As he walked out and moved alongside the road, he was thinking about where he could go because no one would know him from his past life right now.
His eyes opened wide.
"Stupid, how could you forget?" he mutters, lightly tapping his head.
The construction site, his workplace. Even if things had changed, that place still existed.
Without hesitation, Ji-Han turned and began moving faster.
Not long after, he arrived. The familiar sound of metal clanking, machines running, and workers shouting. For a moment, he stood there looking.
"…it's still the same," he whispered.
Before he could walk in,
"Oi! Ji-Han?!"
A loud voice called out.
A broad-shouldered man who had always been by his side and also lent him a hand when no one was there for him. He waved from a distance. It was Choi Sang-ho, one of the senior workers. And beside him were: Kim Young-chul, a quiet but dependable person, Lee Joon-ki, always joking around, and Park Dae-sik, the site supervisor.
They walked over quickly.
"Where have you been?" Lee Joon-ki grinned. "You disappear for days and show up like nothing happened?"
Ji-Han smiled excitedly while rubbing his head.
"…haha… had something to take care of."
Park Dae-sik crossed his arms.
"You went for that awakening evaluation, right?"
Ji-Han nodded.
"…yeah."
Their eyes lit up instantly.
"Don't tell me!!!""You awakened?!"
Ji-Han gave a small nod.
"…I did."
For a second, there was silence. Then…
"HAH! I knew it!" Choi Sang-ho laughed loudly, slapping Ji-Han's back.
"Not bad!" Kim Young-chul said with a rare smile.
Ji-Han shook his head slightly.
"…not immediately."
And just like that—
Things felt normal again. And for the rest of the day, Ji-Han worked alongside them, carrying materials, lifting steel, and moving with ease.
But this time, everything felt lighter, easier, and controlled. Even the others noticed.
"Oi… were you always this strong?" Lee Joon-ki muttered.
Ji-Han just smiled.
"…guess I improved."
"Well, I guess that's an awakening for you." Kim Young-chul spoke while he smiled.
By evening, the sun dipped low, painting the sky orange. Work ended. And as usual-
"Party night!" Choi Sang-ho shouted.
They gathered at a small local restaurant, laughter filling the air. Drinks were poured, food arrived.
"Alright!" Lee Joon-ki raised his glass."To Ji-Han—our awakened!"
"Cheers!"
Clink—
Ji-Han sat there quietly, holding his drink, listening, and watching.
For a moment, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Warmth.
"…thank you," he said softly.
They didn't make a big deal out of it and just laughed it off. But to him, it mattered.
When every one of them was drunk, Ji-Han went out to the balcony. His heart was heavy. He doesn't know where to begin. Because everything that had happened till now was different from his past life. While he was thinking.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Choi Sang-ho asked
Because he felt he was out of place. Like he was burdened by something.
"Nothing," Ji-Han answered with a smile.
"Hmm," Choi Sang-ho sighed
And he spoke to him to help him lessen whatever was heavy in his mind.
"I may not know what you might have gone through." Choi Sang-ho continued.
"And as an awakener now, it will be a hard path, and there will be a certain time you will have to fight to death. You know?" he spoke.
Ji-Han nodded with his expression low.
"But if you find it hard to make your own path, remember I'm always rooting for you."
"My boy." He added with a joyful expression as if he was talking to his son.
Ji-Han's eyes opened wide, and tears filled them. And Choi Sang-ho embraced him.
Afterwards, they returned to celebrate.
After the party, each went to their destination.
Later that night, Ji-Han stood outside his place. As the city lights flickered softly, the noise had died down. He looked at his hand. Then at the sky.
"…this time…"
His voice was quiet.
"…I'll do it right."
While he checked his status and discovered he had grown a lot.
"At level 45, yes i have grown, but I am still far ahead," he muttered silently.
"Nevertheless i will reach a top place where no one in this world has reached." He mutters while he raises his hand to the sky, clenching his fist.
"Haa." He sighed.
"Though I may seem greedy, I will walk the right path," he affirmed.
After a lot of thoughts had settled in his mind, he stepped inside.
That same night. There was a meeting held inside the Association Headquarters among the guild masters, association officials, and the association president, Min Jae-woo.
A long, polished table stood at the center of the room. Reinforced walls. Mana-sealed barriers. No outsiders allowed. And those seated around the table were the most influential figures in the country.
The Top 5 Guild Masters, the four foundational masters who are part of the foundation of the association, key Association Officials, and at the head, Chairman Min Jae-woo.
The room was silent, serious.
Min Jae-woo leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp.
"…we'll begin."
A screen behind him lit up.
[WORLD AWAKENERS ASSOCIATION NOTICE]GLOBAL AWAKENER TOURNAMENT – 1 YEAR FROM NOWHOST: UNITED STATES
Low murmurs spread across the room.
Seated at the table were the foundational masters (S+-Rank):
Elder Baek Do-shin – The Unyielding Wall = One of the first awakened. A living legend in defensive combat and large-scale protection.
Han Mi-ra – The Oracle of Veins= Master of mana flow and perception. She understands energy better than anyone alive. Jin Tae-kyung – The Silent Blade= A veteran combatant who fought during the early rupture days. Precise, lethal, and feared. Kwon Mu-jin – The Architect= The mind behind the Association's structure—ranking systems, dungeon control, and governance.
The guild masters:
Cha Eun-seok – Guild Master of Ironclad Guild(S-Rank Tank / Absolute Defense)Ryu Ji-ah – Guild Master of Blue Horizon Guild(S-Rank Assassin / Phantom Speed)Go Tae-hyun – Guild Master of Titanfall Guild(S-Rank Warrior / Destructive Force)Moon Hae-in – Guild Master of Silver Crescent Guild(S-Rank Support Mage / Tactical Genius)Kang Seung-jae – Guild Master of Crimson Nova Guild(S-Rank Combat Mage / Cataclysm Firepower).
Also present are the officials:
Director Han Seung-ho – Head of Field Operations
Vice Director Lim Soo-jung – Strategy Division
And Min Jae-woo (a S+-rank too), who was at the center of the table.
The atmosphere was heavy. Even the guild masters, the S-rank elites, remained composed but cautious. Because the masters were like from a different era.
Min Jae-woo continued.
"In one year… the world will watch."
"This tournament…"
"…will determine standing, influence… and survival."
Go Tae-hyun leaned forward.
"…so we prepare fighters."
Han Mi-ra spoke softly—
"…no. We prepare those who can endure what's coming."
Jin Tae-kyung's voice cut in calmly and sharply.
"Strength without experience is meaningless."
"…they will die."
Kang Seung-jae smirked slightly.
"Then only the strong remain."
Kwon Mu-jin tapped the table once.
"…structure matters."
"If this is rushed, chaos follows."
Elder Baek Do-shin finally spoke.
His voice was slow. Heavy.
"…then don't rush blindly."
"…but don't hesitate either."
Min Jae-woo nodded and brought up the next screen.
[TRAINING INITIATIVE]
Joint training camps (Guild + Association) Controlled dungeon access (D–B Rank) Resource allocation based on performance Combat ranking system Elimination-based progression
Ryu Ji-ah asked quietly:
"…and if they die?"
A brief pause. This time,
It was Jin Tae-kyung who answered.
"…then they were never meant to stand at the top."
Silence followed. Not disagreement but acceptance.
And after a long night's discussion. They all came to the conclusion that within the year of training, most of their training will be used in the dungeon to refine them. Though the officials will inspect the dungeon before allowing them in to avoid unnecessary danger.
Outside
The world, awakeners who are or might participate, remained unaware. But within that room, the future had already begun to shift.