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Jin Seo's blade sliced through the thick, leathery hide of the creature before him. Its monstrous roar echoed across the barren trial realm, but his eyes remained steady, his movements precise. He leapt back as the beast lunged at him, his Dash skill activating instinctively to create distance.

The monster, a six-legged, horned fiend with glowing crimson eyes, collapsed to the ground in a pool of its own blood. Jin stood over it, panting but victorious.

[System Notification]

[Trial Completed.]

[Ascension Progress: 25%.]

[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step Lv1 – Move undetected in low-light environments for a limited time.]

[Passive Skill Unlocked: Iron Will – Increased resistance to mental attacks and fear-based abilities.]

[Current Skills and Passives Unlocked:]

Dash Lv3: Enhanced speed for short bursts.

Predator's Instinct Lv2: Heightened senses for detecting threats and predicting enemy movements.

Endurance Lv3: Improved stamina and resistance to physical exhaustion.

Shadow Step Lv1: Move undetected in shadows.

Iron Will Lv1: Resist mental interference and fear-based attacks.

Jin grinned, adrenaline still coursing through him. "I'm getting the hang of this," he said to himself, looking at his blood-streaked hands. Despite the exhaustion that always followed these trials, he felt stronger—more capable.

Another notification appeared before him:

[Your account has been credited with 20,000,000 won.]

[Current Balance: 70,003,000 won.]

The corners of his mouth twitched upward. He was becoming someone different, someone powerful. The trials were grueling, but with each victory, he felt himself evolving, both physically and mentally.

The trial realm dissolved into a swirl of light and shadows, and Jin found himself back in the familiar streets of the city. He pulled his hoodie over his head, blending into the bustling crowd.

As he turned a corner, his steps faltered. Standing across the street was Sae Rin, her calm yet piercing gaze locked onto him. She crossed the road gracefully, her presence drawing subtle attention from passersby.

"You've changed," she said, stopping a few feet away from him.

Jin blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Since the last time we met. You've… grown," she said, tilting her head slightly. Her tone was even, but her eyes scanned him carefully, as if she could sense the energy radiating from him.

He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, unsure of what to say. "I've just been… trying to figure some things out," he replied vaguely.

Sae Rin nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That's good. Growth is important."

Jin hesitated, then asked, "What about you? How's… everything?"

Her smile widened, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Busy. The agency always keeps us on our toes."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways. As Jin walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that Sae Rin had noticed more than she let on.

Later that day, Jin ran into the landlord's daughter, who was carrying a bag of groceries up the stairs to her family's apartment. She stumbled slightly, and Jin stepped forward to steady her.

"Thanks," she said, brushing her hair out of her face. "You're Jin, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Need help with that?"

She handed him the bag with a grateful smile. "I'm Yuna. You remember. My dad invited you for dinner."

Jin chuckled softly. "Yeah I remember."

As they climbed the stairs, Yuna started chatting about her day, her voice cheerful and animated. She seemed to have an endless supply of energy, and Jin found himself smiling despite his usual guarded demeanor.

When they reached her door, Yuna suddenly said, "Hey, do you follow Tae Joon? He's amazing, isn't he?"

Jin's smile froze. "Tae Joon?"

"Yeah! The rising star of the Harmonic world," Yuna gushed, her eyes sparkling. "He's strong, confident, and so cool. I mean, have you seen the footage of him taking down that rogue Harmonic last week? He made it look so easy!"

Jin's jaw tightened, but he forced a neutral expression. "Yeah, I've seen him," he said simply.

Yuna didn't seem to notice his tone. "He's incredible. I've been following his career for a while now. I even wrote a letter to the agency once, but I doubt he saw it. He's way too busy for stuff like that."

Jin nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts swirling. He didn't dislike Tae Joon because of Yuna's admiration, but hearing her praise him so enthusiastically stirred something inside him—a mix of envy and determination and the way Tae Joon had treated him when he was still weak.

That evening, Jin found himself back in his apartment, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His body had changed—his muscles more defined, his posture more confident. The person staring back at him was a far cry from the weak, defeated man he'd been just weeks ago.

But as he thought about Tae Joon, Yuna's words replayed in his mind. He's strong, confident, and so cool.

Jin clenched his fists. "I need to get stronger," he muttered.

The peaceful evening was shattered by the blaring sound of emergency sirens and the buzz of breaking news notifications on Jin's phone. He grabbed it and read the headline:

[Mega Monster Pack Spotted in Dongyeon District – Harmonics Called to Action.]

He opened the live stream, and his heart sank at the sight. The streets of Dongyeon were in chaos, overrun by a pack of massive, monstrous creatures. Their forms were grotesque—hulking beasts with spiked exoskeletons, glowing eyes, and gnashing teeth.

Civilians screamed and scattered as the monsters destroyed everything in their path, crushing cars and tearing through buildings. The air was filled with smoke, debris, and the cries of the injured.

Jin's eyes narrowed. His body tensed as he watched the scene unfold. He wanted to act, to help, but a voice in the back of his mind reminded him of his limitations.

"Not yet," he said through gritted teeth.

The camera panned to a group of Harmonics arriving on the scene, their weapons and abilities flaring to life as they engaged the monsters. Among them was Tae Joon, his presence commanding and unmistakable.

Jin's grip on his phone tightened as he watched Tae Joon leap into action, flames erupting from his fists as he took on the largest monster head-on. The crowd of onlookers cheered, their voices filled with hope.

Jin turned off the stream and stared out the window, his jaw clenched. The distant sound of sirens echoed in the night, a reminder of the chaos unfolding just miles away.

"I'll get there," Jin whispered to himself, his eyes burning with determination. "One day, I'll stand on that battlefield—and I'll be the one they cheer for."