Normal (N)
These are individuals with the most common jobs and are often represented by a 1-star rating.
Rare (R)
These are individuals with rarer jobs and are represented by a 2-star rating.
Super Rare (SR)
These are even rarer than the previous level and are represented by a 3-star rating. Individuals at this level possess sufficient strength to prompt security forces to take action.
Super Super Rare (SSR)
This level allows someone to be recognized as a top-tier hunter and has significant influence in society. It is marked with a 4-star rating.
Ultra Rare (UR)
Marked with a 5-star rating, those at this level are referred to as national heroes. The strength possessed by someone at the UR level is capable of withstanding attacks that threaten the nation. Currently, the known dungeon that can cause a disaster is a level 6 dungeon.
Those who have chosen job cards of different levels can be called hunters. Additionally, if the rarity is N, there is still a possibility to upgrade it by increasing the level and using it efficiently and variably.
The rarity of a job changes with level progression. If someone with an R rarity specification reaches a certain level, their rarity will be upgraded to the next higher tier.
N rarity will receive a promotion upon reaching level 10. They will obtain a unique skill with both active and passive skill types. To advance to SR, an R rarity must reach level 50 and acquire a skill. To reach SSR, the required level doubles to 100. After reaching SSR, a final skill is obtained. This is what makes SSR-tier characters stronger and always respected, due to the difficulty of leveling up.
And after relentlessly leveling up to 250, the tier is changed to UR. UR hunters are treated as heroes and are always given special treatment to protect them from external interference. In addition to obtaining the ranks below them, UR hunters also gain a special trait that further enhances their abilities.
If a hunter starts with an SR rarity or higher, the level calculation remains the same and will change only when the level exceeds the limit for each rarity.
Ten years into the hunter era, only a few have reached UR rank. Major nations like the US, China, and Russia have no more than 10 UR-ranked hunters. In South Korea, they have only 3 UR hunters. Among the three, one can be dubbed the strongest. With its extraordinary trait, it's no wonder it earned that title.
However, for those who have reached level 500, there is a level that transcends humanity. But this is a story that will unfold in the future. Of course, with the emergence of far stronger enemies and beings capable of destroying human civilization. To face them, strength beyond human comprehension is required.
Ten years after the dungeon disaster…
Bughh…bugh…
A man was being attacked by several adults. The adults occasionally shouted curses and insults.
"You damn bastard!! If you don't want to die, get out of here!"
"Damn poor bastard!"
The beating went on for quite some time, nearly killing the young man. Even after they were satisfied with beating him, they took his money. However, it seemed like the young man's mind was no longer there. His eyes, gazing at the distant sky, cared only about the small stars there, no longer feeling the blows and abuse he was enduring.
Walking in the cold night with a dry loaf of bread he had bought before encountering the thugs, he created a scene of a quiet night. The only thing on his mind was his younger sibling. It didn't matter if he didn't eat today. As long as his sibling wasn't starving, the little man would do everything he could.
In the distance, a small house in the slum. The little man entered and lit a glowing crystal commonly found in dungeons. A small figure lay sound asleep on a simple bed. He woke him up and gave him the bread he had brought.
"Sera... wake up, eat!"
Hearing her name called, Sera wakes up and looks surprised at what is happening in front of her.
"Oppa? Did you go back to that place today?! Didn't Sera tell you it's dangerous!! Don't leave Sera alone!" The little girl doesn't know what happened before and probably never will.
The older brother named Hyun fell silent. He gave Sera some bread and then went to fetch some water. Sera just stared at the bread her brother had given her. Crack! The bread was broken into two pieces, one side larger than the other.
When Hyun returned, Sera gave him the larger piece of bread. Seeing the bread, Hyun took it and sat down next to Sera. Sera smiled as she ate her smaller piece, while Hyun simply watched his sister eat heartily.
By the time Sera had finished her bread, Hyun had not touched his portion. He only drank the water he had brought. Seeing her brother, Sera urged him to eat it, making Hyun smile.
Then Hyun divided his bread into two pieces and offered one to Sera. Of course, Sera refused.
"If Sera doesn't want it, then I won't eat it either!" Hyun joked.
Though reluctant, Sera took the smaller piece and left the larger one for Hyun. A simple night for the siblings who had lost everything.
The first requirement for taking a job is being at least 17 years old. And tonight was Hyun's last night as a 16-year-old, meaning that starting tomorrow, Hyun could take a job. After dinner, they continued to rest because the night was getting colder.
"Oppa oppa" Sera's voice whispered.
"Since you're going to take a job tomorrow, Sera prays that what you get will be exactly what you want!"
Hyun smiled at Sera's words. Of course, Hyun hoped for a job that was at least SR-tier, or if lucky, an SSR-tier one. However, their desires were different. On Sera's side, she wanted her brother to get a job that didn't involve dangerous situations. For Hyun, the dungeon was everything. For his sister's happiness, Hyun would do anything, even if it was dangerous. Therefore, his sole goal for tomorrow was an SSR-tier job.
Behind the different life he leads from Hyun, the man gazes at the city filled with lights and noise. The beautiful view from the height of the penthouse makes everything below seem small.
The night is so quiet. Only the hum of the air conditioner can be heard, making the atmosphere feel empty. Eyes staring blankly, hands caressing the little girl in his lap. As if by simply looking at her, you had already spoken all the mistakes and lies.
"As long as I'm here, no danger will come to you." A soft voice echoed, breaking the silence.
Oliver carried his sister to the bed and laid her down gently. He looked out again, seeing in the distance where the dimly lit area was. Whatever was on his mind, Oliver just stared blankly.
The next morning
Sera was ready in her school uniform, and Hyun planned to escort his younger sister. Under the gentle sunlight, the siblings walked together enthusiastically. Sera's cheerful face also brought a glimmer of hope to Hyun.
Since being abandoned by their parents due to the dungeon break that occurred ten years ago, their lives had become much harder, even just to eat. Insults, expulsions, mockery, and bullying were often experienced by Hyun. Even Sera wasn't spared from some of the bullying she faced at school. Sera often confided in her older brother and cried when recalling the words spoken to her. Though Hyun could endure it, it was different for Sera, who was still young.
From there, Hyun began seeking various jobs and occasionally worked as a porter for those entering the dungeon.
For the sake of his sister's future and happiness, Hyun couldn't simply give up on what they had experienced.
After dropping off Sera, Hyun sat on the bed and prepared to take on his job. The job selection process was actually simple. Just close your eyes, and when you open them, you'll see many panels showing various job options. The appearance of the job panels was also influenced by one's soul and what they had experienced before turning 17.
It can be concluded that the appearance of rare jobs is greatly influenced by the individual and is not random.
When Hyun opened his eyes, many panels showed various jobs, from normal-tier to some SR-tier jobs. Hyun continued searching for SSR jobs despite the extremely low likelihood. He also checked if there were any SR jobs that caught his attention.
After searching for a long time, a feeling of disappointment arose in his heart. There was not a single job that displayed SSR rarity. And everything he had seen was nothing special, except for one R card. Hyun was a little confused as to why this card was at level 2, and its usefulness was not very clear.
Its unusual name, Devour, made it even more intriguing. Hyun read the card's description repeatedly, but it only left him more confused. At that moment, Hyun recalled Sera's advice to find a job that he found interesting and aligned with his desires.
Without hesitation, Hyun selected the Devour job and began the tutorial. It should be noted that after obtaining a job, they are transferred to a room similar to a tutorial room. There, they are given instructions about the job they have obtained.
However, upon arriving at the tutorial room, Hyun saw no instructions and only an empty room. He walked around the room, hoping something would appear. After walking for a long time, the room suddenly disappeared and was replaced by the atmosphere of his room.
Hyun felt confused; this might be the first time such a thing had happened to someone who had just obtained a job. However, shortly afterward, a notification appeared in front of Hyun. A hologram panel suddenly appeared before him, introducing itself as the system.
System? I've never heard of it before.
Hyun stared at the screen in front of him for a long time.
Before he could speak, the system changed to a user confirmation panel. It displayed Hyun's name and the job he had previously obtained. The system requested confirmation of user ownership. Seeing this, Hyun immediately selected the "YES" option, and the panel returned to its original state.
Still confused, Hyun tried to ask the system.
"Wait a moment, what just happened? And why did the status window change to the system instead of appearing as usual?"
In response to Hyun's question, the system explained that its appearance was due to the job Hyun had selected. The system could only provide basic information, as the user lacked the necessary authority.
Hyun understood what the system explained. However, if a system appears, shouldn't the selected job at least have SSR rarity? There were still many questions Hyun wanted to ask, but thinking about the lack of authority made him stop.
The system also explained that authority can increase if the user also experiences level and rarity increases. Hyun understood about level increases and rarity, but there was one thing that made him hesitate—the explanation about the job he had. The system explained that the Devour job requires the user to absorb everything related to the current world. It could also come from materials or other sources.
Hearing that, Hyun tried to ask if it was possible to absorb the power of other hunters.
The system paused for a moment.
Yes, but it requires at least level 10 to do so.
Hyun fully understood his job. His priority now was to register himself at the hunter center. Before that, Hyun was a bit concerned about the description of his job.
"Can others see this description?"
No, the job description can only be seen by the user. Others can only see it as a job with "insatiable greed and an endless appetite," unless viewed by those with 'eyes of judgment.'
Hearing this, Hyun felt slightly relieved. However, the 'eyes of judgment' were what made him a bit worried. Not wanting to think too much about it, Hyun immediately headed to the hunter center to register and obtain his hunter license.
Jobs with an R rarity typically don't have many missions available, and even guilds rarely take notice unless they specialize in buffs and heals. This naturally made Hyun a bit worried about how he would obtain materials in the future. Hyun also considered becoming a porter first before immediately seeking a party and tackling a dungeon.
Upon arriving there, Hyun tried to register as soon as possible. Unbeknownst to him, the hunter association office was bustling with activity. Hyun was somewhat familiar with some of the top hunters. Of course, when discussing the top 1 hunter in Korea at the moment, it was Oliver. A UR hunter with a level over 400, he had earned the title of the strongest hunter in the world.
It seems Hyun knows why the atmosphere at the hunter headquarters is so lively. It's all about Oliver's plan for a solo raid on a level 6 dungeon. As reported, the level 6 dungeon contains high-level dragon-type monsters and several wyverns that inhabit it. No wonder it requires an UR rank to tackle this dungeon. Otherwise, a dungeon break is sure to occur in Korea.
In a hurry, Hyun hurried through the crowd, unaware of the gaze directed at him.
For those wishing to register as hunters, all that is required is an identification test for rarity and job type. After that, they will be issued a special hunter license ID card. In addition to serving as personal identification, the hunter card can also be used as a payment method for dungeon materials or similar items. The hunter license card can also be used as a source of information about dungeons and raid groups.
This is why the hunter license card is so valuable. If it is accidentally lost, the owner must pay a replacement fee of ten million won. For those who are just starting out and don't have much support, the license card must be kept very carefully.
After completing the license process, Hyun tried to find a raid group for a level 1 dungeon. For those with an R rarity, it is recommended to tackle level 1 and 2 dungeons in a party. It is not advisable to attempt them solo or in a duo. Despite being the lowest tier, level 1 or 2 dungeons should not be underestimated. This refers to an incident from a few years ago where monsters in lower-tier dungeons were not aligned with their levels.
However, it seems there is no raid for the hunter position in lower-tier dungeons. Even though there are open slots, Hyun still doesn't know the job type—whether it's a main attacker or a support role. Even after asking the system, it only instructs him to reach level 10 first. Reluctantly, Hyun joins a dungeon raid as a porter. Fortunately, there was one slot available. Hyun immediately applied to join.
Upon arriving at the location, four hunters were already waiting for the raid. Hyun introduced himself as a rank R hunter with a job type that was useless for combat. At first, Hyun didn't expect a warm welcome due to his job, but the party in front of him turned out to be quite open toward him.
Since the quota was already filled, they immediately entered the rank 2 dungeon. According to information, this dungeon contained bat monsters at the beginning and a pack of wolves. For rank 2 and 1 dungeons, there are no bosses guarding them, except in the case of fake dungeons.
Here, Hyun's role was to be a porter and collect materials from defeated monsters. Before entering, Hyun requested some mana crystals found around the dungeon. Mana crystals are only used as lanterns rather than mined for sale. These crystals are usually found in all dungeons, but for rank 2 and 1 dungeons, they are not very valuable and are often ignored by hunters due to their low mana storage.
Fortunately, they accepted Hyun's request. Earlier, Hyun had asked the system how many crystals he needed to consume to reach level 10. The system replied that at least 100 low-quality crystals or 20 kg of mana crystals were required. Hearing the system's explanation, Hyun felt it was impossible to complete the task today.
Hyun's payment for this raid was 50 low-level crystals. At 10,000 won per 10 crystals, Hyun would receive 50,000 won for 50 crystals. With the payment of 50 low-level crystals, Hyun would set aside half to consume and try to obtain the rest using mana crystals.
With 25,000 won, Hyun could buy some chicken for Sera later. Now Hyun understood why so many people wanted to become hunters. The pay they received was even higher than that of an ordinary office worker with just one raid. Although he was currently just a porter, Hyun was confident that once he leveled up, he could earn even more for Sera and himself.
Since entering the dungeon, there had been no incidents. Their group kept moving forward, leaving the defeated monsters for Hyun to collect their crystals. Additionally, the mana crystals Hyun found were very scarce. Even after nearly reaching the end, he could only gather around 3 kg. During this raid, Hyun also observed the hunters' combat techniques and how they handled monster groups.
Two hours have passed.
In dungeon ranks 2 and 1, once hunters feel they have had enough, they can choose to return. This is because there are no bosses guarding the dungeon, so the conquest requirement is no longer in effect. As a result, these dungeon ranks are often used as leveling grounds for those below level 20, and dungeon breaks do not occur. The time difference between inside the dungeon and the outside world is the same, so the two hours Hyun spent inside are equivalent to two hours outside. However, signals cannot penetrate, making the use of electronic devices impossible.
After the distribution was complete, Hyun checked his card to see if there was any information about the next raid. Upon checking, Hyun was startled by the news of a dungeon break in the slum area.
Wait, isn't that near Sera's school?
Hyun immediately called the teacher there to ask if everything was okay. Fortunately, someone answered the call.
"Hello, teacher, is everything okay there?!" Hyun asked anxiously.
"…"
There was no response from the other end of the call, making Hyun even more anxious.
"HELLO.. TEACHER! Is Sera okay?!!"
".."
"Is this Sera's guardian? Fortunately, everyone here is safe, no casualties. However..." the voice on the other end seemed reluctant to continue.
"Ma'am..!! What happened? Tell me Sera is okay!!"
"Sera.."
"What's wrong with Sera, ma'am?!"
"Sera,,, is unconscious and at the hospital"
Hyun fell silent.
"Hunter Syilv, who saved her at the time, said it was a rare occurrence where the awakening that should have happened at age 17 occurred prematurely."
"…"
"Causing the person affected to fall into a coma and can only be cured with a rare elixir from the dragon tribe."
Wait, dragons?