Abyssal Ascent

Life was unfair. Kang Jinhyeok had learned that lesson the hard way.

Once a top-tier strategist in Heaven's Dominion, a VR game requiring tactical genius, he had earned respect and even money from competitions. But in the real world, none of that mattered. With no degree, no stable job, and mounting debt, he found himself stuck behind a convenience store counter, stocking shelves while teenagers who recognized his old gaming name mocked him.

Then, everything changed.

One moment, he was closing up the store. The next, his vision blurred, his body grew weightless, and a deafening hum filled his ears.

Then—darkness.

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Awakening in the Abyss

A sharp ringing in his head. A cold, hard surface beneath him. The scent of blood and something rotten filled his nose.

Jinhyeok groaned as he opened his eyes. A ruined city stretched before him—crumbling skyscrapers under a blood-red sky. The ground was cracked, streets overrun with vines, and corpses—both human and inhuman—littered the area.

"What… the hell?" he muttered.

Then, pain.

A burning sensation on his wrist made him wince. A glowing text carved itself into his vision, overriding everything else.

> Welcome to the Abyss.

Survive or be erased.

Panic surged through him. His breathing quickened, but before he could process it, more glowing text appeared.

> System Initialization…

Analyzing User…

You have awakened the Unique System: [Abyssal Archive]

Jinhyeok blinked. His mind was still trying to catch up when a loud cry snapped him to attention.

Not far from him, dozens of people were waking up, each reacting in confusion or terror. Some screamed, others checked glowing screens in front of them, while a few quickly adjusted, assessing the situation like seasoned professionals.

Then—monsters.

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A World of Monsters

The screeches came first. From the ruined buildings and cracked pavement, creatures began emerging. Their bodies were sleek and black, their limbs twisted in unnatural angles, and their glowing red eyes locked onto the confused, unarmed humans.

> Fanged Crawlers (E-Rank) detected.

Extermination initiated.

Before Jinhyeok could even comprehend what was happening, chaos erupted.

People screamed as the monsters lunged. Some tried to run, only to be tackled and torn apart. Others, however, reacted differently.

A man near Jinhyeok raised his hand, and a flaming sword materialized from thin air. With a war cry, he swung it down, cleaving a Fanged Crawler in two. Another person summoned a bow, loosing arrows at an incredible speed.

It didn't take long for Jinhyeok to realize what was happening.

These people were awakening skills.

Everywhere he looked, individuals were summoning weapons, casting elemental spells, or displaying superhuman strength. Some adapted instantly, fighting back with newfound power.

Jinhyeok, however, had nothing.

"System," he muttered, willing the glowing text to show him his abilities.

A screen appeared before him.

> [Abyssal Archive] – Observe and Record Skills

Effect: You can register and analyze skills from defeated enemies.

That was it. No sword, no elemental magic, not even enhanced physical stats. Just… observation?

"What kind of useless ability is this?" he cursed.

A guttural growl snapped him back to reality. A Fanged Crawler had set its sights on him.

Jinhyeok's body moved before his mind did. He barely managed to throw himself to the side as the monster lunged, its jagged teeth sinking into the pavement where he had stood.

The creature turned its head toward him again, readying its next attack.

Jinhyeok's heart pounded. He had no weapon, no combat skill—no chance.

Think. Think. Think!

His eyes darted around, searching for anything useful. That's when he noticed something—a dying man nearby, barely clinging to life, his system screen still active. His skills were visible.

> Skill: Lesser Dagger Mastery (F-Rank)

A dagger lay next to him, still gripped loosely in his bloodied hand.

Jinhyeok didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, grabbing the weapon just as the man's life faded away.

> Lesser Dagger Mastery (F-Rank) recorded.

A shock ran through his brain. Knowledge flooded in—proper grip, basic slashes, a faint muscle memory of how to use a dagger effectively.

It wasn't much. But it was enough.

---

First Kill

The Fanged Crawler lunged again. This time, Jinhyeok didn't just dodge—he countered. Pivoting on his foot, he sidestepped and drove the dagger into the side of its head.

The creature screeched, writhing in pain, but Jinhyeok didn't stop. He twisted the blade and yanked it out, sending black ichor spraying across the pavement.

The monster convulsed before collapsing, motionless.

> Fanged Crawler defeated!

Skill Recorded: [Fanged Crawler's Reflexes (E)]

Jinhyeok barely had time to process before another shock hit him. His muscles tensed, his senses sharpened—his reaction time had increased.

That's when it hit him.

His ability wasn't useless.

It was limitless.

While others were locked into specific skill sets, Jinhyeok could adapt, grow, and steal abilities from any defeated enemy.

He wasn't born strong. But he could become strong.

And in the Abyss, that was the only thing that mattered.

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To Be Continued…