Chapter 2: The Sword Saint's Legacy
September 23, 2024.
Han-wool stared at the digital calendar on the wall. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Yeah... I remember this day."
It was a date etched into the family's history books. It was the day the Kim family's golden child, the youngest sibling, would take his first step toward greatness.
A sharp knock came at the door, followed by the polite but firm voice of his butler.
"Young Master Han-wool, please make haste. The Patriarch has ordered all family members to gather in the Great Hall. Today is Young Master Hajin's Class Holding Ceremony."
Han-wool smoothed out his expression, masking the cynicism in his eyes. "Okay, Logan. I'll be ready in a moment."
"Very good, sir."
As the footsteps faded down the hallway, Han-wool stood before the full-length mirror. He began to button his formal shirt, his movements precise and mechanical. As he dressed, he mentally commanded the system.
'Status Window.'
A blue, translucent panel shimmered into existence next to his reflection. It was a familiar sight now, but to the rest of the world, this window was a divine gift—a miracle that saved humanity.
It all began on February 12, 2000.
That was the day the world changed. The sky cracked open, and the first "Invasion" began. Along with the monsters, otherworldly stones fell from the heavens. They were later named Class Holding Crystals.
These crystals were the only salvation humanity had. When a person touched one, the crystal would glow, the color determining their potential rank and granting them a "Class" and a "System Window."
The hierarchy was absolute:
• GreenLight: Potential of Rank C to E. The soldiers.
• PurpleLight: Potential of Rank B to A. The elites.
• GoldenLight: Potential of Rank A to S. The heroes.
Those chosen by the crystals became Hunters. Their job was simple yet brutal: enter the Dungeons that formed like cancerous lesions on reality, hunt the monsters within, and destroy the Dungeon Core located inside the Boss Monster.
If they failed? If the core wasn't destroyed in time?
The dungeon's inner space would collapse outward, spilling hordes of monsters into the human world. A "Dungeon Break."
Han-wool adjusted his tie, his eyes cold as he recalled his family's history.
"Only four..."
Currently, in the entire nation of South Korea, there were only four Class Holding Crystals. One of them resided right here, in this manor.
It was a reward. A trophy.
During the first invasion on that snowy day in 2000, while the military collapsed and governments panicked, one man stood on the front lines. He fought the strongest Boss Monster of that era and emerged victorious.
That man was Han-wool's grandfather.
The government bestowed upon him the crystal and a title that still commanded fear and respect: The Sword Saint.
That legacy had been passed down to the current head of the family, Han-wool's father, Kim Hyeon.
And today, that legacy was expected to continue with Kim Hajin, his genius younger brother.
Han-wool looked at his reflection one last time. He saw a thirteen-year-old boy in an expensive suit, but his eyes held the weariness of a thirty-year-old veteran.
"And then there is me," he whispered to the empty room.
In a family of lions, he was considered a stray cat. While his grandfather was the Sword Saint and his father was a powerhouse, Kim Han-wool was the "lowest key" in the family. The dark stain.
Why? Because when he had touched the crystal years ago, he didn't trigger Green, Purple, or Gold.
He awakened a new color:[Red].
The world was confused at first, but they quickly realized the truth. It was labeled the "Weakest Color." It granted the lowest stats and the most pathetic growth potential.
[Rank: F]
[Class: Thief]
The world considered the Red color to be useless in combat. It was a garbage color that granted a garbage class to those with terrible luck.
"An F-Rank Hunter," he scoffed, checking the hidden dagger strapped beneath his blazer. "That's what they think."
In his past life, he had believed it too. He had let the ridicule break him. But not this time. He knew the truth regarding the potential of the Red color.
He looked at the Golden Poison Immunity Ring on his finger—a gift from the very brother whose ceremony he was attending—and thought of his «Destiny Stealing» skill.
They call it trash because they don't know how to use it, he thought. A Thief doesn't fight fair. A Thief takes.
He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, the heavy wood clicking shut behind him.
"Let's go see the genius little brother," Han-wool muttered, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, dangerous light. "It's time to play the part of the failure... for now."