In the end, despite all the questions forming inside his head, Tae-woo decided to go to the Examination Center to check whether his Class had evolved or not. After putting Jae-sik's unconscious body on a nearby public bench, he headed over to the building.
The Examination Center was one of the most sophisticated facilities in Korea, equipped with the latest technology to assess Hunters and their abilities. The towering structure was a blend of sleek modern architecture and reinforced magical barriers, ensuring both security and precision in its assessments. Every aspiring or re-evaluated Hunter passed through its doors, seeking confirmation of their rank, abilities, or any new awakenings.
Tae-woo entered through the automatic doors, greeted by the sterile white walls and the faint hum of machinery running in the background. The waiting area was filled with Hunters of all ranks, some nervously clutching their identification papers while others lounged confidently, waiting for their turn.
After checking in at the front desk, he was led to a private evaluation room, where a female examiner, clad in a professional lab coat, guided him through the various tests.
The first assessments were physical.
Tae-woo was made to demonstrate his strength, agility and endurance. The machines recorded his movements, tracking his improvements since his last examination. He ran sprints, lifted weights, and performed combat maneuvers against automated dummies designed to simulate actual battle scenarios.
At first, Tae-woo felt uneasy. He had never excelled in physical tests before. As a Trainee-class F-Rank Hunter, his results had been abysmally low. But this time, something had changed.
His movements felt lighter. His body responded faster.
When he threw a punch, the impact sent cracks through the reinforced training dummy, something that should have been impossible for an F-Rank.
The examiner raised an eyebrow but remained professional, jotting down notes as she moved on to the next segment of the test.
Then came the mana assessment.
Tae-woo was instructed to place his hand on a crystalline sphere, a device used to measure a Hunter's mana signature.
As soon as he touched it, the sphere flared to life, pulsating with an eerie, deep violet glow. The light wavered, flickering unpredictably before the device suddenly shut down with a soft beep.
The examiner frowned, tapping a few buttons on her tablet before instructing him to try again.
Tae-woo placed his hand on the sphere once more.
Again, the same violet glow erupted, but this time, the machine made a strange clicking sound before flashing red, indicating an error.
The examiner muttered something under her breath before sighing and moving to the final test, which was level assessment.
This was the most anticipated moment. A device specifically designed to measure one's level was brought in, resembling a sleek, metallic podium with a scanning surface. Tae-woo was asked to place his palm against it.
As soon as he did, the machine hummed softly, scanning him as streams of numbers and data flashed across the screen. He felt a faint sensation as if something was analyzing the very core of his being.
A few moments passed before the machine beeped and displayed the results.
The examiner studied the screen, her lips pursing slightly. She tapped at her tablet, cross-referencing the results before turning to him.
"There seems to be some trouble pinpointing your exact level," she said, her tone neutral but curious. "It's not uncommon for Hunters who undergo sudden evolutions, but your readings are particularly unstable."
Tae-woo frowned. "Unstable?"
She nodded. "It's rare enough for a Class to evolve, but for a Trainee-Class to evolve at all is extremely rare, if not unheard of. There isn't much data to cross-reference, so the machine is having difficulty making precise calculations." She paused before continuing, "However, based on approximations, your level places you around the mid to high B-Rank category."
B-Rank.
Tae-woo exhaled slowly, trying to process what he had just heard.
From F-Rank to B-Rank.
It was an astronomical jump.
For years, he had struggled at the absolute bottom of the Hunter hierarchy, mocked and pitied for his weakness. Now, suddenly, he had leaped up the ranks to a level where Hunters were considered competent, capable of taking on real threats.
It still didn't feel real.
"There's another issue," the examiner continued, scrolling through her tablet. "Your evolved Class remains unclear. When a Hunter evolves, their Class typically shifts into a defined specialization: Swordsman, Berserker, Warlock, Paladin, something recognizable." She gestured to the screen. "But your mana signature is too different from any existing classifications. The system couldn't categorize it properly, so for now, the classification has defaulted to 'Fighter.'"
Tae-woo nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
B-Rank. Fighter-Class. Unstable readings.
The tests had not detected anything overtly wrong with him, which was a relief.
But he knew something was different.
He thought back to the fight with Jae-sik earlier. The sheer force of his punch. The way his body had moved before his mind had even processed it. The way those crystal-like spikes had emerged from his knuckles.
He had kept that part to himself.
There was no way he was going to reveal that to the Examination Center. Not yet. Not when he didn't understand it himself.
The examiner finished her notes and gave him a slight nod. "That concludes your re-evaluation. You'll receive your official Hunter license update soon. We recommend visiting the Association for further analysis if you experience any unusual side effects or changes."
Tae-woo nodded, shaking her hand before leaving the examination room.
As he stepped out into the hallway, the reality of it all finally sank in.
He wasn't an F-Rank anymore.
He wasn't a weakling struggling to survive each raid.
He was B-Rank now. Stronger than he had ever been.
For the first time in years, he had the power to change his fate.
But what came next?
The logical choice would be to join a guild. With his new rank, he could apply for some of the mid-tier guilds or even aim higher. He might even have a chance at one of the Six Great Guilds.
But something in him hesitated.
Before he could even think of joining a guild, he needed answers.
He needed to understand what had happened to him.
What had truly changed inside him after stepping into the Abyssal Gate?
Tae-woo rubbed his knuckles absentmindedly, recalling the strange, sharp sensation of the violet spikes sprouting from his skin.
That hadn't been normal.
He exhaled, shaking his head. He'd deal with that later. For now, he was satisfied with what he had learned.
As he walked toward the exit, he felt it again.
That deep, gnawing hunger.
He frowned, rubbing his stomach. He had eaten breakfast before coming here, yet the empty ache in his gut refused to fade.
It was the same sensation he had felt over the past few days, a dull but persistent hunger that no amount of food seemed to satisfy.
It was probably nothing.
Hopefully, it would go away in a few days.
For now, he had more important things to focus on.
----------------------------------------
Jin Tae-woo stepped through the door of his apartment, the scent of warm, freshly prepared food filling the air as he carried in the bags. The plastic rustled as he set them down on the small dining table, and he sighed, rolling his shoulders after a long day.
It was rare for him to bring home something this expensive. Usually, their meals were simple, like home-cooked whenever Ha-rin had the time or affordable takeout when they were both too busy. But tonight was different.
Ha-rin emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes slightly as if she had just woken up from a nap. She paused when she saw the bags on the table.
"You bought food?" she asked, tilting her head.
Tae-woo smirked as he started unpacking the dishes. "Not just food. Good food."
Ha-rin frowned slightly, stepping closer. "Oppa… we don't usually spend money like this. Did something happen?"
Tae-woo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pulled something out of his pocket and held it up for her to see.
A sleek, newly updated Hunter License.
Ha-rin's eyes widened, her hands instinctively reaching for it as she took it from him. She scanned the information printed on the card, her gaze stopping at one particular section.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"B-Rank…?" she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing.
Tae-woo grinned. "Not F-Rank anymore, huh?"
Ha-rin looked up at him, her expression torn between joy and concern. "Oppa, this is amazing! You… you actually ranked up! You evolved your Class!"
"Yeah. It actually happened," Tae-woo said, running a hand through his hair. "Trainee finally became something else. They don't even know what my Class actually is, so they just labeled it 'Fighter' for now."
Ha-rin still looked overwhelmed as she stared at the license as if trying to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "This is incredible… I knew you were capable of more! You've always worked so hard, and now you're-"
She stopped.
Her fingers tightened around the license as her expression shifted.
Tae-woo noticed immediately. "What's wrong?"
Ha-rin hesitated, then looked up at him, her eyes clouded with worry.
"Oppa… this means you'll be put in even more danger now."
The excitement in her voice had faded, replaced with quiet unease. "B-Rank Hunters go on harder raids. Stronger dungeons. The risks are bigger than anything you've faced before." She bit her lip. "You're happy about this, right? But… I can't help but feel scared. You almost died, and now, you're going to be fighting even deadlier things. What if…"
She trailed off, gripping the Hunter License tightly.
Tae-woo sighed, reaching out and ruffling her hair. "Hey, don't start thinking like that. I get what you're saying, but I've always been in danger. Even as an F-Rank, every time I stepped into a dungeon, I was risking my life."
Ha-rin frowned, but Tae-woo continued.
"The difference now is that I finally have the strength to protect myself. I won't be the weak link anymore. I won't have to rely on others to survive." His voice softened. "And I'll make sure to be careful. I promise."
Ha-rin looked at him for a long moment, her emotions warring on her face. Then, with a sigh, she handed him back his license.
"Fine," she muttered. "But you're not allowed to do anything reckless. Got it?"
Tae-woo chuckled, patting her head. "Got it."
Ha-rin still looked unconvinced, but she eventually exhaled and glanced at the food on the table.
"You spent a lot on this, huh?" she asked.
"Well, it's a special occasion," Tae-woo replied. "Come on, let's eat before it gets cold."
They both sat down and for the first time in a long while, the atmosphere felt lighter.
The meal was extravagant compared to their usual dinners. There was grilled beef, marinated chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and several side dishes, including kimchi, pickled radish and seasoned seaweed. A steaming bowl of rich, savory stew sat in the center, filling the room with its mouthwatering aroma.
Ha-rin eyed the spread warily. "You really went all out."
Tae-woo grinned. "Think of it as a rare luxury."
Ha-rin huffed but didn't complain. "Fine. But don't make this a habit. I don't want us to be broke before you even start getting high-rank commissions."
Tae-woo laughed. "You always sound like my accountant."
"I have to be," she said, grabbing her chopsticks. "Someone needs to make sure you don't blow all your money on food."
As they started eating, Tae-woo savored the flavors, but something felt… off.
He was eating more than usual.
Not just because the food was delicious but because his hunger hadn't subsided. No matter how much he chewed and swallowed, there was a lingering emptiness inside him, a gnawing feeling that refused to be satisfied.
It was frustrating.
But he pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the meal and the rare moment of peace.
Ha-rin, on the other hand, seemed completely absorbed in the food, her usual strict attitude softening as she enjoyed the meal.
"So," Tae-woo said between bites, "how's school been?"
Ha-rin gave him a look. "You almost died, and that's what you want to ask me about?"
Tae-woo shrugged. "What else am I supposed to talk about? My amazing new Hunter rank? My incredible new skills?" He wiggled his fingers dramatically. "Or maybe you'd prefer I start monologuing about how I'm going to become the greatest Hunter alive?"
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ha-rin snorted. "Please don't. I'd lose my appetite."
Tae-woo chuckled, happy to see her relax a little.
They continued eating and chatting about minor things, like her classes, his plans, the latest Hunter news, and other small things. It felt normal as if the past week of chaos had never happened.
But deep down, Tae-woo knew things weren't normal.
Something had changed.
Inside him.
He just wasn't sure what yet.
For now, though, he let himself enjoy the moment.
Because no matter what happened next, he knew one thing for sure.
Jin Tae-woo was no longer weak.
----------------------------------------
The news of Jin Tae-woo's sudden rise from an F-Rank to a B-Rank Hunter spread across South Korea like wildfire. A Class evolution alone was rare, but for someone with the Trainee Class, widely regarded as the most useless Class, to evolve and jump multiple ranks at once?
It was unheard of.
The Hunter community erupted with excitement, confusion, and endless speculation.
Within hours of the announcement, social media platforms were flooded with discussions. Articles dissecting his past records, interviews with Hunters who had worked with him, and heated debates on Hunter forums popped up in every corner of the internet.
However, before the public could decide on Jin Tae-woo's fate, the first ones to learn about his promotion were the Guildmasters of the Six Great Guilds.
And as such, a moot was called.
A gathering where the strongest Hunters in the nation would decide how to move forward.
----------------------------------------
In a high-rise conference room, the atmosphere was tense yet composed. The Guildmasters and their deputies had gathered, their expressions unreadable as they took their seats around a long, polished ebony table.
At the far end, Gong Hye-rin, the Guildmaster of Iron Fang Guild, turned her cool, sharp eyes toward Cha Min-soo, the Guildmaster of Azure Sky Guild, seated opposite her.
"I do appreciate that you are not being especially smug for this occasion, Min-soo-nim," she remarked in a soft, measured tone.
Gong Hye-rin was strikingly beautiful, though her beauty was of a dangerous kind, one that hinted at lethal precision rather than delicate fragility. Dressed in a sleek green combat uniform that left her shoulders bare, she carried herself with an effortless grace, every movement fluid and precise. Her lithe frame and practiced poise made her look more like a dancer than a killer, but those who knew her understood just how deadly she was.
Her dark brown hair was gathered into an elegant bun, a few loose strands framing her delicate yet sharp features. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, a sharpness that cut through words like a blade. Beneath her composed exterior was a trained killer, a woman who had earned her reputation as one of the most feared Assassins in Korea. In battle, she was a phantom, striking before her enemies even realized she was there. And when she spoke, her words carried weight, a sharpness hidden behind her soft-spoken voice.
Min-soo laughed, adjusting the cloak draped over his well-tailored suit. His round glasses caught the light as he leaned back in his chair, his signature smirk playing on his lips.
"Haha, I do try," he said smoothly. "However, I don't recall being well-known for being self-congratulatory."
The table shook as a mailed fist slammed down on it.
"Bullshit!"
A loud, rough voice filled the room, drawing all attention toward its source.
Baek Hyun-jae, the Guildmaster of the Black Titan Guild, sat with his arms crossed, his long black hair tied up in a high ponytail. A mountain of a man, his powerful build made it clear that he was a warrior who preferred his fists over words. His Class, Brawler, was one of raw, unrelenting combat, and his short temper was infamous among both Hunters and civilians alike.
"You're the most puffed-up peacock in this room, Min-soo!" Hyun-jae accused, pointing a finger at him. "I know you're itching to rub it in our faces that you were the only one who supported saving that kid! You're gonna call dibs on him, aren't you?!"
Min-soo chuckled, neither confirming nor denying the claim.
"Now, now…"
A calm, soothing voice cut through the tension, and a middle-aged man in monastic robes made a placating gesture toward Hyun-jae.
With a composed smile, Im Seong-ho, the Guildmaster of White Lotus Guild, exuded a sense of tranquility even in the midst of tension. His silver hair, neatly cropped short, contrasted with the warmth in his deep-set eyes.
Before awakening as a Hunter, Seong-ho had been a Buddhist monk, and even now, his demeanor reflected his past life. He was known not only for his humanitarian efforts but also as one of Korea's greatest orators, often representing the nation on the international stage. His Class, Bodhisattva, was a rare and revered one, granting him both immense spiritual power and the ability to heal and inspire others.
"While it is true that Min-soo-nim played a crucial role in bringing the boy back, that does not mean he has a monopoly on him," Seong-ho said evenly, folding his hands together. His voice carried wisdom and patience, making it difficult to argue with him.
After a slight pause, his gentle eyes glanced toward Min-soo.
"After all, it was my lieutenant, Seo-yeon-nim, who first suggested retrieving him from the Abyss. Without her persistence, none of this would have happened."
There was no arrogance in Seong-ho's words, only plain truth.
The room stilled for a moment as the weight of his statement settled.
Everyone knew that Han Seo-yeon, the famed [Saintess], had fought tooth and nail to ensure Jin Tae-woo's survival.
"That's rich, coming from you…" a voice drawled out lazily, carrying an almost mocking amusement.
The speaker leaned back in his chair, legs casually crossed, a picture of relaxed indifference. Dressed in a black duster coat and a weathered cowboy hat, he looked as if he had just walked out of an old Western film rather than a meeting of the most powerful Hunters in Korea. A grizzled face, partially obscured by the shadow of his hat, bore signs of a life spent in combat: stubble rough along his jawline, a faint scar running across the bridge of his nose, and sharp, calculating eyes that gleamed beneath the brim.
A single bullet casing rested between his teeth, rolling lazily from one side of his mouth to the other as he spoke. His voice had a slow, almost bored drawl, but beneath it lay an unmistakable sharpness.
"Wasn't it you who turned down your little saint's plea, too?" he added, lips curling into a half-smirk.
The man was Jang Tae-gon, the Guildmaster of Thunder Beast Guild, a man whose entire Class, combat style, and personality seemed to revolve around the image of a cowboy. And yet, despite his easygoing demeanor, no one in the room doubted his lethality. His marksmanship was nothing short of supernatural. There were stories of him firing bullets that curved mid-air, of him shooting through multiple enemies with a single shot, of him never missing, no matter the circumstances.
His rugged, untamed look, combined with his sharp skill, had made him a favorite among female fans, though he rarely seemed to acknowledge the attention. If anything, he was a man who thrived in chaos yet carried himself with the lazy confidence of someone who had already won the fight before it even began.
"That much is true," Seong-ho admitted, his voice steady but tinged with something deeper, something more solemn. His usual calm expression remained in place, but there was a weight behind his words, a quiet acknowledgment of the burdens he carried. "At that time, there was no way for me, in good conscience, to allow my lieutenant and my eventual successor to step into the Abyss."
For a moment, the faintest flicker of something passed across his face, something only those who had also stepped beyond the Abyssal Gate would recognize. A memory, perhaps. A shadow of something that still lingered, unseen yet never forgotten. The same weight hung in the air between all the guildmasters who had shared that experience, those who had felt the wrongness of that place firsthand.
His hand, resting atop the polished table, unconsciously curled into a fist. The tension in his knuckles was barely visible beneath the sleeve of his monastic robes, but the movement spoke volumes.
"To allow Seo-yeon-nim to step into that accursed place would have been a failure of my duty," he continued, his voice firm but quieter now. "A grave misconduct on my part as both her mentor and her leader."
He exhaled softly, the fingers of his clenched fist slowly easing as if forcing himself to let go of the unspoken emotions that threatened to surface.
"In the end, she entered that place regardless of my decision," Seong-ho murmured, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his features. "And it gladdens my heart more than I can express to see her return… intact."
The weight behind that last word hung in the air, an unspoken truth left lingering between them all because they all knew that no one returned from the Abyss unchanged.
"Accursed or not, the realm beyond the Abyssal Gate remains unconquered. Not just by us, but by Hunters worldwide."
A new voice entered the conversation, smooth yet laced with a certain unsettling amusement. It belonged to a young-looking man with sleek, dark blue hair, his appearance almost misleadingly gentle compared to the weight of his words.
At first glance, Hwang Kyung-tae seemed unassuming, dressed in a well-fitted black coat with intricate crimson embroidery along the cuffs, a design reminiscent of the blood moon, the namesake of his Scarlet Moon Guild. His pale complexion and youthful features made him look like he was barely out of his twenties, but everyone in the room knew better.
Kyung-tae was infamous, both among Hunters and the public. Unlike the others, who commanded respect through sheer reputation and battlefield prowess, his notoriety came from something else entirely.
His Class, Necromancer, was one of the most feared and controversial among Hunters.
To many, necromancy was synonymous with forbidden magic, delving into the unnatural, and playing with forces that should not be tampered with. And yet, Kyung-tae thrived in it. Over the years, he had pushed the boundaries of magic, conducting esoteric experiments that made even his fellow Guildmasters wary. His obsession with the unknown extended to every corner of magic, including his own body. His youthful appearance, something he had maintained for almost a decade after his Awakening as a Hunter, was one such result of his relentless magical research.
And despite his easygoing demeanor, the other Guildmasters in the room could all safely agree on one thing…
Hwang Kyung-tae had the rottenest personality among them.
"There's so little we know about the Abyss…" Kyung-tae continued, a sly smirk forming on his lips as he rested his chin on his interlocked fingers. His dark crimson eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and amusement, a look that sent shivers down the spine of many who had seen it before.
"There has to be more to that place than we realize…" His voice was almost casual, but the intensity in his gaze betrayed his true thoughts.
Min-soo cleared his throat, the subtle gesture enough to draw everyone's attention back to him.
"While the Abyssal Gate is certainly a topic of great importance," he began smoothly, adjusting his glasses with a practiced motion, "it is not the primary reason for this meeting." His voice carried an air of authority, measured and confident. Even as an intellectual himself, Min-soo found Hwang Kyung-tae's fixation on the unknown unsettling, but he wasn't about to let the discussion derail. "We all know why we are gathered today."
He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
And, predictably, someone took exception to his attempt at taking charge.
"Hey, hey, who died and made you the leader among us, huh?" Baek Hyun-jae grumbled, crossing his arms. The Guildmaster of Black Titan was never one to sit quietly when someone else took the reins. His brawler's temperament made him naturally resistant to authority, especially when it wasn't his own.
Min-soo turned his gaze toward Hyun-jae, unimpressed.
"I personally jumped into the Abyssal Gate to save him," Min-soo stated flatly.
A brief silence followed.
"Oh. Right, fair enough," Hyun-jae conceded with a shrug, clearly unwilling to argue with that level of commitment.
Min-soo sighed and pressed forward. "Then let's focus on the issue at hand." He straightened, his expression returning to its usual composed state. "We need to discuss what we're going to do about Jin Tae-woo."