The System's Whisper
Light swallowed the dungeon as it collapsed around them.
When the glow faded, Rivan, Aria, and Lina found themselves standing on the pavement outside the gate.
Hunters, medics, and guards rushed toward them.
"Are you three okay?!"
"What happened inside?!"
"We saw the gate shaking—was it a dungeon break?!"
Rivan blinked at the chaos forming around them.
Lina raised both hands proudly.
"We survived a mutated A-rank boss!" she shouted.
One of the medics stared at Rivan.
"Him? The weakest hunter in the district?"
Lina gasped dramatically.
"HEY! He's still weak but not THAT weak!"
Rivan: "...Thanks for the confidence."
Aria, leaning on a medic's shoulder, smiled weakly.
"He wasn't weak inside."
The medic blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Lina whispered to the medic, loud enough for Rivan to hear:
"He's changing. Like puberty, but for hunters."
Rivan groaned.
"Lina, stop talking."
---
The System's Call
While the medics checked Aria's injuries, Rivan stepped aside.
His heartbeat was still uneven from the fight.
Then a screen appeared:
[Class Fragment Collected: 2/ ??? ]
A class awakening will soon be available.
Warning: Class path is unstable.
Additional fragments recommended.]
Rivan frowned.
"Unstable? What does that even mean?"
Before he could question further, another message flashed:
[Your presence triggered a system irregularity]
[Hidden Path Available]
Do you wish to view it?
— YES / NO]
Rivan's breath caught.
A hidden path…?
The same kind of thing that dragged him into the penalty zone?
He didn't want another death trial thrown at him, but—
If this is connected to my potential… I need to see it.
Rivan mentally selected:
YES.
Immediately, a sharp ringing echoed in his head.
A voice—not human, not mechanical… something in-between—spoke inside his mind:
"You are not ready."
Rivan staggered, gripping his head.
The voice disappeared instantly.
He gasped for air, sweating.
"What… was that?"
Whatever he heard…
It wasn't the same tone as the normal system messages.
It felt like someone — something — was talking to him.
He wiped his forehead, trying to calm down.
---
Unexpected Attention
Lina ran toward him.
"Rivan! Rivan! Bad news!"
He tensed.
"What happened now?"
"A reporter is asking about the dungeon incident!"
Rivan froze.
"Wh–WHAT?! Why?!"
"Because apparently," Lina said smugly, "someone in the crowd saw you jump onto a monster's FACE!"
Rivan's soul left his body.
"Oh no…"
Aria, despite the bandages, cleared her throat.
"Rivan… with your performance in the dungeon, people might start watching you."
Rivan panicked.
"I don't WANT people to watch me!"
Lina grinned.
"Too late! You're gonna be famous!"
"Lina, shut up."
Even Aria laughed a little.
But deep inside, Rivan was nervous.
He wasn't ready for attention.
Not until he understood the system.
Not until he unlocked whatever class was waiting for him.
---
A Directive From the System
Suddenly, another screen blinked in front of him:
[New Quest: "Prepare for Awakening"]
Objectives:
• Train your body (Recommended: 2 hours daily)
• Enter 2 more gates
• Seek the presence connected to your spark
Reward: Class Awakening]
Rivan muttered, "Seek the presence…?"
Aria noticed his distracted expression.
"What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."
Rivan quickly shook his head.
"It's nothing."
He couldn't tell them.
Not yet.
The system was too strange…
too connected to him…
and too unpredictable.
---
A Glimpse of What's Coming
Later, after everything settled, Rivan walked home alone.
Night had fallen, streetlights flickering as he passed.
He opened his status again:
Rivan Arken
Level: 5
Stats:
Strength 18
Agility 19
Endurance 20
Perception 17
Unassigned Points: 3
His stats…
they were rising.
Something he had dreamed of for years…
was finally happening.
He tightened his fists.
"I won't waste this chance."
But then—
A cold breeze swept across the street.
Rivan shivered.
And from the reflection in a dark shop window…
he saw something impossible.
A tall silhouette standing behind him.
Eyes glowing faintly.
Like a shadow… staring right at him.
Rivan turned around instantly—
No one.
Just empty street.
But the system chimed:
[Presence Detected]
Seek it.
Or be hunted by it.]
Rivan's heart pounded.
So the "presence" wasn't metaphorical.
It was real.
Something strong.
Something hidden.
And now…
It knew he existed.