As I found myself in this desolate, soulless realm, my first thought echoed through my mind, "So, death has finally claimed my soul, at last." The landscape before me was stark and uncompromising, a vast expanse of barren soil stretching as far as the eye could discern. Above, there was no sky, only a featureless, plain white canvas that seemed to extend into infinity—a scene reminiscent of the enigmatic limbo itself.
It was no revelation to me that I had met my end. After all, I had been grappling with terminal brain cancer since the tender age of sixteen. My life had been an indistinct blur of sterile hospital rooms, grueling chemotherapy sessions, and the pervasive grip of loneliness. Amidst the solitude, my only solace came from the companionship of books and manga, particularly an obsession with a certain character: Trafalgar Law.
"Isn't it ironic?" I mused to myself. "The boy battling terminal cancer, an ardent fan of a fictional super doctor capable of healing anything and commanding dominion over his own realm. It makes you ponder, doesn't it?"
And so, as I found myself in this desolate limbo, with nothing but the ability to shift the lifeless soil beneath my feet, a haunting laugh escaped my lips. "Now what, though? All I can do is move the soil around. I'll end up going mad."
But then, a voice, ethereal and angelic, broke the eerie silence. "Don't worry, my child."
Startled, I looked around, unable to discern the source of the voice. "Who are you? Who's speaking?" I inquired, my heart racing.
"I have witnessed your unfortunate life," the mysterious voice replied with a touch of sarcasm, "and I must say, I'm not here out of pity. Rather, I'm here to discover something."
Dread coursed through me. "What do you want to find out?"
"I want to know how you would behave if I were to offer you a second chance," the voice declared.
The world seemed to pause, time itself holding its breath after those words.
"Are you really giving me a second chance?" I asked, hope dawning in my heart.
"Yes, my child," came the reply. "Not only that, but I will grant you a power of your choosing and allow you to select a world in which to be reborn."
I couldn't believe my ears. Tears welled up in my eyes as I spoke, "This can't be true."
"You have three seconds to choose," the voice intoned. "Three... two... one..."
In a rush of desperation, I shouted my decision, "I want the powers of the Ope Ope no Mi, and I wish to be reborn in the world of Solo Leveling!"
Before I could fully comprehend the enormity of my choice, the world around me plunged into darkness, and I embarked on a journey beyond the boundaries of life and death.
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"Are you listening to me?" a stranger's voice echoed through my head.
As my vision slowly cleared, I found myself within the confines of a colossal building.
"Haneul, sir, is everything all right?" inquired an individual adorned in an impeccably tailored suit.
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry. I blacked out for a moment," I stammered, bewildered by my surroundings. It was abundantly clear that I was no longer inhabiting my previous body.
In my former existence, I lacked the physical prowess to move about freely; a wheelchair had been my constant companion. However, as I gazed upon my current physique, I noticed a distinct change – I possessed a lean and oddly familiar physique, right down to the tattoos adorning my new hands.
"Oh, okay. If you could please follow me, sir, we'll assess your ranking shortly," the man instructed.
"He must be a member of the Hunter's Guild, and I must be in their assessment room," I speculated.
"But wait, am I already being assessed?" I thought, my nerves tingling. My attention was soon drawn to the room's focal point: a massive black orb intricately connected to an array of technology that seemed ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel.
"Please, stand near the black crystal and place your hand upon it," the man directed.
As I complied, the crystal came to life, emitting a swirling display of vibrant colors.
"What?!" the man exclaimed, his voice tinged with astonishment.
"What's happening?" I asked, my focus firmly fixated on the outcome.
"[Error!]" flashed across the machine's display.
"I don't understand, but it seems the machine is malfunctioning. I'll need to summon a higher-up. Please wait a moment," the man explained.
"Wait, this also happened to Sung Jin-Woo," I recalled.
Just then, a familiar face entered the room.
"Why couldn't I recognize this man?" I wondered.
"Hi, I am Chief Woo-Jin Chul. It's a pleasure to meet you," the stoic man greeted.
"The pleasure is mine, Chief, but what brings a high-ranking official like you to meet a mere candidate still undergoing assessment?" I inquired, though I already had a sense of what was transpiring.
"I've come to deliver a more accurate assessment device, as it appears that this one cannot properly gauge your magic, Sir Haneul," he replied with a level of respect that seemed excessive for someone of my status.
With that, Chief Woo-Jin Chul presented me with a smaller crystal, radiating a refined and potent aura compared to the larger one I had used previously.
"Please, sir, place your hand upon this crystal," he requested, positioning it on a stand before me.
"Of course," I replied, anticipation building within me.
As I made contact, the room was bathed in a brilliant blue light. But amidst the dazzling display, there was a profound sensation building within me, an intense warmth surging and expanding at an alarming rate. It was the power I had wished for, coursing through my veins with unbridled potency, and an instinctive comprehension of how to wield it washed over me.
"I will become unbeatable with this power!" I thought with a newfound confidence.
As the luminous spectacle subsided, my rank was unveiled, and it was nothing short of astonishing.
"Congratulations, Hunter Haneul Yunseo. You are the 5th S-ranker in Korea," Chief Woo announced, leaving the other staff members in stunned silence.
But as everyone stood in awe of the revelation, an irresistible urge compelled me to unleash a fraction of my newfound magic, momentarily forgetting my surroundings.
In that pivotal moment, an incredible azure aura erupted from my being, exerting immense pressure upon everyone in its vicinity. It was a force so overwhelming that even those with considerable strength, including the Chief, an A-ranker, found themselves gasping for breath and struggling to remain upright.
The building quaked and trembled as though in the throes of an earthquake. Panic rippled through the assembled crowd, and chaos ensued.
"I am not the frail boy incapacitated by cancer any longer," I thought, the surge of power coursing through me, a stark contrast to my former self.
Yet, amidst this maelstrom, a singular figure stood out—the Chairman of the Korean Hunters Association, Go Gunhee. With a thunderous crash, he burst through the room's door, shards of splintered wood scattering like confetti in his wake. His entrance was an awe-inspiring display of sheer force, an embodiment of his unparalleled status within the Korean Peninsula.
In the midst of the pandemonium, the Chairman calmly approached me. His towering presence radiated an aura of authority and power that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. He was one of the few individuals in all of Korea capable of standing unwavering before a newly christened S-ranker.
"I would strongly advise you to cease this display," he intoned with a deep and commanding voice, his words carrying an irrefutable weight. "Before this entire building succumbs to your overwhelming might."
As the Chairman spoke, I tore my gaze away from the scene of chaos I had inadvertently caused. With a deep breath, I reined in my surging power, allowing the brilliant azure aura to recede.
The people around me, except for the A-ranked Chief, remained sprawled on the floor, unconscious and overwhelmed by the sheer force of my magic.
"Would you mind joining me for tea in my office, Mr. Haneul?" Chairman Go inquired, his tone serious and measured. "I believe we have much to discuss."
"Of course, Chairman Go," I replied, my voice steadier now. "I would be honored to share a cup of tea with you."
Soooooo, this is my first evern FanFic, tell em what you think and if you liked it :) and please by any means leave a comment and if you really want to make me happy a review