Jung Ha-Joon faced himself.
Or rather, a perfect mirror—same height, same hair, same scar on the chin from when he fell off his bike at eight years old. But this reflection was twisted, darker. Its crimson eyes glowed unnaturally, like molten rubies. Its smirk wasn't his—it belonged to something born of cruelty.
In its hands, a blade of blackened crystal shimmered with violet energy, pulsing with dark rhythm.
> [Final Trial: Mirror Match – Self Beyond Mortality]
Defeat your inner shadow to awaken your class.
Your enemy has access to all your current stats and combat experience.
Warning: This trial is lethal.
Ha-Joon's grip tightened on his spear.
"Looks like you know everything I do…"
The mirror-Ha-Joon tilted its head. Then it charged—no hesitation, no mercy.
---
Their weapons clashed.
Spear met sword with a screech of pressure.
The clone was fast. Faster than he'd ever moved. Its form was perfect. Its eyes read his body like an open book.
Ha-Joon rolled away, deflecting a sweep, then jabbed toward its midsection—but the clone dodged fluidly and slashed across his arm.
Pain exploded through his bicep.
He staggered back, blood dripping onto the polished stone floor.
> [HP: -14]
[Status Effect: Minor Bleed]
"You're just… copying me…"
"No," the mirror whispered with his own voice, "I'm what you could become… without fear."
---
The clone attacked again, faster this time—each strike targeting his weak spots. Knee, neck, ribs. Ha-Joon barely deflected them with wild counters. His mind raced.
He couldn't win in a straight duel.
He was fighting himself, but without hesitation, without fear.
Then…
He remembered something.
> Trait: Instinct Beyond Mortality
"Your body reacts faster than your mind. Your instincts evolve under pressure."
---
He closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
Letting instinct take over.
The clone lunged.
Ha-Joon ducked.
Not consciously—his body moved on its own.
A perfect counterstep.
The spear twisted in his hand and slammed into the mirror's ribs with bone-cracking force.
The clone flew back, gasping.
> [Critical Hit Landed – -22 HP]
His eyes snapped open, wide with focus. "I don't need to think faster than you," he whispered. "I just need to trust myself."
---
The tide began to shift.
The clone still struck with savage speed, but Ha-Joon no longer chased perfection. He let his experience, not strategy, guide him.
He used the clone's habits against it—every move it made, he had already considered once in training.
He switched from full defense to short bursts of attack.
He took small hits to deliver heavier counters.
He baited, dodged, struck.
Then, with a sharp feint to the left, he swept the clone's feet.
It collapsed onto its back.
Ha-Joon didn't hesitate.
He raised his spear—now glowing with faint white energy—
And drove it down.
---
> [Trial Cleared – Mirror Match COMPLETE]
Result: Victory – Class Awakening Unlocked
Rating: A+
Stat Bonus: +5 (Distributed Randomly)
Reward: Class Scroll – "Survivor of the Impossible"
Trait Fusion Complete:
[Instinct Beyond Mortality] + [Combat Adaptation] → Limitless Evolution (Passive)
Ha-Joon collapsed to his knees.
Bloodied. Exhausted.
But alive.
---
The battlefield dissolved into light.
He found himself standing in a chamber of golden flame. A single scroll floated in the air before him, burning without heat.
> [Would you like to awaken the Class: Survivor of the Impossible?]
He exhaled.
"Yes."
---
The scroll burst into white fire and sank into his chest.
His body convulsed.
For a moment, he felt everything—pain, strength, clarity, chaos—merging into a single pulse.
Then, silence.
---
> Class Acquired: Survivor of the Impossible
Class Type: Evolving | Unique
Description: You defy odds. You survive what others cannot. Your strength grows the more you are pushed beyond your limits.
Core Ability Unlocked: Adapt or Die (Passive) – Survive lethal damage once every 48 hours.
Core Stat Bonus: +10 Vitality, +5 Agility
New Skill: Reactive Growth Lv.1 – Your body evolves slightly after surviving high-threat damage.
Ha-Joon stood, panting.
Stronger.
Faster.
Clearer.
But most importantly…
Unbreakable.
---
He exited the trial chamber and stepped back onto the first floor of the tower.
The platform had changed. A glowing circle now hovered beneath his feet.
> [Realm Transition Key – Fragment (1/3) Acquired]
Use this item to escape the Endless Realm. Fragments Required: 3
Hidden Path Unlocked: Upper Floors – Optional Challenge Mode
Continue Climbing or Exit?
He looked up.
A staircase spiraled above into the sky.
The door to the outside also pulsed gently.
He clenched his fists.
"I'm not done yet."
---
He turned from the exit—
And began climbing.
---
Meanwhile, on Earth…
Exactly 42 days had passed since Ha-Joon vanished.
In Seoul, the Hunter Control Authority was overwhelmed.
Gate outbreaks had increased by 120% in a single week. Entire cities had begun assigning Hunter Defense Zones. The term "S-Rank" was now known across households.
And on TV, one strange pattern caught media attention:
> "There are some gates," one official said, "that never close. And we've noticed a handful of them have existed since Day One…"
One reporter raised their hand. "Does that mean something—or someone—never returned?"
The official was silent.
"Yes," he finally said. "And according to energy readings… someone might still be inside."
---
Back in Suwon…
The Jung family's apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Mrs. Jung lit incense before her son's photo every morning, even though they had never held a funeral.
Mr. Jung worked longer shifts now—sometimes two days straight.
And Ha-Rin… she sat alone at her small shop's counter, staring at the street.
Waiting.
Praying.
Somehow, despite the world moving forward—
They refused to accept he was gone.
---
They were right.
Because high above the Endless Realm…
Jung Ha-Joon was no longer prey.
He had begun to climb higher than any human ever had.
And in his crimson eyes, a faint light burned brighter than before.
---