Today is December 18, 2029. As the clock strikes midnight, I'll turn thirty.
I was born exactly at midnight on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, a sacred day.
When the aliens invaded and dungeons appeared, humanity began to awaken strange powers. That was five years ago—I was twenty-five then. Having been an enthusiastic manhwa reader, I thought I was ready. I believed I could make anything work, no matter the ability. But, of course, the universe had other plans.
I never awakened. No special powers. No glowing eyes. No dramatic status window.
Now? I'm happily working in the exploitative hellhole known as the Human Administrative Department of the Hunters Association.
It's already 11 PM, and I'm too tired to complain more.
To whoever's reading this journal in the future—peace out for now.
---
Devansh was so exhausted, he barely managed to scribble his journal entry before collapsing onto the bed. Within seconds, he was out cold.
But as the clock struck twelve, a strange light engulfed him.
And then—he vanished.
---
"Don't bother me… let me sleep. There's nothing to steal here. If you find anything valuable, just take it and stop making noise. I've got a meeting tomorrow morning…"
I mumbled sleepily, half-conscious, disturbed by an unfamiliar racket.
But the noise didn't stop.
Frustrated, I finally opened my eyes—and froze.
The surroundings were completely alien. No, seriously.
Still groggy, I assumed someone had pulled an elaborate prank.
"Who's pulling this nonsense? Show yourself! Don't make me repeat myself—I'll have you arrested for trespassing and kidnapping! Just you wait!"
I kept yelling, expecting hidden cameras and some laughing idiot behind a curtain.
But no one replied.
The people around me just… stared. Their clothes, their devices, even the air—it all felt different. Off.
Sure, humanity had made some tech advancements since the Awakening, but not this. This was something else. Too sleek. Too futuristic.
Then a strange thought struck me.
Maybe… just maybe, this wasn't a prank.
There was an old story about a man who awakened his powers at thirty. Just one known case. Everyone called it a myth.
What if… I was the second?
I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Once I gathered my thoughts, I got up and attempted to talk to the people around me. But no one responded. They kept avoiding eye contact, brushing past me like I didn't exist.
I'd had enough. I shouted, "Is there anyone who can tell me what day it is?!"
Finally, a man who looked to be in his thirties approached.
"It's December 19," he said.
Relieved, I chuckled nervously. So it was just a weird prank. Maybe an AR trick or something.
"I mean, don't get me wrong," I muttered, "I wanted powers when I was twenty-five. But now that I've seen how messed up society has become because of them… I'm good. Especially if the power is something crazy like time."
But then the man added with a grin, "Of the year 3025."
…
"What?!"
I stared at him. Then at the surroundings. Then back at him. Then back again.
I kept doing that until I got dizzy.
The man chuckled and said, "Mr. Devasena, don't be so shocked. You might not believe it right now, but I hold quite a bit of influence here. Come with me—I'll explain everything you need to know about what's happening to you."