2004.
Giant rifts in space—Gates—appeared all over the Earth.
At the same time, humanity's awakening began.
Because of that, people gradually came to understand why the monsters and Gates had appeared, and how they were meant to be dealt with.
Awakened humans were called "Players."
It was a very fitting name.
Even twenty-two years later, in 2026, the Gates still existed, and a small portion of humanity continued to undergo the process of awakening.
Those who actively took part in hunting monsters were called Hunters.
※ ※ ※
Year 2026.
Radiant Guild.
Inside the bathroom, the tap water ran freely.
Sshhh.
Splash!
Splash!
A man wearing a white shirt splashed water onto his face and slowly looked up.
Black hair. Blue eyes. Clean-shaven. Sharp, charming facial features now soaked with water.
But his gaze wasn't focused on his reflection.
Instead, it was fixed on the translucent screen hovering in front of him—something only he could see.
«Damon Crown, you have awakened.»
This year, at the age of twenty-two, Damon awakened.
"I-it's real!" Damon muttered before breaking into a wide smile. "Hahaha… it's real!"
"I'm a Player! Finally… God!"
Finally, his wish had been fulfilled. Finally, what millions—no, billions—of people dreamed of had happened to him.
He had awakened.
"I am a Player."
With the appearance of spatial passages leading to monster-infested lands, the world had changed completely.
Fictional concepts like magic and monsters became reality, and the System descended upon humanity, choosing selected individuals and granting them supernatural powers.
Players.
Beings chosen by the System.
It was pure luck to be selected—an undeniable blessing capable of changing one's life overnight.
'Money. Power. Status.'
Anything could be obtained through awakening.
Players stood at the pinnacle of society, wielding wealth, authority, and influence far beyond ordinary people.
Damon's eyes burned with ambition as everything he had ever wanted suddenly felt within reach—all because of a single message.
Working day and night, managing Hunters and running their errands, Damon knew better than anyone what authority and power they wielded.
To think that he would become part of this world one day.
'I've waited my whole life for this message.'
The system message that informed someone of their awakening.
Only Players could see it.
Ever since childhood, Damon had longed to wield such power—and now, finally, he could.
"Status!" Damon called out immediately.
The status window was a privilege reserved for Players alone. Having worked in Hunter Management for quite some time, Damon was already familiar with the basics.
※ ※ ※
Damon Crown
Level: 1
Exp: [0/100]
Class: Magician
Special Attribute: Contractor Of Source
Strength: 10
Mana: ∞
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Unspent Points: 0
※ ※ ※
As soon as Damon summoned his status, a blue holographic window appeared in his vision.
He gulped.
His name—Damon Crown.
Level 1, as expected for a newly awakened Player.
Then his class.
"Oh, fuck yes."
Magician.
There were only two basic classes one could awaken as: Warrior and Magician.
Less than thirty percent of Players became Magicians.
As rare as it was, the power they wielded was unimaginable.
Fire, lightning, healing, curses—magic that could shape the battlefield itself.
As someone who worked behind the scenes supporting Hunters, Damon knew exactly how valuable Magicians were, and how terrifying their growth potential could be.
"Okay… okay… no need to get too excited," Damon muttered, trying to calm his racing heart.
The grin on his face refused to disappear.
This was the happiest moment of his life.
Then his eyes fell on the next line.
«Special Attribute: Contractor Of Source»
"A special attribute too?"
Damon nearly passed out.
"Have I used up all my luck?" he muttered.
Awakening as a Magician alone was already extraordinary—and now this?
Special attributes, also called talents.
In the world of Players, less than one percent possessed them.
They granted unique abilities—special authorities, elemental affinities, or powers that existed nowhere else.
"What is this?" Damon thought, confused, as he mentally selected the attribute.
«Special Attribute: Contractor Of Source»
• Description: Contracted by the source of everything. The source of Mana itself.
• Effect: Mana: ∞
"The fuck?"
Damon froze.
Mana.
The energy that made magic and superhuman abilities possible.
The power source that had replaced fossil fuels.
Spells, equipment, vehicles—everything in modern society now ran on Mana.
"And you're telling me… I have infinite Mana?"
His hands trembled as the realization slowly sank in.
This wasn't just powerful.
It was dangerous.
Reaching into his pocket, Damon pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the water and sweat from his face.
"This is overpowered…" he whispered.
The special attribute connected him directly to the source of Mana itself, allowing him to draw from it endlessly.
Near-infinite Mana.
An ability unheard of.
Unprecedented.
"I'm broken…" Damon muttered.
Joy surged throughd through him—but fear followed closely behind.
'If anyone finds out about this…'
No.
Never.
"No one can ever know."
The world ran on Mana.
If people discovered his ability, they might capture him, enslave him, turn him into a living power generator.
'Okay… maybe that's extreme.'
But Damon knew better than to underestimate human greed.
People could do anything when tempted by power.
And Damon had no intention of becoming a victim because of his awakening.
Creak.
The bathroom door opened behind him.
Damon flinched and turned around sharply.
"Oh, Damon. There you are. The boss was looking for you," a familiar coworker said.
Damon let out a quiet sigh.
"I-is that so? I'll contact him right away," he replied, stuttering slightly as he hurried out of the bathroom.
The coworker frowned.
"What's up with him?"