Jin stepped deeper into the Beginner Zone.
The corpse of the goblin lay behind him, already losing warmth. The metallic smell of blood lingered in the air, but Jin didn't look back.
Another growl echoed.
Then another.
Three goblins emerged from the ruins ahead, their eyes locking onto him instantly. Their movements were quick, erratic, hungry.
Jin adjusted his grip on the sword.
No hesitation.
They rushed him together.
Jin moved first.
A step forward instead of back.
The closest goblin lunged, claws aimed at his throat.
Jin tilted his body slightly.
The claws missed by inches.
His sword came down immediately.
A clean vertical slash.
The blade split through its shoulder and neck.
The goblin collapsed before it could even scream.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 6
Vitality: 8
Mana: 2
Total: 25
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 25 = 0.25 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
Jin didn't pause.
The second goblin was already on him.
It jumped.
Jin stepped back this time.
Barely.
Its claws grazed his sleeve.
Too slow.
His sword thrust forward.
Straight into its chest.
The goblin twitched violently.
Jin pushed the blade deeper.
Then pulled it out.
It dropped.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Vitality: 7
Mana: 1
Total: 23
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 23 = 0.23 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
The third goblin hesitated.
For a fraction of a second.
Jin moved.
He closed the distance instantly.
The goblin tried to retreat.
Too late.
A horizontal slash.
Its head separated cleanly.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Vitality: 6
Mana: 2
Total: 22
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 22 = 0.22 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
Silence returned.
Jin stood still for a moment.
Then—
A screen appeared.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Vitality: 3
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 4
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
Four points.
Jin stared at the numbers.
Too slow.
At this rate, reaching 30 points would take too long.
Another screen opened.
[SKILL — Inferior Extraction]
Rank: Inferior
Effect:
Absorb 1% of total stats from enemies killed
Convert into Free Stat Points
Upgrade Cost: 30 Stat Points
Next Rank: Common (3%)
Three percent.
Triple gain.
Jin closed the screen.
Not yet.
He needed more.
A sound came from the right.
He turned.
Two more goblins.
This time—
Jin didn't wait.
He rushed them.
The first goblin barely reacted before Jin's sword pierced its throat.
He didn't stop.
He pulled the blade out and turned immediately.
The second goblin swung wildly.
Jin stepped inside its reach.
Too close.
His blade moved upward.
From stomach to chest.
The goblin froze.
Then collapsed.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 6
Vitality: 7
Mana: 2
Total: 24
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 24 = 0.24 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Vitality: 6
Mana: 2
Total: 23
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 23 = 0.23 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
The screen updated again.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Vitality: 3
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 6
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
Six points.
Jin exhaled slowly.
Still not enough.
But—
His movements were already smoother.
More precise.
Another growl echoed.
Louder this time.
Jin turned.
A larger figure emerged from the shadows.
Not a goblin.
Taller.
Bulkier.
Its muscles were visibly denser.
Its eyes sharper.
A Hobgoblin.
Stronger.
Faster.
More dangerous.
Jin stared at it.
Then—
He stepped forward.
No hesitation.
The hobgoblin roared and charged.
The ground shook slightly under its weight.
Jin tightened his grip on the sword.
This one—
Would give more.
And he needed more.
Much more.
The distance closed.
And just before impact—
Jin moved.
Faster than before.
Jin stepped forward as the hobgoblin charged.
The ground trembled slightly under its weight, far heavier than the goblins he had just killed. Its body was broader, muscles denser, its movement more controlled.
Stronger.
Faster.
More valuable.
Jin's grip tightened on the sword.
Before awakening, he had trained.
Not in public.
Not with guidance.
Alone.
Every day.
Running until his legs gave out.
Swinging sticks until his hands bled.
Learning balance, timing, distance.
Because he knew one thing long before today—
No one was going to save him.
And now—
That training showed.
The hobgoblin's fist came down.
Fast.
Heavy.
Jin stepped to the side at the last possible moment.
The fist slammed into the ground, cracking the surface.
Jin moved instantly.
His sword cut toward its neck.
The blade hit—
And stopped halfway.
Too tough.
The hobgoblin turned.
Its speed was faster than expected.
Its other hand swung toward him.
Jin stepped back.
Barely.
The wind from the swing brushed his face.
Too close.
Jin's eyes sharpened.
This wasn't a goblin.
This was the difference in ranks.
In this world, monsters weren't random.
They followed a hierarchy.
Just like humans.
Weak creatures like goblins existed at the bottom.
Above them—
Stronger variants.
More stats.
More resistance.
More reward.
And for awakened humans, everything came down to one thing—
Numbers.
Stats.
Power.
The system defined everything.
Strength determined physical force.
Agility controlled speed and reaction.
Vitality decided endurance and durability.
Mana governed energy and skills.
Higher numbers meant survival.
Lower numbers meant death.
Simple.
Jin moved again.
This time—
He didn't aim for the neck.
He adjusted.
Lower.
The hobgoblin rushed forward.
Jin stepped in.
Inside its reach.
His sword thrust forward—
Straight into its eye.
The blade pierced deep.
The hobgoblin roared, staggering.
Jin didn't stop.
He twisted the blade.
Then pulled it out.
And struck again.
This time—
Through the throat.
The hobgoblin collapsed.
Hard.
The ground shook slightly as its body hit.
Silence followed.
Then—
The system activated.
[Kill Confirmed]
[Calculating Target Stats…]
Target Stats:
Strength: 18
Agility: 10
Vitality: 16
Mana: 4
Total: 48
[Inferior Extraction Activated]
1% of 48 = 0.48 → Rounded = 1 Stat Point
[+1 Free Stat Point Acquired]
Jin stared at the result.
One point.
From something this strong.
His expression didn't change.
But his thoughts moved quickly.
Higher enemies didn't give exponentially higher points.
Not at this rank.
Not yet.
Which meant—
The real value wasn't the enemy.
It was the skill.
He opened the system.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Vitality: 3
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 7
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
Seven points.
He had gained them quickly.
Faster than expected.
But still—
Not enough.
Another screen opened.
[SKILL — Inferior Extraction]
Rank: Inferior
Effect:
Absorb 1% of total stats from enemies killed
Convert into Free Stat Points
Upgrade Cost: 30 Stat Points
Next Rank: Common (3%)
Jin closed it.
Not yet.
He understood the system clearly.
Skills defined growth.
Every awakened received one inherent skill at awakening.
Random.
Unchangeable.
That skill decided their starting path.
Some received combat skills.
Some received support abilities.
Some received nothing useful.
And rank determined everything.
Inferior was the lowest.
Divine was the highest.
The gap between ranks wasn't small.
It was absolute.
Most people never moved beyond their initial limits.
Because upgrading skills required stat points.
And stat points required kills.
And kills required strength.
A loop.
One most people never escaped.
But there was another way to gain skills.
Rare.
Expensive.
Out of reach for almost everyone.
The Market.
A system-accessible interface where skills, items, and abilities could be purchased.
But the cost—
Was absurd.
Far beyond what normal awakeners could afford.
The second method—
Chests.
Rewards from clearing Gates.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
But valuable.
Inside them—
Skills.
Equipment.
Resources.
Everything needed to grow.
Jin didn't care about either.
Not yet.
Because he had something better.
A way to grow without limits.
He looked ahead.
More movement.
More goblins.
Five this time.
Jin stepped forward.
No hesitation.
They rushed him.
Jin moved.
Faster than before.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
His training showed.
His timing improved.
His control sharper.
The first goblin lunged.
Jin sidestepped.
His sword cut across its neck.
It dropped instantly.
[+1 Free Stat Point]
The second attacked from the side.
Jin turned.
Blocked with the blade.
Then stabbed forward.
Through its chest.
[+1 Free Stat Point]
The third jumped.
Jin stepped back.
Then cut upward.
Splitting its throat.
[+1 Free Stat Point]
The fourth hesitated.
Jin didn't.
He closed the distance.
A quick slash.
Clean.
[+1 Free Stat Point]
The fifth tried to run.
Jin threw the sword forward.
The blade spun.
Pierced its back.
It fell.
[+1 Free Stat Point]
Silence returned again.
Jin retrieved his sword.
Then opened the system.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Vitality: 3
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 12
Skills:
Inferior Extraction (Inferior)
Twelve.
His growth was accelerating.
Not because he was strong.
But because he was efficient.
He didn't waste movement.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't panic.
And that made the difference.
A faint sound echoed behind him.
Jin turned.
Voices.
Human.
A group of students entered the zone.
Laughing.
Talking.
Confident.
One of them looked familiar.
Jin recognized him immediately.
One of the ones from earlier.
One of the ones who laughed.
The group hadn't noticed Jin yet.
They were busy talking.
"Beginner zone is easy."
"Yeah, just kill a few goblins and leave."
"Don't overdo it."
Jin watched them.
Silent.
Calm.
He didn't move toward them.
Didn't approach.
There was no reason to.
Not yet.
Not here.
Not now.
Because this wasn't the place.
And this wasn't the time.
He turned away.
Back toward the deeper area.
Stronger monsters waited there.
More stats.
More growth.
And that mattered more.
For now.
A new system message appeared.
[Warning: Higher Density Zone Ahead]
Jin didn't slow down.
Didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward.
Because the faster he grew—
The sooner everything else would stop mattering.
And next time—
No one would laugh.
No one would touch him.