The First Portal

Kyren Kyll, a 15-year-old teenager, is home alone. His parents are at work.

As he walks toward the kitchen, a portal suddenly appears.

Surprised — since it’s the first time he has ever seen one in real life — he freezes. He had only seen portals on television, but he knew exactly what they meant. The government strictly forbids anyone without a hunter diploma from entering a portal or clearing one.

But curiosity… that was something else.

He wanted to see monsters with his own eyes.

Even knowing how dangerous portals were — even knowing that many hunters died inside — he stepped in anyway.

And this portal was only level 1.

The moment he entered, a message appeared: his ability had activated.

A mysterious ability allowing him to clear a portal with only 5 monsters instead of 10.

Five monsters immediately rushed at him.

Despite having no experience at all, Kyren kept a remarkably calm mind. Blow after blow, movement after movement, he eliminated them one by one.

Five kills.

Five experience points.

Since each monster gives 1 point, and you need 10 points to level up… Kyren immediately understood: clearing portals would be far easier for him than for anyone else.

When he finished, the portal vanished.

And Kyren realized he only needed five more level-1 monsters to reach level 2.

But he couldn’t just enter portals outside — not without a diploma.

Two days later, he’s at the park with his parents.

At some point, he decides to go to the bathroom.

And as he’s alone inside, another level-1 portal appears.

He grins.

This is my lucky day.

He enters.

The same message appears — the dungeon contains only five monsters thanks to his ability.

Just like the first time, he eliminates the five monsters.

But this time…

He levels up.

Kyren reaches level 2.

And right in that moment, something becomes clear to him:

He is already ahead of the kids his age.

When he enters the Academy, he will be ahead of everyone else.