Kana sat alone under the shade of an old tree, her bow resting beside her. Her thoughts wandered back to the fight against Boris. She had won, yes—but the win wasn't absolute. What if his level had been closer to hers? What if someone else, stronger, came at her up close?
I wouldn't be able to block a real hit, she thought grimly. If I can’t retreat fast enough, I need a way to make them back off. Something sharp. Something fast.
Her eyes flicked to the status screen still shimmering faintly in her mind.
[Select 1 New Ranger Skill to Acquire:]
Rapid Shot
Range Extension
Dagger Strike
Tame
Trap Bomb
Dagger Assault
Two-Handed Dagger Mastery
She didn’t hesitate any longer.
[Dagger Assault].
It wasn’t just a flashy melee move—it was her safety net. A way to deal damage and force the enemy back. Enough time to draw her bow and finish them from range.
As soon as she chose it, a new prompt flashed in front of her which surprised her:
There’s more?
[Skills: 1 point remaining. Please select one skill to evolve]
Marksmanship – Level 1
Awareness
Dagger Assault
Kana immediately focused on [Awareness]. She had always relied on it—feeling shifts in movement, noticing footsteps behind her, reacting to changes in battle.
Without hesitation, she thought:
[Level Up Awareness]
[Awareness] → [High Awareness]
[Proceed? Yes/No]
[Yes]
The world sharpened instantly.
The breeze brushing her cheek suddenly had direction and rhythm. She could feel where the wind came from, and even predict its path. Birdsong became distinguishable—two sparrows on the roof, a crow in the distance. Her vision adjusted, able to spot movement through gaps in the trees.
But more than that, when she concentrated—really focused—time slowed. Not truly, but her perception did. She could track details with frightening clarity: a falling leaf spinning midair, the sway of a blade of grass, the subtle shift in posture from people walking behind a wall.
Kana blinked. Her breath caught.
[Name: Kana]
[Level: 10]
[Title: Incomplete Transcender]
[Stats:]
Strength: 19
Agility: 27
Intelligence: 24
HP: 39/39
Mana: 58/58
[Skills:]
[Marksmanship] – Level 1
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[High Awareness]
[Dagger Assault]
…….
Kana tested her new skill earlier that week—[Dagger Assault]. It worked well, too well. Blades moved almost on instinct, a flurry of slashes that could turn away even the most determined enemy. But the mana drain was brutal. She felt lightheaded after she used it twice.
This isn’t a skill to flaunt, she’d realized. It’s for emergencies.
A few quiet days passed since then. Boris remained grounded and unseen—locked away or perhaps kept hidden until the village chief said so. She and Suri acted as if everything was normal, slipping back into village routines. Smiling. Laughing when needed. Pretending they didn’t know what lay beyond the dungeon door.
If anyone found out we cleared the dungeon…
Kana didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t need to.
It was late afternoon when they arrived.
Two carriages rolled down the hill, flanked by knights in dark armor astride powerful, well-groomed horses. Kana spotted them long before anyone else, thanks to her enhanced [High Awareness]. The gleam of steel, the creak of leather reins, the slow, practiced gait of trained cavalry—she felt them approach before she saw them.
Her stomach tightened. She turned without a word and slipped back into her home.
I don’t want anything to do with nobles. Not now. Not when I’m like this.
They might see something. Or sense something.
She curled up with a worn book, though her eyes barely followed the words. Her mind churned instead.
Can I ask Mom for more books about dungeon? Maybe something about concealment, skill masking—anything?
A knock shattered the silence.
Kana flinched, quickly closing the book and walking toward the door.
Neer stood outside, one of the workers, a little out of breath, eyes darting.
“The Duke wants to see you all. The academy-chosen awakeners this year,” he said.
Her heart skipped.
What now?
She sighed, resigned. “Alright.”
… … .
The front of the village house buzzed with murmurs. Locals pressed close, trying to catch a glimpse of the visitors they’d only heard about in rumors. Kana was ushered inside through the crowd, her expression unreadable.
Inside, the contrast was jarring.
Tables overflowed with food—more than Kana had seen in one place before. Roasted meats, spiced vegetables, fresh bread, and shining fruit laid out like an offering. At the head table sat the village chief, posture stiff, eyes flicking nervously between guests and villagers.
Beside him sat a man in his forties, commanding in presence, his silk tunic glimmering subtly with embroidery—the Duke. Next to him, a beautiful woman with refined features—his wife, Kana assumed—watched everything with a quiet, practiced gaze.
To the side were two youths: a teenage girl with a proud, aloof air, and a boy around Kana’s age, his posture almost too perfect, dressed head-to-toe in spotless noble attire.
“Kana,” the chief announced, “the last of the awakened.”
Boris and Suri were already standing beside him—silent and tense like a stone.
The Duke looked her over.
“Ah, the [Ranger]. I’ve heard it’s a class with bow affinity,” he said, tone pleasant but cool.
Kana bowed her head slightly. “Yes.”
“I also heard,” he continued, fingers tapping the table lightly, “you wield a dagger. You bested a [Spearman], didn’t you?”
Kana nodded once. “I was lucky.”
“Humble, are you?” The Duke’s lips curled into something between amusement and calculation. I know, [Spearman] is one of the strongest early-phase classes. Their reach alone makes them a nightmare to counter, especially in duels.”
He leaned forward slightly, as if studying her.
“To win—and block one of their lethal skills? That takes more than luck. Your class… a hybrid, perhaps? [Bowman] and [Thief]?”
Kana didn’t respond.
“My son awakened as a [Knight],” the Duke went on, gesturing toward the boy. “Not a common class either. Heavy defense, exceptional close-quarters combat. He defeated a [Spearman] as well.”
His gaze sharpened.
“I want to see which class is stronger.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Kana answered—calm, direct, and without hesitation.
“I refuse.”
The air in the room seemed to thin.
The Duke blinked, not in anger, but in curiosity. Even the teenage girl looked up.
“You refuse?” he echoed, tone amused now. “You understand this is merely a demonstration? A test of talent, nothing more.”
Kana’s voice was clear, unwavering. “I won’t waste my energy proving myself for someone else’s entertainment.”
The silence stretched.
Then the Duke laughed—not loud, but genuine. “Interesting… Very interesting.”
He leaned back, eyes gleaming with new interest.
