Max Ranker

Silence.

For the first time since he entered the cage, the Underpass District's fighting ring had fallen completely silent.

Hundreds of eyes were locked onto him. Expressions of disbelief, confusion, even a hint of fear flickered across the faces of the spectators who had been jeering at him moments ago.

And then—

The noise returned.

A wave of shouts, murmurs, and frantic whispers erupted through the crowd.

"Wait… what the hell just happened?"

"That imp was toying with him a second ago—how did he kill it?!"

"He doesn't have a system, does he? Did anyone see a skill activate?"

"Bullshit! There's no way a regular human can kill a demon like that!"

"But I saw it with my own eyes… he stabbed it through the throat and—"

"No! That's not the point! How did he even last that long? Normal people can't react to demons like that!"

Jin Hwan staggered, still catching his breath, his entire body aching from the fight. His hoodie was soaked in sweat and demon blood, his hands still trembling from the raw adrenaline coursing through his veins.

I killed it.

The thought echoed in his mind, over and over again.

It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a hallucination.

The lifeless body of the Lesser Imp lay crumpled in the dirt behind him, its throat split open, blackened blood pooling beneath it.

Jin Hwan swallowed, his throat dry.

He wasn't supposed to win.

Not by any logic. Not by any rule of this world.

I should be dead.

Yet here he was.

A strange sensation pulsed deep within his chest. His fingers clenched, and for the first time in his life, he felt it—

A power, faint but undeniably real.

The system.

[F Rank → E Rank Progress: 1/100]

A small number. But proof.

Proof that his life had changed forever.

Jin Hwan lifted his head, scanning the faces of those around him.

Their reactions were telling.

Some were shocked, their eyes glued to him like he was something unnatural. Others looked uneasy, as if they weren't sure what to make of him anymore.

And then there were those whose gazes held something else entirely—fear.

They're afraid.

Jin Hwan's chest rose and fell with slow, deep breaths.

They didn't understand what just happened.

Because someone like him—a dropout, a failure, someone who was deemed worthless in a world ruled by Hunters—

Wasn't supposed to be capable of this.

Someone in the back muttered, voice laced with suspicion:

"…Could he be hiding an unregistered system?"

That single sentence sent ripples through the crowd.

"Wait. That would explain it…"

"But he was already tested, wasn't he?"

"Tests can fail. Maybe he had an Awakening just now?"

"Then we're looking at a potential new Hunter."

Jin Hwan kept his face blank, his mind racing.

If they started digging into him, if someone reported this to the Hunter Council, it could mean trouble.

A powerful Ranking Up System that let him grow stronger simply by killing?

If the wrong people found out about this…

Jin Hwan pushed the thought away. Not now.

First, he needed to get out of here.

Before the questions got too deep.

A heavy hand clamped down on Jin Hwan's shoulder.

"Not bad, kid."

Jin Hwan turned to see the fight organizer standing beside him, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his cheek. His dark eyes were filled with curiosity and… something else.

Amusement.

Like he had just witnessed something interesting.

"You really weren't bluffing," the man mused, rubbing his chin. "I figured you'd be dead in the first thirty seconds, but damn… you actually pulled it off."

Jin Hwan exhaled, forcing his body to stop trembling. His injuries still burned, but he had endured worse.

"…The money." His voice was hoarse, but firm. "I want my cut."

The man chuckled. "Heh. Of course. A deal's a deal."

He motioned for one of his men, who quickly handed over a thick envelope.

Jin Hwan took it, glancing inside. Enough cash to last him a while.

Not bad.

But the man wasn't done.

"You're an interesting one," he said, stepping closer. "No system, no guild, no official Hunter license… and yet, you survived."

His sharp eyes studied Jin Hwan, like he was trying to see through him.

"I've seen a lot of fighters come through this place," he continued. "People who think they're tough. People who think they can handle demons. Most of them get ripped apart."

Jin Hwan didn't respond.

The man smirked. "But you? You fought like someone who's got nothing left to lose. That kind of desperation… it makes men dangerous."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black card, flipping it between his fingers before holding it out.

"Take it."

Jin Hwan hesitated, then took the card.

A phone number was printed on it, along with a single name:

Joo Sang Hyuk.

"The Underpass District ain't kind to weaklings," Sang Hyuk said. "But if you ever want another fight, or something… bigger, give me a call."

Jin Hwan stared at the card.

Another fight.

The Ranking Up System stirred within him.

[F Rank → E Rank Progress: 1/100]

He looked up. "I'll think about it."

Sang Hyuk grinned. "Smart answer."

Jin Hwan turned away, stuffing the envelope of cash into his pocket. The crowd was still watching, still whispering about him as he made his way towards the exit.

Just as he reached the door, Sang Hyuk called out behind him:

"Hey, Jin Hwan."

Jin Hwan paused.

Sang Hyuk's smirk widened.

"You better be careful out there. People don't like it when nobodies start making waves."

Jin Hwan exhaled, then pushed open the door.

The night air was cold.

His body was sore, his wounds still aching.

But as he walked down the darkened streets of the Underpass District…

He felt alive.

Jin Hwan's body screamed in protest with every step. His muscles ached, his ribs throbbed, and the cuts on his arms stung like hell.

The fight against the imp had taken everything he had, and the adrenaline that kept him going was long gone. Now, all that remained was exhaustion and pain.

As he approached his house, the dim porch light flickered above the doorway. The streets were quiet, an eerie contrast to the chaos of the Underpass District.

Jin Hwan paused at the entrance, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.

The warm scent of food hit him instantly.

His stomach, which he had completely ignored until now, clenched painfully.

A familiar voice called from the kitchen.

"Oppa? You're home?"

Baek Yun Hee's small face peeked out from the dining area, her expression brightening when she saw him. "You're late."

Jin Hwan grunted in response, closing the door behind him.

That's when he noticed the table.

A bowl of steaming hot kimchi jjigae sat in the center, next to a fresh side of rice and stir-fried pork. His favorite meal.

Yun Hee beamed. "I made dinner! I thought you'd be hungry."

Jin Hwan hesitated.

His body was screaming for rest. His wounds burned, his limbs felt like lead, and all he wanted to do was collapse onto his bed.

But when he saw the eager look on his sister's face, he sighed and dragged himself to the table.

"…Looks good," he muttered, lowering himself onto the chair with a wince.

Yun Hee sat across from him, watching excitedly as he picked up his chopsticks. Jin Hwan ignored the pain, scooped up a mouthful of rice, and took a bite.

The warmth spread through him instantly, easing a fraction of his exhaustion.

He didn't realize how much he needed this.

As they ate, Yun Hee studied him.

Her bright expression slowly faded as her gaze fell to the bruises on his arm.

"…Oppa," she said carefully. "You're hurt."

Jin Hwan froze mid-bite.

Shit.

He had been too focused on the food to realize how obvious his injuries were.

He quickly lowered his sleeve, clearing his throat. "It's nothing."

Yun Hee frowned. "That's not nothing. What happened?"

Jin Hwan needed to shift the conversation fast.

He forced a smirk, leaning back. "I should be asking you that. You started Hunter training today, right? How did it go?"

Yun Hee blinked at the sudden change of topic.

But after a moment, her expression brightened again.

"Oh! Right! It was… intense!" she said, sitting up. "The instructors were really strict, but I learned a lot today. They tested my physical abilities, magic output, and reaction speed. And guess what?"

She grinned proudly.

"I ranked higher than I expected!"

Jin Hwan raised a brow. "Yeah?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "They said my mana capacity is above average for a beginner! The instructor thinks I have the potential to reach at least B-Rank if I train hard enough!"

There was a glow in her eyes, a mixture of excitement and hope.

Jin Hwan stared at her for a moment, then exhaled, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"…That's great, Yun Hee."

His sister was meant for this world.

Unlike him, she had a future. A real chance to be something more.

And no matter how far he went down this path, he wasn't going to drag her into it.

After they finished eating, Jin Hwan stood up, taking his empty bowl to the sink.

Yun Hee watched him carefully.

"You're really not gonna tell me what happened?"

Jin Hwan smirked, ruffling her hair. "Don't worry about me."

She pouted, but didn't push further.

Jin Hwan turned away and headed upstairs, leaving his sister behind in the kitchen.

His room was dark when he entered.

Jin Hwan shut the door behind him, letting out a slow breath as he collapsed onto his bed.

His body ached. His mind replayed the events of the night over and over again.

The fight.

The kill.

The feeling of power surging through him.

Jin Hwan clenched his fists, staring at his trembling hands.

He had killed a demon.

Not because he was strong.

But because he had to.

His life had been on the line, and in that moment, something inside him had changed.

[F Rank → E Rank Progress: 1/100]

One.

He had only killed one.

Jin Hwan sat up, pulling something from his pocket.

A black card.

Joo Sang Hyuk's number.

The fight organizer had seen something in him. A potential.

Jin Hwan stared at the card, his heartbeat steady.

He had felt it—the power of the system.

And now, he needed more.

His fingers hovered over his phone.

He hesitated.

Was this the right path?

A small voice in his head whispered—does it even matter?

Jin Hwan inhaled sharply, then typed out a single message.

Jin Hwan: Hey, it's me Jin Hwan from earlier do you know where I can find more demons to kill?

Seconds passed.

Then—

A reply.

Joo Sang Hyuk: I knew you'd text. Let's meet.

Jin Hwan gripped his phone tightly.

He had taken the first step.

Now, there was no turning back.