Three years had passed since the Sky Rupture. Three years since monsters had poured into the world and humanity had been forced to evolve—or die. Three years since Jeong had awakened his System and the power of Copycat.
The weak, like Jeong had once been, had two choices: adapt or perish. And Jeong had adapted.
Through blood, sweat, and sheer desperation, he had survived. Every battle, every monster he defeated, every ability he copied had forged him into something stronger. He was no longer the boy who had been stepped on by others, a nobody living in the shadows.
Now, he stood at the gates of the prestigious Hunter Academy—the place where the strongest young hunters were trained.
The massive iron gates loomed in front of him, adorned with the emblem of the Hunter Association, the organization that now governed all hunters. Only the elite were allowed to attend this academy. The rich who could buy their way in, and the strong who earned their place through raw talent.
Jeong wasn't rich. But he was strong. He had made sure of that.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, joining the waves of students entering the academy grounds. The air buzzed with excitement and tension. Some were grinning with arrogance, others looked around nervously, sizing up their competition.
"Move it, losers!" A loud voice rang out.
Jeong barely had time to sidestep before a broad-shouldered student, clad in expensive gear, shoved past him.
"Some of you are only here because your daddies paid for your spot," the guy sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Don't get in the way of real hunters."
Jeong glanced at him—tall, muscular, the kind of guy who was used to being the biggest presence in the room. A few students muttered under their breaths, but no one dared challenge him.
Nearby, a girl with silver hair scoffed. "Tch. Idiots who think brute strength is everything are the ones who die first," she muttered, adjusting the grip on the sword strapped to her back. She swept her gaze across the crowd before briefly locking eyes with Jeong. There was something calculating in the way she assessed him, like she was already deciding whether or not he was worth remembering.
Laughter erupted to his left. "Oh my god, did you see that guy's gear? He's definitely compensating for something!" The voice belonged to a girl with short auburn hair, her eyes alight with mischief. She nudged the boy next to her, who flinched as if he'd rather disappear than be part of the conversation.
Jeong exhaled through his nose. This was exactly what he expected. A mix of the arrogant, the analytical, the carefree, and the ones who had no idea what they'd gotten themselves into.
Ignoring the unnecessary drama, he kept walking. He wasn't here to make friends or enemies. He was here to get stronger.
The entrance ceremony began shortly after, with an official from the Hunter Association stepping onto a raised platform. His presence alone was enough to command silence. An S-Rank Hunter. The real deal.
"Welcome to Hunter Academy," he announced, his voice carrying across the massive courtyard. "You are the next generation of protectors, the ones who will carry humanity's survival on your shoulders. But make no mistake—this academy does not tolerate the weak."
Jeong felt a flicker of anticipation. Good. That meant he was in the right place.
The official's gaze swept across the students, his expression unreadable. "Only the strongest will remain. The rest will be weeded out. Your first test begins now."
Jeong smirked. Finally, something interesting.