Lucas walked through the streets of District 7.
The mission was over.
The monster was dead.
But something felt different.
Not because of the strange dungeon.
Not because someone had taken the dungeon core.
It was his body.
Lucas could feel energy moving through him.
His muscles felt stronger.
His senses were sharper.
Even his breathing felt different.
He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.
“System.”
The status window appeared.
[STATUS]
Name: Lucas
Level: 4
Rank: F
Class: None
Ability: Boost Breaker
Hidden Ability: ???
Lucas stared at the level.
“Level four.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
He had expected an increase.
After all, he had defeated several monsters during the mission.
The strongest one had given him the biggest increase.
But there was something more important.
Lucas opened the information panel.
[LEVEL SYSTEM]
[Awakeners gain experience through defeating monsters, completing dungeons, completing missions, and other recognized achievements.]
[Accumulated experience increases Level.]
[Level increases the physical foundation of an Awakener.]
[Higher Levels allow the body to withstand greater amounts of power.]
Lucas nodded.
This was something every Awakener learned after awakening.
Level and Rank were related, but they weren’t the same thing.
Level represented the growth of the individual.
Rank represented the overall classification of their awakened power.
For normal Awakeners, increasing their level was only one part of becoming stronger.
Eventually, they would reach the limits of their current rank and seek advancement through the methods available to them.
F-Rank.
E-Rank.
D-Rank.
C-Rank.
B-Rank.
A-Rank.
S-Rank.
Those were the ranks known throughout the world.
Above S-Rank were levels that very few people knew about.
SS-Rank.
SSS-Rank.
But Lucas wasn’t concerned about those ranks right now.
He was still F-Rank.
More importantly, his path was different from everyone else’s.
Lucas opened Boost Breaker.
[BOOST BREAKER]
[Current Rank: F]
[Available Abilities:]
[Basic Enhancement]
[Strength Enhancement]
[Speed Enhancement]
[Break Limit]
[Quest System: Active]
Lucas looked at the final line.
The Quest System was the real reason Boost Breaker was different.
His rank wasn’t going to increase simply because he reached a certain level.
Boost Breaker would determine when he was ready to advance.
Lucas opened his quest.
[QUEST — FIRST STEP]
[Objective 1: Reach E-Rank]
Progress: 0/1
[Objective 2: Complete an Official Awakener Mission]
Progress: 1/1
[Objective 3: Survive an Unexpected Encounter]
Progress: 1/1
[Reward: Locked]
Lucas frowned.
“So killing that monster wasn’t enough.”
He already understood why.
The monster had given him experience.
That was why his level had increased.
But the quest was different.
Boost Breaker wasn’t simply rewarding him for gaining experience.
It was testing him.
Every time he completed the conditions required by a quest, the ability would unlock something new.
Lucas remembered his first life.
He had spent years believing Boost Breaker was simply a physical enhancement ability.
He hadn’t understood its true potential until much later.
This time, he knew better.
The abilities weren’t the important part.
The growth was.
Lucas closed the quest window.
He looked at his hands.
“Level four.”
He clenched his fist.
His body felt noticeably different compared to the day before his awakening.
He activated Strength Enhancement.
Energy flowed through his body.
His strength increased.
Then he activated Speed Enhancement.
His movements became faster.
Lucas combined the two.
The result was noticeably better than before.
He moved forward and threw a punch.
The air cracked from the force.
Lucas stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
“The abilities are getting stronger as I level.”
That was important.
Boost Breaker wasn’t only giving him abilities.
His growing level was allowing his body to use them more effectively.
Then there was Break Limit.
Lucas activated it.
Energy surged through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His heartbeat accelerated.
The increase was powerful.
But Lucas immediately canceled the ability.
He remembered what happened inside the dungeon.
Break Limit placed too much strain on his current body.
If he used it carelessly, he could injure himself.
“I need to get stronger before I rely on that.”
Lucas sat down.
He opened the system again.
[LEVEL: 4]
[EXP: 32%]
He stared at the experience bar.
“So I need more.”
That part was simple.
Fight monsters.
Complete missions.
Gain experience.
Level up.
But his rank was different.
He couldn’t simply level from four to some arbitrary number and expect Boost Breaker to automatically become E-Rank.
The quest had to be completed.
That meant Lucas needed to find out what Boost Breaker wanted from him.
He looked at the first objective.
[Reach E-Rank: 0/1]
Lucas smiled.
“Then that’s my goal.”
He didn’t know the exact requirements yet.
But he would find them.
He stood and began walking home.
Along the way, he passed several newly awakened students.
Some were showing off their abilities.
Others were already talking about joining guilds.
Lucas listened quietly.
“What’s your rank?”
“E-Rank.”
“Already?”
“Yeah.
My ability is pretty strong.”
“I heard someone awakened with a B-Rank ability today.”
“No way.”
The conversations continued around him.
Lucas ignored them.
He knew how quickly people became obsessed with rankings.
He had done the same thing in his first life.
Everyone wanted to join the strongest guild.
Everyone wanted to reach the highest rank.
But Lucas knew something they didn’t.
Rank wasn’t everything.
A smart fighter could defeat someone stronger.
A powerful ability could compensate for weaknesses.
And an ability like Boost Breaker could completely change the rules if given enough time to grow.
Lucas reached his apartment.
He entered and locked the door.
Then he opened his status one more time.
[NAME: Lucas]
[LEVEL: 4]
[RANK: F]
[CLASS: None]
[ABILITY: Boost Breaker]
[HIDDEN ABILITY: ???]
[QUEST: First Step]
[QUEST PROGRESS]
[Reach E-Rank: 0/1]
[Official Awakener Mission: 1/1]
[Unexpected Encounter: 1/1]
Lucas stared at the hidden ability.
The question mark remained.
He didn’t know what his second power was.
Nobody else knew either.
As far as the world was concerned, Lucas had awakened with one ability.
Boost Breaker.
That was exactly how he wanted it.
The other power would remain hidden.
Time Manipulation.
A sealed power that even Lucas didn’t fully understand.
If anyone discovered it, everything would become complicated.
Lucas closed the status window.
For now, he didn’t need it.
He had another problem.
He needed to level up.
And he needed to complete his Boost Breaker quest.
Tomorrow, he would return to the Administration Office.
He would find another mission.
Something stronger than the first.
Something that could push him closer to E-Rank without putting him in unnecessary danger.
Lucas sat on his bed.
He looked at the ceiling.
His first life had been filled with desperation.
He had fought for survival.
He had chased power because the world was collapsing around him.
This time was different.
The apocalypse hadn’t happened yet.
The world was still peaceful.
There were guilds.
There were dungeons.
There were monsters.
There were Awakeners.
But humanity still had time.
Lucas had time.
And that was his greatest advantage.
He didn’t need to rush.
He didn’t need to become powerful overnight.
He could build himself slowly.
Level by level.
Ability by ability.
Quest by quest.
And eventually, Boost Breaker would reveal everything it had to offer.
Lucas closed his eyes.
A final notification appeared.
[BOOST BREAKER]
[Current Rank: F]
[Next Rank: E]
[Quest Progress Required]
[0/1]
Lucas smiled.
“One step at a time.”
The notification disappeared.
Lucas went to sleep.
Tomorrow, his real journey would begin.
Not as the strongest Awakener.
Not as a hero.
Not as someone destined to save the world.
Just as an F-Rank Awakener with a strange ability.
And that was exactly how Lucas wanted it.
Lucas walked through the streets of District 7.
The mission was over.
The monster was dead.
But something felt different.
Not because of the strange dungeon.
Not because someone had taken the dungeon core.
It was his body.
Lucas could feel energy moving through him.
His muscles felt stronger.
His senses were sharper.
Even his breathing felt different.
He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.
“System.”
The status window appeared.
[STATUS]
Name: Lucas
Level: 4
Rank: F
Class: None
Ability: Boost Breaker
Hidden Ability: ???
Lucas stared at the level.
“Level four.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
He had expected an increase.
After all, he had defeated several monsters during the mission.
The strongest one had given him the biggest increase.
But there was something more important.
Lucas opened the information panel.
[LEVEL SYSTEM]
[Awakeners gain experience through defeating monsters, completing dungeons, completing missions, and other recognized achievements.]
[Accumulated experience increases Level.]
[Level increases the physical foundation of an Awakener.]
[Higher Levels allow the body to withstand greater amounts of power.]
Lucas nodded.
This was something every Awakener learned after awakening.
Level and Rank were related, but they weren’t the same thing.
Level represented the growth of the individual.
Rank represented the overall classification of their awakened power.
For normal Awakeners, increasing their level was only one part of becoming stronger.
Eventually, they would reach the limits of their current rank and seek advancement through the methods available to them.
F-Rank.
E-Rank.
D-Rank.
C-Rank.
B-Rank.
A-Rank.
S-Rank.
Those were the ranks known throughout the world.
Above S-Rank were levels that very few people knew about.
SS-Rank.
SSS-Rank.
But Lucas wasn’t concerned about those ranks right now.
He was still F-Rank.
More importantly, his path was different from everyone else’s.
Lucas opened Boost Breaker.
[BOOST BREAKER]
[Current Rank: F]
[Available Abilities:]
[Basic Enhancement]
[Strength Enhancement]
[Speed Enhancement]
[Break Limit]
[Quest System: Active]
Lucas looked at the final line.
The Quest System was the real reason Boost Breaker was different.
His rank wasn’t going to increase simply because he reached a certain level.
Boost Breaker would determine when he was ready to advance.
Lucas opened his quest.
[QUEST — FIRST STEP]
[Objective 1: Reach E-Rank]
Progress: 0/1
[Objective 2: Complete an Official Awakener Mission]
Progress: 1/1
[Objective 3: Survive an Unexpected Encounter]
Progress: 1/1
[Reward: Locked]
Lucas frowned.
“So killing that monster wasn’t enough.”
He already understood why.
The monster had given him experience.
But the quest was different.
Boost Breaker wasn’t simply rewarding him for gaining experience.
It was testing him.
Every time he completed the conditions required by a quest, the ability would unlock something new.
Lucas remembered his first life.
He had spent years believing Boost Breaker was simply a physical enhancement ability.
He hadn’t understood its true potential until much later.
This time, he knew better.
The abilities weren’t the important part.
The growth was.
Lucas closed the quest window.
He looked at his hands.
“Level four.”
He clenched his fist.
His body felt noticeably different compared to the day before his awakening.
He activated Strength Enhancement.
Energy flowed through his body.
His strength increased.
Then he activated Speed Enhancement.
His movements became faster.
Lucas combined the two.
The result was noticeably better than before.
He moved forward and threw a punch.
The air cracked from the force.
Lucas stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
“The abilities are getting stronger as I level.”
That was important.
Boost Breaker wasn’t only giving him abilities.
His growing level was allowing his body to use them more effectively.
Then there was Break Limit.
Lucas activated it.
Energy surged through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His heartbeat accelerated.
The increase was powerful.
But Lucas immediately canceled the ability.
He remembered what happened inside the dungeon.
Break Limit placed too much strain on his current body.
If he used it carelessly, he could injure himself.
“I need to get stronger before I rely on that.”
Lucas sat down.
He opened the system again.
[LEVEL: 4]
[EXP: 32%]
He stared at the experience bar.
“So I need more.”
That part was simple.
Fight monsters.
Complete missions.
Gain experience.
Level up.
But his rank was different.
He couldn’t simply level from four to some arbitrary number and expect Boost Breaker to automatically become E-Rank.
The quest had to be completed.
That meant Lucas needed to find out what Boost Breaker wanted from him.
He looked at the first objective.
[Reach E-Rank: 0/1]
Lucas smiled.
“Then that’s my goal.”
He didn’t know the exact requirements yet.
But he would find them.
He stood and began walking home.
Along the way, he passed several newly awakened students.
Some were showing off their abilities.
Others were already talking about joining guilds.
Lucas listened quietly.
“What’s your rank?”
“E-Rank.”
“Already?”
“Yeah.
My ability is pretty strong.”
“I heard someone awakened with a B-Rank ability today.”
“No way.”
The conversations continued around him.
Lucas ignored them.
He knew how quickly people became obsessed with rankings.
He had done the same thing in his first life.
Everyone wanted to become stronger.
Everyone wanted to join the strongest guild.
Everyone wanted to reach the highest rank.
But Lucas knew something they didn’t.
Rank wasn’t everything.
A smart fighter could defeat someone stronger.
A powerful ability could compensate for weaknesses.
And an ability like Boost Breaker could completely change the rules if given enough time to grow.
Lucas reached his apartment.
He entered and locked the door.
Then he opened his status one more time.
[NAME: Lucas]
[LEVEL: 4]
[RANK: F]
[CLASS: None]
[ABILITY: Boost Breaker]
[HIDDEN ABILITY: ???]
[QUEST: First Step]
[QUEST PROGRESS]
[Reach E-Rank: 0/1]
[Official Awakener Mission: 1/1]
[Unexpected Encounter: 1/1]
Lucas stared at the hidden ability.
The question mark remained.
He didn’t know what his second power was.
Nobody else knew either.
As far as the world was concerned, Lucas had awakened with one ability.
Boost Breaker.
That was exactly how he wanted it.
The other power would remain hidden.
Time Manipulation.
A sealed power that even Lucas didn’t fully understand.
If anyone discovered it, everything would become complicated.
Lucas closed the status window.
For now, he didn’t need it.
He had another problem.
He needed to level up.
And he needed to complete his Boost Breaker quest.
Tomorrow, he would return to the Administration Office.
He would find another mission.
Something stronger than the first.
Something that could push him closer to E-Rank without putting him in unnecessary danger.
Lucas sat on his bed.
He looked at the ceiling.
His first life had been filled with desperation.
He had fought for survival.
He had chased power because the world was collapsing around him.
This time was different.
The apocalypse hadn’t happened yet.
The world was still peaceful.
There were guilds.
There were dungeons.
There were monsters.
There were Awakeners.
But humanity still had time.
Lucas had time.
And that was his greatest advantage.
He didn’t need to rush.
He didn’t need to become powerful overnight.
He could build himself slowly.
Level by level.
Ability by ability.
Quest by quest.
And eventually, Boost Breaker would reveal everything it had to offer.
Lucas closed his eyes.
A final notification appeared.
[BOOST BREAKER]
[Current Rank: F]
[Next Rank: E]
[Quest Progress Required]
[0/1]
Lucas smiled.
“One step at a time.”
The notification disappeared.
Lucas went to sleep.
Tomorrow, his real journey would begin.
Not as the strongest Awakener.
Not as a hero.
Not as someone destined to save the world.
Just as an F-Rank Awakener with a strange ability.
And that was exactly how Lucas wanted it.