The streets were quiet after dark in Sector 3, a slum zone where light poles flickered like dying candles and sirens howled like background music. The further from the center of Seoul, the more dangerous the neighborhoods became—not because of crime, but because of mana leaks.
Sometimes, a Gate would open spontaneously. Not the flashy, towering ones with red lightning crackling above department stores—those got broadcasted and secured. No, these were small, unstable portals called Micro-Dungeons—invisible to the naked eye. Sometimes only the Awakened could sense them. Sometimes not even them.
They were unpredictable.
They were illegal.
And one had just appeared near Yeong-su's rooftop apartment.
---
A faint glowing marker hovered in front of his eyes—part of the system interface only he could see. It blinked like a radar ping, pulling his steps toward an abandoned warehouse surrounded by broken streetlamps and boarded windows.
[Target Zone Located – Micro-Dungeon Active]
Threat Level: F+
Recommended Level: None
System Authorization: Override – Permission Granted for Entry
Yeong-su stood before the steel door. A sharp breeze cut through his worn hoodie, but he didn't shiver.
> "So this is how I cheat fate…"
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
---
Inside the Micro-Dungeon
It was pitch black. Concrete floors. Rusted support beams. The only sound was the drip-drip of water echoing through the open space.
Suddenly, the world shifted.
A strange pressure settled on his skin. Like walking underwater.
[You have entered an Unstable Space]
The empty warehouse rippled like a mirage, transforming before his eyes. The walls cracked and peeled away, revealing stone corridors lined with fungus and bones. Air grew damp. The scent of blood, old and rotten, replaced the smell of mold.
And ahead—movement.
Three dog-sized creatures skittered from the shadows—Carrion Rats, F-rank monsters with black, bloated skin and razor-sharp fangs.
[Enemies Detected – Carrion Rat x3]
He stepped back instinctively.
> "I don't even have a weapon."
The rats hissed and charged. His heart raced. Panic crept in—
DING!
[Foresight Activated – Lv. 1]
3 Seconds Ahead
Suddenly, his world froze.
He saw it. A flash—a vision of the rat lunging, claws slashing, its path exact. His body moved on instinct, side-stepping before the vision even ended.
WHACK!
He picked up a rusted pipe off the ground and swung—cracking the first rat in the skull. Blood splattered. The others hissed louder.
Another vision—another second ahead.
This time he ducked, rolled under a leap, and came up behind the second one—slamming the pipe downward with every ounce of strength.
> "Again!"
The third rat scratched his arm, leaving a shallow wound. He gritted his teeth.
[Foresight Cooldown – 24 seconds]
> "Too slow!"
He fought wildly, dodging narrowly, his instincts sharpening with every step. He wasn't trained. He wasn't fast.
But he had something no one else did.
He could see the damn future.
---
Ten minutes later, he stood over three twitching corpses, breathing heavily. Blood smeared his hoodie. One rat had bitten deep into his shoulder.
But he was alive.
The system pinged.
[Quest Objective – Partial Clear]
Micro-Dungeon Progress: 38%
And then, ahead in the shadows—a new presence emerged.
A figure. Tall, humanoid, with glowing red eyes. It wore a cracked metal mask and carried a long black sword.
[Mini-Boss – Cursed Shade Lv. 5]
Type: Phantom Class (D-Rank)
Weakness: Holy/Light
Danger: Moderate
Yeong-su's mouth went dry.
> "That thing's stronger than the rats."
He could feel it in his bones—an aura of death. It wasn't just a monster. It was a killer. The kind of being that didn't hesitate.
And he had no sword. No backup. No healing.
He could run.
But the system responded first.
---
[System Interference Detected – Potential Hidden Awakening Path Nearby]
Do you wish to engage?
Yes | No
He grinned.
> "Do I look like someone who runs?"
He chose Yes.
---
The Fight for Awakening
The Shade moved faster than anything he'd seen. Its blade shimmered with dark mana, and the first strike shattered the concrete beside his head.
[Foresight – Triggered]
He ducked, but not in time. The sword grazed his cheek. Blood sprayed.
> "Dammit—!"
Another swing—this time, a vision. He stepped to the left before it even moved. The attack missed. The Shade paused.
It was learning.
He couldn't win like this. Not with a pipe.
But he didn't need a weapon.
The system whispered again.
---
[Hidden Skill Unlocked – Echo Vision Lv. 1]
Temporarily double your foresight window to 6 seconds during near-death states. Duration: 8 seconds. Cooldown: 1 hour.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Time slowed again. He saw six full seconds into the fight.
The Shade would swing upward—he'd dodge. Then it would stab low—he'd flip backward. Then it would spin left—he'd roll and strike.
He followed the vision perfectly.
> "Now!"
He grabbed a jagged piece of rebar and drove it through the Shade's exposed chest.
It shrieked.
A pulse of black mana exploded outward—and then silence.
The monster disintegrated.
[Mini-Boss Defeated]
[EXP Gained – +412]
[Level Up – 1 → 3]
---
He fell to his knees, gasping.
> "I did it… I actually killed it."
He didn't just survive.
He awakened.
The pain in his arm faded.
The system glitched.
Then it pinged again.
---
[Hidden Awakening Achieved – System Integration Upgraded]
CLASS ACQUIRED – UNKNOWN
WARNING: Class information suppressed. Viewing unauthorized until future trigger met.
Special Title Earned: First to Awaken Without Association
---
As the dungeon began to collapse, a portal shimmered open before him—leading back into the warehouse. The blood on his clothes had dried. His injuries were fading faster than they should.
Healing?
No, it was something else.
He stepped through the portal—and the moment he exited, the dungeon sealed behind him.
Illegal dungeon. No records. No witnesses. No proof.
Only the system knew what had happened.
---
Back in his room, he opened the Hunter Association website.
[Days Until National Awakening Evaluation: 3]
A smile spread across his lips.
> "Let the world test me if it wants."
> "I've already passed the real test."