The next morning came far too slowly for Rivan.
He barely slept, replaying the system messages in his head over and over again.
A hidden quest. A penalty zone. A mysterious unregistered spark.
It didn't feel real… and yet the faint ache in his muscles from that invisible space told him it absolutely was.
Rivan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands.
"Status."
The blue screen flashed before him instantly:
Rivan Arken – Level 2
Class: None
Stats: Strength 12 → 14, Agility 13 → 15, Endurance 14 → 16…
The numbers climbing felt unreal.
He clenched a fist.
"This is only the beginning."
---
A Knock on the Door
While he was getting ready, a sudden knock startled him.
Who comes to my house early in the morning?
He opened the door and instantly felt his soul leave his body.
Standing outside were two girls from his academy days — both hunters now.
Lina (B-rank, the cheerful troublemaker) and
Aria (A-rank, calm and insanely strong).
Lina waved excitedly.
"Riiiiiivan! You're alive!"
Aria gave him a polite nod.
"We heard you were inside the active zone barrier yesterday. Are you hurt?"
Rivan blinked. "How did you two even—"
Lina pointed at her holo-watch.
"City news. They showed your face when you got dragged by the barrier's suction! You looked like a terrified baby bird!"
Rivan wanted to disappear.
"I… was caught off guard."
Aria studied him carefully.
"You don't look injured. But something about you feels… different."
For a moment, Rivan's heart froze.
Did she notice? Did she sense the system?
But Aria suddenly stepped closer, poking his cheek.
"You look less dead inside than usual."
Rivan: "...Thanks?"
Lina snorted. "Anyway! We're heading to a C-rank gate nearby. You coming? We need someone to carry our loot!"
"Oi," Rivan said, "I'm not a porter."
"True," Lina replied. "Porters get paid."
Rivan sighed.
Why do I know these people?
But something else pulled his attention—the memory of the system message:
"Your next opportunity lies inside a dungeon. Enter a gate today."
He didn't know if that was fate or coincidence… but he needed answers.
"Fine," he said. "I'll join you."
Both girls blinked in surprise.
Aria smiled slightly.
"That's unusual for you."
Lina grinned.
"Ohoho— look at you, trying to be brave! Did something happen? Did you awaken a secret power? Did you eat something weird? Did you—"
"No," Rivan interrupted. "Let's just go."
---
Inside the Gate
The gate shimmered like rippling water. As they stepped inside, the world shifted into a dark forest filled with mist.
A normal C-rank. Nothing special.
But the moment Rivan entered, a system message flashed before his eyes—
[Hidden Trigger Activated]
[Mini Quest: "Prove You Deserve Power"]
— Defeat one monster alone
Reward: +1 Stat Point
He inhaled sharply.
Another hidden quest?
"Rivan?" Aria asked. "You okay?"
"Y-Yeah."
Inside the mist, something growled. A wolf-type beast. C-rank. Dangerous for someone who was considered F-rank just days ago.
Lina sighed.
"Well, Aria and I will take the front. Rivan, stay behind us and—"
"I'll fight the first one," Rivan said suddenly.
Both girls stared at him.
"...What?" Lina asked.
"I said I'll fight first."
Aria stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"Rivan… a single C-rank monster can kill a low-ranked hunter instantly. Don't push yourself."
He shook his head.
"I have to test something. Trust me."
Lina crossed her arms.
"Fine, but if you die, I'm not carrying your body."
The bushes rustled violently.
A grey fang wolf lunged forward with a snarl.
Rivan felt his heartbeat slow… everything around him sharpened.
His stats were higher now.
His body felt lighter.
His instincts felt clearer.
I can do this.
He dashed forward—much faster than he ever had before—and ducked beneath the wolf's leap.
Lina's mouth fell open.
"What— he moved like that?!"
Aria watched silently, eyes narrowing.
Rivan spun behind the beast and landed a clean kick to its ribs, sending it stumbling.
He grabbed a fallen dagger from the ground and, with one clean motion, finished it.
The wolf collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
Ding!
[Mini Quest Complete]
+1 Stat Point Awarded
Rivan exhaled, trembling slightly.
He did it.
Lina shouted, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'I HAVE TO TEST SOMETHING' AND THEN YOU JUST KILL A WOLF LIKE YOU'RE IN AN ACTION MOVIE?!"
Aria stepped closer, staring right into Rivan's eyes.
"Rivan… what changed?"
He opened his mouth—
Then the ground trembled.
A roar echoed through the woods.
Aria drew her blade. "That's not a C-rank monster…"
The trees split open as a monstrous shape stepped out.
Lina whispered, "T-That's… an A-rank mutated beast!"
Rivan's eyes widened.
Why is that inside a C-rank dungeon?!
The system flashed:
[Emergency Quest: Survive]
Rivan swallowed hard.
This… was only the start.