Chapter 1: Prologue

"This world is unfair."

The thought crossed my mind as I struggled to hoist the heavy equipment onto my back. It was almost unbearable for someone with my build. But in a world where Manu flowed through everything, even children could lift boulders. And me, an adult? Sure, I could probably toss a car without much effort, but in this world, that wasn't much. Not when there were monsters—both human and Variant—that could obliterate cities, even continents, with a single punch. And those at the top? They weren't human anymore; they were gods among men. Compared to them, I was nothing.

"Hey, kid, hurry up!"

That was my guild master, a man who stood among the gods. He was one of those monsters capable of laying waste to cities, someone who had awakened a unique skill. In this society, that put him at the very top of the food chain.

"Yes, I'm coming!" I called back, quickening my pace.

As for me? I was just an unawakened hunter, someone who could only use raw Manu to enhance my body and weapons. No unique skill, no extraordinary talent. Just another cog in the machine.

"Don't worry, boss, I'll look after the kid," came a gruff voice from behind.

Slap!

I winced as a heavy hand landed on my shoulder. That was Ryker, one of my guildmates. He was loud, brash, and rough around the edges, but beneath it all, he was dependable.

"Listen, kid. If you get scared, just hide behind me, alright? Haha!"

Despite his teasing, I couldn't help but like the guy. His confidence was infectious.

"Come on, Ryker," another voice interjected, soft but firm. "With the way you are, it's not like you can protect anyone."

It was Emily, the guild's healer and one of our unique skill users. Her powers were of the water nature, which made her invaluable in both combat and recovery.

"You should come to me if you get hurt, Valk. Promise me, okay?" she said with a warm smile.

"Yes, I promise," I replied, brushing the back of my head awkwardly.

Emily's kindness had a way of putting me at ease, even in the most dangerous situations.

"Oi, enough chit-chat! Emily, stop babying the kid! We've got work to do," the guild master's voice barked from up ahead.

We had just entered a Manu hotspot, a place where the density of Manu mutated the environment and created Variants. This particular hotspot wasn't too dangerous—its Manu concentration was low compared to others—but we couldn't afford to be careless.

Hotspots were like stepping into another world. This one was a sprawling desert under a crimson sky, the air so thick with Manu it felt alive. The ground was barren and cracked, yet it pulsed faintly with energy, as if the world itself was breathing.

"Alright, prepare yourselves," the guild master commanded. "Valk, stay behind us. We're dealing with golem-type Variants this time."

The ground in front of us began to tremble. Cracks formed, and from the earth emerged a towering humanoid figure—a golem. It stood at least 50 meters tall, its stone body radiating raw power. A Category 2 Variant. Dangerous, yes, but not beyond our guild's capabilities.

"Stand back!" the guild master shouted, his voice carrying authority.

Manu began to swirl around him, crackling like fire. Then, with a roar, his body ignited, cloaked in flames that surged with destructive power.

Boom!

With a sonic boom, he launched himself forward, meeting the golem's fist head-on. The collision created a shockwave, the air rippling with fiery Manu. When the dust cleared, a massive crater remained, filled with the charred remnants of the golem.

"Alright, we're done here," the guild master said, brushing off his hands as he climbed out of the crater. "Let's move on."

"That's the power of a unique skill user, kid," Ryker said, nudging me with his elbow as he walked past. "Don't look so surprised."

"Hurry up, Valk," Emily added, tapping me on the shoulder as she followed Ryker. "Don't get left behind."

I clenched my fists as I watched them move ahead.

"Someday," I whispered, determination burning in my chest.

I picked up my pace, trailing behind them. What I didn't know was that this day, which had started like any other, would soon spiral into a calamity that would change my life forever.