Trigger Warnings: Non-graphic depiction of attempted suicide and murder. Profanity. Suicidal thoughts and ideation.
“And here we have Kim Eun-Woo, who Awakened a few days ago and is registered as an A-Rank Hunter! Kim Eun-Woo-nim, how does it feel to finally be a Hunter?”
A young woman with large biceps and a muscular figure beamed at the camera as the microphone hovered over her.
“Well, I really wasn’t aiming to be Awakened. But as I was lifting 150-pound weights — a personal best for me — the status window suddenly appeared! Nearly dropped the weights on my foot.” She laughed.
The left side of the screen showcased her stats.
┏ ┓
Name: Kim Eun-Woo
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 103
Agility: 97
Mental Fortitude: 68
Mana: 78 / 78
Mana Recovery: 1 / 40 minutes
┕ ┛
I stared at the numbers. Then, I turned off the television with a sigh.
When I was twenty-two years old, dungeons began appearing all over the world.
It changed everything I’d ever known.
Monsters that only existed in games came pouring out of. Military weapons and even nuclear bombs were useless against them. Millions of people died in the initial wave and another million more passed away from the confusion that followed.
Then, people Awakened with amazing and extraordinary skills. Like heroes in legends and myths, those extraordinary individuals defeated the monsters and saved lives.
Barely eighteen, my adorable little brother Awakened with S-Rank stats and 2 S-Rank skills. He was a gem above all gems.
“I’m going to build my own guild, Hyung,” he told me as he packed up his things. He stared at me, an Unawakened unremarkable person, with an expression of pity and anger. “I’m sorry but I don’t want you holding me back.”
Those were the last words I heard from my once sweet and kind little brother. It had been three years since then.
I sighed again, pulled out my phone, and sent a message. ‘Have you eaten dinner? I bought ingredients for tteokboki. If you want to pass by and have a meal together.’
The message joined the hundreds of one-sided messages sent from my end. Even though it had been three years, I always tried to contact him at least once a week. He never once replied.
Shy of his nineteenth birthday, my brother established one of the largest and most influential guilds in Korea -- First Hope.
During the first year of its establishment, I tried going to the main building to speak to my brother. However, many of his people stopped me from even entering. He likely warned members of his guild about me. I even disguised myself a couple of times to get through, but they saw through my disguises each time.
Given the bruises I received after that, I ceased on that end pretty quickly.
But my little brother hadn’t blocked my number yet. I think.
I sighed again. I should give up, shouldn’t I? Why was I clinging to him, trying to be relevant in his life when he obviously didn’t want anything to do with a useless older brother?
But I knew why I was clinging to him. He was the only one I have left.
We both grew up in an orphanage. He was a very adorable two-year-old baby that somehow attached himself to a listless six-year-old me. With those big blue eyes staring hopefully at me, I couldn’t help but be attached in return.
Because we were a package deal, the couple that adopted us couldn’t bear to separate us, so they took us both.
Kind couldn’t even begin to describe our parents. They provided everything we could ever need and even our wants. Orphans like us could ask for no better parents.
Then, when I turned sixteen, our parents got into an accident and passed away.
To prevent greedy relatives from getting our inheritance, I filed for independence and took responsibility for my twelve-year-old brother. I quit school and took up odd jobs to provide for my little brother. I didn’t join in with drinking parties with my co-workers to save money and I barely took any sick days to earn more. Everything revolved around taking care of my little brother and ensuring his comfort.
My brother was the best brother one could have; he was loving and obedient. He always behaved and never got into trouble. He confided in me, and I always believed we were each other’s best friends.
Then, dungeons and the Awakened appeared, and my little brother Awakened as one of the highest ranked people in the world. He left home and he left me without a second glance.
I didn’t understand it.
I suppose I should be angry — that he would throw me away after everything I did for him. And I was furious. For a while. I called him again and again to spit out curses and drank alcohol all the time. The calls all went unanswered, by the way. Fucking ungrateful brat.
After three years, with my liver in a poor state, I was just tired and resigned. I just wanted my little brother back because I had no one else. My brother was my lone emotional support—how pathetic.
I should have made more friends.
Maybe it was only right to throw a useless Unawakened and mentally ill brother away.
Except, I wasn’t Unawakened anymore.
I pulled up my status window. A year ago, I Awakened with F-Rank stats and one skill.
┏ ┓
Name: Park Domin
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Mental Fortitude: 10
Mana: 8
Mana Recovery: 1 / day
Titles: None
Active Skills: 0/5
Passive Skills: 1/10
┕ ┛
I tapped on the Passive Skills.
┏ ┓
Passive Skills:
1. Oïzýs’ Blessing (EX)
Upon death, you copy 1 random skill from Awakened people all over your world. The more painful the death, the higher the possibility of copying a high-rank skill!
Condition: You have to die.
┕ ┛
“Haha.” I laughed weakly.
An EX-Rank skill. Probably the first EX-Rank in the world? Or maybe people with skills of this rank didn’t advertise it.
Usually, Awakened people register their rank and skills with their respective countries’ Awakened Association Centers. Hunter training and orientations were provided for free to ensure your survival in dungeons. Registered Hunters could also participate in monthly tournaments; representatives of large guilds were in the audience and possibility of recruitment was high if a Hunter caught their eye.
But my skill . . . It may be EX-Rank, but it was a shitty skill. I have to die? Then how can I make use of the skills I gained?
And I hate experiencing pain. What the hell is with ‘the more painful the death, the higher the copied skill’? Who the hell made this system?
I wasn’t surprised that it was such a shitty skill, really.
I Awakened while trying to kill myself.
Before our parents died, I was already in the throes of depression. Our parents noticed right away and got me into therapy. I was even prescribed pills because of how non-functional I was on some days. After their deaths, however, I couldn’t afford any of those luxuries anymore. So, I pushed the melancholy away through sheer will and fake-it-till-you-make-it strategy.
Of course, my little brother didn’t know about it. I hid it from him. I always wanted him to see me as a dependable and strong big brother.
I laughed humorlessly. Yeah, strong and dependable. That was me.
The day I attempted to kill myself for the first time was a particularly horrible day. I drank myself to a stupor after trying and failing to meet with my little brother once more. A kind stranger accompanied me home. But that act of kindness didn’t change the thoughts that had been swirling around my head for months.
I had no little brother to raise, and that little brother even hates me. What purpose do I have to live?
When our parents died, I wanted to follow them. But my little brother needed me, so I stayed in the living world.
No one needed me now.
Should I try to get a lover? Why? I was only going to disappoint them in the end. Should I adopt a pet? I was only going to get it killed because of my incompetence. Should I at least try to make friends? No, because people would take one look at me and figure out how pathetic I was.
Before I knew it, I tied a rope into a noose and hung it from the ceiling pillar.
I placed the noose around my neck, feeling strangely calm and detached. I took one last deep breath, fully preparing to jump. Then,
┏ ┓
Park Domin has Awakened!
Congratulations!
┕ ┛
The status window that only appeared for the Awakened popped right in front of my face. I yelped in surprise, and drunkenly flailed about. The rope broke, and I landed in a heap on the cold hard floor.
For the first time in years, I was ecstatic. I became an Awakened!
My stats were extremely low, even for an F- Rank. But then, I saw the EX-Rank label on my skill and practically screamed in delight. Maybe I could join First Hope and be worthy to talk to my brother again. No low-ranking individual could ever hope to join First Hope. But with an EX-Rank skill . . .
Then, I read the skill description, and all my dreams got crushed with a figurative wrecking ball. The impact felt like a physical wrecking ball for me.
But I didn’t give up hope. I Awakened so I had chances to gain more skills than my initial one.
For one year, I tried. I registered as a Hunter with the AAC, although I didn’t write down my laughable initial skill; it was too embarrassing to reveal to the world. I participated in training and orientations. I even entered a dungeon once; however, I didn't even manage to kill a single thing. I was too slow and feeble to properly swing a weapon. Even after one year, I wasn’t even able to raise my level.
Truly a useless person.
I rubbed my face. Maybe I should try the noose again today. Who knows, I might have the courage to finally kick off the stool from under my feet this time.
DING DONG
The doorbell rang. I sighed and stood up. It was probably the landlord asking for rent again. My paycheck for the month still hadn’t come in so I had to beg for mercy.
I opened the door. Immediate regret climbed through me. I should have checked the peephole first.
Several burly men crowded around the open front door.
One of them smirked and said, “Park Domin-ssi, you’re gonna have to come with us.”
~ O ~
“P-P-Please.”
A phone with a cracked screen.
“All right, I’m generous enough to grant a dying man’s wish.”
A glint of a dull knife.
The tang of iron. Excruciating pain. Drowning and choking and spluttering.
Then, blissful blackness.
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
I woke up.
Fuck.
How?
The horrible memory of how those men killed me was still fresh in my mind. I wanted to throw up. My stomach agreed, flopping and twisting with nausea.
But I couldn’t throw up because . . . because . . .
I was conscious. I knew I was. But I couldn’t see, hear, or smell anything. I could only feel the ground beneath my back and the tattered remains of my clothes.
I felt no pain, not even the bruises that surely had formed after being kicked around by those burly men.
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With trembling fingers, I touched my chest. And then, my hand drifted further up to my collarbone. And then to my throat. And then higher . . .
Nothing.
There was nothing higher. Halfway up my neck, only empty air met my fingertips.
Fuck. Fuck. What the fuck. Where the fuck is my goddamn head.
All I could feel were ragged skin edges and squishy muscles in the area where my head was supposed to be.
How the hell was I even alive, let alone conscious!?
Then, a status window appeared. I didn’t know how I could see it given that I had no eyeballs to see it with, but I could read it clear as day.
┏ ┓
Dullahan Skill activated!
This skill will be active as long as you continue to meet the conditions.
┕ ┛
Dullahan?
Thankfully, just by thinking of wanting to see my status window, it appeared. I had no tongue nor mouth to say ‘Status’ at this point.
┏ ┓
Name: Park Domin
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Mental Fortitude: 20
Mana: 8 / 8
Mana Recovery: 1 / day
Titles: None
Active Skills: 0/5
Passive Skills: 2/10
┕ ┛
I tapped the Passive Skills, immediately noting the change.
┏ ┓
Passive Skills:
1. Oïzýs’ Blessing (EX)
. . .
2. Dullahan (EX)
Become the immortal Dullahan with endless regeneration! As long as your head is undamaged, you don’t stay dead.
Condition: You must be decapitated.
┕ ┛
I stared at the new skill for a long while. Well, focused on it.
What I wouldn’t do for some cold beer right now.
Why was there even a skill like this? What poor individual was currently saddled with a skill that they couldn’t use because it required them to decapitate themselves?
Was this how all EX-Rank skills were? Was that why no one wanted to advertise them?
System, oh system, you damned prankster.
~ O ~
After an hour of just lying on the ground and hoping this was some sort of weird transient period between life and death, I finally accepted my fate.
I wasn’t dead.
Fuck.
After all that traumatizing pain, I didn’t die.
If I just lied here, would I starve to death? Wait, if I wanted to live, how would I even eat? Do I just shove the food down my exposed esophagus? Oh, yeah, that was very exposed, all right.
I wiped my wet fingers on my clothes.
When touching the exposed bits of my neck, I didn’t feel any kind of pain. There was a sensation of a finger rummaging through your squelchy insides. But no pain flitted through as if the area had been anesthetized.
However, when I pinched my arm, I still certainly felt pain. So, the painlessness only applied to the area above my neck. What a pity.
Other people would be glad to be alive. The seemingly useless skill they had finally rewarded them.
I really was lucky. If the copied skill was anything other than an EX-Rank revival-like skill, I would have been dead. I must have gotten it because I died so fucking painfully.
Fuck.
Who wanted to live a headless half-life like this?
All right. All right. One step at a time.
First, figure out where I am.
Those bastards took me to a low-tier dungeon, I think. On the event that the dungeon boss died, or an overflow occurred, the whole dungeon scene would reset itself. Everything inanimate inside — food, clothes, any items — would dissipate and monsters would repopulate. It was an open secret that shady organizations used dungeons to commit perfect crimes. After the dungeon reset, not even a corpse would be left.
After the Awakened Association Centers and large guilds were stabilized, such crimes decreased. There were no dungeons left unmanaged; everyone who entered the dungeons were recorded.
But, of course, there were some guilds who hired out their managed dungeons and looked the other way. It was a profitable endeavor.
Before those men killed me, I saw that the dungeon contained ruins of medieval castles and structures. I didn’t see any monsters on our way to an isolated place but the ruins themselves were a clue. Medieval monsters? What were medieval monsters?
I was still in the dungeon; I could feel the rough stones of the castle ruin beneath me. Thankfully, the men who killed seemed to have left; I remained undisturbed while I was contemplating life so that must be the case.
Okay, first goal done.
Second goal: get out of here.
Gingerly, I stood up. It was weird doing it without the weight of a head. I stretched out my hands, trying to get to a wall to at least guide my way through.
I kicked items by my feet that I could never even begin to know what. God, am I going to live like this — not seeing and hearing anything? I pushed down the oncoming despair.
One step at a time. One worry at a time.
I finally found a wall and kept walking. I sometimes tripped on rocky things, but I gripped the stone wall for balance.
After half-an-hour of blindly stumbling around, a great big lug tackled me from behind.
Something the size of both my arms combined pierced my chest.
I screamed. Or tried to but I had no mouth to do so. Instead, I could only suffer in silence as agony ripped through my whole being.
Fuck. I fucking hate pain.
I realized the thing that was stabbing me was a beak of a creature when it opened and split my body in half.
Two parts of my body flopped down to the ground. For several minutes, I could still feel the searing pain clawing at my lower half and blood streaming like a river from the remains of my body.
Finally, relief came in the form of unmistakable darkness.
At least I wouldn’t need to worry about being headless now.
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
I woke up.
What the fuck.
I patted my body. It was whole and uninjured, except for my head, which was still missing. All my toes and fingers were complete. The lower half that was torn from me was now attached. How on earth?
There was something strange too. Before, I woke to pure unadulterated darkness. Now, I could somehow see — no, not see — sense the things around me.
The wall to my left emitted a silver feel. Weak and easily breakable, popped in my mind. There were also some metal armor and spears lying around near me, their shapes and colors ranging from gray blobs to dark orange blocks.
I pulled out my status.
┏ ┓
. . .
Passive Skills: 3/10
┕ ┛
┏ ┓
Passive Skills:
1. Oïzýs’ Blessing (EX)
. . .
2. Dullahan (EX)
Become the immortal Dullahan with endless regeneration! As long as your head is undamaged, you don’t stay dead.
Condition: You must be decapitated.
3. Ultra-Aura Sense (B)
You’re able to sense the auras of items and creatures within 500 meters.
┕ ┛
Another new skill.
I reread the Dullahan skill again and finally realized what I had gotten myself into.
Endless regeneration. Not staying dead.
I was practically immortal.
Wow.
Should I feel happy? People would feel happy to find out that they had become immortal, wouldn't they?
But what would I even do with the extra time I had now? It wasn’t like I had any great ambition or dreams I wanted to fulfill. I just wished to live a simple and painless leisure life without this damned depression hanging over my every move.
Hmm.
I would decide how to feel about immortality later.
For now, I just wanted to get out of this dungeon and maybe take a bath. After being killed two times, I felt utterly filthy.
I stood up and began trudging again. With my new sense, navigating was easier. I could avoid the various debris littering the ruins and step over the potholes on the destroyed ground.
Not even an hour later, I encountered a creature that had the head of an eagle, and a body of a lion. Or so I think. It was difficult and disorienting to determine shapes with my new sense.
It was a fucking griffin. The boss of this dungeon, most likely.
It was also likely the creature that killed me for the second time.
I faced its general direction. It was also facing me.
Fuck this.
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Passive Skills: 4/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Active Skills: 1/5
Passive Skills: 4/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Active Skills: 2/5
Passive Skills: 4/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Active Skills: 2/5
Passive Skills: 5/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Active Skills: 3/5
Passive Skills: 5/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
Oïzýs’ Blessing activated!
Copying a random skill . . .
Skill copied!
┕ ┛
~ O ~
┏ ┓
. . .
Active Skills: 4/5
Passive Skills: 5/10
┕ ┛
~ O ~