Chapter 17: Episode 17 – Echoes of Level Two

Chapter 17: Episode 17 – Echoes of Level Two Episode 17 – Echoes of Level Two The plaza outside the testing hall still buzzed like a nest of restless hornets. Dust swirled around steel booths and bright banners that flapped in the warm wind, colors bleeding together under Seoul’s smog-tinted sun. Recruiters hollered, guild reps danced with charm, and everyone was clawing for names—except his. Kim Do-hyun (김도현) gave the old man a bow. "Arigatou gozaimasu," he said with a crooked grin, voice light like he had just bought candy, not a Hunter license. The recruiter, some mid-level agent from WN Agency, nodded like a veteran who had seen thousands come and go. A clipboard dangled from his hand. His name tag was peeling. His smile was rehearsed, but his eyes were tired. Do-hyun turned. And that was when it happened. Something shimmered. Silent. Not in the world—but in him. A light flickered behind his eyes. A soft ping. A rising tone. His breath caught like it had snagged on something invisible. He blinked once, and the world dimmed around the edges. Like waking up inside a lucid dream, a screen bloomed into his vision. Transparent, hovering, built from light and thought. No one else saw it. It belonged to him alone. [Personal Awakening System] [Skill: Clone] [Upgrade Available... Processing...] The letters began to shift. He felt it in his bones—a humming tension, like wires pulled taut behind his ribs. A rising heat spread through his spine. His hands curled at his side, fingers twitching. [Clone: Level Up Complete] [New Effect Unlocked – Summon Two Clones] His mouth opened slightly. No words came out. His chest swelled like he had just taken a shot of lightning. He could feel the truth of it down to the roots of his soul. The system was not lying. It never did. Clone skill. Level two. Two of them now. Two bodies. Two shadows. Two sets of hands. And every single one belonged to him. The rush hit him like caffeine boiled in divine fire. He gasped, shoulders straightening. Not from surprise—but from power. His legs felt too light. His heart was a drum. Still, he didn’t show it. No fist pump. No cheer. No glowing eyes or anime sparks. He bit the inside of his cheek. Control it. Don’t let it show. If someone knew, if anyone suspected... This wasn’t some public stat boost. This was a secret gift. Personal system. Unique thread in the web of awakenings. Do-hyun held it close like a secret name, whispered only to stars. But still—his body betrayed him. His eyes softened. His lips curved. His gaze grew distant, like someone staring into a memory that hadn’t happened yet. Across from him, the recruiter from WN Agency leaned in slightly, his well-practiced pitch paused. He caught the flicker in Do-hyun’s expression—the trembling cheek, the glassy eye, the sharp breath. He misunderstood. "Oh," the man said, voice tender now, full of misplaced sympathy. "The Awakening hits deep, doesn’t it?" Do-hyun blinked. Wait. What? The recruiter gave a soft smile. "You’re not the first to cry, you know. It’s okay. You don’t have to hide it." "I’m not—" But the recruiter was already in flow, tapping the edge of his clipboard like it was a sermon book. "We’ve all had that moment. That first skill. That first surge. It changes everything." He sniffled, for real this time. "Back when I awakened, I cried in the shower for three days straight. Couldn’t even hold chopsticks without shaking." Do-hyun stared, stunned. This guy thought— That he was crying? Crying from joy? Crying from pride? Crying because of some sacred moment of triumph? Not because he had just unlocked the ability to create two independent bodies that could train, spy, or possibly die in his place? The recruiter wiped the corner of his eye with his knuckle. "It’s beautiful. Really. Don’t be ashamed. This world is rough. Any emotion that blooms in a moment like this... is sacred." Do-hyun’s expression remained flat. But inside, he was screaming. "Oh no," he thought. "Oh please, no." The recruiter tucked his clipboard under one arm and began reaching into his coat pocket. "Look, I wasn’t gonna say this, but we at WN Agency—we specialize in supporting rookies. You ever need gear, dungeons, skill scrolls, credit lines, heck, even a decent ramen place near the third gate—we’ve got you." Do-hyun took a small step backward. The recruiter stepped forward, full corporate mode activated. "We only ask a small finders’ fee for item assistance. Less than ten percent. In exchange, we keep you stocked, licensed, and field-ready." Do-hyun’s eyes twitched. "And, of course, if you’re ever looking to go pro, we offer premium packages with monthly dungeon contracts. We can even get you stat potions imported from Taiwan. That stuff is sweet, let me tell you." More footsteps. More recruiters approaching. Another banner unfurling behind them, showing a S-rank Hunter smiling in a forest of fire. "We believe in empowering the next generation. Hunters like you, with real spark—" Do-hyun was already gone. By the time the recruiter turned to check his pitch flow, the space in front of him was empty. He blinked. "Wait. What?" The wind rustled his flyer stack. The edge of one caught his cheek. He turned slowly. Looked left. Looked right. "Did he just—" But no one answered. The square was full. Recruiters barked. Awakened bragged. Rank cards flashed. Somewhere, a dude rode past on a hoverboard made from solid wind. "Man," the recruiter muttered, slumping. "No one cares about me." — Down the corridor beyond the plaza, Kim Do-hyun (김도현) found shade and silence. His feet moved fast, his thoughts faster. The air here was different. Cool. Like it had passed through memory before touching his skin. Each step echoed softly underfoot, rubber soles catching on marble tiles. He passed a glass wall etched with the names of the fallen. He didn’t look. Not yet. Not until he earned his place above the bottom line. The system window still floated in his vision. [Clone Skill – Level 2] [Current Limit: 2 Clones] He almost couldn’t believe it. It felt like he had stepped into a myth. Like the old legends his grandmother told about men with many faces, or shadows that could walk while you slept. The idea that he now had two bodies he could control... It made his skin ripple. His stomach fluttered. His knees felt like they were standing on the edge of a cliff. And yet... He was calm. Like the world had finally aligned with his inner rhythm. He clenched his fist. Watched the tendons stretch beneath his skin. Two clones. That was training doubled. Strategy expanded. Surveillance amplified. Safety multiplied. But most of all? Opportunity. If he played it smart... this power was more than just a trick. It was the start of something massive. Not just survival. Not just passing tests.