The city was quiet when I slipped out that evening. My parents and little sister were asleep, unaware that I was leaving again. To them, I was the same weak F-Rank student who needed guidance, but tonight, I wasn't walking. I was hunting.
The system floated in front of my vision, blue and calm. [New Quest: Investigate Gate Activity — Level D]
I muttered under my breath, "D-Rank… no problem. Let's see how far I've come."
The outskirts of town were dark. Streetlights flickered, casting long shadows. A faint shimmer ahead marked the Gate. It pulsed with the same green energy I had seen before. My fingers tightened around a broken pipe I'd carried for days, my legs coiled like springs.
A growl echoed. My system highlighted a creature stepping out. Smaller than yesterday's, but faster. Its eyes glowed in the dim light.
[Target: D-Rank Monster — Detected]
[Suggested Action: Avoid or Engage]
I whispered to myself, "Avoid? Not really an option."
The monster lunged instantly. Reflexes kicked in. I rolled to the side, swinging the pipe as I passed. The pipe connected with its side, and a shriek split the night. My heart pounded, but the system confirmed:
[Precision Strike Successful. Strength +0.5]
[Experience: 10/50]
The creature recovered quickly, claws swiping. I dodged again, faster this time. The system prompted:
[Adaptation Available: Apply Reflex Boost or Stamina Recovery]
I chose reflex again. The extra edge made every movement feel like instinct rather than thought. I ducked under a claw and landed a solid hit on its back.
"Not bad," I muttered, keeping my voice low. "But not enough yet."
It snarled and charged again. I jumped to the side, landing on a low wall. Silent Movement activated automatically, allowing me to shift without the monster tracking me. I landed behind it, swinging with calculated precision.
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Strike]
[Experience: 25/50]
The monster staggered and retreated into the Gate, disappearing as quickly as it had arrived. I exhaled, adrenaline rushing, but nobody around noticed anything. I was still invisible to the world.
"Still weak… but stronger than before," I whispered to myself, smiling faintly. "I'm getting there… slowly, quietly."
The system flashed again: [Daily Quest Complete. Reward: Choice Available]
1. Strength +5
2. Reflex +5
3. Skill Upgrade: Shadow Strike → Shadow Assault
4. Stamina +10
I paused, thinking. Shadow Assault sounded useful, but survival always came first. Reflex and speed had saved me today, so I applied the upgrade.
[Skill Upgraded: Shadow Assault]
[Reflex +5 Applied]
I felt it immediately. My movements were sharper, faster, more precise. A small grin crept across my face. My growth was hidden, unseen, and unstoppable.
As I returned home before dawn, I paused at the rooftop, looking at the sleeping city below. Nobody could know. My family would wake, think I'd been studying or walking home slowly.
But I had changed. Every fight, every adaptation, every secret training session made me stronger, closer to something beyond F-Rank. And soon, the world would see it.
Not today. Not yet.
I whispered softly to the empty streets, "Let's see who survives… and who doesn't."
---
The sun had barely risen when I returned home, but I was already planning the next session. My body ached, a deep soreness that the system told me was growth, not injury. I kept my movements casual around the house. My little sister ran past me, giggling, "Jinwoo! You stayed up late again, didn't you?"
I smiled, masking the fatigue. "Yeah, just finishing homework."
Her eyes narrowed. "Hmm… sure you're not lying?"
"I'm not lying," I said, ruffling her hair. "Go eat breakfast before Mom yells."
The system blinked faintly in my vision. [Observation: Secrecy maintained. Growth progressing.]
I headed to the outskirts again after school, careful to avoid anyone who might notice. The streets were empty, and I relished the silence. My first few fights had taught me the value of planning, of waiting for openings. Survival wasn't just speed or strength—it was patience.
A faint shimmer in the alley caught my eye. Another Gate. Smaller than the previous one, but the system labeled it as C-Rank.
I whispered, "C-Rank… so soon? Let's see how much I've really improved."
From the Gate emerged a creature larger than yesterday's, covered in thick, dark scales, claws sharper, teeth longer. Its eyes glowed a faint red in the dim morning light.
[Target: C-Rank Monster — Detected]
[Suggested Action: Avoid or Engage]
I gritted my teeth. "Engage."
The monster charged immediately. Reflex Enhancement and Shadow Assault activated in tandem. I dodged the first swipe, rolled under its claws, and struck its side with a precise blow. It howled, staggering back, but didn't retreat this time.
[Experience Gained: 15/50]
[Reflex +2 Applied]
[Skill Progress: Shadow Assault Level 2]
I ran along the alley, baiting it toward broken walls and debris. Each dodge, each strike, each movement was calculated. My body moved before my mind even processed danger, and the system rewarded me with small increments of strength and speed after each successful adaptation.
The monster lunged again, claws aimed at my head. I leapt onto a wall, landing silently behind it. Shadow Assault activated automatically, striking at its legs to destabilize it.
It roared in frustration, staggering. I stepped back, panting, aware that even a C-Rank monster could easily overwhelm me if I miscalculated.
[Skill Upgrade Available: Shadow Assault → Shadow Storm]
[Choice: Apply or Save]
I paused. Shadow Storm sounded powerful, but my instincts told me to be patient. "Not yet," I muttered. "I need control first."
The monster finally gave a momentary retreat, limping back toward the Gate. I let it go. Today wasn't about killing—it was about surviving and adapting.
I crouched, hands on my knees, and let the adrenaline fade. [Daily Quest Complete: C-Rank Encounter]
[Rewards: Reflex +5, Strength +2, Skill Points Available]
As I made my way home, keeping to rooftops and back alleys, I whispered to the empty streets, "They won't know. Nobody will know. Not my family, not my classmates. But I'm getting stronger… and faster."
The city was waking now, unaware of the blue light hovering silently over one hidden hunter. My body had changed; my mind had sharpened. The system had transformed me further, but the world still saw a weak boy, an F-Rank who stumbled through life.
And that was exactly how I wanted it.
I climbed back into my room, locking the door behind me. I stared at the ceiling, exhausted but satisfied. "Tomorrow… I'll push further. No one can know yet. But soon…"
The system blinked faintly in my vision. [Warning: Higher Threat Approaching — Prepare Strategically]
I smiled, feeling the thrill that only survival and secrecy could bring.