Chapter 2
An apartment complex in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, now in ruins due to monsters. Four or five burly men were hurriedly loading large and small appliances they'd taken from abandoned apartments onto their trucks.
"Damn! This place is tapped out too. Boss... What are we gonna do now? All the good spots nearby are already claimed by other teams. There's nowhere decent left to work. We'll be done here in two weeks max."
Gi-cheol made a bitter expression at the men's words. "How should I know? Maybe we'll have to go deeper in if it comes to that."
"Huh? Deeper? Well I'll be. Maybe it's time to quit this hyena business. We're already risking our lives as it is, but going deeper..."
These so-called "hyenas" were people who scavenged abandoned appliances and other valuables from empty homes to sell in safe zones. Safe zones referred to major cities with defensive walls, while all other areas were classified as danger zones where monsters could appear anywhere.
Consequently, everyone had flocked to nearby safe zones, leaving many areas as abandoned cities. This created another problem—shortages of daily necessities and agricultural products. Prices inevitably skyrocketed, making life harder for ordinary people.
Thus began the hyenas—fearless individuals who ventured into danger zones to scavenge usable items from abandoned homes. Nowadays, many voluntarily became hyenas despite the risks.
"Got any better jobs if we quit this?"
"But deeper in... it's too dangerous."
At least this area had many hunters active, providing some safety from monsters. But deeper areas had stronger monsters and fewer hunters, despite their greater skill.
The hyenas' rule was to strike quickly while hunters engaged monsters and retreat before they left. Naturally, they avoided areas with few hunters.
"I know. Just venting. Sigh... Life keeps getting harder. Enough nonsense—let's pack up. It's getting dark already."
"Damn right. Let's go drown our sorrows in drinks when we get back. Ugh."
At Gi-cheol's words, the men headed to their trucks one by one. But Jun-hyeok remained still, making Gi-cheol ask curiously:
"Jun-hyeok, why aren't you moving? Not coming?"
"You go ahead, boss. I'll do one more round."
Gi-cheol looked shocked. "What? Another round? Hey! Can't you see it's getting dark?"
Though appearing concerned for Jun-hyeok, Gi-cheol thought differently: Damn it! I planned to stay behind today... Crazy bastard. Why's he doing this now?
As Gi-cheol made a flustered face, Jun-hyeok smiled nonchalantly: "Just hitting a few more spots—won't take long. Don't worry and go ahead."
"Ha! Listen here! It's time even hunters wrap up! You know our rule—strike fast while they hunt then retreat immediately! If you linger after they leave, we're screwed! Stop this nonsense and withdraw now!"
The hyenas' ironclad rule was returning before all hunting parties withdrew. Ordinary people could only move through danger zones because hunters kept monster numbers manageable—not perfectly safe but minimally so.
What would happen after all hunters left? You never knew when or where monsters might appear.
Though secretly planning to send Jun-hyeok and others away first to work alone, Gi-cheol couldn't force him given the circumstances.
Jun-hyeok glanced bitterly at the truck's cargo compartment: "Boss... I still haven't paid this month's rent. That haul won't cover this week's expenses, let alone rent."
The meager load contained only small-change items worth a few days' living expenses at most.
Gi-cheol looked puzzled: "What? We've been milking this place dry for nearly a month despite finishing early! How can rent still be unpaid?"
"Sigh... Eun-cheol started elementary school this year. Eun-jeong moved up to third grade too. Had to buy clothes, school supplies... Then back rent and groceries wiped me out."
Understanding the situation, Gi-cheol nodded resignedly: "Eun-cheol's in elementary school already? Time flies..."
"Tell me about it..."
"Still amazing though—going all out for kids not even blood-related like they're your real siblings."
Jun-hyeok's eyes instantly turned sharp: "Boss!"
Gi-cheol hastily waved his hands: "Ah! Sorry sorry! My bad—you're always touchy about them kids."
"Anyway I'm doing another round—don't worry and go ahead."
What could he do? The situation being what it was... Ugh... Whatever. No work tomorrow anyway—I'll come early then. Though Jun-hyeok disrupted his plans by staying behind unexpectedly, Gi-cheol coolly accepted it since today wasn't special anyway.
"Fine then—be careful and don't stay too late."
"Yes. Get home safe."
As Gi-cheol drove off followed by other trucks (Vroom!), Jun-hyeok waved warmly until they left before his expression turned blank instantly.
How much time passed?
Despite full darkness falling, Jun-hyeok remained in the ruined apartment complex—no, strictly speaking, he'd waited for nightfall.
"Finally, today's the day."
Standing at the apartment window, Jun-hyeok's face bore a peculiar anticipation. The first thing he needed to do after regressing was to claim the ability Gi-cheol would have obtained.
Originally, Gi-cheol should have been here today to acquire "Copy Master," but Jun-hyeok had taken his place.
Copy Master... This should be good. Boss, if this ability is as powerful as I think, I'll treat you big later.
Copy Master—the ability to copy other Awakened's skills. Though its potential was limitless, Gi-cheol had died because of it after revealing his power during Awakened registration.
Who would tolerate someone stealing their hard-earned skills through mere touch? After the ability became known, Gi-cheol was shunned. No Awakened approached him, let alone invited him to parties. Unable to hunt, he stagnated and was eventually found dead in an abandoned building—likely killed by someone fearing skill theft.
As Jun-hyeok reminisced—
ROOOOAR!
A monster's roar struck his ears.
"Oh? Finally starting?"
Jun-hyeok peered outside with interest. The timing was off—monsters usually emerged two hours after hunters withdrew, not just one.
Through the window, he saw dozens of massive monsters gathering. What mattered wasn't their numbers, but that each was a C-class or higher "calamity."
Over a dozen C-class calamities... Just as Gi-cheol said. That means an A-class is nearby.
Since the war's ceasefire, monsters rarely traveled in groups. For over a dozen high-tier ones to gather, only one explanation existed: the arrival of an A-class territory ruler.
As Jun-hyeok watched, another anomaly occurred. A white luminous mass swirled where the monsters congregated, forming an oval shape.
"Hmm? That's..."
Though he'd never seen it before, Jun-hyeok instinctively knew—a spontaneous gate.
"That's the spontaneous gate. So the real deal starts now... They said someone would come out?"
It matched the bi-monthly gates exactly. Moments later, a man burst from the gate, arms raised victoriously:
"Hahaha! Finally ba— huh?"
His triumph died as the monsters unleashed a coordinated assault.
ROOOAR! GRAAAH!
Boom! Crash! Thud!
The apartment shook under the barrage. No hunter could survive such an onslaught.
