Location: National System Academy, South Wing — Testing Grounds
Time: 6:42 a.m.
The sky was light blue when Ji Han arrived at the training area. The metal fences were wet with morning dew, and everything felt quiet. Too quiet for a day like this.
Today was the Ranking Test.
Ji Han stood near the edge, watching other students walk in. Some laughed, some looked nervous, and a few acted confident. None of them really mattered to him.
His school uniform felt a little tight at the neck. He pulled at the collar gently, more out of habit than anything.
Ranking Test, he thought. Another way to judge people. But it never sees the full picture.
"Morning, ghost," a voice said behind him.
Ji Han turned. It was Ji Won, carrying a water bottle and grinning like he didn't just nearly set a tunnel on fire two days ago.
"You're early," Ji Han said.
"Yeah. Didn't wanna miss the show," Ji Won replied. "Bet some people freak out today when their rank isn't what they expect."
Ji Han smiled a little. Just barely.
Not long after, Ha Neul walked over. His hands were in his pockets, and his eyes looked sleepy. The three stood together in silence, but it wasn't awkward. It felt normal.
A teacher's voice came through a speaker. "All students, come to the main area. The Ranking Test will begin soon. This test will decide your Provisional Rank, so do your best."
Students started walking toward the stage. Ji Han moved slowly, letting others go first.
Ji Won leaned closer. "Are they gonna test our system type?"
"No," Ji Han said. "They test your fighting skill, speed, stamina, and control. The real ranks come from field results. After that, we'll go into the next test, phase 1 and 2"
"So, we're safe," Ji Won smiled. "No one's gonna dig into our system today."
A Year Ago
When Ji Han awakened his system, the scan looked strange.
[Awakening Confirmed – Unknown Core Type]
[System Classification: Unregistered | Manual Check Needed]
A man in a lab coat looked at the screen.
"Strange," he said. "But it's not dangerous... for now."
"Can I still register?" Ji Han asked calmly.
"You can apply as 'Unclassified.' It's rare, but allowed. You'll get into the academy. But people might watch you closely."
Ji Han nodded. Inside, he was already planning to stay hidden.
Back in the present, a teacher clapped.
"Today, students will be sorted into five ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Apex. These ranks affect your missions and teams."
Whispers filled the area.
"Only a few ever get Apex…"
"Someone with lightning powers might get Gold."
"I bet the Anderson guy will get a high rank."
Ji Han said nothing.
He didn't care about high ranks. But he didn't want to rank too low either. That could be dangerous.
Silver is enough, he thought. Not too weak. Not too strong.
---
Students were tested one by one. Combat dummies. Obstacle runs. Fake monster fights using illusion tech. It looked cool, but Ji Han only focused.
When his name was called, he stepped forward.
He didn't show off. No flashy powers.
But he moved smoothly. Every hit landed. Every step was calm. He didn't waste energy.
Some teachers looked confused.
"He's good. But we can't see his system," one said.
"Still, he passed all parts above average," another replied.
"Silver, then. Keep watch on him."
Outside the test area, Ji Won waved.
"Silver," Ji Han said quietly.
"Same," Ji Won answered. "Though they looked scared I might blow something up again."
Ha Neul held up two fingers—he got Silver too.
They walked back together in silence.
But Ji Han felt it.
Something bigger was coming.
After The Ranking
Ji Han, Ha Neul, and Ji Won entered the testing arena filled with other candidates.
Ji Han remained quiet, wary of exposing his system.
Ji Won was confident and brash as always.
Ha Neul stayed calm, sharp-eyed.
They began Phase 1 of the next test: combat against low-tier Rift Beasts in a simulated arena.
---
The ground trembled as a Rift Beast lunged forward.
Thick limbs, distorted jaws, too many eyes. It wasn't real—not truly. But the simulation tech the Association used was scarily close.
Ji Han stood still.
Around him, other candidates were already moving. Some screamed. Some charged.
"Ji Han!" Ji Won shouted, slicing through a beast nearby. "Get your head in the game!"
But Ji Han wasn't frozen in fear—he was feeling.
Too much.
His system responded to emotion, and here, surrounded by dozens of test-takers all under pressure, he felt it like a storm:
[Detected Emotions: Fear | Desperation | Pride | Panic]
It made his breath short. His chest tight. The overload was happening again.
And then—
[System Trigger: Emotional Sync] —Stability Boost Active (Temporary)]
Ji Han focused, narrowing his awareness. He blocked out strangers' feelings, locking only onto the emotions of two people: Ji Won's bold confidence... and Ha Neul's steady calm.
His heartbeat slowed.
A beast charged at him.
Ji Han dodged, barely, and lifted a weapon—a staff assigned by the test system. He wasn't a trained fighter like Ji Won, or a natural mirror like Ha Neul.
But he felt.
He felt the creature's hatred, rage, hunger. Twisted, dark emotions from the Rift.
He channeled it.
[Absorbing: Hostile Emotion – Rift Beast Type D] —Redirect to Core System: Boost Reflexes]
His staff moved faster. Cleaner. He knocked the creature back, then turned to face another.
Ji Won noticed and smirked. "Now you're moving!"
Ha Neul stood on a platform above, already analyzing.
One of the examiners watched Ha Neul's feed and whispered, "That one's system... isn't registered. But he mimicked a tier-one flame ability earlier."
"Keep recording," another said. "This might be a rare case."
Ha Neul copied a nearby candidate's ice skill mid-fight, combining it with Ji Won's earlier flame pattern. It was weaker—but precise. He fought smart, strategic.
Meanwhile, Ji Won burned through three beasts in a row, laughing.
"I could do this all day!"
Suddenly, a siren flared.
[Phase 2: Unstable Rift Fluctuation Detected – Difficulty Rising to Rank C]
Ji Han's head snapped up.
A large creature dropped into the arena. Taller than any of them, dark mist swirling around it.
Ji Won cursed. "C-class? They're throwing this at candidates?!"
Ha Neul narrowed his eyes. "It's not part of the planned test. That thing—feels wrong."
Ji Han stepped back. "It's real."
"What?"
"This one isn't a simulation."
The examiners were in chaos behind the glass. One of them spoke fast: "Something leaked from an actual Rift. Pull them out."
"We can't. The gate's sealed until the system finishes Phase 2 protocols."
Back inside the arena, the C-rank beast roared.
Ji Han felt it like a blow to the chest—pure bloodlust.
Everyone else backed away. Some screamed. Some tried to run.
But Ji Han stepped forward.
Not because he was brave—but because his system responded strongest when emotions peaked.
He reached out.
[Emotion Absorption: Target – Rift Creature | Emotion: Pure Bloodlust] —Danger: Overload Imminent – Proceed? [Y/N]
He pressed [Y].
And the moment he did, his eyes turned sharp. His body moved before he could think.
Faster.
Sharper.
Colder.
The beast charged.
Ji Han didn't dodge—he met it halfway, sliding under its claws and striking the joint of its leg with precise force.
It wasn't enough.
The beast roared and swung again.
Before it hit him, Ha Neul jumped in—his blade glowing, mirroring Ji Han's staff movement.
They struck together.
Then Ji Won came from behind, flames flaring to max.
The creature screeched.
It collapsed.
And the system beeped.
[Emergency Target Neutralized – Forced Shutdown of Phase 2]
The arena faded.
The test was over.
But Ji Han stood there, breathing hard.
His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the rush of emotion he had just drained. His system core pulsed, overcharged.
Ji Won walked over and clapped him on the back. "That was insane."
Ha Neul just looked at him, eyes calm.
"You're not normal," he said. "I like that."
Ji Han didn't smile. Just nodded.
Inside, he was shaking.
His system had nearly gone out of control again.
He needed to be careful—because if anyone truly figured out what he could do... they might not let him walk away next time.