Chapter 1: Universal Derivation

A month ago, that was the moment when everything changed. The day I realized the true hell I had gotten myself into. I could never have imagined that a simple vacation trip with my family to the United States would turn into the worst nightmare of my life.

It was a peaceful day, the blue sky contrasting with the towering skyscrapers that loomed over the city. My father was driving while my mother and younger sister laughed in the back seat. I was distracted, gazing out the window, admiring the urban landscape, without the slightest idea that, in mere moments, my life would never be the same again.

And then it happened.

The air grew heavy. A crushing pressure filled the atmosphere, and a sense of imminent danger sent chills through every fiber of my being. Within seconds, the sky turned a hellish red, and a deafening roar echoed throughout the city. Before I could react, the ground shook violently, and a wave of searing heat engulfed everything around me.

Chaos erupted.

People screamed in desperation, cars crashed, buildings crumbled, and a monstrous roar dominated the air. At the center of all that destruction, a colossal creature rose, its overwhelming presence making it clear that there was no escape.

Kamish.

The Red Dragon. The legendary beast, whose mere existence was synonymous with annihilation. Its body, covered in crimson scales that reflected the light of the raging fire around it, moved with surreal majesty. Its eyes, glowing like burning embers, scanned the city, and then, with a single beat of its wings, it unleashed hell upon the Earth.

A fiery explosion spread, consuming everything within a 30-kilometer radius. The heat was so intense that the asphalt melted, buildings turned to ashes, and in an instant, my family was gone.

I don't remember exactly what happened next. My mind collapsed, my body was thrown far away by the force of the explosion. Everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by wreckage and ashes. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, and the sight around me was hellish. There was nothing left—only ruins and a deathly silence. I wanted to scream, but no voice came out. My body was numb, the physical pain insignificant compared to the emptiness growing inside me.

And that was when I saw him.

A towering silhouette approached through the ashes. A tall, muscular man, clad in black combat gear. His eyes carried the determination of someone who had faced indescribable horrors. He was a Hunter. But not just any Hunter.

Thomas Andre.

At that time, one of the few S-Rank Hunters in the world. His presence radiated power, and I immediately knew he was different from any other human I had ever met. That was when a series of notifications appeared before my eyes.

[Universal Derivation Target registered!]

[Derived Skills: Reinforcement (Rank S) and Capture (Rank S)!]

[Mastery Level of the skills: E (0/50 uses required to increase Mastery Level)]

At first, I didn't understand what it meant. But when I looked at Thomas, I realized he was the key to my survival. The key to my revenge. My ability had awakened in that moment of absolute desperation.

[Universal Derivation]

[Universal Derivation LV:MAX]Class-Specific SkillNo Mana Requirement

A unique ability, unlike any other ever recorded. Its true power was divided into three extraordinary capabilities:

Absolute Derivation: The ability to copy any skill, as long as the target has been registered and remains within a 1.5 km radius for at least 1 second. However, all copied skills start at a low mastery level, making them initially ineffective.

Source Decomposition: An absolute defensive mechanism. This ability allows the user to decompose magical attacks and skills, unraveling their original formulas and completely nullifying their effects. Its range extends up to 3 km, ensuring the user can protect themselves even from long-range attacks.

Infinite Evolution: The ultimate ability. With it, evolution knows no limits. Regardless of reaching the maximum level recorded by the System, growth will never cease. The same applies to derived skills, allowing them to surpass their own limits over time.

That day, I was just a helpless teenager, a survivor lost amidst the ashes of a massacre. But as I looked at Thomas André, as I felt the awakening of my own power, I understood.

I was no longer a victim.

I had inherited an ability that could take me beyond human limits. An ability that, if mastered correctly, could make me stronger than any Hunter alive.

And above all...

It would give me the chance to never be this same weak person again.

...

My life fell apart in a way I never imagined. Before, I had a home—a place to return to after a tiring day. But now? Now, all of that is gone. The reason? My own brother. He didn't just take everything for himself; he left me with absolutely nothing. Our parents' inheritance, the house, the assets—everything went to him. The irony is that he was always the favorite of the family company's directors, and the reason was simple: he was just as greedy as they were.

If I had expected even a shred of consideration, I was mistaken. In the end, it was as if I had never existed. He simply took everything and moved on, as if I were nothing more than an obstacle to be removed. A cruel and painful cliché—but real.

Now, my reality is completely different. I live in a cheap, decrepit apartment, with mold-stained walls and plumbing that makes strange noises in the middle of the night. The place smells of dust and something I can never quite identify, but it's what I have. Better than nothing, right?

But that's not even the worst part. The worst part is my current position. As an E-Rank Hunter, I am practically irrelevant in the world of Awakened. Weak. Insignificant. Just another nobody barely surviving in low-level portals.

And to think that I once had potential. I possessed a truly powerful ability, something that could have made me someone in this world. But somehow, things went wrong. Two of my abilities regressed in level, dropped so much that now I can barely use them properly. The feeling of loss is suffocating. The level drop made everything even more frustrating, but realistically, maybe it was inevitable. My body wasn't strong enough to handle such powers. Pushing beyond my limits could have killed me, so maybe this was the system's way of telling me I wasn't ready.

But accept that? Never.

So, how can I improve? Join a group? Work as a team? Nah.

Who in their right mind would accept an E-Rank into a group? I'd just be dead weight, a burden no one wants to carry.

So, I had an idea. If I can't rely on anyone, if the entire world sees me as a failure, then I need a way to grow stronger on my own. Something that lets me hunt without being noticed. Something that gives me a chance to survive even at rock bottom.

The answer? An assassin's skill: [Stealth].

If I could become invisible to my enemies, if I could slip into a portal, take down monsters, and leave without anyone noticing, then I'd have a chance. I wouldn't need a group. I wouldn't need to beg for anyone's help.

Would it be dangerous? Of course. But this was the only viable option. A path where all the monsters would be my enemies, and my only ally would be my own cunning.

Now, only one question remained: who possessed this ability?

It wasn't something common. Assassin Hunters rarely shared their techniques. But I needed to find someone.

The first clue was clear. The Hunter Association of Korea. A place where many hunters worked, some of them possessing rare abilities.

If there was a place to start my search, it would be there.

And I wouldn't stop until I got what I needed.

Upon arriving at the Hunter Association, I did my best to remain unnoticed. I kept a discreet posture, head down, and light steps, avoiding drawing any unnecessary attention. The building was huge, imposing, with wide, bustling hallways. Hunters of all types walked through there, some proudly displaying their weapons and rank emblems, others in serious conversations with Association staff.

I didn't belong to that world… yet.

As I walked down the main hallway, a doubt struck my mind, hitting me like a punch to the stomach.

'How do I know who belongs to the Assassin Class?'

The question made me freeze for a second. Why hadn't I thought of this before? I felt like a complete idiot. Finding an Assassin wasn't as simple as identifying a Warrior in heavy armor or a Mage surrounded by books and scrolls. They were discreet, stealthy by nature. It was obvious that a true Assassin wouldn't leave easy traces to follow.

My plan had a fundamental problem from the start. I couldn't just ask someone or access the Association's files. That would be impossible for someone at my level.

So, what was left for me?

I kept walking, paying close attention to everyone passing by. I tried to pick up on any suspicious detail, any movement that was too fluid, any presence that seemed "erased" amidst the crowd. Still, nothing.

Until, in the middle of my frustration, something caught my attention.

I passed by a man who, despite walking normally, made no sound at all. No footstep noise, no fabric rustling, nothing.

It was as if he wasn't even there.

My heart raced. That was definitely a characteristic of an Assassin!

'I found you!'

Excitement took over me as I activated my unique ability, [Universal Derivation].

My eyes glowed faintly as I marked that man as my target. For a moment, I felt a strange connection form, as if something inside me was absorbing his presence, his technique.

And then, the notifications appeared before my eyes.

[Universal Derivation target registered!]

[Derived Skill: Stealth (B)]

[Skill Mastery Level: E (0/50)]

My plan had worked.

I finally had the first step toward my ascension.

"Hey, why are you staring at me so much?"

The voice sounded cold and suspicious, making me freeze for a moment.

The person from whom I had derived the [Stealth] skill stopped and stared directly at me. His gaze was sharp like a blade, and the way he moved, almost silently, made it clear that he was someone accustomed to staying in the shadows.

According to the [Universal Derivation] Records, his name was Kang Taeshik.

The fact that he had noticed my gaze was worrying. Even though my intention wasn't hostile, he seemed like someone who didn't like being watched. And honestly, an Assassin who notices when they're being analyzed only shows how dangerous they are.

"H-huh, nothing, sorry."

I responded hastily, feeling my voice falter in the middle of the sentence.

Damn, I even stuttered. That was annoying. My body reacted before my mind, and I turned abruptly, leaving Taeshik's line of sight as quickly as possible. My heart was pounding.

As I walked toward the elevator, I could feel his gaze burning into my back, as if he were analyzing me. Did he notice something? The thought made me quicken my pace.

As soon as I entered the elevator and the doors closed, I let out a heavy sigh. My shoulders were tense, and only then did I realize how nervous I had become.

I descended to the ground floor and left the Association building as quickly as I could. The cold air outside helped calm my thoughts.

Once I felt safe, I pulled up the [Universal Derivation] Records to review my abilities.

[Universal Derivation Records:]

[Reinforcement]Rank: E (True: S)Type: ActiveMana Consumption: 100 per Minute

Derived from: Thomas André.

Greatly increases your defense and attack power. Due to the current bearer's low power, the effect has been reduced. Previously, an armor could be created using this ability.

[NOTE: The armor effect can be restored if the Rank reaches S.]

[Capture]Rank: E (True: S)Type: ActiveMana Consumption: None

Derived from: Thomas André.

A form of telekinesis that attracts and repels whoever the user desires. The attack power has decreased due to the Rank, but the main effect of not consuming mana remains.

[Stealth]Rank: E (True: B)Type: ActiveMana Consumption: 200

Derived from: Kang Taeshik.

The stealth ability allows users to blend into their surroundings, making them physically and magically invisible. It's useful in battle but consumes a lot of mana, costing 200 mana to activate and 10 mana per second to maintain.

I was about to reflect on how I could use these abilities to my advantage when, suddenly, a new notification appeared in front of me.

[Information concealment detected!]

[The Universal Derivation reveals your hidden ability: Absolute Truth]

My eyes widened.

"What...?"

Another notification appeared immediately after that, as if responding to my confusion.

[Absolute Truth: Reveals the true form and information of all things. The user becomes incapable of falling into illusions and has an enhanced perception of any phenomenon. Masked abilities will be shown in their true form.]

I was speechless.

Does this mean that... all the information I had received before was incomplete? And now I could see the absolute truth behind anything?

What else was hidden that I didn't know?

Adrenaline surged through my body again.

If this ability was as powerful as it seemed, then my path to becoming stronger could be much faster than I had imagined.

I just needed to learn how to use it properly.

[Revealing Skill!]

[Authority of the Ruler]Rank: E (True: S)Type: ActiveMana Consumption: None

Derived from: Thomas André

The Authority of the Ruler is a unique form of telekinesis, granted only to Rulers and humans who have received their powers.

At its highest rank, the skill possesses tremendous power, comparable to a black hole, allowing the user to exert absolute control over the space around them.

Additionally, it consumes no mana, meaning it can be used continuously without restrictions. Its range and raw strength increase proportionally as the Rank rises, making it a fearsome weapon in the hands of someone capable of mastering it.

[NOTE: The power and range of the skill can reach their peak when at Rank S.]

My eyes scanned the description, absorbing every detail with a mix of awe and excitement.

"So this skill was hidden all along..."

It was unbelievable. Something of this magnitude was simply concealed from me, masked under a false appearance of weakness.

If my [Absolute Truth] hadn't revealed this, I would have never discovered it.

My heart raced.

The ability itself was already absurd—unlimited telekinesis with no mana consumption? That was simply ridiculous. But the most frightening part was what was implied...

If the Ruler's Authority was hidden, what else could be concealed within my Universal Derivation?

I held the ability screen in front of me, analyzing the words repeatedly. My brain was working at full speed, trying to process all the possibilities.

If this ability could reach its full potential, then I would have one of the most destructive powers in the world at my disposal.

But it was still Rank E.

The power was reduced. The range limited.

But what if I could evolve this ability?

The thought made me clench my fists.

If I could elevate its Rank to the original level, I would have power comparable to a true monster.

And if [Absolute Truth] was really as powerful as it seemed, then perhaps there were even more secrets waiting to be revealed.

I smiled to myself.

"Very interesting."

The tide was slowly starting to turn in my direction.

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Author: Hello everyone! How are you? Here's a new story that I loved creating, because I love Solo Leveling. Now, at the end of the chapter, I would like to ask: Would you support me and read an Unordinary story that I want to write? I sincerely hope so. I think the idea I had is good, but I want to hear from you. The idea is below.

WARNING: The idea is an AU and also has Reincarnation and System TAGS.

The idea is as follows: I will make the MC reincarnated as John Doe, the protagonist of Unordinary, with a Card system. The system works like this:

Ability Cards: These are cards that grant a simulation of an opponent who has the ability recorded on the card. There are variable rarities between the cards that indicate their rarity and complexity, and of course also power.

Common - The most common abilities and are generally easy to use. These cards are white. Some examples are Illumination and Impact.

Rare - Skills that are not so common, usually do not present much complexity in use, these cards are colored blue. Some examples are Lie Detection and Clairvoyance.

Epic - Rarer skills, require a greater understanding of the skill and have a medium level of complexity, these cards are colored purple, some examples are Remi's Lightning and King or the Hunter.

Legendary - Very uncommon skills, have a high complexity and require advanced study to use efficiently, these cards are colored gold. Some examples are Telekinesis and Minefield.

Extraordinary - Skills that are completely out of the ordinary, are complex to the point of instead of just training or studying, it is necessary to be creative with the skill in this category, as there may be hidden capabilities within the skills, in some cases the skill can evolve to a higher level, the God Rank or GOD, these cards are colored black. Some examples are Aura Manipulation and its evolved version, Master Channel; Time Manipulation also falls into this category.

Upgrade Cards: These are cards that improve skills or a specific attribute. There are types of upgrade cards, which are:

Rank Upgrade: Increases the skill's rank; if the skill exceeds its current rarity, the skill can transform into an evolved version of itself. It can only be used if the skill is at the recommended level for evolution.

Aura Upgrade: Increases the aura produced by the body, thus increasing the strength of the skill, and consequently its level as well.

Body Upgrade (Basic): Increases the body's physical capacity; as it is at the basic level, it only increases by +10 in all Physical Stats.

Body Upgrade (Intermediate): Increases the body's physical capacity; at an intermediate level, it increases by +50 all Physical Stats.

Body Upgrade (High): Increases the body's physical capacity; at a high level, it increases by +100 all Physical Stats.

Body Upgrade (Extreme): Increases the physical capacity of the body, at its highest level, Extreme, it increases all physical stats by +200.

Item Cards: Cards used to summon specific items that, if used with the right skills, can turn the user into an invincible fighting machine. There is no rarity in these cards, only types for each weapon type.