The Era of Hunters
Gates opened, and monsters appeared.
Conventional firearms proved useless. Just as everyone anticipated humanity's doom,
the Awakened emerged.
They hunted monsters with cold steel weapons, swiftly quelling the chaos engulfing mankind.
Hunter.
That was the name given to these Awakened who slew beasts.
Gates weren't mere disasters. They were treasure troves harboring an unknown energy source called magistones.
Countless Awakened flocked to the gates.
And so dawned the era of Hunters.
"Damn it. Rejected again?"
In this age of Hunters, I was just an ordinary job seeker.
Dear Joo Kanghyeok,
After thoroughly reviewing your resume, we regret to inform you that you have not passed the document screening stage for this recruitment process.
"Rejected again."
If I'd at least made it to an interview, I could accept it. But getting cut at the resume stage every time—what am I supposed to do?
Should I build more specs? Rewrite my self-introduction letter again?
I don't even know why I'm getting rejected.
Gulp, gulp.
I chugged ice-cold water in frustration.
"Sigh."
It's the era of Hunters, but my life hasn't changed a bit.
Those lucky enough to awaken with high ranks rake in a lifetime's fortune just by slaying monsters.
Awakening truly is like hitting the lottery.
'Even if the world changes, ordinary folks like me stay the same.'
I don't even dream of awakening. Just landing a job would be enough right now.
I set my cup in the sink and glanced around.
A dingy basement studio apartment.
The only furniture: a tiny table and a mattress. It even reeked of mold.
I can't grieve every single rejection—there's no end to it.
'Still, gotta keep pushing.'
To escape this place, I need to get a job fast.
I can't live here forever.
'Places I haven't applied to yet...'
As I scrolled through job sites on my smartphone,
You have awakened.
a sudden message floated before my eyes. It was so natural, I thought I'd imagined it for a second.
'Huh?'
I closed my eyes and opened them again. Not enough—I rubbed them, even waved my hand through the air.
But it wouldn't disappear.
'Out of nowhere like this?'
A translucent blue message window hovered right in front of me.
'This... is real.'
I swiped at it with my hand, and it even shifted position. Tapping the confirm button made it vanish.
I pinched my cheek, wondering if I was dreaming.
"Ow."
It hurt. This was real.
No, it felt too surreal—I still couldn't believe it.
Me, getting this kind of luck?
Awakening means turning your life around. I'd heard it so often, my heart was racing.
But awakening wasn't the end of it.
'Rank. Rank is what matters.'
A Hunter's rank is set upon awakening.
You can raise it with effort later, but your starting point is crucial.
F-rank is basically a porter.
With stats far below other Hunters, you're stuck doing the grunt work.
Hunters are those who hunt monsters, after all.
If you're weak, you can't contribute—and without contributions, you can't grow.
Plus, I'd heard leveling up is brutally tough for them.
"..."
Truth be told, just awakening was a blessing. I'd been agonizing over job apps moments ago.
I'll take whatever rank they give me and make do.
But the heart doesn't bend that easily.
'Since I've awakened, my initial rank has to be high.'
Even B-rank flips your life—earnings rival top professionals. A-rank are frontline dealers. S-rank are national heroes who hold Korea's fate in their hands.
Your rank dictates your Hunter life.
Thump, thump.
My heart pounded fiercely.
'Let's see...'
Checking your rank is simple. It's so famous now, even civilians know it.
With a trembling voice, I spoke.
"Status window."
Ah.
'...'
I froze, staring at the info window.
F-rank.
The absolute bottom. Rock bottom of rock bottom.
I couldn't hide my disappointment.
'What am I disappointed about?'
Just awakening is cause for joy.
Become a Hunter, and job worries are gone. Demand is endless. Even porters won't starve.
'Tch.'
Still, the regret lingers.
I'd searched it without thinking.
Luckily, others had asked the same.
'...'
Pretty bleak.
More posts said the same.
That reply was the sliver of hope.
'Right, skills left to check.'
Low rank? Good skills can compensate.
Especially Buffer types that boost others' stats—guilds line up regardless of rank.
'The royalty among royals.'
But I'd glimpsed it earlier. My unique skill's name.
No way it's a buffer.
'Instant Death, huh.'
Attack-type skill.
Sounds decent from the name alone...
Let's check details.
I tapped the unique skill with my finger.
Name:Instant Death
Rank: EX
Description: Kills one designated lifeform.
Cooldown: 44 days
My brows furrowed as I read the description.
'Hold on...'
EX rank. Top-tier among skills. Extra—beyond standards.
But the real kicker was the description.
'Kills one designated lifeform...?'
Simple is best, but this was too straightforward.
'Any lifeform, as long as it's alive?'
Regardless of level or rank? Does that even make sense? It's beyond broken—it's cheating.
Even Korea's No. 1 Hunter, Sa Choiheon, can't do that. He can slice mountains, lightning, space—but not designate and kill at will.
'No way it's that OP...'
Still, I hoped it was.
F-rank misery was bad enough.
Interview woes? Long gone.
Where to test this skill?
Then—
[Emergency Disaster Alert]
17:34 - World Boss Appears in Central Seoul
This is an actual emergency. All Seoul residents, evacuate to shelters immediately.
My smartphone blared a piercing siren.
My gaze naturally drifted to the window.
Flames rising in the city center...? Nah, couldn't see from the basement. Just pedestrians' feet pounding the street.
'Evacuate? That serious?'
I flipped on the TV—a used one from a marketplace deal. Screen flickered sometimes, but watchable.
Meanwhile, I pulled up a portal site on my phone.
The TV blared emergency news.
The anchor reported urgently.
On-site footage was chaos: buildings crumbling, flames and explosions everywhere.
Portal articles all screamed the same.
Total mess.
That's what flooded the portal earlier.
Korea's top forces were absent.
Enter the World Boss.
A massive black Imoogi turning downtown to rubble.
Its power required dozens of guilds united to fell.
'They won't fail the raid, right?'
I watched the TV anxiously.
Helicopter footage from afar. Hundreds of Hunters hurling magic, arrows, skills.
But the black Imoogi ignored it all, advancing.
Boom!
One twitch of its body, and Hunters scattered like ants.
Roooar!
Its breath melted the ground outright. Footage cut abruptly.
'...'
Situation looked dire.
News skirted it, but anyone could see the peril.
Past World Bosses razed Jeju Island—uninhabitable now.
Let this one loose, and Seoul's the same?
Without top-ranks like Sa Choiheon, this spirals.
Experts debated live countermeasures.
Q: Where's No.1 Rank Sa Choiheon and what’s he doing?
A: Currently tackling an S-rank gate. Once entered, exit impossible.
A: Must request aid from US or neighbors. Space ability users can...
National crisis. Undeniable.
Without action, casualties mount inevitably.
Normally, I'd pack and flee to a shelter.
That's all civilians can do—follow orders, evacuate safely.
'Wait.'
But I'm not a civilian anymore.
I'm a Hunter. F-rank, sure.
But a Hunter with a skill.
Something I can do. Or maybe.
[EX] Instant Death
Kills one designated lifeform.
Right there in the description.
One designated lifeform.
'Imoogi's a lifeform, yeah.'
Conditions match perfectly.
But really possible?
World Boss. Elite among monsters.
Lv. 152 to boot.
S-rankers struggling; lowers won't approach.
'Me? Fresh F-rank Lv. 1.'
If skill works, logic breaks. Ignores level, rank—straight kill.
'But... worth a shot.'
Failure costs nothing.
Basement studio. If it flops, head to shelter.
Bit embarrassing solo, but that's it.
'Let's do it.'
I grabbed the remote.
Beep.
Switched to live raid broadcast.
Rumble rumble rumble...
The whole basement shook. Not just here—Seoul quaking.
Source: The Imoogi on screen.
Rooooar!
Blue mana gathered at its maw. Power so immense, faint quakes hit Seoul-wide.
"...!"
Bad vibes. Anyone could tell disaster loomed.
Breath fires? Area vaporized. Hunters, buildings—gone.
Irreversible devastation imminent.
Gulp.
Tension dried my throat.
Skill activation: Simple. One willed word.
Will it work? Didn't matter now.
Do it.
I faced the screen's Imoogi and spoke.
What to say was set.
"Die."
Short, concise. One word.
No reaction.
'...'
Awkward silence filled the room. Good no one's here—would've died of shame.
Figures it wouldn't work. F-rank insta-killing World Boss? Yeah, no.
Lips smacked in regret—
A beat late.
Spluuurt!
"Huh?"
The screen's Imoogi burst in crimson gore. Blood rained every which way.
I stared blankly.
'...'
Did it really...?
Not just me—on-site Hunters froze in confusion.
Can't blame them.
Bracing for killer breath, boss suddenly slain.
Even the announcer stammered.
YouTube chat on my phone flooded question marks.
System messages popped for every Korean Hunter.
(KR) World Boss defeated.
Raid Rating: Legend
Settling contributions...
Footage still chaotic. Sudden boss death? Unbelievable vibe.
I was dazed too.
'Did it really work?'
Dispelling doubt—a message before me.
Selected as top contributor for 'Black Imoogi Slain'.
Enter nickname to claim rewards.
No room for doubt. System confirmed it.
Top contributor.
That's me.
"..."
I've obtained the power of Instant Death.