The first thing Airen saw was mist—thick, pale, and swirling under a moon buried behind dark clouds.
Gravestones stretched endlessly in every direction, crooked and half–sunk into the dead soil.
And at the center of it all stood a stone statue of a knight gripping a sword, its surface cracked and weathered by centuries.
Cold winds whispered through the graveyard.
A classic E-rank undead dungeon.
Before Airen could even react—
"Wait… what the hell?"
Someone was standing to his left.
Seo-yeon.
Her lips trembled. She looked pale, confused, and terrified. More importantly—
A floating system screen hovered right in front of her.
Airen blinked.
[One of the newly created dungeons spawned right beneath your feet.
You were pulled inside.]
"Ah… that explains it," Airen muttered.
Seo-yeon was staring blankly at the screen as if her soul had left her body.
Airen walked closer.
"What are you staring at so hard?"
She flinched violently, stepping back.
"I—I didn't even notice you were here… Where am I? And why is there a floating screen in front of me?!"
[She has awakened.]
Airen's eyes narrowed.
…She awakened? Just like that?
He spoke calmly.
"That means you're an awakener now."
And I definitely shouldn't let her know I can see her screen automatically…
The next second, a small notification chimed in Airen's vision.
[Temporary Permission Granted]
Seo-yeon's screen became visible:
[Name: Seo-yeon
Level: 1
Skill: Blade Control (E-Rank)
Title: —
→ Tap to reveal your interface to others]
Seo-yeon hesitated. "It says I can show my screen to someone. Should I—?"
"Sure," Airen said casually, pretending he didn't already see it.
"But be careful. Don't show your personal info to people casually."
Seo-yeon nodded quickly. "I—I won't. You're the only one where anyways"
She looked around nervously.
"Are we really inside a dungeon?"
"Yes," Airen said smoothly. "An undead-type dungeon. A low level one. I've cleared dungeons like this before."
Of course that's a lie… but it makes her trust that I'm the 'first awakener.'
A system panel suddenly appeared:
[Dungeon Break Setting]
Default: If a dungeon is not cleared within 1 month → Dungeon Break occurs
Would you like to change the default?]
Airen spoke silently in his mind.
Can I choose which dungeon will break?
[No.]
Then trigger 10 F-Rank dungeon breaks.
[Confirmed.]
Keep the default time as it is.
[Understood.]
Seo-yeon spoke again.
"I also got… an invisible inventory. And there's a sword and armor inside."
"Wear it," Airen said.
She nodded and began equipping the basic gear.
While she struggled with the straps, a thought flashed through Airen's mind.
Now that dungeons and awakeners exist… guilds will form. Guilds will control dungeons, money, influence, everything.
If I make Seo-yeon strong… I could make her a guildmaster. Then i will have guild under my complete control.
Her armor finally materialized on her body—leather, low rank, clean.
Seo-yeon looked up, shy but curious.
"…Uhm… can I see your status window? Or at least… tell me what level you are?"
She clearly didn't want to ask, but curiosity burned in her eyes.
Airen smirked internally.
Yeah… no way I can show her my real one.
"I can't show my status," Airen said calmly. "But I can tell you my level."
Seo-yeon leaned in slightly.
"I'm level 55."
Her eyes widened. "Fifty–five…? Already?! As expect of the first aweakener"
Of course I lowered it. My real level is 74.
Airen spoke in his mind.
Does my leveling system look the same as theirs?
[Yes. And I can create a standard interface for you. You can also edit what details are shown.]
A new panel appeared before him—clean, simplified, and formatted like a normal awakener's window:
[Status Window]
Name: Airen
Level: 74
Skills:
• Sword Skill — A Rank
• Regeneration — B Rank
• Stamina — S Rank
• Fireball Magic — S Rank
• Wind Magic — C Rank
• Ice Magic — B Rank
• (More…)
Titles:
• First Person to Cross Level 10 — S Rank
• First Person to Cross Level 50 — SS Rank
• First Awakener — SSS Rank
• Pinnacle of Humanity — SSS Rank
• The One Who Can Travel Between Worlds — GOD+ Rank
• Chosen by the System — ?????
• Favored by the System — ?????
Airen stared at it, stunned.
…This looks like the protagonist of a legendary novel. Way too overpowered.
Before he could process more, the ground inside the graveyard began to tremble.
Cracks split open across the soil as bony hands pushed out from beneath.
Skeletons slowly rose from the graves, their hollow eye sockets glowing faintly.
The sudden sight made Seo-yeon flinch.
"Ah…!"
She unconsciously grabbed Airen's sleeve and hid behind his back, her voice trembling.
It was the first time she had ever seen something truly dead move on its own.
Airen glanced back at her.
She was biting her lip, trying not to scream.
'Yeah… good reaction. A normal person would freak out,' he thought.
He asked the system in his mind, What's the most efficient way to kill a skeleton?
[ Destroy their head. ]
Short, simple, and clear.
Airen continued, And how does the experience system work inside dungeons?
[ Whoever lands the final blow receives the EXP. ]
Airen raised an eyebrow.
'So even if someone barely scratches the monster but still lands the last hit… they get the entire EXP?'
A small smile tugged at his lips.
He turned to Seo-yeon.
"I'll break these skeletons apart. You just finish them with the last hit."
Seo-yeon blinked in confusion.
"W-why not just kill them completely yourself…?" she asked softly, clearly still scared, her voice cracking at the end.
Airen tapped her shoulder reassuringly.
"Because you need the experience. Don't worry—nothing will touch you."