Quiet Dawn of Awakening

The dawn at the awakening dorm was quiet. The first few days had been quite bustling and noisy, but with the program wrapping up and a large-scale elimination mission scheduled for the next day, everyone turned in early. That included me, of course.

'Not because of the elimination mission, though...'

In that sense, it was similar enough—absorbing the Mana Awakening Stone was no small matter.

Sitting on the bed in my silent single room, I cupped my hands and placed the Mana Awakening Stone on top.

'Just as I remembered...'

It matched exactly what I'd observed before regressing. No more hesitation—I popped the Mana Awakening Stone into my mouth.

I'd never actually eaten one before regressing, so this was my first taste. Not delicious... more like, flavorless. Yeah, like bracken fern.

Soon after swallowing, the sensation hit. My head spun like motion sickness, dry heaves rising in my throat. Far from pleasant.

But I could feel the stone dissolving down my esophagus, energy swelling richly in my dantian.

And now. I was certain my skill rank had risen. A clear, pristine sensation washed over me, like morning dew settling at dawn—every condition at its peak.

No time to waste. I pulled up my status window.

Skills that had stubbornly refused to budge were climbing one by one. Piercing Eye from B to A, Bloom from E all the way to D+. Even mana capacity, notoriously hard to raise, had gone up by a full point.

But the biggest gain was in Bloom's description.

Bloom skill level up: Enhances performance of bloomed keyword skills.

All the keyword skills unlocked by Bloom so far had been upgraded at once. Even Ether, which could only be used for suppression despite full weapon conversion, now had real killing potential.

Just like that survival game where I'd snagged a hidden piece.

'Lucky.'

Whether from the awakening aftershock or tension release, drowsiness crashed over me soon after.

Darkness in the room.

Yeah. That was probably a memory from right after awakening before regressing. But it was all jumbled, like a children's book with scribbled, messed-up drawings.

My younger self from pre-regression was monologuing, putting on a little show just for me in the audience.

'...'

'It started in a rundown clubhouse no better than a shack. I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a pro hunter, but the team was on the brink of bankruptcy.'

'Even though it was my first team after awakening, it didn't take long to stand out.'

'So, opportunities to switch teams came often. The sweetest offer came from LTD's manager—the same Kim Ui-jung who tried to betray and kick me out before regressing.'

"Join our team. I'll make you a star. But in return, how about unlocking that skill you mentioned? Bloom. Your current level won't cut it in this league."

'Was it the great conditions? Pre-regression little me seemed to hesitate a bit. Probably because he vaguely knew Bloom's value.'

"Unlocking it now feels a bit... It's still minor, but I'd like to wait a little longer."

'Lucky—he didn't force it. Back then, he just quietly agreed and took me on.'

'But no game time came. Invisible pressure from the manager. He wouldn't play a guy who didn't obey—like some petty grudge.'

'Still, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought,'

'I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can play right now. I'm way better than the current dealers.'

'Practice games proved it. Or rather, I was young and naive enough to think that. Never imagined he'd bench me until I obeyed.'

'But the pressure didn't stop—it ramped up. Demands to unlock Bloom grew intense. Then came the gaslighting.'

"Hey, Lee Chang-hyun. You think you can play like that? This mistake too—Hunters League isn't a joke."

"Get out. Just leave."

"Players are consumables. Think a few good practice games mean anything? Get cut here, you'll be flipping burgers or doing day labor. Nothing else."

"Don't ever call yourself a hunter again."

'One mistake became a grave sin. Before I knew it, I was cornered in the team—all because I didn't obey the manager.'

'So, in the end, at the last possible moment, I chose to unlock Bloom. Stats skyrocketed, and the manager grinned at me.'

'Not a good grin—that much stuck.'

'Of course, post-unlock I dominated, racking up trophies and writing legends. But it was a choice I'd regret forever.'

'Forcing a bloom too early meant it withered just as fast.'

My pre-regression self stopped monologuing and stared at me blankly. Then, unlike the whispers before, he spoke aloud.

"How am I now?"

"...Hah... hah."

Looked like I'd dozed off briefly after ingesting the Mana Awakening Stone. The hazy predawn had given way to full morning warmth.

'A memory I didn't want to relive...'

Hadn't dreamed it lately—what wind blew this in? It didn't matter anymore. Things were different now.

No Bloom unlock yet, and I had the foundation for a flashy pro career—flashier than anyone. Picking teammates, building the team... I remembered who succeeded, who crashed. Confidence came easy.

Still, unease lingered. The top spot wasn't forgiving.

'And the spot I want isn't some middling throne.'

I'd tasted it pre-regression. Desperately defending position, every match swinging between heaven and hell.

I wanted untouchable supremacy. Needed it.

'But now?'

Not fully prepared—barely scraping wins against top rookies of my era. Made sense Bloom wouldn't unlock without this special stone.

'No real feats yet.'

Just my own inadequacy. But softness like before wouldn't cut it.

To push Bloom further, climb higher than ever. Never relive that past.

I steeled myself again.

"Screw the past... fuck it."

My face was clear of worry now.

Heading out of the dorm, checking the Hunters League board sharpened my senses. I'd lurked it often as a player pre-regression.

'Though back then, the hate kept me away...'

Feels like returning to purer days—good vibe. Like starting fresh.

"Mind made up?"

"Me? Stretched, strategized—I'm set."

"Strategy? You actually planned something?"

"..."

Kim Do-jun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyed me puzzled.

"Just do what you say."

Of course. Why'd I even ask a guy with zero thoughts? My deadpan face got a hilarious reaction.

"What? You didn't plan shit either?"

Save your breath. Talking just makes me wanna bail.

Then—

"Thank you for waiting. What emotions stirred while awaiting elimination? Anxiety? Fear? Or... excitement? We can't know. But one thing's sure: Leaving the academy for 3rd division—the 'real' pro league—brings bigger hurdles and pain. Applicants, fight and seize. Victory alone propels you forward. Now and as hunters, climbing higher—victory keeps hunters alive. Elimination mission... starts!"

Cheers echoed long. Then teleport to map, 30-second countdown.

'Fits the theme.'

This elimination screamed for 'fighters who excel in combat.' Map: plain City (A)—low buildings everywhere. Glowing pillar center? Occupation point for sure.

"Chang-hyun. Plan? You got something, right?"

...And a baggage to drag.

"Center. Not kill points—occupy center. No hesitation, charge and claim it."

"You sane?"

Expected, but oof.

"Yoon Han-gyeol and Yoo Hye-ju are opponents. Duo even. They'll block with others—we walking into the tiger's mouth?"

"Think you can't? Ditch then~"

"I mean rethink it."

"Ugh, so annoying."

Brushed off his whining easy. Countdown ended—battlefield buzzer.

"Run!"

We bolted with Kim Do-jun. Only I could properly use Air Beats and Air Anchors, so a gap formed—but calculated.

'Arrive first, suppress early.'

Pre-arrival suppression makes approach risky. Fewer foes during occupation.

Plus—

'Enhanced Ether via upgraded Bloom... time to test.'

Perfect stage for the refreshed skill.