Ji-hoon's eyes snapped open.
The first thing he noticed wasn't the sterile ceiling or the hospital's buzzing lights. It was the glowing window hanging above his vision.
[User Status Updated.][Current Level: 3.][Reward Acquired: Goblin King's Fang.]
Ji-hoon pushed himself upright slowly, his body heavy with fatigue. His eyes locked on the hovering screen.
The Fang glowed faintly in his palm, jagged and pulsing with faint green light.
[Item: Goblin King's Fang][Options:– Trade for 300 EXP.– Consume for 1 Evolution.]
Ji-hoon exhaled, his lips twisting into a smirk."Three hundred EXP would be the safe bet… but I didn't come this far to play safe."
Without hesitation, he tapped [Consume for 1 Evolution].
The Fang dissolved into sparks of light, sinking into his chest. The System chimed.
[Select a skill to evolve.]
Two skills glowed before him:
– Impact Kick (E)– Spark (F)
Ji-hoon stared at Spark, his hand hovering. Kick had almost killed him, but Spark… Spark was already stronger. The trial could be worse. Much worse.
He clenched his jaw, then tapped it. "If I'm gonna climb higher, I can't avoid this."
The world froze.
[Spark (F) → Static Shock (E)][Skill Description: Generates electrical discharge strong enough to paralyze targets briefly. Damage scales with user's Intelligence and Mana control.]
Electricity flickered across Ji-hoon's hand, snapping and hissing. The faint blue arcs stung his skin, but he couldn't help grinning.
Then another window appeared.
[Trial Available: Static Shock Test Run][Dungeon: Beginner Trial][Objective: Defeat 10 Trial Beasts using Static Shock.][Reward: +1 Level | x2 Stamina Potions.][Failure: Death.]
Ji-hoon froze. "…Death? Again?"
His heart pounded, fear curling in his gut — but then his eyes narrowed. The Stamina Potions alone were priceless, and a guaranteed level up meant he'd finally start catching up to real Hunters.
He flexed his hand as sparks danced along his fingers. His smirk returned, sharp and reckless.
"Fine. Let's see how strong this shock really is."
[Trial Initiated.]
The hospital walls dissolved into light, and Ji-hoon was swallowed whole.