The Awakening of Dimensional Talent

A machine capable of detecting a hunter’s talent at an early stage, HAT.

Since its invention, the capabilities of hunters have greatly improved.

Hunters’ numerous talents and abilities were categorized in detail, leading to the creation of specialized guilds and training institutions suited to them.

The mortality rate of hunters, which had been rising due to their previously unstructured growth, also dropped significantly.

Then, one day.

In Korea, a hunter with such extraordinary talent that it drew the world’s attention was discovered.

“This is the first in Korea! No, the first in the world—a hunter with talent in ‘Dimensional Magic’ has been found!”

“Not only Korea, but the entire world is now focused on this!”

Beyond the four basic elements, there were talents like light, darkness, enhancement, and divinity.

Since the invention of HAT, many hunters with various talents had appeared, but this was the first time a talent called dimensional magic had been discovered.

So naturally, it attracted global attention.

Of course, Korea did not let this opportunity slip.

“Hunter trainee Jung Woo-hyuk has decided to enroll in Phoenix Academy, Korea’s largest hunter training institution.”

“Our Phoenix Academy will spare no effort in supporting the growth of Hunter Jung Woo-hyuk.”

People cheered.

The world’s only dimensional magic talent and Korea’s best hunter training institution.

People were excited to see what kind of extraordinary hunter this combination would produce.

But.

After that, no news about Woo-hyuk could be found anywhere.

One year after entering Phoenix Academy.

All expectations were focused on me.

The academy spared no effort in trying to awaken my talent.

And I, too, did my best to meet their expectations.

Second year.

As time passed, people’s interest naturally faded.

At some point, the media’s attention toward me had completely gone cold.

I hadn’t entered the academy seeking media attention in the first place, so it didn’t matter.

I attended classes, received support from the academy, and trained on my own.

All to somehow awaken my talent.

Third year.

The academy’s support began to decrease.

I understood.

My talent was the only one of its kind in the world.

No one knew how to awaken it.

Even after trying almost every known method, my talent remained dormant, so the academy must have grown tired as well.

Even so, I worked harder than anyone else.

To meet everyone’s expectations, including the academy’s.

To awaken my talent, become a hunter, and achieve my dream.

Fourth year.

Whenever I walked down the hallway, I could hear students whispering about me.

Was my talent even real?

Was there an error in HAT?

Everyone doubted my talent.

The more they doubted me, the harder I trained.

I woke up earlier than others to train my body.

I slept later than others to study hunter knowledge.

Some students mocked my efforts as pointless, but I never gave in.

Instead of wasting time in despair, I hit the sandbag one more time and turned one more page.

Imagining the day my talent would bloom brilliantly.

Dreaming of graduating from Phoenix Academy and becoming a full-fledged hunter.

Then, the moment I became a sixth-year student—the academy’s graduating class.

“…Woo-hyuk, I’m sorry.”

In the end, what I had expected finally happened.

Honestly, it wasn’t something I hadn’t anticipated.

I had already guessed it when I was called to the counseling room.

But just because I had expected it didn’t mean I could accept it quietly.

“At least tell me the reason.”

“It’s a directive from the higher-ups of the academy. The reason is failure to meet qualifications…”

“By qualifications, do you mean scores?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“If it’s about scores, I remember exceeding the academy’s minimum requirement.”

There was no way my scores were lacking.

To graduate, I had worked harder than anyone else.

“Woo-hyuk, your practical score is close to zero.”

I couldn’t deny that.

With the body of an ordinary person who hadn’t awakened, I couldn’t keep up with the academy’s practical exams.

No matter how much I trained my body or practiced martial arts.

I could never match awakened hunters.

But.

“If you combine it with my written score, it exceeds 50 points.”

“Even so, without a practical score…”

“Phoenix Academy Regulation Article 2, Clause 2. Graduation requires a combined score of at least 50 points from written and practical exams.”

As I said, I had already anticipated this situation.

And of course, I had prepared a response.

“I’m sorry to say this, but since you haven’t awakened your talent…”

“Are you saying that if I don’t awaken, I can’t graduate? There’s no such clause anywhere in the rules!”

I knew it too.

The score issue was just an excuse.

That was the real reason.

The only reason I was able to enter Phoenix Academy without awakening was because of my talent.

Dimensional magic.

The only talent in the world verified by HAT.

Not just Korea, but the entire world had been focused on it.

“I’m truly sorry. I know how hard you’ve worked…”

The staff member pulled out a document and placed it in front of me.

A contract.

Seeing that they had prepared even this, it seemed the academy had already made their decision.

They probably intended to make me withdraw on my own.

“The decision has already been made. As you know, there’s nothing I can do…”

I understood.

He was just conveying orders.

There was no point arguing with him.

[Contract]

[1. Phoenix Academy (hereafter ‘Party A’) and student Jung Woo-hyuk (hereafter ‘Party B’) agree to faithfully carry out the following.]

[2. Party B shall immediately submit a withdrawal application.]

[3. Party B shall maintain confidentiality regarding this contract and Phoenix Academy.]

[4. Party A shall provide Party B with a settlement fund of 10,000,000 won.]

“So basically, you’re telling me to take 10 million won and keep my mouth shut?”

The contract was long, but that was the summary.

For Korea’s top academy to tell a student to take money and leave.

Even though I had some attachment to this place.

That attachment vanished instantly.

“I’m sorry…”

The staff member handed me a pen.

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t find a solution.

Refuse and storm out?

They would just find another excuse to expel me.

And I wouldn’t even get the money.

Or threaten to expose them to the media?

Tempting, but it would only be venting my anger.

I might get revenge.

But my dream of becoming a hunter would be over.

“Regulation Article 2, Clause 5. Students who fail to meet qualifications are given one final chance through a last exam.”

“That…”

I finally played my last card.

Even if they gave me an impossible test.

“You know it yourself! You can’t pass it!”

“I know. They’ll give me an absurdly difficult test.”

“Then why? You could get seriously hurt!”

“Even so… I’ll do it.”

Rather than giving up here, I would struggle until the very end.

“Damn it, you bastards!”

The final exam.

All my effort.

And yet, the academy shattered my last hope.

I expected difficulty.

But not this.

“Grrrr…”

A red-skinned beast growled at me.

Cerberus.

The three-headed guardian of the underworld.

Whether it truly guarded it or not, one thing was certain—it was an A-rank monster.

“Give up, Woo-hyuk! Even if it’s a simulation, it could cause trauma!”

“I won’t give up!”

Even top hunters would struggle against Cerberus.

This wasn’t a level a student could face.

This wasn’t a test.

It was meant to break me.

“ROAR!”

It charged.

My body froze.

“Damn it!!”

I bit my lip and forced myself to move.

I twisted my body to avoid its fangs.

Crunch.

My left arm was caught.

“I won’t give up!”

Slash.

My sword pierced its eye.

A desperate move.

Twisting the blade, I destroyed it further.

Boom!

It thrashed violently.

Crack.

My ribs broke.

Still, I didn’t let go.

Then.

Something burst.

I had destroyed its eye.

[Destiny has been successfully twisted.]

[Quest ‘Last Struggle’ completed.]

[50,000 points acquired.]

[Dimensional Shop unlocked.]

“What?”

System messages appeared.

“ROAR!!”

I was thrown away.

Barely conscious, I muttered.

“Did… I awaken?”

Only awakened hunters could see the system.

After six years.

My talent had finally awakened.

A voice echoed.

-Welcome, customer.

“What?”

But there was no time.

Cerberus had recovered.

-One moment, I should introduce myself…

It approached, furious.

“I can’t move…”

My body was destroyed.

Bones shattered.

Muscles torn.

-For a first time, this should be fine.

“ROAR!”

Its jaws opened.

I closed my eyes.

Then.

-Please enjoy.

[Dimensional Shop activated.]

[Power of dimensional stones flows into your body.]

[Kataxilis – Dark Dragon of the Black Mountains]

-Lord of the ‘Death Mountains.’

“Whimper!”

And then.

An overwhelming power surged through my entire body.