The Rift dissolved into mist.
One step, and they were back—back in the real world. The cold winter air of Incheon bit against their skin as dawn stretched across the horizon.
The ruined buildings around them stood in eerie silence, the nightmare behind them—but not forgotten.
Jin Seok-woo's heart still pounded.
Min Joon-seok exhaled, lowering his spear. "Not bad," he said, clapping Seok-woo's shoulder. "Most solos don't last two minutes in there."
Seok-woo offered a small nod. "Thank you."
The others murmured quietly. The archer gave him a fleeting smile. The dagger-wielder kept his distance.
But Seo Ara—
She stood apart, wiping blood from her silver blade. Her cold gray eyes—sharp, unreadable—never left him.
Without warning, she stepped closer. Her voice was soft, her face expressionless. "No guild. No crest. Yet you fought."
Seok-woo met her gaze calmly. "I was lucky."
Her eyes flickered, barely noticeable. "Luck doesn't sharpen reflexes like that."
For a heartbeat, she seemed to study him—but then she turned away.
"Be careful," she murmured without looking back. "This world devours the unprepared."
And with that, she and her team disappeared into the waking city.
The next morning, Seok-woo made his way to the Rift Clearance Bureau—a squat gray building nestled between bombed-out skyscrapers. To enter Rifts legally, even the weakest ones, he needed a Hunter Pass.
The process was quick—forms, ID scans, and a low-level mana test. Soon, a thin metallic card was pressed into his palm.
[Hunter Pass: Issued]
The tired clerk barely looked up. "D-Rank Rifts are the safest," the man muttered, "but that doesn't mean much.
Expect Duskhounds, Crawlers, maybe a Horned Stag if you're unlucky. Keep your head down. Solos die all the time."
Seok-woo nodded silently.
Information mattered. Survival mattered.
That afternoon, he stood before a glowing crimson tear—the entrance to a D-Rank Rift.
Inside: a world twisted and surreal. The sky glowed dark violet. Ash-covered plains stretched in every direction. Withered trees stood like broken skeletons, and thin fog clung to the ground.
The first monster appeared:
A Duskhound—skeletal, its spine lined with cracked bone plates, green eyes glowing with feral hate. It snarled and lunged.
Seok-woo's body moved on instinct.
"Quickstep!"
He vanished and reappeared behind the beast in a blur of speed. His scavenged dagger slashed across the exposed neck. The creature fell, whimpering.
More came—two more Duskhounds, their claws sharp but their patterns predictable. Then later, three Shard Crawlers—rolling, armored insect-like beasts that unfurled mid-air to strike with serrated limbs.
Seok-woo dodged, weaved, and struck back. His Predator's Instinct sharpened his reflexes. Every step, every breath, every twitch of muscle became cleaner, faster, deadlier.
Hours passed.
His body burned, his lungs screamed—but he endured.
And finally, the System chimed:
Level Up: Lv. 5
Stat Points +3
Skill Points +1
[New Feature Unlocked: System Shop Available]
[Credits Earned: 100]
A silver coin icon appeared. He focused, opening the Shop Interface for the first time.
Basic Health Potion — 10 Credits
Worn Iron Dagger — 80 Credits
Traveler's Light Armor — 150 Credits
He selected the dagger.
[Purchased: Worn Iron Dagger — 80 Credits]
The weapon materialized in his hands—a simple but well-balanced blade. Far better than the rusted junk he'd used until now.
A small, rare smile tugged at his lips.
One step at a time.
The last of the monsters fell. The Rift flickered, and he walked out stronger than before.
I'll survive.
I'll rise—without them.