Twenty years had passed since the world changed.
Dungeons had become part of daily life.
Hunters were no longer rare.
Guilds dominated cities.
And the Korean Hunter Association governed all awakened beings.
In this era, power defined status.
At the age of eighteen, every student underwent the Awakening Ceremony.
And today—
It was Jin's turn.
The Awakening Hall of Orion High School was filled with noise and excitement.
Hundreds of students stood in long lines, their expressions filled with hope, fear, and ambition.
Above the stage floated a massive crystal glowing with blue light.
The Awakening Crystal.
A mysterious relic discovered after the Great Change.
Jin stood quietly near the back of the line.
He was tall.
Taller than most boys in his class.
His physique was lean but well-proportioned, not muscular yet, but naturally athletic.
His black hair fell slightly over his forehead, messy yet elegant, as if he never cared to style it.
His eyes were deep and calm, dark like a quiet night sky.
There was something strange about him.
Not loud.
Not arrogant.
Not flashy.
But people often found themselves glancing at him twice.
He was handsome.
Not the kind of beauty that shouted for attention—
But the kind that silently attracted eyes.
Yet he never stood out.
Because in this world, looks meant nothing without power.
"That's Jin, right?" someone whispered.
"Yeah, the theory genius."
"So what? He'll probably awaken F-rank."
Laughter spread.
Jin didn't respond.
He had heard those words too many times.
He was smart.
In theory classes, he always ranked first.
But everyone knew the truth.
In a world ruled by hunters…
Knowledge without power meant nothing.
A girl stood several steps ahead of him.
Her name was Aira.
She was different.
If Jin was quiet and subtle…
Aira was dazzling.
Her long silver-black hair flowed smoothly down her back, shining softly under the hall lights.
Her skin was pale and flawless, like porcelain.
Her eyes were clear and sharp, the kind that made people instinctively lower their gaze.
She was tall, graceful, and elegant.
Her presence alone made the surrounding students feel small.
But it wasn't just beauty.
It was aura.
The aura of someone born into power.
Everyone in school knew her background.
The Aira family.
A prestigious hunter family in Korea.
Many hunters worked under her family's name.
Guild leaders respected them.
The Hunter Association acknowledged them.
Aira had never spoken to Jin.
But she knew him.
The quiet boy who always ranked first in theory exams.
The boy everyone called a "wasted genius."
One by one, students stepped forward.
Awakening Complete
Rank: C
Class: Archer
Cheers erupted.
Another student touched the crystal.
Awakening Complete
Rank: B
Class: Warrior
Applause followed.
In this world, rank decided everything.
Then it was Aira's turn.
She walked toward the crystal.