CHAPTER 1

It has been a year since I reincarnated as Choi Jong-In from Solo Leveling, and throughout this time, I have slowly adjusted to my new life. The circumstances of my reincarnation remain a mystery, but I know one thing for certain—I died a brutal death in my past life.

I was a student at a state university in the Philippines when a terrorist attack took place. Caught in the chaos, I lost my life, only to awaken in a pitch-black void. It was an endless abyss, devoid of anything or anyone but myself. Then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed in the darkness:

"You are now ready to reincarnate into this universe."

Before I could even react, everything faded, and I woke up surrounded by devastation. Bodies—both human and monstrous—were scattered across the battlefield. At first, I had no idea where I was, but then a surge of memories flooded my mind like an unstoppable current. That was when I realized who I had become and where I had reincarnated.

The body I now inhabited belonged to none other than Choi Jong-In, the strongest fire mage in Korea. I was genuinely shocked because, as far as I remembered from reading Solo Leveling, Choi Jong-In never died. However, according to the memories I had inherited, this version of him had perished at the age of 25 during the first Jeju Island raid. He had led a platoon of hunters into battle, only to be overwhelmed and surrounded by the relentless ant monsters. His mana had depleted completely, and with no means of escape, he met his end. And then... I took over his body.

At first, I struggled to accept my new reality, but eventually, I came to terms with it. Honestly, I wasn't ungrateful. Choi Jong-In bore a strong resemblance to Aizen from Bleach, a character I had always admired for his design. While I disliked Aizen's personality, I couldn't deny that he was undeniably cool.

As I sat beneath a tree, gathering my thoughts, a notification appeared in front of me. My heart pounded as I wondered if I had a system similar to Jin-Woo's, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It was merely a prompt asking me to choose a second class.

After careful consideration, I selected the Fighter Class. My reasoning was simple—mages typically have weaker physical capabilities. By choosing a fighter class, I could enhance my body's strength while maintaining my mage abilities. The combination would make me nearly unstoppable. To my surprise, the class I received was S-rank, further solidifying my choice.

During my time on Jeju Island, I had picked up a fallen hunter's sword, which became my primary weapon. With my new class and abilities, I set my sights on survival. Step by step, I made my way toward the shoreline, determined to carve out my new path in this dangerous world.