Monarch’s Codex
The Korean Hunter Association building was a fortress of bureaucracy.
Security cameras, patrols, and biometric doors kept unauthorized individuals out.
Unfortunately for them, Markus wasn't just anyone.
Tonight, he wasn't brute-forcing his way in. He was a ghost.
Dressed in neutral dark clothing, Markus activated Silent Phantom, his form vanishing into the night.
The world dulled around him.
No footsteps.
No breath.
No presence.
It was almost unfair.
With Phantom Acceleration, he moved at unnatural speeds, slipping past guards before they even noticed.
Cameras?
They recorded nothing.
He used Rift Step, teleporting between blind spots, covering several floors in mere seconds.
Bypassing security was effortless.
And the best part? He was training his abilities at the same time.
Markus slipped into an empty office, spotting an unlocked terminal.
"Idiots."
With a few keystrokes, he bypassed the search restrictions and entered the Hunter Registration Database.
[Search Query: Sung Jin-Woo]
[Result Found]
A profile popped up on the screen.
[Hunter ID #100197 – Sung Jin-Woo]
Rank: E
Class: None
Affiliation: None
Hunter Status: Active (6 dungeon clears, barely survived each time.)
Address: [Seoul, Mapo District, Han-Dong Apartments]
Markus smirked.
"Found you."
He memorized the address, erased his search history, and moved.
On his way out, Markus intentionally cycled his abilities.
Silent Phantom? Kept active the entire time.
Phantom Acceleration? Maintained as much as possible.
Rift Step? Used whenever possible to maximize teleportation training.
Every step he took was progress.
By the time he left the HA building, his stealth and movement abilities had improved drastically.
He stepped into an empty alley, finally deactivating Silent Phantom.
A slow exhale.
A satisfied smirk.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
At Jin-Woo's Apartment – The Watch Begins
The Han-Dong Apartments were nothing special.
A cheap, worn-down complex, home to low-income workers and struggling Hunters.
Markus positioned himself in an abandoned rooftop corner, using Silent Phantom to remain undetected.
He wasn't moving yet.
Not until he saw his target.
For now?
He waited.
And trained.
Jin-Woo's movements were casual, he walked down the street, blending into the early morning crowd, completely unaware that he was being hunted.
Markus, perched unseen in the shadows, felt the anticipation building as he activated Card Copy.
Cards materialized around Jin-Woo like fragments of data, each floating, semi-transparent, waiting to be chosen. The majority of them were minor passive boosts or basic survival abilities.
But then he saw it.
A single card pulsed with an unnatural glow. Unlike the others, this card wasn't something Jin-Woo had learned, it was given to him. A system-built construct, foreign yet integral to the core of his power.
[Available Skill Cards - Sung Jin-Woo]
(Passive) Physical Endurance – Level 5 (Increases resistance to physical damage.)
(Passive) Stubborn Will – Level 3 (Strengthens mental resistance against fear and intimidation.)
(Passive) Danger Instinct – Level 1 (Slightly improves reaction speed to unseen threats.)
(Active) Sprint – Level 4 (Temporarily boosts movement speed.)
(Active) Evasion – Level 2 (Increases chance to dodge attacks.)
(Unique) ███████ ████ – ??? (Unreadable, marked as a restricted authority.)
Markus' instincts screamed at him.
This card was unlike any other he had ever seen.
[System Warning: External Authority Detected – Copying this may cause unintended effects.]
➝ YES
A wave of resistance pulsed from the card, like a foreign force attempting to reject Markus' interference.
[Error: Original System Bound to Another Host… Overwriting Restrictions… Adjusting Permissions… SUCCESS.]
Markus clenched his fists as a powerful surge ran through his body. His mind expanded, as if something fundamental within reality had shifted to accommodate his presence.
New Unique Skill Acquired – [Monarch's Codex]
Instead of receiving Jin-Woo's exact System, Markus' Card Copy restructured it into something new.
Class Change System Activated (However, Class Change Quest unlocks at Level 50.)
Shop Interface Unlocked (Trade, buy, or sell exclusive items.)
Dungeon Locator Unlocked (Automatically detects nearby Gates & potential high-value targets.)
Skill Evolution Optimization (Enhances the progression of copied skills beyond their normal limits.)
✔ Echoing Rift Skill Activated (Allows Markus to create instanced dungeons using mana cores.)
His vision shifted. A new window appeared.
[Status Update]
Name: Markus Tenebris
Level: 3
Title: None
HP: 570/570 (END x 10)
MP: 760/760 (INT x 10, increased due to Arcane Flow)
SP: 824/824 ((AGI + END) x 8)
EXP to Next Level: 250/1000
[Skills & Abilities]
Monarch's Codex – Unique System Integration
Blazing Orb – Level 1 (Evolved Fireball, creates a more destructive explosion upon impact.)
Frost Lance – Level 1 (Evolved Ice Bolt, capable of piercing multiple enemies.)
Greater Heal – Level 1 (Restores greater amounts of HP, now usable at range.)
Arcane Flow – Level 1 (Enhances mana control, reducing spell costs and increasing efficiency.)
Rift Step – Level 1 (Short-range teleportation, bypasses obstacles.)
Phantom Acceleration – Level 1 (Doubles agility for short bursts.)
Silent Phantom – Level 1 (Advanced stealth ability, nullifies sound and visual detection.)
Echoing Rift – Level 1 (Creates dungeons using mana cores and Markus' own mana reserves.)
Real-Time Impact – Jin-Woo's Perspective
Meanwhile, across Seoul, Jin-Woo felt it.
For the first time since becoming the Player, his System glitched.
[ERROR: System Disturbance Detected.]
[Unknown Entity Has Accessed System Parameters.]
[Attempting to Restore System Integrity… FAILED.]
Jin-Woo froze, gripping his chest.
For a moment, he felt a flicker of weakness, a ripple in the absolute authority of his System.
"What... was that?" he muttered.
But as quickly as it came, the feeling passed. His System stabilized, running as normal.
At least, that's what he thought.
Markus' First System Test – The Shop
Hidden in an alley, Markus brought up his new menu.
A new icon flashed before him, Shop Interface Unlocked.
[System Notification: Would you like to access the System Shop?]
➝ YES.
A new window appeared.
Consumables (Potions, elixirs, stamina boosters.)
Equipment (Basic armor, enchanted rings, mana-boosting cloaks.)
Weapons (Tiered by ranking, starting from F-Rank.)
Skill Cards (New or enhancement-based copies.)
Special Items *(???)
Potentially Purchasable Items
Basic HP Potion – 100 Gold (Restores 50% HP instantly.)
Minor MP Potion – 150 Gold (Restores 100 MP instantly.)
Blessed Random Box – 10,000 Gold (Contains an item based on Markus' desires.)
Cursed Random Box – 8,000 Gold (Contains an item based on Markus' needs.)
Basic Weapon Enchantment – 2,500 Gold (Adds a temporary magic effect to a weapon.)
[Gold: 0]
Markus exhaled sharply. So he could buy things… but first, he needed to acquire currency.
"Figures," he muttered. "Nothing comes for free."
Still hidden under Silent Phantom, Markus activated Dungeon Locator.
A 3D map of Seoul appeared in his vision, pinpoints marking every active Gate nearby.
One D-Rank Gate near downtown.
One E-Rank Gate in an abandoned factory.
A hidden F-Rank Dungeon... inside a school?
His smirk widened.
"Guess I'll have to pay a visit to a certain high school."
Markus' new System wasn't just a copy of Jin-Woo's.
It was free from the Architect's control, optimized to his abilities, and built for strategic advancement.
He didn't have a quest-based path.
He didn't have an artificial level cap.
He could create dungeons, evolve skills faster, and detect Gates in real time.
And the best part?
Jin-Woo would never even know what had been stolen.
With a smirk, Markus stepped into the night, ready to push his new powers to their absolute limit.
Markus felt the raw influx of data flood his mind as Monarch's Codex finalized its integration. Unlike Jin-Woo, he had no artificial quests, no predetermined power path, his growth was entirely his own.
But power meant nothing without application.
He still had two copy slots left for the day.
Not using them would be wasteful.
His Dungeon Locator revealed two nearby E-Rank Gates, one in an abandoned factory, another in a remote warehouse.
Before testing those, he needed more abilities.
First Target – A Passing C-Rank Hunter
Markus moved unseen under Silent Phantom, watching a C-Rank Hunter exit a small guild building.
The man was alone.
He carried a single sword, probably a melee fighter.
His mana signature was weak but stable.
Markus activated Card Copy.
[Available Skill Cards - C-Rank Hunter]
(Passive) Swordsmanship – Level 6 (Increases proficiency with swords.)
(Passive) Combat Awareness – Level 5 (Improves battle instincts.)
(Active) Arcane Reinforcement – Level 4 (Temporarily strengthens weapons using mana.)
(Active) Quick Step – Level 5 (A burst of speed to evade attacks.)
(Active) Mana Sense – Level 4 (Detects mana signatures within 10 meters.)
Markus' eyes scanned the list.
"Swordsmanship? No." He would never waste a slot on melee combat unless absolutely necessary.
"Combat Awareness? Decent, but not critical right now."
"Arcane Reinforcement? Useless unless I wield weapons."
"Quick Step? Already got Phantom Acceleration."
His gaze locked onto Mana Sense.
"This… this is perfect."
Selected: [Mana Sense – Level 4]
Effective Range: 10 meters
Mana Cost: 15 MP per activation (Passive skill, always active unless suppressed.)
Cooldown: None
Effects: Detects and differentiates mana sources, identifying whether they are weak, strong, or concealed.
Second Target – Another Hunter
As Markus walked through the quieter streets, blending into the background, he searched for his next victim.
He found him, a man leaning against a lamp post, dressed in black tactical gear, a short dagger on his hip.
His posture was too relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.
A solo operator. Likely an assassin or rogue-type Hunter.
The way he scanned his surroundings meant he had strong awareness skills.
Markus activated Card Copy again.
[Available Skill Cards - Rogue-Type Hunter]
(Passive) Silent Footsteps – Level 6 (Eliminates most noise when walking.)
(Passive) Danger Perception – Level 4 (Slightly increases reaction speed to unseen threats.)
(Active) Night Vision – Level 3 (Improves vision in darkness.)
(Active) Smoke Veil – Level 5 (Releases a cloud of obscuring smoke.)
(Active) Precision Strike – Level 6 (Delivers a high-accuracy attack to a target.)
Markus instantly knew what to take.
Silent Footsteps was redundant with Silent Phantom.
Danger Perception was decent, but Mana Sense already provided better threat detection.
**Smoke Veil was tactical, but he didn't need distractions, **he needed power.
His choice was clear.
➝ Selected: [Night Vision – Level 3]
Effect: Enhances visual clarity in darkness, reducing reliance on external light sources.
Mana Cost: None (Passive Skill)
Additional Benefit: Slightly improves contrast sensitivity in low-light combat environments.
Markus leaned against a rooftop railing, overlooking the dimly lit streets of Seoul. His Silent Phantom remained active, rendering him completely undetectable as he reviewed the Dungeon Locator.
Officially listed Gates had their ranks, clear times, and Hunter assignments recorded.
Unregistered Gates were the ones that slipped through, either unnoticed or ignored.
One appeared.
[Unregistered Gate Detected – E-Rank]
Location: Abandoned construction site, outskirts of Seoul.
Registration Status: NONE (No assigned Hunters, no reported incidents.)
Markus smirked. "Jackpot."
Traveling to the Gate – Testing Abilities
Markus activated Phantom Acceleration and Rift Step repeatedly as he moved through the city, testing his limits.
His teleportation became more fluid.
His speed buff allowed him to cover distances faster than normal.
Mana Sense constantly fed him information, detecting various energy fluctuations along the way.
He felt himself adapting, improving.
But it was getting harder.
After several hours, Markus noticed something, his skills were taking longer to level up.
Before, he could use a skill 30-40 times and see a level increase.
Now? It was twice that amount.
"Makes sense. Exponential growth isn't easy."
But he wasn't deterred. This was expected.
If leveling skills required hundreds of uses, then he'd simply use them thousands of times.
Arriving at the Unregistered Gate
The abandoned construction site looked… deserted.
No workers.
No lights.
No security.
The Gate pulsed faintly at the center of the site, a swirling, unstable tear in reality. Unlike officially registered Gates, this one had no barriers, no monitoring agents.
It had been completely ignored.
Which meant Markus had a free pass.
Markus stepped through.
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
Temperature dropped.
Air pressure shifted.
The scent of damp stone and metal filled his nose.
The environment looked like an underground tunnel system, narrow corridors leading into deeper chambers.
He activated Mana Sense.
Weak mana signatures scattered across the dungeon.
A slightly stronger presence deeper in.
No signs of overwhelming threats.
"Good. This is manageable."
Markus stepped forward, his presence fading completely under Silent Phantom.
Markus crouched behind a cluster of jagged rocks, watching the creatures roam.
Dungeon Type: Cave Network
Primary Enemies: Lesser Gnolls (E-Rank humanoid beasts, pack hunters.)
Boss: Gnoll Chieftain (D-Rank, higher intelligence, enhanced physical ability.)
Lesser Gnolls – E-Rank Monsters
Physical Traits: Hyena-like humanoids, crude weapons, tribal markings.
Abilities: Enhanced senses, moderate teamwork coordination.
Weaknesses: Low intelligence, fragile against magic.
Gnoll Chieftain – Dungeon Boss (Currently Undetected)
Larger, stronger, smarter.
Possesses limited magical resistance.
Can summon reinforcements.
Markus smirked.
"Good. This is a perfect training ground."
First Engagement – Skill Experimentation
Markus targeted a single Lesser Gnoll, standing guard near an outcropping.
He activated Frost Lance.
A sharp, crystalline spear of ice materialized and shot forward.
Impact.
The gnoll froze in place, shivering violently.
Kill confirmed.
[+50 EXP Gained]
Next Test – Blazing Orb.
Markus targeted another gnoll.
A concentrated sphere of fire materialized in his palm, hotter, denser, stronger than before.
With a thought, he launched it.
Explosion on impact.
The gnoll was engulfed in flames, screeching as it burned.
Kill confirmed.
[+50 EXP Gained]
Markus knew he couldn't rely on just a few casts.
He needed volume.
Frost Lance → Blazing Orb → Rift Step → Phantom Acceleration.
Repeat. Again. And again.
Every enemy he saw became an experiment.
Patterns formed.
Frost Lance was more efficient against groups, piercing multiple enemies.
Blazing Orb was stronger in confined spaces, the explosion clearing clusters of enemies.
Greater Heal allowed him to sustain mana over time, replenishing small amounts naturally.
After several hours, notifications appeared.
Frost Lance (Level 1 → Level 6)
Blazing Orb (Level 1 → Level 5)
Phantom Acceleration (Level 1 → Level 5)
Rift Step (Level 1 → Level 4)
"Progress is slowing… but this is still working."
Markus searched through the battlefield, collecting useful items.
Mana Cores (12) (Dropped from slain monsters, fueling Echoing Rift.)
Bone Daggers (3) (Crude weapons, usable for dismantling materials.)
Raw Mana Crystals (3 Medium-Sized) (Embedded in cavern walls, valuable for trading.)
Final Challenge – The Gnoll Chieftain
Markus moved toward the deepest chamber.
The mana signature was stronger.
The air was thicker.
A large figure sat on a throne of bones.
It stood up slowly, eyes locking onto Markus.
A deep growl resonated through the chamber.
It was aware of him.
Markus cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see how tough you really are."
Markus vs. The Gnoll Chieftain
Markus stood at the edge of the cavern, concealed under Silent Phantom, observing the towering Gnoll Chieftain seated on its crude throne of bones.
It was massive, at least two heads taller than the Lesser Gnolls.
A thick mane of black fur ran down its back, decorated with crude bone trinkets.
It wielded a large iron axe, likely looted from an unfortunate Hunter.
Its eyes glowed faintly, showing a level of intelligence beyond its minions.
The beast sniffed the air and let out a deep, guttural growl.
Even though Silent Phantom erased his presence, Markus could tell, the Chieftain sensed something was wrong.
Its instincts were sharp.
It wasn't moving recklessly like the others.
"Good. I needed a real fight."
Analyzing the Enemy – The Chieftain's Skillset
Using Mana Sense, Markus scanned the monster's aura, detecting its unique skills.
[Gnoll Chieftain - D-Rank Boss]
(Passive) Alpha's Presence – Level 5 (Boosts the strength of nearby allies.)
(Active) Battle Roar – Level 3 (Temporarily increases attack power.)
(Active) Wild Charge – Level 4 (A fast, heavy attack with high damage.)
(Active) Bone Shatter – Level 2 (A downward axe strike that weakens armor and defenses.)
Tactical Approach – No Reckless Fighting
This was a D-Rank boss. Markus could not afford to take direct hits.
Its axe attacks were slow but devastating, he had to dodge, counter, and wear it down.
Silent Phantom made him invisible, but the Chieftain's instincts were sharp. He couldn't rely solely on stealth.
He had range, mobility, and healing, he needed to play to those strengths.
Markus activated Phantom Acceleration, his body surging with speed.
He moved first.
First Strike – Frost Lance & Blazing Orb
Markus summoned a Frost Lance in mid-air, willing it to strike.
The ice spear shot forward at high velocity.
Impact, direct hit to the Chieftain's shoulder.
A layer of frost spread across its fur, partially immobilizing it.
The Chieftain let out a snarl of pain, eyes locking onto Markus' location.
It instantly retaliated,
It raised its axe and slammed it into the ground.
A shockwave erupted, sending debris flying.
Markus Rift Stepped away just before impact, appearing ten meters to the left.
"Fast reactions. Let's see how you handle fire."
He launched a Blazing Orb straight at the Chieftain's chest.
The sphere of flame struck, detonating on impact.
The explosion sent the Gnoll staggering back, burning fur and flesh.
But the Chieftain wasn't done.
The Chieftain's Counterattack
The Gnoll roared, activating Battle Roar.
A red glow enveloped its body.
Its muscles bulged, increasing its attack power.
It moved faster, wild, erratic, charging straight at Markus.
Markus Rift Stepped again, teleporting behind the boss.
But the Chieftain adapted.
It swung its axe in a massive arc, predicting Markus' movement.
The attack was faster than before, enhanced by Battle Roar.
Markus barely dodged, the blade grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.
[HP: 490/570]
"Tch. That was close."
He activated Greater Heal immediately, his wounds sealing up.
Wearing It Down – Strategic Combat
Markus shifted tactics.
He couldn't out-muscle the boss.
But he could outlast it.
He began cycling his skills.
Frost Lance → to slow its movement.
Blazing Orb → to deal burst damage.
Phantom Acceleration → to dodge and reposition.
Greater Heal → to stay in peak condition.
The battle became a war of attrition.
The Chieftain's swings got sloppier as Markus continuously wore it down with precise attacks.
Every missed strike drained its stamina.
Every spell Markus cast brought him closer to victory.
The Finishing Move – Blazing Execution
The Chieftain's breathing became labored.
Its Battle Roar faded.
Its axe swings were slower.
It was running out of strength.
"Time to end this."
Markus gathered mana, concentrating all his remaining power into one final Blazing Orb.
The flames condensed.
The heat shimmered, distorting the air.
This was his strongest attack yet.
The Chieftain saw it coming, but it was too slow to react.
Markus launched the Blazing Orb directly at its skull.
Impact.
A massive explosion engulfed the Gnoll.
The cavern trembled, fire spreading across the battlefield.
The Chieftain roared in agony, then fell silent.
[+1,500 EXP Gained] (Boss Defeated.)
[+Level Up: 4 → 5]
Markus watched the flames die down, revealing the charred remains of the Gnoll.
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders.
"That was satisfying."
Loot & Dungeon Completion
Markus walked over to the Chieftain's corpse, collecting the drops.
Mana Core (D-Rank) – 1 (A stronger version of the E-Rank cores.)
Gnoll Chieftain's Axe – 1 (Too heavy. He stored it in Inventory.)
Enchanted Beast Hide – 1 (Could be sold or reforged.)
Mana Crystals (6 Medium-Sized) (Scattered across the dungeon.)
A notification appeared.
[Dungeon Cleared – Gate Closing in 60 Seconds.]
Markus smirked, activating Silent Phantom.
He vanished and walked out of the dungeon without a sound.
[STATUS]
Name: Markus Tenebris
Level: 5
Class: None (Upgradeable)
Titles: None
HP: 590/590 (END x 10 → 59 x 10 = 590)
MP: 780/780 (INT x 10, increased due to Arcane Flow → 78 x 10 = 780)
SP: 944/944 ((AGI + END) x 8 → (48 + 59) x 8 = 944)
EXP Progress: 1,750 / 3,000
Unallocated Stat Points: 22
[Core Stats]
Strength: 39 (+4 )
Agility: 48 (+4 )
Endurance: 59 (+4 )
Intelligence: 78 (+4 )
Wisdom: 62 (+4 )
Luck: 25 (+4 )
[Abilities]
Card Copy (Passive/Active)
Can copy up to 3 skills, traits, or abilities per day. Copied abilities retain their original level. No one notices the copying process.
✔ Monarch's Codex (Passive)
Additional +1 to all stats per level-up.
Gains +3 extra free stat points per level.
Unlocks special features at Level 50.
Echoing Rift (Active – Level 1)
Creates a temporary dungeon using consumed monster cores. Dungeon difficulty depends on cores used. Mana Cost: Scales with dungeon size & enemy tier.
Mana Sense Lvl 4 → Lvl 5 (Passive – Detects mana fluctuations, enemies, and magical traps.)
Range: 45 meters (Increased from 40m.)[Skill Level Progression]
[Blazing Orb] Lvl 1 → Lvl 5 (Evolved from Fireball – Explosive Fire Projectile.)
Range: 32 meters (Increased from 20m, +12m total)
Cooldown: 3.2 seconds (Reduced from 4s, -0.8s total)
Mana Cost: 27 MP (Reduced from 35 MP, -8 MP total)
Effect: Deals splash damage, high heat intensity, knockback effect.
[Frost Lance] Lvl 1 → Lvl 6 (Evolved from Ice Bolt – Piercing Ice Projectile.)
Range: 42.5 meters (Increased from 25m, +17.5m total)
Cooldown: 3 seconds (Reduced from 4s, -1s total)
Mana Cost: 10 MP (Reduced from 20 MP, -10 MP total)
Effect: Can pierce 2 targets, freezes on impact.
[Greater Heal] Lvl 1 → Lvl 2 (Evolved from Heal – Stronger Healing Spell.)
Range: 6 meters (Increased from 5m, +1m total)
Cooldown: 2.5 seconds (Reduced from 3s, -0.5s total)
Mana Cost: 45 MP (Reduced from 50 MP, -5 MP total)
Effect: Heals moderate injuries, stops minor internal bleeding.
[Rift Step] Lvl 1 → Lvl 5 (Evolved from Shadow Step – Short-Range Teleportation.)
Range: 50 meters (Increased from 15m, +28m total)
Cooldown: 2.5 seconds (Reduced from 5s, -2s total)
Mana Cost: 60 MP (Reduced from 80 MP, -20 MP total)
Effect: Can phase through non-magical obstacles. Now distorts the air slightly upon use, making skilled perception users able to notice the teleportation effect.
[Phantom Acceleration] Lvl 1 → Lvl 5 (Evolved from Enhanced Agility – Burst Speed Boost.)
Duration: 18 seconds (Increased from 10s, +8s total)
Cooldown: None
Mana Cost: 30 MP (Reduced from 50 MP, -20 MP total)
Effect: Doubles Agility for duration, movement appears blurred.
[Silent Phantom] Lvl 1 → Lvl 2 (Evolved from Stealth – Enhanced Invisibility.)
Mana Drain: 4 MP per second (Reduced from 6 MP, -2 MP total.)
Effect: Eliminates all sound, harder to detect even for mana-sensitive individuals.
[Inventory] (INT-Based – 39 Slots Available)
Mana Cores: 31
Mana Crystals
Stored Cash, Gold, Bearer Bonds:
Twin Silenced Pistols
Encrypted Laptop & High-Security Hard Drives
[Level-Ups Gained From Dungeon]
EXP Earned:
500 EXP from regular fights.1,000 EXP from boss kill. Total EXP After Dungeon: 1,750 / 3,000
Markus leveled up twice (Level 3 → Level 5).
Stats increased by +4 across the board.
Total Free Stat Points Earned: 14 (From level-ups) + 8 (Previously unspent) = 22 Free Stat Points.