Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue
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There is a game known as Epic World.
To put it simply, the storyline is the definition of a worn-out cliché.
A sudden crisis threatens the continent, and to save the world, the protagonist joins forces with a group of young, talented companions.
The game’s difficulty is notoriously high, but it is far from impossible to clear.
One of the core features of Epic World is its diverse roster of playable characters.
You can choose to play as the top-tier protagonist or select other characters with similar potential.
I booted up Epic World today, just like any other day.
[A new version of Epic World is available. Would you like to download it? (Y/N)]
I clicked Y. While the update progressed, I took a moment to skim through the patch notes.
It didn't look like much—mostly just a series of fixes for minor, nagging bugs.
But as I scrolled further down, my eyes began to gleam with genuine excitement.
The essence of the patch was this: a brand-new version had launched, finally allowing players to create a fully custom character from scratch, moving beyond the standard playable cast.
I wasted no time and immediately clicked the character creation button.
[Character Custom Mode is permanently set to Hell difficulty. Proceed? (Y/N)]
“Hell difficulty?”
Up until now, Epic World had only featured one peak setting: Hard.
Honestly, even I was starting to grow bored with the limitations of Hard mode, so I had been silently hoping for a fresh challenge.
“Jackpot.”
I moved the mouse with purpose and clicked Y.
Instantly, a status window flickered into existence.
◈ Talents
- None
◈ Techniques
- None
◈ Physiques
- None
The layout of the character creation screen was remarkably straightforward.
[Newly customized characters may freely select one Talent, Technique, or Physique.]
“Just one, huh.”
A quick survey of the options showed that I could pick nearly anything below S-rank, with the sole exception of Ex-rank Talents.
“Well, that makes sense. An Ex-rank would probably make the game too easy.”
Several S-rank options glowed with prestige: Great Potential (S+), which was legendary for its latent ability growth.
Then there was Tuner’s Eye (S+), a skill that allowed a player to peek at monster weaknesses or hidden character information.
It was all very tempting stuff.
However, most of these were abilities I had already acquired and mastered in previous playthroughs. I briefly toyed with the idea of a speedrun, but I found myself craving something more uniquely entertaining instead.
As I scrolled through the massive list of Talents, Techniques, and Physiques, a forgotten combo buried deep in my old notes suddenly resurfaced.
“With this specific setup... I could actually pull it off.”
I had discovered a route once that was "theoretically" viable.
In truth, it was theoretically impossible back then too, which is why I had ultimately scrapped it. But now? It didn't feel like a big deal. I could grab the alpha-and-omega Physique right from the start.
I made my selection.
【Reverse Heaven Body (S-)】
A physical form that defies the very laws of the heavens.
The bearer of this body stands in opposition to all established principles.
: Reverse Heaven energy courses through every fiber of the body.
: The owner of this body is fundamentally incapable of using mana.
: The owner possesses absolute, unyielding resistance to mana interference.
In the world of Epic World, risks are almost always accompanied by guaranteed rewards.
The Reverse Heaven Body circulates a highly specialized energy that completely nullifies the use of mana. The Reverse Heaven energy itself is a force that inherently rejects mana.
“And with this foundation, I can finally learn that.”
Owners of the Reverse Heaven Body are the only ones who can master an incredibly unique and powerful martial art. The inability to use mana is actually a massive advantage in this context—it effectively blocks all mana-based debuffs and abilities used against the bearer.
That said, Epic World is a game that revolves heavily around mana—it’s the lifeblood of almost everything.
It means that what others enjoy effortlessly, I cannot. It wasn't all upsides; there was a heavy price to pay.
With the Reverse Heaven Body successfully slotted in, the character customization screen finally appeared.
“......”
A man who vaguely resembled me stared back from the screen.
It felt as though the character had been modeled directly after my own face.
“Just a coincidence, probably.”
I began to tweak the features slightly to my liking.
I paled the skin, raised the bridge of the nose, boosted the overall height, shrank the face, and lengthened the legs. Then, noticing the shoulders looked a bit narrow, I widened them. I trimmed away the fat and added lean, functional muscle.
“......Not bad at all.”
The monitor now displayed a peerless masterpiece of a man. 185cm tall, with black hair tinged with a subtle brown tint, sharp, intelligent eyes, and a charming, confident smile.
I hit the final character creation button.
[Please enter a name.]
I pondered for a second—what should I call him? Instinctively, I reached out to type my usual gaming nickname: Pineapple Pizza Tastes Good.
Or at least, I tried to.
For some inexplicable reason, my hand seemed to move on its own, typing out my real name instead.
Lee Seo-ha.
Those three distinct characters.
[Name: Lee Seo-ha]
◈ Talents
- None
◈ Techniques
- None
◈ Physiques
- Reverse Heaven Body (S-)
Confirm character creation? (Y/N)
I clicked Y with the mouse. Instantly, the monitor erupted in a blinding flash of light.
“......And that is exactly how it all went down.”
I opened my eyes and realized I had come to inside the game itself. It was the classic academy isekai setup.
But being cast as the protagonist? That felt like a downright grim twist of fate.
“Does this actually make any sense?”
I had just been playing a game.
I hadn't written some elaborate 5,500-character backstory or anything like that. Sure, I had vented on the forums from time to time, but who doesn't do that?
I slammed my head onto the table in sheer despair, but reality refused to budge.
Three days.
For three full days, I have been slowly piecing together my current situation.
For whatever reason, I am currently staying in a hotel. The rent and all my meals have been prepaid, so at least my basic needs are covered for now.
“The real problem is everything that comes after this temporary setup.”
Even this hotel stay is running out of time—I have about two weeks left. After that, it’s all over.
If I don’t successfully enroll in the Korea Hero Academy, I will be left entirely on my own in this world, completely penniless.
There is a silver lining, I guess.
This body is a total knockout.
It’s truly a godsend. In a world like this, good looks translate into survival options.
Plus, I actually have identification.
I pulled my ID and a card out of my wallet. The ID featured a stone-faced photo of me.
As for the card? A quick check on the phone showed that I had about 10 million won in cash available.
“It’s far too shaky to try and start over from scratch on the outside with just that amount.”
I drew back the curtains and opened the window. A clear, vibrant blue sky stretched out before me.
“Oh? Is it already Sky Island season?”
“Time really does fly......”
Pedestrians on the street below paused in their tracks, gazing upward in awe.
Soon, a massive, overwhelming shadow engulfed the ground.
At its very edge.
An island was floating lazily high in the sky.
Sky Island.
It was, quite literally, an island adrift in the heavens.
“Ha.”
A heavy sigh escaped me.
I cupped my face in my hands.
That sight alone confirmed it once and for all: I had fallen headfirst into the world of the game.
A phone with 10 million won and a single ID. That was all I had brought with me.
“There’s no way out.”
It felt like utter, absolute hopelessness.
If I had been born with an Ex-evolvable Physique like Great Potential—with its insane latent growth—or perhaps Tuner’s Eye, which was deemed god-tier? I could have found a way to scrape by.
But the Reverse Heaven Body? Choosing that meant a path of straight suffering right from the start.
If I could somehow turn back time...
I would have picked Great Potential and just ground it out properly.
“Actually, I wouldn't have touched this game at all.”
I sighed deeply and flopped onto the sofa in exhaustion.
Since arriving here, I’ve pondered a single question: Could the original protagonist-tier playable character really save this world?
Kim Seo-hyun.
He probably could. But if I start to meddle? That puts question marks over everything.
This world is plagued by "Demons"—its true villains.
There is no guarantee that this world will protect me. Heroes might be noble and just, but to me, they are all strangers nonetheless.
In the end, only I can save myself.
“So, I have no choice. I have to get into the academy, whatever it takes.”
Luckily, certain options still exist.
The Reverse Heaven Body actually has a specific cheat for the entrance exam.
But I can't afford to rely solely on that. I need minimal safeguards. It might cost me all 10 million won, but... it’s a cheap price for life insurance.
Just as I was steeling my resolve,
Ding.
A mechanical chime rang out in the room. A translucent blue window floated into my field of vision, black text slowly materializing upon it.
You have been chosen to save this world.
Granting special privilege: Permission to appraise items or view the status windows of others. Acquired Talent 「Appraisal(-)」.
Entrance Exam
Successfully enroll in the Korea Hero Academy.
🎁 Reward: 5,000P (Additional rewards based on performance), Unlock the Multi-Dimensional Paid Shop (purchase Talents, Techniques, and Physiques).
☠️ Failure: Instant Death.
“......”
A quest window was now hovering directly before me.
I eyed it with deep suspicion; the timing of its arrival was just too perfect to be a fluke.
I scanned every detail of the message.
At this stage, fretting over whether this is even feasible is a luxury I simply do not have.
I have to make it happen, no matter the cost.
I read through the quest description meticulously.
Slowly, my eyes began to sparkle.
A shop where I could buy Talents, Techniques, and even Physiques?
This could be the ultimate shortcut to my original plan.
Honestly, with a tool like this?
It’s actually quite doable.