[Urgent Quest: "With a Little Help from Your Friend."]

  This is a world of predators. And you? You’re a rabbit. A fawn. It’s time to claw your way up the food chain. Start doing something! If you don’t know what, use your highest stat. Use your brain. Think. Too much to ask for a start?

  Fine. I’ll spell it out for you.

  Complete these 10 achievements within the next 24 hours:

  [Welcome to the Jungle]

  Condition: Defeat your first enemy.

  Reward: +2 Stat Points

  You’re gonna dieeeee! … Or maybe not. Let’s see.

  [Gimme the Loot]

  Condition: Collect loot from a dungeon enemy for the first time.

  Reward: +1 Stat Point

  It was all a dream… until you realized dead mosnters drop free cash. Keep hustling.

  [Dodge RAM]

  Condition: Dodge an attack at the last second and land a fatal counterstrike.

  Reward: +3 Stat Points

  Float like a butterfly, RAM like a truck.

  ...

  ...

  My eyes skimmed over all ten achievements. Every single one felt impossible. Then, I reached the bottom of the quest text:

  If you fail, one of your loved ones will die.

  Like I said, this is a world of predators. No pity. No mercy. No second chances. Get used to it. If you haven’t already.

  I closed the quest window and stared blankly at the wall in front of me. In the top right corner of my vision, a new overlay glowed:

  With a Little Help from Your Friend [0/10]

  Time left: 23:57:29

  Cold sweat trickled down my back.

  After Ms. Park caught me zoning out in class, she kicked me out to the hallway for the rest of the lesson. Now I was crouched outside, palms clammy, face pale as death.

  Was that a bluff? A sick joke? Who sent this?

  It had to be someone from the Syndicate, I thought. Maybe even the Chimeric Man himself.

  I remembered what was written in the contract:

  The truth is irrelevant.

  Order must be maintained.

  We are THE SYNDICATE.

  And we decide what justice means.

  Why would they do this to me? Why put me through hell when I was supposed to work for them? Shouldn’t an employer treat their worker well so they stay motivated?

  Then it hit me.

  They owned my soul.

  They could do whatever they wanted.

  And if they were going after someone I loved… there was only one person it could be.

  Yumi.

  Five minutes until class starts.

  I couldn’t wait any longer.

  Behind the gym, there was a hidden spot, shielded by trees and overgrown bushes. It was our place. We met there every break, reading guild magazines, playing Monster Hunter Quartet.

  We always met there. Always.

  If one of us didn’t show up, the other had to assume the worst. A bully got him, or worse, was tracking him to find our hideout. Why didn’t I bother looking for him? Simple. I had better things to do.

  53, 54… up, down, up… 55.

  I collapsed onto the damp grass, my cheek pressed against the cold earth. Then I forced myself back up.

  56. Arms trembling, chest burning, jaw clenched. "Sin-Joo… 57… why the hell are you ignoring me... 58... FIFTY-ARGH!"

  My arms gave out again. My lungs screamed for air like I’d just sprinted 200 meters.

  Muscles... frail. Weak. Worthless.

  "You’ve got the stamina of a grandpa. Get up."

  Just one more push-up.

  "59… aargh, and..."

  I gasped for air, my arms shaking like hell. Every fiber in my body screamed.

  "You weak bastard. One more. Just one. Down. Good. Fuck."

  With every last drop of hate I could squeeze from my bones, I forced myself up one last time. My teeth ground together. A raw scream tore from my throat.

  "SIXTY!"

  I collapsed, face-first into the grass.

  A window popped up in front of me.

  [Hard Knock Life]

  Level 2 – Condition:

  60 push-ups, 60 sit-ups, 60 squats

  Reward: +2 Stat Points

  Ain’t no sunshine in this training arc. Keep grinding.

  I blinked up at the cold, gray winter sky, my face twisted in painand exhaustion.

  I was starting to get it now.

  For Level 3, I’d need to push all three exercises 30 reps higher. But aside from Level 1, none of this was mandatory for the quest.

  Still… it meant more stat points. And I needed every point to survive my first real fights.

  So I gave my arms and chest a short break, bent my legs, and started sit-ups.

  "One, two, three, four…" The icy air cooled my sweat-drenched forehead. "Five, six, seven, eight… keep going."

  I wasn’t just mad at high school. Hell, hating the world wasn’t enough! I hated the entire universe.

  If the Syndicate ever touched Grandma…

  "17, 18, 19, 20."

  ...I’d hunt down every last one of them. And make them pay.

  "29, 30, 31, Agh!"

  A sharp pain shot through my abs. My muscles seized up, hardening like a tennis ball under my skin. I pressed my fingers against it. It felt like some alien parasite was about to burst out of me.

  I gasped and pressed my fingers into the cramping muscle, trying to massage it out.

  Then...

  RRRIIIIIIINNNG!

  The school bell.

  The students flooded in from the courtyard, heading toward the gym or back into the high school building, returning to their classes.

  I just lay there.

  Flat on my back in the damp grass, exhaling little clouds of breath into the cold air.

  Then, just as suddenly as it hit, the knot in my stomach vanished. Like the alien head beneath my skin had decided to sink back into the depths.

  "Get up, you weakling. 32, 33, 34."

  High school had never done a single good thing for me.

  Why the hell was I still stuck in this system?

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Just for Yumi?

  Why should I listen to that damn bell and drag myself to class, where Ms. Park would humiliate me in front of everyone while pretending to teach math?

  "44, 45, 46."

  Screw that. I was going to make these next few periods actually useful. Train. Push myself. Then, during the big break, I'd track down Sin-Joo. Confront him.

  "47, 48, 49."

  Short break. Deep breath.

  "50!"

  Holy. Freaking. Hell.

  I’m gonna crush this!

  The first birds of the year were singing. The sun had climbed past its peak, casting dancing shadows of bare branches over the grass.

  "ONE-HUNDRED-FREAKING-TWENTY!!!" I roared through my last squat, my body so wrecked that I collapsed to my knees like a sack of bricks.

  And then...

  Ding!

  A window popped up before my eyes:

  [Achievement Unlocked]

  I had mastered Level 4 of [Hard Knock Life]... 3 more Stat Points for me!

  A breath of relief nearly escaped my lips, pride swelling in my chest, but then another notification popped up, overlapping the achievement message.

  The heading?

  WARNING!

  Oh, hell no. What now?

  [System Notification]

  Overexertion Detected

  Temporary Debuff Applied: [Overtrained]

  Duration: 12 Hours

  "Yeah, sure. I’m literally the first person to get weaker from working out. TWELVE fucking hours debuffed??"

  I sat frozen in a Seiza position, cold sweat running down my back.

  I needed to finish this quest. Fast. At any cost.

  My fingers twitched.

  I thought about opening my Character Sheet...

  And in the next instant, it flashed before my eyes.

  A quick glance was all I needed to see just how screwed I was.

  I could barely stand. My body refused to move. Strength drained from every limb.

  But I had learned something important: I could grow stronger without leveling up. Achievements alone could boost my stats. That gave me a huge edge over the Paladins.

  Without hesitation, I dumped one point into Strength.

  Then another.

  And another.

  I wanted to dump everything into that attribute.

  To become the strongest of them all.

  To crush anyone who stands in my way.

  I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

  Rustling. Movement behind the bushes.

  I snapped my head up, ears straining.

  Sin-Joo?

  I closed the character window and forced myself up. My legs trembled, cramping with every step. They felt swollen, thick, heavy. I peeked around the corner.

  And almost screamed.

  That wasn’t Sin-Joo.

  It was a guy from my class.

  "Found the pig!" he shouted. "Over here, guys! I got him!"

  Fuck.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  My heartbeat went wild.

  I saw the others closing in. Five guys in school uniforms. Like a dungeon raid party hunting a boss.

  Only I wasn’t a boss.

  I was a trash mob.

  Something to be farmed for their entertainment.

  For their joy.

  They blocked my only way out.

  I turned and threw myself into the brush. Every step was a battle. My body was done, but I forced it forward. Thorns tore at my face. My hands scratched open, blood smearing against bark.

  Keep moving.

  Get out.

  "Almost got the little shit."

  I ran. Across the track. Well... ran was a strong word. I moved like I was stuck in a nightmare, the kind where no matter how hard you run, your legs feel like they’re underwater.

  They were gaining.

  34 HP. Strength: 4.

  I was so dead.

  Use your strongest stat!

  The unknown sender’s words thundered through my skull. Fuck it. I pulled up my Character Sheet and dumped everything into Vitality. That was my only shot.

  Instantly, my body responded.

  The exhaustion didn’t disappear, but the burn in my muscles eased. My blood flow improved, my speed picked up. Even with the debuff, I was breathing easier than before.

  I could make it.

  The fence!

  I leaped, grabbing the top, and failed. My arms wouldn’t pull me up. My muscles were jelly.

  "Come on. Come on, you weak piece of shit. MOVE!"

  Hands yanked me back by my jacket.

  I hit the ground, my collar tightening around my neck as I crashed down hard.

  -2 HP.

  "Did you really think you could run, Yuki-chan?" Do-Hyun sneered.

  I tried to get up...

  A boot slammed into my ribs.

  Something cracked.

  -7 HP.

  I gasped for air...

  But another kick hit my stomach.

  My body convulsed, bile surging up my throat.

  -4 HP.

  21 HP left.

  I gagged, eyes swimming. Blurry shapes. Min-Kyu lifted his phone. The other three circled me. "Wait, wait! I’m not recording yet." He laughed. "Okay... now, action!"

  Do-Hyun crouched down, grabbed my hair, and spat in my face.

  "Takuya, you know how this goes. Say it."

  I gasped, struggling to breathe.

  "Say it. Beg for forgiveness. Cry for mercy."

  I said nothing.

  His fist slammed into my jaw.

  My head snapped back. Stars exploded in my vision.

  -6 HP.

  15 HP left.

  "Yuki-chan, the cutest little princess of Cheonghwa High." Do-Hyun grinned. "And the biggest coward, too."

  Then they all started kicking.

  All at once.

  Everywhere.

  My ribs.

  My back.

  My fingers, when I tried to shield myself.

  My world became pain.

  -12 HP.

  3 HP left.

  "OMG! This looks brutal!" Min-Kyu cackled, recording. "Dude, I swear, this would go viral."

  I couldn’t think anymore. A loud, distant rushing filled my ears.

  I was going to die.

  Do-Hyun stepped back, wound up, and kicked me in the head.

  My skull slammed against the track.

  A sick, wet crack.

  0 HP.

  …?

  But I was still here.

  Black spots danced in my vision.

  Their voices faded like they were speaking from another dimension.

  "Shit, he’s not moving."

  "Stop filming!"

  A new shadow fell over me.

  "You filthy little bastards!"

  The world shrunk.

  A deep, rough voice.

  Someone who wasn’t laughing.

  The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Strong hands lifted me. Firm. Not hostile. A helping hand.

  "It's okay, kid. I got you."

  The others' shouts faded.

  Footsteps.

  A door slamming shut.

  I forced my eyes open.

  A scarred face. Gray hair. Work overalls.

  I knew him. The janitor.

  With my next blink, hours had passed, and I had to regain my bearings. Where I was. What time it was. The digital clock on the nightstand read just past 4 PM, meaning the long day of classes at Cheonghwa was nearing its end. But the students? They usually stayed until 10 PM, cramming through evening self-study sessions or grinding in hagwons until exhaustion.

  Exhaustion.

  Yeah.

  I felt unbearably tired, drained. My entire body ached as I struggled to sit up in bed. At least I got a new achievement out of that beating.

  ['Till I Collapse]

  Condition: Survive a battle with less than 10% HP.

  Reward: +3 Stat Points

  You can try to stand up, but your legs might not agree. Keep pushing.

  Heavy curtains covered the window, allowing only a sliver of daylight to seep through at the edges. Outside, the pulse of school life continued, yet within this room, a peaceful silence reigned. I could hear the distant voice of the PE teacher, encouraging the first-years as they ran laps, or the shouts of students caught up in their games.

  "You took quite a beating earlier."

  The voice behind me.

  Jori.

  That was his name. A mystery to all of us.

  Almost every day, we passed by his small house, built right up against the sports field. The janitor was never a man of many words. If we greeted him, he would nod. If someone asked how he was, he’d usually respond with nothing more than a grunt.

  Footsteps. Creaking floorboards. I turned around.

  Until now, I had assumed his broad shoulders and powerful arms came from hard labor. But as I took in my surroundings, I realized the truth was something else entirely.

  This small bedroom was more than just a retreat…

  Mounted above the door were hunting trophies: the heads of monsters, set upon polished wood, their hollow eye sockets staring straight at me. A goblin skull, its forehead split by a deep gash; beside it, the head of a gargoyle, carved from dark, almost obsidian-like stone, its horns shattered, as if it had plummeted from great heights. And there, slightly turned to the side, the shriveled head of a harpy, its withered feathers clinging to it like charred ash. Its beak was split, as if crushed in a single, brutal strike.

  But those weren’t the only relics in this room.

  Jori had filled his space with objects that spoke of more than just a passion for hunting.

  In the corner stood a Bodhisattva statue, bathed in the gentle flicker of candlelight. Several parchment scrolls, inscribed with ancient calligraphy, hung along the walls. The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, curling from an incense burner.

  "You're a monster hunter," I said, unable to mask my astonishment.

  Jori set down a tray before me, a steaming bowl of soup and a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. A healing potion.

  "I'm a man who fights against evil," he said calmly.

  Healing potions were highly sought-after, strictly regulated, and not legal everywhere. But Jori didn’t seem to care.

  My gaze drifted back to the mounted heads. "Those creatures, except for the goblin, don’t exactly look harmless. That means…"

  "…that I’m good at fighting evil. And finding it."

  His eyes locked onto mine. Steady. Piercing.

  "And looking at you… no. Looking into you, I see that you're fighting a battle within yourself."

  His words struck deeper than I expected.

  "A battle you might not even realize yet."

  "What are you talking about?"

  Jori leaned back, his voice calm but unwavering.

  "A man can kill monsters. But if he isn’t careful, he becomes one himself."

  My heart pounded faster.

  "I’ve seen how it starts," he continued. "The hunger for power. The fear of being weak. The anger at a world that has wronged you. You believe you have to grow stronger to survive. To stop being the victim. If you keep running forward without ever looking back, one day, you won’t even remember where you started."

  He looked at me, his voice steady yet unyielding.

  "And when you finally stop, you won’t recognize who you are anymore, Takuya."

  My breath caught. I wondered if he knew my name from school. He must have noticed my bewildered expression because he went on:

  "Here, inside this bubble, nothing has changed for you. But outside of Cheonghwa, you’re quite the mystery. The Elysian Wardens still don’t know exactly what happened to you or Sin-Joo in the dungeon. But they do know that Ryn Valen has joined the Veilbound."

  I felt the blood drain from my face.

  "He betrayed them from the start."

  Until now, I had assumed Ryn Valen was still keeping his true identity hidden. But after the dungeon raid… it seemed he no longer cared. He had openly declared himself as one of the Renegade Paladins.

  "You have no idea what really happened at the end, do you?"

  I shook my head, eyes wide.

  Jori sighed. Then he spoke the words that made my blood run cold.

  "All of Seoul is in danger."

  He looked straight into my eyes.

  "Ryn Valen summoned a world boss in Everland."