After dinner, Ji-Hoon climbed the stairs of the orphanage to the small room he shared with two other boys. The children were already asleep, exhausted from a day filled with laughter and games. Ji-Hoon lay down on his makeshift bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. Despite his fatigue, sleep eluded him. The day's events kept replaying in his mind— the taunts from the Holy Knights, Min-Jae’s sorrowful expression, Sister Marianne’s comforting words.

Eventually, he drifted into a restless sleep. But in the middle of the night, something jolted him awake. A sharp, acrid smell burned his nostrils. Smoke.

Ji-Hoon sat up abruptly, his heart pounding. The room was thick with gray haze, and ominous cracking sounds echoed from outside. He rushed to the window—his blood ran cold.

The orphanage was on fire.

Outside, dark silhouettes stood against the fiery glow. Ji-Hoon immediately recognized one of them— Knight Yulius, watching the chaos with a cruel smile. Around him, armored men hurled torches onto the roof, while others blocked the townspeople from intervening.

“Burn it all!” Yulius commanded. “This nest of heretics must be wiped out!”

Panic surged through Ji-Hoon. He ran out of the room, shouting:

“Wake up! The orphanage is on fire!”

But it was already too late. The flames had devoured the staircase, and the heat was unbearable. Ji-Hoon sprinted through the hallways, desperately searching for the children and Sister Marianne. All he found were charred remains and clothes reduced to ash.

“No… No, no, NO!” he screamed, tears streaming down his face.

He collapsed to his knees, clutching the burned remnants of those he loved. The agony was unbearable—a mix of sorrow and pure, unfiltered rage. The flames closed in, wrapping around him like a fiery embrace.

Then, something inside him stirred. A dark, insatiable force rose from deep within, as if Avarice had been waiting for this very moment to emerge.

A black surge of energy exploded from his body, pushing back the flames and smoke. Ji-Hoon’s mind wavered—then everything went dark.

When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in a damp, shadowy cave. Faint daylight seeped through a narrow opening, casting dim light on the rocky walls. He was sprawled on a bed of dry leaves, his body covered in soot but miraculously unharmed.

“Where… where am I?” he whispered, his voice hoarse and shaky.

Memories of the fire, the screams, the pain… and that dark force that had saved him flooded his mind. Ji-Hoon looked down at his hands, half-expecting to see traces of Avarice. But there was nothing—just the scorched marks left by the flames.

“What happened to me?” he murmured. But the cave remained silent.

Ji-Hoon slowly got to his feet, his legs still unsteady. One thing was certain—his life would never be the same. The Holy Knights had taken everything from him, but in doing so, they had awakened something powerful. Something dangerous.

And Ji-Hoon was determined to use it.

Still reeling from the shock, Ji-Hoon tried to piece together how he had ended up in this cave. As he struggled to gather his thoughts, a soft blue glow suddenly appeared before his eyes. A holographic interface materialized, hovering in the air like a magical projection. Lines of text and numbers scrolled across the screen, accompanied by a cold, mechanical voice that echoed in his mind.

[“Avarice System activated.”]

Ji-Hoon blinked, disbelief washing over him as the interface expanded before him. It was divided into several sections:

Name: Kim Ji-Hoon

Age: 19

Level: 1

Statistics:

Strength: 0

Agility: 0

Endurance: 0

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Intelligence: 0

Luck: 0

Ji-Hoon stared at the numbers in confusion. Everything was at zero. He was at level 1—nothing more than a complete beginner. Before he could process it further, a new section popped up: Encyclopedia.

The system’s voice echoed again, monotone yet carrying an undeniable authority.

[“Encyclopedia: Welcome, user. You survived the orphanage fire due to the activation of the Avarice System. According to official records, you and all residents of the orphanage are declared deceased. This interface has been designed to assist you in achieving your revenge.”]

A shiver ran down Ji-Hoon’s spine. The words struck a chord within him, awakening a fury he had long suppressed.

“My revenge…” he whispered, clenching his fists.

The system continued, oblivious to his emotions.

[“To avoid detection, you have the option to alter your physical appearance. This feature, called ‘Glow UP,’ will allow you to conceal your identity and blend into society unnoticed. Additionally, your data can be masked, preventing any system or individual from detecting your true abilities.”]

Ji-Hoon looked at his soot-covered hands. The idea of changing his appearance felt strange—almost unreal—but he understood the necessity. If he wanted to take down the Holy Knights, he had to stay hidden.

“Show me,” he commanded firmly.

The interface displayed a new window, featuring a 3D model of Ji-Hoon with options to tweak every detail—facial structure, hair color, height, muscle definition, even his voice. Ji-Hoon spent several minutes adjusting the parameters, crafting a new version of himself.

When he finished, the preview reflected his new face—older, sharper, with short black hair and piercing eyes. He no longer resembled the timid, abused orphan he once was.

[“Appearance updated. Would you like to activate data masking?”]

“Yes,” Ji-Hoon responded without hesitation.

[“Data masking activated. Your stats and level will be visible only to you. No one will be able to gauge your true strength.”]

Ji-Hoon nodded, feeling an unfamiliar sense of power rising within him. He was no longer the same person. The orphanage, the children, Sister Marianne… that life was over. Now, he had only one goal—to make those responsible pay.

“Système,” he said, his voice calm but resolute. “How do I begin?”

[“Main objective: Vengeance. To progress, you must complete quests, defeat enemies, and absorb their abilities. Each victory will bring you closer to your goal. Would you like to receive your first quest?”]

“Yes,” Ji-Hoon answered, his eyes gleaming with a dark determination.

[“Initial Quest: Survival and Adaptation. Explore the cave to find resources and weapons. Then, leave this place and head towards the Forest of Shadows, where your training will begin. Reward: 100 experience points and a basic skill.”]

Ji-Hoon rose to his feet, a newfound energy coursing through him. He glanced around, ready to tackle this first step. The cave, once a place of despair, had now become the starting point of his journey.

“Alright,” he murmured, clenching his fists. “Let’s begin.”

He moved cautiously through the dim cave. The darkness was nearly absolute, and the rocky walls seemed to swallow the faint light from the entrance. Stretching his hands forward, he navigated carefully.

“I can’t see a thing,” he muttered in frustration. “How am I supposed to find anything in this pitch black?”

Looking up, he noticed dark shapes fluttering along the ceiling— bats. They moved silently, using echolocation to navigate the cave’s depths. Ji-Hoon observed them, fascinated by their ability to adapt to such a hostile environment.

But soon, they became a nuisance. They swooped around him, their high-pitched cries echoing through the cave. One flew too close, its wings brushing his face. Annoyed, Ji-Hoon grabbed a sharp rock from the ground.

“Get lost!” he growled, hurling the stone.

The projectile struck a bat mid-flight, sending it tumbling to the ground with a faint squeal. Ji-Hoon stepped closer, surprised by his own accuracy. The creature lay motionless, its wings folded.

At that moment, the Avarice System activated.

[“Notification: You have killed a local bat. Reward: 2 experience points.”]

Ji-Hoon blinked.

“Two points? That’s it?”

Then, a new message appeared.

[“Skill Acquired: Echolocation. Allows the user to perceive surroundings through emitted sound waves, similar to bats. Skill Level: Beginner.”]

Ji-Hoon felt a strange sensation. Closing his eyes, he focused—and suddenly, he sensed the cave.

“Incredible…” he whispered, a small smile forming.

With this new ability, he could now navigate the darkness.

His journey had begun.