Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, you'll step into a dungeon for the first time. Your real test begins there."
"A test?" I asked.
He didn't turn around. "Power without control is meaningless. If you want to join a top guild, you need to level up. And fast. Dungeons are the only place where real growth happens."
---
THAT NIGHT – JACK'S APARTMENT
My apartment was nothing special. A concrete block in the east district. No magical furniture, no fancy AI chef, no shower with built-in healing runes.
Just a pan, a stove, and peace.
I made a quick dinner—plain rice and grilled chicken. As I ate, I glanced at my phone. A few missed calls. Names I hadn't seen in years.
Relatives. The same ones who vanished the moment I needed help.
Delete.
No need for old baggage.
After washing my plate, I lay back on the bed. No dreams. Just silence.
Until something pulsed inside my chest.
The golden cube. It was activating again.
My body went rigid. A wave of heat surged through my veins.
System interface updating...
A glowing screen appeared before me—not on a device, but in the air itself. I sat up, blinking in shock.
[ System Interface Initialized ]
Name: Jack Watson
Age: 18
Level: 1
Rank: L
Stats
Strength: 20
Agility: 20
Stamina: 20
Mana: 20
Total Base Stats: 80
Passive Skills
Classless: Can learn any class skill
Basic Swordsmanship (D-Rank)
Active Skills: None
XP: 0 / 100
[ Secret Perk Unlocked: 10x EXP Boost ]
Note: This perk is hidden from public system view.
I couldn't help but grin.
"Most people start with 40 stat points. I have double."
I sat up straighter, eyes locked on the glowing screen.
"I'm not just above average... I'm built different."
---
NEXT MORNING – 7:55 A.M.
I arrived at the academy's training grounds just before 8. The dungeon gates stood open like a giant mouth, mist seeping from its edges. Students were gathered, some nervous, others excited.
The principal stood at the front, voice firm.
"This is your first official dungeon entry. From this point on, everything you do will affect your future class, guild eligibility, and survival chances."
He raised a finger.
"Rule One: No PvP inside the dungeon. If you attack another student, you're out—permanently."
He paused.
"Rule Two: Read Rule One again."
Laughter echoed, lightening the tension.
He gestured to the dungeon.
"The layout is simple:
Green Zone: Basic monsters. Safe for beginners.
Orange Zone: Intermediate threats. Proceed only if confident.
Red Zone: Life-threatening. Do not enter without explicit permission."
He raised his hand.
The gates creaked open.
"Enter."
---
INSIDE THE DUNGEON — GREEN ZONE
The air shifted the moment I stepped through. The world beyond wasn't just a cave—it was a forest. Lush trees, vines, and glowing moss stretched in every direction. The ground was soft, the air damp, filled with fog that made every sound feel distant.
This wasn't virtual reality. This was real.
I gripped my basic training sword.
Time to test myself.
Rustling.
A slime oozed out from behind a rock. Translucent green, slow-moving—but its core shimmered inside.
I charged, swinging once—clean slice.
The slime hissed and collapsed, evaporating into particles.
A number blinked in front of my eyes:
Experience gained: 10.
XP: 10 / 100
I smirked. "Easy."
I moved deeper into the forest. Another sound—low growling.
A goblin stepped out from the mist, gripping a crude wooden club. It snarled and rushed toward me.
I swung first, cutting into its arm.
It screamed, then countered with a heavy swing. I blocked, barely holding my stance.
"Strong. But not smart."
I kicked it back, then tossed a handful of dirt into its eyes.
As it flailed, I rolled behind and drove the blade into its back.
The goblin choked and fell to the ground.
XP gained: 100
You have leveled up.
Level: 2
My chest rose and fell with each breath.
This... this was what I wanted.
Not just the power. The feeling.
I looked at my hands. My blade. My glowing interface.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was my stage now.
And I wouldn't just rise…
…I would dominate.