015

Sae Rin stood patiently at the front of a modest suburban house, her arms crossed as the cool morning breeze played with the hem of her coat. Her piercing eyes scanned the neighborhood, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She was rarely one to personally pick up her trainees, yet this was a special case.

The door creaked open, and a young man stepped out. He was lanky, his shoulders slightly hunched, and his hair disheveled as though he'd barely had time to comb it. His mother followed him, her eyes glistening with worry.

"Min Jae," she said softly, holding onto his arm. "Promise me you'll be safe, okay?"

He nodded with a faint, nervous smile. "I'll be fine, Mom."

She cupped his face, her voice trembling with emotion. "The world is dangerous for Harmonics like you. I just… I just don't want to lose you."

"I'll keep him safe," Sae Rin said firmly, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade.

Min Jae glanced at her, and she nodded once in reassurance. His mother seemed comforted by the presence of the S-Class Harmonic, though her eyes remained clouded with concern.

After one last prayer under her breath, Min Jae's mother let him go. He hurried down the steps to meet Sae Rin, bowing respectfully.

"Sorry for coming out late, ma'am," he said sheepishly.

Sae Rin raised an eyebrow. "What did I say about calling me 'ma'am'?"

"Sorry… Sae Rin," he corrected himself quickly, straightening his posture.

"Better." She smirked slightly, turning on her heel. "Let's go. We have a lot to discuss."

As they walked through the quiet streets, Min Jae kept stealing glances at her. His mind was a whirl of questions, but he didn't dare voice them. Sae Rin finally broke the silence.

"You've been training with me for weeks now," she began, her tone measured.

Min Jae nodded, his throat suddenly dry. "Yes… I've been trying my best."

"Good," she said. "Because I'm assigning you your first task."

He froze mid-step, his eyes widening. "M-my first task?"

Sae Rin stopped and turned to face him, her gaze unwavering. "Yes. It's time for you to apply what you've learned. You'll be joining a group of low-level Harmonics like yourself to clear a monster rift."

Min Jae's heart raced, panic gripping his chest. "Wait, a monster rift? Already? Sae Rin, I—I don't think I'm ready for that. My Talent isn't strong enough. I'm only Stage 2!"

She stared at him, unyielding. "And that's exactly why you need this. You won't grow if you're coddled, Min Jae. The rift is classified as low-level—blue tier. It's a good starting point."

"But what if—"

"No what-ifs," she cut him off. "You're going. That's final."

Min Jae clenched his fists, his mind swirling with dread. Yet, he knew there was no point in arguing. Sae Rin's word was law, and her confidence in him left no room for negotiation.

Seeing his hesitation, she placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening slightly. "Listen, Min Jae. You've worked hard. I wouldn't send you if I didn't think you could handle it. Trust yourself."

He swallowed hard, nodding reluctantly. "O-okay. I'll do my best."

Jin Seo awoke to the faint light of dawn streaming through his window. His body ached from the previous day's trial, but it was a good ache—a reminder of his progress.

After a brief stretch and a series of quick exercises, he brushed his teeth, took a cold shower, and made himself a cup of coffee. His morning routine had become a ritual of sorts, grounding him amidst the chaos of his new reality.

With his coffee in hand, he settled onto the couch and opened his phone, scrolling through the news app he'd downloaded. The app, Harmonic Watch, was a hub for all things related to Harmonics—news, rankings, mission updates, and live feeds of ongoing incidents.

A headline immediately caught his eye:

[Blue Monster Rift Detected in Guro District – C-Class Harmonics Assigned for Clearance]

His eyes narrowed as he clicked on the article, reading intently.

"A blue-tier monster rift has appeared in the Guro District. Classified as low-level, the rift must be cleared within 48 hours to prevent spawning events. Assigned: C-Class Lower Harmonics. Estimated threats: Tier 1-3 monsters, primarily low-intelligence creatures."

Jin leaned back, his mind racing. Monster rifts were phenomena caused by tears in reality, allowing creatures from other dimensions to spill into their world. The Agency had established a color-coded system to rank these rifts based on their danger levels:

Blue: Low threat, manageable for C-Class or lower.

Green: Moderate threat, requiring B-Class intervention.

Yellow: High threat, often involving Tier 4-6 monsters.

Red: Severe threat, needing A-Class Harmonics or higher.

Black: Catastrophic, with Stage 10 Harmonics called in as a last resort.

Blue rifts were considered training grounds for low-level Harmonics, but they were not without risk. The creatures that emerged from them, while weak compared to those of higher-tier rifts, could still overwhelm the unprepared.

Jin clenched his fist. "This might be my chance," he muttered.

His thoughts turned to the trial he'd completed the day before. His new strength, his upgraded skills—this was his moment to prove that he wasn't weak anymore. He wasn't the old Jin Seo who cowered in fear or ran from challenges.

But then his eyes fell on the rank requirements: C-Class Lower Harmonics.

The Agency would never allow an unregistered individual like him to join the mission. Yet, that didn't deter him.

"Even if they won't let me in, I'll go," he said to himself. "A blue rift is manageable. I've faced worse in the ascension realm."

He set his phone down and stared out the window, determination burning in his eyes. The rift in Guro District was an opportunity he couldn't ignore.

"I'll show them," he whispered. "I'll show everyone that I'm not weak."

The blue-tier rift loomed ahead, swirling with eerie energy as Jin Seo approached. His hoodie was pulled up, obscuring most of his face, and his posture was relaxed but deliberate. As he reached the entrance, he noticed three men already waiting.

Each of them was massive, their physiques more suited to professional bodybuilders than the typical lean C-Class Harmonics. Their overconfident smirks and casual chatter filled the air, and Jin Seo quietly leaned against the nearby wall, observing. He didn't speak.

Minutes later, a figure appeared—a young man in shining armor, carrying a sword that looked far too big for him. Min Jae's nervousness was evident in the way he fidgeted with the hilt of his weapon.

The three men turned to him and burst into laughter.

"Are you kidding me?" one of them barked, slapping his thigh. "This kid looks like he can barely hold that sword!"

"Hey, rookie, you sure you're not here to bring us water?" another chimed in, his voice dripping with mockery.

"I hope you can at least be bait," the third added with a sneer.

Min Jae's face flushed red as he lowered his head. "I'll… I'll do my best," he muttered.

Jin Seo remained silent, his gaze steady on Min Jae. He didn't join the others in their mockery, nor did he move to defend him. Instead, he simply watched.

The group entered the rift, stepping into a dark, cavernous space. The air was heavy, filled with the stench of decay. Bones littered the ground, and the remains of small, mutilated monsters were scattered around. The only sound was the crunching of bone underfoot as they walked deeper into the den.

"Man, this place reeks," one of the men said, his voice echoing in the hollow chamber. "These blue rifts are always the worst—filthy, but boring."

Jin Seo walked at the back of the group, his hood still up, his face unreadable. His silence seemed to bother Min Jae, who slowed his pace to walk beside him.

"Hey," Min Jae said hesitantly, glancing up at Jin Seo. "I noticed you haven't… said a word. What's your name?"

Jin Seo glanced at him but didn't answer.

Min Jae pressed on. "Are you nervous about this? I mean, it's okay if you are. This is my first time in a rift, too. I—"

"Jin," Jin Seo said abruptly, cutting him off.

"Oh, uh, Jin." Min Jae nodded quickly. "Nice to meet you, Jin. Do you think we'll be okay?"

"Maybe," Jin Seo replied curtly, his tone indifferent.

Min Jae blinked, unsure how to continue the conversation. He eventually fell silent, the tension of the rift pressing down on him.

Deeper into the den, the group encountered their first pack of monsters. They were small, humanoid creatures with sharp claws and glowing yellow eyes, snarling as they charged.

The three men sprang into action, their weapons flashing as they tore through the creatures with ease.

"See that, rookie?" one of them shouted over his shoulder at Min Jae. "That's how a real Harmonic does it!"

Min Jae tried to look impressed, but his grip on his sword was shaky. Jin Seo, watching from the back, thought to himself, There's no way these guys are C-Class Harmonics.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.

The air grew heavier, the temperature dropping sharply. A strange, oppressive energy washed over them, freezing everyone in their tracks.

"What the hell is this?" one of the men muttered, his bravado replaced with unease.

Min Jae staggered back, his face pale. "I… I don't like this," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Jin Seo, however, stood firm. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the shadows ahead. What is this presence I'm feeling?

As if in answer to his thoughts, a figure emerged from the darkness. She was tall—at least seven feet—with skin as white and smooth as cement. Her black, soulless eyes gleamed in the dim light, and a jagged crown rested on her head, giving her an air of malevolent royalty.

The group froze, their fear palpable.

Jin Seo's thoughts raced. Who is that?

A familiar ping echoed in his mind as a system notification appeared:

[System Notification]

[Threat Detected.]

[Threat Level: Black-Tier.]

[Queen Belarin – 2nd Stone Queen to the Ruler of Nelacar.]

[Abilities: Supernatural Speed. Unidentified secondary abilities. No weak spot detected.]

Jin Seo's jaw tightened. "What the hell is this?" he muttered under his breath.

One of the men turned to him, confused. "Who the hell are you talking to—"

Blood gushed from the man's mouth as Queen Belarin appeared behind him, her hand piercing through his chest. His body fell to the ground in a lifeless heap.

Min Jae cried out, stumbling backward and falling to the floor, his sword clattering beside him. The remaining two men reacted instinctively, rushing forward to attack.

It was futile.

Belarin moved like the wind, a blur of white and shadow. In an instant, she decapitated one of the men, his head hitting the ground with a sickening thud. The last man barely had time to raise his weapon before her hand speared through his torso, leaving his body crumpled and broken.

She stood amidst the carnage, her black eyes locking onto Min Jae, who was trembling uncontrollably.

"No… no…" Min Jae whimpered, scrambling backward.

In a blur, she appeared before him, her hand raised to strike.

Suddenly, a powerful kick slammed into her jaw, sending her flying backward and crashing into the wall with a deafening impact.

Jin Seo stood in front of Min Jae, his hood still up, his stance calm but ready.

"Get up and hide," he ordered.

Min Jae didn't argue. He grabbed his sword and scrambled behind a cluster of rocks, his heart pounding.

From his hiding spot, he watched in disbelief as Jin Seo faced Queen Belarin, who was already recovering from the attack. She rose slowly, her black eyes now fixed solely on him.

Jin Seo's dagger materialized in his hand, sparking with purple energy.

Min Jae's jaw dropped. Who the hell is this guy?

Queen Belarin moved first, her speed blinding.

But Jin Seo was ready. He dashed forward, their clash sending a shockwave rippling through the rift. The force was so intense that Min Jae was thrown backward, slamming into the wall behind him.

From his position, Min Jae stared at the two combatants in awe and terror.

"Who the hell is this guy?" he whispered, his voice trembling.