The Mortal Evolution

"System, I'm ready for a Job Change! Use the Job Change Crystal right now."

[Understood Host!]

[Initiating process for Job Change.]

[Sending Host's performance data to Main Unit.]

[Choosing the most suitable Job for the Host.]

Hao-Yun's body emitted a bright golden and white light.

It was like a human was about to ascend to Godhood.

He opened his eyes amid this phenomenon and saw that he was surrounded by clouds. Below him, many beings radiating with golden light were conversing. When he looked upward, Hao-Yun saw that his head was on fire, but he couldn't feel anything, no pain, no sensation.

Slowly, that fire spread. It covered his whole body, yet not a single trace of his skin burning could be seen.

After a few moments, the fire got completely absorbed in his body, the clouds dispersed, and Hao-Yun found himself back in his room.

[Job Change Successful.]

[Congratulations, Host!]

[New Job: Ephyreon (??? Rank) ]

[Ephyreon: gives no particular stats boost, but allows the user to learn all kinds of skills and abilities of other Jobs.]

"Why's there a question mark instead of the Rank name? And what does it mean by this Job gives no stats boost?"

"Did I really ruin my only chance to become stronger?"

"Now that I think it could be either the worst kind of Job that isn't worth mentioning or the Best Job available."

"To prevent all kinds of situations, I should assume I received the worst one."

"But wait... ability to learn skills from other Jobs doesn't sound that bad."

"Why do weird things always happen to only me?"

Growl...

"Oh! Just remembered, I didn't eat anything for 3 straight days."

"But why don't I feel like starving or something?"

[That's because the time limit was different in both Dimensions, 3 days of the 2nd Dimension were almost equal to a single day of the 1st Dimension.]

"System! I didn't ask you?"

"Wait! 3 days equals 1? In other words, if I delayed the quest, you would have given me to the demons."

"What great audacity you have to trick your Host?"

***

"Hmph! Anyways, let's eat something first..."

Hao-Yun opens his Refrigerator to eat something, but...

"What the... Where's all the stuff gone? Why's my refrigerator empty?"

"Shit! Didn't I stop going to my part-time job? I can't return to it now."

"Better find a new job, otherwise, I'll really die of starvation this time."

Even though he had become this strong, Hao-Yun didn't have anything to eat. He couldn't think of any work that could give him instant money.

He also didn't have any savings since he barely made it to the end of the month until now.

For tonight, he somehow managed to sleep without eating.

While he saw dreams of eating good food, the night passed, and the morning star rose.

Hao-Yun was determined to get a job today. He stepped out of his apartment, walked on the street to see if any shops were recruiting part-timers.

However, the scene he saw was something else completely...

Aaaahhhhaaa...

Noooooo...

Run for your life...

Leave this damn country right now...

Iyaaaaaaa....

"What is this? Why are all these people running like crazy?"

"Did something happen again?"

He looked upward and saw that a countdown was going on in the large System screen.

"System, what's that? Why is there a countdown going on?"

[Answering to Host, Korea has crossed its deadline to complete the National Level Task, so the System is running a countdown and will permanently neutralize 100 people every 5 minutes of delay.]

[Warning: If the countdown reaches a certain limit, Korea would be wiped out just like Egypt.]

"The situation has become so dire? Why didn't you tell me before?"

[It doesn't concern Host.]

"What do you mean it doesn't concern me? What if I got selected among those 100 random people and got killed?"

[Host doesn't have any special skill to help in this task, besides Host has higher System Affinity compared to other people, so Host's chances of getting selected are zero, but if the delayed time hits its limit, then whole Korea, including Host, will be neutralized.]

"So dangerous?"

"This means I have no choice but to watch this chaos."

"Forget about the job, I don't think I can even watch tonight's stars."

Hao-Yun couldn't do anything in this situation except hope that the Korean Government somehow completes this insane task.

"This is like we are in a war."

At that time, a man barely younger than Hao-Yun trips on the ground. He was wearing ultra-expensive-looking clothes, shoes, and a diamond watch, like a second generation of an ultra-wealthy family.

"Hey, are you okay? What happened? Why are you running like this?"

"Can't you see?! I'm trying to leave this country right now?"

"Do you think you will make it on time? Is there any guarantee you won't die after leaving Korea?"

"Then what am I supposed to do? Both my parents completed their individual Tasks but still died after getting selected among those 100 random people."

"Even I have barely a few hours left to complete my Task."

"Tell me! What should I do? Wait for my own death?"

Hao-Yun was feeling troubled. This was the first time Humans were driven to the corner by some external force.

"Hmm... don't worry, I'll help you!"

"You'll help me? How?"

"I'll help you complete your task before the deadline."

"What? This isn't the time for joking. Even if you say that, why would I believe you?"

"Are you sure you are okay with this type of attitude? You're going to die in a few hours anyway, there's no problem in trusting a person who is giving you a hope to survive."

"Besides, I have already completed 2 Tasks."

"Really?"

"And here I am, can't even complete a single Task."

"Okay, now stop sulking and tell me about your Task."

"Actually, don't tell, write it word for word on paper."

"Ah... But where would we find paper in this chaos?"

"Don't worry, let's go to my place, we will find everything required to complete my Task there."

"Your place? sure..."

Hao-Yun walked with the young man to his place.

"Holy God, Heavens, why are you so unfair?"

"Is such a gap between 2 humans of the same age really possible?"

Hao-Yun was lost for words after seeing what this young man called 'My Place' was actually bigger than any King's Castle.

"Let's go, Mr..."

"Hao-Yun."

"Oh! Let's go, Mr. Hao-Yun."

"What's your name, by the way?"

"Oh-O... Where's my manners... I am Jiwon, Sung Jiwon."

"Well then, Jiwon, write on a paper, what Task did you receive?"

"Yes!"

[Task (Epic): Solve the Divine Puzzle]

[Rewards: Job Change Crystal(Epic), Restore lost stats, Random increase in all stats(Maximum4)]

[Penalty: Lose all Strength.]

[Time Left: 6 hours]

"Doesn't it seem like this guy's Luck is broken?"

"Compared to me, his Tasks have a lot of rewards, and what's with this Epic Grade Job Change Crystal?"

"Even when I completed the Hidden Task, my Job Change Crystal was of no rank."

"Doesn't that mean I'm a fly compared to this guy?"

"Just look at that pathetic penalty. I am risking my life in normal Tasks, while this guy is just going to lose his strength upon failure of an Epic Task."

"It makes me want to abandon him."

"But! I won't fall so low..."

"So, dear Jiwon... what's this Divine Puzzle you have solved?"

"Yes, Mr. Hao-Yun, here it is."

The Puzzle was large, radiating silver light, but other than that, it wasn't any special.

"What's divine to it, its shiny silver color?"

The Puzzle wasn't so much of a hurdle even for a person like Hao-Yun.

He completed it in just 1 Hour.

"Ahem-Ahem, listen Jiwon, it's not like I'm too dumb or anything, it's just because of the size of this puzzle, it took me so much time."

"Haah... Mr. Hao-Yun... Solving the Puzzle itself isn't much of a problem, but..."

"But what?"

Suddenly, the Puzzle begins radiating fiercer than ever. Both Hao-Yun and Jiwon were sucked into it.

"Ouch-Ouch-Ouch...."

"Ugh... Mr. Hao-Yun, can you please get off me..."

"Ah, sorry-sorry, it's my bad."

"Still, what is this place?"

"This greenery, this lake, there's no sun, but still, everything is so bright..."

"This place is completely different from the Puzzle."

"Who dares to invade my lands?"

(Thump-Thump)

"What's with this voice? So loud?"

"So, it's you, again?"

"Human, I warned you never to step again in this place, yet you are here to seek death."

"Wait! Mr. Unknown, I can't see where you are, but this isn't Jiwon's fault; it was me who brought him here."

"No matter whose fault it is, you will receive punishment for invading my lands."

"So hard-headed..."

"Jiwon, what's with your Task? Why did we sucked in the Puzzle?"

"Mr. Hao-Yun, after completing the Puzzle, the Task will be completed when I eat a Rainbow fruit of this land."

"Rainbow Fruit? Just by name, I can tell how precious it must be..."

"Looks like I was wrong to think his luck is broken."

"Mr. Unknown, we didn't come to invade your lands, we just need a Rainbow Fruit, surely, it wouldn't be a big deal for being like you."

"Courting Death! Rainbow Fruit isn't a big deal? That's the main reason mortals always stay mortal."

"If you hadn't said you are coveting my Rainbow Fruit, I still would have let you leave, but I won't... anymore."

"Looks like buttering people don't always work..."

"Eat this!"

CRACK!

BOOM!

The Unknown entity summoned a large lightning bolt and struck Hao-Yun. It made sounds so large that it could burst eardrums.

A sand cloud was formed around them. It was too hard to see exactly what happened to Hao-Yun and Jiwon.

Did Hao-Yun's prophecy of not being able to see tonight's stars really come true?