December 25, 2022 while people were busy celebrating Christmas, a massive rift suddenly opened in the bustling streets of Manlazy
At first, people just noticed something strange in the sky. A faint shimmer, like a crack splitting across the heavens.
A child tugged on his mother's sleeve and pointed upward.
"Mama, a dragon!"
From that crack, a colossal, dragon-like monster appeared out of thin air. Beside it, thousands of goblins and orcs rained down from the sky.
The Philippines was helpless. They reached out to other nations for aid but every country was facing the same disaster.
Then, something changed. People began to feel an unfamiliar energy mana awakening within them.
These newly empowered individuals became known as Awakeners people who had gained special abilities. They learned to harness and control mana, or magicules. the monsters were too powerful but awakeners able to push back the monsters.
And then, a few extraordinary individuals a Hunters those later classified as S-Rank Hunters.
They were the ones who turned the tide. With their overwhelming power, they pushed the monsters back. Humanity began to study the rifts and discovered that if all the monsters within a rift were defeated, the rift would close.
Year 2043 Eighteen Years Later
Eighteen years have passed since the Great Catastrophe that claimed hundreds of millions of lives around the world.
Now, dungeons have become part of the global economy. Magic stones harvested from monsters and magic crystals mined from the rifts are both used as clean energy sources powering cars, airplanes, and ships. Society has become completely dependent on these magical resources for everyday life.
Inside dungeons, people not only find magicules and crystals but also rare metals, weapons, and even creatures that can be processed as food. During Ulitthe chaotic years after the Incident, humans discovered that some monsters were edible and consuming their meat helped people strengthen their mana capacity.
Becoming a Hunter is now the most sought-after profession. A three-star Hunter can earn more in a single expedition than an average person does in months.
Academies across the world now train students in dungeon exploration and combat. Those who awaken with powerful classes become Hunters. Those with weaker awakenings two-star or below often live ordinary civilian lives.
Inside the classroom, the noise of chatter filled the air.
"Yo, Rayan! Did you see the news about our senior, Ethan?" one student said excitedly. "It's only been a year since he graduated, but he's already considered one of the rising rookies! A four-star assassin with almost S-rank mana quality. They said he's this close to becoming an S-class hunter just needs about three more years of training."
"Yeah, yeah…" Rayan replied lazily, his tone clearly annoyed. He was still exhausted after a long night of sword practice and Klaus his best friend is yapping non-stop.
"Hey, you bastard! You're not even listening to me!" shouted his chubby friend, Klaus the son of an A-rank hunter Guild leader of ROYAL KNIGHT GUILD, Klaus famous for being a cheerful slacker and obese who eats like an order according to everyone he was once champion in eating contest.
"Hai, hai, I'm listening, Klaus," Rayan sighed. "It's just that I'm still tired. We can talk later, once I get my class. Today's the day we receive the awakening potion from the professors. Hopefully, I'll get something useful."
"Oh yeah, same here!" Kllaus grinned. "My mom even bought me a charm, and my dad promised to get me a full set of gear once I awaken today."
"Tsk, what a loaded young master," Rayan muttered with a smirk.
"Hey bastard I heard it I'm just being worried about you" Punch Rayan in shoulder but his punches is too weak.
Dont worry aboute Klaus if someone should be concerned it's you! Pointing out to his belly.
"First you are the worst in practical exam, you skip several subjects just to go to cafeteria, you never go to school gym to practice any form of training, you never put any effort.
Hehehe Klaus laughed don't worry Rayan even I don't wanna be a hunter I just want to be a gamer forever.
"It's up to you but me I wanna be a hunter help my dad in the frontlines , I wanna be like him" Said by Rayan his father is also a hunter 4 star Shield Guardian B rank.
His father is already 6 years in the front line near the abbysal rift.
"Abbysal rift a planet that was been connected to earth, monster from that planet continuously attacking earth.
Claus chuckled and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. Once you get your class, my dad will be happy to take you into our guild."
Outside the school, students in their cadet uniforms stood neatly in line under the morning sun.
The teachers stood at the front, explaining the awakening procedures.
"All you need to do is drink the potion," one of them said, "then place your hand on the Awakening Crystal. The crystal will reveal your class and mana affinity."
Let's all welcome the Vice Captain of the Mercenary Guild, the Vice Guild Master, Mr. Kieran Irvin!"
Thunderous applause filled the hall as Kieran stepped onto the stage and waved to the students.
Kieran Irvin was the Vice Guild Master of the Mercenary Guild, a Diamond-Rank Guild just one rank below the legendary Emerald Rank, the highest guild classification in existence.
The Mercenary Guild was the number one Hunter Guild in the Philippines, boasting three S-rank Hunters and dozens of A-rank Hunters under their command.
And Kieran himself was one of those S-ranks. A Fire Mage, one of the most destructive and powerful classes known. At just twenty-six years old, he was already recognized as one of the strongest Hunters in the country and many believed he would soon rise to the world rankings.
Standing beside Kieran was the city mayor, smiling proudly at the crowd. Nearby, the Hunter Bureau representative and several Guild recruiters watched closely, eager to discover and recruit new talents among the students.
Kieran started the program he lead it by a speech to ignite the passion of the young cadets.
Students of City One academy I Kieran vice Guild master welcome everyone to hunter world, as what you know we are in need of hunters like you more and more dungeon rifts pop up from time to time and the bad thing here is rifts getting harder to close with monsters getting stronger.
Just to let you know guys a month ago I go to abbysal Rift the biggest rift known even I had a hard time there monsters are everywhere hostile humanoid creatures that ready to invade earth when they got the chance.
And you young cadets are the future I need you guys to be strong to help us to push back the monsters and help us clear the abbysal rift and once again bring the peace to our society.
After the speech cadets give their most respectful salute.
The programs started they were given the awakening potion, each student place their hands To the awakening crystal to check their stats.
Marry from class 1 awakened as healer a 3 star job with mana quality A rank.
She was been recruited by the Phoenix Guild the rival of the mercenary guild one of top guild in Philippines.
"Mary from Class 1 has awakened as a Healer, a three-star job with A-rank mana quality!"
The students clapped as the professors nodded in approval. Moments later, news spread Mary had already been recruited by the Phoenix Guild, the main rival of the Mercenary Guild and one of the top guilds in the Philippines.
"Claudine from Class 2 awakened as a White Magician three-star, B-rank mana!" another teacher announced. "She can cast powerful buffs an extremely sought-after talent. The Ranger Guild has already made her an offer."
One by one, more students awakened to favorable classes and promising mana ranks. The crowd buzzed with excitement.
But not everyone was so lucky.
Samuel, one of the top students, awakened as a three-star Archer, but with F-rank mana. A good class, but his mana capacity was terrible.
The same went for Dan from Class 1, Anne from Class 3, and several others. Some received weak jobs, others had abysmal mana ranks each result deciding what kind of future path they would walk.
In the end, awakening was like gambling with destiny.
Tbut suddenly a blinding red light burst from one of the platforms, flooding the hall with an overwhelming aura.
Everyone turned at once.
It came from none other than Claus.
"U-Unbelievable… that color," the principal gasped. "A deep violet… isn't that the sign of an S-rank?"
"Yes, Principal," Kieran replied calmly, though even he looked intrigued. "That light indicates an S-rank awakening."
The students broke into whispers and gasps.
"What kind of job did he get…?" someone muttered.
A holographic screen flickered into view above Claus's crystal.
Job: Barbarian.
"B-Barbarian?"
The room fell silent.
A few students shivered, some too stunned to speak.
"Wait… are you sure?" one whispered. "Isn't that the same class as the late World Rank No. 1?"Said by one of the instructor.
"Yes," another teacher said in disbelief. "That was koreas no 1 hunter Mr. Han Dae-han's class… an S-rank combat type with unmatched physical power."
Technicians rushed to check the Awakening Crystal for malfunction but they found none.
The results were real.
City One officially gained its first S-rank awakener
Klaus, the boy everyone think that got to this academy just because of his fathers back ground(yeah it's real he only gotten to this academy because of his father his a nepo baby).
People where confuse how the hell a lazy, weak obese boy became an S rank hunter.