The evening air in Neo-Seoul carried the faint tang of ozone from the city's ever-present wards, mingling with the savory aromas of street food vendors hawking grilled skewers and spicy ramen. Michael walked with a spring in his step that hadn't been there yesterday, his uniform still slightly disheveled from the sim but no longer hanging awkwardly on his frame. The raid sim victory buzzed in his veins like residual mana—top team, cheers from the crowd, Lila's impulsive hug that had left him flustered. For the first time in years, he felt seen, not as a punchline, but as someone capable.
As he navigated the crowded sidewalks, dodging salarymen in rumpled suits and groups of giggling middle-schoolers with glowing mana toys, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, expecting Mrs. Park checking on him again. Instead, it was a new number: Lila.
**"Hey, Mystery Mike! Great job today. Team dinner sometime? Aria and Ben are in. :)"**
He stared at the screen, a warmth spreading in his chest that had nothing to do with his rising VIT stat. Friends. Actual friends who wanted to hang out. He typed back quickly: **"Sounds good. When?"**
Her reply was instant: **"Friday? After school. My family's guild hall—free food!"**
He pocketed the phone, grinning to himself. The System pinged softly in his vision, as if approving.
**[Affinity Update: Lila Han – +5. Current: 25/100 (Friendly). Unlocks: Shared Quest Potential.]**
Shared quests? He'd have to explore that later. For now, the walk home felt shorter, the rain from earlier giving way to a clear dusk sky where the first stars competed with the city's neon glow. Billboards flashed overhead: "Join Eclipse Raiders—Power Awaits!" and "Hunter Rankings Updated: Vincent Cross Still #3!" Michael ignored them, his mind drifting to the guild scouts who'd cornered him after the sim. Damon Black's representative—a slick woman in a tailored suit—had slipped him a card. "Think about it, kid. We make stars."
But he wasn't ready. Not yet. The System's new quest loomed: **[First Guild Run – Join or observe a real dungeon raid. Reward: +3 All Stats | Gear Slot Unlock | Guild Affinity Boost.]**
Real dungeon. Not a sim. The thought sent a thrill of fear and excitement through him. Goblins were one thing in a controlled environment, but out there? Gates could escalate. Monsters could kill.
He arrived at the diner just as the dinner rush was picking up. The bell jingled, and Mrs. Park waved from behind the counter, serving a pair of D-rank Hunters their noodles. "Mike! In the back—saved you a bowl!"
He nodded, weaving through the booths to the small kitchen area where a steaming pot waited. As he ate—more kimchi jjigae, her specialty—he watched her work. She moved with efficient grace, chatting with customers about the latest Gate news, her laughter light despite the lines of fatigue around her eyes. She'd been running this place alone since her husband passed, taking in fosters like him to fill the quiet.
After the rush died down, she joined him, wiping her hands on her apron. "Long day? You look... energized."
"Raid sim," he said between bites. "We won."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Won? As in, top team?"
"Yeah. Tanked for Lila Han's group. It was... fun."
"Lila Han? The wind mage? Her family's guild is struggling, I hear. Good people, though." She beamed. "Proud of you, kiddo. Your parents—" She stopped, eyes softening. "They'd be over the moon."
The mention hit him like a phantom strike. His parents. He set down his spoon, a sudden heaviness settling in his chest. It had been five years, but sometimes the memories crept in unbidden, sharp as a goblin's dagger.
Mrs. Park noticed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to stir things up."
"It's okay." But it wasn't, not really. He excused himself upstairs, the attic stairs creaking under his feet—less than before, thanks to his morphing body. In his room, he flopped onto the bed, staring at the water stain goblin. The System offered a distraction: **[Rest Mode: Recover stamina faster while idle.]** But he ignored it, letting his mind wander back.
It started with fragments, like puzzle pieces falling into place. He was twelve, the year the Gates had ramped up, turning Neo-Seoul from a bustling metropolis into a fortified battleground. His parents, Ji-woo and Min-soo Park, were E-rank Hunters—nothing flashy, just hardworking folks in a small guild called Dawn Wardens. Dad was a tank, broad-shouldered with a laugh that could fill a room, always coming home with stories of "easy clears" to downplay the danger. Mom was a support healer, gentle hands that mended scrapes and bruises, her mana a soft green glow like spring leaves.
They weren't stars like Vincent Cross or Principal Oh. No S-rank glory. But they were his world. Weekends meant picnics in the warded parks, Dad teaching him basic sword forms with a wooden stick, Mom baking mandu from scratch. "One day, Mikey," Dad would say, ruffling his hair, "you'll awaken stronger than us. Just wait."
But the wait ended in tragedy. It was a routine D-rank Gate in the outskirts—a forest dungeon, standard goblin nest. Their guild had cleared dozens like it. Michael remembered the morning: Mom kissing his forehead before school, Dad packing extra essence stones "just in case." "Back by dinner," they'd promised.
The call came during recess. A guild rep, voice flat: "Collapse. No survivors." A boss variant had spawned unexpectedly, triggering a cave-in. Five Hunters lost, including his parents. The guild folded soon after, debts piling up. Michael was shuttled to foster care, bouncing between homes until Mrs. Park— a family friend from the diner—stepped in. "They were good people," she'd said, signing the papers. "Least I can do."
He rolled over, tears pricking his eyes. The System intruded gently: **[Emotional Flux Detected: +1 INT for introspection.]** Annoyed, he waved it away. But the memories kept coming. Nights crying himself to sleep, the foster system's cold bureaucracy, the bullying that started when he failed his first awakening test at thirteen. "Orphan weakling," the kids whispered. Without his parents' guidance, he'd withdrawn, burying himself in books and games, dreaming of power he never thought he'd have.
Now? He had it. The System. Levels. Stats. A chance to be what they believed he could. "I won't waste it," he whispered to the ceiling, echoing Principal Oh's words. His parents' faces faded, but the resolve lingered. Tomorrow, he'd push harder. For them.
Sleep came eventually, dreamless this time.
Morning broke with the alarm at 6:00. Michael woke refreshed, no aches from the sim. He checked the mirror: height up an inch to 5'7", weight down to 210 lbs, face clearer, almost... normal. Push-ups: 30 now.
**[Training: +2 Exp.]**
Downstairs, Mrs. Park had breakfast ready. "You okay after last night?"
"Yeah. Just remembering." He hugged her impulsively—she smelled of flour and warmth. "Thanks for everything."
She patted his back. "Always, kiddo."
School was a blur of normalcy laced with change. Homeroom: Ms. Kwon announced sim scores—Michael's team #1. Whispers turned to nods. Jax avoided him, but Kira Voss—the A-rank ice mage from a rival class—shot him a calculating glance. "Lucky run," she muttered in passing.
During break, Theo cornered him. "Dude, heard about the sim. You tanked a chief? Teach me your build."
"Not sure yet," Michael laughed. It felt good—laughing with someone.
Lila waved from across the hall. "Friday still on?"
"Definitely."
After classes, the guild quest nagged. He couldn't ignore it. Scrolling his phone, he found a public board for beginner raids. A low-risk Blue Gate in the suburbs—E to D ranks welcome. Observer spots open. Perfect.
He signed up anonymously, heart pounding. Real dungeon. No sim safety net.
The bus to the site took an hour, winding through industrial zones where Gates popped more frequently. The raid site was cordoned: barriers, Hunter Association tents, a swirling blue portal humming in an abandoned warehouse.
Guild Master Rex—a burly C-rank with a beard—checked IDs. "Observer? Kid, you sure? Even watchers need waivers."
"I'm sure."
The team assembled: ten Hunters, mix of E and D. Rusty—Ji-hoon Kang, the former bully turned tentative ally from school— was there, tank gear on. "Mike? What the— you raiding now?"
"Observing."
Rex briefed: "Forest dungeon. Goblins, maybe wolves. Clear the core, out in 30."
They entered. The portal swallowed them in blue light, spitting into a misty woodland. Trees towered, underbrush rustled. Michael's System activated: **[Dungeon Entered: Low-Tier Forest. Threat: D.]**
He stuck to the rear, Inspecting: **[Goblin Warrior – Lv.4 | Weak: Fire.]**
The first wave hit—six goblins ambushing. The team fought: swords clashed, spells flew. Michael watched, itching to join. When a stray goblin broke through toward him, he reacted instinctively—Basic Strike with a borrowed dagger. Kill.
**[Exp +25. Level 4.]**
Rex whistled. "Observer, huh? Good arm."
Deeper in, wolves joined—pack of five, Lv.5. Rusty tanked, but one flanked. Michael stepped in, parrying. "Cover me!"
The team rallied. Core room: Goblin Shaman boss, Lv.8, casting curses. Michael tanked hits, VIT holding. Final strike—his.
**[Boss Kill: +100 Exp. Level 5.]**
Morph triggered: Body shifted—fat melted, height to 5'8", muscles defined. Team gawked. "You just... changed?"
"Long story."
Back outside, Rex clapped his back. "Join us full-time?"
"Maybe."
**[Quest Complete: +3 All Stats | Gear Slot: Basic Dagger Equipped | Guild Affinity: Dawn Echo (New Guild Unlocked).]**
Home late, Mrs. Park worried. "Another Gate?"
"Observed one. Safe."
She hugged him. "Be careful."
In bed, stats up: STR 10, etc. Morph complete—handsome features emerging. Tomorrow: more. But the past lingered, fueling him.