Void Evolution System Chapter 1
Prologue
‘Live.’
Drenched in a mixture of his own blood and the gore of various monsters, a singular obsession dominated his mind.
‘I have to survive.’
Tightening his grip on his blades, he lunged forward. He closed the distance instantly, delivering a deep gash to the beast's throat just as a massive claw whistled toward his skull. With a flicker of movement, he teleported behind the creature. Despite the blood he hacked up, his assault never wavered as he continued to hack and pierce at its flesh.
‘Survive. Survive. Survive.’
The word chanted in his mind like an infinite mantra. He leaped onto the back of the monster, which was beginning to falter from the massive blood loss. He drove his weapon down with all his might, but the blade shattered upon impact.
‘Survive. Survive. Survive.’
Even as his vision blurred and his senses began to fail, that internal command remained deafening. He plunged his bare hands into the jagged wound on the beast’s neck, tearing the flesh apart and sinking his teeth into the raw meat.
‘Survive. Survive. Survive.’
He fought with primal desperation—clawing, biting, and devouring. Using the final shards of his sanity, he jammed the broken remains of his weapon into the gaping hole in the creature’s neck. The beast collapsed, the spark of life leaving its eyes.
As darkness began to edge into his vision, a glowing holographic display materialized before him.
[Level up!]
[1st class obtained!]
‘I… made it.’
A faint smile touched his lips as he finally drifted into unconsciousness.
***
5 days earlier
Within a Los Angeles hospital, a young man sat in quiet vigil beside a patient’s bed. Only 17 years old, he possessed messy black hair and deep amethyst eyes that appeared hauntingly vacant. Though his frame was gaunt and his appearance neglected, his features suggested he would be remarkably handsome under better circumstances.
The woman lying in the bed shared his striking features; she was clearly his mother.
“Mom, six years have passed since the world changed, but I’m holding on. Don’t worry about a thing; your son is going to make sure you wake up to enjoy this new era. Just keep fighting and stay with me.” He watched for even a minor tremor of her hand, though he knew deep down it wouldn't happen.
The young man kept up the one-sided conversation, his mind drifting back to the monumental event known as the “World Awakening.”
The world had shifted entirely while he was still a high school freshman. It was as if they had been dropped into a Korean webnovel; mana flooded the world, gates to other dimensions tore open, and every human suddenly saw a holographic status screen before their eyes.
Everyone was granted an initial talent. These ranged from mundane perks like improved vision to incredible supernatural powers like pyrokinesis. There was even a viral news report about a man who gained the ability to manipulate raisins.
Amidst this sea of powers, he had awakened a spatial affinity and the skill “short-distance teleportation.” His initial thrill at the prospect of legendary battles and immense power was quickly crushed by a harsh reality.
His teleportation was limited to a mere 10-meter radius, and his physical attributes were pathetically low. Using his power just a few times left him completely drained. Consequently, he was never able to hunt monsters effectively, reaching level 5 only through luck and by snatching kills from others.
Truthfully, once he understood his limitations, he had no desire to be a hunter or venture into the gates. But he had no alternative. He possessed no skills suited for the new economy and was in desperate need of funds.
The arrival of mana wasn't a blessing for everyone. Many individuals whose bodies failed to adapt to the new environment fell into comas, his mother among them. A cure for this condition didn't exist yet, and the medical fees required just to keep her stable amounted to thousands of dollars.
So, he endured. He registered with the Guild Association and secured a spot on a collection team for the guild where his best friend worked, which kept him out of the direct line of fire.
He occasionally worked as a porter and tried to steal the odd kill, but he was banned from doing so once he was caught. Six years crawled by in this manner. He made no personal progress and barely earned enough to keep his mother in the hospital.
“Mr. Damien? Mr. Damien Void?” A nurse’s voice pulled him back to the present. “Sir, we need to perform the patient's routine care now. We would appreciate it if you could wait in the hall for a few minutes.”
Familiar with the protocol after six years of visits, he nodded and stepped out.
‘Damn it. I haven't been able to find work since that last raid ended,’ he lamented silently.
‘If I can’t get on a raid within the next week, I won’t be able to cover Mom’s expenses. No, that’s not an option... I’ll pay them no matter what. Even if I have to give up my apartment and sleep on the streets, her bills come first.’
“What can I even accomplish with such pathetic stats?” Damien muttered to himself, deciding to pull up his interface.
‘Status.’
The holographic window shimmered into existence at his command.
[Status]
[Damien Void]
Human
Male – Age 17
Level 5 – [Classless]
Experience value: 0/100
Titles [•••••••, Bearer of the Void Physique]
Affinities: Space
Physique: Void Physique
Magic Power: 20
STR: 3
AGI: 5
DEF: 2
INT: 3
DEX: 5
Skills: [Short Distance Teleportation Level 1], [Minor Telekinesis Level 1], [Minor Regeneration Level 1]
Damien let out a weary sigh. ‘Everything would be simple if I could just get stronger, but my body stays at this miserable level regardless of how hard I train.’
He recalled his desperate attempts to improve, even trying famous workout routines from fictional stories like One Punch Man or Solo Leveling, but nothing worked.
He had started with two titles when the system first arrived. Remembering how much he had boasted about them in school made him want to hide in shame.
As it turned out, the first title—hidden behind a row of dots—seemed completely useless. He had once hoped it was a classic trope where a title was too powerful and thus sealed, but after six years, that hope had withered.
The second title was even worse; it was a burden. Rather than granting him an easy path to mastering space, the Void Physique acted like a black hole, sucking up the nutrients and physical strength meant for his muscles and converting them into magic power.
As a result, he had high magic power for his level, but it was useless because his physical body couldn't withstand the strain of frequent teleportation.
‘Even my spatial affinity is notoriously difficult to develop. After years of grinding, the best I can do is make a cup float toward me,’ he thought, sighing again.
‘Honestly, I could use some plot armor right about now. Something that gives me a way to heal Mom so I could stop worrying about being a hunter. I’d much rather live the quiet life of a normal guy with bad luck.’
As he spiraled into self-pity, the nurses finished their work. He stepped back into the room to say his goodbyes.
“Don’t worry about your useless son, Mom. Just stay alive. I’m sorry I haven't done better, and I’m sorry I’m so scrawny that I probably won’t find a girlfriend before you wake up,” he joked weakly, a small chuckle escaping him.
“I’m heading out now. I’ll bring more stories about the gates and the weird news next time. I heard that raisin guy is actually famous now. One day, your son will reach the top and ensure you can live however you want.”
With those parting words, he exited the hospital. However, as he walked through the doors, he was suddenly tackled to the ground.
“Damien!”