THE USURPER

'Life and Death... Those two concepts has always been very abstract to me... I who believe whole heartedly in the power of science and its ability to explain everything as long as we keep on performing research... These thoughts were what leads me to become one of the most well-known scientist of my generation... The only times when I didn't use my scientific knowledge, were when I read some fantasy web novels... Reading those novels were my way to blow up some steam and to disconnect myself from reality.

But during my last trip to South Korea, I was forced to admit that science can't explain everything. The reason if anyone were to ask me, is very simple.... I ended up transmigrating into the body of a 15 years old boy after my car collided with a Delivery truck. If it was simple transmigration like in many religious beliefs that I used to heard of during various debates on life and death...

Also some monsters were attacking humans and many corpses were surrounding me right after I woke up in that new body. I was saved by some people with superpowers in extremis. While recovering in an hospital bed, I was later told about reality of this new world. Those monsters were called magic beasts, and they came out of worm holes which connected to dungeons that was called gates.

I was also told that those humans with magical powers that saved me, were hunters and that they were ranked by an international system from E-rank to S-rank. Hunters were also placed in six different categories depending on their abilities. These categories were Fighters, Assassins, Mages, Tankers, Rangers and Healers. Fighters were hunters that specialized in melee combat. Assassins were those that specialized in both speed and close-range combat.

Mages were hunters who specialized in sorcery and were the most versatile of all the categories. Tankers were specialized in defense. Rangers were specialized in long-range combat using magic related to archery, and finally, Healers were specialized in healing magic. During my time at the hospital, after comparing the informations I obtained and the pieces of my memories that I manage to salvage, I came to the conclusion that I was in the world of Solo Leveling.

A korean manhwa and web novel that was a huge success back on my version of Earth.... Thanks to the fact that I know the main plots of this reality and a lot of luck, I manage to befriend Sung Jin-woo, the man that would become the main protagonist of Solo Leveling.

Now, 10 years later at the age of 25 and after awakening as a E-rank hunter.... I was also at the bottom of the list of E-rank hunters, and I was not dead last because of the existence of the weakest hunter in the world. So, I was only stronger by an average healthy adult man, and a far cry from the strongest rank; the S-rank... The only pride that I manage to salvage was that I was an assassin, that I know most of the future events of this reality on the tips of my fingers and that Jin-woo consider me as a brother.... But I didn't consider the fact that I would also become to consider him as my brother and his family as my own... Now, I'm lying on the damn altar of this damn dungeon with a missing left leg.

My original plan was to ride on Jin-woo's coattails while being safe at the rear but now, only way of survival is to hope that I can take his position as the protagonist by sacrificing myself... Damn it... Why can I have a smooth life, like those transmigrator from most web novels with their cheat ability at the get-go. Anyway, I don't have a future anymore even if I get out of here... Without my leg, I would not be able to live even like a normal human.'

[sighs..]

A young man with his black hair tied in a long ponytail sighed as he straightened his body with his arms, while staring at the three individuals in front of him. He was inside of a large room with two men and one women. One of the men was around the same age as him and he also had black hair but his hair were only long enough to completely cover his ears. The man was short, scrawny and had boyish face. The man also wore a simple blue hoodie and jeans. He was the best friend and sworn-brother of the young man that was sitting on the ground with his back against an altar, and his name was Sung Jin-Woo. He was also an E-rank hunter.

The other men that was standing was Song Chil-Yul. He was a middle-aged man with blonde hair and prominent wrinkles. He wore a simple blue tracksuit. Song Chil-Yul was a C-rank Fighter and the leader of the raid party that was almost completely obliterated in the dungeon in which, they were presently. Next to Song Chil-Yul was the B-rank female Healer, Lee Joohee. She was a pretty young woman with bright orange hair, blue eyes and pale skin. She liked to wear a simple brown fur coat.

They all stared at the wounded young man with a sad expression. Then, Lee Joohee moved closer to the man and bent down, while opening both of her hands. But the young man shook his head in disapproval, as if he knew what she was trying to do.

"Miss Joohee... It's pointless to heal my wound... There is no hope of me making it out of here... Also you'll only run out of mana, if you try to stop the bleeding....."

"Don't give up, Jae-hyuk... We can find a solution." Joohee shouted at the young man.

"No... There's no hope... Even my brother Jin-Woo knows this more than anyone, and he's the one that allowed us to survive in this cursed dungeon, thanks to his quick thinking...." Jae-Hyuk paused and smiled at Jin-Woo.

"Don't worry about me, guys... I'm fine with dying her after all it's the risk of the job... hahahahaha... Jin-Woo... Come close." Jae-Hyuk said as he put his left hand in his jacket's pocket, and took out a small pouch and a set of keys. He handed them over to Jin-Woo as soon as he came closer.

"Inside of the pouch are the magic beast cores that I obtained today, take them and use them to pay for Aunt Park's hospital expenses and for Jin-Ah's expenses.... Also you will-"

"Jae-Hyuk... I can't take thes-"

"Shut up! Just take them you, idiot... You and I already know that I will not make it alive, so what the use of me keeping them... Also aren't we brothers, so your family is my family.... Where was I... Oh Yeah!... Go to my room, when you get home and look under my bed... You will find a black metal box which contains all of the cores, that I save during all those years that we were roaming in dungeons... Miss Joohee..."

"Yes.." Joohee said as she wiped the tears flowing on her pink cheeks.

" I know that you have feelings for Jin-Woo... That idiot is also interested in you... He is just too spineless to tell you, so I can stop myself from worrying about him... My spineless brother... So as a last wish, can you take Jin-Woo to a date for me..... And also stop being a hunter, because you are too soft for this job... Can you promise that."

Joohee didn't answer Jae-Hyuk but simply nodded her head. In fact, Joohee has also come to the realization that the work of hunter was not for her during this raid.

"Mister Chil-Yul... You owes me one for saving you from the beam that the big monstrous statue shot at us earlier... As a way to repay me that debt, I want you to make sure that those two exit this dungeon in one piece.... Do you accept my request, Sir?" Jae-Hyuk said to Chil-Yul with eyes full of determination.

"I, Song Chil-Yul, accept your request and promise to bring those two to safe at any cost."

"Thanks, Sir.... Now, everyone farewell..."

"Wai-" Both Jin-Woo and Joohee were about to protest, but Chil-Yul knocked both of them unconscious. Chil-Yul put one of the unconscious youngsters on each of his shoulders and rushed towards the exit with all his strength. Jae-Hyuk stared at Chil-Yul who exited the room and the enormous stone door that started to close. He grabbed a sword that was lying near him and mustered all his strength for one last time to climb the alter behind him.

" Come at me, damn Stone Statues!!!" Jae-Hyuk shouted as he stared at the dozens of Stone Statues that were moving towards him, armed with different weapons.

'It's the end for me, it seems.... At least, I protected my brother and ensure that his family will be able to live peacefully for about one year... But to think that I would protect the man that I once wanted to use... hahahahahaha... If this is not irony, I wander what it is... But it doesn't matter anymore and don't intend on going down obediently... It's a do or die situation like in those heroes in web novels.... Either I get that power or I di-.'

Before he could finished his train of thoughts, the statues skewered him with their weapons. He was thrown around by the animated statues like a rag doll. It could clearly be seen that Jae-Hyuk's eyes were starting to lose their vigor and liveliness, and they were also closing slowly. But unexpectedly, even while being attacked mercilessly by the animated statues, Jae-Hyuk managed to muster all his remaining energy and shouted from the top of his lungs.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!!!!!!"

At that moment, time seemed to have stopped from Jae-Hyuk's perspective and a female voice resounded in his head. Immediately after a blue window with a message popped up in front of his eyes and the message was the same as the one that he just heard.

{ !ALARM!

[YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECRET QUEST 'COURAGE OF THE WEAK'] }

'Is this really the power that he should have obtained.'

The voice resounded in his head once again.

[YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECRET QUEST 'COURAGE OF THE WEAK']

[YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BECOME A PLAYER. WILL YOU ACCEPT?]

'It really is that power... I did it!'

[YOU DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME REMAINING.]

[IF YOU REFUSE, YOUR HEART WILL STOP IN APPROXIMATELY 0.02 SECONDS. WILL YOU ACCEPT?]

The voice resounded emotionlessly.

'I ACCEPT!'

{ !ALARM!

[WELCOME, PLAYER] }

Jae-Hyuk saw this message that popped up in front of his eyes before he was blinded by a bright dazzling light. In fact that light illuminated the entire room and Jae-Hyuk's body was the source of that blinding light.