Chapter 19 — System Privileges
The ride to the Union was rather silent, not peaceful and not calm either. Silent in the way a storm pauses before destroying everything in its path. Aken sat in the back of the transport vehicle, his body leaning slightly against the cold metal wall. Across from him sat two Union personnel, both quiet, both trying not to look at him too much—and they failed, woefully.
Soo-ah Ming sat near the front, still and composed. But the air around her remained unnaturally cold. Jin Wong sat by the door, arms folded, eyes occasionally drifting toward Aken—not hostile, not friendly, but still measuring, always measuring. Aken ignored them because something else had just appeared.
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[Hidden Reward Granted]
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+3 Stat Points
+50 Possibility Points
+5 Inventory Slots
[Cursed Energy Fully Restored]
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Aken's eyes flickered slightly. "…Now?"
Miokuo responded immediately. "It appears the system delayed distribution until you were no longer in immediate combat."
"…That's quite convenient." Aken thought.
But he didn't complain, the moment the notification faded—something inside him shifted. His cursed energy surged, not violently, not explosively, but steadily. Like a system rebooting a download on the computer.
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[Cursed Energy: 100]
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It was full for the first time since the battle began. Aken exhaled slowly, then—It started. A faint warmth spread through his body, subtle at first, then deeper, stronger.
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[Curse Regeneration]
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His passive activated automatically. Miokuo's voice carried a hint of approval. "Your condition is stabilizing master."
Aken felt it too. The sharp pain in his ribs began to dull, the strain in his muscles eased slightly, the shallow breathing began to deepen. Not instant healing, not miraculous recovery, but a steady kind, efficient, yet relentless.
"…Feels better." Aken smiled.
Across from him, one of the Union workers frowned slightly. "…Did you just—"
The other nudged him quietly. "Don't."
They both went silent again, Aken ignored them. His focus shifted inward. "…Status."
The window appeared instantly.
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[STATUS WINDOW]
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Name: Aken Ezomo
Level: 1
Trait: Level 1 Curse
HP: 62% → 68% [Regenerating…]
Stamina: 55% → 61% [Regenerating…]
Cursed Energy: 100
STR: — 21
STA:— 18
INT: — 13
SKL: — 11
LCK: — 10
AGL:— 13
PER:— 15
Available Stat Points: 6
Possibility Points: 151
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Aken stared at the numbers. Six stat points, more than before, more than he'd ever had at once.
"…So this is what it feels like." He thought.
Miokuo responded. "You are progressing faster than standard players."
Aken glanced. "…Not by choice Mio."
Miokuo hummed faitly "Perhaps not Master."
Aken leaned his head back slightly, thinking, calculating. Every point mattered now, not just for strength but for survival for whatever was coming. Because something was definitely coming next. He could feel it.
"…Allocate." Aken said
The system waited. Then—he spoke clearly in his mind.
"STR: 2. INT: 1. SKL: 1. LCK: 2."
The response was immediate.
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[Allocation Complete]
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Aken inhaled slowly, his body reacted instantly, his strength increased—subtle, but noticeable, his mind sharpened, his movements felt slightly more precise. And his luck…
That one was different, not something he could feel physically, but something deeper, more intangible. Miokuo spoke. "A balanced distribution."
"…I need everything thou." He thought.
"Wise master." Miokuo said proudly
The system flickered again.
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[Inventory Expanded]
[Current Slots: 15]
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Aken nodded slightly. More space meant more resources, and more room to grow. Everything pointed toward one thing—Progression. Then another notification.
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[Possibility Points Threshold Approaching]
[New Function Unlock Pending]
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Aken's eyes narrowed slightly. "…There it is."
Miokuo's tone shifted slightly. "Possibility Points are not standard system currency."
Aken put his hand on Mio "…Yeah. I figured."
"Reaching certain thresholds may unlock… unique features." Miokuo said.
Aken exhaled slowly. "…Then we keep stacking them."
The vehicle slowed, then stopped. The doors opened, cold air rushed in—but not Soo-ah's, real air. Outside, the Korean Player Union Headquarters stood in front of them. Massive and reinforced, full of movement. Players everywhere, staff rushing, energy buzzing in the air. Aken stood up, this time without hesitation, without struggle. His body still hurt, still recovering, but it responded more than before and that alone was enough. Jin Wong noticed. "…You heal rather quickly."
Aken glanced at him. "…And you swing quiet slow."
Jin Wong smirked slightly. "…You're bold for a low-level player."
"…And you're observation is pretty weak." Aken responded.
Soo-ah stepped out first. "…Enough."
Aken followed, as soon as he stepped into the building—Every conversation around him slowed, not stopped, but shifted. Eyes turned, whispers started, because news traveled fast here, and what happened today—obviously wasn't normal, not even close.
Aken walked forward calmly but inside—Miokuo spoke. "Master…"
"…Yeah?."
"You are slowly changing."
Aken's eyes remained forward, cold and focused. "…I have to."
Because whatever had sent that Hunter… whatever had called him "Chosen" Wasn't done with him yet.
END OF CHAPTER 19