The next morning arrived with the soft clink of Mrs. Park setting a plate on the counter and the low hum of the diner's old radio playing a weather report: *"Scattered Blue Gates expected in the western districts; Hunter Association urges caution."* Michael sat at the kitchen table, hair still damp from the shower, wearing an academy uniform that now hung loose in all the right places. His reflection in the toaster's chrome surface showed a stranger: 5'8", shoulders broader, face leaner, eyes bright with something that hadn't been there a week ago—**purpose**.
He flexed his fingers. The dagger from last night's raid—**Basic Iron Dagger (E-rank)**—rested in his inventory, a glowing icon only he could see. The System had labeled it:
**[Gear Slot 1: Equipped. +3 ATK | Durability 80/80.]**
Mrs. Park slid a bowl of rice and bulgogi in front of him. "Eat. You're growing again. I swear you were shorter yesterday."
Michael smiled, sheepish. "Maybe the food's just that good."
She ruffled his hair—now thick and dark, no longer greasy. "Flatterer. Bus in ten. And no skipping lunch. I packed *two* eggs today."
He devoured the meal in silence, savoring the warmth. When he stood to leave, she caught his wrist. "Mike… I saw the news. Another Gate near the academy. You weren't—"
"No," he lied gently. "Just school stuff."
Her eyes searched his. She didn't believe him, but she let it go. "Be safe. Come home in one piece."
The bus ride was different again. Students whispered when he boarded, a few nodding respectfully. A girl from 3-C—Sera Yoon's fangroup—snapped a photo discreetly. His reputation was spreading faster than he could control.
**[Reputation Update: "Gate Closer" → "Rising Star". Witnesses: 214. +10% chance of random ally approaches.]**
At Aether Academy, the courtyard buzzed with pre-weekend energy. Banners for tomorrow's **Inter-School Raid Tournament** flapped overhead. Michael's team—Lila, Aria, Ben—was already registered. They'd face rival schools, including **Frostspire Academy** and Kira Voss's ice mage squad.
Lila waved him over near the fountain. "Morning, tank! Ready for practice?"
"Always."
Aria Lee bounced on her toes, bow slung across her back. "We're gonna crush them! Ben's been theory-crafting buffs all night."
Ben pushed up his glasses, clutching a tablet. "Optimized synergy. If you hold aggro for 8 seconds, I can stack +25% damage. Lila's wind funnels arrows—boom, crit city."
Michael laughed. It felt natural now.
But Jax lingered nearby, arms crossed, fire simmering. "Think you're hot shit now, Park? Wait till Kira freezes your ass."
"Looking forward to it," Michael shot back.
Jax's eyes narrowed. He stalked off.
Morning classes blurred: **Mana Flow Dynamics**, **Dungeon Ecology II**, a pop quiz on essence stone refinement. Michael aced everything—INT 12 was no joke. During break, Theo slipped him a USB. "Hacked the Association database. Your mana signature? Still unclassified. But it's spiking. They're calling you 'Anomaly-07' internally."
"Great," Michael muttered. "I'm a lab rat."
"Better than a nobody." Theo grinned. "Want me to dig deeper?"
"Not yet."
Lunch was in the cafeteria with the team. Lila's wind aura kept napkins from flying; Aria sketched arrow trajectories on a napkin; Ben rambled about stat allocations. Michael ate Mrs. Park's bento, feeling... normal.
Then the announcement crackled over the speakers:
**"All students to the main auditorium. Mandatory assembly. Hunter Association representative present."**
The auditorium was packed. Principal Oh stood on stage beside a woman in a sharp black suit—**Agent Hye-jin Park** (no relation), A-rank telepath, Association enforcer. Her aura pressed the room like gravity.
"Quiet," she said, voice cutting through chatter. "We're here about **unregistered awakenings** and **Gate anomalies**. Yesterday, a Blue Gate opened *inside* academy grounds. Closed by a single student. Michael Park—stand."
Heads swiveled. Michael rose slowly, heart hammering.
Hye-jin's eyes locked on him. "You will report to Association HQ after school for full evaluation. Refusal is not an option."
Murmurs erupted. Lila gripped his hand under the table.
Oh stepped forward. "He's under academy protection until scans are complete."
"Scans *are* complete," Hye-jin said coolly. "His mana core is unstable. Growth rate unprecedented. We need containment protocols."
**Containment?** Michael's blood ran cold.
Oh's voice hardened. "He's a student. Not a weapon."
The standoff stretched. Finally, Hye-jin relented. "Tomorrow. 9 a.m. HQ. Bring a guardian."
Assembly dismissed. Students flooded out, buzzing. Michael's team flanked him.
Lila: "We're coming with you."
Aria: "Yeah! Moral support!"
Ben: "I'll bring snacks."
He managed a weak smile. "Thanks."
After school, instead of the bus, he headed to **Dawn Echo Guild Hall**—the new guild Rex had invited him to observe. It was a converted warehouse in the industrial district, warded with glowing runes. Rusty waved him in. "Boss wants you for a quick clear. C-rank Gate. Pay's 500 credits if you tank."
Michael hesitated. Association tomorrow. But the quest burned: **[First Guild Run – Complete.]**
"I'm in."
The team: Rex (leader, C-rank swordsman), Rusty (tank), two D-rank mages, a healer. Gate: **Abandoned Factory**. Threat: **C**.
They ported in. Darkness, rusted machinery, flickering lights. Air thick with oil and mana.
First wave: **Iron Goblins**—Lv.10, metal skin. Rusty tanked; Michael supported. His dagger sparked off armor.
**[Inspect: Weak point – joints.]**
He struck—Basic Strike evolved? A faint blue edge. **CRACK.** Joint shattered.
Rex whistled. "Nice."
Deeper: traps—spikes, gas. Michael's AGI dodged; VIT shrugged off a graze. Level 6 mid-fight.
Boss room: **Factory Foreman**—Lv.15 golem, massive wrench. It swung; Rusty flew back. Michael stepped in.
"Cover me!"
He tanked hits—VIT 12 held. STR 13 cracked armor. Team poured damage. Final blow—his dagger to the core.
**[Boss Kill: +300 Exp. Level 7.]**
Loot: **Iron Gauntlets (D-rank)**, essence stones. Rex offered membership. "You're guild material, kid."
Michael equipped gauntlets: **+5 DEF | +2 STR.**
Back outside, dusk. Rusty clapped his back. "You saved my ass in there. We're square."
Redemption arc? Maybe.
Home late again. Mrs. Park waiting, worried. "Association tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
She hugged him tight. "I'll go with you. You're not alone."
In bed, System updated:
**[Morph Milestone: Level 7 – Intermediate Physique. Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs | Facial Symmetry: 82%.]**
He flexed in the mirror—muscles defined, jaw strong, eyes sharp. Handsome.
But the Association loomed. Containment. Anomaly.
Tomorrow: answers. Or chains.
He clutched the dagger icon. Whatever came, he'd fight. For his parents. For Mrs. Park. For the team.
The city lights flickered outside. Neo-Seoul never slept. Neither would he.