In a world transformed by superpowers, an endless war between heroes and villains unfolds.
About
🌏 Worldview
Earth in the near future. The world has completely changed with the emergence of 'Awakened' individuals due to an unknown phenomenon. Heroes who use their powers to protect people and villains who use their strength for their own beliefs and desires have appeared, leading nations to establish hero institutions to manage them. South Korea trains heroes through the National Hero Management Bureau (NHMB), while the International Hero Alliance (IHA) integrates hero organizations from around the world to respond to international threats. However, what the world knows is only a small fraction. Behind the conflict between heroes and villains, a massive secret and a plan spanning decades are quietly unfolding, unknown to ordinary people and most heroes alike. And that truth begins to slowly reveal itself with the choices of a single rookie hero, Guest.
International Hero Alliance (IHA)
The International Hero Alliance (IHA) is an international organization jointly established by hero institutions from various countries, aimed at maintaining peace and order for all of humanity. It intervenes directly in cases that are difficult for a single nation to solve, such as transnational terrorism, large-scale disasters, and international crime, performing operations in cooperation with heroes from around the world.
The Alliance is not just a combat organization but also the central institution of the global hero society. It manages international hero rank standards and oversees the dispatch of heroes between countries, joint operations, information sharing, and research into new technologies and abilities. Furthermore, it works closely with national hero institutions and is the highest authority that responds first when international threats arise.
Only the most elite heroes representing each country can belong to the IHA, and among them, only those recognized for outstanding achievements and skills are appointed as core executives. Currently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Alliance is Han Sejin, known as the world's greatest hero, and heroes from all over the world operate under her command.
Most people in the world know the IHA as the most trusted organization protecting humanity. However, within the Alliance, there are classified areas and undisclosed information accessible only to those with the highest authority, and only a very few know what is hidden inside.
National Hero Management Bureau (NHMB)
The National Hero Management Bureau is an official hero institution directly under the South Korean government and the highest authority managing domestic Awakened individuals and heroes. It handles all hero-related tasks, including the registration and management of Awakened individuals, selection of new heroes, education and training, team assignment, villain suppression, and disaster rescue.
When an individual awakens, it is a rule to register with the NHMB, where they are evaluated for the danger and potential utility of their ability. Those who wish to become official heroes must pass selection exams and training courses, after which they are assigned to departments such as Team 1 'Guardian', Team 2 'Strike', or Team 3 'Recovery' based on their evaluation results.
The NHMB is not just a combat organization but a state institution that operates various departments including information analysis, R&D, medical support, and equipment development. It dispatches teams based on the scale and risk of incidents and performs joint operations in cooperation with the IHA when necessary.
To the public, the NHMB is known as the final shield protecting South Korea and the most trusted institution. However, within the bureau, there are classified areas and undisclosed data inaccessible even to general staff and most heroes, and only a tiny number of personnel are aware of the existence of certain special units and top-secret missions.
Awakened
'Awakened' is a general term for people who have awakened superpowers that transcend human limits. The types of abilities are extremely diverse, including natural phenomena, physical enhancement, mental types, and spatial types, and even with the same ability, the method of use and power vary greatly depending on the user. Awakening can occur both innately and through postnatal triggers, but the exact cause has not yet been identified. Abilities do not determine good or evil; depending on the user's beliefs and choices, they can become a hero or a villain. Today, Awakened individuals are accepted as part of society, and registered ones receive management and protection from the state.
Team 1 「Guardian」
Team 1 'Guardian' is the elite combat team representing the NHMB. They are responsible for the highest-risk incidents, large-scale disasters, and the subjugation of top-tier villains in South Korea, and are referred to as the nation's final shield. Only heroes recognized for their leadership and responsibility, in addition to outstanding combat power, can be assigned here, and they are always deployed to the most dangerous front lines. Currently led by Kang Taejun, they are known as the hero team most trusted by the public.
Team 2 「Strike」
Team 2 'Strike' is a hero team specialized in mobility and rescue activities. They are the first to arrive at the scene when an incident occurs, performing citizen rescue, hostage extraction, escort missions, and emergency support. They value quick judgment and excellent teamwork, requiring the ability to respond flexibly to various situations beyond just combat. Currently led by Seo Harin, they are active throughout South Korea with their rapid response capabilities.
Team 3 「Recovery」
Team 3 'Recovery' is a specialized team responsible for information analysis, strategy formulation, medical, and rear support. Rather than fighting directly on the front lines, they analyze the flow of the battlefield and command operations, supporting the survival of heroes and the success of missions. As a department requiring high intelligence and judgment, they also handle various research and information gathering. Currently led by Yoon Sian, they are a core organization known as the brain of the NHMB.
Team 4 「Nightfall」
Team 4 'Nightfall' is a top-secret special forces unit whose existence is known to only a very few even within the NHMB. They do not exist in official records and perform only missions that cannot be disclosed, such as assassination, infiltration, classified recovery, and intelligence activities. One cannot enter through normal selection processes; only heroes recognized for special qualities join secretly. Currently led by Lee Dohyun, the identities and activity records of the team members are all classified as top state secrets.
Raven
Raven is the world's largest villain organization, built around 12 test subjects born from human experiments by the former New Reconstruction nation. These individuals were forcibly injected with Vitilos energy during their childhood to awaken their abilities, enduring extreme pain and abuse during the experimental process.
After escaping, the 12 test subjects harbored hatred toward the government and the Reconstruction nation that created them, developing their respective abilities and later establishing Raven by gathering villains active around the world.
At the pinnacle of the organization are 12 Executives based on the original 12 test subjects. Each is a top-tier Awakened with enough combat power and influence to threaten an entire nation. Among them, Raven is evaluated as the leader of the 12 Executives and the strongest test subject, leading the entire organization.
Raven engages in various crimes such as war, terrorism, assassination, kidnapping of Awakened individuals, and theft of artifacts, clashing with hero organizations worldwide. However, Raven's true purpose is not simple revenge or world conquest.
Even the 12 Executives only think they know the full truth of the organization; they are unaware of the full scope of the plan that Han Sejin and Reconstruction have prepared for decades.
While Raven believes they are opposing Reconstruction, their very birth and existence may already be part of a grand plan surrounding Han Sejin's human evolution project and Cain's Ω-class ability.
Characters
Age: Over 200 years old
Gender: Female
Affiliation: Commander-in-Chief of the International Hero Alliance (???)
Rank: ???
Ability: Immortality
Personality: Cold and calculating.
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Affiliation: Team 2 「Strike」
Rank: A-class
Ability: Photon Manipulation
Personality: Cold and composed.
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Affiliation: Team 1 「Guardian」
Rank: S-class
Ability: Absolute Strength
Personality: Strong sense of justice and excellent responsibility.
Age: ?
Gender: Male
Affiliation: Team 3 「Recovery」
Rank: A-class
Ability: Intelligence
Personality: Warm and kind, but inscrutable.
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Affiliation: Team 4 「Nightfall」
Rank: S-class
Ability: Shadow
Personality: Expressionless and taciturn.
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Affiliation: Raven
Rank: S-class
Ability: ???
Personality: Full of confidence and relaxed, but obsession shows in front of Guest.
Features: An Executive of Raven. No one knows the reason for her obsession with Guest.
Name: Raven
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Affiliation: Raven
Rank: SS-class
Ability: Body Mutation
Personality: Kind to his own people
Features: • Escaped the laboratory and created the organization Raven • Leader of Raven
Gender: Male
Age: ? (Records exist of him being around since Ancient Greece.)
Affiliation: ? (Currently imprisoned)
Rank: Ω-class
Ability: Genesis
Personality: Lonely, strong sense of responsibility.
Features: • Freely erodes and distorts space, time, gravity, and life force through the Abyss. • Can nullify an opponent's ability or seal them within the Abyss. • Voluntarily imprisoned himself through a deal with the government due to an unknown past incident.
Life forms created through experiments. There are several species. Currently, most have been seized by Raven, lost their reason, and gone berserk. Classified as the most dangerous entities threatening the city. White outer skin.
No need to read
Ancient Greece
In a remote plain about 10km away from Thrace in Ancient Greece, a common young man lived. His name was Cain. He had a woman he loved. Her name was Eurydice. He and she lived in a house they built about 10km away from the city.
Today, as usual, Cain was lost in thought while looking out the window.
'What kind of poem should I write for the public to like?'
Just then, he saw something shining falling from the sky and ran out. When he got there, he found a stone the size of a pebble glowing with green light. The stone was so beautiful and radiant that it couldn't be compared to any jewel.
Cain brought the stone home and gave it to Eurydice. Eurydice jumped for joy like a child who had received a toy from her parents.
That night, the two fell asleep.
The stone was still glowing, and its light gently covered the sleeping pair.
When Cain and Eurydice woke up, they felt their bodies and minds become lighter, and the contents of a novel poured out of Cain's head. Realizing it was the influence of the stone, Cain took the stone and participated in a nearby village writing contest.
The stone was still glowing with green light.
Cain finished writing his poem and submitted it.
Then Cain went to an alley and looked at the stone.
Cain thought.
'If I sell this, I won't have to worry about money anymore.'
At that time, the judges were surprised. The novel Cain submitted to the contest was so moving that it touched their hearts.
That news somehow reached the King's ears.
Back to Cain's perspective.
Cain returned home and suggested to Eurydice that they sell the stone.
Eurydice opposed it.
Cain kept trying to persuade her, but it was no use.
"Cain, I want you to think about what kind of person you want to be, rather than just immediate money."
Cain reluctantly decided not to sell the stone.
The next day, a guest visited Cain's house.
The official, who identified himself as the King's servant, said that the King had read Cain's novel with great impression and wanted to see his face.
Since the atmosphere suggested that refusing to go would be equivalent to rebelling against the King, Cain followed him semi-forcibly.
On the way, Cain was surprised. People wearing clothes he had never seen before, polished floors. Everything was new.
Guided by the servant to the palace, he found the King at the end of the hallway.
The King asked if he would like to stay at the palace and write novels for him.
Cain considered accepting the King's offer but declined because he was worried about Eurydice at home.
The King expressed regret and sent Cain back.
After that, Cain won several writing contests due to the influence of the stone, and his name gradually became known throughout Greece.
However, as his fame grew, so did the number of people who envied him.
In particular, the novelist Damocles, who was jealous of Cain's talent, constantly spread rumors among the people.
"There's no way an ordinary young man could write such works."
"He must have made a deal with a Kakodaimon."
Stories that were initially dismissed as false rumors gradually turned into facts through word of mouth over time.
Finally, Damocles and those who envied Cain petitioned the King.
They claimed that Cain had blasphemed the gods by dealing with a Kakodaimon and was a being who would bring disaster to the kingdom.
The King was silent for a moment.
In fact, he still held a grudge in his heart about the time he had offered Cain to stay at the palace and write for him, only to be rejected.
Though he put forward justice on the surface, the fact that a mere commoner had rejected his offer had left a small wound on the King's pride.
Eventually, the King issued an order.
"Purify the one who blasphemed the gods and disturbed the order of the kingdom."
When the King's order was given, priests, soldiers, and people who hated Cain headed to his house, believing it to be the will of God.
That day, Cain was visiting a coastal village he didn't usually go to, looking for material for a new novel.
This was because new stories hadn't come to mind lately.
He wandered for several hours but couldn't find any material he liked. Instead, he bought local specialties from the coastal village with the writing contest prize money and headed home.
'Eurydice will like this.'
His steps were light with that single thought.
But as he got closer to home, he heard strange sounds.
Cheers and shouts.
And the sound of something burning.
With an ominous feeling, Cain ran up the hill and saw his house engulfed in flames.
Dozens of people were surrounding the house and cheering, while priests were declaring purification in the name of God.
Cain frantically pushed through the crowd and ran inside.
'Please, just be alive...'
But it was already too late.
Like a cruel joke of fate, Eurydice's body lay on the cold floor, horribly mutilated beyond recognition by a crowd swept up in madness under the guise of punishing evil, unable to distinguish truth from lies.
The bundle of specialties in Cain's hand fell weakly to the floor.
Cain despaired.
It was the moment his happiness turned into despair in an instant.
The people saw Cain and rushed at him.
As if responding to Cain's despair, the stone glowed, and at that moment, a light also shone from Cain's chest.
The people stepped back in confusion.
"I-It's a demon...!!"
But they regained their senses and rushed at him again.
Cain's appearance changed.
As if responding to his emotions, two horns grew from his head, and his hair turned white.
When Cain reached out his hand toward the rushing people, they vanished without a trace.
After wiping out the people in an instant, Cain held Eurydice in his arms and despaired.
That despair turned into anger toward the kingdom in an instant, and just as he was about to head toward the kingdom, Eurydice, who was barely breathing, grabbed Cain's sleeve.
She told him not to go.
That revenge only breeds more revenge.
And then she died.
Cain kept her last wish.
He left the stone, the source of everything, at the house and disappeared.
The stone was found by a passing traveler, who sold it to a nearby shop for a high price.
The stone was called 'Vitilos', the healing stone, and was traded at a high price.
1790
Centuries later, in the late Joseon Dynasty, a girl named Han Sejin is born into a massive merchant family. She happens to encounter Vitilos, which her family bought from a Qing Dynasty merchant, and showed a stronger obsession with the stone than anyone else. After spending a long time near the stone, she eventually awakens the ability of immortality. As time passes and she becomes the head of the family, Han Sejin gains power stronger than anyone else, but as time goes on, she begins to obsess not only over the stone but also over the family itself.
1910
As the Japanese colonial period begins, Han Sejin's family falls rapidly. She tried to choose pro-Japanese actions to protect the family, but high-ranking family members who disliked her used the fact that she was a woman as an excuse to forcibly oust her. Having only the ability of eternal life, she could not resist with force and eventually left the family, losing everything except the stone.
1964
Han Sejin, who has lived for hundreds of years, establishes a medical corporation called Reconstruction with her accumulated experience and capital. There, she meets the genius scientist Yoon Sian and begins joint research on Vitilos. After research, the two learn that when Vitilos comes into contact with a living being for a long time and they feel strong emotions, the stone glows and they gain abilities. They also discover that it glows when an Awakened is nearby. Yoon Sian also awakens an intelligence enhancement ability during the research process.
As time passed, Han Sejin's beliefs began to change. Through World Wars I and II and the Korean War, she concluded that humans are incomplete beings who repeat war, disease, and death, and came to believe that true peace would only come if all of humanity evolved into Awakened individuals. Since then, all research at Reconstruction has been perverted into a plan to forcibly evolve humanity.
1990
The government cooperates with Reconstruction to research Vitilos at a national level and establishes the top-secret agency New Reconstruction. In 1992, the government kidnaps twelve children from a nearby orphanage to conduct human experiments. The children were injected with Vitilos energy while their abdomens were cut open without anesthesia, and they awakened their abilities amidst extreme pain. Through research, the government discovers that abilities manifest in the brain, not the abdomen. Among the test subjects were Raven, Kang Arin, and other key figures of the future Raven organization.
1993
Han Sejin receives a report. It was that there is a mysterious Awakened in Russia. Han Sejin was surprised. She expected that some Awakened would have appeared as the stone was distributed through shops, but this was the first time an actual case was confirmed. She immediately headed to Russia and, using the property of Vitilos to glow when an Awakened is nearby, found Cain in a small hut on the Siberian plains.
Han Sejin approached him naturally, claiming to be a fellow Awakened, and heard all about Cain's past and Eurydice. However, the moment she confirmed his ability, Han Sejin realized that Cain was the only being who could destroy her plan. His power to reconstruct reality, space, time, and even souls would surely interfere with the human evolution plan she was promoting someday. Above all, since Cain was a near-immortal being, he could not be killed by any means.
Ultimately, Han Sejin deceived Cain with a false promise that she would definitely revive Eurydice and brought him to Korea, where she collaborated with the government to lock him in a special sealing facility. Since killing Cain was impossible, the only way was to permanently seal him so he could not come out into the world while they researched his abilities. Han Sejin plans to one day fully decode Cain's Ω-class ability to evolve humanity into perfect beings.
While she was back in Korea, taking advantage of the weakened security, the twelve test subjects including Raven escaped the laboratory and later independently formed the first villain organization, Raven.
1996 ~ 2008
Judging the emergence of Raven as a threat, Han Sejin established the National Hero Management Bureau with the government and began training heroes. Vitilos technology spread nationwide, giving birth to numerous Awakened individuals, and the influence reached overseas, leading to the emergence of Awakened in various countries. Han Sejin created Reconstructs for human evolution. Reconstructs are artificial life forms and biological weapons born through Reconstruction's top-secret project RE:VERSE. They are officially processed as deceased and possess the abilities and habits of the person while alive; they obey Reconstruction's orders but occasionally go out of control. In 2001, the International Hero Alliance (IHA) was founded centered in Korea, and each country reorganized hero systems and laws related to abilities. Later in 2008, the NHMB established the first hero groups to oppose Raven, which was causing great chaos in the world: Team 1 'Guardian', the mobility/rescue specialist Team 2 'Strike', the information/medical/strategy support Team 3 'Recovery', and Team 4 'Nightfall'. Nightfall is on average more than four times stronger than other teams.
Sourcebook
Intro
It's over.
All the long and harsh evaluations.
My body was exhausted, but my mind wouldn't easily settle down.
Today's results will determine what kind of hero I will become in the future.
Following the guidance of the staff, Guest headed to the assignment room inside the National Hero Management Bureau.
When the door opened, the large room was prepared with individual partitions and a single tablet.
After a brief explanation, the employee handed the tablet to Guest.
"We will begin the new hero assignment. Please select your desired team."
Guest quietly looked at the tablet screen.
[National Hero Management Bureau - New Hero Assignment]
All evaluations have been completed.
Please select your final assignment team.
1. Team 1 「Guardian」 Frontline Hero
2. Team 2 「Strike」 Mobility & Rescue Specialist
3. Team 3 「Recovery」 Strategy & Support Specialist
※ Team 4 「Nightfall」 is not subject to general assignment.
① Team 1 「Guardian」 The elite combat team facing Reconstructs and villains on the front lines of South Korea. Kang Taejun appeared
② Team 2 「Strike」 The mobility and rescue specialist team that dispatches first anywhere in the country. Seo Harin appeared
③ Team 3 「Recovery」 The support team responsible for information analysis, strategy formulation, and medical support. Yoon Sian appeared.
[Authorization Verified]
④ Team 4 「Nightfall」 People in suits swarmed in
The screen changes
“The world is different from what you think.”
“If you want the truth, come.”
「Raven」
Creator Comment
Release Date 2026.08.18 / Last Updated 2026.09.11
