Darkness.
That was all I remembered after my previous life ended. One moment I was sitting at my desk, binge-reading Solo Leveling for the fifth time, the next I was swallowed by an overwhelming void.
But then… I heard it.
[Initialization Complete.]
[Welcome, Player.]
Light flooded my vision.
A ceiling. Not my old one.
I felt smaller, lighter, younger.
I sat up abruptly, breathing hard, heart pounding in my chest.
"Joon-Hyuk? Are you alright, sweetheart?" a gentle voice called out.
A woman rushed into the room — my mother.
Except… this wasn't the mother from my previous life. This was my mother here — Kim Soo-Yeon, with soft features, shoulder-length black hair, and warm brown eyes full of concern.
A man followed her in — tall, broad-shouldered, with short-cropped black hair and a strong but kind expression. My father, Lee Dong-Soo.
"Is everything okay, son?" my father asked, his deep voice steady.
I stared at them, and it hit me fully —
I had reincarnated into the world of Solo Leveling — as Lee Joon-Hyuk, a native of Korea.
And judging from my appearance in the nearby mirror, I was around 10 years old.
My reflection stared back at me:
Jet-black hair slightly messy from sleep.
Fair but healthy skin.
Dark brown eyes filled with a mixture of innocence and now — terrifying knowledge.
A small, athletic frame — with years ahead of growth.
This… is real.
I've been reborn… Ten years before Sung Jin-Woo enters the Double Dungeon.
The weight of that knowledge nearly crushed me.
The Monarchs.
The Rulers.
The Great Cataclysm.
I knew everything that was coming.
I clenched my fists beneath the bedsheets. I had time — ten full years before the world truly changed.
Suddenly, another voice echoed inside my mind — mechanical, emotionless.
[Initializing System...]
[You have been granted the Limitless Growth System.]
[Your path to strength begins now.]
A translucent blue panel appeared before me:
Name: Lee Joon-Hyuk
Age: 10
Level: 1
Class: Unassigned
Title: None
HP: 100
MP: 50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 5
Skills: None
[First Quest: Begin Growth]
[Objective: Complete 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 km run.]
[Reward: +1 Level, +10 Stat Points, +Skill: Beginner Physical Reinforcement.]
I almost laughed at the absurdity.
So this is how it starts.
"Joon-Hyuk, honey?" my mother asked softly, kneeling by my side.
I looked at her — the gentle worry in her face, the warmth of a family I never had before.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just… a weird dream."
She smiled and patted my head, relief washing over her. My father chuckled beside her.
"You'll be strong, son. Just like your old man," he said proudly.
But only I knew the truth.
I wasn't just any child in this world.
I was here, ten years before Sung Jin-Woo's journey.
With knowledge of the future.
With a System of my own.
And I would not waste this second chance.
When the Monarchs come, I will be ready.
When Jin-Woo awakens, I will stand beside him.
This time, humanity won't fight with one Shadow Monarch — but with two monsters prepared for war.
Later that evening, after dinner, I sat quietly at the small dining table as my parents chatted.
"...the news said another Gate appeared in Busan today," my father said, sipping his barley tea. "But the government says it's still manageable."
"Do you think it's dangerous?" my mother asked, voice filled with concern.
I listened carefully, pretending to focus on my rice.
In 2008, the appearance of Gates was still considered new. The true Cataclysm, the first large-scale Dungeon Break, wouldn't happen for several more years. Right now, only minor Gates — F-rank and E-rank — were appearing across the country.
"It'll be fine. The Hunter Association is handling it. Korea has some capable Hunters already," my father reassured her. "Besides, Seoul is still safe."
I clenched my chopsticks tightly under the table.
Safe… for now.
After dinner, I returned to my small room. My heart was pounding.
[Quest Reminder: Complete 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 km run.]
[Progress: 0%]
I exhaled sharply.
The sooner I start, the sooner I grow.
I glanced at the clock — it was 9:30 PM.
Most kids my age were getting ready for bed. But I wasn't like other kids.
I locked the door quietly, grabbed my towel and a water bottle, and got down onto the wooden floor.
"Let's begin."
[Push-ups: 1… 2… 3… 4…]
Sweat beaded on my forehead as my muscles trembled. My body was young, but not weak. I could feel the System subtly supporting my efforts, preventing injury, encouraging growth.
By the time I reached fifty, my arms burned like fire.
[Sit-ups: 1… 2… 3…]
The strain on my core was brutal. But I kept going, driven by the knowledge of what was to come.
[Squats: 1… 2… 3…]
My legs felt like lead. But quitting wasn't an option. Not when the fate of the world hung in the balance.
Two hours later, my small room was filled with the smell of sweat. My breath was ragged, my vision blurry.
[Progress: 100%]
[Quest Complete!]
[You have gained +1 Level.]
[You have received +10 Stat Points.]
[Skill Acquired: Beginner Physical Reinforcement (Lv. 1).]
[Passive Buff Unlocked: Accelerated Recovery (Lv. 1).]
I collapsed onto the floor, panting. But a wild grin spread across my face.
It works.
The System was real. My stats had grown. My body felt lighter, stronger even after one night.
I pulled up my updated stats.
Name: Lee Joon-Hyuk
Level: 2
HP: 120
MP: 60
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Vitality: 12
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 5
Skill: Beginner Physical Reinforcement (Lv. 1)
Passive: Accelerated Recovery (Lv. 1)
And this was only the beginning.
Suddenly, the system chimed again:
[New Quest Available!]
[Quest: Enter your first dungeon.]
[Objective: Clear an F-Rank Dungeon.]
[Reward: Random Skill Book, +2 Levels, +20 Stat Points.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
My breathing slowed as I read the quest.
A dungeon? Already?
It was risky — extremely risky — for a ten-year-old child. But this world wasn't going to wait for me to grow up. If I wanted to survive, I needed to adapt faster than anyone else.
I glanced out the window. The stars glimmered above Seoul. Somewhere out there, Gates were already appearing, and Hunters were taking their first steps.
And so would I.
Ten years. I have ten years before Sung Jin-Woo awakens.
I smiled faintly, my heart steady.
"I'll be ready."