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“Today will be my last day.”

Mieun, the leader of the General Affairs team, didn’t react, and instead sipped on her coffee with her eyes glued to the monitor. She killed time by online shopping as always.

“Really? Well, it looks like you at least have some conscience.”

“…”

“It’s a wise choice. It will be much better than trying to meet everyone’s expectations.”

“Even if that’s true, that’s pretty hurtful.”

“… Have you thought of a new job yet?”

“Yeah. I’m going to take the test to become a cop.”

“Alright then. I will ensure your severance pay is enough to hold you over.”

What a liar.

I knew she would make up some hideous excuse to reduce my severance pay even lower than it already was.

I didn’t have any regrets, though. My wish was to get out of the place as soon as possible.

‘It’s the same old guild. Using you for profit and then throwing you away when they’re finished wringing you dry….’

I’d been forced to stick with this guild because of the contract I signed, and thanks to my financial circumstances.

And so, with that, I would finally get myself out of that horrible Phoenix Guild after 15 years of toiling.

Today was the day I put an end to my E-Rank Hunter lifestyle… but it certainly left a bitter taste in my mouth.

‘It’s been 15 years….’

It sure was a long time. The past years flew before my eyes.

The First Cataclysm.

That was the term used for the period when a gate opened up to release monsters into the world.

The reason why it was called the first was simple: it wasn’t the last. They continued to happen till the Fourth Cataclysm.

During every Cataclysm, mana density increased, and stronger monsters appeared.

During the First Cataclysm, armies from countries around the world tried to fight the monsters, to no avail.

There were simply too many. And that wasn’t the only reason. In some instances, the weapons used by the armies were no match for the monsters, who seemed immune to some of them.

And just like that, humanity’s very existence seemed like it would draw to a close.

Could it be fate? Or was it God’s intervention?

While presidents and prime ministers from several countries held serious debates about using nuclear weapons, people that had the power to fight against the monsters appeared.

They were awakened beings that went by the term “Hunter”.

They knew how to use Mana and fought the monsters using unique skills and weapons.

The world faced its Fourth Cataclysm, but eventually peace prevailed thanks to the heroic acts of the Hunters.

Since then, the world revolved around the Hunters, and they became the standard of national power. As their stature grew, it was only natural for them to earn an abundance of wealth, and be bestowed with honor befitting them.

However, I was still very far off from being that type of Hunter.

“Status window!”

[User: Lee Byeong-gi, Lv.50]

[Title: Hunted for His Life]

–Title Effect: (Hunted for His Life) No effect.

[Vitality: 55, MP: 57]

[Skill: Lv.2 Insight (Passive), Lv. 2 Enhancement, Lv 2 Mana Shield]

I had become a Hunter during the Second Cataclysm.

‘Level 50, even though I worked so hard for it….ʼ

My status window couldn’t be more dreadful.

I was under the standard limit when compared to the existing Hunters, who usually ranged from level 200 to level 250.

But today would be the last day I checked my status.

“Well, looks like this is the end of this lifestyle.”

I had many regrets, but to dwell on the past was pointless.

Most Awakeners who became Hunters went into F-Rank. If they were lucky, they could reach D-Rank.

After confirmation of their awakening, the Hunters' ranks were granted using the mana-measuring device at the government-owned Hunters' management center.

This process was compulsory following the Awakeners' Application Law. After that, there was only one way to level up their rank, and that was through arduous effort.

To be a Hunter, physical training was required, such as martial arts or training with a weapon, but leveling up was only possible through monster hunting, and it definitely wasn't an easy task.

Because of this, the population of the highest rank, S-Rank Hunters, had been capped at around 500.

Those individuals had a level of 350 or higher, far surpassing the standard Hunter's level.

Of course, some reached that rank through their own efforts, but from what I knew, most of them were born with natural skill and power.

The S-Rank Hunters received powerful attack skills during the Awakener's Application Process, and their mana ability was also high.

I wasn't as good as them, but I still managed to reach E-Rank. It wasn't too difficult.

The E-Rank Hunters were treated quite well, and depending on how hard one worked, it was possible to level up quickly.

To add to that, I was able to acquire a rare item known as the “Goblin’s Sword” during the Dungeon Tutorial, which was a compulsory course to become an Awakener. I felt lucky at the time.

But that was all I had.

After 15 years as a Hunter, I was still stuck in E-Rank to this day. Why?

It was because of a problem with my skills.

When you became a Hunter, you got summoned to the Dungeon Tutorial, it was not a matter of choice, and there you received either one, two, or three skills. The most common was two. I ended up receiving three.

Sure, three was a lot, but unfortunately, none of them were attack skills.

I didn't know who had created the 'SYSTEM', but the skills that were inherited by it were essential for a Hunter's survival and level-ups.

Warrior? Healer? Those skills only existed in fantasy.

A Hunter's characteristics and combat power were determined solely by their granted ability and skill. Of the three I received, the only somewhat useful skill was Insight.

The Level 2 Insight skill allowed me to check a Hunter's status without their permission, as well as gain knowledge about a monster's skills.

Although I didn’t have any good attack skills, I used my Insight skill until the Third Cataclysm by providing my party with information about monsters. I used the Enhancement and Mana Shield to take on a Tanker role during hunts. Because of this, I was able to sign a contract with the well-known Phoenix Guild.

But that was the end of my luck.

I didn't possess any powerful attack skills, which greatly hindered my progress since I had to defeat monsters to level up. It was no secret that my rate of leveling up was quite slow.

One might wonder if it was possible to acquire new skills.

Of course, it was.

Skill books could be obtained in two ways: through the Hidden Piece's reward or by hunting a named monster.

However, the problem with obtaining the book was the difficult manner in which such a feat could only be accomplished. During a party hunt, a high damage contribution was necessary to increase the chances of getting one, and hunting named monsters had to be done under specific conditions.

And for me, since I lacked an essential role in the party, I didn’t get a single chance.

When another Cataclysm occurred, with stronger monsters every time, my role, and indeed my presence, both diminished in importance.

Ever since the Fourth Cataclysm, the Insight skill and the Goblin’s Sword came to have no effect on the monsters.

For that, I earned the disgraceful nickname Zero Combat Glass Tanker. To add insult to injury, I was rejected when attempting to join any parties as more people found out about the skill of Insight. There weren’t many Hunters who were happy about the idea of their status being exposed.

The skill of Insight, which at first had been a good thing, turned out to be a curse as it created a void between the other Hunters and me.

“…”

But that was a lot of time spent reflecting on useless things. I wasn’t even a Hunter anymore…

Sigh.

“Well. I guess I’ll just have to find my own way.”

I felt sad that the times I’d spent together with my comrades weren’t important to them. To rid myself of those unhappy thoughts, I decided to call my girlfriend.

“–You have reached the voicemail of…”

I tried calling a few more times, with the same result.

My girlfriend, Yujin, worked as a reporter.

Shortly after becoming a Hunter, having succeeded at my first gate hunt, Yujin had asked me for an interview. We spent time together after that, and eventually we began a relationship. It was clear that she had really liked me during those times, but it felt like we were growing apart after what happened to me.

‘Well… I guess I have an inferiority complex.’

I thought to myself.

I couldn’t stop sighing.

‘Nothing is working out for me… If only I could pass the test!’

The thought of proposing to my girlfriend crossed my mind. We had been together for a while, and I figured now was as good a time as any. I had saved up enough money to buy a house in the heart of the city.

Plus, being a police officer wasn't too shabby either.

The police force at the time was mostly comprised of former Hunters who had been discharged or resigned due to their inability to progress in their Guild.

But they still had the strength to protect the citizens from monsters.

The challenge was that there were many people like me, so the test was more arduous than just sneaking up on a monster and putting a bell around its neck without being detected.

With a heavy heart, I began to make my way home.

Just then, I noticed Yujin walking by.

‘I wonder why she didn't respond to my call.’

Curious to find out, I approached her from behind, hoping to surprise her. But, just before I could, a familiar face walked up to her.

Gangsuk had been my junior at the Phoenix Guild, and I had trained him as a Hunter before he took on the Shooter role. Back then, he had followed me around like I was his older brother. He was in B-Rank, and had a good-looking face that made him popular.

‘Why are they together?’

They also seemed very affectionate towards one another.

For a moment, I thought something was amiss and attempted to dismiss it.

My instinctive bad feelings usually turn out to be accurate, and my initial unease became a reality when she took his arm and they headed into a motel.

My head went numb and my chest began to thump.

I tried to reassure myself and wished it wasn't true, but rage built up inside me as I trailed them.

‘Please, tell me this isn’t real!’

I hesitated for a while in front of the room they had gone into before taking a deep breath and bursting the door open.

Thud–

“Ahhh!”

“Shit, who is it?”

My body froze.

They were in bed, together, both looking on with sheer shock on their faces.

“H-How could you do this to me!”

“What the hell! Babe, how did you know….”

“Fucking hell, Byeong-gi? What are you doing here?”

That was something I wanted to ask them as well. I thought they would at least show some remorse, and tell the truth at this point, but they were way too shameless.

“Fucking bastard!”

Losing my temper, I ran over to Gangsuk and punched him.

Pow-

Ironically, I was the one who fell to the ground.

An E-Rank Hunter couldn’t win against a B-Rank. As I fell to the floor, a wave of humiliation engulfed me. Tears rolled down my cheeks, but physical pain did not cause them.

“Ah shit..!”

“Fucking idiot! You looked down on me because I treated you like a senior?”

Gangsuk and Yujin were laughing at me as they fixed their clothes.

“Take this and go to a hospital or something.”

There was not the slightest hint of respect as he threw a wad of cash at me.

“Oh, and don’t worry, I will take care of this noise. I’ll talk to the owner. If this gets any bigger, shit will get complicated. Oh fucking hell, so embarrassing….”

All my self-esteem disappeared on that occasion.

“…”

I made eye contact with Yujin.

“I’m sorry to see you like this.”

She didn’t look sorry at all.

“How can you…?“

Before I could say anything more, Gangsuk grabbed Yujin’s arm and pulled her away and out of the door. And with that, they were gone.

“Shit….”

Later that night, I sat in the middle of the park and drank as much alcohol as my body could take, with the aim of obliterating the pain through intoxication.

The park was usually filled with joggers or people walking their pets, but that night it was completely empty.

There was little else I could focus on.

I resented the strange SYSTEM that had left me with no attack skills and cursed Yujin and Gangsuk for their betrayal.

While still consumed by these thoughts, my phone vibrated with an eerie message.

–Emergency Disaster Alert–

A Fifth Cataclysm has been detected. The Gates are assumed to be opening simultaneously, so please evacuate immediately.

“A Fifth Cataclysm? Huh, I don’t give a damn! Let them all rush out! Let this world come to an end already!”

I yelled as I spat the last of the alcohol out. But the second emergency alert instantly sobered me up.

–Emergency Disaster Alert–

A Gate has been detected near Gangbuk-gu 4.19 Top. To all the citizens in the area, please evacuate immediately.

“Mom!”

I threw myself off the bench and stood up.

4.19 Top was near our house, and my mom couldn’t move ever since she hurt her lower back while working a few days ago.

She wouldn’t be able to escape, but it would take me at least 10 minutes to get there even if I ran.

I sprinted as fast as I could.

Thud! Thud!

I could hear the sound of my heart beating in my ears.

“Mom! Mom!”

I yelled insanely as I sprinted toward my mother’s house. The monsters seemed to have arrived already, and I could hear sounds of the battle as it raged on.

Boom-

The sound of an explosion came from the direction of our house.

What had once seemed like a short distance seemed to take me an eternity to cover on that day.

As I got closer to the house, I heard the sounds of monsters.

“!!!”

I arrived at the house at last, or rather, the spot where the house used to be. The Gate had opened right beside it, and amidst the debris that remained, I saw strange and repulsive-looking monsters I’d never seen before, ravenously devouring something.

I spotted an arm that had not yet been consumed by the monsters in the wreckage, and on one of the fingers was a ring I instantly recognized.

“Mommm!”

Tears streamed down my face. Rage and revenge filled my mind.

I lost all sense of reason and pulled my sword from my inventory, charging towards the monsters.

"Strength Reinforcement!"

"Mana Shield!"

I activated all my skills and wildly swung my sword.

I knew that a sword without any attack skills wouldn't do much, but I had no time to think. All I wanted was to recover my mother's body.

“Krrrrr…!”

As soon as I disturbed the monsters from their feast with my feeble attack, they lunged at me.

Neither of my abilities had any effect on them.

Ududuk-

A ghastly noise reverberated in my ears as an agonizing pain ravaged my body.

My right leg was severed by a monster's attack from the knee down.

“Arghhhh!”

I fell to the ground screaming in pain as the monsters clambered on top of me, slowly ripping out my arms and legs.

Ududuk, chomp, chomp-

Even through the agony of them devouring me whole, I couldn’t stop thinking about my mom.

 “Mom…”

Having my body ripped apart was nothing compared to the pain of losing her.

My dad had been killed by a monster, and ever since then, I was her only reason to live.

When I had just signed a contract with the Phoenix Guild, we didn’t spend much time together as I always had an excuse of being too busy. After that, when it was clear that I would lose my position in the Guild, she found a job, but was injured whilst at work.

My eyes grew foggy.

‘I am so sorry. I’m so sorry, mom….’

A monster appeared in front of me with its jaws open wide, ready to devour me.

I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.

A moment later, my life came to an end.

***

'Is this a hallucination?'

The memories of my life raced through my mind, out of order and out of context. They sped by in a blur before slowing down, then burst into a million tiny pieces and rained down on me.

Then I heard a voice calling my name.