Chapter 52 – A New Name, A New Hunt

9:10 AM – A New Identity

The luxury sedan rolled to a smooth stop outside the Awakener Association checkpoint. Kyung-min adjusted the sleek, featureless mask resting in his lap. It wasn't extravagant, nor was it imposing—just simple black with subtle edges that distorted his features under the right lighting. Unassuming, yet unreadable.

His butler turned from the driver's seat, his voice calm as always.

"Young Master, before I proceed with the registration—what name would you like to be known by?"

Kyung-min exhaled through his nose.

He had thought about it for days.

Han Kyung-min was no longer a name that suited him.

The one who had died in that abyss was no longer the same man sitting here now.

He stared at the mask once more.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

"Register me as K4Yos."

The butler paused briefly, then nodded, showing no reaction to the strange alias. "Understood." With that, he stepped out of the car to handle the registration.

Kyung-min leaned back against the leather seat.

The first step.

The world would soon hear his name.

And it wouldn't be one they expected.

9:12 AM – The Status of Progress

While the butler handled the formalities, Kyung-min opened his status window—something he hadn't done in over a month.

🔹 [STATUS WINDOW – K4Yos]

🔹 Level: 1

🔹 Rank: E

🔹 Class: Revenant Necromancer

🔹 HP: 365/365 (+30)

🔹 MP: 580/580 (+55)

Attributes:

🔹 Strength: 26 (+6)

🔹 Agility: 34 (+9)

🔹 Stamina: 33 (+8)

🔹 Intelligence: 71 (+11)

🔹 Perception: 40 (+7)

🔹 Free Stat Points: 0

His fingers tapped idly against his knee.

His stats… had increased.

Not drastically, but the numbers had risen.

His Strength, Perception, Stamina—every stat had improved by at least a few points.

He smirked.

So it was possible.

Unlike traditional level-ups, which granted raw increases across all aspects, his manual training had actually increased his base stats.

Perception—honed by hours of reaction training, sparring with his own summoned skeletons.

Agility—refined from running up and down the mountainous roads near his home.

Strength and Stamina—pushed to their limits with weight training and relentless endurance drills.

Intelligence—the result of constantly exhausting his mana, forcing his mind and body to adapt.

Kyung-min's smirk deepened.

The system dictated growth through levels.

But that meant the reverse was also true.

If he could push his limits outside of leveling, then even without climbing the ranks—

He could still become stronger.

His eyes flicked toward his skills next.

Active Skills:

🔹 Summon Zombies (Lv.1)

(Revives nearby corpses temporarily. Mana Cost: 10 MP per summon.)

🔹 Summon Skeletons (Lv.2) (New!)

(Summons 7 skeletal warriors. No corpse required. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Mana Cost: 10 MP per summon.)

🔹 Abyss Step (Lv.2) (New!)

(Moves through shadows. Can now travel greater distances. Can now carry others more efficiently. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Mana Cost: 10 MP.)

Both Summon Skeletons and Abyss Step had leveled up.

His mana pool had also grown.

Everything was progressing—even without the system's acknowledgment.

He closed the window with a satisfied nod.

He was ready.

9:45 AM – The Registration Confusion

The Awakener Association's front desk was unusually packed for a weekday morning. The waiting area buzzed with low conversations, hunters reviewing their gear before their assigned dungeon raids.

At the main reception desk, a middle-aged Association staff member reviewed a file. His brows furrowed.

"K-4-Yos…?" he muttered under his breath.

The name sounded bizarre. Artificial.

The receptionist glanced around as if expecting someone to correct him.

Then, clearing his throat, he spoke into the microphone.

"Awakener K-4-Yos, you are cleared to proceed toward Gate #37."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the waiting area.

"K-what?"

"Is that a real name?"

"Who the hell registered with that?"

Kyung-min exhaled through his nose, adjusting the mask over his face as he stepped forward. His presence alone was enough to draw attention—his sharp gaze, controlled steps, and the sheer fact that he was alone.

And then—

The realization hit them.

"Wait… he's soloing a dungeon?" someone whispered.

"No way. No one solos dungeons."

"Is he just arrogant 'cause he's rich?"

"Another idiot trying to get himself killed."

Kyung-min ignored the voices.

The Awakener Association's Gate Managers, stationed near the rift entrances, overheard the murmurs and quickly checked the files.

Their eyes widened.

"Wait… he's entering alone?"

"No party registered? No backup?"

"Shit, stop him—!"

They scrambled to react—

But it was too late.

9:47 AM – A World Against Him

Kyung-min stood before the shimmering Gate.

The swirling energy rippled like disturbed water, revealing flickering glimpses of The Rotting Fields beyond—an endless graveyard of decaying ruins and mist-covered ground.

Just before stepping through—

He heard them.

"Look at this rich kid."

"Bet he thinks money can buy power."

"Another dead fool."

His fingers curled into fists.

Even now.

Even in a world where strength ruled—people still trampled the weak.

Still mocked those they thought beneath them.

A familiar, bitter fire burned in his chest.

Then I'll clear it.

Not for them. Not for recognition.

But because I can.

With a final step—

He entered.

And the Gate vanished behind him.

9:48 AM – The Blinding Transition

Kyung-min's vision went white.

The moment he stepped through the Gate, a disorienting sensation washed over him—like being submerged in ice-cold water, then violently yanked forward. His ears rang, and for a brief second, he felt weightless.

Then—

A sharp thud.

He landed on solid ground.

The brightness receded, and his vision adjusted to his new surroundings.

Gone was the structured world of cities, cars, and civilization.

Instead—

A graveyard stretched before him.

Endless rows of crumbling tombstones, half-buried mausoleums, and ancient ruins dotted the landscape. Thick fog coiled around the ground like living tendrils, shifting unnaturally, hiding whatever lurked beyond. The air was heavy—damp, cold, carrying the unmistakable scent of decay.

This was The Rotting Fields.

Kyung-min exhaled, his breath visible in the unnatural chill.

"Feels welcoming," he muttered dryly.

Then—he moved.

9:50 AM – The World of the Dead

The moment Kyung-min stepped forward, a blinding flash enveloped him.

A wave of nausea struck as his vision adjusted, and then—

He was inside.

The atmosphere shifted.

The scent of rot thickened in the air, a suffocating blend of damp earth and decomposing flesh. The sky was an endless abyss of gray, casting a dim, eternal twilight over the desolate ruins before him.

Crumbling stone buildings, shattered grave markers, and twisted trees stretched for miles.

There was no wind.

No signs of life.

Only the distant, ragged moans of the dead.

Kyung-min tightened his grip.

This was the Rotting Fields.

And it was his battleground.