D-Rank Guides

D-Rank Guides - 1

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##1

The first Esper appeared about fifty years ago in Washington. Mark Johnson was the very first. His arrival was enough to leave the public utterly stunned. The moment he emerged from the rubble of a collapsed building, cradling his wife in his arms and walking slowly forward, it was nothing short of shocking.

Inside the noisy restaurant.

With a freshly poured shot of soju in hand, he stared intently at the television screen. A documentary about Espers was playing.

Among the flood of documentaries on the same subject, this one stood out as a masterpiece, which likely explained why it was so often rebroadcast.

Even he, unintentionally, had seen it over ten times. At this point, he had watched it so many times that he could practically recite what scenes would come next and what narration would accompany them.

At first, people celebrated Johnson's bizarre abilities, hailing the arrival of a superhuman.

But what happened next was even more astonishing. Starting with him, people all around the world began to appear—people who could wield extraordinary powers.

As the documentary shifted from showing Mark Johnson's photographs and footage of him using his powers, it began showcasing various others.

Some could fly through the skies, those who could control water and fire at will, and those who emitted strange lights that could collapse a building in a single strike.

Back then, they were simply called "superhumans," but now, everyone knows they are referred to as "Espers."

The emergence of these superpowered individuals thrilled the entire world.

But it wasn't long before that excitement faded. A sinkhole suddenly formed in the middle of Washington, and strange lifeforms began to emerge from it, attacking people. The situation quickly devolved into a desperate fight for survival.

Now, the documentary showed chaotic footage filled with monstrous shrieks and screams. The very first time a Gate had opened. People stood, dumbfounded, staring at the sudden sinkhole—only to be attacked by monsters surging out of the Gate. If memory served correctly, the number of casualties that day approached a thousand. It was inevitable. Ordinary human bodies simply couldn't outrun or withstand monsters.

It was Mark Johnson, along with other emerging superpowered individuals across the U.S., who managed to deal with the monsters pouring out of what would come to be known as the Gate.

With physical abilities several times greater than the average person, and extraordinary powers at their disposal, they fought and subdued the monsters. These days, as soon as a Gate opens, Espers rush inside to eliminate the threats within. Today, we call these individuals 'Espers.'

Grand, sweeping music played. The television broadcast sharpened in quality, the visuals becoming clearer—signaling that the timeline was drawing closer to the present. The faces of countless Espers flashed across the screen. Then, familiar faces began to appear.

His expression twisted into a grimace. It happened the moment Cha Jae-woo's face appeared, almost as if the entire documentary had been prepared just to feature him.