Emergency Room – Libeus City Hospital
Nurse: "Doctor Roy, it''s an emergency!
Dr. Roy (lifting his head from paperwork): "What now?"
Nurse: "The patient… he''s back."
Dr. Roy (brows furrowed, voice sharp):
"Who?"
Nurse (panting): "Beno Mark. He survived."
For a second, the room fell into silence. Then, Dr. Roy shot up from his chair, nearly knocking over his coffee. His heartbeat spiked as if he had just seen a ghost.
Dr. Roy: "Move! Out of my way!"
He bolted down the hallway, past stunned nurses and patients, his footsteps echoing through the corridors.
---
Hospital Ward – Beno''s Room
Beno Mark (grinning weakly):"Hey, Doc."
The moment Dr. Roy saw him, a wave of relief, anger, and disbelief crashed into him.
Dr. Roy (furious): "You reckless idiot!"
Beno barely had time to react before Dr. Roy grabbed him by the collar.
Dr. Roy: "Do you have a damn death wish?! Sneaking into a dungeon without telling anyone?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
Beno, still groggy, winced at the intensity in Roy''s voice.
Beno Mark (rubbing his head): "Uh… sorry?"
Dr. Roy: "SORRY?! Look at yourself! Do you even see how wounded you are?! Every damn time, you come back looking worse!"
Beno looked down at the bandages wrapped around his arms and chest. He hadn''t even realized the extent of his injuries.
Dr. Roy (exhaling, voice softening): "…I swear, kid. You pull another stunt like this, and I''ll personally break your legs. You''ll be stuck at home for the rest of your life."
Beno (shocked): "Wait, what—?!"
Dr. Roy (smirking): "Test me."
The nurses in the room stifled laughter, nodding in agreement.
Beno (defeated sigh): "Understood, Doc. I''ll behave."
---
Luna''s Arrival
As the tension settled, the door creaked open.
Luna walked in—silent, carrying a small bag of apples.
She didn''t say a word.
She simply sat beside Beno, peeling an
apple with careful, deliberate movements.
Beno Mark: "Hey, Luna."
No response.
Beno Mark (softer): "Luna?"
She continued peeling, but her hands trembled.
Beno Mark (guilt creeping in): "I… I should have told you about the dungeon."
A single tear fell onto the apple''s surface.
Luna (voice shaking): "You… you weren''t breathing."
Beno stiffened.
Luna (sniffing, still peeling): "You were ice cold, covered in blood… if I hadn''t brought a healing potion…"
Her voice broke, and the knife in her hand slipped, cutting her finger.
Beno (panicking): "Luna!"
He grabbed her hand, inspecting the small wound.
Luna (tears falling freely now): "I thought I lost you."
Beno felt a strange tightness in his chest. He wasn''t used to people crying over him.
Slowly, he took her bandaged hand and squeezed it gently.
Beno Mark (softly):"I''m sorry. For making you worry."
Luna nodded, biting her lip.
Beno Mark (smiling weakly): "But I''m not dying anytime soon."
Luna wiped her tears and punched his arm lightly.
Luna (pouting): "You better not."
---
Libeus Investigation Team – Arrival
Just as the moment settled, two men in black suits entered the room.
Their presence was cold, professional, and suffocating.
Man 1 (calm but firm): "Beno Mark?"
Beno turned his head, instantly recognizing their uniforms—Libeus Dungeon Investigation Team.
Man 2 (nodding):"We''re glad to see you alive and well. May we have five minutes of your time?"
Before Beno could answer, Luna stood up, glaring.
Luna: "Are you serious?! He''s injured! He needs rest, not questioning!"
Beno (raising a hand):"It''s fine, Luna."
The investigators exchanged glances before stepping closer.
Investigator 1: "We''ll keep this short. We need details about the dungeon you entered."
Investigator 2: "A Cursed Dungeon, reportedly D-rank, 4 hunters who entered… died." Except you !?
The room fell into silence.
Investigator 1:"Yet, you—an unawakened—walked out alive. And according to reports, the boss was a C-rank monster, a Houndler."
Beno''s fingers twitched as fragmented memories flashed in his head.
He saw blood.
He saw Houndler''s burning eyes.
And then—nothing.
His mind went blank beyond that.
Investigator 2 (lowering voice):"Who killed the boss?"
Beno''s lips parted, but no answer came.
Because he didn''t know.
---
Closing Scene
The room''s atmosphere grew heavier.
The investigators leaned in slightly, watching Beno''s every reaction.
Investigator 1: "Mr. Mark, did you—personally—slay the Houndler?"
Beno''s heartbeat pounded in his ears.
The truth was… he couldn''t remember.
But somewhere, deep in his mind, he felt something stirring.
Something watching.
And for the first time, he heard a voice—not his own—whispering from the depths of his soul.
???:"Glory of the Dead."
Beno''s breath hitched.
Something was very wrong.
Consumed by Darkness
Beno Mark sat in silence, his thoughts swirling in an abyss of shadows.
The voices in his mind whispered, low and haunting.
"Glory of the Dead…"
"Rise…"
A cold shiver ran down his spine. His body felt like it was sinking, drowning in something unseen. His breath grew shallow as dark tendrils coiled around his consciousness, dragging him deeper… deeper…
"What is this?"
A strange pressure bore down on him, like a heavy weight pressing against his chest. His vision blurred, and for a brief moment, he felt as if he was standing on the edge of something monstrous… something ancient.
Then—
SNAP.
"Mr. Mark?"
The firm voice of the investigator yanked him out of his daze.
Beno snapped his head up, eyes wide, realizing he had completely spaced out.
Investigator 1 (sternly): "Mr. Mark, are you alright?"
Beno let out a breath he didn''t realize he was holding.
Beno Mark (shaking his head): "S-Sorry… I was just lost in thought."
The two investigators exchanged glances before nodding.
Beno''s Explanation
Investigator 2 (calmly): "Can you recount what happened in the dungeon?"
Beno rubbed his temples, piecing together the fractured memories.
Beno Mark: "I… I remember entering the dungeon. It was supposed to be a simple one, but then… something went wrong."
His fingers twitched as he recalled the sheer terror of facing the Houndler.
Beno Mark (lowering voice): "I saw… a vision of my brother. Renizo Mark. And then… I was dying."
Luna tensed beside him.
Beno Mark: "I remember the hounds tearing into me. I collapsed, my vision blurred… and the next thing I knew, I woke up in Luna''s arms."
He exhaled, frustration evident in his eyes.
Beno Mark: "That''s all I know."
The investigators were silent for a moment, taking notes. Then, one of them looked up.
Investigator 1: "Would you be willing to take a mana test?"
Mana Test – What It Means
Beno Mark (blinking): "Mana test?"
Before the investigators could explain, Luna stepped in.
Luna: "It''s a device that measures the mana flow in your body."
Beno turned to her, intrigued.
Luna (continuing): "If your mana level is higher than the average person, you''re officially recognized as ''Awakened.'' It''s a standard procedure done in hospitals when a kid turns ten."
Beno''s expression shifted—he remembered Renzo''s mana test as a child. His brother had been overjoyed when his mana flow barely exceeded the Awakening threshold.
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Taking a deep breath, Beno nodded.
Beno Mark: "Alright. Let''s do it."
The investigator pulled out a small, silver device and placed it on Beno''s wrist.
For a few moments, nothing happened.
Then—
BEEP!
A soft glow surrounded the device, and the screen displayed a rapidly increasing number.
Investigator 2 (impressed): "Congratulations. You''re officially Awakened."
Beno''s heart pounded. He had expected the result, but… hearing it felt surreal.
Investigator 1: "Do you see anything unusual? Like a status window, health bar, or system interface?"
Beno frowned.
Beno Mark: "No… I don''t see anything."
The investigators exchanged glances again.
Investigator 2: "That''s strange… Normally, those who awaken either naturally or through high mana exposure get access to the System interface."
Investigator 1 (handing a card): "If you ever notice anything unusual, contact us immediately."
Beno took the card, still lost in thought.
Luna''s Explanation – The System''s Rules
As the investigators left, Beno turned to Luna.
Beno Mark (serious tone): "What''s this about status windows? And why don''t I have one?"
Luna hesitated for a moment before sighing.
Luna: "Status windows aren''t given to everyone. They mostly appear when someone encounters a Double Dungeon or is forcibly tied to a Dark System."
Beno raised a brow.
Beno Mark: "So those people become… overpowered?"
Luna nodded.
Luna: "In a way, yes. They are given specific quests or tasks to complete, and their abilities grow at an unnatural rate."
Beno exhaled.
Beno Mark: "But for people like you and other hunters… it''s different?"
Luna smiled, peeling another apple.
Luna: "Exactly. We awaken normally, and our strength increases through training and experience. Killing monsters increases our mana flow, and over time, we can push our rank higher."
Beno tapped his fingers against the bed.
Beno Mark: "So rankings… how do they work?"
Luna leaned forward.
Luna: "The ranking system is based on overall mana density. Hunters start from F-rank and climb up. Once you reach C-rank, you unlock a new ability—Inventory."
Beno''s eyes widened.
Luna (grinning): "It''s a special function that lets you store weapons, potions, and other items. And the more mana you gain, the more visible the system interface becomes."
She stretched her arms.
Luna: "That''s why S-rank hunters can instantly tell who''s weaker or stronger."
Beno processed everything. It was a lot to take in.
But there was one lingering question.
Beno Mark: "So… how do I know what my rank is?"
Guild Master Franky''s Arrival
A deep, gruff voice cut through the room.
"By taking a Mana Stone test at the Guild."
Both Beno and Luna turned.
Standing at the doorway was a tall, muscular man with a scar across his nose and sharp, fox-like eyes.
Luna (surprised): "Guild Master Franky?!"
Franky let out a booming laugh.
Franky: "Hoohoho! You still listen to me, huh? Good."
Beno stared at him cautiously. There was something off about this man.
Then—Franky''s golden eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief second, Beno felt something prying into him.
His core.
Franky''s expression shifted.
A strange look passed over his face—like he had just seen something he wasn''t supposed to.
Franky (calmly): "Beno Mark, you should join my guild."
Beno blinked.
Beno Mark (startled): "Wait—what?"
Franky grinned.
Franky: "You''re Awakened now. I''d be happy to have someone like you in my guild."
Luna''s eyes widened in excitement.
Luna: "Really?! He can join?!"
Franky chuckled, crossing his arms.
Franky: "Of course. I always welcome talented people."
Beno''s heart pounded.
He clenched his fists, feeling a new sense of determination rise within him.
"This is it… My dream of becoming stronger is finally within reach."
"I can save Renzo."
With a deep breath, Beno looked up—fire burning in his eyes.
Beno Mark (firmly): "I accept.
Guild Master Franky''s Condition
Franky crossed his arms, his grin unwavering.
Franky: "Before you get ahead of yourself, kid, you need to pass the guild ranking test."l
Beno Mark tensed.
Beno Mark: "Guild ranking test?"
Franky nodded.
Franky: "Once you recover, come to the Guild Hall. There''s a special device for newcomers. It measures your true combat potential and assigns you a rank."
Beno absorbed the information, then clenched his fists.
Beno Mark (determined):- "Fine. I''ll do it."
His eyes burned with resolve.
"Just you wait, Renizo… your brother is coming to save you."
Franky chuckled.
Franky:"Good. That''s the spirit."
---
Doctor Roy''s Revenge
Just as the conversation ended, a new voice cut in.
Doctor Roy: "Alright, alright, enough talking. Now it''s my turn."
Beno turned just in time to see the smug doctor holding a large syringe.
His eyes widened in pure horror.
Beno Mark: "W-Wait… what is that?!"
Doctor Roy adjusted his glasses.
Doctor Roy: "An injection, of course. You''ve been exposed to all sorts of bacteria and infections in that dungeon. We need to make sure you''re healthy."
Beno took a step back, his confidence instantly crumbling.
Beno Mark: "W-Wait a second! I''m awakened now, right?! That means I have healing abilities! I can heal myself! There''s no need for an injection!"
Franky let out another booming laugh.
Franky: "Nope. That''s not how it works, kid. If you want to join the guild, you have to follow basic medical protocols."
Beno''s face paled.
He looked at Luna, betrayal written all over his face.
Beno Mark: "Luna! Help me out here!"
Luna smirked.
Luna:"uffff, this is your punishment for making me worry all the time."
The nurses and other patients in the room burst into laughter.
Beno groaned, realizing there was no escape.
Beno Mark (muttering): "This isn''t fair…"
Then—
Doctor Roy jabbed the needle into his arm.
Beno Mark: "AHHHHHH!"*
Luna and the others only laughed harder.
Despite his complaints, Beno found himself smiling.
For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of warmth.
Surrounded by laughter, teasing, and companionship—
It wasn''t just survival anymore.
It was a new beginning.
---
[End of Chapter 7]
As Beno grumbled about the injection, a small, almost unnoticed smile crept onto his face.
Doctor Roy, Luna, Franky, and even the other patients were laughing, teasing him.
For so long, he had forgotten what this felt like—being part of something, being cared for.
His mind had always been consumed by thoughts of Renzo, the pain of his past, and the nightmares of that horrific day.
But now…
Even if just for a moment, he felt like himself again.
The old Beno Mark—the confident, happy one—was still inside him.
And thanks to these people, he was
starting to remember that.
---
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