I've Awakened
SSS-rank Disaster Gate
Black Abyss Gate
Within 2km Radius
Even world-rankers had lost their lives there, and the Awakener Association had completely sealed it off—a land of death. Yet countless people still risked their necks to come here.
It was all because of the rare mana plant that bloomed only around this gate: the Abyss Flower. This jet-black flower, grown steeped in hellish poison, was paradoxically the key ingredient in elixirs that boosted Awakeners' mana. Sure, the grade of the finished elixir might be low, but the demand was insane. One fully uprooted Abyss Flower could fetch more than a decent office worker's annual salary. So it was no wonder money-crazed fools crawled in here, even if it meant dying tomorrow.
"Hey, pick that shit up properly! You know how much one of those costs?!"
C-rank Awakener and poaching party leader Park Cheolgi barked irritably. His shout drew snickers and mocking laughs from the other party members nearby.
Their blatant looks of contempt and ridicule poured down on me. But I couldn't even complain. They had every reason to treat me like this.
In this Great Awakening era, where all of humanity had received a miracle, 99.99% of the world were Awakeners. I belonged to that remaining 0.01%—an anomaly. If you asked anyone in Korea to name the one unawakened person, they'd say my name without hesitation.
The rarest, most useless human around. Unawakened. Eugene. That was me.
The 40kg weight bore down on my back like a mountain. Panting, I clawed at the dirt floor, desperately digging up Abyss Flowers.
Ten years ago, gates had opened, and the world went mad. Magic, superpowers— even the neighbor's mutt had mana. Everyone and their dog became an Awakener.
'Fuck, everyone except me.'
Part of me wanted to smash my fist into that bastard's smug face. But I had to hold back. No choice.
The physical gap between a normal person and an Awakener was like heaven and earth. A C-rank like him? I'd be pulverized before I could blink— a dog’s death for sure.
'Gotta endure.'
My fragile pride? That shit got tossed in the recycling bin with Sua's hospital bills ages ago.
Just fill this backpack with these black weeds, and Sua's overdue medical fees would be cleared in one go. Hell, we could even grill up some premium hanwoo on her way out of the hospital.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my dirt-caked hand and looked up ahead. A massive blood-red vortex filled my vision—the entrance to humanity's worst disaster, the one and only SSS-rank Black Abyss Gate.
Nobody knew what lurked beyond. Everyone who'd gone in had died.
Even the world’s top ten rankers once charged in as an expedition party, full of bravado. They didn't even reach the boss—got shredded at the entrance and spat out as minced meat, or so the story went. After that horrific massacre, humanity tried a few more times, but it always ended in total wipeouts.
Finally, the terrified Awakener Association tucked tail and designated it a permanent no-go zone. It was hell itself—utterly beyond human power.
Someone once said conquering it would reveal the secrets of Awakening. I snorted while yanking out another Abyss Flower.
'My life's pretty legendary too—picking herbs in the front yard of hell's gate.'
Risking my neck for 5 million won a day in a monster-infested inferno. Capitalism was terrifying.
This was a forbidden zone. Just entering meant prison time, no questions asked. But what could I do? This shithole was the only place to make real money fast.
'At least as long as I don't crawl inside, it's supposed to be safe.'
Gates left alone eventually hit their limit and burst—gate break, spilling monsters into reality. But for some reason, the Black Abyss hadn't unleashed a single one since it appeared.
Thanks to that eerie silence, folks called the area right outside its maw a safe zone. That's how we made our cash.
Straightening my aching back and wiping sweat, familiar faces flashed through my mind.
The Great Cataclysm ten years ago. After that day, all my old friends had gained amazing powers and soared. Some became execs in major guilds; others hit A-rank with nine-figure salaries, gracing news covers.
The one who stuck with me most? My childhood playmate-slash-crush. Yuseorin, now world rank 1.
The girl who'd trailed after me as a kid was now a godlike figure at humanity's pinnacle. The greatest talent in history, they said.
While she conquered gates under the spotlight, here I was, digging dirt in hell's front yard.
'Grew up in the same neighborhood, but life's so fucking unfair.'
I swallowed a hollow laugh and dropped my gaze back to the dirt. If only I had power... But jealousy was a luxury I couldn't afford.
As I shook off the thoughts and turned back to work—
"Hey, quit slacking! Taking 5 mil a day and you're zoning out?!"
Park Cheolgi, smoking a bit away, yelled in annoyance.
I flinched and dove back into the dirt. The party members watching burst into mocking snickers.
"Ugh, that stinky loser. Can't even look at him."
"Right? Why drag his ass all the way here? Unawakened my foot—I'd have jumped in the Han River ages ago."
As they cackled, their leader Park Cheolgi exhaled a long plume of smoke and chimed in.
"Let him be. We need trash like that clinging on cheap so we can use 'em as meat shields and porters, right? Heh."
No pity in their crude jokes—just arrogant amusement, like watching an insect.
I clenched my dirt-filled fist until blood welled up. Wanted to hurl a rock right then. But Sua's face in that hospital bed pinned me down.
'Endure. Even if I wanna rip those fuckers' mouths off, I have to endure.'
They kept laughing and trading barbs, puffing smoke leisurely. Then Park Cheolgi spotted my venomous glare from the dirt and smirked, picking a fight.
"What's with the death stare? Wanna throw down?"
He tapped my shoulder with a sneer, then—without warning—his fist slammed into my face.
Thwack!
"Guh...!"
The overwhelming strength gap between a normal guy and a C-rank. My head snapped back; I lost balance and tumbled into the dirt.
Blood's metallic tang flooded my mouth. It dripped from my split lip, soaking into the black earth.
"Know your place, meat shield. Begging like a bitch to join, and now you glare? Fucking punk."
Not satisfied, he kicked my backpack. The 40kg crushed my back. Kicks rained down.
Thud! Thud!
"Agh! Urk!"
I curled up, swallowing screams. Sua's face flashed by—pale in her coma bed. After our parents' accident, she only had me.
'Endure... for Sua...'
But the kicks didn't stop. Worse insults spewed from his mouth.
"Heard you came here for your sick sis? Dude, she's gonna croak whining like you anyway. Why bother? Just hold hands and off yourselves."
Snap.
That did it—the last thread of my sanity snapped.
I could take the rest. But one thing I couldn't: family digs. And Sua.
Dragon's reverse scale, they call it.
"...You fucking bastard."
My eyes changed. No more holding back.
In a flash, I uncoiled like a spring. Kicking off the ground, I loaded my full momentum—plus the backpack's weight—into one strike.
Even normal-guy strength hits hard when you're wide open. My knee nailed Park Cheolgi's nuts dead-on.
Cornered rat bites cat. Sure, dirty move—but you crossed the line first.
"GRAAAAH...!"
Beast or man? His scream echoed as his eyes rolled back. Clutching his groin, he staggered away pathetically.
But even rotten fish has some spine. He caught his breath quick, snarling like a beast, face flushed with humiliated rage. Bloodshot eyes glared at me.
"You... fucking shit! I'll kill you!"
Shing!
He drew his combat greatsword. The blade gleamed, ready to cleave me in two.
Pure murder intent.
'Ah, fuck. If I knew I'd die anyway, should've hit him harder.'
Sua's face flashed last. No one to care for her in coma now. My only regret.
Shing!
His greatsword swung mercilessly at my neck—right then.
Beeeeeeeep!
The world muted. A piercing ring tore through my eardrums.
The ground shook violently.
Rumble rumble RUMBLE!!
"Wh-what?! Earthquake?!"
"Th-the gate...!"
One party member screamed, face drained of color.
The SSS-rank gate, always pitch-black and still. The door that must never move.
It warped blood-red, pulsing madly. Like a giant beast's maw spotting prey.
Crack! Space tore with a boom. Monsters poured out from beyond—packs of jet-black wolves reeking blood. Minimum A-rank beasts.
"G-gate break!!"
"Fuck! Why here?! R-run!!"
The ones mocking me seconds ago—including Park Cheolgi—were gone. No time to draw weapons. They turned tail, screaming like bitches.
GRRAAAAK!
Black shadows flashed. Their bodies shredded like paper.
"S-spare..."
C-rank defense? Tofu to A-rank claws.
Screams short. Blood stench thick.
The pests who'd treated me like dirt became mangled meat in under 10 seconds.
Legs gave out; I collapsed, staring blankly at the one-sided slaughter.
'Guess this is how I go. Sorry, Sua...'
Blood-starved wolves bared fangs at me—then.
Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed from inside the gate. The rampaging beasts slammed noses to ground, trembling like lies.
Parting blood mist emerged a silver-haired woman. Stunning beauty you couldn't look away from—but her mana was disaster incarnate.
Each step warped space grotesquely with surging power.
'That monster...'
Obvious at a glance. With that thing out, the world was done.
Break from an unconquerable absolute gate. Global panic... humanity's death sentence.
As terror choked me, her silver eyes locked on me.
"...Master?"
Eyes wide in disbelief. Her icy expression crumbled.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She rushed over, kneeling at my feet.
"Ahh... You have no idea how much... how desperately I've longed for you."
Voice trembling like a fanatic's. She rubbed her forehead against my dirtied pant leg, sobbing.
"At last... at long last, I behold you."
The calamity that could end the world wailed like a child meeting her savior.
"O great one, my creator."
'...What?'
I stared blankly. Blinked, wondering if I'd misheard.