Chapter Two - The Courage of the Weak

A month had passed since Kim Jin-Hyuk had discovered his new abilities, each day marked by both a sense of wonder and trepidation. As he lounged in his small, rented apartment, the afternoon sun filtered in through the half-drawn curtains, casting a warm glow around the room. The tranquility of the moment was abruptly shattered when an email notification chimed on his laptop. He leaned forward, squinting at the screen, eyes widening as he read the sender: the Portals and Hunters Management Association, commonly referred to as PHMA.

"Greetings, Sir Kim Jin-Hyuk. The Chief, Woo Yung-Suk, would like to talk to you regarding the Hunter's betrayal last month; we hope to see you soon."

A chill ran down his spine. "Could it be that they found out about my new abilities?" he pondered, his heart racing. The adrenaline surged through him, making him momentarily forget the soft couch under him and the lingering scent of cheap takeout in the air. He glanced around as if the four walls could betray his secrets.

"No, that must not be it. I made sure no one saw," he whispered under his breath, trying to quell the unease tightening his chest. With each passing moment, he worked to steady himself, focusing on the sound of his breath and the rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall. Slowly, he recited a mantra in his mind, reassuring himself that he was not in danger and that he had control over his life for the first time in a while.

After calming his nerves, he felt compelled to check his status. "Status Open."

The familiar holographic display lit up before him:

[Kim Jin-Hyuk]

[Title - None]

[Fatigue - 0]

[MP - 120]

[Strength - 5pts]

[Endurance - 5pts]

[Agility - 3pts]

[Mana - 1pts]

[Intelligence - 0pts]

[Available Points - 1]

[Shadow Sword]

[System]

[Unknown]

His brow furrowed at the sight of his Intelligence score. "My Intelligence is zero points? That’s too mean; I am not that dumb!" The frustration bubbled up, a mixture of anger at the system and his own insecurities.

A brief silence fell over the room as he contemplated his situation. "If that’s so, then put one point into Intelligence."

As soon as the command left his lips, he felt a subtle shift within him. It was as if a veil had lifted, though he did notice that the change was slight; it didn’t give him a sudden burst of wisdom, just a flicker of clarity. With a sigh, he acknowledged the reality of his situation. He needed more money to save his sister, and to do that, he had to become a higher-grade hunter. His gaze drifted back to the screen, his mind whirring with questions and strategies.

Just then, a sudden surge of energy surged through his being as a system message blinked into existence before him:

[You received a title! Courage of the Weak.]

Before he could fully process it, countless other messages flooded his vision.

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You received a 'buff'!]

[Resistance to Poison]

[Resistance to Heat]

[Resistance to Cold]

[Resistance to Curse]

Kim Jin-Hyuk sat there in stunned silence, his heart racing again—this time with joy. The weight of despair and loss he had been carrying for weeks felt a little lighter. "What the hell—" he muttered, disbelief and happiness dancing across his features.

"Status Open!" he commanded, and eagerly observed the changes:

[Kim Jin-Hyuk]

[Title - Courage of The Weak]

[Level - 7]

[Fatigue - 0]

[MP - 120]

[Strength - 5pts]

[Endurance - 5pts]

[Agility - 3pts]

[Mana - 1pts]

[Intelligence - 1pts]

[Available Points - 14]

[Shadow Sword]

[System]

[Unknown]

He couldn’t comprehend it; the sudden surge of strength invigorated him. Just weeks before, he had been weak—pushed around by bullies who called themselves hunters and mocked for his failures.

Without hesitating, he unleashed his determination, quickly allocating his newly acquired points. "Add ten to Strength," he declared, fueled by a newfound resolve.

[Added 10 to Strength, now 15.]

The change was immediate and exhilarating. He felt lighter like his body was shedding layers of burden. His muscles tingled with power as he instinctively turned toward the stark wall of his apartment. "Hiya!" he shouted, throwing a punch that connected with the surface. A crack ran down the plaster, a testament to his newfound strength, though the wall stood resolute.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed to life with an incoming call from the hospital—the grim specter of his sister’s condition loomed over him once again. His stomach churned as he answered, a mix of hope and dread flooding his senses.

"Yes?" he said, struggling to keep his voice steady.

"Hello, Mr. Kim Jin-Hyuk, I have... bad news for you." The voice on the other end was somber as if the weight of the message was tangible.

"Your sister, Kimberly Clark... She passed away earlier this morning. We tried everything we could, but she still didn't make it. I am very sorry for your loss."

Before he could even process the words, the call ended, leaving him in a deafening silence that engulfed his apartment. He crumpled to his knees, the sudden gust of despair overwhelming him.

"This is all my fault..." His voice cracked as he raged against himself, the bitterness rising like bile in his throat. "If only I had—if only I could have saved her! If I had a perfect ability back then, then she wouldn’t have suffered at the hands of 'those' shitty hunters!"

He felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. A hollow ache blossomed within his chest, a void where hope once resided. Tears refused to fall; he was paralyzed by his grief, an emptiness that felt like an eternal abyss.

[You have received a skill. "No Emotion."]

The revelation landed like a stone. He was aware of his desolation, yet he couldn’t weep. He simply sat there, staring blankly at the floor, consciousness fading in and out as his thoughts spiraled. "I know she wasn't my real sister, but I wish I could have made her feel like she was. When she was alive, I wanted her to know she meant the world to me," he lamented, his heart aching with regret and remorse.

[The System has been updated; the visual will be different from last time.]

[Skill - No Emotion: The user no longer feels emotion after having this skill, but he will receive a fifty percent buff on all his stats.]

[Skill Grade - N/A]

He felt the tug of a numbing force settle over him, guarding him from the tidal wave of sorrow that threatened to consume him. As he sat in his dim apartment, the light fading with the sun, he realized he was forever changed—not just by his abilities or the title he carried, but by a loss that would haunt him for the rest of his days. In that moment, he resolved to honor his sister by becoming stronger, by making sure no one else would endure the torment he had witnessed. This was just the beginning of a path shrouded in darkness and vengeance.

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