Leo sat motionless on his bed, staring at the glowing holographic screen hovering in front of him.
Seven levels.
Superhumans.
Hidden factions controlling the world.
The words echoed in his mind again and again, refusing to settle.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Edith… are you absolutely sure about this?"
The calm mechanical voice responded without hesitation.
Yes.
Leo leaned forward, his brows furrowed.
"You're telling me that there are people on this planet… right now… who are far beyond normal humans?"
Correct.
"And not just a few?"
There are multiple factions composed of such individuals. Their presence is concealed from the general population.
Leo exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself.
"How do you even know all this?"
Edith replied instantly.
While analyzing the Avengers films you mentioned, I simultaneously accessed global information networks.
Leo stared blankly.
"…You hacked the entire internet while watching movies?"
Correct.
Leo shook his head in disbelief.
"That's insane."
During this process, I accessed surveillance systems, public cameras, and several restricted private databases.
A new screen appeared before him.
Clips began to play.
Grainy security footage.
Night-vision recordings.
Dashcam videos.
In one clip, a man moved so fast he blurred across the screen.In another, two figures clashed, their impact cracking concrete beneath their feet.In yet another, someone leaped across an entire street in a single bound.
Leo's breath caught.
"These… these aren't edited?"
No. These are authentic combat recordings.
Leo watched silently, his heart pounding.
"So all this time… they were right here…"
Yes. Hidden in plain sight.
The screen shifted again.
Logos appeared.
Nova Systems.Horizon Tech.
Leo's eyes widened.
"Those are the companies my friends were talking about…"
Correct. However, they are considered minor factions.
"Minor?" Leo repeated, stunned.
Their highest-level individuals are classified within Levels 5 and 6.
Leo leaned back slowly.
"And that's considered small…"
Yes.
The screen changed once more.
New names appeared.
Google.Microsoft.
Leo's expression stiffened.
"Don't tell me…"
These organizations possess Level 7 powerhouses responsible for protection and enforcement.
Leo let out a slow breath.
"So even the biggest companies… are part of this hidden world."
Correct.
Edith continued.
In addition, there exist ancient families who have preserved power systems across generations.
Images of vast estates, hidden compounds, and heavily guarded facilities filled the screen.
These families maintain multiple Level 7 individuals and exert influence over global systems from the shadows.
Leo fell silent.
For nearly a full minute, he didn't move.
The weight of the truth pressed down on him.
Everything he believed about the world—about fairness, about effort, about success—felt incomplete.
Finally, he spoke again.
"So… the world is basically controlled by these people."
Yes.
Leo swallowed.
"And normal people like us… don't even know they exist."
Correct.
Leo let out a quiet laugh, though there was no humor in it.
"…That's insane."
He stared at the screen again.
"Then where do I stand in all this?"
He hesitated slightly before asking.
"Edith… what level am I?"
You may access your current status through the system interface.
"How?"
Command: Status Bar.
Leo closed his eyes briefly.
Status Bar.
A glowing blue interface appeared instantly before him.
Host: Leo
Level: 1
Status: Initial Awakening
Strength: 15
Speed: 12
Energy: Dormant
Potential: Limitless
Leo stared at the screen.
"…Level 1."
Then suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Wait… when did I even become Level 1?"
Edith responded calmly.
The moment I integrated with your body.
Leo frowned.
"So I just… leveled up without knowing?"
Yes. Your physical capabilities were enhanced during integration.
According to Earth's classification system, you now qualify as a Level 1 individual.
Leo blinked.
"And I didn't notice?"
You were in a heightened emotional state. Your cognitive focus was not on your body.
Leo slowly nodded.
"…That makes sense."
He lowered his gaze and focused inward for the first time.
And then—
He noticed it.
His body felt… different.
Lighter.
More responsive.
He clenched his fist.
There was a subtle strength there—something refined, something controlled.
He stood up slowly.
Even that simple action felt smoother than before.
He took a step.
Then another.
Each movement felt precise, almost effortless.
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
"…This is just Level 1?"
He stretched his arm, observing the subtle power in his muscles.
He wasn't overwhelmingly strong.
But he was no longer ordinary either.
"If this is the first level…"
His mind drifted to the higher levels Edith mentioned.
Level 5.Level 6.Level 7.
People who could shatter concrete.
People who could control entire corporations.
People who ruled the world from the shadows.
Leo stared at his hand again.
"…Then what kind of monsters are they?"
A strange feeling rose within him.
It wasn't fear.
Not entirely.
It was something else.
Excitement.
For the first time in his life, Leo felt like he had stepped into something real.
Something vast.
Something meaningful.
He clenched his fist again, this time with intent.
"…Interesting."
Because now he understood one thing clearly.
He was at the very bottom.
Level 1.
The weakest in a hidden world filled with giants.
But unlike everyone else—
He had something they didn't.
Limitless potential.
Leo slowly smiled.
"This might actually be fun."
Outside his window, the night remained quiet.
The world continued as if nothing had changed.
Cars moved.
Lights flickered.
People slept.
Unaware.
Completely unaware—
That among them, someone had just taken the first step toward a destiny that could one day surpass the universe itself.
Leo stood still for a moment longer, his thoughts slowly settling.
The excitement, the shock, the overwhelming realization of the hidden world around him—it all began to quiet down, replaced by a deep mental exhaustion.
He exhaled slowly and sat back down on his bed.
"…This is too much for one night."
He ran his hand through his hair, staring at the faint glow of the system interface as it gradually dimmed.
Everything had changed.
In just a few hours, his ordinary life had been completely overturned.
From a normal student…
To someone standing at the edge of a hidden world filled with power, danger, and unimaginable possibilities.
Leo clenched his fist once more, feeling that subtle strength again.
Then he relaxed.
"…I need to calm down."
He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
His body felt light.
But his mind felt heavy.
He needed time—
Time to process everything.
Just as he closed his eyes, Edith's voice echoed softly in his mind.
Leo, I forgot to inform you of something.
Leo opened his eyes slightly, annoyed but curious.
"What now, Edith…"
You have received a Beginner's Package.
Leo blinked.
"…A what?"
A Beginner's Package. It contains resources that are highly beneficial for your current stage.
Leo turned his head slightly.
"And you're telling me this now?"
Yes. I prioritized your survival earlier.
Leo sighed.
"…Fair enough."
Edith continued in her usual calm tone.
Would you like me to open the package now, or shall I wait for your command?
Leo stared at the ceiling again, thinking.
A part of him was curious.
Very curious.
What kind of rewards would a "Universe Breaker System" give?
Weapons?
Abilities?
Something crazy?
But—
Another part of him felt completely drained.
His mind replayed everything that had happened:
Ayzer.
The clouds.
The system.
The hidden superhumans.
The truth about the world.
His new reality.
Leo closed his eyes slowly.
"…No."
He spoke calmly.
"Not now."
Edith remained silent for a moment.
Understood.
Leo turned slightly on his side, pulling the blanket over himself.
"I need sleep."
His voice was quieter now.
"I need to process all this first."
Acknowledged. The Beginner's Package will remain unopened until your command.
Leo gave a faint nod.
"…Tomorrow."
Understood.
The room fell silent again.
No glowing screens.
No voices.
Just the quiet hum of the night.
For the first time since everything began, Leo allowed himself to relax completely. His breathing slowed. His thoughts gradually faded.
And as sleep finally took over—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Because deep inside—
He knew.
Tomorrow…
Everything would truly begin.