New Identity

The next day, Akira woke in one of his father's houses in Seoul. The place felt hollow now, its grandeur stripped of meaning. He couldn't stay long—Eri owned everything now, and he needed to figure out his next move quickly. But before he could dwell on it, the shrill buzz of his phone cut through the early morning silence.

It was Hiroshi. The message was curt:

"Meet me in my office. I have what you need."

Wasting no time, Akira finished up, changed into black overalls with a hooded top, and made his way to Hiroshi's office. The city was just waking up, the streets bathed in the pale gold of dawn. But Akira's mind was far from the beauty of the morning. It was focused on the path ahead—the path of vengeance.

As he stepped into Hiroshi's office, the older man looked up, holding a small, official-looking card between his fingers. He glanced at it with a faint sigh before handing it to Akira.

"Here it is," 

Hiroshi said, his voice heavy with unspoken concern. 

"With this, you can enter and raid dungeons under your new name. Remember, this is temporary. Construction is so it can fly under the radar, meaning you can only raid up to E and D-rank dungeons. Anything above that may raise suspicions."

Akira took the card, his fingers tracing across its holographic surface. The name and identity that once was his now buried beneath fabricated details.

He met Hiroshi's gaze, nodding silently.

"Thanks, Hiroshi. This is exactly what I needed."

Hiroshi's face softened, but the look of concern didn't leave his eyes.

"Akira, let me remind you—I don't know how much power you've awakened or what your current level and growth potential is, but these low-level dungeons may feel like they aren't so dangerous. Never be fooled by that. Complacency is dangerous. Never underestimate what you're walking into."

Akira gave a small smirk.

"Don't worry. I'll have my guard up."

Hiroshi leaned back in his chair, a small tablet in hand as he swiped through the interface, stopping at a particular application. He glanced up at Akira, his tone firm but informative.

"Before you go running headfirst into any dungeon, there's something you'll need." He tapped the screen, sending a file to Akira's phone.

A soft ding echoed from Akira's pocket as he checked his device.

"This app is called 'StarNet.' It's used worldwide by registered STARS to reserve dungeons for raids. Unowned dungeons—ones without active guild claims—get listed here. It's the only legitimate way to access them without raising red flags."

Akira raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

"So it's a glorified booking system?"

Hiroshi smirked faintly.

"More or less. But don't underestimate it—it's how you'll find the dungeons you're looking for. It assigns raid schedules, updates dungeon conditions, and tracks your clear times. The global system ensures no one clashes for the same dungeon… well, most of the time."

Akira flicked through the app's sleek, minimalist interface, his thumb hovering over a list of glowing dungeon titles.

"And this will keep me under the radar?"

Hiroshi nodded.

"Yes. The new identity I set up for you—'E.B.'—is registered on StarNet. And you are counted as a C-Rank Hunter. As long as you stick to E and D-rank dungeons, you won't draw any unwanted attention."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with concern.

"But Akira, listen to me carefully. Once you're in a dungeon, you're on your own. This app doesn't monitor you inside—it's just a gatekeeper for access. If something goes wrong, no one's coming to save you."

Akira's expression didn't waver.

"That's fine. I don't care at all."

Hiroshi sighed, shaking his head.

"You always were full of confidence, even as a kid. But listen, there's something else you ought to know."

Akira raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

Hiroshi's tone grew serious.

"It's less calculative than that, really. The system bugs out sometimes. A lower-ranked dungeon might well have higher-ranked monsters in them—usually much further inside. Just be on your guard. Walk into every dungeon expecting it to turn into a death trap at any moment."

Akira nodded, understanding the gravity in Hiroshi's words.

"Understood. I'll be careful."

Hiroshi nodded weakly, his eyes sticking to Akira's.

"Good. You already know this, but almost all of the dungeons—once a person enters, the exit disappears. Until it's cleared, you can never leave." He paused before adding, "The number of people who can enter isn't fixed, but the price for failure is steep."

Akira nodded curtly.

"Thanks, Hiroshi-san. Really."

Hiroshi sighed, softening.

"I just want you to stay alive, Akira. Remember that."

Akira firmed his grip on the ID, the cold, solid reality of the first step ahead.

"The world took everything from me. Now, I'll take everything back—piece by piece, until there's nothing left but ashes."

Akira gave Hiroshi a firm handshake before leaving the office. His mind was already racing in anticipation. He had spent a whole year training, studying, and learning all the tricks that Eri and her team—who betrayed him—could teach him. Finally, it was time to test himself, to try all the things he had learned so far in a real dungeon.

He opened the StarNet app and scrolled through the list of available dungeons. His eyes landed on an E-Rank dungeon, its description simple and straightforward: "Beginner-friendly. Low-level monsters. Ideal for new STARS." 

Akira's lips curled into a faint smile.

"This is it," he muttered to himself. 

"An E-Rank dungeon. The lowest level, the best for beginners. It's the perfect place to start."

He tapped the reservation button, and a confirmation message flashed on the screen. The dungeon was his. The portal had a green color and was rough with energy.

Akira froze for a moment, allowing the eerie silence of the entrance to settle around him. 

"So… this is what it's like," He muttered, running a hand along the cool, damp stone. The walls seemed to vibrate with a strange energy, a hum that resonated deep in his bones.

This was what STARS had to deal with to earn the respect they had. He exhaled, feeling his heart quicken with the rush of anticipation and a flicker of doubt.

That it was low-ranked didn't matter—it was a first step toward a greater purpose, a first trial outside the rigorous, sterile confines of training. A real test.

"Let's do this," - He muttered quietly to himself, his voice steeled with resolution as he moved forward, slipping into the shadows.