I clenched my fists, feeling the rush of power course through my body. I had just killed my first monster, and I was already getting stronger. If this was just the beginning… I could only imagine what lay ahead.
But before I could bask in my victory, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
[Breaking News – S-Rank Dungeon Livestream]
Curious, I tapped on the notification, and a live broadcast filled my screen.
The video showed a massive underground cavern, its ceiling lined with glowing crystals. At the center of the battlefield stood a towering two-headed wyvern, its enormous wings spread wide, its twin heads roaring in fury.
The camera zoomed in on the hunters facing it.
At the front was Orion Graves, the number-three Hunter in City A. His Obsidian Greatsword gleamed under the cavern's eerie light as he dashed forward with inhuman speed, dodging the wyvern's deadly breath attack.
Beside him was Celestine Ardent, the S-Rank Mage, her robes billowing as she chanted a spell. A storm of fire erupted from her staff, engulfing one of the wyvern's heads in flames.
The chat on the livestream exploded with excitement.
— "ORION JUST DODGED A WYVERN STRIKE LIKE IT WAS NOTHING!"
— "CELESTINE'S FIRE MAGIC IS INSANE!"
— "S-Rank Hunters are literally gods walking among us."
I swallowed hard, watching as the top Hunters in the world fought against the massive beast.
They were on a completely different level. Compared to them, I was nothing.
Even after receiving the Limitless System, I was still an ant compared to these monsters in human form. Orion's sword swings tore through the wyvern's flesh like it was paper, while Celestine's fire magic melted its scales.
And then there was Cain Voss, the world's strongest Assassin Hunter.
He barely made a sound as he flickered through the shadows, appearing directly beneath the wyvern. With a swift motion, his twin daggers sliced through its wing joint, severing the membrane.
The wyvern roared in agony, crashing to the ground.
I gritted my teeth. A realization came in, "This was the world I had been excluded from for ten years."
The world of Hunters.
I had always been on the sidelines, watching them from afar. No Awakening. No power. Nothing.
But now…
I clenched my fists, feeling the raw strength in my body. Now, I had a chance.
I kept my eyes on the fight, absorbing every movement, every tactic. Orion's precision, Celestine's overwhelming magic, Cain's deadly efficiency—I burned every moment into my memory.
Then, a notification appeared in the livestream.
[S-Gate Raid: Estimated Completion Time – 20 minutes]
They were about to clear an S-Rank Gate in less than half an hour.
Most Hunters wouldn't even survive a minute in an S-Rank dungeon. But these people? They made it look easy.
I exhaled slowly. I want to reach that level. No, more than that. I want to surpass them.
Suddenly, my system pinged.
[New Quest Assigned]
My eyes widened. Another quest?
I pulled up the system screen.
[Quest: Watching is Not Enough]
Objective: Enter a Gate and slay a monster (D-Rank or higher).
Time Limit: 72 Hours.
Reward: +10 Stat Points, Unlock and Select One Exclusive Skill.
Penalty for Failure: ???
I froze. "Enter a Gate?" My excitement was instantly replaced with cold reality.
Normal people couldn't just walk into a Gate. Only registered Hunters had permission.
And I wasn't a Hunter. My stomach twisted as I realized the problem. How the hell was I supposed to do this?
I checked the Penalty for Failure section again. The question marks sent a chill down my spine.
I had already seen what kind of "punishment" the System could come up with. If I failed this quest, there was no telling what kind of nightmare it would throw at me next.
For the past ten years, I had been labeled as a "No-Class," a failure who never awakened an ability. Without an official Awakening, I had no legal access to dungeons.
But now…
I clenched my fists, feeling the raw strength coursing through my body. The System had changed everything.
If I wanted to become stronger, I had no choice but to register as a Hunter.
And there was only one place to do that—the Hunter Association Headquarters.
***
The Hunter Association HQ in City F was a towering skyscraper of steel and glass, standing at the center of the city like a fortress. The moment I stepped inside, I was met with a wave of noise—Hunters of all ranks moved about, some checking dungeon reports, others registering for missions.
The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with power and confidence. I could feel the difference between them and ordinary people. Even the weakest Hunters exuded an air of strength.
I swallowed my nerves and approached the front desk. A young woman with sharp eyes and a headset greeted me.
"Welcome to the Hunter Association. How can I assist you?"
I took a deep breath. "I'd like to register as a Hunter."
She blinked, then gave me a once-over. I could tell exactly what she was thinking—Another desperate no-name trying to get in.
Still, she remained professional. "Do you have an Awakening record?"
I shook my head. "No. But I… I think I've awakened recently."
She arched an eyebrow but nodded. "In that case, you'll need to undergo an Awakening Test to determine your class and rank."
She handed me a form. "Fill this out. Testing is on the third floor."
I quickly scribbled down my details and took the elevator up.
***
The Awakening Test Room was a high-tech chamber reinforced with mana-infused steel. Several Hunters stood in line, waiting for their turn. Some looked excited, others nervous.
At the front of the room was a large crystal, pulsating with energy. A man in a lab coat stood beside it, overseeing the tests.
"Next!" he called.
A young man stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal. It flared to life, glowing blue.
[Hunter Class: Mage]
[Rank: D]
The man nodded in satisfaction and moved aside.
I felt my heart pound as I stepped forward. The scientist glanced at me, uninterested.
"Place your hand on the Awakening Crystal," he said.