Jay's journey begins with the prosaic need to pay rent, driving his decision to awaken as a hunter on his 20th birthday. Unlike most, he foregoes college, instead pooling his meager savings to hire a veteran party for his first dungeon dive into the goblin-infested Alpine Square. His inaugural kill is a messy, instinct-driven affair, culminating in the appearance of his status window and the mysterious 'Absorption' skill. The party leader, accustomed to common abilities, misinterprets Absorption as a passive MP or HP recovery, leading Jay to believe it's a useless skill unless paired with another mana-consuming ability. This initial disappointment fuels his relentless grinding against goblins, but his rapid leveling soon plateaus at Level 10, highlighting the limitations of his current approach and the inefficiency of his misunderstood skill, leaving him frustrated and searching for a new strategy in a world built around predictable power progression.

Stuck in a porter role with a veteran team, Jay's leveling slows significantly, reaching Level 21 as he observes his teammates' polished strategies. However, routine shatters when a mutant hobgoblin, a creature of unprecedented power, appears in the Alpine Square boss room, brutally obliterating his entire team in seconds. Jay, witnessing the horrific spectacle, is forced into a desperate, solo battle for survival, employing explosive charges and environmental manipulation to defeat the monstrous foe. Upon its demise, the 'Absorption' skill activates, revealing its true, game-changing nature: the ability to absorb the defeated monster's skills, granting him 'Swordsmanship'. This revelation transforms his perception of his unique power, now a trump card of unimaginable potential, but also a dangerous secret he must guard from a world that would undoubtedly exploit it.

Jay's journey takes him to the bustling capital, where he trains in the Lexington Wolf Dungeon, gaining 'Combat Magic [Fire Summoning]' through Absorption. His unique skills catch the eye of Abby, a D-Class Hunter, who playfully uncovers his 'Absorption' secret but pledges to keep it. This newfound confidence is brutally shattered when two seemingly friendly D-Class hunters, Talia and Cori, betray him in the Troll Dungeon, dismembering him for his loot. Jay's new skill, 'Self Regeneration', acquired from a troll, activates in his near-death state, allowing him to mend his severed limbs. Fueled by rage and a thirst for revenge, he hunts down his betrayers, mercilessly killing them and absorbing Cori's 'Spacial Magic [Item Storage]' and 'Inspect [Special Grade]', marking his first kills of fellow humans and a dark turning point in his understanding of the world.

Seeking a new, more powerful sword, Jay encounters Briana, a high-level blacksmith and underground boss, who challenges him to fight in the "Rumble Dome" to pay for his custom blade. There, he battles Xavier and the formidable champion, Theodore, discovering his new sword's "wild spirit" which compels him to lethal action. He triumphs, absorbing 'Appraisal [Special Grade]' and 'Conceal', the latter allowing him to manipulate his public status. This pivotal moment not only grants him immense power but also forces him to confront the moral ambiguities of his strength and the brutal nature of the underground world. He realizes the necessity of strategic secrecy and begins to plot his path towards the C Class exams and the enigmatic Labyrinth, leveraging his newfound ability to control his public image.