Seung-hoo dragged himself into his bedroom, his mind still spinning from everything that had happened—the Rift, Seo-yeon's request about the evaluation center, and Ye Yeon's shy invitation for coffee.
The memories tangled together in his thoughts like threads that refused to settle: the blinding lights of the tower, Seo-yeon's determined voice, and Ye Yeon's gentle smile when she asked for his number.
His body finally gave up on him.
He fell backward onto his bed with a dull thump, not even bothering to take off his jacket or boots. The mattress dipped under his weight, and a small cloud of dust floated into the air.
"…I'm exhausted," he muttered.
Within seconds, his breathing slowed. Then came the snoring—soft at first, then louder and uneven. It was the kind of sleep that only came after pure physical and mental overload, like his entire body had been forced into shutdown mode. His hand slipped off the edge of the bed, fingers twitching once before going still.
Time slipped by without him realizing it.
The city outside continued to move. Cars passed below his window. Neon signs flickered on and off as evening turned into night. Somewhere, sirens wailed and then faded away. Inside his small apartment, the world felt paused.
When his eyes snapped open again, pale morning light was creeping through the curtains and crawling across the wall.
"…Huh?"
He sat up too fast, dizziness washing over him. His vision blurred for a second before clearing. The room felt strangely quiet, like it was holding its breath.
He grabbed his phone and squinted at the screen.
July 8, 3024. Morning.
"…I slept through the whole afternoon and night?"
Panic hit him all at once.
"Evaluation center!"
He jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over his own boots. His heart began pounding in his chest like an alarm.
"I'm late—I'm really late!"
He rushed to his closet and began throwing clothes aside in a frenzy.
"No, not this… too plain… where is it…?"
Shirts slid off hangers. Pants hit the floor. He barely looked at what he grabbed. Finally, he found a dark bar-city jacket and a pair of jeans and pulled them on without caring if they matched. He didn't even check the mirror.
He bolted out of his apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Instead of taking the stairs, he vaulted over the railing.
Down below, a few neighbors were chatting in the courtyard when a shadow suddenly blocked the sunlight.
They looked up just in time to see Seung-hoo drop from above.
"What the hell?!" one of them shouted.
Another gasped. "Isnt that Seung-hoo?!"
Seung-hoo landed in a crouch, barely making a sound. The concrete cracked faintly beneath his shoes. Then he shot forward like a bullet.
Cars, pedestrians, and buildings blurred past him. Wind rushed against his face. People barely had time to react.
"Was that a hunter?"
"Did he just run across the street like that?"
"Am I seeing things?"
A truck honked loudly as he leaped over its hood. A street vendor dropped his spoon in shock. Seung-hoo didn't slow down.
When the evaluation center finally came into view, he skidded to a stop, his shoes scraping against the pavement. Dust rose around his feet. He bent forward slightly, catching his breath, then straightened his jacket.
"…Okay. Act normal."
He pushed the doors open.
Inside, the lobby was clean and quiet, filled with soft beeping sounds and faint chatter. Screens lined the walls, displaying hunter rankings and recent Rift clearances. The smell of disinfectant and metal filled the air.
The clerk at the front desk looked up and immediately widened her eyes.
"Mister Seung-hoo! Miss Seo-yeon is waiting for you in Room 3B."
"Thanks," he replied quickly.
He walked down the hallway, his footsteps echoing softly. With each step, his chest felt tighter. His thoughts raced.
What if they notice everything? What if they test too much?
When he reached the door labeled 3B, he hesitated for half a second before pushing it open.
Inside sat Seo-yeon and an older evaluator with glasses and a tablet in his hands. Strange symbols were carved into the floor, and faint mana lights glowed along the walls.
Seo-yeon crossed her arms. "You're late."
Seung-hoo scratched his head awkwardly. "I… kind of passed out."
The evaluator adjusted his glasses and stood up. His eyes examined Seung-hoo carefully, as if trying to see through him.
"Mister Seung-hoo, would you kindly step into that room over there?"
He pointed toward a wide chamber with thick glass walls and glowing markings on the floor.
Seung-hoo followed his gaze, feeling a faint chill run down his spine. The room looked nothing like a normal testing area—it felt more like something meant to measure monsters than people.
Seo-yeon watched him closely, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Don't worry," she said quietly. "Just do what they ask."
Seung-hoo nodded and stepped inside.
The door closed behind him with a heavy sound. The room was much larger than he expected, almost like a small arena. The floor was reinforced with metallic plates, and the walls shimmered with barrier runes.
"…Why am I supposed to do here?" Seung-hoo asked, already knowing the answer.
"It's for a skill test, Mister Seung-hoo," the evaluator replied through a speaker. "Please demonstrate one of your abilities."
Seung-hoo glanced back through the glass and saw Seo-yeon leaning forward eagerly.
"Just show him!" Seo-yeon shouted.
"Wah?!" Seung-hoo replied. "Show what exactly?!"
"Just show!" she insisted.
They began bickering back and forth.
"You can't just say 'show'!"
"Yes I can, just do something cool!"
"Cool isn't a measurement!"
"Mister Seung-hoo, please show now!" the evaluator shouted, his patience thinning.
"…Fine."
Seung-hoo turned toward Seo-yeon. She gave him a confident thumbs-up.
He sighed. "Step back."
Both Seo-yeon and the evaluator moved away from the glass.
In the next instant, Seung-hoo vanished.
He reappeared on the other side of the room without a sound.
"What impressive speed!" the evaluator exclaimed, eyes wide.
Seung-hoo took a drawing-sword stance. His posture shifted, sharp and focused. The air around him seemed to tighten.
A flash of light formed in his hand.
His sword appeared.
Electric sparks danced along the blade, crawling like living veins of lightning.
He leaped into the air.
"Electric Sword Technique… Gigantic Lightning Sword," he whispered in his mind.
He hurled the sword downward like a spear.
The blade struck the ground—and didn't stop.
Lightning exploded outward in crackling waves. The sword grew larger and larger, pulsing with energy, the light filling the entire chamber.
The evaluator's jaw dropped. "What the fu—"
Before he could finish, the massive lightning sword slammed into the reinforced floor with a piercing bang.
The chamber shook violently. The barrier runes flared bright blue. Dust and light flooded the air. The sound echoed like thunder trapped inside a box.
The glass walls trembled but held.
When the light slowly faded, the ground was scorched with glowing cracks, and sparks still jumped between the runes.
Seo-yeon stared in silence, her mouth slightly open.
The evaluator's tablet slipped from his hands and clattered to the floor.
Seung-hoo stood in the center of the room, breathing slowly, the sword dissolving into light in his hand.
"…Was that enough?" he asked quietly, looking toward the glass.
No one answered right away.
The only sound left was the faint crackle of electricity fading from the floor and the heavy breathing of a boy who had just shown His ultimate attack
When the skill test was finally over, Seung-hoo felt like all the tension in his shoulders had drained away at once. His muscles ached faintly, and the echo of the lightning strike still rang in his ears. The evaluator had rushed out of the chamber in a panic to confirm the readings, while Seo-yeon stood outside with a strange mix of pride and shock on her face.
"Next is the mana test," the evaluator announced stiffly, trying to regain his professional tone.
Seung-hoo blinked. "Mana… test?"
"Yes. Follow me."
They walked down another long hallway, quieter than the last. The lights here were dimmer, and the air felt heavier, almost like it was thick with invisible pressure. As they turned a corner, Seung-hoo suddenly recognized the room ahead of them.
His steps slowed.
Inside stood the same massive crystal ball he had touched before—the one that had declared him F rank.
And standing beside it was the same evaluator.
The man was leaning against a desk, sipping from a cup of coffee with a bored expression. The moment he saw Seung-hoo, his face twisted in recognition.
"…You again?" the evaluator said flatly. "Seriously?"
Seung-hoo scratched his cheek. "Uh… hello?"
The evaluator sighed dramatically. "Didn't I already test you? You were F rank. Crystal clear. Literally."
Before Seung-hoo could reply, Seo-yeon stepped out from behind him.
"Huh? Oh—Miss Seo-yeon!" the evaluator straightened instantly, nearly spilling his coffee. "Nice to meet you again!"
His entire tone changed in a heartbeat. His annoyed expression vanished, replaced with an overly polite smile.
Seung-hoo stared. Wow… the difference is painful.
"Can you evaluate his mana?" Seo-yeon asked calmly.
The evaluator blinked. "Again? He already got tested!"
"Well, he should be retested," Seo-yeon replied simply, folding her arms. "Things change."
The evaluator glanced between them, clearly confused. "…Fine. If you insist, Miss Seo-yeon."
He cleared his throat and gestured toward the crystal ball. "Go on. Just put your hand there… again."
Seung-hoo stepped forward slowly. The crystal ball looked exactly the same as before—huge, smooth, and faintly glowing from within. Seeing it again made his chest tighten.
Last time… this thing humiliated me.
He raised his hand and placed his palm against the cold surface.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the crystal ball began to glow.
Light spilled out from inside it, brighter and brighter, filling the room with a harsh white shine. Seo-yeon shielded her eyes. The evaluator squinted, turning his head away.
"Tch. It's probably just F rank again," the evaluator muttered. "This thing always flashes too much for weak mana."
The light grew so intense it painted long shadows across the walls. Seung-hoo felt a strange warmth travel up his arm and into his chest, like the crystal was pulling something out of him.
Seconds passed.
Then the glow slowly faded.
When the light disappeared, the crystal ball had changed color.
It was no longer white.
It was black.
Deep, absolute black—like a starless night trapped inside glass.
The evaluator turned back around lazily, expecting to see the usual dull color.
"What the fu—"
Before he could finish the word, Seo-yeon lunged forward and pressed her finger against his lips.
"Shhh."
The evaluator froze.
His eyes were locked on the crystal ball, wide and trembling. His mouth hung open slightly behind Seo-yeon's finger.
"…That's… that's black," he whispered.
Seung-hoo looked at the crystal in silence, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Black.
The same color he had seen once before on someone else.
So it really changed…
Black – S rank ← Where Seung-hoo is now
Blue – A rank
Red – B rank
Light blue – C rank
Green – D rank
White – F rank ← Where he was before