A decade has passed since mysterious portals called Gates began appearing across the world, connecting Earth to dungeons filled with ferocious magical beasts. To combat these threats, certain humans have awakened supernatural abilities and become known as Hunters, warriors who raid dungeons for a living. The strongest are revered as national treasures, while the weakest struggle to survive.

Sung Jin-woo is an E-rank Hunter, the lowest possible tier, and is derisively called the weakest hunter of all mankind. He barely scrapes by taking on the most dangerous jobs in low-level dungeons, needing the money to pay for his mother’s hospital bills and his sister’s tuition. During a routine raid inside a double dungeon that should have been well within his party’s capabilities, Jin-woo and his companions stumble upon a massive, ancient temple filled with towering stone statues that radiate divine fury. A brutal trial ensues, and most of the party is slaughtered. Jin-woo, on the verge of death, is presented with a mysterious floating window called a Quest Window, offering him a chance to become a Player in a game only he can see. He accepts, and wakes up in a hospital bed fully healed.

Jin-woo soon discovers he has been granted access to a unique leveling system, turning his life into an RPG. Unlike every other hunter whose power is fixed at their awakening, Jin-woo can grow stronger indefinitely by completing daily quests and defeating monsters to earn experience points. He begins secretly raiding dungeons, hiding his explosive growth from the Hunter’s Association. As he levels up, he gains incredible strength, speed, and a mysterious shadow army that he can summon to fight by his side. His rise from the weakest E-rank to a formidable force does not go unnoticed, drawing the attention of other powerful hunters, some curious and others hostile. He must navigate deadly high-rank dungeons, uncover the origin of the Gates, and confront the architects of the system that gave him a second chance, all while protecting those he loves from the shadows that are beginning to stir. The live-action adaptation starring Byeon Woo-seok as Sung Jin-woo is in production for Netflix, with co-directors Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo attached to the project.