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Chapter Ten: The First Steps of a Pawn
The gymnasium's air was a thick mix of fear and confusion. Minwoo looked at the girl—Hyejin—and a new System message appeared for him alone, a quiet chime in his mind.
[System Alert: Tutorial Bonus Available]
[Reward: The System Store is now accessible. You and your party member, Hyejin, have been granted a one-time bonus of 500 System Coins each. You may each choose two items from the store's F-rank inventory.]
A new icon, a golden coin, appeared in the corner of his Status Window, and his coin count now read 500. He glanced at Hyejin, who was staring at her own glowing screen, a look of utter bewilderment on her face. "The System is giving us a reward," he said, his voice low. "We can buy equipment."
She looked at him, her brow furrowed. "Equipment? With what?"
"System Coins," he replied, pointing at the new icon. "We get 500 each. The store is only offering F-rank gear right now. It's a one-time tutorial bonus." He knew his knowledge of the System was a terrifying advantage. The store had opened early for them because they had completed an objective no one else had yet, and their pioneer status had granted them a substantial reward.
He opened his own System Store, and a holographic list of simple, low-rank items appeared. There were rusty swords, blunt daggers, and dented leather armor. He scrolled through the options, his mind racing. He had to choose wisely.
Hyejin's voice was a soft whisper. "I don't know what to get. Do I need a sword? I'm... I'm a healer."
Minwoo stopped scrolling. His past-life knowledge was a blessing and a curse. He knew she needed to focus on her strengths. "No," he said, shaking his head. "You don't need a sword. You need to be able to get away. Look for something that gives you agility or vitality. We need you to stay alive so you can heal me."
He watched as she scrolled through the options. Her face was a mask of concentration. Her first choice was a pair of [F-Rank Leather Boots] that granted +2 Agility. Her second choice was a [F-Rank Wooden Staff] that granted a minor bonus to +10 MP. It wasn't a weapon, but a tool for her class. She had chosen wisely.
Now it was his turn. He had 500 coins and two choices. He could get a weapon, but his low stats would make it almost useless. He needed something that could enhance his unique strengths. His Sense and Intelligence were his highest stats, and his combat style was not about brute force, but about tactical superiority. He made his choices.
His first choice was a [F-Rank Broken Broadsword], a rusty, heavy blade that granted +5 Strength but came with a debuff of -2 Agility. He grimaced. It was a terrible weapon, but it was a sword, and he now had the [Sword Mastery] skill, a passive ability that would grow with him. His second choice was a [F-Rank Potion of Regeneration], a green liquid that instantly restored 100 HP. He needed to survive his first few fights, and he knew he would take a lot of damage. The coins vanished from his count, and a sword and a vial of green liquid materialized in his hands.
[System Alert: The System Store is now locked. Tutorial bonus complete.]
He looked at the broken broadsword in his hands. It was a pathetic weapon, but it was his. He now had the means to fight.
Just as the silence grew awkward, a new system message, glowing gold, appeared for both of them.
[Global System Alert: Tutorial Objective Completed]
[Reward Dispensing: Congratulations, pioneers!]
[Title Acquired: 'First Awakened' (Minwoo)]
[Title Acquired: 'First Healer' (Hyejin)]
[Permanent Stat Increase Unlocked: All base stats +1]
Minwoo felt a familiar warmth spread through his body as his stats received their first permanent increase. A new icon appeared next to his name: a simple, unadorned sword. The title, 'First Awakened', was both a badge of honor and a burden. It meant he was a marker, a symbol, a target for anyone looking for the most powerful hunters.
Hyejin, meanwhile, was staring at her new title in silent awe. 'First Healer'. It was a title that confirmed her purpose.
Minwoo looked at the terrified faces huddled in the gym. People were still screaming, crying, and trying to process the global tutorial message. They were all on a countdown, a seven-day deadline that would change them or break them. But Minwoo and Hyejin had already survived their first trial. They were ahead of the race, and he knew he couldn't waste their advantage.
"We need to go," Minwoo said, his voice low and urgent.
Hyejin looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Go? Where? The message said we have seven days. We should... we should stay here. It's safe."
"It's not," Minwoo countered, his tone firm. "The tutorial is a race. Everyone in this room has a seven-day head start, but a lot of them are going to die. They're going to try to clear Gates without a plan, without a weapon, and without a clue what they're doing. In seven days, the weak will have been culled, and the strong will emerge. We can't afford to be weak."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper that only she could hear. "We need to find more Gates. Now, while they're unguarded. We need to level up."
Hyejin hesitated, her gaze flickering between the frightened faces in the gym and Minwoo's intense, knowing eyes. He wasn't like the boys in her class. He was calm, focused, and seemed to possess a knowledge of this new world that was almost supernatural. Now, he had a sword, a potion, and the ability to fight. He was a mystery, and for some reason, she trusted him.
"We just barely made it out alive," she whispered, a plea in her voice. "But now... you have a weapon."
"I have a plan," Minwoo replied, his gaze unwavering. "And I have you. You're my eyes, my support, and my healer. I'll be your blade, and your shield. We'll find a better weapon on the way. We have to. The world isn't going to wait for us to get ready."
He extended his hand to her, a gesture of partnership and a promise. Hyejin looked at the hand, then at the title above her head. 'First Healer'. It wasn't a hero's title; it was a responsibility. She had a skill that could save lives, and he had the knowledge to guide her. She couldn't go back to her old life. It was gone.
With a final, resolute breath, she took his hand.
"Okay," she said, her voice stronger this time. "Let's go."
Minwoo nodded, a flicker of grim satisfaction in his eyes. He had a partner. A new journey had begun, not with a roar of a champion, but with a silent, determined walk out of a high school gym and into a world waiting to be conquered.