I wasn’t born into anything special.

No name, no home, no family. I was just a poor child living day by day, trying to survive in a world that didn’t care if I existed or not.

The only one who ever looked after me was an old man. People called him Twelve Star, Feral Precise—a strange name, I know. But to me, he was just my master. He took me in, gave me food, shelter, and taught me everything he knew. Swordsmanship, survival, how to think before acting, and how to live with pride even if I had nothing.

He wasn’t affectionate, but he never let me feel like I was truly alone.

Then, one day, he died.

I was only seven. And just like that, I was back to having nothing.

But I kept going. I lived. Quietly. Carefully.

What no one knew—not even my master—was that I had discovered something strange when I was just three years old. A power. A power that didn’t match anything in our world. It wasn’t the usual kind of magic people used. It didn’t follow rules. It didn’t come from any god. It just… existed inside me.

I didn’t use it.

I was scared.

I thought if I hid it, I could live peacefully. I could avoid trouble. I could stay alive.

But on the day I turned eighteen, everything changed.

I remember it so clearly. I was walking past a small church, just looking for ingredients to make a cake. Nothing fancy. Just something for myself to celebrate quietly.

Then suddenly—light.

Warm, bright, and too fast to run from.

Before I could even blink, I was standing in front of four gods.

The Goddess of Elements—glowing with storms and winds.

The God of Technology—sharp-eyed and dressed in cold steel.

The God of War—strong, burning, terrifying.

And the God of Creation—silent, but watching like he already knew how this would end.

At first, I thought they chose me. I thought they needed me. Maybe they saw my power and wanted me to help fix something in the world.

I was wrong.

They looked at me without kindness. Without hesitation.

Then, together, they spoke:

— “You shouldn’t live. You’re getting in our way.”

That was all they said.

No explanation.

No second chance.

And then everything went dark.

I opened my eyes again.

But I wasn’t in Gaeia anymore.

This was a new world—Earth.

And I was no longer the same person.

Now, I’m a thirteen-year-old boy named Mu Gong-heo.

I stood in front of a mirror, dazed. My head hurt so badly I could barely breathe. And then it hit me—memories. But they weren’t mine. They belonged to the real Mu Gong-heo.

He was quiet, distant. He always wore a black half-mask, hiding his face from everyone. Not because he was disfigured, but because he looked… too ethereal. Almost unreal. His natural hair was full of strange, colorful shades. His eyes sparkled in ways that made people stare. So he wore a wig and contact lenses just to look “normal.”

But even with those memories, I couldn’t see his real face. It stayed hidden from me.

I learned about his life—and more importantly, this world.

Since 2010, Earth changed. Strange creatures began to appear. Dungeons opened, Towers rose, and the System was born. People began awakening powers at the age of eight. If they were lucky, they’d become Hunters by fifteen and protect the world.

But Gong-heo never awakened.

He tried twice. Went to the Examination Area, hoping he was just a late bloomer.

Both times, the machine failed.

People thought he was broken.

But now I understand—he wasn’t the problem.

The machine simply couldn’t handle what was inside him.

And now… it’s inside me.

To be sure, I focused quietly and tried something small. I lit a tiny flame in the palm of my hand.

It worked.

The fire danced softly, like it remembered me.

— My power is still here.

The gods failed to erase me completely.

I don’t know why I was brought here. I don’t know why this body. But one thing is clear:

— Fate gave me another chance.

This world might be different. The rules might not be the same. But deep down, I’m still me.

And this time… I won’t make the same mistake.

I won’t hide anymore.

I won’t run from who I am.

I won’t wait to be erased again.

They may have called me a mistake.

Something that shouldn’t exist.

But I’m still here.

And now, I’m going to live.

Truly live.

Even if the gods try again.

Even if this world turns against me.

— I am Mu Gong-heo.

The boy behind the mask.

The one who shouldn’t exist—yet cannot be erased.

I didn’t grow up like most people.

No family. No name. Just me—unnoticed, unwanted, and quiet.

The only person who ever cared enough to keep me alive was an old man with a strange name: Twelve Star Feral Precise. He was rough around the edges, always muttering things no one understood, but he knew how to survive. And he taught me the same.

How to move in silence.

How to stay hidden.

How to fight if I had to—but never draw attention if I didn’t.

He wasn’t affectionate. But he gave me food, shelter, and his time. That was enough.

Then, before I even turned eight, he died.

Just like that.

No warning. No last words. No answers.

I didn’t cry. I just kept moving, the way he taught me. Quiet. Careful.

What no one knew—what not even he knew—was that I had a secret.

A dangerous one.

When I was three, I discovered something.

A force that hummed through my body, strange and powerful, unlike anything I’d ever seen.

I could shape it. Control it. Burn with it.

It felt like magic, but more... ancient. Wild. Like it didn’t belong in this world.

So I hid it. I didn’t tell anyone. Not even Master.

Because in a world that fears the unknown, power like that doesn’t make you special.

It makes you a target.

All I wanted was a peaceful life. A simple life.

But the world had other plans.

I remember the exact moment everything changed.

I had just turned eighteen.

I was walking alone near a crumbling church on the edge of the village, looking for ingredients to make a birthday cake. Nothing fancy. Just something sweet. Something that reminded me I was still alive.

Then the air shifted. Heavy. Unnatural.

I didn’t see anything. Didn’t hear anything.

But I felt it.

Something pulled me.

Hard.

Like invisible hands tearing me from the world.

And then—I was no longer there.

I stood before four beings. Divine. Terrifying.

The Goddess of Elements, her hair a stormcloud of lightning.

The God of Technology, encased in glowing metal.

The God of War, red-eyed, scarred, holding a blade that bled light.

And the God of Creation, who said nothing, but felt like he knew everything.

I thought maybe I had been chosen.

That this was my calling.

That my power finally made sense.

But then, they looked at me. Not with awe or hope.

With disgust.

— “You shouldn’t live. You’re in our way.”

That’s what they said before they destroyed me.

And everything went black.

I woke up choking on air that didn’t belong to me.

New sky. New world. New body.

They called it Earth.

I was thirteen.

My head throbbed. My skin felt wrong. And when I looked into a mirror—

It wasn’t my reflection.

It was his.

Mu Gong-heo.

And the memories came like shattered glass—cutting, loud, not mine.

Mu Gong-heo was quiet. Strange. He wore a black half-mask every day. His long black hair was always hidden beneath a white wig. His eyes—too sharp, too bright—were buried under colored contacts.

He wasn’t trying to be mysterious.

He was hiding.

I only saw fragments. Flashes. Moments of his life, drowned in silence.

But I understood one thing:

This world was different.

Here, kids awaken powers when they turn eight.

By fifteen, they become Hunters—soldiers with supernatural gifts who climb towers, fight monsters, and live under something called the System.

Mu Gong-heo never awakened.

He tried. Twice.

Both times, the machine failed.

Now I know why.

Because the machine couldn’t read him.

It couldn’t read me.

That night, I tested it.

I held out my hand and focused.

A flicker.

Then flame.

Alive.

Real.

Mine.

Even in this new world… my power followed.

They tried to erase me.

They threw me here, buried me inside someone else.

But I’m still standing.

Still breathing.

Still burning.

This time…

I won’t run.

I won’t hide.

I won’t waste the second chance they never meant to give me.

Not ever again.

End of Chapter 1

“This world’s technology is truly awesome,” Gong-heo said in awe, scrolling through the phone screen. “Unlike the world where I came from… People here on Earth would’ve called that place a Fantasy or Magical World.”

He looked down with a sorrowful face, but then his expression slowly changed.

“I shouldn’t feel bad, knowing I did nothing wrong,” he said to himself.

“I’m going to live the best I can here.”

With a proud face, he raised his fist in the air. His other hand stayed by his side. Even though everything was unfamiliar, he felt a spark of purpose.

---

Moments later, Gong-heo sat back on the couch, the phone still in his hand. It felt strange, holding something that belonged to the version of himself from this world.

He opened the gallery, curious about what was inside.

Photos of a small, happy family filled the screen—birthday celebrations, outings, smiling parents. But then he paused on a screenshot of an old article.

— “Boy Orphaned at 7: Parents Killed in Car Crash.”

His eyes softened. “So… he lost his parents too.”

He stared at the image, quietly absorbing the familiar pain. Just like him, this world’s Gong-heo had also experienced loss.

He was about to close the app when he noticed another one—SystemTube.

“What kind of app is this?” he muttered.

He tapped it open. It was a video-sharing platform where Hunters and ordinary people posted clips, commented, and shared content. As he scrolled, a video caught his eye.

> Top 10 Hunters of the Association – July Rankings

He tapped it and watched.

---

The video played with epic music and exciting effects. The announcer’s voice echoed as each Hunter appeared.

#10 – Kim Soon

Guild Master of Archery

A sharp-eyed woman who controlled magical arrows with lightning speed.

#9 – Min Joo

Guild Master of Swordsmanship

Calm, serious, and graceful with his blade.

#8 – Priya Isha

Guild Master of Chant (India)

A spellcaster surrounded by golden magic circles.

#7 – Rohan Isha

Vice Guild Master of Chant

Priya’s younger brother, more reckless and wild, but just as powerful.

#6 – Wei Cheng

Guild Master of Culinary (China)

He created magical dishes mid-battle. Gong-heo blinked.

“Wait… is he fighting with food?”

#5 – Dmitri Hiroshi

Controlled ice with elegance and deadly precision.

#4 – Danil Hiroshi

His fiery twin—explosive, energetic, and full of heat.

Gong-heo raised an eyebrow.

“Just who came up with those names for the twins?”

He laughed a little. “Did their parents really name them like that?”

He shook his head, amused, and continued watching.

#3 – Katrina Frieda

Guild Master of Chemistry

She brewed explosive potions like a warrior scientist.

#2 – Donghyun

Guild Master of the Association

Mysterious and quiet. His calm presence spoke louder than words.

Then the screen faded to black.

#1 – Vacant

— “There is currently no Hunter qualified for the #1 position.”

Gong-heo leaned back. “So they use a rank system here… Interesting.”

He put the phone down on the couch before standing to take a bath.

---

He headed to the bathroom, the idea of fresh water comforting in this unfamiliar place. The bath was warm and relaxing, washing away the weight of his thoughts.

Afterward, he put on simple white and black baggy clothes—clean, loose, and comfortable. They weren’t flashy, but they felt right.

Then his stomach growled.

“Time to eat,” he muttered with a small laugh.

---

Gong-heo entered the kitchen. To his surprise, a few ingredients from his old world had crossed over with him. It was enough to prepare something familiar.

He began cooking Zæmhül, a traditional dish from his homeland. It only needed Hjènä and Kvßõh Yíåhgß, simple but flavorful ingredients.

He added a side of Kimchi, a spicy fermented dish that reminded him of home—even if this version came from Earth.

He set the table completely: rice, soup, spoon, chopsticks, and a glass of water.

He sat down and bowed his head.

“Thank you for this meal,” he whispered.

---

He began to eat. The warmth of the food comforted him, like an invisible hug from the world he had lost.

“Eat first before thinking of my next move,” he thought.

“If I don’t eat, my brain won’t function… and not eating on time will just make my stomach growl louder.”

He smiled, taking another bite.

Sometimes, even a small meal could remind you that you're alive.

---

After he cleaned the table and washed the dishes, Gong-heo returned to the couch. The room was quiet, but outside, the city lights glowed. Screens flickered on tall buildings, cars flew past windows, and holograms danced in the air.

It was a new world.

A world full of noise, life, and unknown futures.

He picked up the phone again and opened the browser. Slowly, he typed:

— “How to become a Hunter?”

The screen glowed back at him, loading answers.

He looked at his reflection on the screen—eyes uncertain but hopeful.

He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring,

But starting now…

He would make this life his own.

---

End of Chapter 2