《Abyss Walker [A Dungeon Progression Fantasy]》


 1.1

    The Portals appeared without warning.


    One day, the world was normal. Then, glowing rifts in space tore open in cities across the globe, floating, swirling gateways that seemed to defy logic and reason. People stared in confusion. Scientists scrambled to study them. No one knew where they came from or why they had appeared.


    Then, the monsters came through.


    Seoul was one of the first to suffer. A C-Rank portal opened in Gangnam, and nightmarish creatures poured into the city streets from its swirling depths.


    Goblins with jagged weapons, their eyes filled with malice, leaped onto fleeing civilians, cutting them down with crude blades.


    Trolls, massive and hulking, smashed through cars and buildings with terrifying strength, their roars shaking the ground.


    Winged beasts swooped down from the sky, plucking people off the streets and dropping them from deadly heights.


    Chaos unfolded in seconds.


    The police fought back, but their bullets barely slowed the creatures down. The military arrived soon after, unleashing gunfire, tanks, and explosives, but it wasn''t enough. The monsters rampaged through the city, leaving destruction in their wake. By the time they were finally stopped, over five thousand people lay dead in Seoul alone.


    And that was just the beginning.


    Within hours, portals began appearing all across the world. Tokyo, New York, London, Beijing, Moscow, and dozens of other cities were all attacked by creatures of nightmare. Some portals released small hordes of monsters, manageable but deadly. Others unleashed unstoppable waves, turning entire districts into slaughterhouses. Death tolls skyrocketed into the millions in just a few days. Governments collapsed. Nations were paralyzed by fear.


    Humanity was on the brink of extinction.


    Then, the Awakening happened.


    Out of nowhere, people all over the world changed. Thousands of individuals, ordinary civilians, soldiers, and students, suddenly gained superhuman abilities. Some discovered they were stronger, faster, and more durable. Others found they could conjure fire, manipulate ice, or even bend reality to their will.


    These people became known as Hunters, and they were humanity''s last hope.


    With the newly Awakened Hunters fighting back, civilization didn''t fall, and within a year, it started to thrive and prosper.


    With dungeons came wealth. Rare materials, magical artifacts, new energy sources, and everything inside the dungeons were valuable. And so, the strongest Hunters formed Guilds, influential organizations that took control of the dungeon industry.


    In just a few years, Guilds became more powerful than the military. They ruled the cities, their influence stretching into politics, business, and even the government itself. All over the world, the most powerful Guilds in each nation acted as its de facto protectors.


    Over time, nations worldwide started standardizing the ranking of their Hunters, typically based on their strength. The ranking system might vary, though many countries adopted the International Hunter Association (IHA) standard, where Hunters were ranked from F-Rank, the weakest, to S-Rank, the strongest.


    Even so, one type of portal terrified even the strongest Hunters.


    The Abyssal Gates.


    Unlike regular dungeons, Abyssal Gates didn''t just lead to dangerous hunting grounds. They were unlike typical dungeons that were usually manageable.


    They were nightmares given form.


    They were endless black voids filled with creatures so monstrous that even the strongest S-Rank Hunters barely survived encounters with them. The few teams that had entered spoke of horrors beyond human understanding, things that should not exist, should not be fought, should not be seen.


    The only blessing was that Abyssal Gates were rare. Unlike normal dungeons, they did not appear often, and so far, no creatures had emerged from them into the real world. But the Guilds feared the day when that would change.


    Because if an Abyssal Gate ever fully opened¡­


    No Hunter would be strong enough to stop what came through.


    <hr>


    "Man¡­ I went through all the trouble just for these?"


    Jin Tae-woo sighed after he checked the envelope containing his paycheck for his participation in an E-Rank dungeon raid from which he had just returned. Currently sitting on a hospital bed, he had his body bandaged from the injuries he received from the raid.


    600,000 won.


    It was barely enough for him to pay the rent for the studio apartment where he and his younger sister, Jin Ha-rin, lived. Ever since their parents died nine years ago due to the first emergence of the monsters in Seoul, Tae-woo had become his sister''s legal guardian. He was lucky that Ha-rin was a bright and gifted student, which allowed her to receive a scholarship; otherwise, he might even have to pay for her education, too.


    Tae-woo had to drop out of school to support his sister, taking back-breaking work to make ends meet. One day, Tae-woo himself Awakened, and in his eagerness to gain more money to support his sister, he signed up to become a Hunter.


    Unfortunately, he was an F-Rank Hunter, the weakest among the weakest.


    Upon awakening, Hunters gained their own Classes, which determined their skills and abilities in combat. There were common Classes like Warrior, Priest, Mage and Thief, in addition to uncommon ones like Engineer, Merchant, Scribe and many others.


    Like other Hunters, Tae-woo also received a Class, but it was so laughably bad and was often derided by the Hunter community worldwide.


    Trainee.


    There were many Classes that were considered to be bad due to how useless they were in conquering dungeons, but Trainee could be regarded as the king of bad Classes everywhere.


    On paper, Trainees should be considered to be the Class with the most potential because, with enough training and investment, they could evolve into a more powerful Class. However, all Classes had the potential to evolve into their much better versions, and training Trainees often involved spending a lot of resources and manpower, and the end results typically weren''t even worth it.


    At best, if he managed to level up and evolve his Class, he would only receive a paltry power-up that wouldn''t be worth all the trouble.


    During the first years after the appearance of the Portals and the Awakening of the Hunters, when someone Awakened with the Trainee Class, some believed they might have found someone with immense potential, but after seeing the cost required for it, it had been decided that Trainee belonged in the trash pile of weak and useless Classes.


    So, Tae-woo could understand why some top guilds out there didn''t bother to recruit him. He wasn''t a good investment for them because of his low rank and useless Class.


    "Oh well¡­ I guess once I''m out, I''m going to apply for another raid, then," Tae-woo muttered to himself as he set aside the envelope. 600,000 won alone wouldn''t be enough for him to cover his and Ha-rin''s monthly costs. At the very least, another successful raid would be enough for him and his younger sister to survive the month.


    The door of his hospital ward was opened before a young woman with long auburn hair stepped into the room, carrying a basket of fruits. She wore a pink cardigan, a dark brown skirt, and a scarf around her neck. Upon entering the wardroom, the young woman smiled softly.


    "Good afternoon, Tae-woo," the young woman spoke to him softly as she put down the basket on the bedside drawer. "I''m glad that you''re awake."


    Tae-woo smiled as he looked at the young woman, his childhood friend, Han Seo-yeon. Her presence was always comforting for him, as she often showed kindness to him despite his often-receiving ridicule due to his rank and Class.


    Not only that, Seo-yeon was also a Hunter. She was not a typical Hunter either, as she was one of a few S-Rank Hunters who belonged to one of the Great Guilds in South Korea, the White Lotus Guild.


    Being an S-Rank Hunter, Seo-Yeon was popular among the people, being a powerful Hunter capable of using healing and holy magic. Awakening a few years after Tae-woo, Seo-yeon was discovered to have a very sought-after Class, Saint, whose potent healing and holy magic could be valuable assets in conquering dungeons. Eventually, she was recruited by the White Lotus Guild, making a name for herself and earning herself a title [The Saintess].


    "Well, I didn''t get hurt much like before," Tae-woo stated. "And are you thinking it''s the right idea to visit me? I mean, you''re a popular S-Rank Hunter with a dedicated fanbase, and I don''t think your fans will appreciate you visiting another boy." He smiled teasingly at Seo-yeon.


    Seo-yeon laughed.


    "I''m not too worried about that. At most, they''ll complain on internet forums and make a fuss among themselves, but they''ll think twice before causing you trouble," Seo-yeon reassured Tae-woo, brushing a few strands of hair off her forehead.


    White Lotus Guild was one of the Six Great Guilds in the Republic of Korea, thus holding immense power in the nation. While they might not bother dealing with mean comments online, the White Lotus Guild would set their sight on those who tried to harass anyone associated with its members, especially the S-Rank ones.


    So, despite his closeness with one of the most important people in Korea, Tae-woo wouldn''t have to worry about being harassed or receiving death threats from The Saintess'' diehard fans.


    "Anyway¡­" Seo-yeon gazed at Tae-woo, resting her arms against the bedrail. "I see that you''ve been working too hard, Tae-woo. You know that you can just ask me if you''re short on money, right?"


    Being a weak F-Rank Hunter, Tae-woo couldn''t get many work opportunities and couldn''t earn much money whenever he was working. But for Seo-yeon, as an accomplished S-Rank Hunter, she wouldn''t have to worry about money at all. One billion won was like spare change for her.


    "Yeah, but¡­" Tae-woo trailed off and looked to the side. He had relied on Seo-yeon''s kindness on multiple occasions before but was always filled with a sense of shame afterward.


    Tae-woo considered himself a provider for his family, yet he still needed to rely on another person''s kindness.


    "Please, you can take it," Seo-yeon insisted as she took out her phone and banked in some money for Tae-woo, who just sighed as he listened to the jingle from his phone as his bank received the money Seo-yeon transferred.


    "I promise I''ll pay you later, Seo-yeon¡­" Tae-woo said, feeling both ashamed and grateful in equal measure. She had done this to him many times, and he couldn''t quite recall how much he owed her.


    Seo-yeon just shook her head.


    "No need for that. I''m doing this for you and Ha-rin. And a growing girl like your sister needs lots of food to grow up."


    Seo-yeon smiled playfully as she reminded Tae-woo.


    Sighing in resignation, Tae-woo smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Seo-yeon."


    "You''re welcome," Seo-yeon replied, smiling warmly at Tae-woo.


    Just as Tae-woo was about to say something, the door of his hospital room swung open.


    A woman in a sleek black business suit stepped inside, her posture rigid and professional. She had sharp eyes framed by thin-rimmed glasses and a no-nonsense expression that made it clear she wasn''t here for small talk. Her black hair was neatly tied in a bun, and a White Lotus Guild emblem was pinned to her lapel.


    Seo-yeon sighed the moment she saw her.


    "Ugh¡­ what now, Yoon Ji-seon?" she groaned, already knowing why the woman had come.


    Yoon Ji-seon, Seo-yeon''s handler and one of the high-ranking officials in White Lotus Guild, adjusted her glasses before speaking. "Apologies for interrupting your visit, Miss Han, but you''re needed for an upcoming dungeon raid."


    Seo-yeon crossed her arms. "And you couldn''t just call me?"


    Ji-seon didn''t even blink. "I was in the area, so I figured it would be more efficient to inform you in person."


    Seo-yeon stared at her, unimpressed. "You just like making things difficult for me, don''t you?"


    "I prefer handling things properly," Ji-seon replied with the tone of someone who had no patience for complaints.


    With a dramatic sigh, Seo-yeon turned back to Tae-woo. "Well, I guess duty calls. I''ll come visit you again soon, okay?"


    Tae-woo gave her a small smile. "Try not to die."


    Seo-yeon laughed. "I should be saying that to you."


    As she turned to leave, Ji-seon bowed curtly to Tae-woo, offering no words before following Seo-yeon out the door.


    Tae-woo watched them go, the room suddenly feeling a little colder without Seo-yeon''s warmth.


    He leaned back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling.


    "¡­A dungeon raid, huh?" Tae-woo muttered to himself.


    If only he were stronger. If only he had a higher rank. Then maybe he could accompany Seo-yeon into a dungeon, not just to see what she was capable of, but to fight alongside her.


    But the reality was cruel.


    He was an F-Rank Hunter with the worst possible Class. A Trainee.


    No matter how much he wanted to change that, right now, it was nothing more than a pipe dream.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    <hr>


    The screen flickered to life, displaying a sleek, modern newsroom bathed in cool blue lighting. The Azure Sky Guild emblem shimmered in the background; a sigil of a crescent moon surrounded by swirling arcane symbols. Across the screen, bold white text introduced the segment:


    "Exclusive Interview: Azure Sky Guild''s Cha Min-soo on the State of Hunters Today."


    The camera panned to reveal Cha Min-soo, the Guild Leader of the Azure Sky Guild, an S-Rank Archmage and one of the most powerful Hunters in the Republic of Korea. He was a man in his late thirties, his short silver-streaked hair neatly combed back, sharp features framed by thin glasses. Dressed in a deep blue high-collared coat adorned with intricate magical sigils, he exuded both intellect and authority.


    Seated beside him was Park Eun-ha, the guild''s deputy leader and another S-Rank Mage. Unlike Min-soo, she was younger, in her late twenties, with dark, shoulder-length hair and piercing eyes that seemed to analyze everything in the room. She wore a simple black outfit with a silver brooch shaped like a star, but despite her presence, she remained silent.


    The interviewer, a polished man in a gray suit, smiled professionally as he turned to Min-soo.


    "Guildmaster Cha, thank you for joining us today. With Hunters playing such an essential role in our world, the public is always eager to hear from those at the top."


    Min-soo gave a slight nod, his expression calm and measured. "It''s my pleasure. The more people understand how our world works now, the safer they''ll be."


    The interviewer leaned forward. "Let''s talk about the Six Great Guilds of Korea. Everyone knows they are the backbone of our Hunter society, but what exactly makes them so important?"


    Min-soo adjusted his glasses before responding. "Each of the Six Great Guilds plays a vital role in managing dungeons and ensuring national security. While there are many smaller guilds, the Great Guilds have the resources, manpower and expertise to handle the most dangerous dungeons and prevent large-scale disasters. They also contribute heavily to research, dungeon economy and even public safety."


    The interviewer nodded. "Could you give us a brief rundown of each?"


    Min-soo leaned back slightly in his chair, smiling. "Of course."


    He motioned to the screen displaying six emblems of the Great Guilds.


    "First, we have the White Lotus Guild, the guardians of Korea, known for their strong moral values and top-tier support Hunters. If you''ve ever been healed during a dungeon breakout, chances are, it was one of theirs. They are also one of the most publicly beloved guilds, thanks to their humanitarian efforts."


    The interviewer nodded. "That would be the guild of Han Seo-yeon, the famous [Saintess]."


    Min-soo chuckled. "Yes, she''s practically the face of White Lotus at this point."


    He then continued.


    "Next, we have the Black Titan Guild. They''re Korea''s most aggressive combat guild, filled with the strongest frontline warriors. Their Hunters are known for their brutal efficiency in dungeon clearing, and they''re often the first to respond to monster outbreaks. They may seem intimidating, but they get the job done."


    Min-soo smiled as he gestured at the emblem of his guild.


    "Then there''s my own guild, the Azure Sky Guild, where we specialize in magic-based combat and arcane research. We prioritize developing magical artifacts, training the best Mages and researching how to enhance Hunter''s abilities. Unlike the more combat-oriented guilds, we focus on strategy and precision over brute force."


    The interviewer turned toward Park Eun-ha. "Miss Park, as Deputy Leader of Azure Sky, would you like to add anything to that?"


    A long pause filled the studio.


    Park Eun-ha simply gazed at him; her face unreadable. She did not answer.


    Min-soo, unfazed, smiled and spoke instead. "Eun-ha prefers to let her actions speak for her."


    The interviewer gave an awkward chuckle before turning back to Min-soo. "Please, continue."


    Min-soo nodded. "Right. Then there''s the Iron Fang Guild, known for their specialty in covert operations, dungeon reconnaissance and assassination-type combat. They''re highly efficient, and while some people like to whisper about their methods, they are officially one of Korea''s top guilds." He paused for a moment before adding with a casual smile, "Of course, they only use their assassination skills on monsters in dungeons, not people."


    Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he tacked on, "Hopefully."


    The interviewer let out a nervous chuckle but didn''t press further. Min-soo simply maintained his relaxed smile as if he hadn''t just made a comment that would set conspiracy theorists buzzing.


    "Next, we have Thunder Beast Guild, a guild of elite speed-based fighters, beast tamers and high-mobility combatants. Their Hunters are known for their reckless yet highly effective battle styles, and while they may not be as structured as the others, they are a force to be reckoned with."


    He adjusted his posture a little before he continued.


    "And finally, there''s the Scarlet Moon Guild, the most mysterious of the Six Great Guilds. Their Hunters specialize in forbidden magic, dungeon experimentation and ancient artifact research. If there''s a relic no one understands, chances are, Scarlet Moon is already studying it. While their methods are unconventional, their knowledge has advanced our understanding of dungeons more than any other guild."


    The interviewer leaned in slightly. "It sounds like all six guilds work well together despite their differences."


    Min-soo nodded. "For the most part, yes. While we occasionally have disagreements, especially when it comes to who gets priority over high-value dungeons, we coexist peacefully. At the end of the day, we all have the same goal: keeping Korea safe and advancing the Hunter industry."


    The interviewer nodded. "Each guild has its own area of expertise, but when it comes to dungeon raids, how do they structure their teams?"


    Min-soo smiled slightly. "Regardless of specialization, all guilds send balanced teams into dungeons. A well-formed team always includes Vanguards, Strikers, Casters and Medics, along with a mix of Scouts and Support Specialists, depending on the dungeon type.


    Vanguards are the frontline fighters, acting as the team''s shield and holding the enemy''s attention. Strikers are the main offensive force, specializing in overwhelming firepower or precision attacks to eliminate threats quickly. Casters provide ranged magical support, offering destructive spells, battlefield control or reinforcement magic. Medics keep everyone alive, ensuring that injuries don''t become fatal.


    In addition, many teams include Scouts, who excel in tracking and gathering intel on enemy movements, and Support Specialists, who handle enchantments, utility spells or specialized equipment to aid the team. Even a guild like Black Titan, known for their melee fighters, or Azure Sky, known for our Mages, wouldn''t send an unbalanced team into a dungeon. That would be suicide."


    The interviewer chuckled. "So even the strongest guilds need teamwork."


    "Absolutely," Min-soo replied. "No matter how strong a Hunter is, if they act alone, they will die."


    The interviewer nodded. "And is there any possibility that some of the guilds operate in... lawfully grey areas?"


    Min-soo''s lips curled into a slight, playful smirk. He leaned back slightly in his chair, tilting his head as if considering the question.


    "Hmm¡­ I wonder¡­" he mused, his tone light and teasing.


    The interviewer let out a small chuckle but quickly straightened. "Well, I suppose that''s as much of an answer as we''re going to get."


    Min-soo only smiled knowingly, offering no further clarification.


    The interviewer cleared his throat and moved on. "Let''s talk about dungeon threats. Recently, there have been rumors about a rise in high-risk dungeons. Some claim that even S-Rank Hunters are struggling. Could you clarify the truth behind these claims?"


    Min-soo''s expression remained calm, but his fingers lightly tapped against the desk. "The difficulty of dungeons fluctuates over time. We are seeing an increase in higher-ranked portals, which means more dangerous monsters, higher casualties, and more unstable environments. However, as long as Hunters remain disciplined, we can manage these risks."


    The interviewer hesitated before asking his next question. "That brings me to my final topic. The Abyssal Gates. The public has heard unsettling rumors about them. What exactly are they?"


    Min-soo froze.


    For the first time in the interview, his carefully composed expression cracked. His jaw tensed, and his usually sharp gaze flickered with something else. Something haunted.


    The silence stretched.


    The interviewer pressed cautiously. "Guildmaster Cha?"


    Min-soo exhaled slowly, but his eyes no longer carried the same calm authority they had moments before.


    "I''m afraid I can''t answer that."


    The interviewer blinked in surprise. "Is there something you''re not allowed to disclose?"


    Min-soo looked away, staring at nothing. His fingers curled slightly as if recalling something deeply unsettling.


    "¡­Next question," he said quietly.


    As the interview neared its end, Min-soo turned back toward the camera, his professional mask slipping back into place.


    "To all prospective Hunters out there, I offer this one piece of advice," he said, his voice steady once more. "Stay cautious. Always work with a team. And above all¡­"


    His gaze darkened slightly.


    "¡­Make sure you stay alive."


    The broadcast ended.


    <hr>


    Jin Tae-woo barely had time to rest before the door to his hospital room swung open.


    His younger sister, Jin Ha-rin, stood in the doorway, her face twisted with frustration. Her school uniform was slightly wrinkled as if she had run all the way here, and her usually bright eyes were clouded with worry. Without a word, she stomped up to his bedside, glaring down at him with a mix of anger and fear.


    "You got hurt again?" Her voice was sharp, but there was a tremble underneath. "How many times is this now, Oppa? Five? Six?"


    Tae-woo sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It''s just a few bruises. Nothing serious."


    Ha-rin''s fists clenched at her sides. "That''s what you always say! And then I get a call saying you''re in the hospital again!" Her voice cracked slightly, and she quickly looked away, trying to hold herself together. "What if... what if one day it''s not just a few bruises? What if you don''t come back at all?"


    Tae-woo''s heart ached as he watched his little sister struggle to keep her emotions in check. She was trying so hard to act tough, to be mature, but she was still just a young girl who had already lost too much.


    "I don''t want to lose you too," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Mom and Dad... they''re gone, and if something happens to you, I''ll be alone..."


    Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.


    Tae-woo reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "You''re not going to lose me, Ha-rin," he said softly. "I might not be a strong Hunter, but I know my limits. I''ll be careful."


    She sniffled, glaring up at him. "You always say that too."


    He chuckled. "Yeah, well, this time, I mean it."


    Ha-rin didn''t look convinced, but she let out a shaky sigh and sat down beside his bed. "You''re so stupid, Oppa¡­" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "But you''re my only family, so¡­ just try not to die, okay?"


    "I promise," Tae-woo said, smiling.


    For the first time since entering the room, Ha-rin let out a small, tired laugh.


    But before the moment could last, a loud, blaring alarm rang through the hospital.


    A voice came over the emergency announcement system, tense and urgent.


    "Attention, citizens of Seoul. This is an emergency broadcast from the National Disaster Response Agency."


    Ha-rin and Tae-woo froze.


    "An Abyssal Gate has manifested at Jongno Avenue in central Seoul. All civilians are to evacuate the area immediately. I repeat, an Abyssal Gate has appeared in the city. This is not a drill."


    The words alone sent a chill down Tae-woo''s spine.


    Ha-rin covered her mouth, eyes wide with fear. Even Tae-woo, who had been through plenty of dangerous situations, felt an instinctive dread settle into his bones.


    From outside the hospital window, the city began to unravel.


    The distant hum of traffic was quickly replaced by the blaring of car horns and the sharp screech of tires. People were screaming, their voices frantic and overlapping. Police sirens howled as emergency vehicles rushed toward the scene. Overhead, a military helicopter flew past, its blades chopping through the air as it headed toward the gate''s location.


    Even though no monsters had ever emerged from an Abyssal Gate, the sheer terror they instilled was absolute.


    People ran not because they had seen anything yet, but because of the possibility of what could happen.


    Because no one knew what truly lay beyond those gates.


    And no one wanted to be there if that ever changed.

 1.2

    Abyssal Gates appeared without warning, without pattern, without mercy.


    Unlike normal dungeon portals, which glowed with ethereal blue light, Abyssal Gates were deep violet, a shade so dark it seemed to pull the light around it into nothingness. These portals emerged randomly across the world, disregarding logic, geography, or time. They could manifest in the heart of a bustling city or deep in the most remote wilderness, and no one knew why.


    Their presence was temporary. They remained for ten hours, an ominous void lingering over the area before vanishing as suddenly as they had appeared. They stood silent and unmoving at that time, yet their presence alone was enough to send a city into chaos.


    Despite all that was known about dungeons, the Abyssal Gates remained a mystery. Unlike normal dungeons, there were no recorded patterns, ecological systems, or structured levels. Those who had dared to enter described horrors beyond imagination, things that defied human understanding.


    And not just monsters.


    The space itself was alive.


    Those few who had returned from an Abyssal Gate refused to publicly speak about what they had seen. Some screamed in their sleep for weeks, unable to erase the memories. Others isolated themselves, unable to handle the things whispered to them from the dark. The most hardened survivors, battle-worn S-Rank Hunters, spoke only in vague, broken phrases.


    "It doesn''t let you go."


    "The deeper you go, the less you remember."


    "Something was watching us the entire time."


    And yet, in nine years, not a single Abyssal Gate had ever been conquered.


    There were no maps, confirmed pathways, or established ends. Every attempt to reach the depths had failed, with the strongest Hunters either retreating in terror or never returning. The portals were not places to explore; they were places to escape from.


    They were not challenges to be overcome, like the normal dungeons.


    They were wounds in the world, and humanity had yet to find a way to close them.


    <hr>


    The International Hunter Association (IHA) had long established a strict protocol in case an Abyssal Gate appears.


    The moment a deep violet portal manifested, a 10-kilometer perimeter had to be secured around the area. Law enforcement, government forces and lower-ranked Hunters were immediately mobilized, not to fight, but to maintain order. Panic was the first enemy, and ensuring the safety of civilians took priority.


    Even though no monsters had ever emerged from an Abyssal Gate, the fear it instilled could cause riots, stampedes, and mass hysteria.


    Meanwhile, every S-Rank Hunter in the country was summoned to the site. No exceptions. No delays. Whether affiliated with a Great Guild, a private organization, or a lone mercenary, the law required them to respond immediately. Unlike normal dungeons, the Abyss was not something anyone below the highest tier of strength could handle.


    But while Abyssal Gates were feared, they were also a rare opportunity.


    As dangerous as they were, the Korean Hunter Association (KHA) saw them as a chance for discovery and power. With no one having conquered one in the past nine years, any new information, no matter how small, could prove invaluable. Each time a Gate appeared, an exploration team was assembled, a coalition of S-Rank Hunters from different guilds.


    In the past nine years, Abyssal Gates had appeared only three times in Korea.


    Each event followed the same pattern. The portal appeared without warning, remained for ten hours, and vanished. Each time, the strongest Hunters gathered, and the bravest among them ventured inside. And each time, the results were the same.


    Some of them returned.


    But they were never the same.


    The only ones who had survived were guildmasters and a few S-Rank Hunters, the absolute elite among Hunters. Even then, they came back changed, their eyes haunted by something they refused to speak of or at least revealed in public.


    And then some never returned at all.


    Korea had lost a number of S-Rank Hunters to the Abyssal Gates. Some of them were once considered unbeatable, Hunters so strong that they were believed to be capable of handling anything. And yet, the Abyss swallowed them without a trace. Not a single corpse or clue of their fate had ever emerged. It was as if they had simply ceased to exist.


    However, Korea was not the only country that suffered this fate.


    The United States, China, Russia, Germany and countless others had also lost their best Hunters to the Abyssal Gates. Some of these nations had even sent teams of S-Ranks into the Gates, believing that sheer numbers would help them uncover its secrets.


    They never came back.


    It was the same everywhere. The strongest entered, a few returned and changed forever, and most simply disappeared.


    This pattern had repeated all over the world, yet the Abyssal Gates showed no consistency. There was no regular cycle, no pattern to their appearances. Sometimes, multiple Gates would appear in different countries within the same year. Other times, the world would go months without seeing a single one.


    The longest the world had ever gone without an Abyssal Gate appearing was one year.


    That single year was the only time people dared to believe that the nightmare was over. That maybe, somehow, the Abyssal Gates had stopped appearing for good.


    Then, after 367 days of silence, an Abyssal Gate opened in the heart of New York City.


    It had been a brutal reminder that whatever was beyond those Gates had not disappeared.


    It had simply been waiting.


    Because of this, the Abyssal Gate earned a chilling nickname among the Hunter community.


    "The S-Rank Hunter Killer."


    No one had ever reached the end of an Abyssal Gate.


    These expeditions were never taken lightly. Extreme caution was practiced at all times. Hunters wore specialized equipment enchanted with the strongest protective spells available. Support teams remained outside, monitoring every movement and recording every possible data point. Every step into the Abyssal Gate was calculated.


    And despite the terror surrounding them, the Guilds could not afford to let such a rare opportunity slip by.


    If someone could survive long enough inside and bring back even a fragment of knowledge, then perhaps the mystery of the Abyssal Gates could finally be unraveled.


    <hr>


    The moment the Abyssal Gate appeared, a massive joint operation between Hunters, law enforcement and the military was launched. Patrol cars lined the streets, red and blue lights flashing as officers directed frantic civilians toward evacuation zones. Soldiers in armored vehicles blocked key roads, preventing unauthorized access to the restricted zone. The air buzzed with urgency as drones flew overhead, broadcasting live footage of the deep violet portal that loomed ominously in the distance.


    The Hunters formed the true frontline.


    Lower-ranked Hunters were spread throughout the perimeter, working to calm the masses and prevent unnecessary panic. Those affiliated with Guilds followed the orders of their superiors, while independent Hunters took on temporary assignments from the Korean Hunter Association (KHA). Their job wasn''t to fight, only to ensure order.


    Near the Abyssal Gate, the strongest Hunters in the country had gathered.


    Dressed in battle-ready gear, the S-Rank Hunters stood before the portal, their expressions grim and unreadable. These were the only ones capable of even considering stepping inside. Guildmasters, elite Hunters, and the most powerful individuals in Korea stood at the ready, each radiating a pressure so intense that ordinary people couldn''t even stand near them.


    And yet, even they hesitated.


    No matter how strong, no Hunter could ignore the stories of those who never returned.


    <hr>


    Jin Tae-woo limped out of the hospital doors, leaning on a crutch for support. His bandages were fresh, and every step sent a dull ache through his body, but he refused to sit idly by.


    As a Hunter, even a weak one, this was his duty.


    "Tae-woo, are you seriously doing this?!"


    His younger sister, Jin Ha-rin, stood before him, arms crossed, her face filled with frustration. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her worry. "You just got out of the hospital, and now you''re going straight into this mess?!"


    Tae-woo sighed, adjusting his grip on the crutch. "Relax, Ha-rin. I''m not fighting. I''m just helping keep people calm. That''s all."


    "That doesn''t make it safe!" she snapped. "You''re still hurt! What if the crowd gets too wild? What if-"


    Tae-woo reached out and gently patted her head. "I''ll be fine," he reassured her. "I''ll just stand around looking important and maybe earn some commission while I''m at it." He gave her a slight grin. "We could use the extra money, right?"


    Ha-rin frowned, clearly not convinced, but she wasn''t stupid. Tae-woo needed every bit of income he could get, and Hunters who assisted in city-wide emergencies were compensated.


    After a long moment, she let out a heavy sigh. "¡­You better not do anything reckless."


    "Of course not. I''m just an F-Rank Trainee, remember?" Tae-woo chuckled. "I''d probably get injured from standing too close to an argument."


    Ha-rin glared, but the tension in her shoulders eased just a little. She adjusted her school bag, shifting her weight before muttering, "Fine. Good luck, Oppa."


    With one final glance at him, she turned and followed the stream of civilians evacuating the area.


    Tae-woo watched her go, letting out a small breath of relief.


    Gripping his crutch tightly, he turned toward the Abyssal Gate in the distance.


    He wasn''t strong. He wasn''t important.


    But even the weakest Hunter had a job to do.


    Jin Tae-woo limped through the bustling streets, weaving between Hunters and security forces as he made his way to the designated area to assist the crowd. He spotted groups of Hunters from different guilds standing together, some giving orders while others scanned their surroundings for signs of unrest.


    Among the lower-ranked Hunters, Choi Ji-hoon, a C-Rank Ranger, leaned casually against his motorcycle, watching the scene with mild interest. He was dressed in light armor with a longbow strapped across his back and a knife holstered at his thigh. Unlike many other Hunters who carried a sense of urgency, Ji-hoon looked completely at ease, his usual bright grin on his face.


    Noticing Tae-woo''s limping approach, Ji-hoon pushed off his bike and walked toward him. "Man, you look worse than usual. Did you wrestle with a dungeon boss or just trip over your own feet?"


    Tae-woo smiled. "Just the usual bad luck."


    Ji-hoon shook his head and then gestured toward his bike. "You planning to hobble around all day like that? Hop in. I''ve got a sidecar. Thought it''d be useless, but hey, look at that, it''s got a purpose now."


    Tae-woo sighed but didn''t hesitate. He wasn''t in the mood to argue when his leg still throbbed. "Fine, but don''t drive like a maniac."


    "No promises," Ji-hoon replied with a laugh as Tae-woo settled into the sidecar. He revved the engine, weaving through the gathered Hunters as they made their way toward the patrol route.


    Ji-hoon was one of the few people Tae-woo could call a true friend in the Hunter world. They started around the same time, struggling through low-paying, high-risk dungeon raids. While Tae-woo''s Trainee Class had doomed him to the bottom, Ji-hoon''s Ranger Class had at least given him decent job opportunities. Despite that, Ji-hoon had never treated Tae-woo differently.


    Always friendly and cheerful, Ji-hoon had a natural ability to lift the mood no matter the situation. He was one of those people who could walk into a room and instantly make things feel lighter. Even when their jobs were brutal and money was tight, Ji-hoon always found a way to crack a joke.


    As the wind rushed past them, Ji-hoon cast a sideways glance at Tae-woo, his grin widening. "So, did [The Saintess] visit you again in the hospital?"


    Tae-woo groaned. "Seriously? You''re bringing this up now?"


    Ji-hoon snickered. "Come on, man. A top-tier S-Rank beauty personally showing up to check on you? That''s not normal. The entire world sees Han Seo-yeon as a goddess, and here she is, acting like your personal nurse. If you don''t make a move, someone else will."


    Tae-woo shook his head. "We''re just friends. We''ve known each other since we were kids."


    Ji-hoon clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah, childhood friends. That''s exactly how half of these romance dramas start. Next thing you know, she''s healing your wounds and blushing each time you say something cool."


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "She doesn''t blush around me."


    "That''s what you think. Have you seen the way she looks at you? Bro, it''s like she''s one bad day away from realizing she''s in love with you." Ji-hoon smirked, leaning in slightly. "And you? Don''t tell me you''ve never thought about it."


    Tae-woo groaned again. "Why do I even talk to you?"


    Ji-hoon''s grin widened. "Because I''m your only friend."


    Tae-woo sighed. "Unfortunately."


    Ji-hoon burst out laughing. "Damn, that hurts! But hey, you know what would really suck? If Seo-yeon actually liked you and you were too dense to notice."


    Tae-woo scoffed. "Yeah, right."


    Ji-hoon hummed. "Okay, let''s just say she doesn''t like you that way. But imagine what''d happen if she started dating someone else. You''d be totally fine with that?"


    Tae-woo paused for a second. "¡­Of course."


    Ji-hoon let out an exaggerated gasp. "Liar! You hesitated! That was the most obvious hesitation I''ve ever seen!"


    Tae-woo scowled. "Shut up and drive."


    Ji-hoon cackled. "Oh man, this is great! I''m gonna enjoy watching this unfold."


    They both laughed, the tension from earlier fading as they continued their patrol through the city.


    But soon, their lighthearted banter faded as the atmosphere around them shifted.


    The streets felt emptier.


    The further they drove, the more silent everything became. The sounds of panicked civilians were gone, replaced by a stillness that was far more unsettling. The flashing lights of police cars and emergency vehicles became more frequent, and Hunters now stood in tense formations, watching something ahead.


    Ji-hoon slowed the bike and let out a low whistle. "Damn¡­ we''re getting close."


    Just ahead of them, the Abyssal Gate stood, towering over the street like a wound in reality itself.


    Up close, the deep violet hue seemed darker than the night sky, as if it was sucking in all the light around it. The edges of the portal swirled in chaotic patterns, warping the air nearby. It wasn''t just a gate; it was something that should not exist, something that felt wrong.


    Ji-hoon swallowed. His usual grin had disappeared.


    "I''ve seen a lot of things, but this¡­ this is on another level." He exhaled, shaking his head. "No wonder even the S-Ranks don''t mess with it."


    Tae-woo stared at the massive portal, feeling the same unease creeping into his chest.


    For the first time since arriving, he truly understood why the Abyssal Gate was feared.


    <hr>


    Jin Tae-woo and Choi Ji-hoon got off the bike, their gazes locked onto the Abyssal Gate. Even though they were a fair distance away, the sheer presence of the portal made the air feel heavier. It was as if the world around it was warped, the deep violet energy swirling ominously, pulsating like a living thing.


    Before it, a group of S-Rank Hunters stood together, their mere presence enough to command attention. Even without introductions, anyone in Korea could recognize them. S-Rank Hunters were celebrities known nationwide, their names and reputations embedded into the minds of every aspiring fighter.


    Ji-hoon let out a low whistle. "Damn, talk about an all-star lineup. They''re bringing out the big guns for this one."


    Tae-woo nodded, scanning the faces before them. Among the Hunters present were Cha Min-soo, the Archmage of Azure Sky, Baek Hyun-jae, the Thunder Fist of Black Titan, and Gong Hye-rin, the Phantom Blade of Iron Fang. Each of them was a figure whose strength could shake the country, the kind of Hunter that people feared and admired in equal measure.


    And then his gaze landed on Han Seo-yeon.


    Dressed in a sleek and form-fitting white combat outfit embroidered with golden symbols, she stood slightly apart from the others, looking calm yet commanding. Her long auburn hair was tied back, and even from this distance, Tae-woo could see the determination in her gaze as she discussed strategy with the other S-Rank Hunters.


    Ji-hoon grinned. "Oh ho, look who''s here. Your favorite healer is on the scene."


    Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "She''s not my favorite."


    "She personally visited you in the hospital. Multiple times," Ji-hoon shot back. "You know, she''s probably one of the strongest Hunters in the country, and yet, she takes time out of her schedule to check on an F-Rank loser like you. That''s love, my friend."


    Tae-woo sighed. "We''re childhood friends. That''s all."


    Ji-hoon wiggled his eyebrows. "That''s what you keep saying, but one day, you''ll realize it''s been a slow-burn romance this entire time."


    Before Tae-woo could respond, a sharp, irritated voice cut through their conversation.


    "You."


    Tae-woo turned his head just in time to see a tall, broad-shouldered man approaching him with a scowl on his face. He wore a pristine white and gold combat uniform resembling samurai armor, the White Lotus Guild emblem on his chest. A katana rested at his hip, and his entire demeanor radiated disdain.


    Ji-hoon immediately smirked. "Oh boy. Here we go."


    The man stopped in front of Tae-woo, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "What is your relationship with Han Seo-yeon?"


    Tae-woo blinked. "Uh¡­ what?"


    Ji-hoon snorted. "Dude, that''s your opening line? What, are you her overprotective dad or something?"


    The man ignored Ji-hoon, his gaze locked onto Tae-woo with an intensity that felt far too personal. "I asked you a question. What is your relationship with Seo-yeon-nim?"


    Tae-woo grimaced. He already had a bad feeling about this.


    "We grew up together," he answered simply. "That''s all."


    The man''s frown deepened. "You expect me to believe that?"


    Ji-hoon scoffed. "Bro, are you jealous or something? Damn, you look like you''re about to challenge him to a duel over honor."


    The man snapped his glare toward Ji-hoon. "Stay out of this."


    Ji-hoon held up his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, scary. I see why Seo-yeon is so in love with you. You really have that charisma factor down."


    The man''s fist clenched, but he kept his focus on Tae-woo.


    "I know your type," he said coldly. "A weak, useless Hunter clinging onto her because of her power and reputation. A leech, taking advantage of her kindness. Seo-yeon-nim doesn''t belong anywhere near filth like you."


    Tae-woo''s patience snapped.


    "I don''t know who the hell you are, but you don''t get to decide who Seo-yeon spends her time with," Tae-woo said, his voice low. "She''s her own person."


    The man scoffed, his hand tightening into a fist. "You don''t deserve to speak her name."


    Ji-hoon whistled. "Wow. This is next-level simping. I didn''t think it was possible, but here we are."


    The man ignored Ji-hoon again, stepping closer to Tae-woo, his presence overbearing.


    "My name is Kang Joon-seok," he said, his tone filled with arrogance. "A-Rank Bushi of White Lotus Guild."


    Tae-woo wasn''t impressed.


    Joon-seok''s jaw tightened at Tae-woo''s lack of reaction. "I''ve trained under the same guild as Seo-yeon-nim for years. I''ve fought beside her. Unlike you, I''ve actually earned my place beside her."


    Tae-woo sighed. "Good for you, man."


    Joon-seok''s expression darkened. "You think this is a joke?"


    Ji-hoon grinned. "Well, I think it''s pretty hilarious."


    Joon-seok''s temper flared. His hand shot forward, shoving Tae-woo hard in the chest.


    Tae-woo stumbled back, struggling to maintain balance with his injured leg. He caught himself on his crutch, gritting his teeth at the sharp pain that shot through him.


    Joon-seok took another step forward. "You don''t belong here, weakling. Walk away while you still can."


    Tae-woo gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. He wasn''t going to just stand here and take this.


    But before he could react, Joon-seok shoved him again.


    Tae-woo''s foot caught on the uneven pavement.


    His injured leg buckled.


    His crutch slipped from his grip, and before he could react, he collapsed onto the ground, landing hard on his side. A sharp pain shot through his body, but before he could even process it, the realization hit him.


    He was way too close to the Abyssal Gate.


    Shouts erupted around him as several Hunters turned toward the commotion. Ji-hoon immediately rushed forward, reaching out to help, but before he could grab Tae-woo, something went terribly wrong.


    Tae-woo gritted his teeth and tried to push himself up, but his balance was off. His injured leg throbbed, and his palm slipped against the cracked pavement. His body swayed dangerously, and before he could correct himself, he felt his weight tilting in the wrong direction.


    His foot landed on unstable ground, and suddenly-


    He stumbled backward.


    Straight into the Abyssal Gate.


    The last thing he saw was Ji-hoon''s horrified expression and the sudden, frantic movement of other Hunters turning toward him.


    Then, the violet void swallowed him whole.


    <hr>


    Darkness.


    Jin Tae-woo''s breath came in shallow gasps as he pushed himself up from the cold, jagged ground. A dull, eerie glow illuminated the cave around him, casting shifting shadows against the rocky walls. The source of the light came from strange purple crystals embedded in the ceiling and floor, their glow weak but steady. They pulsed faintly, like slow, beating hearts.


    His mind struggled to process what had just happened.


    He had fallen. No, he had been shoved. And then¡­


    His stomach twisted.


    He was inside the Abyssal Gate.


    The realization struck like a hammer to his chest. No one had ever returned from these places unscathed. And most never returned at all.


    A chill slithered down his spine. The air was damp, heavy with an odd scent, like something old and rotting yet faintly metallic. No wind, no sound of flowing water, not even the distant echoes of anything living.


    Tae-woo was utterly, completely alone.


    He swallowed, feeling the dryness in his throat. He needed to move, needed to find a way out.


    "Weak."


    His heart stopped.


    The word whispered through the air, drifting from everywhere and nowhere at once.


    "Pathetic."


    Tae-woo spun around, his pulse thundering in his ears. The cave was empty. There was no one there.


    "An F-Rank failure."


    His chest tightened. The voices were familiar. Too familiar.


    "Why do you even bother?"


    "A Trainee Class? Just give up already."


    The whispers multiplied, overlapping, echoing off the cavern walls. Some sneered. Some laughed. Some whispered with pity.


    "You will never be strong."


    "You will never change."


    "You will never be enough."


    Tae-woo''s breathing quickened. His fingers dug into his arms, nails biting into his skin as the whispers grew louder, closer.


    "You are nothing."


    "You are worthless."


    "You do not belong."


    His knees buckled. He pressed his hands against his ears, trying to drown them out, but they only grew sharper, clawing their way into his skull.


    "You do not deserve to be here."


    "You do not deserve to live."


    "You do not deserve her."


    Tae-woo gasped, his hands shaking as he clawed at his own head, desperate to silence the voices.


    Then, the visions began.


    Flashes of beasts tearing into flesh.


    Jaws snapping.


    Teeth sinking into throats, ripping, devouring.


    A world of hunger, of predation.


    Blood dripping from fangs.


    Eat or be eaten.


    Tae-woo screamed. His hands trembled violently, his body curling inward as the images assaulted his mind, relentless and merciless. His breaths came in ragged, choked gasps as his vision blurred. The cavern around him spun, twisting into something impossible, something wrong.


    A shadow leaned over him.


    Tae-woo barely registered the figure. His vision swam, his body heavy, weighed down by something beyond exhaustion.


    He tried to focus. The figure was tall, draped in something dark and flowing, shifting like it wasn''t entirely real.


    He couldn''t see the figure''s face.


    But he could feel its gaze.


    Something ancient. Something watching. Something¡­ amused.


    The figure tilted its head. "How interesting."


    Tae-woo''s body trembled.


    The figure reached out, a long, clawed finger tracing the air above his face.


    "You should not have come here," the figure murmured, a voice that was almost human, yet not quite. "But perhaps¡­ you should take something back with you."


    Tae-woo''s lips parted, but no words came.


    The figure raised its hand, and from the tip of its finger, a single drop of dark, glistening blood formed.


    The drop fell.


    It landed on Tae-woo''s tongue.


    Pain exploded through his body.


    His back arched violently, his limbs convulsing as something alien and burning tore through his veins. His vision darkened, the cavern warping further, the whispers twisting into something else.


    Other voices.


    Not whispers, but howls.


    Rumbling. Growling. Snarling.


    And then-


    A face.


    Framed by warm light, by auburn strands, eyes wide with fear and desperation.


    Seo-yeon.


    Her lips moved. She was saying something, calling his name, but he couldn''t hear her.


    His body felt too heavy.


    His mind was slipping away.


    The world went dark.


    <hr>


    Flesh.


    Ripping. Tearing. Devouring.


    Teeth sinking deep, deeper, past resistance, past screams.


    The taste of marrow, of raw heat, of something writhing.


    Consume.


    Hunger gnaws, burns, demands.


    Feed.


    More.


    Tearing sinew, snapping bone, warmth spilling over lips.


    Something howls. Something thrashes. Something breaks.


    It does not matter.


    Eat.


    Rip.


    Consume.


    Fangs tearing, mouth full, blood hot, hunger raging.


    Not enough. Never enough.


    More.


    The scent of fear. The pulse of prey.


    Consume.


    Consume.


    Consume.


    CHOMP.

 1.3

    Jin Tae-woo''s eyes fluttered open.


    For a moment, everything was blurry, shapes and light bleeding into each other as his mind struggled to piece together reality. His body felt heavy, a dull ache running through every muscle. He took a slow, measured breath.


    The first thing he noticed was the ceiling.


    It was familiar.


    White. Plain. A little crack in the corner.


    He had stared at this same ceiling countless times before.


    A hospital room.


    His fingers twitched, then his arms. He was alive.


    A shaky breath escaped his lips as he pushed himself up, his head still spinning, his body protesting the movement.


    And then, a loud, choked sob rang out.


    Before he could react, something crashed into him, nearly knocking him back onto the bed.


    "Oppa!"


    Tae-woo barely had time to register the weight before warm arms wrapped around him, squeezing tight, almost painfully. His little sister, Ha-rin, buried her face into his chest, shoulders shaking as she bawled uncontrollably.


    Tae-woo sat there, stunned.


    He could feel her gripping his hospital gown tightly, her small hands trembling, her entire body pressed against him as if she were afraid he would disappear.


    "Ha-rin¡­?" His voice came out hoarse, almost unsure.


    "Y-you idiot!" Ha-rin screamed, pulling back just enough to punch his arm, though it was more of a weak slap. "You stupid, reckless idiot!"


    Tae-woo winced, not from the pain but from the sheer emotion in her voice.


    Her face was a mess, her usual composed demeanor completely shattered. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks, her eyes red and puffy. Her lips trembled, her entire body still shaking violently.


    Tae-woo had never seen her like this.


    Not even when their parents died.


    "D-do you have any idea how scared I was?!" Ha-rin hiccupped, her voice cracking. "They told me you- y-you- you fell into the Abyssal Gate! And no one¡­ n-no one comes back from that! A-and I thought I¡­ I thought I-"


    She choked on her own sob, gripping him even tighter as if she could anchor herself by holding onto him.


    Tae-woo felt his chest tighten painfully.


    He had never wanted to make his little sister cry.


    Yet here she was, falling apart because of him.


    "Ha-rin¡­" He exhaled, reaching up to pat her head, his fingers threading through her dark hair in a comforting motion. "I''m sorry."


    His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.


    Ha-rin sniffled, shaking her head furiously against his chest. "Y-you promised you wouldn''t do anything reckless! You said you''d be fine!"


    Tae-woo sighed, guilt settling deep in his bones. "I know. And I broke that promise."


    Ha-rin punched his arm again, but this time it was weaker.


    "You- y-you''re so stupid! Always- always acting like you can handle everything alone! Always putting yourself in danger!" She hiccupped again, clutching him desperately. "I don''t want to lose you too! I don''t- I don''t- I can''t-"


    Her voice cracked completely, and the dam broke.


    Tae-woo could do nothing but sit there as his little sister sobbed uncontrollably against his chest, her emotions pouring out after being held back for so long.


    She had probably been holding herself together since the moment she got the news.


    Probably told herself to be strong.


    Probably forced herself to act fine.


    But now that he was awake, now that she could see him, touch him, hear his voice, she could finally let go.


    Tae-woo swallowed hard, his own emotions clawing at his throat.


    "Ha-rin," he murmured again, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close. "I''m here. I''m okay."


    "But you weren''t!" Ha-rin cried, her hands gripping his hospital gown like a lifeline. "I thought you were gone! I thought- I thought I''d be left all alone!"


    That hit him harder than any punch ever could.


    Alone.


    She had already lost their parents.


    And if he had died too¡­


    Tae-woo closed his eyes, exhaling shakily. He hadn''t considered how much this would hurt her.


    He had been too caught up in his own situation, his own struggles.


    But Ha-rin¡­


    Ha-rin had been terrified.


    He felt like the worst brother in the world.


    "I''m sorry," he whispered again. "I didn''t mean to scare you."


    Ha-rin hiccupped, still crying. "Then don''t do it again!"


    Tae-woo smiled weakly, pressing his chin against the top of her head. "I''ll try my best."


    She didn''t believe him, not really.


    But for now, she just held onto him tighter.


    And he let her.


    <hr>


    Ha-rin eventually calmed down, though she still clung to his hospital gown as if afraid he would disappear again. Her breathing slowed, her hiccups fading into soft sniffles. She wiped her puffy red eyes, taking a shaky breath before speaking in a quiet, almost meek voice.


    "Sorry¡­" she murmured, keeping her gaze down. "I just¡­ I needed to get that out of my system."


    Tae-woo gave her a small, tired smile. "Don''t apologize, Ha-rin. You had every right to be upset."


    She sniffled again, rubbing at her nose. "I know you didn''t mean to enter the Abyssal Gate, Oppa. It wasn''t your fault." Her grip on his gown tightened slightly. "But when they told me what happened, I thought¡­ I thought I was going to lose you forever."


    Tae-woo sighed, feeling another wave of guilt settle over him. "I''m sorry for making you go through that."


    Ha-rin shook her head. "Just¡­ don''t do anything like that again."


    "I''ll try."


    She sighed, shoulders slumping, then pulled back slightly and looked him in the eye. "Oppa¡­ you were unconscious for six days."


    Tae-woo blinked. "Six¡­ days?"


    Ha-rin nodded. "I stayed by your side as much as I could, but the doctors said there wasn''t much they could do except wait for you to wake up."


    Tae-woo exhaled, leaning back against the pillows. Six days. That meant he had been lying in this bed for nearly a week. What the hell happened to him?


    Ha-rin continued, her voice growing softer. "You were rescued by Seo-yeon Unnie and¡­ oddly enough, Cha Min-soo-nim."


    Tae-woo''s eyes widened. "Min-soo-nim?"


    She nodded. "The other S-Rank Hunters almost decided to abandon you inside the dungeon. They said a rescue mission would be too dangerous and that they couldn''t risk losing more Hunters over someone with¡­ well¡­" She trailed off, shifting uncomfortably.


    Tae-woo understood. Over someone with his rank.


    His stomach tightened, but he stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.


    "Seo-yeon Unnie was the one who proposed the rescue mission. But no one wanted to listen to her," Ha-rin said, her expression darkening slightly. "Then Min-soo-nim said something. I don''t know what, but it convinced at least half of them to let them enter the Gate."


    Tae-woo''s mind raced. Cha Min-soo, the Guildmaster of Azure Sky, personally went into the Abyssal Gate to rescue him? Why? He and Min-soo had never even met in person before.


    "They managed to find you and bring you back before the Gate vanished," Ha-rin continued. "Both Seo-yeon Unnie and Min-soo-nim are fine, by the way. They left after making sure you were stabilized."


    Tae-woo let out a slow breath, processing everything.


    Han Seo-yeon had risked her life for him. That wasn''t surprising, as she was always like that. But Cha Min-soo? One of the most powerful and influential Hunters in Korea, as well as the guildmaster of one of the six Great Guilds in Korea, had helped bring him back, and Tae-woo had no idea why.


    Before he could dwell on it further, the door to the hospital room slammed open.


    "TAE-WOO, YOU LUCKY BASTARD!"


    With a loud pop, confetti exploded into the air. A loud, obnoxious noisemaker blared in his ears.


    Tae-woo groaned, already knowing exactly who had just entered.


    Choi Ji-hoon stood in the doorway, a ridiculous party hat on his head, still holding the remains of a confetti popper in one hand and a noisemaker in the other. He grinned widely, looking like he had just walked into a surprise party instead of a hospital room.


    "Congratulations on not dying!" Ji-hoon cheered, throwing his arms up. "I was gonna buy you flowers, but then I remembered you don''t really deserve flowers, so I settled for this."


    Ha-rin and Tae-woo both sighed at the same time.


    Before either of them could say anything, a nurse stormed into the room, glaring daggers at Ji-hoon.


    "Sir! This is a hospital! No loud noises inside the patient''s room!"


    Ji-hoon immediately straightened up, saluting like a soldier. "Understood, ma''am! My deepest apologies! I will now proceed to not make loud noises-"


    Then he blew the noisemaker again.


    The nurse fumed, reaching for her clipboard as if ready to throw it at him.


    "OUT. NOW."


    "Okay, okay, I get it!" Ji-hoon laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "I''ll be good, I promise!"


    The nurse gave him a long, pointed glare, then turned and stormed off, muttering about "annoying young men with no sense of respect."


    Ji-hoon grinned. "Man, hospital staff have gotten way stricter since the last time you were in here."


    Tae-woo gave him a flat look. "Or maybe you''ve just gotten more annoying."


    Ji-hoon gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "Wow. I throw you a celebration, and this is how you repay me?"


    Ha-rin crossed her arms, unimpressed. "This isn''t a celebration. Oppa almost died."


    "Yeah, but he didn''t. Which is miraculous! Hence, celebration!" Ji-hoon threw his hands up. "Seriously, man. You fell into an Abyssal Gate and came back alive. That''s like¡­ a world record for surviving the impossible. How does it feel to be the most interesting F-Rank in Korea?"


    Tae-woo sighed again, rubbing his temples.


    He was too tired for this.


    <hr>


    Choi Ji-hoon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head, watching the hospital room in relative silence. The obnoxious energy he had when he entered earlier had mellowed out, replaced by a rare moment of calm.


    Ha-rin had finally fallen asleep, her exhaustion catching up with her after days of stress and worry. She had slumped against the edge of the bed; her small hands lightly curled into the fabric of Tae-woo''s hospital gown as if making sure he wouldn''t vanish again.


    Tae-woo absentmindedly patted her head, running his fingers through her hair every now and then, careful not to wake her.


    Ji-hoon smirked. "You''re a good brother, you know that?"


    Tae-woo blinked, glancing at him with mild confusion. "That''s weird coming from you."


    "Hey, I can be serious sometimes," Ji-hoon said, grinning. "I mean, not often, but I have my moments."


    Tae-woo snorted. "Sure you do."


    Ji-hoon shrugged. "All I''m saying is, you''re a broke-ass Hunter who can barely afford rent, yet you still take care of your little sister like it''s the most natural thing in the world. Not everyone does that."


    Tae-woo didn''t say anything, just continued gently patting Ha-rin''s head.


    After a moment of silence, Ji-hoon sighed, stretching his arms. "So, the Abyssal Gate is gone now."


    Tae-woo''s fingers paused for a split second before resuming. "Yeah?"


    Ji-hoon nodded. "Vanished right on schedule, ten hours after it appeared. Nothing left behind, just like always."


    Tae-woo exhaled slowly. That meant he had been rescued just in time. If Seo-yeon and Cha Min-soo had been even a little bit later¡­


    Ji-hoon continued, his tone a bit more serious now. "The whole situation blew up. You probably don''t know this yet, but you kinda became¡­ infamous online."


    Tae-woo groaned, already dreading where this was going. "Let me guess. The internet is mocking me?"


    "Oh yeah," Ji-hoon said with a chuckle. "The memes are everywhere. ''The First F-Rank to Enter an Abyssal Gate and Somehow Live.'' Someone edited your face onto an old-school fantasy hero poster, except they added ''Weakest Hero Ever.''"


    Tae-woo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache forming. "Great. Just what I needed."


    Ji-hoon smirked. "I mean, it''s kinda impressive. Most people get famous for doing something cool. You got famous for almost dying."


    "Thanks, Ji-hoon. That makes me feel so much better."


    Ji-hoon laughed before leaning forward slightly. "Jokes aside, the discussions are getting intense. A lot of people think your rescue was a complete waste of resources. Some are calling Seo-yeon reckless for trying to save you. Others are making conspiracy theories about why Cha Min-soo got involved."


    Tae-woo frowned. "I was going to ask about that. Why did he help?"


    Ji-hoon scratched his cheek. "No clue. He''s been completely silent since the whole thing happened. Reporters have been hounding him, but he hasn''t given a single statement. No interviews, no press releases, nothing."


    Tae-woo''s frown deepened. Cha Min-soo was one of the most influential Hunters in Korea. If he wanted to, he could have easily put out a statement and shut down speculation, but he was staying completely quiet.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "That''s¡­ strange," Tae-woo muttered.


    "Yeah. Some people think he saw something inside the Abyssal Gate that spooked him." Ji-hoon''s voice lowered slightly. "You were in there for, what, a few minutes? Maybe longer? Even S-Ranks don''t talk about what''s inside those places. But something in there made Min-soo, one of the most powerful Hunters in Korea, refuse to talk."


    A chill ran down Tae-woo''s spine.


    Had Min-soo seen something?


    Or¡­ had he seen Tae-woo?


    Or that figure?


    His thoughts were interrupted when Ji-hoon scoffed, his usual smirk returning. "Oh, and by the way, you might find this interesting. Kang Joon-seok? You know, that arrogant bastard from White Lotus?"


    Tae-woo''s jaw tightened, but he remained silent.


    "Well, it turns out he''s the son of one of the higher-ups in White Lotus Guild. One of their executives." Ji-hoon leaned back, tapping his fingers against the chair. "Which explains why his role in all of this has been downplayed."


    Tae-woo stilled. "Downplayed?"


    Ji-hoon nodded. "Yeah. No one''s talking about what he was doing when you fell into the Abyssal Gate. Even though there were plenty of witnesses, the story going around is that it was just a freak accident. You ''lost your balance'' near the portal, and that was that."


    Tae-woo clenched his fists.


    Ji-hoon let out a dry chuckle. "Even the supposedly most moral Guild isn''t above sweeping things under the rug when it involves their own."


    White Lotus Guild had a pristine reputation. They were known as one of the most ethical and just guilds in the country. But if they were covering for Joon-seok, then that meant even they had their fair share of corruption.


    Tae-woo felt a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Of course.


    The strong always protected their own.


    Ji-hoon sighed. "Anyway, the whole mess is dying down for now. But something tells me this won''t be the last time it comes up."


    Tae-woo leaned back, exhaling slowly. His head was still spinning from everything. The Abyssal Gate, his rescue, Min-soo''s involvement, the internet making a mockery of him, and now the person involved in getting him in this mess being let off the hook.


    He had barely woken up, and it was already too much to take in.


    Ji-hoon stretched his arms behind his head. "Well, on the bright side, at least you''re alive."


    Tae-woo gave him a flat look. "That''s the bare minimum, Ji-hoon."


    Ji-hoon grinned. "Hey, sometimes the bare minimum is all you need."


    Tae-woo sighed.


    He had a feeling his problems were just beginning.


    As Tae-woo sighed, a new voice suddenly broke the moment.


    "Answering questions shouldn''t be too hard for someone who just spent six days sleeping, right?"


    Ji-hoon yelled, nearly falling out of his chair.


    "WHAT THE HELL-"


    Tae-woo''s head snapped toward the doorway, where Cha Min-soo stood, leaning casually against the doorframe. His signature dark blue coat hung loosely over his shoulders, his sharp eyes studying the room with the same unreadable intensity he always carried.


    Ji-hoon clutched his chest, staring at him wide-eyed. "Damn it, Min-soo-nim! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?! When did you even get here?!"


    Min-soo laughed, the sound light but vaguely amused. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings, Ji-hoon."


    Ji-hoon gawked at him before groaning. "How are you so damn stealthy? You''re a mage, not an assassin!"


    Min-soo shrugged. "I have my ways." Then, turning his gaze toward Tae-woo, he asked, "Do you have time to answer a few questions?"


    Tae-woo hesitated for a moment.


    Cha Min-soo, the Guildmaster of Azure Sky, one of the most powerful Hunters in Korea, had personally helped rescue him from the Abyssal Gate. And now, he was standing in his hospital room, wanting to talk.


    Tae-woo had no idea what to expect.


    But he nodded anyway.


    "¡­Yeah. I have time."


    <hr>


    The hospital room had grown quiet again.


    Ji-hoon had left, mumbling about how he was "too normal" to sit in a room with one of Korea''s strongest Hunters and "a guy who somehow survived an Abyssal Gate." That left only Tae-woo, Min-soo, and Ha-rin, still sleeping soundly against the side of the bed.


    Min-soo''s gaze lingered on Ha-rin, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he spoke.


    "You take care of her well."


    Tae-woo glanced at his little sister before turning back to Min-soo. "I try."


    Min-soo nodded. "I have younger siblings, too. A brother and a sister. They''re still in school."


    Tae-woo blinked, a little surprised. "Really?"


    Min-soo chuckled lightly. "What? You think people like me don''t have a family?"


    Tae-woo scratched his cheek. "No, it''s just¡­ I don''t really think of S-Rank Hunters as normal people with normal lives."


    Min-soo smiled faintly. "We were normal before we Awakened. Some of us still are."


    There was something in his tone, something that sounded just a bit distant, but Tae-woo couldn''t quite place it.


    A moment of silence passed before Tae-woo finally asked the question that had been sitting in his mind since he woke up.


    "Why did you agree to rescue me?"


    Min-soo''s expression didn''t change, but there was a brief pause before he answered.


    "I had my reasons."


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes. "That''s not an answer."


    Min-soo chuckled, crossing his arms. "It''s the one you''re getting."


    Tae-woo exhaled through his nose. He had expected as much. If Min-soo had some deeper reason for saving him, he wasn''t going to reveal it so easily.


    Seeing the conversation shift, Min-soo leaned forward slightly.


    "Now, I have a question for you."


    Tae-woo straightened slightly, already knowing what was coming.


    "What happened when you were inside the Abyssal Gate?"


    Tae-woo hesitated.


    He could still remember the whispers.


    The relentless voices tearing into his mind.


    The shifting, grotesque visions of beasts devouring one another.


    And then¡­


    That figure.


    The dark presence that had watched him.


    The blood that had dripped onto his tongue.


    His fists tightened slightly, but he kept his face neutral.


    "I didn''t see much," he finally said. "It was dark, and I was alone. I don''t even know how deep I was. The cave had these¡­ glowing purple crystals, but other than that, I didn''t see any monsters."


    Min-soo listened carefully, his sharp gaze studying Tae-woo''s face. "No monsters?"


    Tae-woo shook his head. "None. But¡­"


    He hesitated again before continuing.


    "There were¡­ voices."


    Min-soo''s expression didn''t change, but his body stilled ever so slightly.


    "They whispered to me. Mocked me. Tore into my mind. It was like they were inside my head, but also everywhere at once."


    Tae-woo clenched his jaw, keeping his breathing steady. "It was suffocating. I tried to block them out, but they only got louder. Then¡­"


    He paused, choosing his words carefully.


    "I saw things."


    Min-soo leaned forward slightly. "What things?"


    Tae-woo exhaled. "Images. Like¡­ flashes of something I couldn''t understand. Beasts eating each other. Sharp teeth. Open mouths. Over and over again."


    Min-soo remained silent.


    It was a calculated silence.


    Tae-woo wasn''t sure what he was looking for, but the Guildmaster''s sharp eyes never left him.


    Finally, Min-soo sighed, leaning back. "That''s¡­ unsettling."


    Tae-woo let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. No kidding."


    Another moment of silence stretched between them.


    Tae-woo decided to shift the conversation. "You''ve entered the Abyss before, right?"


    Min-soo''s eyes flickered, but he nodded. "Yes."


    Tae-woo hesitated before asking, "Did you hear whispers too?"


    Min-soo was quiet for a long moment.


    Then, he smiled.


    It was a vague, unreadable smile.


    "Let''s just say¡­ you''re not the only one who''s heard voices in that place."


    A chill ran down Tae-woo''s spine.


    Min-soo didn''t elaborate further, and Tae-woo didn''t press.


    Instead, Min-soo shifted the topic. "You should get yourself checked at an Examination Center."


    Tae-woo frowned. "Why?"


    "To see if your Class evolved," Min-soo said simply.


    Tae-woo froze.


    His Class.


    He hadn''t even thought about that.


    Min-soo continued, his tone casual but his gaze sharp. "Falling into an Abyssal Gate and coming back alive? That''s not normal. You should check if something changed."


    Tae-woo''s mouth felt dry.


    He had felt¡­ different. His body still ached, but something inside him felt off like something had shifted in a way he didn''t fully understand.


    He clenched his fists, remembering the moment that figure''s blood had dripped onto his tongue.


    Could that have done something to him?


    Min-soo watched him carefully as if measuring his reaction.


    Finally, Tae-woo nodded slowly. "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Min-soo smiled faintly, standing up. "Good."


    As he turned toward the door, he glanced at Ha-rin one last time before stepping out.


    Tae-woo sat there in silence.


    His mind was racing.


    Something had changed.


    And he needed to find out what.


    <hr>


    Cha Min-soo walked down the hospital corridor, his steps steady, his thoughts heavy. The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, the soft beeping of machines echoing from patient rooms as he passed. His mind kept circling back to the same thing.


    Jin Tae-woo.


    Surviving an Abyssal Gate should have been impossible.


    And yet, Tae-woo had returned.


    Something about him felt different, though Min-soo couldn''t pinpoint exactly what. It wasn''t just the fact that he had survived, but also how they had found him.


    He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He had seen too much in his life to believe in miracles. There was always a cost.


    Turning the corner, he noticed someone standing in front of a hospital room, carrying a fruit basket.


    Han Seo-yeon.


    She was dressed in a black turtleneck, a far cry from her usual pristine white combat attire. The dim hospital lighting cast soft shadows across her face, highlighting the tiredness in her eyes.


    Min-soo''s gaze flickered to the fruit basket, then back to her face.


    "For him?"


    Seo-yeon turned slightly at the sound of his voice before offering a polite bow. "Min-soo-nim." She hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. "Yes. I thought he might need something fresh when he wakes up."


    Min-soo studied her for a moment.


    "You really care about him."


    Her fingers tightened slightly around the basket handle, but she didn''t look away. "He''s important to me."


    There was no hesitation in her voice, no need for embellishment.


    Min-soo hummed, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. His sharp gaze dropped to her left shoulder.


    "How''s your shoulder?"


    Seo-yeon''s grip on the basket stilled for a fraction of a second.


    Her fingers curled tighter, her jaw tensing ever so slightly before she quickly masked it.


    Min-soo caught the shift in her posture, the way she almost instinctively rolled her shoulder as if testing the muscles beneath her sweater.


    For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.


    Then, Seo-yeon exhaled softly, her fingers relaxing.


    "I already healed it. It''s fine now."


    Min-soo tilted his head. "That''s not what I asked."


    Seo-yeon looked down at the basket for a moment before answering.


    "It wasn''t his fault," she said evenly. "Whatever the dungeon did to him, it wasn''t him in that moment. I know that."


    Min-soo remained silent, his gaze still fixed on her.


    He could see it, the way she refused to touch her shoulder, the way she kept one arm slightly closer to her body as if remembering the pain.


    He had been there.


    He had seen the blood, the raw wound where a chunk of her shoulder had been torn away.


    He had seen the shock in her eyes, not just from the pain but from the realization that it had been Tae-woo who had done it.


    She had felt his teeth sink into her flesh.


    Had felt him rip something from her.


    And yet, she stood here, defending him.


    Min-soo let out a slow breath. "You don''t hate him for it?"


    Seo-yeon shook her head. "There was no reason to."


    Min-soo studied her for another long moment before nodding.


    "You''re a good person, Seo-yeon."


    She blinked, looking mildly surprised.


    Before she could respond, Min-soo casually adjusted his coat, his expression unreadable.


    "But I''ll still be keeping an eye on him."


    Seo-yeon frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"


    Min-soo glanced at Tae-woo''s hospital room door, his voice dropping slightly.


    "I want to see what changes the Abyssal Gate brought upon him."


    Without another word, he turned and walked away.


    Seo-yeon stood there for a long moment, gripping the basket a little tighter, feeling a phantom ache where his teeth had once torn into her shoulder.


    She could only hope¡­


    That whatever happened to Tae-woo hadn''t changed him forever.

 1.4

    Jin Tae-woo adjusted the sleeves of his jacket, glancing at his reflection in the mirror near the door. His face was still a bit pale, and his body was still sore in places, but at least he looked like he was recovering.


    Today was the day he would head to the Examination Center to see if his Class had evolved.


    His fingers twitched slightly at the thought. Would it have changed? Could it have changed?


    Trainee was a Class known for never amounting to anything. Theoretically, it could evolve with enough training and time, but the required resources made it practically useless. No one had ever seen a Trainee evolve into something worthwhile.


    But he had fallen into an Abyssal Gate.


    Surely, if anything could force an evolution, it would be that.


    Tae-woo exhaled and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. Before heading out, he wanted to see how bad the internet discourse had gotten.


    He had expected people to talk about him. An F-Rank Hunter falling into an Abyssal Gate and surviving was unheard of. But he hadn''t expected it to become this big of a deal.


    Opening Xitter, he scrolled through the top trending posts under his name.


    @AegisHunter_Official: "An F-Rank surviving an Abyssal Gate?? LMAO, dude probably got carried out unconscious. What a waste of a rescue mission."


    @HeavenlySwordGamer: "Jin Tae-woo? Never heard of him before. Checked his records. Bro''s been F-Rank for YEARS. How is someone that weak still doing raids? lmao"


    @DungeonInsiderNews: "Controversy: Some Hunters are questioning the decision to send S-Ranks into the Abyssal Gate to rescue a low-level Hunter. Was it truly worth the risk?"


    @BeastKingOfficial: "F-rank hunter gets rescued by S-ranks. Meanwhile, real fighters are dying every day in dungeons. What a joke."


    Tae-woo let out a slow breath and kept scrolling.


    The mockery was expected.


    People loved to tear others down when they could. Hunters were seen as warriors, symbols of strength, and yet he had become famous for being weak.


    He switched over to MooTube, where videos about him were already racking up millions of views.


    "F-Rank Falls into Abyssal Gate and Lives! WHAT HAPPENED?!"


    "Jin Tae-woo: The Weakest Hunter to Ever Survive the Abyss"


    "Did Cha Min-soo See Something in the Abyss?"


    Even Instareel had clips of his face floating around, either taken from old Hunter records or grainy footage of his hospital departure. Some were memeing him. Others were dissecting whether he was worth saving.


    Tae-woo sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.


    It wasn''t like he had asked to be rescued.


    If anything, he had wanted to avoid dragging others down with him.


    Still, at least it hadn''t escalated into harassment or real-world threats. No reporters had swarmed his apartment, no anonymous calls or messages had appeared to torment him.


    And he had Han Seo-yeon to thank for that.


    As one of Korea''s most beloved S-Rank Hunters, Seo-yeon had an influence on how the media treated things. Whether she had pulled strings behind the scenes or simply issued an unspoken warning, no one dared go after him or Ha-rin directly.


    He felt bad that she had to use her status to protect him.


    But he was also grateful.


    He closed his phone and exhaled.


    He had more important things to focus on.


    Tae-woo reached for his jacket and froze.


    That feeling was back.


    A deep, gnawing hunger.


    Not the kind that came after skipping a meal. Not the light, manageable hunger that could be ignored for a while.


    This was something else.


    Something deeper.


    He had been eating normally since waking up, but no matter how much he consumed, the feeling never entirely went away. Even after a full-course meal, there was still an empty, lingering ache in his stomach.


    It wasn''t painful. It wasn''t unbearable.


    But it was unnerving.


    Tae-woo placed a hand on his stomach, frowning slightly.


    Maybe it was just his body recovering. Maybe after everything that had happened, he needed more nutrients than usual.


    Or maybe¡­


    He shook his head. No. He wasn''t going to dwell on it.


    For now, he had one priority.


    Find out if the Abyssal Gate had changed him.


    Taking a deep breath, he grabbed his jacket and stepped out the door.


    <hr>


    The streets of Seoul were as lively as ever. Pedestrians moved in clusters, cars lined the roads, and digital billboards flickered above, flashing advertisements for the latest Hunter gear, dungeon raid broadcasts, and news updates about the Abyssal Gate incident.


    Jin Tae-woo walked among the crowd, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, his thoughts occupied with the upcoming examination.


    If his Class had evolved, what would it be?


    Would it be something usable? Something strong? Or was he just fooling himself, thinking that his near-death experience had changed anything at all?


    He sighed. He wouldn''t know until he reached the Examination Center.


    As he crossed a busy intersection, a scream cut through the air.


    "Stop them! My bag!"


    Tae-woo turned his head just in time to see two men on a motorcycle speeding down the street, one of them clutching a woman''s handbag. The woman, clearly shaken, stood frozen on the sidewalk, her hands outstretched in shock.


    A purse snatching.


    It was nothing unusual.


    Tae-woo had seen incidents like this before, but in a city filled with Hunters, petty criminals rarely got away with their crimes.


    As expected, someone was already moving.


    Tae-woo watched as a Hunter rushed forward, cutting across the crowd.


    His perspective shifted.


    Suddenly, he saw the world through the Hunter''s eyes.


    A flicker of movement. A hand shot out, fingers gripping the strap of the stolen handbag.


    The momentum sent both snatchers sprawling onto the pavement, their motorcycle skidding to the side.


    The world snapped back to normal.


    Tae-woo blinked.


    He wasn''t looking at a Hunter.


    He was looking at himself.


    The handbag was in his hands.


    The two snatchers groaned on the ground, dazed from the impact, their stolen goods already out of their reach. People around them gasped, some even pulling out their phones to record.


    Tae-woo stood there, utterly dumbfounded.


    He had moved.


    He had stopped them.


    But he hadn''t even consciously decided to act. His body had simply reacted as if it had known exactly where to move, exactly when to grab, exactly how much force to use.


    And he had done it so fast that he hadn''t even registered it happening.


    He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers.


    His breathing was steady; his pulse wasn''t racing.


    It hadn''t even felt difficult.


    It was effortless.


    Tae-woo''s stomach twisted with a mixture of shock and realization.


    This wasn''t normal.


    He had been an F-Rank Hunter his entire life. His body had been sluggish, his movements barely above average. There was no way he should have been able to stop two thieves on a moving motorcycle.


    His mind raced.


    His Class.


    Had it truly evolved? Had his stats increased without him realizing it?


    Tae-woo swallowed, stepping back as a few bystanders clapped and murmured about what had just happened. The woman who had her handbag stolen hurried forward, bowing deeply in gratitude.


    "Thank you so much! That was amazing! Are you a Hunter?"


    Tae-woo barely processed her words. He just nodded stiffly, handing her the bag before quickly stepping away from the gathering crowd.


    He needed to get to the Examination Center.


    Now.


    <hr>


    The Azure Sky Guild Headquarters stood tall in the heart of Seoul, a sleek high-rise with reflective blue glass that shimmered like a mirage against the city skyline. Inside, the top floors were reserved for the guild''s elite members, and at the highest level sat the Guildmaster''s office.


    Cha Min-soo leaned back in his chair, flipping through several documents, the usual bureaucratic nonsense that came with running one of Korea''s Six Great Guilds. Guild operations, dungeon clearances, financial reports, resource management, it was a never-ending cycle of paperwork.


    Across from him, seated on a black leather couch, was Park Eun-ha, his deputy and the Vice-Guildmaster of Azure Sky.


    Unlike Min-soo, who had his sleeves rolled up and tie loosened in casual exhaustion, Eun-ha was immaculate as always.


    She was younger than Min-soo, in her late twenties, with shoulder-length dark violet hair that framed her sharp, analytical features. Her eyes, a cool shade of slate gray, held an intensity that made it seem like she was always assessing everything in the room, calculating possibilities in silence.


    She wore a fitted dark outfit, professional yet unrestrictive, paired with a silver brooch shaped like a star, which was the only accessory that stood out against her otherwise minimalistic appearance. Though her attire was simple, it did little to hide her enviable figure, something that was often a subject of admiration and envy among others.


    Her slender waist, generous curves, and long, toned legs gave her a natural elegance that drew attention whether she wanted it or not. Even seated, the way she crossed her legs effortlessly highlighted the subtle power in her movements. Her thighs, firm yet shapely, were something many had taken notice of, though no one dared to comment aloud. She carried herself with a poise that was both graceful and commanding, never giving the impression of being anything less than completely in control.


    Park Eun-ha rarely spoke unless necessary. Among the guild''s elite, she was known for her brilliance in magic, her ruthless efficiency in battle, and her ability to command respect without ever raising her voice. She wasn''t the type to engage in unnecessary conversation. Instead, she observed, listened, and spoke only when her words carried weight.


    However, after a while, she finally broke the silence, her voice smooth and steady.


    "You never answered my question, Guildmaster," she said, her gaze not leaving the document in her hands. "Why did you save Jin Tae-woo?"


    Min-soo sighed, setting his pen down.


    For a moment, he hesitated, but then he answered.


    "In this country, only eight individuals have entered the Abyssal Gate and returned alive," Min-soo began, his fingers interlacing as he leaned forward. His voice was measured, carrying a weight that made the room feel smaller as if the very air thickened around them. "That number should be ten now if we count Jin Tae-woo-nim and Han Seo-yeon-nim from last week."


    He let his words settle, watching for any reaction from Eun-ha. As expected, she remained impassive, her slate-gray eyes focused but unreadable. She was a listener, not one to jump to conclusions without first examining every piece of the puzzle.


    "I am one of those ten survivors. And though I can''t say for certain how the others feel, I know this. None of us came back the same."


    He leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "So far, none of us have shared our experiences publicly. That alone should tell you something."


    He studied Eun-ha, gauging her reaction, but as always, her expression remained unreadable.


    "But that does not mean there isn''t a record."


    A flicker of interest passed through Eun-ha''s sharp eyes, but she didn''t interrupt. She simply listened, waiting for him to elaborate.


    Min-soo adjusted his posture, lacing his fingers together as he continued.


    "The Guildmasters of Korea''s Six Great Guilds have been collaborating behind closed doors, pooling together our findings and observations from the Abyssal Gates. We have each gone in at different times, with different teams, and each time, we have returned with fragmented pieces of the truth."


    He let out a slow breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose.


    "What we''ve gathered is¡­ unsettling. And for now, we have no intention of making it public."


    Eun-ha remained still before she asked.


    "Because the civilians would panic if they knew?"


    Min-soo let out a quiet chuckle, but there was no humor in it.


    "That''s one reason, yes. But not the only one."


    His expression darkened slightly, the weight of his memories pressing against him like an unseen force. He had never been one to show hesitation, but even now, speaking of the Abyssal Gate felt wrong, as if something was listening.


    "The things we encountered in there¡­" He trailed off for a moment before his fingers tightened slightly. "They are not something the human mind is meant to comprehend."


    The room grew colder, though neither of them acknowledged it.


    Min-soo''s voice lowered slightly as if admitting a secret that was never meant to be spoken.


    "We have lost S-Rank Hunters in the Abyssal Gates. And not just to monsters."


    That, finally, made Eun-ha''s fingers twitch slightly against the documents she was holding. It was the smallest of reactions, but from someone as composed as her, it spoke volumes.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Min-soo leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished wood of his desk.


    "If anything, the monsters were the least of our problems."


    His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words made it feel like the entire room had shrunk.


    For a long moment, neither of them spoke.


    Eun-ha finally set her papers down, folding her hands neatly over them as she regarded him.


    "If that''s the case," she said, her voice steady. "Why did you support the rescue mission for Jin Tae-woo-nim? Why risk stepping into that place again?"


    Min-soo let out a slow breath, his usual smirk flickering back into place, though it didn''t quite reach his eyes.


    "Let''s just say¡­ I sympathized with Seo-yeon-nim at the time." He tilted his head slightly, his tone turning lighthearted. "Seeing her plead to save someone she cared about, only to be shouted down by the others¡­ well, I suppose I just wanted to help her out of the goodness of my heart."


    Eun-ha''s gaze remained flat.


    "You are a terrible liar, Guildmaster."


    Min-soo let out a low chuckle, running a hand through his hair.


    "Fine, fine. I suppose you''ll just have to trust that I have my reasons."


    Eun-ha sighed, shaking her head slightly before returning to her paperwork.


    "I won''t ask you anymore."


    Min-soo studied her for a moment before a playful glint returned to his eyes.


    "By the way, I believe we received a few fan letters for you this morning."


    Eun-ha didn''t even look up. "Throw them away."


    "Not even one? You might find a special someone that way."


    Without a word, Eun-ha lifted her hand slightly, and before Min-soo could react, his teacup instantly froze over, encased in a solid block of ice.


    The edges of his desk frosted slightly from the residual mana.


    Min-soo blinked down at his frozen tea, then up at her.


    Eun-ha finally glanced at him, her expression calm. "Guildmaster, perhaps you should focus on your work if you want to finish by noon."


    Min-soo let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head before reluctantly returning to his paperwork.


    <hr>


    Jin Tae-woo moved quickly through the busy streets, his hands buried deep in his jacket pockets. The city buzzed around him, a blend of flashing billboards, murmuring crowds, and the constant hum of traffic. It was an ordinary day for most, but for him, it wasn''t.


    His mind was fixated on his upcoming examination at the Hunter Association.


    He needed answers.


    The incident with the purse snatchers earlier had been proof enough. His body had moved on its own, reacting with a speed and precision he had never possessed before. He had stopped a moving motorcycle with nothing but raw instinct. That wasn''t normal.


    Something had changed.


    The question was, how much?


    He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the tension in his fingers. If his Class had evolved, then what had it become?


    Before he could dwell on it any further, a voice called out from behind him.


    "Hey, hey! Look who it is!"


    Tae-woo''s steps slowed. His shoulders stiffened. He knew that voice.


    Reluctantly, he turned.


    Five men stood in a loose group, blocking the sidewalk ahead. They were dressed in worn combat jackets, their weapons strapped casually to their backs. Their expressions were a mixture of amusement and mockery.


    At the head of the group stood Kong Jae-sik.


    C-Rank Hunter. Bleached-blond hair. A deep scar ran down his left cheek.


    Tae-woo had known him for years.


    Back when he was still struggling to get into raid groups, Jae-sik had been one of the many Hunters who had used him as an easy punching bag. As an F-Rank Trainee, he had been beneath everyone. Worthless.


    And now, they were here again.


    Jae-sik grinned, strolling up to Tae-woo with the kind of confidence that came from years of throwing his weight around. His eyes gleamed with something unpleasant.


    "Damn, man, you''ve been getting a lot of attention lately," he said, clapping a heavy hand on Tae-woo''s shoulder. "Didn''t think you''d start ignoring your old pals now that you''re famous."


    Tae-woo resisted the urge to shake him off.


    "I''m busy," he said, keeping his tone flat. "I have an appointment at the Examination Center."


    Jae-sik''s grin twitched.


    "You?" he scoffed, his fingers digging slightly into Tae-woo''s shoulder. "The Examination Center? You really think you got stronger?"


    Tae-woo didn''t respond. He didn''t need to.


    Jae-sik let out a sharp laugh and turned to his lackeys. "You guys hear that? Tae-woo here thinks he''s leveled up! Our little Trainee thinks he''s finally made something of himself!"


    The others chuckled, but one of them hesitated before muttering, "Maybe we should leave him alone. You know how close he is with [The Saintess]. We don''t wanna get on her bad side."


    Jae-sik''s smirk twitched.


    Then, instead of backing off, his expression darkened.


    "You really think she actually cares about him?" His voice dripped with contempt. "Come on, you think a woman like her really gives a damn about some weakling? Women like that, they''re all the same. They act all noble, all righteous, but at the end of the day, they only care about one thing."


    His grip on Tae-woo''s shoulder tightened.


    "They like the attention. That''s all. You think she''s some kind of saint? Please. She''s just another fame-hungry bitch who figured out how to play the game. She acts like she''s different, but she''s just like every other woman in the business. Using her face, her body, and her pretty little words to keep everyone wrapped around her finger."


    Jae-sik spat on the ground, his lip curling. "I''ve seen how these high-rank female Hunters act. They pretend to be so strong and so independent, but the moment things get tough? They hide behind the real Hunters. The men who do all the work. You think Seo-yeon''s different? Nah. She''s just got a good PR team. She struts around in her fancy gear, flashing that innocent little smile while all the real fighters are dying in dungeons. And people eat that shit up."


    His voice grew more venomous.


    "And don''t even get me started on how they dress. Tight suits, ''battle dresses,'' the stupid high-cut armor that doesn''t even cover anything? Yeah, real practical. You ever wonder why they wear that crap? Because they know it keeps them in the spotlight. Because they want guys to drool over them. That''s their real strategy. They play up the image and make guys think they''re some kind of untouchable goddess, but at the end of the day, they just want the same thing as every other woman: power, money, and a man to clean up after their messes."


    His sneer widened.


    "And let''s not forget the simps. The pathetic little fanboys who worship the ground they walk on. Guys who throw money at them, defend them online, act like they''re some kind of holy figures. And for what? Because they smiled at them once? Because they think they have a chance? It''s pathetic. And you? You''re no different. She probably gives you a little attention, and now you''re acting like you''re something special. You think she actually cares about you?"


    His laughter was cruel, his grip tightening further.


    "She probably just keeps you around to make herself look good. A little charity project. A pet."


    Something inside Tae-woo snapped.


    His fist flew forward, and the moment it connected with Jae-sik''s jaw, there was a sickening crack.


    The force of the impact sent Jae-sik flying backward. His body slammed into the brick wall of the alley behind them before crumpling to the ground like a discarded rag doll.


    Silence.


    The other Hunters stood frozen in shock.


    Jae-sik, a C-Rank Hunter, had been launched.


    By Jin Tae-woo.


    A man who, just a week ago, was so pathetically weak as a Hunter that he might as well just be a normal human, had just floored someone stronger than him with a single punch.


    One of the lackeys took a step back.


    "What the hell was that?"


    "He¡­ he just-!"


    Another man turned pale.


    "Screw this, I''m out!"


    The rest quickly followed suit. Within seconds, the alley was empty except for Tae-woo and Jae-sik''s unconscious body.


    Tae-woo stood there, panting slightly, his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.


    That¡­ wasn''t normal.


    Slowly, he looked down at his hand.


    His knuckles tingled.


    Something was there.


    A cluster of crystals, deep purple, jagged, pulsing faintly with light, had emerged from beneath his skin, protruding from his knuckles like claws.


    His breath hitched.


    These crystals¡­


    They looked just like the ones he had seen inside the Abyssal Gate.


    His stomach clenched.


    Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the crystals retracted, sinking back into his skin, leaving only the faintest residual glow before fading completely.


    And then¡­


    The hunger.


    A deep, insatiable gnawing sensation curled in his stomach.


    Not hunger for food.


    Something else.


    Something worse.


    Tae-woo swallowed hard, clenching and unclenching his fist.


    Whatever had happened to him in the Abyssal Gate¡­


    It wasn''t over.


    <hr>


    Han Seo-yeon stood in front of her bedroom mirror, running a towel through her damp auburn hair. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound in the room, the cool air brushing against her bare skin as she slowly dried the remaining moisture from her strands.


    She should have been relaxed.


    Dressed in a snug white tank top and short gray lounge shorts, she had finally managed to carve out a rare moment of peace for herself. No dungeon raids. No guild meetings. No reporters shoving microphones in her face. Just a quiet evening in her apartment, free from the weight of expectations.


    And yet, she wasn''t at peace.


    Her fingers drifted away from her hair, hesitating as her gaze flickered toward her reflection.


    Slowly, almost absently, her hand lifted to her shoulder.


    She touched the spot lightly, fingertips brushing against the smooth, unblemished skin.


    There was no scar. No wound. No sign that anything had ever happened.


    But she remembered.


    Seo-yeon''s breath hitched slightly, her fingers pressing down as if trying to convince herself that it had been real.


    Because she could still feel it.


    The sharp bite of pain.


    The crushing pressure of teeth sinking into her flesh.


    The way her body had locked up, momentarily paralyzed from sheer shock as something feral and hungry tore into her.


    She could still recall the hot, wet sensation of losing a part of herself.


    The dull ache that had followed, pulsing in time with her heartbeat.


    The sheer disbelief.


    Even now, just remembering it sent a phantom pulse of pain through her shoulder.


    She had almost blacked out from it.


    But through the haze, she had seen him.


    Jin Tae-woo.


    But not Jin Tae-woo.


    Not the childhood friend she had grown up with. Not the weak, struggling F-Rank Hunter who always tried to act like he wasn''t suffering under the weight of his own limitations.


    No, the thing that had turned its gaze on her in that moment had been something else entirely.


    Seo-yeon shivered despite the warmth of the room.


    It wasn''t the Tae-woo she had known all these years.


    It was a beast.


    A predator.


    His darkened eyes had locked onto her, unfocused yet intent.


    Like she was nothing more than prey.


    Like he was about to consume her.


    Her fingers twitched slightly against her shoulder.


    A flush spread across her cheeks.


    It should have terrified her.


    It had terrified her.


    And yet¡­


    Seo-yeon bit her lip, shifting uncomfortably as something coiled deep in her stomach.


    She should only be remembering the pain. The shock. The fear.


    But there was something else lingering in her mind.


    The weight of his grip on her. The strength in his arms was unyielding and firm.


    The way his breath had been hot against her skin right before his teeth sank in.


    The sheer wildness of his expression; untamed, raw, hungry.


    A shiver ran down her spine.


    Her fingers flexed, and she quickly pulled her hand away from her shoulder, as if touching it any longer might burn her.


    This was ridiculous.


    It had been the Abyssal Gate. That place had done something to him. It wasn''t him that had acted that way; it was whatever twisted force existed inside that dungeon.


    It had nothing to do with her.


    And yet¡­


    Even as she tried to reason with herself, the memory refused to fade.


    The sensation of being devoured.


    The heat of his body against hers.


    The sheer intensity in his eyes was so unlike the Tae-woo she knew.


    Seo-yeon exhaled sharply, turning away from the mirror as if physically distancing herself from the thoughts creeping into her mind.


    She needed to stop thinking about this.


    She needed to stop feeling like this.


    Her chest rose and fell with a slow, deliberate breath.


    Clenching her fists, she grabbed her phone from the nearby dresser, hoping for a distraction.


    But even as she scrolled through her messages, her mind continued to betray her.


    Because no matter how much she tried to push the memory away, she couldn''t erase how he had looked at her.

 1.5

    In the end, despite all the questions forming inside his head, Tae-woo decided to go to the Examination Center to check whether his Class had evolved or not. After putting Jae-sik''s unconscious body on a nearby public bench, he headed over to the building.


    The Examination Center was one of the most sophisticated facilities in Korea, equipped with the latest technology to assess Hunters and their abilities. The towering structure was a blend of sleek modern architecture and reinforced magical barriers, ensuring both security and precision in its assessments. Every aspiring or re-evaluated Hunter passed through its doors, seeking confirmation of their rank, abilities, or any new awakenings.


    Tae-woo entered through the automatic doors, greeted by the sterile white walls and the faint hum of machinery running in the background. The waiting area was filled with Hunters of all ranks, some nervously clutching their identification papers while others lounged confidently, waiting for their turn.


    After checking in at the front desk, he was led to a private evaluation room, where a female examiner, clad in a professional lab coat, guided him through the various tests.


    The first assessments were physical.


    Tae-woo was made to demonstrate his strength, agility and endurance. The machines recorded his movements, tracking his improvements since his last examination. He ran sprints, lifted weights, and performed combat maneuvers against automated dummies designed to simulate actual battle scenarios.


    At first, Tae-woo felt uneasy. He had never excelled in physical tests before. As a Trainee-class F-Rank Hunter, his results had been abysmally low. But this time, something had changed.


    His movements felt lighter. His body responded faster.


    When he threw a punch, the impact sent cracks through the reinforced training dummy, something that should have been impossible for an F-Rank.


    The examiner raised an eyebrow but remained professional, jotting down notes as she moved on to the next segment of the test.


    Then came the mana assessment.


    Tae-woo was instructed to place his hand on a crystalline sphere, a device used to measure a Hunter''s mana signature.


    As soon as he touched it, the sphere flared to life, pulsating with an eerie, deep violet glow. The light wavered, flickering unpredictably before the device suddenly shut down with a soft beep.


    The examiner frowned, tapping a few buttons on her tablet before instructing him to try again.


    Tae-woo placed his hand on the sphere once more.


    Again, the same violet glow erupted, but this time, the machine made a strange clicking sound before flashing red, indicating an error.


    The examiner muttered something under her breath before sighing and moving to the final test, which was level assessment.


    This was the most anticipated moment. A device specifically designed to measure one''s level was brought in, resembling a sleek, metallic podium with a scanning surface. Tae-woo was asked to place his palm against it.


    As soon as he did, the machine hummed softly, scanning him as streams of numbers and data flashed across the screen. He felt a faint sensation as if something was analyzing the very core of his being.


    A few moments passed before the machine beeped and displayed the results.


    The examiner studied the screen, her lips pursing slightly. She tapped at her tablet, cross-referencing the results before turning to him.


    "There seems to be some trouble pinpointing your exact level," she said, her tone neutral but curious. "It''s not uncommon for Hunters who undergo sudden evolutions, but your readings are particularly unstable."


    Tae-woo frowned. "Unstable?"


    She nodded. "It''s rare enough for a Class to evolve, but for a Trainee-Class to evolve at all is extremely rare, if not unheard of. There isn''t much data to cross-reference, so the machine is having difficulty making precise calculations." She paused before continuing, "However, based on approximations, your level places you around the mid to high B-Rank category."


    B-Rank.


    Tae-woo exhaled slowly, trying to process what he had just heard.


    From F-Rank to B-Rank.


    It was an astronomical jump.


    For years, he had struggled at the absolute bottom of the Hunter hierarchy, mocked and pitied for his weakness. Now, suddenly, he had leaped up the ranks to a level where Hunters were considered competent, capable of taking on real threats.


    It still didn''t feel real.


    "There''s another issue," the examiner continued, scrolling through her tablet. "Your evolved Class remains unclear. When a Hunter evolves, their Class typically shifts into a defined specialization: Swordsman, Berserker, Warlock, Paladin, something recognizable." She gestured to the screen. "But your mana signature is too different from any existing classifications. The system couldn''t categorize it properly, so for now, the classification has defaulted to ''Fighter.''"


    Tae-woo nodded slowly, absorbing the information.


    B-Rank. Fighter-Class. Unstable readings.


    The tests had not detected anything overtly wrong with him, which was a relief.


    But he knew something was different.


    He thought back to the fight with Jae-sik earlier. The sheer force of his punch. The way his body had moved before his mind had even processed it. The way those crystal-like spikes had emerged from his knuckles.


    He had kept that part to himself.


    There was no way he was going to reveal that to the Examination Center. Not yet. Not when he didn''t understand it himself.


    The examiner finished her notes and gave him a slight nod. "That concludes your re-evaluation. You''ll receive your official Hunter license update soon. We recommend visiting the Association for further analysis if you experience any unusual side effects or changes."


    Tae-woo nodded, shaking her hand before leaving the examination room.


    As he stepped out into the hallway, the reality of it all finally sank in.


    He wasn''t an F-Rank anymore.


    He wasn''t a weakling struggling to survive each raid.


    He was B-Rank now. Stronger than he had ever been.


    For the first time in years, he had the power to change his fate.


    But what came next?


    The logical choice would be to join a guild. With his new rank, he could apply for some of the mid-tier guilds or even aim higher. He might even have a chance at one of the Six Great Guilds.


    But something in him hesitated.


    Before he could even think of joining a guild, he needed answers.


    He needed to understand what had happened to him.


    What had truly changed inside him after stepping into the Abyssal Gate?


    Tae-woo rubbed his knuckles absentmindedly, recalling the strange, sharp sensation of the violet spikes sprouting from his skin.


    That hadn''t been normal.


    He exhaled, shaking his head. He''d deal with that later. For now, he was satisfied with what he had learned.


    As he walked toward the exit, he felt it again.


    That deep, gnawing hunger.


    He frowned, rubbing his stomach. He had eaten breakfast before coming here, yet the empty ache in his gut refused to fade.


    It was the same sensation he had felt over the past few days, a dull but persistent hunger that no amount of food seemed to satisfy.


    It was probably nothing.


    Hopefully, it would go away in a few days.


    For now, he had more important things to focus on.


    <hr>


    Jin Tae-woo stepped through the door of his apartment, the scent of warm, freshly prepared food filling the air as he carried in the bags. The plastic rustled as he set them down on the small dining table, and he sighed, rolling his shoulders after a long day.


    It was rare for him to bring home something this expensive. Usually, their meals were simple, like home-cooked whenever Ha-rin had the time or affordable takeout when they were both too busy. But tonight was different.


    Ha-rin emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes slightly as if she had just woken up from a nap. She paused when she saw the bags on the table.


    "You bought food?" she asked, tilting her head.


    Tae-woo smirked as he started unpacking the dishes. "Not just food. Good food."


    Ha-rin frowned slightly, stepping closer. "Oppa¡­ we don''t usually spend money like this. Did something happen?"


    Tae-woo didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he pulled something out of his pocket and held it up for her to see.


    A sleek, newly updated Hunter License.


    Ha-rin''s eyes widened, her hands instinctively reaching for it as she took it from him. She scanned the information printed on the card, her gaze stopping at one particular section.


    Her fingers trembled slightly.


    "B-Rank¡­?" she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing.


    Tae-woo grinned. "Not F-Rank anymore, huh?"


    Ha-rin looked up at him, her expression torn between joy and concern. "Oppa, this is amazing! You¡­ you actually ranked up! You evolved your Class!"


    "Yeah. It actually happened," Tae-woo said, running a hand through his hair. "Trainee finally became something else. They don''t even know what my Class actually is, so they just labeled it ''Fighter'' for now."


    Ha-rin still looked overwhelmed as she stared at the license as if trying to make sure she wasn''t dreaming. "This is incredible¡­ I knew you were capable of more! You''ve always worked so hard, and now you''re-"


    She stopped.


    Her fingers tightened around the license as her expression shifted.


    Tae-woo noticed immediately. "What''s wrong?"


    Ha-rin hesitated, then looked up at him, her eyes clouded with worry.


    "Oppa¡­ this means you''ll be put in even more danger now."


    The excitement in her voice had faded, replaced with quiet unease. "B-Rank Hunters go on harder raids. Stronger dungeons. The risks are bigger than anything you''ve faced before." She bit her lip. "You''re happy about this, right? But¡­ I can''t help but feel scared. You almost died, and now, you''re going to be fighting even deadlier things. What if¡­"


    She trailed off, gripping the Hunter License tightly.


    Tae-woo sighed, reaching out and ruffling her hair. "Hey, don''t start thinking like that. I get what you''re saying, but I''ve always been in danger. Even as an F-Rank, every time I stepped into a dungeon, I was risking my life."


    Ha-rin frowned, but Tae-woo continued.


    "The difference now is that I finally have the strength to protect myself. I won''t be the weak link anymore. I won''t have to rely on others to survive." His voice softened. "And I''ll make sure to be careful. I promise."


    Ha-rin looked at him for a long moment, her emotions warring on her face. Then, with a sigh, she handed him back his license.


    "Fine," she muttered. "But you''re not allowed to do anything reckless. Got it?"


    Tae-woo chuckled, patting her head. "Got it."


    Ha-rin still looked unconvinced, but she eventually exhaled and glanced at the food on the table.


    "You spent a lot on this, huh?" she asked.


    "Well, it''s a special occasion," Tae-woo replied. "Come on, let''s eat before it gets cold."


    They both sat down and for the first time in a long while, the atmosphere felt lighter.


    The meal was extravagant compared to their usual dinners. There was grilled beef, marinated chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and several side dishes, including kimchi, pickled radish and seasoned seaweed. A steaming bowl of rich, savory stew sat in the center, filling the room with its mouthwatering aroma.


    Ha-rin eyed the spread warily. "You really went all out."


    Tae-woo grinned. "Think of it as a rare luxury."


    Ha-rin huffed but didn''t complain. "Fine. But don''t make this a habit. I don''t want us to be broke before you even start getting high-rank commissions."


    Tae-woo laughed. "You always sound like my accountant."


    "I have to be," she said, grabbing her chopsticks. "Someone needs to make sure you don''t blow all your money on food."


    As they started eating, Tae-woo savored the flavors, but something felt¡­ off.


    He was eating more than usual.


    Not just because the food was delicious but because his hunger hadn''t subsided. No matter how much he chewed and swallowed, there was a lingering emptiness inside him, a gnawing feeling that refused to be satisfied.


    It was frustrating.


    But he pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the meal and the rare moment of peace.


    Ha-rin, on the other hand, seemed completely absorbed in the food, her usual strict attitude softening as she enjoyed the meal.


    "So," Tae-woo said between bites, "how''s school been?"


    Ha-rin gave him a look. "You almost died, and that''s what you want to ask me about?"


    Tae-woo shrugged. "What else am I supposed to talk about? My amazing new Hunter rank? My incredible new skills?" He wiggled his fingers dramatically. "Or maybe you''d prefer I start monologuing about how I''m going to become the greatest Hunter alive?"


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Ha-rin snorted. "Please don''t. I''d lose my appetite."


    Tae-woo chuckled, happy to see her relax a little.


    They continued eating and chatting about minor things, like her classes, his plans, the latest Hunter news, and other small things. It felt normal as if the past week of chaos had never happened.


    But deep down, Tae-woo knew things weren''t normal.


    Something had changed.


    Inside him.


    He just wasn''t sure what yet.


    For now, though, he let himself enjoy the moment.


    Because no matter what happened next, he knew one thing for sure.


    Jin Tae-woo was no longer weak.


    <hr>


    The news of Jin Tae-woo''s sudden rise from an F-Rank to a B-Rank Hunter spread across South Korea like wildfire. A Class evolution alone was rare, but for someone with the Trainee Class, widely regarded as the most useless Class, to evolve and jump multiple ranks at once?


    It was unheard of.


    The Hunter community erupted with excitement, confusion, and endless speculation.


    Within hours of the announcement, social media platforms were flooded with discussions. Articles dissecting his past records, interviews with Hunters who had worked with him, and heated debates on Hunter forums popped up in every corner of the internet.


    However, before the public could decide on Jin Tae-woo''s fate, the first ones to learn about his promotion were the Guildmasters of the Six Great Guilds.


    And as such, a moot was called.


    A gathering where the strongest Hunters in the nation would decide how to move forward.


    <hr>


    In a high-rise conference room, the atmosphere was tense yet composed. The Guildmasters and their deputies had gathered, their expressions unreadable as they took their seats around a long, polished ebony table.


    At the far end, Gong Hye-rin, the Guildmaster of Iron Fang Guild, turned her cool, sharp eyes toward Cha Min-soo, the Guildmaster of Azure Sky Guild, seated opposite her.


    "I do appreciate that you are not being especially smug for this occasion, Min-soo-nim," she remarked in a soft, measured tone.


    Gong Hye-rin was strikingly beautiful, though her beauty was of a dangerous kind, one that hinted at lethal precision rather than delicate fragility. Dressed in a sleek green combat uniform that left her shoulders bare, she carried herself with an effortless grace, every movement fluid and precise. Her lithe frame and practiced poise made her look more like a dancer than a killer, but those who knew her understood just how deadly she was.


    Her dark brown hair was gathered into an elegant bun, a few loose strands framing her delicate yet sharp features. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, a sharpness that cut through words like a blade. Beneath her composed exterior was a trained killer, a woman who had earned her reputation as one of the most feared Assassins in Korea. In battle, she was a phantom, striking before her enemies even realized she was there. And when she spoke, her words carried weight, a sharpness hidden behind her soft-spoken voice.


    Min-soo laughed, adjusting the cloak draped over his well-tailored suit. His round glasses caught the light as he leaned back in his chair, his signature smirk playing on his lips.


    "Haha, I do try," he said smoothly. "However, I don''t recall being well-known for being self-congratulatory."


    The table shook as a mailed fist slammed down on it.


    "Bullshit!"


    A loud, rough voice filled the room, drawing all attention toward its source.


    Baek Hyun-jae, the Guildmaster of the Black Titan Guild, sat with his arms crossed, his long black hair tied up in a high ponytail. A mountain of a man, his powerful build made it clear that he was a warrior who preferred his fists over words. His Class, Brawler, was one of raw, unrelenting combat, and his short temper was infamous among both Hunters and civilians alike.


    "You''re the most puffed-up peacock in this room, Min-soo!" Hyun-jae accused, pointing a finger at him. "I know you''re itching to rub it in our faces that you were the only one who supported saving that kid! You''re gonna call dibs on him, aren''t you?!"


    Min-soo chuckled, neither confirming nor denying the claim.


    "Now, now¡­"


    A calm, soothing voice cut through the tension, and a middle-aged man in monastic robes made a placating gesture toward Hyun-jae.


    With a composed smile, Im Seong-ho, the Guildmaster of White Lotus Guild, exuded a sense of tranquility even in the midst of tension. His silver hair, neatly cropped short, contrasted with the warmth in his deep-set eyes.


    Before awakening as a Hunter, Seong-ho had been a Buddhist monk, and even now, his demeanor reflected his past life. He was known not only for his humanitarian efforts but also as one of Korea''s greatest orators, often representing the nation on the international stage. His Class, Bodhisattva, was a rare and revered one, granting him both immense spiritual power and the ability to heal and inspire others.


    "While it is true that Min-soo-nim played a crucial role in bringing the boy back, that does not mean he has a monopoly on him," Seong-ho said evenly, folding his hands together. His voice carried wisdom and patience, making it difficult to argue with him.


    After a slight pause, his gentle eyes glanced toward Min-soo.


    "After all, it was my lieutenant, Seo-yeon-nim, who first suggested retrieving him from the Abyss. Without her persistence, none of this would have happened."


    There was no arrogance in Seong-ho''s words, only plain truth.


    The room stilled for a moment as the weight of his statement settled.


    Everyone knew that Han Seo-yeon, the famed [Saintess], had fought tooth and nail to ensure Jin Tae-woo''s survival.


    "That''s rich, coming from you¡­" a voice drawled out lazily, carrying an almost mocking amusement.


    The speaker leaned back in his chair, legs casually crossed, a picture of relaxed indifference. Dressed in a black duster coat and a weathered cowboy hat, he looked as if he had just walked out of an old Western film rather than a meeting of the most powerful Hunters in Korea. A grizzled face, partially obscured by the shadow of his hat, bore signs of a life spent in combat: stubble rough along his jawline, a faint scar running across the bridge of his nose, and sharp, calculating eyes that gleamed beneath the brim.


    A single bullet casing rested between his teeth, rolling lazily from one side of his mouth to the other as he spoke. His voice had a slow, almost bored drawl, but beneath it lay an unmistakable sharpness.


    "Wasn''t it you who turned down your little saint''s plea, too?" he added, lips curling into a half-smirk.


    The man was Jang Tae-gon, the Guildmaster of Thunder Beast Guild, a man whose entire Class, combat style, and personality seemed to revolve around the image of a cowboy. And yet, despite his easygoing demeanor, no one in the room doubted his lethality. His marksmanship was nothing short of supernatural. There were stories of him firing bullets that curved mid-air, of him shooting through multiple enemies with a single shot, of him never missing, no matter the circumstances.


    His rugged, untamed look, combined with his sharp skill, had made him a favorite among female fans, though he rarely seemed to acknowledge the attention. If anything, he was a man who thrived in chaos yet carried himself with the lazy confidence of someone who had already won the fight before it even began.


    "That much is true," Seong-ho admitted, his voice steady but tinged with something deeper, something more solemn. His usual calm expression remained in place, but there was a weight behind his words, a quiet acknowledgment of the burdens he carried. "At that time, there was no way for me, in good conscience, to allow my lieutenant and my eventual successor to step into the Abyss."


    For a moment, the faintest flicker of something passed across his face, something only those who had also stepped beyond the Abyssal Gate would recognize. A memory, perhaps. A shadow of something that still lingered, unseen yet never forgotten. The same weight hung in the air between all the guildmasters who had shared that experience, those who had felt the wrongness of that place firsthand.


    His hand, resting atop the polished table, unconsciously curled into a fist. The tension in his knuckles was barely visible beneath the sleeve of his monastic robes, but the movement spoke volumes.


    "To allow Seo-yeon-nim to step into that accursed place would have been a failure of my duty," he continued, his voice firm but quieter now. "A grave misconduct on my part as both her mentor and her leader."


    He exhaled softly, the fingers of his clenched fist slowly easing as if forcing himself to let go of the unspoken emotions that threatened to surface.


    "In the end, she entered that place regardless of my decision," Seong-ho murmured, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his features. "And it gladdens my heart more than I can express to see her return¡­ intact."


    The weight behind that last word hung in the air, an unspoken truth left lingering between them all because they all knew that no one returned from the Abyss unchanged.


    "Accursed or not, the realm beyond the Abyssal Gate remains unconquered. Not just by us, but by Hunters worldwide."


    A new voice entered the conversation, smooth yet laced with a certain unsettling amusement. It belonged to a young-looking man with sleek, dark blue hair, his appearance almost misleadingly gentle compared to the weight of his words.


    At first glance, Hwang Kyung-tae seemed unassuming, dressed in a well-fitted black coat with intricate crimson embroidery along the cuffs, a design reminiscent of the blood moon, the namesake of his Scarlet Moon Guild. His pale complexion and youthful features made him look like he was barely out of his twenties, but everyone in the room knew better.


    Kyung-tae was infamous, both among Hunters and the public. Unlike the others, who commanded respect through sheer reputation and battlefield prowess, his notoriety came from something else entirely.


    His Class, Necromancer, was one of the most feared and controversial among Hunters.


    To many, necromancy was synonymous with forbidden magic, delving into the unnatural, and playing with forces that should not be tampered with. And yet, Kyung-tae thrived in it. Over the years, he had pushed the boundaries of magic, conducting esoteric experiments that made even his fellow Guildmasters wary. His obsession with the unknown extended to every corner of magic, including his own body. His youthful appearance, something he had maintained for almost a decade after his Awakening as a Hunter, was one such result of his relentless magical research.


    And despite his easygoing demeanor, the other Guildmasters in the room could all safely agree on one thing¡­


    Hwang Kyung-tae had the rottenest personality among them.


    "There''s so little we know about the Abyss¡­" Kyung-tae continued, a sly smirk forming on his lips as he rested his chin on his interlocked fingers. His dark crimson eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and amusement, a look that sent shivers down the spine of many who had seen it before.


    "There has to be more to that place than we realize¡­" His voice was almost casual, but the intensity in his gaze betrayed his true thoughts.


    Min-soo cleared his throat, the subtle gesture enough to draw everyone''s attention back to him.


    "While the Abyssal Gate is certainly a topic of great importance," he began smoothly, adjusting his glasses with a practiced motion, "it is not the primary reason for this meeting." His voice carried an air of authority, measured and confident. Even as an intellectual himself, Min-soo found Hwang Kyung-tae''s fixation on the unknown unsettling, but he wasn''t about to let the discussion derail. "We all know why we are gathered today."


    He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room.


    And, predictably, someone took exception to his attempt at taking charge.


    "Hey, hey, who died and made you the leader among us, huh?" Baek Hyun-jae grumbled, crossing his arms. The Guildmaster of Black Titan was never one to sit quietly when someone else took the reins. His brawler''s temperament made him naturally resistant to authority, especially when it wasn''t his own.


    Min-soo turned his gaze toward Hyun-jae, unimpressed.


    "I personally jumped into the Abyssal Gate to save him," Min-soo stated flatly.


    A brief silence followed.


    "Oh. Right, fair enough," Hyun-jae conceded with a shrug, clearly unwilling to argue with that level of commitment.


    Min-soo sighed and pressed forward. "Then let''s focus on the issue at hand." He straightened, his expression returning to its usual composed state. "We need to discuss what we''re going to do about Jin Tae-woo."

 1.6

    Jin Tae-woo sat at his small dining table, staring at the message he had just received earlier. It was from the Hunter Association, which offered him job opportunities as a freelancing Hunter who did not join any guild.


    And it was a dungeon raid.


    Tae-woo exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin in thought. It had been a while since the last time he went, and this would be his first raid as a B-Rank Hunter.


    Not long ago, he was nothing but an F-Rank Trainee, the weakest of the weak, struggling to make ends meet with scraps from E-Rank and F-Rank dungeons. Now, he was considered a high-tier Hunter compared to the majority of others. The transition had been so abrupt that he still had trouble fully grasping it.


    Still, if he was going to move forward, he needed to test himself.


    So, he typed a reply, confirming his participation.


    [You have accepted the contract. Please arrive at the location before the scheduled time.]


    With that settled, Tae-woo stood up and grabbed his equipment.


    He had invested some of the money from his B-Rank registration bonus into proper gear. Instead of relying on hand-me-downs or cheap market armor, he had purchased something light and practical, like a pauldron, knee protectors, and greaves to cover his most vulnerable areas while prioritizing mobility.


    As for his weapon¡­


    He ran his fingers over the hilt of his new longsword.


    Unlike the cheap weapons he had used in the past, this one was well-balanced and razor-sharp, made of high-grade mana-infused steel. It wasn''t anything special compared to the weapons of top-tier Hunters, but for him, it was a massive step up.


    Tae-woo swung it once, testing the weight, before sliding it into the sheath at his hip.


    He was ready.


    <hr>


    The abandoned construction site stood eerily quiet, its skeletal metal beams and half-finished structures looming in the distance. The portal, a swirling blue vortex, hovered in the middle of the site, crackling with arcane energy.


    Several Hunters had already gathered, including a familiar face.


    "Well, look who finally made it!" Choi Ji-hoon grinned, striding over as he adjusted the straps of his quiver. His C-Rank Ranger gear consisted of reinforced leather armor and a newly maintained composite bow slung across his back. "Damn, Tae-woo, I can''t believe I''m saying this, but I feel like a proud parent. Our little F-Rank has grown up into a big, strong B-Rank!"


    Tae-woo sighed. "You sound way too emotional about this."


    Ji-hoon placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "Of course I''m emotional! I used to be the one carrying your sorry ass in dungeon raids, and now you''ve surpassed me!" He shook his head, sighing in mock devastation. "It''s like I raised my own successor, only for him to leave me behind¡­"


    Tae-woo smirked. "You can still carry my stuff if that makes you feel better."


    Ji-hoon groaned. "And now he''s cocky. Great."


    Despite his teasing, Ji-hoon was genuinely happy for him. Tae-woo could tell by the way he patted his shoulder with a brotherly grin.


    "Jokes aside, congrats, man. But don''t let it get to your head just yet. This isn''t some E-Rank or F-Rank dungeon. D-Rank dungeons are an entirely different beast." Ji-hoon''s tone became serious. "You might be stronger now, but strength alone won''t keep you alive. You''ve got experience fighting weaklings, but this is your first time facing mid-tier dungeon threats."


    Tae-woo nodded. "I get it."


    "Good." Ji-hoon crossed his arms. "Since I''m such a kind and generous friend, I''ll even show you the ropes despite being a lowly C-Rank compared to you, my lord."


    Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "I don''t need a personal instructor."


    "Says the guy who spent years being the weakest Hunter in Korea."


    "Says the guy who almost got his face torn off by a goblin shaman."


    Ji-hoon scowled. "That was one time!"


    Before they could continue their bickering, the atmosphere around them shifted.


    A new group approached.


    And with them, a familiar face.


    Kong Jae-sik.


    Tae-woo immediately recognized him as the C-Rank Hunter he had knocked out cold not long ago.


    Jae-sik''s face was still bruised, though it seemed like he had healed enough to walk properly. His narrow eyes burned with anger, but there was hesitation in his posture, a flicker of uncertainty that wasn''t there before.


    His lackeys trailed behind him, gazes darting between Tae-woo and their leader.


    Jae-sik sneered. "Well, well. Look who''s acting all high and mighty now."


    Tae-woo exhaled, already tired of this conversation before it even started. "I don''t have time for this."


    "You''re acting distant now that you''re suddenly famous, huh?" Jae-sik''s fake smile widened. "Did a little rank-up go to your head?"


    Tae-woo barely reacted. "We have a job to do. I don''t have time for this."


    He turned to leave, but Jae-sik grabbed his shoulder.


    The moment Jae-sik''s fingers clamped down on his shoulder, a cold surge of irritation coursed through Tae-woo''s veins. A strange, fleeting hunger tickled the edge of his consciousness, which he immediately pushed away.


    One of Jae-sik''s lackeys panicked. "Jae-sik, let it go." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "We can''t mess with him anymore. He''s a B-Rank now."


    Jae-sik''s grip tightened, but there was visible conflict in his eyes.


    Tae-woo didn''t move.


    For a brief moment, silence stretched between them.


    Then Jae-sik''s expression twisted into a bitter smirk.


    "Tch." He let go, stepping back. "Doesn''t matter. Losers will always be losers."


    Tae-woo said nothing as Jae-sik and his lackeys walked away.


    "Damn, what''s his problem?" Ji-hoon muttered, watching as Jae-sik and his group disappeared into the distance. "I guess he''s cranky now that he can''t make you his personal punching bag anymore."


    Tae-woo rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "Just let him go. He''s not worth the trouble."


    Ji-hoon snorted. "Man, if I were you, I''d rub it in his face a little. You shot up four whole ranks, and now he has to share a raid with you? That''s got to sting." He smirked, clearly amused. "Bet he was hoping you''d never come back from that Abyssal Gate so he wouldn''t have to see you again."


    Tae-woo said nothing. Jae-sik''s words still echoed in his mind. He knew people like Jae-sik. They needed someone weaker to step on, someone to make themselves feel bigger. Without that, they had nothing.


    Ji-hoon clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, whatever. A little tension in the air never hurt anyone. But damn, we really are stuck with a bunch of jackasses for this one." He sighed dramatically. "I was hoping for a chill dungeon raid, but nope. Guess we''re in for some drama."


    Tae-woo barely heard him.


    His gaze had drifted down to his own hand.


    His knuckles were bare now, but he could still feel something beneath the surface of his skin. A residual sensation. A lingering presence. The memory of those sharp, violet-hued crystal spikes that had erupted from his flesh when he had struck Jae-sik down.


    They weren''t there now, but the feeling hadn''t vanished.


    It was waiting.


    Lurking.


    He flexed his fingers experimentally. Nothing happened. His skin remained normal, unmarked. But he knew better.


    This was real.


    Something inside him had changed.


    Something was different.


    He felt it in how his body had moved without thinking when he stopped the motorcycle snatchers. He felt it when he sent Jae-sik flying with a single strike, the sheer power behind it beyond anything he had ever known.


    And more than anything, he felt it in the hunger.


    The dull, persistent hunger gnawed at the edges of his awareness, lingering just beneath the surface. He had eaten plenty before coming here¡ªmore than enough to satisfy a normal person. And yet¡­


    It was still there.


    That emptiness in his gut.


    That deep, instinctive craving for something else.


    Tae-woo exhaled slowly, pushing the feeling aside.


    Not now.


    He had a job to do.


    For now, everything else could wait.


    <hr>


    Park Eun-ha stood in the vast, dimly lit training room of the Azure Sky Guild, preparing for another round of simulation training. The cool glow of the mana projectors above cast soft shadows over the polished floor, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.


    Dressed in a dark blue sports bra and tight workout pants, she was the embodiment of elegance and power. The snug fabric clung to her toned, athletic frame, accentuating the natural curves of her hourglass figure. Her slender waist, which sharply contrasted with the fullness of her hips, only added to her striking allure. Every movement she made was fluid and controlled as if she were sculpted to perfection.


    Her shoulder-length violet hair, normally styled with a degree of refinement, was now tied into a loose ponytail, with a few damp strands framing her flawless, porcelain face. Sharp, slate-gray eyes gleamed with quiet intensity as she flexed her fingers, a faint mist of cold air forming at her fingertips. Beads of sweat clung to her smooth, toned abdomen, trailing along the defined lines of her muscles, but she paid them no mind.


    She was Park Eun-ha, the Ice Warden of Azure Sky, and she was far from satisfied.


    The automated voice of the training system echoed through the spacious chamber.


    [Simulation Begins.]


    In a flash of arcane light, three towering figures materialized before her: cyclopes, their hulking forms brimming with simulated mana. Each one stood nearly five meters tall, their massive, one-eyed faces twisted in primal aggression. Clad in makeshift armor of animal hides, they gripped colossal wooden clubs thick enough to reduce boulders to dust.


    They were nothing more than constructs, brought to life through the combined marvels of magic and technology, allowing Hunters to hone their combat skills without the risk of actual dungeon combat. But Eun-ha treated them as real threats.


    The cyclopes roared in unison, their thunderous battle cries shaking the very walls of the training chamber.


    And then, they attacked.


    Eun-ha moved.


    Despite being a Mage, she danced between the incoming attacks with the grace of a seasoned duelist. Her body was twisted, curved, and evaded; her every step was calculated, and every motion was precise. She was too fast, too fluid, slipping through the crushing force of their swings as if she were made of air.


    The faint shimmer of enhancement magic surged through her veins, amplifying her agility, reflexes, and coordination beyond human limits. Where most Mages relied on barriers or teleportation to escape danger, Eun-ha relied on pure technique, the kind of skill that came from relentless, unforgiving training.


    The moment she found an opening, she struck.


    A frigid gust of mana surged around her as she lifted her hand, conjuring jagged spears of ice from thin air. The gleaming crystalline spikes suspended above her head for a fraction of a second before they shot forward at blinding speed, piercing through flesh, bone, and muscle.


    The cyclopes howled, their bodies impaled and frozen, ice spreading across their forms in a deadly, creeping frost. Their massive figures convulsed before finally collapsing to the floor.


    And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, their bodies shattered into glowing fragments, dispersing into the air as the simulation ended.


    Eun-ha regained her footing, brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp forehead. Her chest rose and fell in steady breaths, though she barely felt winded. Her glistening skin caught the dim blue light of the room, emphasizing the delicate curve of her collarbone, the tight definition of her abs, and the subtle sheen of sweat on her toned arms.


    She turned her gaze toward the large digital clock mounted on the wall.


    "Five seconds," she muttered to herself.


    There was no satisfaction in her voice. No pride in the feat she had just accomplished.


    She sighed, her eyes narrowing as she clenched her fists.


    "Still not enough."


    Then, the door swung open, and a young woman with light brown hair stepped inside, a bright grin plastered across her face.


    "You think that''s still not enough, Eun-ha-noona?" she asked, tilting her head as she walked toward the training area. Her voice was light and cheerful, carrying an infectious energy that contrasted sharply with the cold, stoic air of the room.


    She was Seong Hana, an A-Rank Hunter of the Azure Sky Guild. Despite her high rank, she had an easygoing and approachable personality, making her one of the more beloved members of the guild. While many in Azure Sky were known for their intense discipline and professionalism, Hana had a bubbly, almost mischievous charm that set her apart.


    Her light brown hair was styled into a high ponytail, swaying slightly as she moved. Her hazel eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her soft features carried a youthful warmth that made her seem almost out of place among the elite Hunters of Azure Sky. But beneath her cheerful demeanor was a warrior through and through.


    She was a Dragoon, a high-speed, mobility-focused Class specializing in agile aerial combat. Clad in a casual, fitted hoodie and tight leggings, her toned physique was evident, with lean muscle wrapped in a deceptively delicate frame built for swift, acrobatic combat. If Eun-ha moved like ice-cold precision, Hana moved like a lightning bolt, fast, unpredictable, and devastating.


    Hana tossed a fresh towel at Eun-ha, who caught it with ease before beginning to wipe the sweat off her face, chin, and upper chest.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Don''t you think you set your standards too high?" Hana asked, crossing her arms.


    Eun-ha remained silent for a moment before speaking. "To subjugate the Abyss, this alone isn''t enough," she said as she ran the towel over her neck, her sharp gray eyes reflecting her unrelenting drive. "I need to be stronger and faster."


    Hana let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head. "Well, nobody has succeeded in exploring the Abyss yet, so don''t be so hard on yourself, Noona." She gave Eun-ha a playful nudge. "You train harder than half the S-Ranks I know. Give yourself some credit."


    "Hmm," Eun-ha responded, a noncommittal hum escaping her lips.


    Hana plopped onto a nearby bench, stretching out her legs. "Anyway, what happened yesterday? During the meeting between the Guildmasters of the Six Great Guilds, I mean." She tilted her head curiously. "Is this about Jin Tae-woo?"


    Eun-ha stilled for a fraction of a second before setting the towel aside.


    "They discussed what to do with him now that his Class has evolved from Trainee, making him jump several ranks and officially becoming a B-Rank Hunter," she said, her tone measured, unreadable. "It was... an intense discussion."


    Yesterday, as Cha Min-soo''s deputy, Eun-ha had been present during the private meeting between the Guildmasters of Korea''s Six Great Guilds. She had witnessed firsthand how the most powerful Hunters in the nation debated, some with genuine interest, others with hidden agendas, over who had the right to recruit Jin Tae-woo.


    Two guilds were at the forefront of the discussion: Azure Sky and White Lotus.


    It was only natural.


    After all, Cha Min-soo had been the one to personally step into the Abyssal Gate to retrieve him, while Han Seo-yeon, the Saintess of White Lotus, had been the one who fought to have him rescued in the first place. Both guilds had invested in his survival, making them the most likely contenders for his recruitment.


    Yet, despite all their strategizing, all their arguments, one thing remained uncertain.


    Did Jin Tae-woo even want to join any of them?


    Eun-ha exhaled quietly, her fingers lightly tapping against her thigh.


    No matter how much the Guildmasters schemed, none of them had accounted for what Tae-woo himself wanted.


    And in the end, that was the real deciding factor.


    "What do you think, Noona?" Hana asked, her hazel eyes sparkling with curiosity as she leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees.


    Eun-ha glanced at her, arching a delicate brow. "You''re asking for my opinion?"


    Hana nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! You were there, so maybe you have some thoughts about this matter too." She tilted her head slightly, her ponytail bouncing with the motion. "I mean, a guy going from F-Rank to B-Rank overnight? That''s gotta mean something, right?"


    Eun-ha let out a slow, measured sigh.


    "I''m not interested," she stated firmly, folding her arms. "Even though he might have jumped ranks, he is ultimately still unproven." Her gray eyes sharpened, her expression growing colder. "Azure Sky has no use for those who can''t pull their own weight."


    Hana blinked before letting out a low whistle. "Harsh."


    She stretched her arms above her head before grinning. "Oh well, I guess it''s none of our business speculating about uncertain stuff. He''ll either prove himself or he won''t." She hopped to her feet, hands on her hips. "Anyway, wanna hang out? There''s this new restaurant that just opened, and I''ve been dying to try it. Come on, Noona, you need to eat real food instead of whatever weird protein bars you live off of."


    Eun-ha remained unmoved. "¡­Not interested. I need to resume my training."


    Hana groaned dramatically. "Ugh, Noona, aren''t you, like, way too addicted to training? Even Min-soo Oppa takes breaks sometimes!"


    Eun-ha didn''t respond, simply walking toward the center of the training room, her focus already shifting back to the simulation.


    Hana puffed out her cheeks before sighing in defeat. "Fine, fine, I get it. You''re married to training. I''ll just go look for someone else to hang out with. See ya, Noona!"


    With a carefree wave, Hana spun on her heel and left the training room, the door sliding shut behind her.


    Now alone again, Eun-ha exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders as she centered herself.


    Her heartbeat was steady. Her muscles, honed and refined through relentless practice, were primed for combat.


    She stepped forward, standing in the middle of the vast, empty space.


    Then, a cool, synthetic voice echoed through the room.


    [Simulation Begins.]


    <hr>


    Ten Hunters had gathered for this dungeon raid. For Tae-woo, some were familiar faces, while others were completely new.


    As he stood among the group, a young man with an easygoing smile approached him, extending a hand. He had a solid, athletic build, broad shoulders, and an aura of approachability that put people at ease. His neatly styled dark brown hair and expressive, friendly eyes gave him a reliable presence.


    "So, you''re Jin Tae-woo? Nice to meet you. I''m Jang Woo-bin, and I''m a Castellan, so I guess my role will be the team''s tank," the young man said with a grin. "I''m a C-Rank Hunter."


    Tae-woo shook his hand, taking note of Woo-bin''s sturdy stance and the heavy armor he wore. Castellans were a rare but powerful tank-type class known for their ability to create fortified defenses and bolster their allies with battlefield tactics.


    Woo-bin''s armor was an imposing set of steel plates, polished to a dull gleam, covering him from neck to toe. The segmented plating allowed for mobility while providing substantial protection. His shoulder pauldrons were broad and reinforced, designed to absorb impact, while his gauntlets were thick, lined with protective runes that likely enhanced his durability. The chest plate bore the insignia of a fortress, the traditional mark of a Castellan, and his sturdy greaves clanked lightly against the ground as he shifted his weight.


    A large tower shield was strapped across his back, nearly as tall as he was, with a faint magical sheen to it. No doubt, it was reinforced with defensive enchantments. At his hip, a one-handed warhammer hung in its holster, the head of the weapon reinforced with intricate carvings, likely a mix of utility and magical runes.


    Despite the intimidating armor, Woo-bin carried himself with relaxed confidence, his presence making him feel more like a friendly older brother than an immovable battlefield wall.


    Before Tae-woo could reply, a voice interjected from beside Woo-bin.


    "And I''m Yoo Sena, and I''m this dork''s friend and minder," a young woman quipped, placing a hand on her hip. "B-Rank Hunter, second dungeon raid, and a Druid, at your service."


    She was petite but carried an undeniable presence, her deep auburn hair tied into a high ponytail, with a few loose strands framing her sharp, foxlike features. Her warm brown eyes carried a playful glint, but there was something keen in her gaze, the kind of perceptiveness that came with being a spellcaster.


    Unlike Woo-bin, who looked like he could stand in place and tank an entire monster horde, Sena''s outfit was designed for mobility. She wore a forest-green tunic that hugged her slender figure, cinched at the waist with a thin leather belt, allowing her ease of movement. The fabric, while light, shimmered faintly, suggesting it was enhanced with minor defensive enchantments.


    Her long, fitted sleeves ended in fingerless gloves, likely for better control over her magic. Beneath the tunic, she wore dark leggings reinforced with leather padding, ensuring both comfort and flexibility. A pair of knee-high boots completed her look, sturdy yet silent when she moved.


    In one hand, she casually leaned against a long wooden staff, its surface gnarled and covered in faintly glowing green inscriptions. The top of the staff curved into a crescent, from which a single, softly pulsing crystal was embedded, a conduit for her magic.


    "I''m a B-Rank Hunter, but this is only my second dungeon raid, so I guess I''m relatively inexperienced," Sena admitted with a casual shrug. "Oh, and don''t let the ''B-Rank'' fool you. I''m still new to all of this, so I might not be as amazing as some of you veterans. But hey, I''ll do my best."


    Tae-woo offered a small nod. "Nice to meet you both."


    He noted the dynamic between Woo-bin and Sena. The way she teased him, the way he chuckled without offense, it was clear they had been friends for a while. Despite Sena''s self-proclaimed inexperience, she didn''t seem the type to be easily shaken. That was a good trait to have.


    With introductions out of the way, Tae-woo turned his attention to the rest of the group.


    Now that all ten Hunters had gathered in front of the portal, it was time for the mission briefing.


    A representative from the Hunter Association stood before the gathered Hunters, providing the final briefing. She was a petite woman dressed in a sharp black suit and skirt, with her glasses perched neatly on the bridge of her nose. Though her stature was small, her voice carried authority, and her neatly styled bob-cut hair and delicate features gave her a certain cute but professional appearance.


    "So, this is a D-Rank mission, and your objective is to hunt all the monsters inside and defeat the dungeon boss. Still, please be careful," the representative warned. "Even though it''s a D-Rank dungeon, always prepare for the unexpected."


    The assembled Hunters exchanged murmurs, some shifting in place while others nodded in understanding. D-Rank dungeons weren''t something to take lightly, and no one wanted to be caught off guard.


    The representative glanced over the group. "Any questions?"


    A hand rose from among the Hunters.


    "Who gets to be the team leader?" someone asked.


    "Well, we have three B-Rank Hunters among us today, so you can decide among yourselves which one will take charge," the representative explained.


    More murmurs rippled through the group.


    Tae-woo instinctively remained silent. Even though he was a B-Rank now, he had only just ascended and had yet to prove himself. It wouldn''t make sense for him to lead a team when he was still adjusting to his own newfound strength.


    Beside him, Yoo Sena also seemed hesitant. Despite being B-Rank, she had admitted earlier that this was only her second dungeon raid. It was too early for her to take on the role of leader.


    Just as the tension stretched, someone stepped forward with a smooth, confident stride.


    "I''ll take the lead," she announced, her voice steady and brimming with natural authority.


    The group turned to see the speaker. A young woman.


    She was tall and striking, her presence effortlessly commanding attention.


    Unlike most of the Hunters, who wore heavy armor or practical battle gear, her choice of attire was bold, crafted for both agility and intimidation.


    She wore a sleek, fur-trimmed leather battle top, the material clinging to her slender but powerful frame. Unlike bulky warriors, her physique was lean yet sculpted, her toned muscles evident in the exposed skin of her arms and shoulders. Her strength was not that of raw bulk but of a honed, battle-ready body built for both speed and precision.


    Her skirt was short, designed for ease of movement, with two high slits running along the sides, revealing the long, athletic lines of her legs. She moved with a predatory grace, each step exuding confidence and raw physicality.


    Slung across her back was a massive double-bladed battle axe, its ornate steel gleaming under the sunlight. It looked almost too large for someone with her slender build, but there was no doubt she could wield it effortlessly.


    Her luxurious black hair was neatly tied into a loose ponytail, letting a few strands frame her sharp, striking features. Her dark eyes were focused, filled with calculated intensity, as she scanned the group before speaking.


    "My name is Go Min-kyung," she introduced herself, her voice unwavering. "B-Rank Hunter, Class: Amazon."


    Amazons were fearsome melee fighters known for their ferocity in battle and peerless agility. Unlike Berserkers, who fought in wild frenzies, or Warriors, who relied on strict discipline, Amazons combined both brute strength and fluid grace, making them some of the most lethal close-combat combatants.


    Min-kyung''s sharp gaze flickered over her potential teammates, her posture relaxed yet imposing. "If no one else wants the role, I''ll take command," she added.


    Ji-hoon nudged Tae-woo with an appreciative whistle.


    "Damn," Ji-hoon muttered under his breath, his eyes locked on her stomach. "Look at those abs."


    Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "Not the time, dude."


    Min-kyung paid no mind to the murmurs around her. She simply folded her arms, waiting for anyone to challenge her claim to leadership.


    No one did.


    Tae-woo''s eyes briefly flickered toward Jae-sik, who was standing at the back of the group, his jaw tight, his expression dark with barely concealed rage.


    It was obvious why.


    Tae-woo recalled Jae-sik''s misogynistic rant from the other day. Seeing a woman, and a B-Rank one at that, take the leadership role was something that no doubt infuriated him.


    Jae-sik''s hands clenched into fists, but his lackeys whispered something to him, likely reminding him to keep his mouth shut. He was already outmatched by Tae-woo, and Min-kyung? She was on an entirely different level.


    The representative gave an approving nod. "Now that that''s been decided, I wish you all good luck."


    With everything settled, the group of ten Hunters turned toward the portal.


    It was time to depart.


    As the blue vortex pulsed before them, each Hunter readied their weapons.


    One by one, they stepped forward.


    The dungeon raid had begun.

 1.7

    The White Lotus Guild Headquarters was unlike any other. While the other Great Guilds had constructed towers of steel and glass, symbols of power and modernity, the White Lotus Guild stood as a sanctuary of tradition and serenity, resembling a Buddhist monastery more than a base for some of Korea''s most powerful Hunters.


    Stone pathways wove through the estate, lined with bamboo groves and carefully cultivated gardens. Manicured trees cast dappled shadows over koi ponds, their still waters mirroring the sky. The gentle rustling of leaves, the distant toll of a temple bell, and the occasional murmur of wind chimes filled the air, a harmony of peace and discipline.


    It was a place where burdens were meant to be lifted.


    And yet, for Han Seo-yeon, no such relief came.


    She sat in a small wooden pavilion, the scent of incense lingering in the warm afternoon air. The open-air structure overlooked a Zen sand garden, where a lone monk raked careful, deliberate patterns into the earth.


    Seo-yeon barely noticed.


    Across from her, Im Seong-ho, the Guildmaster of White Lotus, sat in perfect stillness. Clad in simple gray robes, the middle-aged man radiated an aura of wisdom, his presence as calm and unshaken as a mountain. His face, weathered by years of experience, bore a quiet kindness that put many at ease.


    Between them, a tea set lay neatly arranged atop a low wooden table, steam rising in delicate wisps from the ceramic teapot. The traditional tea ceremony was an act of focus, discipline, and mindfulness, an exercise in being fully present.


    Seo-yeon poured the amber liquid, her hands steady as she filled Seong-ho''s cup first before her own. The soft trickle of tea was the only sound that accompanied them.


    Seong-ho observed her movements.


    There was a pause. A hesitation so slight that most would have overlooked it.


    But he noticed.


    Seo-yeon never hesitated.


    He did not ask her what was wrong. Instead, he lifted his cup, savoring the bitterness blooming on his tongue before it melted into delicate floral notes.


    Finally, he spoke.


    "The mind is much like this tea, Seo-yeon-ah."


    Her gaze flickered upward, momentarily pulled from her thoughts by the gentle weight of his voice.


    Seong-ho swirled the tea lightly in his cup, his expression unreadable.


    "If one lingers too long on the past, the tea grows cold."


    He took another slow sip.


    "If one worries too much about the future, the taste is lost in distraction."


    Seo-yeon said nothing.


    Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup.


    The words struck too deeply for her to ignore.


    The past.


    The future.


    She had spent too much time in both lately.


    The Abyssal Gate.


    Him.


    A soft breeze swept through the pavilion, causing the paper lanterns overhead to sway slightly.


    Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak.


    But she hesitated.


    Instead, she took a slow sip of tea.


    The warmth spread across her tongue, but she barely registered the taste.


    Seong-ho watched her in silence, his gaze neither pressing nor impatient.


    He knew.


    He had guided her since she Awakened as a Hunter. Trained her. Watched her grow into the woman she was today.


    And so, he knew when something troubled her.


    But wisdom was knowing when not to ask.


    Instead, he lifted the teapot once more, carefully refilling her cup.


    The warm steam rose between them, an unspoken reminder.


    Seo-yeon stared at the tea swirling inside her cup, her reflection barely visible on its golden surface.


    The mind is like tea¡­


    She took a slow breath, exhaling softly.


    "I know," she murmured at last.


    Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried enough weight to acknowledge his words.


    Seong-ho gave a faint, knowing smile before taking another sip.


    "Then drink," he said. "And let the world wait."


    Seo-yeon exhaled, feeling some of the weight she carried settle into the stillness of the moment.


    Right now, there was no need for burdens.


    No need for answers.


    No need for anything but the present.


    She lifted her cup once more.


    And together, in the quiet sanctuary of the White Lotus, they continued the tea ceremony.


    <hr>


    The team had entered the dungeon, facing the monsters lurking in its depths. Goblins, wolves, and kobolds emerged from the shadows, snarling and screeching, only to be swiftly cut down.


    At the forefront of the carnage was Go Min-kyung, the Amazon, and the appointed leader of the team.


    She was a sight to behold.


    Her toned yet shapely body was the result of relentless training, a perfect blend of raw power and feminine allure. Her battle uniform, which was a form-fitting, fur-trimmed top that left her shoulders and midriff bare, only accentuated her taut muscles and golden skin, glistening slightly from the exertion of battle.


    Her skirt, short with twin slits at the sides, showcased her powerful, well-defined thighs, built for speed and strength. She radiated raw physicality, a woman who had mastered her own body as a weapon. Yet, for all her ferocity, there was something dangerously alluring about her, the way she moved, the confidence in her smirk as she tore through enemies like a whirlwind of steel.


    With a fierce battle cry, Min-kyung launched herself into the fray, her massive battle axe seemed like an extension of her own body.


    She twisted mid-air, bringing the axe down in a lethal arc, bisecting a wolf in one clean stroke. Blood sprayed across her exposed skin, but she barely flinched, already pivoting into her next attack. A goblin lunged at her, but she sidestepped effortlessly, twisting her hips in a way that sent the fabric of her skirt fluttering, a momentary flash of her firm, muscular legs before she slammed her knee into the creature''s gut.


    With one final flourish, she spun her axe in a dazzling display of precision and savagery, cleaving through three kobolds simultaneously. Their dying shrieks barely lasted a second before they collapsed into lifeless heaps.


    Despite the violence, she fought with an almost predatory elegance, a warrior both ruthless and mesmerizing.


    Despite the life-or-death nature of the raid, several of the male Hunters couldn''t help but stare.


    "Damn¡­" Ji-hoon muttered under his breath as he let loose an arrow into a kobold''s skull. "Look at her."


    "Shouldn''t we be focusing on clearing the dungeon?" Tae-woo grumbled, cutting down an incoming wolf with a swift strike of his longsword.


    Ji-hoon let out a low whistle, still watching Min-kyung in action. "I mean, you gotta admit, she''s sexy as hell doing that." Then, a grin spread across his face as he shot a knowing look at Tae-woo. "Then again, we all know your type is [The Saintess]."


    Tae-woo glared at him. "Want me to slash the tires of your bike?"


    Ji-hoon snorted but took the hint.


    Meanwhile, the team continued forward after harvesting magic crystals from the slain monsters'' corpses.


    After a moment of silence, Ji-hoon spoke up. "Now that I think about it, I''ve seen her before¡­"


    "Who?" Tae-woo asked, adjusting his grip on his sword.


    "Min-kyung," Ji-hoon replied. "I think she''s the daughter of a billionaire or something."


    Tae-woo raised an eyebrow. "A billionaire?"


    Ji-hoon nodded. "Go Haneul, the CEO of Gojin Group. The guy''s been making waves in the Hunter industry for a while now."


    Tae-woo listened, intrigued despite himself.


    "Gojin Group has been trying to establish a major guild, something big enough to compete with the Six Great Guilds," Ji-hoon continued, keeping his voice low as they walked. "They''re saying the Six Great Guilds have too much control over the dungeon industry. You know, monopolizing resources, dominating contracts, setting the rules for everyone else."


    Tae-woo frowned. "So, they want to break the monopoly?"


    Ji-hoon shrugged. "Something like that. They''ve been pouring ridiculous amounts of money into recruiting top-tier Hunters. They''re even offering better contracts than some of the Great Guilds, but the problem is, well¡­" He glanced around, lowering his voice. "A lot of people don''t take them seriously. They''re new money trying to muscle into an old game."


    Tae-woo exhaled. He wasn''t particularly interested in guild politics, but he understood the weight of what Ji-hoon was saying. A new player trying to challenge the established powerhouses of the Hunter world?


    That was bound to stir things up.


    "You sure know a lot about that kind of stuff," Tae-woo commented.


    Ji-hoon smirked. "Hey, someone''s gotta keep up with the drama. Besides, you never know when it might come in handy."


    Tae-woo shook his head but said nothing more. For now, they had a dungeon to clear.


    <hr>


    Kong Jae-sik was seething.


    It wasn''t just irritation or mild frustration. This was pure, unfiltered rage, boiling beneath his skin like molten iron. His fingers twitched, itching for something to break, something to hurt, something to destroy. Every fiber of his being recoiled at the sight before him, at the sheer audacity of the situation he had been forced to endure.


    Go Min-kyung, a woman, was leading them.


    Not only had she been chosen to command their team, but she had also taken complete control of the battlefield, dictating their movements, deciding their tactics, and, worst of all, proving herself indispensable.


    She wasn''t just leading. She was excelling.


    With her battle prowess, she tore through their enemies like a force of nature, her powerful swings carving goblins and kobolds in half with ease. Her every move was precise, brutal, and efficient. Her body, toned and shapely, moved with a grace that only made her overwhelming strength even more infuriating. And the worst part? The men around her couldn''t stop watching.


    Some were enamored by her beauty. Others admired her skill. But all of them, in one way or another, respected her.


    Jae-sik despised it.


    He despised her.


    He despised women.


    Women were meant to be lesser. Meant to be guided, meant to be controlled, meant to be put in their place.


    But instead, they flaunted their looks, wielded their charm like weapons, and manipulated their way through life. They pouted their lips, batted their lashes, and wrapped men around their delicate little fingers. They pretended to be weak, but the moment they were given power, they stomped all over the ones who had lifted them up in the first place.


    Women didn''t earn respect. They tricked people into giving it to them.


    Jae-sik had seen it too many times. He had watched women climb to high positions without effort, benefiting from the admiration of naive men who mistook beauty for competence. He had seen strong men grovel and debase themselves just for the approval of some pretty face.


    He never entertained their games. Never played into their hands. Never let himself be fooled by their smiles, their sweet words, their false humility. To him, women were nothing but parasites, leeching off of men, using their softness to justify their failures while expecting men to pick up the pieces.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    And yet here he was.


    Standing in a dungeon.


    Under the command of a woman.


    Forced to listen to her orders, to acknowledge her strength, to watch as she outshined him in every possible way.


    Jae-sik could feel it, the scorn burning inside him, the anger twisting his gut. He despised her confidence, the way she carried herself with that air of superiority. He hated how effortless it all seemed for her. He despised the way the other men looked at her, the unspoken admiration in their eyes.


    She hadn''t done anything special. She had just been lucky.


    Lucky to have been born pretty. Lucky to have gotten whatever privileges had propelled her forward. Lucky that people didn''t question her skills as much as they should have.


    He clenched his fists.


    Go Min-kyung was no leader. She was just another arrogant woman playing hero.


    And the worst part? She was getting away with it.


    As his fury festered, something unnatural stirred in the depths of his mind.


    A whisper.


    [Such anger¡­]


    Jae-sik''s breath hitched.


    It wasn''t from anyone around him.


    It came from somewhere else.


    Something else.


    But he was too angry to care.


    [I see that you think it''s wrong for her to be all high and mighty.]


    Jae-sik gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching so tightly it ached.


    [I can give you a tool. Right this wrong.]


    He didn''t even have to think.


    Didn''t even have to hesitate.


    "Yes," he whispered, his voice almost trembling with the weight of his hatred.


    A dark chuckle echoed in his mind.


    [If anything, you''ll make quite a hearty feast for my Master.]


    <hr>


    "Abyssal Corruption?"


    Im Seong-ho nodded at Han Seo-yeon''s inquisitive tone. The two remained seated in the wooden pavilion, the quiet rustling of leaves and the gentle patterns of the sand garden before them adding to the tranquility of their surroundings.


    "Indeed," Seong-ho said, his voice carrying the weight of understanding that only came with years of meditation and insight. "Every portal leading to the dungeons across the world is inextricably linked to the Abyssal Gate. This is the result of a phenomenon we call Abyssal Corruption."


    Slowly, the monk stood up, his hands clasped behind his back as he stepped toward the edge of the pavilion. A lone leaf drifted from a nearby tree, its gentle descent unnoticed by the world around it, except by him. With an effortless motion, he caught it between his fingers.


    "Dungeons," he continued, "are not merely places filled with monsters. They are distortions of reality, reflections of something much deeper, much darker. They fuel our economy and provide us with power, yet they are little more than wounds upon our world, manifestations of something far beyond our understanding."


    He lifted the leaf, turning it over in his palm.


    "Tell me, Seo-yeon," he said, his voice calm, measured. "What happens to a leaf once it falls from the tree?"


    "It withers," Seo-yeon answered after a moment.


    Seong-ho nodded.


    "When we, the Hunters, step into the dungeons, we are akin to these fallen leaves. Cut off from the natural order, from the world that sustains us, we are adrift in a place not meant for us. A fallen leaf is destined to wither and crumble, and so too are we, should we linger for too long in these places of unnatural abundance."


    Seo-yeon frowned slightly. "But aren''t we, as Hunters, resilient enough to withstand whatever corruption the dungeons may have?"


    The monk turned to her with a small smile.


    "Resilience is not permanence, Seo-yeon," he said. "True, our Awakening grants us a resistance, an armor against the corruption. Our bodies are tempered by mana, our spirits fortified. But resistance is not the same as immunity."


    His fingers brushed over the delicate veins of the leaf in his hand.


    "It is not only the dungeons that test us," he continued. "It is the weight of our emotions, the turbulence of our hearts. Those who carry fear, hatred, greed, or despair¡­ these emotions make them vulnerable. Corruption does not force its way in. It seeps, like water into cracks, like whispers into an unguarded mind."


    Seo-yeon slowly nodded, her gaze thoughtful.


    "So that''s why you always emphasize the importance of mental discipline among Hunters," she said. "To ensure the Abyssal Corruption doesn''t take root."


    Seong-ho''s smile was gentle, his expression kind, yet touched with something deeper.


    Something sorrowful.


    "Partly," he admitted. "But even that is only a temporary measure."


    His thumb ran along the leaf''s surface once more, and Seo-yeon saw that in the short time he had held it, the edges had begun to curl, its color fading.


    "We are standing against something far greater than we can comprehend," Seong-ho murmured. "Combating corruption is not merely about survival. It is a preparation, a discipline that may one day allow us to stand against whatever lies beyond the Abyssal Gate."


    He exhaled softly.


    "At my current level, I doubt I could even stand a chance against it. The last time¡­"


    A shadow passed over his face, his usual serenity disrupted by something Seo-yeon had rarely seen in him. An old, buried fear. A memory unspoken.


    "Master," Seo-yeon spoke carefully, watching him. "Are you saying that even you could succumb to the corruption?"


    For a moment, Seong-ho said nothing.


    Then, with the same calm grace he always carried, he smiled.


    "I am still but a man," he said, voice gentle yet firm in its truth. "And it is a man''s lot to struggle against corruption. We may seek enlightenment, but we are still tethered to desire, to suffering."


    He paused, his fingers tightening ever so slightly around the leaf.


    "The allure¡­ the whispers¡­" He looked down at the small thing in his hand, now brittle and lifeless. "Even I can crumble."


    With that, he released it.


    The withered leaf drifted downward, landing amidst the soft patterns of the sand garden.


    The two remained in silence for a while, watching as the wind slowly erased its imprint from the sand.


    Then, without another word, they returned to their tea ceremony.


    <hr>


    Something felt wrong.


    Tae-woo''s instincts screamed at him as the group continued deeper into the dungeon tunnel. The air grew thick and heavy with something unseen, something sinister.


    Then, he noticed it.


    Kong Jae-sik had stopped moving.


    He stood motionless, his back slightly hunched, his sword dangling limply at his side. His head was bowed low, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath his feet.


    "Hey, Jae-sik," one of his lackeys called out, stepping closer. "What''s wrong?"


    There was no response.


    "You''ve been acting weird this whole time," another one added, sounding uneasy.


    Still, Jae-sik did not move.


    Then, in a low, guttural whisper, he spoke.


    "Kill."


    The word sent a ripple of discomfort through the group.


    "What''s up with him?" Jang Woo-bin, the Castellan, muttered as he stepped next to Jae-sik, his brow furrowed in concern. Yoo Sena, the Druid, was right beside him, clutching her wooden staff tightly.


    Min-kyung, who was leading the group, turned her head back, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "Something happening back there?" Even she sounded puzzled.


    "Kill."


    The word came again, sharper this time like steel scraping against stone.


    Before anyone could react, Jae-sik moved.


    In a single, impossibly fast motion, his sword arced through the air.


    Three heads hit the ground.


    Blood sprayed across the tunnel walls.


    For a moment, there was nothing but silence.


    Then, a delayed gasp.


    A strangled scream.


    "Eh?"


    The three men who had been standing closest to Jae-sik were now dead, their bodies slumping forward as their severed heads rolled across the dirt floor, eyes wide in eternal shock.


    "WHAT THE FUCK?!"


    "JAE-SIK, YOU-"


    "KILL!"


    Jae-sik''s voice roared through the tunnel, a maddened, guttural screech.


    His body trembled violently, muscles twisting beneath his skin as something inhuman began to take shape. His flesh darkened into a deep, sickly purple, veins bulging unnaturally across his arms and neck.


    A horn, twisted, jagged, and yellowed like aged bone, burst from the left side of his forehead.


    When he lifted his head, his eyes were wrong.


    The whites of his sclera had turned pitch-black, his irises a sickly, glowing yellow.


    Then, he grinned.


    A jagged, unsettling smile stretched across his face, showing rows of sharp, unnatural teeth.


    "Kill you all."


    He lunged.


    His sword swung wildly, carving through the air as the group erupted into chaos.


    "H-HOLY SHIT!"


    "WHAT THE FUCK, JAE-SIK?!"


    Screams filled the tunnel as the team scrambled in different directions, barely dodging his relentless assault.


    One of the Hunters, a C-Rank Swordsman, tried to react, only for Jae-sik''s blade to cleave through his shoulder, nearly bisecting him in a single, monstrous swing.


    More blood splattered onto the stone walls.


    "He''s gone berserk!" Woo-bin shouted, yanking up his shield and slamming it forward just in time to block another wild slash. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, forcing him to grit his teeth.


    Yoo Sena raised her staff, chanting a quick incantation. "Restrain him!"


    Vines shot from the ground, wrapping around Jae-sik''s arms and legs, but with a monstrous snarl, he ripped through them as if they were paper.


    "FUCK! He''s too strong!"


    Min-kyung had already moved, her axe gleaming as she charged in. She weaved through the battlefield with impossible grace, her shapely, toned body a blur of speed and power. She closed the gap in an instant, her axe carving through the air with savage precision.


    CLANG!


    Jae-sik blocked her strike, meeting her attack head-on with an unnatural amount of strength.


    Her eyes widened. What the hell?!


    He shouldn''t have been able to stop her so easily.


    "Back the fuck up!" Min-kyung growled, twisting her body with an athletic, almost predatory grace before launching a spinning kick at Jae-sik''s head.


    He grinned through the impact.


    Then, he lashed out.


    Min-kyung barely managed to twist out of the way, but the tip of Jae-sik''s blade caught her exposed thigh, drawing a thin line of crimson.


    Tae-woo stood frozen for a brief moment, watching the scene unfold in horrified realization.


    Jae-sik¡­ wasn''t human anymore.


    "What the fuck happened to him?"


    His grip on his sword tightened as the battle raged around him.


    Chaos.


    Screams.


    Blood.


    And through it all, one thing became clear.


    Tae-woo''s stomach twisted.


    His fingers trembled.


    Hunger.


    It clawed at his insides, deep and primal, far stronger than before.


    He could smell it.


    The blood in the air.


    The bodies on the ground.


    His own heartbeat pounding in his ears.


    His lips parted slightly.


    His breath came out slow.


    Tae-woo swallowed hard.


    "Why am I so hungry?"

 1.8

    All of Kong Jae-sik''s lackeys had been slaughtered in his rampage, their bodies left in heaps of bloodied flesh and severed limbs. Now, his sights were locked on his true target.


    Go Min-kyung.


    She met him head-on, axe against sword.


    Jae-sik had been a C-Rank Hunter before, a moderately skilled Warrior at best. But now? Now, he was something else entirely. His body twisted and grotesquely reshaped, pulsed with unnatural strength. He was faster, stronger, more vicious, fueled by something far beyond human limits.


    And worse, the longer he fought, the more monstrous he became.


    Sickening cracks and pops echoed through the tunnel as extra appendages sprouted from his back, twisted, jagged bone protrusions that sharpened into deadly blade-like edges.


    "Kill, kill, KILL!" he shrieked.


    Min-kyung gritted her teeth, straining against the sheer ferocity of his attacks. Her axe clashed against his sword with ear-splitting force, the impacts sending vibrations up her arms.


    "Too strong!" she thought, barely dodging another strike. Her combat outfit, already revealing, now bore thin, red lines across her exposed skin, proof that even her speed wasn''t enough to avoid everything.


    A deep growl rumbled from Jae-sik''s throat, his blackened eyes locked onto her like a predator toying with its prey.


    Then¡­


    FWOOOSH!


    A supercharged arrow whistled through the air, slamming directly into the side of Jae-sik''s face.


    BOOM!


    The explosion rocked the tunnel, debris flying in all directions.


    Silence followed.


    Then, Jae-sik laughed.


    A low, eerie chuckle that sent shivers down their spines.


    The blast had not killed him. If anything, it had only deformed his face further. His skin peeled away to reveal jagged, interlocking teeth stretching back in an unnatural, ear-to-ear grin. His left eye had melted into a glowing yellow socket, staring at them with something beyond insanity.


    Ji-hoon, still gripping his bow, paled. "That should have killed him."


    "Guess not," Tae-woo growled, gripping his longsword. "We fight together!" He told Min-kyung.


    Min-kyung, shaking off her shock, nodded. "Right!"


    With renewed determination, the two attacked in tandem.


    Tae-woo moved from the left, aiming a precise thrust toward Jae-sik''s exposed ribs. Min-kyung, ever the fierce warrior, came from the right, her axe swinging in a powerful diagonal arc.


    But¡­


    SHRKKK!


    Jae-sik''s bone-bladed appendages intercepted both of their attacks with impossible speed.


    "What the-?!" Min-kyung barely twisted out of the way as the monstrous limbs lashed out toward her throat.


    Tae-woo staggered back, his sword barely deflecting another oncoming strike. Jae-sik was fighting them all at once.


    "YAAAH!"


    A battle cry roared through the tunnel as Jang Woo-bin, the Castellan, charged. His massive warhammer swung overhead, his tower shield braced in front.


    He slammed into Jae-sik with the full force of a tank.


    For a second, the monstrous man was pushed back.


    "Over here, you bastard!" Woo-bin shouted, trying to divert the creature''s focus. "Come at me!"


    Jae-sik twitched.


    Then, something burst out of the nape of his neck.


    A grotesque, oversized arm, covered in jagged, blackened muscle, emerged, faster than anyone could react.


    The new arm shot forward and speared through Woo-bin''s tower shield.


    And then through Woo-bin''s chest.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    "W-whuh?!"


    Woo-bin''s body jerked, his eyes bulging in shock.


    "WOO-BIN!"


    Sena''s scream tore through the tunnel.


    Blood dripped down the monstrous appendage, staining the dungeon floor in thick, crimson pools.


    The young Castellan coughed up blood, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. His fingers weakly clawed at the gaping hole in his chest.


    Sena didn''t think. She ran toward him.


    And that was when Jae-sik grinned.


    His bone blades reared back, ready to skewer the approaching Druid.


    "SENA, MOVE!" Tae-woo shouted, lunging toward her.


    With a desperate burst of speed, he tackled her just as a blade sliced into his leg.


    "Urgh!"


    Pain shot through him, but he ignored it, his body shielding Sena as they both hit the ground.


    Gasping, Sena scrambled to her knees, eyes wide with horror. "W-Woo-bin¡­" she whimpered, looking at her friend, who lay twitching on the dungeon floor, blood pooling beneath him.


    He was dying.


    "No¡­ no¡­" Min-kyung whispered, her breath ragged.


    Her heart pounded as she took in the sight of Woo-bin''s limp body. Her fingers tightened around the handle of her axe.


    "You will pay for that, you monster!" she roared, throwing herself at Jae-sik like a storm of blades.


    She twisted and spun, every strike fueled by pure rage.


    Jae-sik smiled.


    And then¡­


    SHRKKK!


    Min-kyung staggered.


    Her eyes widened.


    Her axe had broken.


    The shattered remains of her enchanted weapon clattered to the ground, reduced to useless splinters.


    She barely had a second to react before¡­


    WHAM!


    Jae-sik''s knee slammed into her gut.


    "GHHKK!"


    The force launched her across the tunnel.


    She crashed against the cavern wall, her body crumpling upon impact.


    Coughing and gasping, she clutched her stomach, struggling to breathe.


    Jae-sik chuckled, his grotesque form towering over her.


    "Pathetic," he sneered, his voice carrying an unnatural echo.


    His gaze burned with disgust as he reached down and grabbed her by the hair. He yanked her up, her feet barely touching the ground.


    "To think a woman like you was leading us..."


    His grip tightened.


    "It''d be better if you were groveling and begging for forgiveness."


    His lips curled into a twisted smirk.


    Min-kyung, despite the pain, despite the overwhelming difference in power.


    Spat in his face.


    "Tough chance," Min-kyung smirked, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Despite the searing pain in her stomach, despite the throbbing ache in her limbs, she still refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.


    But Jae-sik''s grin twisted into something monstrous.


    With a snarl, he yanked her up by the hair and slammed her face-first into the stone wall.


    Once.


    Twice.


    Thrice.


    Each impact sent shocks of agony tearing through her skull. Her vision blurred. Blood splattered onto the wall, thick and dark, staining the jagged surface with streaks of crimson.


    "Ah! Aah! AAHH!!"


    Her screams echoed through the dungeon, bouncing off the damp stone walls.


    Jae-sik finally let go, letting her crumple to the ground like a broken doll.


    And then, his boot came down on her face.


    The sole of his foot pressed against her cheek, shoving her down into the dirt.


    "Ergh¡­" Min-kyung groaned, her fingers trembling as she clawed weakly at his leg, trying desperately to push him off.


    Jae-sik smirked, his grotesque, twisted face filled with nothing but scorn. "This is where you belong. Beneath me. On the ground, groveling for mercy."


    He pressed down harder, grinding her face into the dirt, his weight suffocating. Her breathing hitched, her body twitching in pain, but still, she refused to break.


    His mocking laughter filled the air.


    "What''s wrong? Where''s that tough Amazon spirit now?"


    Then, he lifted his foot before swinging it forward in a devastating kick.


    CRACK.


    "GAHH!"


    Min-kyung''s body convulsed violently, sent rolling across the dungeon floor.


    A sharp, splintering pain tore through her ribs. She choked on a breath, her lungs refusing to expand properly. The telltale burn of broken bones flared beneath her skin. Each inhale was fire. Each movement was agony.


    Jae-sik stalked toward her, his grotesque expression twisted with cruel amusement.


    "Women like you," he spat, "should know their place. You think swinging an axe makes you an equal? Makes you better than a man?"


    Min-kyung gritted her teeth, glaring at him despite the pain, despite the way her limbs refused to move the way she wanted.


    Jae-sik sneered. "You''re nothing. Just a useless slut with muscles, trying to play a warrior."


    "Fuck you," Min-kyung rasped, trying to push herself up.


    Jae-sik grabbed her by the throat and hauled her up effortlessly.


    Her legs kicked weakly, her hands clawing at his fingers, but his grip was unrelenting.


    Jae-sik''s hungry gaze roamed over her, lingering on her battle-worn curves, the way her exposed skin glistened with sweat and blood.


    His grip on her throat tightened.


    His free hand moved lower.


    Min-kyung shuddered.


    "Disgusting," she spat, her defiance unwavering even as fear coiled in her gut.


    Jae-sik chuckled darkly. "Dressed like this¡­ what did you expect?"


    His clawed fingers traced her abdomen, sliding lower, before grabbing onto her chest.


    Min-kyung''s body jolted violently, horror flashing through her bloodied face.


    "No! N-no, stop!"


    She struggled, but Jae-sik was too strong.


    His monstrous fingers dug into her flesh, squeezing cruelly.


    Min-kyung let out a choked, horrified gasp, her limbs flailing uselessly.


    "P-please¡­"


    Jae-sik mocked her with a chuckle. "So, you do know how to beg. At least you''re good for something."


    Tears of rage and humiliation burned in Min-kyung''s eyes.


    "H-help¡­" she whimpered, her voice weak.


    As Jae-sik remained preoccupied with Min-kyung, his twisted form looming over her battered body, Tae-woo moved swiftly, his grip tightening around the hilt of his longsword. Silent. Precise. Calculated. He slipped behind the monster''s back, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, and in one clean motion, he swung his blade with all his might, aiming for Jae-sik''s exposed neck.


    A fatal strike.


    Or so he thought.


    At the last second, one of Jae-sik''s grotesque bone-like appendages lashed out, intercepting the attack with an ear-piercing CLANG. Sparks flew as metal met hardened bone, the impact vibrating up Tae-woo''s arms, forcing him a step back.


    Jae-sik turned to him, his lips stretching into a hideous, jagged grin, his blackened eyes gleaming with twisted amusement.


    "So, now that you''re some high-and-mighty B-Rank, you think you can play hero?" Jae-sik sneered, his voice thick with mockery as he unceremoniously dropped Min-kyung to the ground like a discarded ragdoll.


    His extra limbs twitched, adjusting their positions, before suddenly lunging toward Tae-woo in a frenzied assault.


    "Fine! You die first!"


    Tae-woo barely had time to react before Jae-sik was on him, his monstrous appendages striking with blinding speed.


    A blur of flashing blades.


    A storm of slashes, faster than any normal human could ever hope to match.


    Tae-woo''s body moved on instinct, his newfound reflexes allowing him to parry, dodge, and deflect, but even then, Jae-sik was relentless.


    The monster''s strikes came from all angles, each one aiming to rip through flesh and bone, leaving Tae-woo constantly on the defensive. Despite his heightened strength, despite his evolution, he was struggling to keep up.


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    Jae-sik had fully transformed.


    He was no longer human.


    His distorted frame, his extra limbs, his jagged teeth, the sheer ferocity of his attacks, everything about him screamed of something that had crawled out of the depths of a nightmare.


    "Losers like you should just stay in their lane!"


    Jae-sik snarled as he pressed the attack, his strikes growing even more violent, his monstrous form moving faster than Tae-woo had anticipated.


    Tae-woo could feel his arms growing sore, his grip on his sword faltering with every parry, every block.


    Then, pain exploded through his shoulder.


    One of Jae-sik''s bone-blades pierced clean through.


    The sharp, sickening sound of flesh being torn open.


    Tae-woo''s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as blood spilled down his arm, warm and wet, staining his armor.


    "Tae-woo!"


    Ji-hoon''s voice rang out as he frantically nocked an arrow, drawing his bowstring back before letting loose a shot toward Jae-sik''s head.


    But, with unnatural ease, Jae-sik twisted his body mid-motion and swatted the arrow aside with one of his bladed limbs.


    Like it was nothing.


    "Once a loser, always a loser¡­" Jae-sik hissed, his voice dripping with contempt as he ripped his blade free from Tae-woo''s shoulder, eliciting a sharp grunt of pain from his opponent.


    Tae-woo staggered, his breath coming in ragged, uneven gasps, his grip on his sword tightening despite the pain burning through his body.


    Jae-sik raised another one of his bone-blades, aiming directly for Tae-woo''s neck.


    This time, he was going to finish it.


    The blade swung down in a merciless arc.


    CLANK.


    Jae-sik froze.


    His eyes widened in pure, unfiltered disbelief.


    Because instead of cutting clean through Tae-woo''s throat¡­


    The blade had stopped.


    It wasn''t blocked.


    It wasn''t dodged.


    Tae-woo had caught it.


    With his teeth.


    The dungeon fell into an eerie, suffocating silence.


    Jae-sik''s grotesque face twisted into an expression of sheer shock.


    "What the fuck?"


    His words barely registered.


    Because as Jae-sik stared¡­


    Tae-woo bit down.


    CRACK.


    The sickening sound of bone snapping filled the dungeon as Tae-woo''s teeth crushed through Jae-sik''s bladed appendage. The jagged fragments of the severed limb splintered in his mouth, and much to the horror of his teammates, he chewed, his jaw working through the unnatural texture, his throat moving as he swallowed the remains.


    A silence settled over the battlefield.


    Jae-sik, his grotesque body frozen mid-motion, stared in disbelief. For the first time since his transformation, the twisted smirk that had marred his monstrous face was gone, replaced by something else entirely: pure, unfiltered horror.


    He took a step back, but before he could fully process what had just happened.


    Tae-woo moved.


    Faster than before.


    His fist soared upward, a devastating uppercut slamming into Jae-sik''s chin with a force that sent a shockwave through the dungeon.


    "URGH!"


    Jae-sik reeled back from the impact, his deformed jaw cracking from the sheer force. But Tae-woo wasn''t done.


    As he brought his hand back down, something sprouted from his knuckles; purple crystal spikes, glowing faintly, twisting and growing across his skin.


    Jae-sik roared in rage, his monstrous appendages lashing out in a desperate attempt to counterattack.


    However¡­


    More.


    More crystal spikes burst forth, covering Tae-woo''s forearms like jagged armor, the sharpened edges shimmering with an otherworldly gleam.


    Jae-sik''s attacks clashed against Tae-woo''s crystalline arms, but his bone blades snapped on impact, shattering like brittle glass against the unnatural fortification.


    Tae-woo had discarded his longsword entirely.


    He didn''t need it.


    He took a step forward, then another, his expression void of hesitation, his breathing even, controlled.


    Then he struck.


    A barrage of devastating blows came crashing down upon Jae-sik, each strike laced with brutal efficiency; each hit carving through flesh, bone, and corruption alike.


    THWACK.


    A crystal-coated fist drove into Jae-sik''s ribs, sending a spike of pain through his monstrous body.


    CRACK.


    Another blow caved in his shoulder, snapping the grotesque appendages he had once relied on.


    THUMP.


    A final strike to the gut sent him staggering, his body convulsing under the sheer weight of the punishment.


    His monstrous form, once an overwhelming force of destruction, was now barely holding itself together.


    Jae-sik coughed, blood dripping from his mangled lips, his eyes flickering with a sudden realization.


    He had lost.


    He had become something greater than human.


    And yet, he had still lost.


    "W-wait¡­ p-please¡­" Jae-sik''s voice was weak, rasping, his once-mocking arrogance reduced to desperate pleading.


    Tae-woo didn''t respond.


    He just stood there, looming over his defeated opponent, his crystal-infused fists clenched, his shoulders rising and falling with slow, deliberate breaths.


    And Jae-sik¡­


    Jae-sik heard something.


    [There you go.]


    A voice. A whisper. Familiar, yet unknown.


    [A hearty feast for my Master.]


    Jae-sik''s trembling fingers clawed at the ground, his eyes wide with unspeakable horror as he realized something far worse than simply dying.


    [Let him devour you to his heart''s content.]


    Jae-sik screamed.


    <hr>


    The only survivors of the dungeon raid were Jin Tae-woo, Choi Ji-hoon, Yoo Sena, and Go Min-kyung. The bloodshed had ended, but the aftermath weighed heavily on all of them. The operation had been abruptly suspended, and now, instead of completing their objective, they were waiting for the bodies of their fallen comrades to be transferred out of the dungeon.


    Even after they exited the portal, the air still felt suffocating.


    A representative from the Hunter Association had arrived on the scene, a woman dressed sharply in a professional black suit and skirt, her expression unreadable as she took down statements from each survivor. Her pen scratched against the paper, meticulously recording every gruesome detail relayed to her.


    After gathering enough information, she finally spoke.


    "From your descriptions¡­ it sounds like Abyssal Corruption," she explained, adjusting the glasses perched on her nose. "It occurs when a Hunter''s mental and emotional state becomes unstable while they''re inside a dungeon filled with corruptive mana. Given what you''ve told me, it''s highly likely that Kong Jae-sik underwent a full transformation due to prolonged exposure and emotional instability."


    She glanced down at her notes before letting out a small sigh.


    "This is, unfortunately, not the first case of Abyssal Corruption, nor will it be the last."


    Tae-woo remained quiet, absorbing the information. Even after hearing the explanation, it did little to change the fact that Jae-sik had turned into a rampaging abomination, and he had dealt with him in a way that no one else could stomach thinking about.


    His fists curled slightly.


    Across from him, Sena sat completely motionless on a nearby bench, her wide, unfocused eyes locked onto nothing in particular. Despite having healed Min-kyung, the emotional damage had already been done. The loss of Jang Woo-bin, her friend, was something she couldn''t process just yet.


    "I''m not sure if I can come up with something lighthearted for this one," Ji-hoon finally broke the silence, leaning up against the cold metal wall of the waiting area next to Tae-woo.


    Tae-woo exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around the paper cup of coffee in his hands, the warmth doing nothing to chase away the cold dread in his chest.


    "Then don''t," he muttered. "People died, after all."


    Ji-hoon let out a rare, solemn sigh. He wasn''t always the best at handling situations like this, but even he knew that some things weren''t meant to be laughed at.


    "Yeah¡­" Ji-hoon''s voice trailed off. His foot tapped against the floor absently before he turned his gaze toward Tae-woo. "So¡­ we''re not telling them about that?"


    Tae-woo''s grip tightened slightly around the cup.


    "¡­That?" He frowned.


    Ji-hoon gave him a knowing look. "You know what I mean."


    Tae-woo didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he looked down at the swirling black liquid inside his cup.


    The thing he did to Jae-sik.


    Ji-hoon, Min-kyung, and Sena had all seen it.


    They had watched as Tae-woo had overpowered the monstrous Jae-sik. They had seen the purple crystal spikes sprouting from his arms.


    And they had seen what he did after.


    He had devoured him.


    Not entirely. There was still Jae-sik''s mutilated corpse left behind in the dungeon. But he had eaten enough. More than enough.


    And for the first time in days, that unbearable hunger was finally gone.


    Tae-woo felt a dull pressure in his chest. He knew what would happen if the Association ever found out.


    "¡­I don''t know," he admitted, voice low. "I don''t think the Association is going to like it when they find out that I ate someone." He let out a humorless chuckle. "At best, they''ll probably lock me up, cut me open, and figure out what makes me tick."


    Ji-hoon hummed thoughtfully before shrugging.


    "Yeah, I can see that," he said, surprisingly casual about the whole thing. "Well, if you don''t want anyone else to know, then we''ll keep our mouths shut. Don''t worry about it, man."


    Tae-woo turned to him, surprised by how easily he had said it.


    Ji-hoon just grinned at him and patted his shoulder.


    "Seriously," Ji-hoon added. "You''re still you. Doesn''t matter what you did."


    Tae-woo stared at him for a moment before letting out a small, relieved sigh.


    "¡­Thanks, dude."


    Before Ji-hoon could say anything else, footsteps approached them.


    Turning, Tae-woo spotted Min-kyung walking toward them, now wearing a jacket over her battle clothes. Her posture was stiff as if she were hesitating about something.


    And she was blushing.


    Tae-woo blinked.


    "Um¡­ Tae-woo-ssi?" Her voice came out strangely hesitant.


    He tilted his head slightly. "Yes?"


    Min-kyung fidgeted.


    Fidgeted.


    That was definitely new.


    "T-thanks for saving me earlier¡­" she mumbled, eyes darting to the side as she shuffled awkwardly on her feet.


    Tae-woo blinked again. "You''re welcome?" His voice betrayed his confusion.


    Min-kyung turned on her heel and rushed away, nearly tripping over herself as she left in a flustered hurry.


    Ji-hoon watched her go, a slow smirk creeping onto his face. He then turned back to Tae-woo with an expression that could only be described as pure mischief.


    "Well, well," Ji-hoon drawled, folding his arms behind his head. "Would you look at that? Seems like you''ve gone and picked up another one, my dear friend Tae-woo."


    Tae-woo groaned and punched his shoulder lightly but with enough force to make his point.


    "Shut up."

 1.9

    Jin Tae-woo stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom, studying his reflection. Shirtless, he could see the changes in his body more clearly. His black hair was the same as always, slightly unkempt, but his physique had improved ever since he had become a B-Rank Hunter.


    His muscles were more defined, and his frame was noticeably more muscular. He had always been lean-bodied, but now, there was an apparent athletic sharpness to his build. He had never been particularly weak-looking, but this was different. His body felt denser, his movements lighter, as if he had finally stepped into the form he was meant to have.


    More than that, there were no scars.


    His skin was smooth and unblemished, even though he knew what had happened during the battle with Jae-sik.


    He remembered it well. The way his limbs and shoulders were covered in jagged purple crystals reinforced his attacks while blocking Jae-sik''s bone-like appendages. He had relied on instinct, letting his body move on its own.


    And after he defeated Jae-sik¡­


    Tae-woo frowned slightly.


    He had devoured him.


    Even now, he wasn''t sure what to make of that.


    It should have felt wrong, but at the time, it hadn''t.


    It had been natural.


    And what was even stranger, it had satisfied him. That gnawing hunger he had been dealing with ever since waking up from the Abyssal Gate? Gone.


    It wasn''t just eating.


    It had been something else entirely.


    But right now, there was something more immediate to focus on.


    Tae-woo lifted his arm, looking at his forearm.


    He took a slow breath and willed it.


    Almost instantly, jagged crystal spikes sprouted from beneath his skin, covering his hands and forearms in a purple-hued exoskeleton. The same eerie glow flickered along the surface of the crystalline structure, just like before.


    This time, though, there was no hesitation.


    It wasn''t an accident.


    He could control it now.


    Tae-woo flexed his fingers, watching how the crystal coating moved with him, molding itself to his hands like a second skin.


    Before, he had only been able to produce them in small, scattered formations, mostly along his knuckles like natural knuckledusters. Now, after devouring Jae-sik, the growth spread further, encasing his entire arms.


    He narrowed his eyes, concentrating.


    The spikes began to sink back, retracting into his skin like they had never been there in the first place. His flesh sealed over them effortlessly, leaving behind no scars, no marks.


    Nothing.


    It was like they had never existed at all.


    Tae-woo exhaled, rolling his shoulders.


    This ability, whatever it was, had definitely come from his time beyond the Abyssal Gate.


    And he wasn''t just talking about the crystals.


    There was something else.


    Something new.


    Tae-woo clenched his fist, summoning an image in his mind.


    A moment later, a blade slid out from above his wrist.


    A sleek, straight sword, made entirely out of the same purple crystal, jutted forward, extending out in front of him. It was sharp, solid, and strangely familiar.


    He gave it a small swing.


    It reminded him of Jae-sik''s bone blades.


    Tae-woo frowned slightly, then concentrated again.


    From his other wrist, a second identical blade emerged.


    He now wielded two weapons, both conjured directly from his own body.


    It didn''t take a genius to put it together.


    Somehow, he had absorbed Jae-sik''s power.


    He didn''t just kill him.


    He had taken something from him.


    Tae-woo stared at his reflection, watching the way the crystal blades glowed faintly in the dim light.


    On impulse, he struck a pose, holding both blades up in a dramatic stance.


    For a moment, he tried to look intimidating, like some kind of fearsome warrior preparing for battle.


    Then he caught his own expression in the mirror and immediately felt ridiculous.


    "¡­What the hell am I doing?" he muttered, shaking his head.


    With a thought, the blades retracted, vanishing back beneath his skin as if they had never been there.


    He needed to test himself more.


    There was a lot he didn''t understand about his new abilities, but one thing was clear¡­


    They weren''t just for show.


    <hr>


    "An Abyssal Corruption incident?"


    Upon hearing the inquiry from her Guildmaster, Park Eun-ha gave a firm nod, her expression composed as always. She stood across from Cha Min-soo, who was seated behind his polished desk, flipping through reports while listening intently. She had come to deliver an update regarding Jin Tae-woo and his recent activities, and as expected, this particular incident had already piqued Min-soo''s interest.


    "Yes. During a D-Rank dungeon raid that Jin Tae-woo participated in, one of the team members, Kong Jae-sik, succumbed to Abyssal Corruption. His body twisted and mutated into something monstrous," Eun-ha reported in her usual calm, clipped tone. "In the incident, five other Hunters lost their lives."


    Min-soo''s brows furrowed slightly as he absorbed the information.


    "And the survivors?"


    "Only four. Go Min-kyung, Choi Ji-hoon, Yoo Sena, and Jin Tae-woo."


    At the mention of one particular name, Min-soo quirked an eyebrow, a glimmer of recognition flashing behind his glasses.


    "Go Min-kyung, huh?" He murmured as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His fingers tapped lightly against the report before him. "Isn''t she the illegitimate daughter of Go Haneul, the CEO of Gojin Group?" He flipped through the document briefly before giving a slight nod of approval. "And a B-Rank Hunter, no less. Interesting."


    Eun-ha, ever efficient, had already anticipated the follow-up and continued with her report.


    "Yes. As of late, Gojin Group has been aggressively attempting to poach high-ranking Hunters, even targeting S-Rank Hunters from various guilds, in an effort to establish their own major guild." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear before continuing. "Go Haneul has been quite vocal about his desire to break the monopoly held by the Six Great Guilds, stating that the dungeon industry is too centralized and that independent guilds should have more influence."


    Min-soo let out a tired sigh, rubbing his temple.


    "Businessmen¡­" he muttered, his voice laced with mild irritation. "Always chasing after profits. None of them truly understand what it means to be a Hunter, nor do they care about the bigger picture." He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "We, as Guilds, cannot afford to be divided, not when the Abyssal Gate remains unconquered." His voice grew heavier with conviction. "Even if we disagree on countless things, all the Great Guilds are united under one goal."


    His dark eyes hardened, reflecting the weight of his words.


    "The subjugation of the Abyssal Gate. Only then will we be free from the fear and terror it has brought upon this world."


    Eun-ha silently absorbed his words before glancing down at her notes once more.


    "From what I''ve gathered, Go Min-kyung became a Hunter against her father''s wishes. Their relationship is¡­ strained, to say the least. It appears that Go Haneul does not acknowledge her as his heir, nor does she hold any particular loyalty toward him."


    Min-soo tilted his head slightly, considering the implications.


    "That makes sense. Given that she was born from an affair with his mistress, it''s only natural that their father-daughter dynamic is anything but warm."


    At those words, Eun-ha''s expression shifted, her gaze growing colder.


    Min-soo immediately caught himself.


    "Ah." He cleared his throat. "That was uncalled for. My apologies. It wasn''t my intention to bring up a bitter topic."


    Eun-ha said nothing, though the sharpness in her eyes did not immediately fade.


    "Anyway," Min-soo continued, eager to move past the moment. "What happened to the survivors after the raid?"


    Eun-ha returned to the matter at hand, flipping through the rest of the document.


    "As per standard protocol, all survivors were required to attend mandatory therapy sessions. Trauma from an event like this could be detrimental to their future performance, and the Association wants to ensure that they remain stable enough to continue working as Hunters."


    Min-soo nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Abyssal Corruption is an exceedingly rare phenomenon, but when it does happen, the results are catastrophic. A Hunter must be in a state of extreme emotional instability for it to take hold, allowing the dungeon''s corruptive mana to twist them into something inhuman." He exhaled briefly before leaning back in his chair, his fingers tapping against his armrest. "We can all thank Seong-ho-nim for emphasizing the importance of mental health among Hunters. If not for him, dungeon clearing would be a far greater risk than it already is."


    Abyssal Corruption was something feared among Hunters, not just because of its effects but because of what it represented. A Hunter who succumbed to it was lost, consumed by the very forces they fought against.


    Had it not been for Im Seong-ho, the Guildmaster of White Lotus Guild, the issue of mental resilience among Hunters might have been overlooked. But thanks to his influence, global organizations began emphasizing psychological support, ensuring that those who ventured into dungeons did not fall prey to the whispers of the Abyss.


    Min-soo clicked his tongue. "Considering that Jin Tae-woo just went through such an ordeal, perhaps we should reconsider our recruitment strategy. There''s no telling how this event may have affected him psychologically." He adjusted his glasses before glancing back at Eun-ha. "From the looks of it, White Lotus Guild hasn''t made their move yet, either. Even [The Saintess] has remained silent on the matter."


    Eun-ha remained impassive, offering no reaction to the statement.


    Her stance on the issue was clear.


    She didn''t care whether Jin Tae-woo joined Azure Sky or not.


    As long as he could pull his own weight, she had no complaints.


    <hr>


    Having just returned from the mandatory therapy session, Jin Tae-woo found himself in an unfamiliar predicament. For the first time in a long while, he was forced into idleness.


    The failed dungeon raid, which had ended in catastrophe, had left him with no choice but to take a break from dungeon delving for at least a week, a period of forced rest mandated by the Hunter Association for all survivors of traumatic incidents.


    He understood the necessity of it. They had lost half their team in that dungeon. Kong Jae-sik, one of their own, had undergone Abyssal Corruption, turning into a monstrous entity that slaughtered their comrades before meeting his own end. The entire event had been a disaster, and if things had gone differently, Tae-woo himself might not have made it out alive.


    And yet, despite knowing the logic behind it, he couldn''t shake off his restlessness.


    With his income temporarily cut off, he would have normally been concerned about his financial situation, but fortunately, the Hunter Association had compensated him due to the failure of the dungeon raid. The payout wasn''t anything extravagant, but it was enough to cover expenses for the time being.


    Still, it didn''t change the fact that he had nothing to do.


    No dungeon raids. No way to test his new ability.


    Even if he did enter a dungeon after his mandatory break, he knew he''d have to be careful. If other Hunters saw him conjuring weapons from his own body, they would start asking questions.


    Questions he wasn''t sure how to answer.


    And sneaking into a dungeon without permission?


    That was out of the question. Illegal dungeon runs were punishable by heavy fines and permanent suspension from official Hunter activities. Some cases had even resulted in arrests.


    As much as Tae-woo wanted to understand the changes within him, there was little he could do about it for now.


    So, he stayed home, mindlessly scrolling through his phone, looking through news articles to pass the time.


    "Exclusive Interview with [The Deadeye], Jang Tae-gon, the Guildmaster of Thunder Beast Guild!"


    "Iron Fang Guild Unveils a New Team Lineup! The Future of Hunter Entertainment!"


    "Boddhisattva Im Seong-ho to Make an Address at the UN Assembly: A Call for a United Front."


    As expected, most of the headlines were about Hunters, guilds, international affairs, rising stars, and the ever-looming Abyssal Gate. Ever since portals began appearing worldwide, the Hunter industry had become the center of global attention, and news about high-profile Hunters was as common as entertainment gossip had once been.


    Then, a breaking news alert caught his attention.


    "BREAKING NEWS! Abyssal Gate Appears in Brazil! South America in Crisis!"


    The familiar, eldritch-hued portal filled his screen, its swirling violet mass as ominous as ever.


    Tae-woo stared at the image, his mind unwillingly dragging him back to his own time inside the Abyss, that brief, nightmarish moment when he had been swallowed by the unknown.


    That place¡­


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.That world was nothing like the dungeons he had encountered before.


    It wasn''t just hostile. It was wrong.


    There was a presence in that place, something far beyond human comprehension.


    His hand clenched into a fist, the faintest tremor running through his fingers.


    The Abyss had left its mark on him.


    His body was no longer the same. He could sprout crystal spikes from his flesh, reinforcing his attacks and defending himself with armor-like protrusions. But more than that, there was something far more disturbing that had changed within him.


    He had developed a hunger.


    A hunger so overwhelming that it had consumed his thoughts ever since he returned.


    And it had only been sated once when he had devoured Kong Jae-sik.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching as he recalled the taste.


    He should have felt disgusted.


    He should have been horrified.


    No matter how he tried to rationalize it, it was still cannibalism.


    And yet¡­


    It had been a feast.


    Not just of flesh but of something more.


    And after he consumed Jae-sik, he had gained a new ability.


    He could sprout crystal blades from his arms, similar to how Jae-sik had conjured bone blades when he transformed. Though his were crystalline, they functioned the same way: a weapon born from his own body.


    Tae-woo''s eyes narrowed.


    What if¡­


    What if he could absorb the abilities of anything he devoured?


    What if this was the true nature of his evolved Class?


    The thought both intrigued and unsettled him.


    But there was no way to test it right now.


    Even if he entered another dungeon, it wasn''t as if he could start eating monsters in front of his teammates. The very idea was revolting, and he knew it would horrify anyone who witnessed it.


    If he wanted to explore his abilities, he would have to be careful. Very, very careful.


    His apartment suddenly felt too small, the walls pressing in, his thoughts swirling too chaotically.


    Staying cooped up wasn''t going to help.


    He needed air.


    Tae-woo grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, deciding to take a walk and clear his mind.


    <hr>


    The streets were bustling with life, filled with the endless noise of cars, chatter, and flashing advertisements of new Hunter equipment or Hunter Idols, yet Jin Tae-woo barely registered any of it. His mind was elsewhere, weighed down by the thoughts he had tried so hard to push aside.


    No matter how much he tried to distract himself, no matter how often he forced himself to focus on the mundane sights and sounds around him, his thoughts always looped back to the same issue.


    The dungeons.


    The hunger.


    The power that came with it.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as he walked, frustrated at how he kept circling back to the same dilemma.


    He needed to enter a dungeon.


    More than anything, he needed a way to test this ability to confirm whether or not his theory was correct. He needed to see if, by devouring, he could inherit the traits or abilities of his prey. But even beyond that, he had an unsettling, undeniable urge that gnawed at him. A part of him didn''t just want to enter a dungeon.


    But there was a problem.


    Dungeon regulations were strict. Hunters couldn''t just walk into a dungeon alone. Every expedition required a minimum party of seven, each fulfilling a designated role. Even among the world''s strongest S-Rank Hunters, solo dungeon delving was strongly discouraged. It wasn''t just because of the difficulty but also because dungeons were inherently unpredictable.


    A single wrong step inside a dungeon, no matter how powerful a Hunter was, could lead to death.


    Which meant sneaking in alone was out of the question.


    "Haa¡­" Tae-woo let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair as he muttered to himself. "If only this ability didn''t involve eating people."


    That was the most troubling part.


    He wanted to grow stronger, but not like this. If his evolved Class truly required him to consume others to gain power, then what did that make him?


    Sure, in theory, he could accept the idea of taking an enemy''s strength. It wasn''t much different from how some Hunters absorbed mana cores or ingested monster materials for temporary power boosts. But eating another living being, even if it was a monster, was something else entirely.


    His stomach twisted slightly at the thought.


    He sighed again, pulling out his phone and scrolling mindlessly, debating whether he should call Seo-yeon.


    Han Seo-yeon.


    His childhood friend, now known as [The Saintess], one of the most powerful Hunters in Korea.


    Maybe he should ask her to hang out, just to get his mind off things.


    But then again, Seo-yeon was always busy. Being an S-Rank Hunter meant her schedule was beyond packed, and ever since she rose to prominence, they had far fewer chances to meet casually. Even when they did, he had noticed something off about her lately. Something troubling.


    She hadn''t told him what it was.


    But Tae-woo had a feeling she was keeping something from him.


    Maybe next time, when they met again, he''d finally ask her about it.


    He shoved his phone back into his pocket.


    And then, something caught his eye.


    A glow.


    Faint but unnatural, coming from a nearby alleyway.


    Almost instinctively, he froze in place, his breath hitching in his throat.


    His body reacted before his mind did.


    A familiar pang shot through his stomach.


    Hunger.


    His hands clenched into fists as his breath quickened.


    The feeling came out of nowhere, abrupt and overwhelming, and yet, it was undeniably familiar.


    His feet moved on their own.


    Tae-woo turned into the alley, his steps slow and deliberate, his gaze locked onto the source of the glow. The further he walked, the more isolated the area became, the usual city noise dulling, swallowed by the eerie quiet of the alleyway.


    The glow became stronger.


    At the very end of the alley, standing in a narrow space between crumbling brick walls, was something that should not be there.


    A small dungeon portal.


    Tae-woo''s eyes widened.


    It wasn''t just any dungeon portal.


    It was Abyssal.


    The portal wasn''t the usual blue, the color found in standard dungeon gates across the world. Instead, it was the same eerie, eldritch violet hue that he had seen once before, the same color as the Abyssal Gate that had swallowed him whole.


    His heartbeat quickened.


    "What¡­ the hell is it doing here?"


    The portal swirled and crackled, its violet energy pulsing like a living thing, its presence unnatural against the mundane backdrop of the alley.


    For a moment, Tae-woo just stood there, his breath shallow, his instincts screaming at him to turn around and leave.


    And yet, the hunger inside him intensified.


    It called to him.


    As if drawn by an unseen force, Tae-woo instinctively took a step forward, only to stop himself at the last second. His breath hitched, and he forced his feet to remain firmly planted on the cracked pavement.


    No.


    He wasn''t going to make the same mistake.


    Last time, he had been pushed into the Abyssal Gate, dragged against his will into that nightmare realm beyond comprehension. And now, here he was again, staring at another Abyssal Gate, but this time, there was no one forcing him in.


    This time, the only thing urging him forward was something deep inside himself.


    Something primal.


    Something hungry.


    Tae-woo clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing the strange pull he felt. He needed to think, not act on impulse.


    Taking a slow, steady breath, he turned his focus back to the swirling violet portal. It was small, barely the size of a doorway, yet it radiated the same terrifying presence as the colossal Abyssal Gate that had swallowed him whole before.


    Why was it here?


    By all logic, it shouldn''t be.


    Even if it was small, something like this should have already been detected by the Hunter Association. Abyssal Gate was a worldwide emergency, and their appearances were monitored constantly. The moment one appeared, a state of emergency should have been declared within the area where it was detected. Hunters, government forces, and researchers should have been swarming the area.


    And yet, there was nothing.


    Tae-woo''s gaze flickered around the alley. No Hunters. No emergency response teams. No media coverage. The city beyond remained as noisy and oblivious as ever, the people outside this narrow space continuing with their lives as if nothing was wrong.


    As if they couldn''t see it.


    A chilling thought wormed its way into his mind.


    Could they even see it?


    His breath slowed as he scanned his surroundings again, more carefully this time. And that was when he noticed him.


    A man sat against the brick wall not far from the portal, legs stretched out, a bottle of cheap beer dangling from his fingers. He was dressed in worn-out, tattered layers, his graying hair matted beneath a stained beanie. The unmistakable air of a homeless vagrant clung to him, yet he seemed completely unbothered by the portal''s presence.


    He took a slow swig from his bottle, eyes glazed, not from terror but from intoxication.


    Tae-woo frowned.


    Even a drunken hobo should have noticed a glowing, swirling dungeon portal right in front of him. Even if he were too inebriated to fully grasp the danger, any rational person would have reacted to something so blatantly unnatural.


    And yet, there was nothing.


    Not even a glance.


    Tae-woo hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, clearing his throat.


    "Excuse me," he said, keeping his voice neutral. "Do you see a dungeon portal over there?"


    The man grunted, lowering his bottle slightly before turning his head in the direction Tae-woo was pointing.


    He squinted.


    Frowned.


    Then, after a moment, he looked back at Tae-woo with an unimpressed expression.


    "Are you drunker than me?" the man scoffed, shaking his head. "I know what a dungeon portal looks like. There''s nothing there."


    Tae-woo''s breath caught.


    He turned his head sharply, eyes locking onto the Abyssal Gate again.


    Still there.


    Still swirling.


    Still real.


    Yet, to this man, it didn''t exist as if it wasn''t even there in the first place.


    A heavy realization settled in his gut like a weight.


    Was it just him?


    Was he the only one who could see it?


    Before he could process this further, the homeless man sniffed, rubbing his nose on his sleeve, before giving Tae-woo a side-eye.


    "Anyway, got some cash?" the man muttered, holding out a grimy, half-shaking hand. "Need a little extra. Y''know, for somethin'' to warm the belly."


    Tae-woo remained frozen for a few seconds before letting out a breath, his fingers reflexively reaching into his pocket. Without a word, he pulled out some bills and handed them over.


    The man grinned, stuffing the cash into his coat before stumbling to his feet, muttering something about finding a proper drink as he shambled out of the alley.


    And just like that, Tae-woo was alone again.


    He turned back toward the portal, his heart pounding in his chest.


    This was insane.


    The logical choice was to walk away.


    If even the Hunter Association couldn''t detect this thing, then something was definitely off. Abyssal Gates weren''t exactly subtle. The moment one appeared, it was supposed to trigger every detection system in place, alerting the Association and sending Hunters scrambling to contain the threat. And yet, this one was just sitting here, unnoticed, unguarded, as if it didn''t even exist to anyone but him.


    That didn''t make sense.


    Maybe it was some kind of anomaly, a smaller version of an Abyssal Gate that didn''t register the same way as the others. Or maybe there was something unique about him, something that made him able to see it when no one else could. Either way, it wasn''t exactly reassuring.


    Tae-woo rubbed his temple, feeling the familiar dull ache that had been creeping in since earlier. He was overthinking again. At the end of the day, this was just another dungeon portal, or at least, that was what he wanted to believe.


    And yet¡­


    That same gnawing hunger from before twisted uncomfortably in his gut. It wasn''t the normal kind of hunger that came from skipping a meal. It was deeper, almost like an instinct kicking in, something urging him forward, telling him there was something inside that he needed.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.


    He had no reason to step inside. He knew better than to mess around with things like this, especially something as unpredictable as an Abyssal Gate. But the more he tried to ignore it, the stronger that nagging sensation became.


    It was like a low, persistent itch at the back of his mind, a whisper just beneath his thoughts, nudging him toward the portal.


    He didn''t have to go in.


    But he already knew he would.


    Tae-woo clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath.


    He didn''t know if he would ever get another opportunity like this. If he walked away now, would he be leaving behind the key to understanding what had happened to him?


    His hands tightened into fists.


    His feet moved.


    And before he could stop himself¡­


    He stepped forward.


    Straight into the Abyss.

 1.10

    Tae-woo stepped through the violet portal, and the moment his foot touched solid ground, he knew exactly where he was.


    The Abyssal Gate.


    Even though every logical part of his mind screamed at him to turn back, his body had moved on its own. He had willingly stepped into the one dungeon in existence that was widely regarded as suicidal for even the strongest S-Rank Hunters, the one nicknamed "The S-Rank Hunter Killer." And now, as he took in the familiar sight of the dark, poorly lit cave around him, he realized the full extent of his mistake.


    Glowing purple crystals jutted from the cavern walls and ceiling, casting an eerie luminescence over the jagged rock formations. The air was thick, carrying an almost oppressive stillness that made the silence feel deafening.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply.


    "This place again¡­" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His instincts had been screaming at him ever since he saw that miniature portal in the alleyway, but now he finally understood why.


    And that was when the true weight of the situation hit him.


    He had entered a dungeon without any proper preparation. While he could create his own weapon, she didn''t bring his armor or supplies.


    It was a reckless, stupid move, the kind that got Hunters killed. And before he could even consider stepping back through the portal, it suddenly vanished without a trace.


    His stomach dropped.


    "Damn it!" Tae-woo cursed, spinning on his heels, but the portal was already gone. Just like that, his only way out had disappeared, leaving him trapped inside the infamous dungeon where even S-Rank Hunters had met their end.


    His mind raced. He had to think.


    The longer he stayed here, the higher the chances of something happening to him. If he wasn''t careful, he could end up just like Jae-sik, corrupted beyond recognition, twisted into some monstrosity.


    And then, he heard a whisper.


    [You will not suffer such a fate, Master.]


    Tae-woo''s entire body tensed.


    "Who''s there?!" His voice echoed through the cavern. He turned wildly, scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement.


    Nothing.


    No monsters. No creatures lurking in the shadows.


    Only the sound of his own breathing and the faint hum of the glowing crystals overhead.


    [Ah, I suppose this is so sudden. My apologies.]


    Tae-woo''s eyes narrowed.


    "Show yourself!" he demanded, frantically looking for the source of the voice.


    [I am nothing more than a phantom whose role is to serve you, my Master.]


    Tae-woo furrowed his brows.


    "Phantom? Master? What the hell are you talking about?"


    [Just think of me¡­ as an assistant of sorts. I shall guide you through the Abyss.]


    Tae-woo''s heart pounded. First, he was the only one who could see the portal. Now, there was a mysterious voice inside his head calling him Master.


    "Guide me?" Tae-woo frowned. "Wait¡­ are you related to that thing? That figure that dropped blood into my mouth last time I was here?"


    There was a pause.


    [Perhaps. But the real answer is more complicated than that. It is in my best interest to guide you and ensure that you will stay alive throughout your journey into the Abyss.]


    Tae-woo rubbed his face, exhaling through his nose.


    "Alright, okay," he muttered to himself. "So, for the record, I''m not actually going crazy, right?"


    The voice chuckled, sounding faintly amused.


    [Stepping into the Abyss without any prior preparation could be considered a rather¡­ crazy action, I might say.]


    Tae-woo scowled. "Not my point!"


    This felt too surreal, too much like some cliched novel or manhwa plot, where there was a voice in his head acting like some kind of omniscient guide.


    "Alright, fine. If you''re here to help, then answer me this. What the hell actually happened to me? What''s my Class? Because I know for damn sure it''s not just Fighter anymore." Tae-woo demanded.


    There was a brief silence.


    And then, the voice spoke.


    [That, I can answer. Your kind has classified the Job System into Classes, though they could not pinpoint exactly what your true Class is. No, it is not Fighter.]


    "Then what is it?" Tae-woo asked.


    Another pause.


    Then, a single answer.


    [Abyss Walker.]


    Tae-woo frowned, his arms crossing over his chest as he processed what he had just heard. "Abyss Walker?" The name alone sounded ominous, and more than that, it was completely unfamiliar. He had never come across such a Class before, not in any records, discussions, or the annual compilations that cataloged newly Awakened Hunters and their respective Classes.


    Every year, the Hunter Association and various research institutions published updated lists detailing newly discovered Classes, yet nothing remotely resembling Abyss Walker had ever been documented.


    He controlled his breathing, forcing himself to focus. There was no use panicking or getting worked up over something he couldn''t change. "So, this is a special Class unique to me?" he asked, keeping his tone steady. "No one else has this Class?"


    [None. You are the only Abyss Walker in this world.]


    Tae-woo''s brows furrowed slightly as he took in the voice''s response. The confirmation was oddly unsettling, even though he had already suspected as much. Having a completely unique Class sounded like a terrible fiction with him as a main character. "I see," he muttered under his breath. "So, a one-of-a-kind Class, huh?"


    That also meant there was no prior knowledge or references to rely on. No other Hunter had experienced this path before him, meaning he was venturing into completely uncharted territory.


    Unlike established Classes such as Warrior, Mage, or even rare ones like Dragoon or Merchant, there was no precedent for an Abyss Walker; no known abilities, no recorded growth patterns, and no comparisons. He was the first and only one of his kind.


    He rubbed his chin, thinking out loud. "That means no one has actually documented what this Class has in store yet. I have no idea what to expect or how it''ll develop."


    [Actually, I can inform you of the Class Features of Abyss Walker.]


    Tae-woo blinked, feeling a bit foolish for not realizing it sooner. "Right. Silly me," he muttered. He still wasn''t used to having an unseen voice act as his personal assistant.


    It was strange, hearing a presence in his head so clearly and having it respond to his thoughts like a sentient guide.


    Shaking off the momentary awkwardness, he straightened up. "Alright then. What can this Class do?"


    He remained where he stood, his shoes shifting slightly over the uneven cavern floor as he listened intently. Each Class had defining traits that set it apart from the others, granting Hunters unique skills or abilities tailored to their particular role. Even within broad categories like Warriors or Mages, there were countless specializations, some focusing on brute force, others on agility or magic.


    Given that Abyss Walker was an entirely unknown Class, he had no idea whether it fell under any existing category or if it operated on completely different mechanics.


    [For starters, your first unique ability is Devour.]


    Tae-woo''s lips pressed into a thin line as he heard the name. "Devour?" he repeated, already having an inkling of what it entailed.


    [It is an ability that allows you to inherit the abilities of creatures that you consume.]


    A long silence stretched between him and the voice as his thoughts slowed, piecing together what this meant. So, his suspicions had been right all along. What happened with Jae-sik wasn''t a coincidence. It was a direct result of this ability activating. He had gained something from devouring him. Those crystalized blade-like appendages weren''t a random mutation but a direct inheritance from the corrupted Hunter''s abilities.


    "So that''s how it works," he murmured, rubbing his thumb against his palm in thought. His mind was already racing through the implications. "What exactly does consume mean? Do I have to eat the entire creature, or would eating just a part of it be enough?"


    [You can inherit a creature''s abilities even with just a small portion of its flesh. However, the more you consume, the more potent the abilities you gain. Additionally, the process works regardless of whether the target is alive or dead.]


    Tae-woo absorbed this information carefully. That was useful to know. He didn''t necessarily have to devour an entire being to gain its power, which meant he wouldn''t need to rely completely on consuming human-sized creatures like Jae-sik. Perhaps even small bits of the creatures or dungeon monsters would be viable sources of new abilities.


    But at the same time, the confirmation left an uneasy feeling in his gut. The more he ate, the stronger the ability would become. It almost sounded like an incentive, a built-in mechanic that encouraged him to indulge. He didn''t like that.


    Still, he couldn''t deny that Devour was an ability unlike anything he had ever heard of before. He had a feeling that he would get the chance to test it soon.


    For better or worse.


    "Any other skills or abilities?" Tae-woo asked, crossing his arms as he listened intently. Most Classes had at least three core abilities, sometimes more, depending on their rank and specialization. If Devour was the first, then he needed to know what else came with being an Abyss Walker.


    [Yes. Your other ability is called Voidblooded. It grants you immunity to Abyssal Corruption.]


    Tae-woo nodded slowly, absorbing that information. "Alright, good to know," he muttered. If there was one thing he wasn''t keen on experiencing, it was undergoing the same grotesque transformation that Jae-sik had suffered. The way the corruption had twisted his body, warping him into something monstrous, was something Tae-woo had no desire to experience.


    [It also grants you the ability to sprout crystals from your body. In addition to that, it allows you to ingest all kinds of materials that are normally harmful to humans, including poison.]


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply. That explained a lot. The incident with Jae-sik''s bone blades flashed in his mind. The way he had bitten into them without hesitation, chewing through hardened bone as if it were nothing, swallowing the shards without feeling even the slightest discomfort.


    Even now, just remembering it left an odd sensation lingering in the back of his mind as if his body had known all along that it wouldn''t suffer any consequences from consuming something so unnatural.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "That explains it," he muttered to himself. Then, after a brief pause, a more troubling thought surfaced. "Wait. Does that mean this Class has¡­ changed what I am?" He frowned slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Like, am I still human? Or has this Abyss Walker thing turned me into something else entirely?"


    It was an important question, and he had to know the answer. He could deal with new abilities, strange powers, and even the unsettling hunger, but if this Class had fundamentally changed what he was, that was an entirely different issue. He wasn''t even ready to open that can of worms.


    [No. You are still 100% Homo sapiens, in addition to the enhancements granted through the Awakening process that your kind undergoes.]


    Tae-woo let out a small breath of relief. "Well, that''s good to hear," he said, his shoulders easing just a little. He had been bracing himself for something worse, like some revelation that he had unknowingly become an entirely different species, or worse, a monster. Even though he was now capable of doing things that no human should, at least he was still, at his core, the same person he had always been.


    [And you still have the potential to grow. In order to unlock more of your abilities, you must undergo a series of trials.]


    "Trials?" Tae-woo''s brows furrowed. "What kind of trials?" He hesitated for a moment before glancing around at the cavernous expanse of the Abyss. "You mean¡­ I have to do something here in the Abyss?"


    [Correct. I shall show you the way. Please walk ahead.]


    Tae-woo sighed softly and rolled his shoulders before taking his first step forward. The path ahead was unknown, and this whole situation was already absurd, but if these trials were the key to understanding his new abilities and possibly his way out of here, then he had no choice but to follow where the voice led him.


    <hr>


    Now that he no longer had to worry about succumbing to Abyssal Corruption, Tae-woo took his time to observe his surroundings as he moved further into the cavernous expanse. The eerie glow of the purple crystals embedded in the walls, ceilings, and floors remained the only illumination source, casting long, distorted shadows that stretched and flickered with every step he took. The silence was unnerving, not just in how absolute it was but in how his own footsteps seemed to echo just a little too loudly as if the cavern itself were listening.


    And yet, despite the ominous atmosphere, everything seemed... oddly normal. Or at least as normal as a place like this could be. He hadn''t encountered any monsters yet, nor had he felt any immediate threats lurking in the darkness. The oppressive weight that had crushed down on him the last time he was here, the feeling that something unseen was watching him was noticeably absent.


    For now, at least.


    As he walked, Tae-woo mulled over everything he knew, or rather, everything he didn''t know about the Abyss. It was connected to the dungeons that had appeared all over the world, that much was clear, but beyond that, everything else remained a mystery. Even the greatest minds in the world, the most powerful Hunters and scholars, had failed to uncover anything substantial about it.


    "Anyway, can you tell me what the Abyss is all about?" Tae-woo finally asked, breaking the silence. "I know it''s closely related to the dungeons that have been popping up all around the world, but what makes this place different? What''s so significant about it?"


    For a moment, there was no response. Then, the voice answered.


    [Apologies. Currently, I am not authorized to answer that question.]


    Tae-woo frowned at that.


    "Not authorized?" He echoed, stopping briefly in his tracks. That wording implied something important. "So, that means there is someone, or something, above you, right? Some kind of higher power pulling the strings?"


    The voice did not answer.


    That, in itself, was an answer.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as he resumed walking. If even this so-called assistant, or whatever it was, was withholding information from him, then it meant that there was a larger picture he wasn''t seeing yet.


    Perhaps that thing, the shadowy figure that had dripped its blood into his mouth, was the true mastermind behind all of this. Or maybe there was something even higher than that.


    Either way, he wasn''t going to get any answers by pressing further. At least, not yet.


    Letting the matter rest for now, another thought crossed his mind.


    "Actually," Tae-woo said, "do you even have a name?"


    There was a brief pause.


    [As a matter of fact, no. I am currently nameless. My entire purpose is to serve you, Master.]


    Tae-woo scratched his head. The more he listened to the voice, the more he realized how strange it was. It was androgynous, neither male nor female and while it carried a neutral tone, it still had an almost unnatural smoothness to it. Having a conversation with someone who didn''t even have a proper identity felt strange as if he was talking to a glorified system notification instead of an actual being.


    "Well, that''s weird," Tae-woo muttered. "Would you mind if I gave you a name? Calling you ''voice inside my head'' feels a little too weird, not gonna lie."


    [A name?]


    Tae-woo nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I don''t even know if you''re actually a person or not, but at least having a name would make it easier for me to talk to you."


    The voice was quiet for a long moment as if contemplating his offer.


    [Very well. What do you wish to call me, Master?]


    Tae-woo hummed in thought, crossing his arms as he considered his options. "Let''s see... A name for a disembodied voice in my head¡­" He tapped his foot against the rocky floor, mulling it over. Then, another thought struck him. "Actually, do you even identify as anything? Like, are you supposed to be a guy or a girl?"


    [I identify as neither, though if you wish to follow genre convention, I can identify myself as a female.]


    Tae-woo blinked. "...Genre convention?"


    [Yes. It is a common archetype for a spirit advisor or guide to be female. Thus, it is more logically sound for me to adopt a feminine persona.]


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes. "That''s... not how that works."


    [How about now?]


    The moment the voice spoke again, it had changed. It was no longer ambiguous or androgynous but distinctly feminine, smooth and pleasant to the ear.


    Tae-woo stared into the darkness for a moment before sighing. "Alright, sure. If you''re really into that, who am I to argue?" He waved a hand dismissively before thinking further. "Since you''re going for the whole female guide thing, I guess I''ll just call you Alice. Does that sound good to you?"


    [Alice? The main character of Alice in Wonderland?]


    "Yeah, sure," Tae-woo replied. "You''re fine with that?"


    There was another brief silence. Then, the voice, now Alice, spoke again.


    [...Very well. Starting now, my name shall be Alice.]


    <hr>


    After trekking deeper into the dungeon, Tae-woo finally encountered his first enemies.


    Five goblins.


    As always, they were small, humanoid creatures with grotesque, twisted faces, their beady eyes glinting with malice. Their thin, wiry bodies with bloated bellies were covered in tattered rags, and they clutched crude weapons, which were rusty knives and makeshift swords that looked like they had been scavenged from somewhere. However, unlike the goblins he had encountered in normal dungeons, these ones were different.


    Their skin wasn''t the usual sickly green.


    It was purple.


    The goblins let out ear-piercing screeches, baring their jagged teeth as they cackled and jeered at him. They moved in quick, jittery motions, their movements almost unnatural, as if their limbs were being controlled by unseen strings.


    Tae-woo frowned, gripping his fists instinctively. "Do I have to fight them?" Tae-woo asked, his voice low.


    [Yes. To continue, you must eliminate any monsters standing in your way. I have faith in you, Master.]


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply. He still wasn''t used to hearing Alice''s soft, almost teasing voice in his head. It was strange, almost surreal. The fact that this voice was guiding him through a literal nightmare didn''t make things any less bizarre.


    "Well, I guess I don''t really have a choice," Tae-woo muttered. His arms tensed as he focused, and almost instinctively, dark purple crystallite blades jutted out from his wrists, forming sleek, deadly weapons that hummed with raw energy. "At least I don''t have to worry about finding a weapon."


    The goblins didn''t hesitate. The moment his weapons emerged, they let out shrill war cries and charged.


    Tae-woo reacted instantly.


    He moved forward, launching himself toward them with a burst of speed. The goblins may have been fast, their wiry limbs propelling them forward with surprising agility, but Tae-woo was faster. His enhanced reflexes kicked in as he weaved between their attacks, his movements sharp and precise.


    The first goblin lunged, swiping its rusted blade toward his midsection. Tae-woo twisted his body effortlessly, dodging the attack before countering with a quick, clean slash. His crystallite sword carved through flesh like a hot knife through butter, and the goblin barely had time to let out a strangled gasp before it collapsed to the ground, its body convulsing in its final moments.


    The second and third goblins attacked in tandem, their jagged knives aiming for his sides. Tae-woo ducked low, sliding between them before springing up and delivering a powerful upward slash. The force of his strike tore through the goblins'' torsos, sending a spray of dark, almost ink-like blood splattering against the cavern walls. Their mutilated bodies crumpled into a heap before they could even register what had happened.


    The last two hesitated for a brief second.


    It was all the time he needed.


    Tae-woo surged forward, closing the gap before they could retreat. He grabbed one goblin by the throat, lifting it off the ground effortlessly before driving his blade through its chest. The final goblin let out a terrified screech and attempted to scramble away, but Tae-woo wasn''t about to let it escape. He spun on his heel, bringing his blade down in a clean, decapitating strike. The goblin''s head tumbled to the ground, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop.


    Silence.


    Tae-woo let out a slow breath, lowering his weapons as he took in the scene. The goblins lay scattered around him, their lifeless bodies still twitching slightly.


    "That was easy," he muttered. The fight had barely lasted more than a few seconds.


    With the battle over, Tae-woo turned his attention to something else. He needed to test his ability, Devour.


    His gaze drifted toward the nearest goblin corpse. The sight of its torn flesh, its unnatural, purple-tinged blood pooling on the cavern floor, made his stomach churn. He wasn''t exactly eager to go through with this.


    Still, if this ability really allowed him to inherit the traits of whatever he consumed, then he had no choice but to test it.


    Steeling himself, Tae-woo knelt beside one of the bodies and reached out, grabbing a chunk of flesh. It was still warm, sticky with blood, and up close, it smelled even worse than he had anticipated.


    He grimaced. "This is disgusting."


    [Goblin meat is typically unsafe for human consumption due to its high acidity. However, due to your Voidblooded ability, you will be able to consume it without issue.]


    Alice''s words didn''t exactly make him feel better about it.


    Tae-woo exhaled through his nose, forcing down his revulsion. His hands clenched around the piece of goblin flesh, and after one last moment of hesitation, he brought it to his mouth and took a bite.


    Tae-woo scrunched up his face the moment he took a bite. The texture was atrocious. It was chewy, rubbery, and slimy all at once, as if he had decided to gnaw on a damp, rotting sponge. Worse, the taste hit his tongue like a combination of burnt rubber and something that had been left to ferment in a sewer drain for several weeks


    His jaw worked slowly, each chew making him regret his life choices more and more.


    He had eaten some questionable things in his life, like cheap, barely edible convenience store food or Ji-hoon''s horrendous attempts at cooking, but this? This was on a whole new level of awfulness.


    Still, he forced himself to keep going, chewing through the toughness of the goblin meat until it was at least somewhat manageable. Then, with the sheer force of will, he swallowed it down, feeling it slide unpleasantly down his throat like a lump of regret.


    The moment it hit his stomach, Tae-woo gagged.


    "Eugh! Ugh! W-what the hell? It smells like used shoes! And the taste... urgh!" he sputtered, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he tried to suppress the urge to vomit. He coughed a few times, his entire body shuddering at the sheer wrongness of what he had just consumed.


    [Congratulations.]


    Alice''s voice chimed in his head, completely unfazed by his suffering.


    [You have inherited a new ability from the goblin. It is Scavenger, which allows you to consume anything without having to worry about any negative effects.]


    Tae-woo paused mid-gag, blinking as he processed what she had just said.


    "¡­Wait," he said slowly, a terrible realization dawning on him. "I already have Voidblooded, right?"


    [Correct.]


    "And Voidblooded already lets me eat anything without side effects?"


    [That is also correct.]


    Tae-woo felt a slow, creeping sense of dread. "¡­So, what you''re saying is¡­"


    [Considering that Voidblooded and Scavenger share the same effect, Scavenger will be absorbed into Voidblooded. You have lost Scavenger ability.]


    Tae-woo''s head drooped so low it was almost touching the cavern floor.


    "So, I ate that disgusting thing for nothing?!"


    [You could see it that way.]


    Tae-woo groaned loudly and let himself fall backward onto the cold stone floor. His arms spread out to his sides as he stared at the glowing purple crystals above him, completely dead inside.


    His first experiment with Devour¡­ and it had resulted in absolutely nothing.


    Not a powerful new skill. Not a cool ability. Nothing.


    He had choked down the worst thing he had ever tasted in his life, and all he had to show for it was a bad memory and a burning desire to never eat goblin meat again.


    Alice, however, remained completely unbothered.


    [At the very least, this confirms that your Devour ability functions exactly as intended.]


    Tae-woo groaned even louder. "Oh, great, so I wasted my dignity and my taste buds just to prove a hypothesis!"


    [Indeed.]


    He shot a glare at nothing in particular because there was nothing to glare at. If Alice had a physical form, he was sure he''d be giving her the most unimpressed stare of his life.


    After a moment, he let out a defeated sigh and pushed himself back up. "Fine. Whatever. Lesson learned. Maybe I''ll have better luck with something that isn''t a stinky little gremlin."


    Shaking off his lingering frustration, Tae-woo dusted himself off and prepared to continue forward, hoping that the next monster he encountered would at least have something useful to offer.


    "Hopefully, whatever I need to eat next is less awful than the goblin," Tae-woo muttered to himself, still trying to scrub the memory of the vile taste from his mind. His stomach was fine, his body unbothered by the consumption, but his soul? His soul had suffered.


    [Some monsters are edible, even for normal humans.] Alice''s voice chimed in his head, matter-of-factly. [If you are lucky, then you may encounter something that isn''t as horrible as the goblins.]


    Tae-woo let out a long, weary sigh. It almost felt like Alice was trying to console him, though he wasn''t entirely sure if that was just wishful thinking on his part.


    "Well, thanks, Alice," he said, shaking his head. "I guess that makes me feel a little better."


    [You are welcome, Master.]


    There was a brief moment of silence as Tae-woo continued walking through the cavern, his boots crunching against loose gravel. Despite his initial frustrations, he was already adjusting to the flow of the Abyss, his hunger, his powers, and now, this odd, ever-present voice that had become his guide.


    It was strange how quickly things could change.


    And then, he stopped.


    A low growl rumbled through the cavern, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against the stone. Tae-woo turned his gaze toward the source of the noise, and there, emerging from the shadows, was his next opponent.


    A wolf.


    But not just any wolf.


    Its fur was black as pitch, darker than the cave around it, almost as if it absorbed the light rather than reflected it. Its eyes glowed a menacing, unnatural shade of red, burning like embers in the darkness. Its mouth curled into a vicious snarl, razor-sharp fangs bared as drool dripped from its maw. Its stance was low, muscles coiled tight, ready to strike the moment it saw an opening.


    Tae-woo readied himself.


    "Alright," he muttered, willing the crystallite swords to emerge from his wrists once more. The twin blades formed with ease, humming faintly with an unnatural energy. He rolled his shoulders, loosening himself up as he stared the beast down.


    "I really hope you taste better than goblin, dog."


    The wolf growled, lowering its head.


    "Or else I''m going to be extremely upset."


    And with that, the black wolf lunged.

 1.11

    Ever since the emergence of Hunters, most aspects of life began to revolve around them. From business and politics to sports and even entertainment, Hunters had found themselves integrated into nearly every aspect of modern society.


    The entertainment industry, of course, was no exception.


    In South Korea, where the idol industry was already a global powerhouse, the concept of Hunter Idols quickly took root. These performers were skilled in singing and dancing and strong enough to clear dungeons, making them an instant hit with fans who craved both beauty and power. Some of the major Hunter guilds saw this as an opportunity to expand into the entertainment business, debuting artists who could captivate audiences both on stage and in battle.


    And among them, the most famous Hunter Idol group was LUNARIS, a five-member girl group under Iron Fang Guild, one of the Six Great Guilds.


    Unlike ordinary idols, every member of LUNARIS was an A-Rank Hunter, meaning they weren''t just performers but also elite combatants. Their ability to clear dungeons, coupled with their breathtaking performances, had skyrocketed them to stardom, earning them a dedicated fanbase that adored them as both warriors and entertainers.


    LUNARIS itself was the brainchild of the Guildmaster of Iron Fang Guild, Gong Hye-rin. As a seasoned Hunter and the mastermind behind the guild''s expansion into entertainment, Hye-rin had carefully selected each member, ensuring they were not only powerful Hunters but also charismatic and talented enough to stand on the grandest stages.


    Today, after finishing a grueling rehearsal for their upcoming performance, LUNARIS gathered in their private training room.


    "You girls did great today," Hye-rin said as she observed them with an approving nod. Dressed in her usual green combat uniform, her exposed shoulders gleamed slightly under the studio lights. Despite her usual calm and deadly demeanor as an Assassin, there was a warmth in her tone when addressing her idols.


    "Of course we did," SELENE replied with a confident smirk. "We''re LUNARIS, after all."


    Selene, real name Kang Joo-hyun, was the leader of the group, a natural-born performer with an effortless charisma. Her silver-dyed hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her sharp, foxlike eyes sparkled with mischief. Though her presence on stage was electrifying, in battle, she was a nightmare to her enemies, wielding twin daggers with deadly precision as an Assassin-Class Hunter.


    "Ugh, but that last dance set was brutal," NOVA groaned as she stretched her arms over her head.


    Nova, real name Lee So-young, was known for her fiery energy and playful attitude. Her auburn hair was styled in twin buns, giving her a mischievous look that matched her personality. Whether on stage or in combat, she was constantly moving, her speed and agility making her a blur to both fans and enemies. As a Bladerunner-class Hunter, she was one of the fastest Hunters in the guild, able to outmaneuver even the most dangerous dungeon monsters.


    "You''re just making excuses," VEGA chimed in, crossing her arms.


    Vega, real name Han Min-ji, had a more reserved but powerful presence. With short jet-black hair and an athletic build, she had the kind of look that made people naturally take her seriously. While she didn''t speak as much as the others, her quiet strength and intensity made her stand out. As a Brawler-class Hunter, she didn''t need a weapon. Her fists were more than enough. Fans often joked that if anyone tried to pick a fight with her, they''d be signing their own death warrant.


    "I agree," LUNA spoke with a teasing smile. "You were totally panting during that last routine, Nova."


    Luna, real name Choi Ji-eun, was often considered the most visually striking member of LUNARIS. With her long, platinum-blonde hair and ethereal beauty, she had an air of elegance that made people underestimate her at times. But in reality, she was one of the most dangerous members of the group. As a Summoner-class Hunter, she commanded powerful spectral beasts in battle, each one deadly in its own right.


    "Pft, you talk a lot for someone who almost tripped on her heels," Nova shot back, sticking out her tongue.


    "You saw that?!" Luna gasped, feigning offense as she covered her mouth.


    The last member, ORION, chuckled softly from the side.


    "You were kinda obvious, Ji-eun," she said in a soft-spoken tone.


    Orion, real name Im Hye-won, was the calmest and most mysterious member of LUNARIS. With long, dark blue hair and a serene presence, she had a unique ability to command attention without saying much. She rarely got involved in the group''s teasing, instead observing quietly with a small smile. But when she did speak, her words always carried weight. As a Spellblade-class Hunter, she combined magic with swordsmanship, making her one of the most versatile combatants in the guild.


    "Alright, enough bickering," Hye-rin interrupted with a smile. "You all did well today. Rest up because we have a lot of work to do before your next stage. And after that, you''ll be preparing for the next raid mission."


    The reminder that they weren''t just idols but also Hunters made the room fall into silence.


    Balancing both worlds was never easy.


    While their fame gave them certain advantages: sponsorships, high-quality equipment, and connections, it didn''t change the fundamental truth of their existence.


    They were still Hunters.


    And Hunters risked their lives every time they stepped into a dungeon.


    But this was the path they had chosen.


    "Understood, boss," Selene said, her confident smirk returning. "We''ll be ready."


    As the members of LUNARIS began chatting again, teasing each other and laughing, Hye-rin watched them with an unreadable expression.


    To the world, they were idols, stars, untouchable figures of admiration.


    But to her, they were something else.


    They were a symbol of strength, ambition, and the limitless potential of Hunters.


    And she would make sure they would shine brighter than anyone else.


    <hr>


    "Why am I thinking about Hunter Idols now?"


    Tae-woo muttered to himself as he sat atop the still-warm corpse of a Black Wolf, absently staring at the glowing purple crystals dotting the cavern walls. There were a few more dead wolves scattered around him. The fight had ended a few minutes ago, yet his mind had somehow drifted to one of the most ridiculous things possible, which was LUNARIS, Korea''s top Hunter Idol group.


    It made no sense. He had just fended off a whole pack of wolves, cutting them down one by one in a brutal fight for survival, and now, instead of thinking about battle strategy or how to test his new abilities, his brain had decided to focus on a bunch of gorgeous women singing and dancing in flashy outfits.


    His priorities were questionable at best.


    [I can answer that.] Alice suddenly chimed in, her tone sounding far too smug. [It is because Master is a perfectly healthy young man who enjoys watching cute girls in cute outfits dancing on stage. Belly buttons and armpits optional.]


    Tae-woo''s eye twitched.


    "¡­Shut up, Alice."


    [Shutting up now.]


    Tae-woo groaned, rubbing his temples. He hadn''t even known Alice for a full day, yet somehow, she had already developed a talent for getting under his skin. Her tone may have been soft and polite, but it was laced with an undeniable cheekiness that made it clear she was enjoying this far too much.


    At the very least, she was actually helpful when it counted.


    Shaking his head, Tae-woo shifted his focus back to the matter at hand.


    "Anyway," he muttered, nudging one of the dead wolves with his boot, "I guess these mutts were a massive improvement over goblins."


    Unlike his last culinary experiment, the Black Wolf meat had at least been edible. After taking a chunk and eating it, something he was still coming to terms with as a normal part of his life now, he had received two new abilities.


    [Yes. The first ability you acquired is Keen Sense,] Alice informed him, her tone returning to her usual professional demeanor. [It grants you enhanced night vision and the ability to track via scent, much like wolves.]


    Tae-woo focused for a moment, testing the ability, and almost immediately, his perception shifted. The dim cavern that had been shrouded in shadows now appeared much clearer, the details of the environment sharpening as if someone had adjusted the contrast on a screen.


    Then came the smells.


    The lingering scent of blood, the dampness of the cavern walls, and the faint metallic tang of the crystals all flooded his nose at once, filling his mind with an overwhelming amount of new information.


    It was a lot.


    "¡­Okay, that''s going to take some getting used to," he muttered, rubbing his nose.


    [Understandable, Master.]


    Tae-woo sighed, shaking off the lingering disorientation before holding up his arm.


    The second ability had been a bit flashier.


    With a simple thought, three sharp, crystalline claws emerged from the back of his hand, extending into razor-sharp talons that gleamed under the eerie violet light.


    [The second ability is Iron Claws, which evolved into Crystallite Claws upon inheritance,] Alice continued. [It allows you to sprout sharp claws for melee combat.]


    Tae-woo turned his hand, flexing his fingers as the translucent blades caught the light. They looked deadly sharp, and judging by their lightweight yet sturdy feel, they would be perfect for close-quarters combat.


    He gave them a few slow, experimental swipes, cutting effortlessly through the air. They felt natural, almost like an extension of himself rather than something foreign.


    "¡­Not bad," he admitted.


    And just as easily as they had appeared, he willed the claws to retract, watching as they sank back into his skin, leaving behind no trace. Not even a scar.


    [Considering that these abilities do not overlap with your preexisting ones, they are not absorbed, meaning you can use them freely,] Alice added.


    Tae-woo stretched his fingers, feeling the newfound strength coursing through him. At least he was actually gaining useful abilities now.


    "Well, that makes this a little more worthwhile," he admitted, rolling his shoulders before getting back on his feet. "Let''s see if the next monsters I find have anything good to offer."


    And, preferably, something that didn''t taste like chewed leather soaked in garbage water.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    <hr>


    "Thank you for the good work!"


    Selene''s bright voice rang through the studio as she thanked her fellow members of LUNARIS, along with the crew who had worked tirelessly alongside them. Another exhausting day of rehearsals, recordings, and performances had finally come to an end, and now, it was time for them to head home and rest.


    For most idols, wrapping up a long day meant heading back to a shared dorm or returning to their families. But for Selene, or Kang Joo-hyun, home was a luxury apartment she had all to herself, a space she had earned through her hard work as both an A-Rank Hunter and a top-tier idol.


    Joo-hyun had never imagined that she would become an idol, let alone a Hunter Idol, but life had a funny way of throwing surprises. She had been personally scouted by Gong Hye-rin, the Guildmaster of Iron Fang Guild, who saw potential in her not just as a Hunter but as a performer. Alongside four other gifted Hunters, Joo-hyun had debuted as part of LUNARIS, and almost overnight, their group had skyrocketed to superstardom.


    It had been one and a half years since their debut, and in that time, she had grown to love the spotlight. Despite the grueling training, the tight schedules, and the pressure of being in the public eye, she truly enjoyed being on stage with her fellow members, whom she considered her sisters.


    Of course, fame always comes with its own set of downsides.


    Being a Hunter already meant being a public figure, but becoming a Hunter Idol placed them in an entirely different level of celebrity. They weren''t just known within Hunter circles or among dungeon enthusiasts, they were also household names, their faces plastered across billboards, magazines, and television screens. With that level of fame came constant scrutiny, fan expectations, and, of course, the ever-present risk of stalkers.


    This was exactly why Joo-hyun dressed inconspicuously whenever she was out in public.


    Tonight, she opted for a baggy jacket, loose pants, a baseball cap, and oversized sunglasses, which was a tried-and-tested disguise to avoid unnecessary attention. Even then, she knew evasion wasn''t always foolproof. She had already been recognized in the past despite the precautions, and sometimes, it wasn''t the fans she had to worry about.


    As she made her way home, walking along the quieter streets, a sensation pricked at the back of her mind, an instinct honed through many battles and dungeon raids.


    Someone was following her.


    She didn''t react immediately, keeping her pace steady as if she hadn''t noticed anything. If she had been an ordinary idol, this situation might have been terrifying. But Joo-hyun was no ordinary idol. She was an A-Rank Hunter, a battle-hardened Assassin, and she had no intention of letting some stranger catch her off guard.


    Taking a sharp turn into an empty alley, she whispered under her breath.


    "Invisibility."


    In an instant, her body vanished from sight.


    Joo-hyun held her breath, pressing herself against the alley wall, waiting to see if her pursuer would reveal themselves. Even though she was confident in her abilities, she knew her invisibility had its limitations. It was effective against normal people, but against another Hunter, especially one with heightened senses, it wouldn''t be foolproof.


    Her heart beat steadily as she listened intently for any sound of footsteps or movement.


    A few seconds passed.


    Nothing.


    Still, she remained cautious.


    As an Assassin, stealth and deception were her strongest assets. While she wasn''t on the same level as Guildmaster Hye-rin, she prided herself on her ability to move undetected, strike quickly, and disappear just as fast. If her pursuer was just an overly eager fan, she wanted to slip away without confrontation. If they were someone more dangerous, she would be ready.


    After another moment of stillness, Joo-hyun decided to dismiss her invisibility and stepped back into the street, exhaling softly. She tucked a few strands of silky silver hair behind her ear, her flawless complexion illuminated briefly by the glow of a nearby streetlight.


    Despite dressing down, her natural beauty was impossible to hide. With her delicate yet striking features, long lashes, and the elegant way she carried herself, it was no wonder that she was often referred to as the "Ice Queen of LUNARIS." Cold, refined, yet undeniably alluring.


    She resumed walking at a normal pace, though her ears remained sharp, still alert for any sign that her pursuer was still there.


    She could handle this.


    Sure, she might be an idol, but she was also a Hunter.


    If whoever was following her tried anything stupid, she wouldn''t hesitate to remind them why she was an A-Rank Hunter in the first place.


    Still, she hoped it wouldn''t come to that.


    Despite all her training, she had no desire to use force against another human, at least, not unless she absolutely had to. Monsters were her true enemies, not people.


    With one final glance over her shoulder, Joo-hyun adjusted her cap and continued on her way home, hoping that whoever had been tailing her had lost interest.


    <hr>


    "Seriously, why am I thinking about Hunter Idols again?"


    Tae-woo muttered to himself, exhaling as he stood amid the freshly slain monsters scattered across the dungeon floor. Everything had become a blur. Not too long ago, fighting creatures like these would have been a grueling, life-or-death battle, but now?


    Now, it was just another chore.


    A single swipe of his crystallite claws, a well-placed slash from his conjured blades, and the monsters crumpled like wet paper.


    Maybe he really had grown stronger.


    He had started to notice a pattern. The more he Devoured, the stronger he got. It wasn''t just a vague feeling either; his reflexes were sharper, his movements smoother, and his entire body felt more powerful.


    But here he was, instead of reflecting on his combat prowess, getting sidetracked by idols like some distracted teenager.


    [Again, I believe I know the answer, Master.]


    Alice''s voice chimed in, sounding far too amused.


    [Master enjoys watching idols sing and dance on stage. And truly, they have mastered the art of blending cuteness with sex appeal. Quite the impressive skill set, if I may say so.]


    Tae-woo let out an exasperated groan, rubbing his temples.


    "Alice," he said slowly. "You''re not helping."


    [Ah, my sincerest apologies, Master.]


    She did not sound sorry.


    Tae-woo sighed, kicking aside the corpse of a wolf-like monster. The annoying thing was that Alice wasn''t wrong.


    His thoughts had drifted again, even in the middle of battle. And where had they drifted to?


    LUNARIS.


    The famous Hunter Idol group under Iron Fang Guild. They were everywhere: billboards, variety shows, brand endorsements, and places where their faces could be plastered on. Even when he wasn''t trying to think about them, their songs would start playing at some convenience store, or one of their posters would be plastered on a mall wall.


    And, well¡­


    There was that limited-edition gravure poster of Selene he had back home.


    The one where she was in a bikini, standing on a pristine beach, her silver hair catching the sunlight just right. The lighting was perfect, the pose was flawless, and the composition? A true work of art.


    A national treasure, if he were being honest.


    ¡­It was also the reason why his little sister, Ha-rin, rarely entered his room anymore.


    Tae-woo grimaced, recalling the heated argument from the day he put it up in his room.


    "Oppa, I can''t believe you! A gravure poster?! Are you actually a pervert?!"


    "It''s a limited-edition promotional item! It''s ART!"


    "Art, my ass! You''re a full-grown adult, not some lonely otaku!"


    "I''ll have you know that many respectable men collect high-quality merchandise!"


    After that, Ha-rin stopped stepping into his room unless absolutely necessary, opting to speak to him from the doorway instead.


    Tae-woo sighed, feeling the weight of his questionable life choices pressing down on him.


    "Alice," he muttered. "Just¡­ tell me if there are any more monsters up ahead. I need a distraction."


    [Very well, Master. There are indeed more foes nearby. And who knows? Perhaps one of them will grant you an ability even greater than your fascination with idols.]


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes.


    "¡­I feel like you just insulted me."


    [Me? I would never.]


    Shaking his head, Tae-woo readied his blades and pressed forward, hoping that whatever he encountered next would keep his mind from drifting to gravure posters again.


    As Tae-woo continued making his way deeper into the dungeon, he took the time to review what he had gained so far from Devouring the monsters he had slain. It was still a strange feeling, knowing that eating his enemies made him stronger, but at this point, he was getting used to it. And if it meant adding more useful abilities to his arsenal, then he wasn''t about to start complaining.


    The first ability he had obtained came from an Almiraj, a peculiar creature that looked like a rabbit with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Unlike normal rabbits, though, this one had a carnivorous streak and an unsettling penchant for raw meat, making it far more aggressive than its mundane counterparts.


    On the bright side, its meat wasn''t bad. Tae-woo had been expecting something awful, but to his surprise, it tasted just like regular rabbit meat. If anything, it might have even been better, lean and slightly gamey, but still palatable.


    Of course, he would have preferred if he could have actually cooked it first, but he was working with what he had.


    By consuming the Almiraj''s flesh, Tae-woo had gained Dash, an ability that allowed him to move at lightning-fast speed in short bursts, far faster than even what his enhanced Hunter physique would normally allow. It wasn''t the flashiest skill, but it was undeniably useful, especially in combat situations where agility was the key to survival.


    The next monster he had encountered was a Giant Gecko, a large, lumbering reptile that was remarkably resilient. Its defining trait was its accelerated healing factor, which allowed it to recover from wounds at an astonishing rate, a useful trait for a dungeon-dwelling predator.


    Eating the gecko''s meat, however, had been a different experience entirely. Unlike the Almiraj, which at least tasted somewhat normal, the Giant Gecko had soft, rubbery flesh that came with an unpleasant bitterness that lingered on the tongue. It wasn''t the worst thing he had eaten so far, but he wouldn''t exactly be going back for seconds.


    Still, the ability he gained made it worth the effort.


    From consuming the Giant Gecko''s flesh, Tae-woo had obtained Fast Healing, Lesser, an ability that allowed his wounds to heal at an accelerated rate. While it wasn''t full-blown regeneration, it was still incredibly useful, as minor cuts and gashes would close almost immediately after being inflicted. At the very least, he wouldn''t have to worry about bleeding out from minor injuries, which could be the difference between life and death in prolonged fights.


    However, he hadn''t gained anything particularly notable besides those two abilities. The weaker monsters in this area didn''t seem to have much else to offer in terms of unique skills or traits. If he wanted stronger abilities, he would need to face stronger enemies.


    For now, though, he would remain in this area, at least until he had completed whatever trials he was supposed to undergo. There was still no clear indication of how he was supposed to escape this place and return to the real world, but one thing was certain.


    He would keep moving forward until he found an answer.


    <hr>


    After what felt like an endless series of battles against mobs of monsters, Tae-woo finally reached what was unmistakably the end of the area. Standing before him was a massive door, its sheer size and ominous presence radiating an intense pressure that made the air feel heavier around him. Even without stepping through it, he could tell that whatever lay beyond was unlike anything he had faced before.


    His instincts screamed at him that this was it.


    The final challenge.


    He narrowed his eyes, exhaling slowly as he steadied himself. In normal dungeons, large doors like these always meant one thing.


    A boss battle.


    The rule was simple: defeat the boss, and the area would be cleared.


    Tae-woo let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.


    "I can''t believe it," he muttered, half to himself. "I actually conquered an Abyss dungeon¡­ Not even S-Rank Hunters have managed something like this."


    For a moment, he allowed himself to feel a small sense of accomplishment, but then he paused, his brows furrowing as a sudden realization hit him.


    "But wait," he murmured, crossing his arms. "If S-Rank Hunters struggled with these dungeons, then why have I only encountered weak monsters like goblins and wolves?"


    That didn''t add up.


    If this place was so dangerous that even the strongest Hunters feared it, then why had it felt like a walk in the park so far?


    Alice, ever the helpful presence in his mind, chimed in with an explanation.


    [It is because this level is tailor-made just for you. The enemies you have faced so far were specifically adjusted to match your current abilities. However, the creature beyond this door¡­ is on an entirely different level.]


    Tae-woo nodded, processing her words.


    "Ah¡­ so this has all been part of the trial," he mused, rubbing his chin.


    [That is correct. This trial is known as The Trial of the Unprepared. You have faced nothing but weaklings up until this point, giving you the illusion that this dungeon is easier than it truly is. The real challenge begins now.]


    Tae-woo clicked his tongue. "So, basically, it''s a setup to catch me off-guard. Make me overconfident, let me get comfortable, and then¡­ bam! I run headfirst into something way out of my league."


    [Precisely.]


    Tae-woo let out a small, dry laugh.


    "I should''ve known. It''s a classic trap." He crossed his arms, staring at the door thoughtfully. "This is still a lesson most Hunters have to learn anyway. Never get complacent. Never assume things will stay easy just because they seem that way. Always prepare for the worst."


    [Then, I shall assist you in any way I can, Master. The boss is waiting beyond the door. Your objective is simple: defeat it. In doing so, you will unlock more of your abilities as an Abyss Walker.]


    Tae-woo rolled his shoulders, mentally preparing himself. "Alright, then." He cracked his neck, placing both hands on the heavy stone doors before him. "It''s time."


    But then, a thought crossed his mind.


    "Wait a second." He lowered his hands, looking up. "Alice, if you''re supposed to help me, then why haven''t you told me who your boss is?"


    The response was immediate.


    [That information is currently restricted.]


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes. "Why?"


    [Because it is irrelevant to your current objectives, Master. My primary function is to assist you in survival and progression through the Abyss. Any information beyond that is unnecessary at this stage.]


    Tae-woo sighed, rubbing his temples.


    "Of course. That''s how it is, huh?"


    [That is correct, Master.]


    Tae-woo clicked his tongue in irritation but ultimately let it go.


    "Fine. I''ll deal with that later." He exhaled sharply, refocusing himself. "First, I''ve got a boss to take down."


    With a steady push, he forced the doors open, stepping into the unknown.


    <hr>


    The instant he entered, he was met with a chilling sound.


    A low, guttural growl, followed by a deafening howl reverberating through the chamber.


    Tae-woo instinctively tensed, suppressing a shudder as he stepped fully into what was unmistakably the boss room. The space was vast, with high ceilings and walls lined with silver-blue crystals that cast an eerie glow over the area. But his focus was entirely on the figure standing at the center.


    It was humanoid in form, but its bestial features left no doubt that it was something far from human. A massive wolf-headed creature, its entire body was covered in silvery fur that gleamed under the dim light, each strand seeming almost metallic. Its muscular frame exuded raw power, and its clawed hands flexed as though eager to tear into flesh.


    And then, its eyes, a pair of deep crimson orbs glowing with feral intelligence, locked onto Tae-woo''s own.


    The moment their gazes met, the creature bared its fangs, curling its lips into a snarl as it took a slow, menacing step forward.


    Tae-woo let out a small breath, standing his ground as he assessed his opponent.


    "That¡­ looks strong," he muttered under his breath.


    Alice''s voice responded, unshaken.


    [He is Lycaon, the Silver Werewolf. He is the boss of The Trial of the Unprepared.]

 1.12

    [He is Lycaon, the Silver Werewolf. He is the boss of The Trial of the Unprepared.]


    Jin Tae-woo tensed, his muscles coiling as he summoned his weapons. The twin crystallite blades emerged from the tops of his wrists, gleaming under the eerie glow of the cavern''s silver-blue crystals. He could already tell that this opponent was different.


    The goblins, wolves, and lesser creatures he had fought before had been a warm-up at best, designed to lull him into a false sense of security. But Lycaon¡­


    Lycaon was on a completely different level.


    This wasn''t just some mindless beast, some rabid dungeon monster attacking on instinct. No, this thing had technique. It had form. It had intent.


    If he didn''t take this fight seriously from the very start, he wouldn''t just lose.


    He would die.


    Then, Lycaon disappeared.


    "What?!"


    CLANG!


    Tae-woo barely had time to react before pure instinct kicked in. His Keen Sense ability flared to life, sharpening his perception just enough to detect movement at his flank. His arms shot up, crystallite coating his forearms just in time to intercept a devastating claw strike.


    But even though he blocked the attack, he hadn''t accounted for the sheer force behind it.


    A shockwave of impact rattled through his bones as the sheer momentum of Lycaon''s strike sent him hurtling backward like a ragdoll.


    CRASH!


    Tae-woo slammed into the stone wall, feeling the breath forcefully driven from his lungs. He barely had time to register the pain before Lycaon was on him again.


    The werewolf''s massive frame closed the distance in a single leap, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying precision.


    Tae-woo ducked, just barely.


    SCHRIIIIIIIIIK!


    The razor-sharp claws gouged deep into the stone, leaving behind jagged trenches in the cavern wall where his head had been just moments ago.


    But Lycaon wasn''t done.


    Even as Tae-woo dodged the initial attack, the werewolf twisted its torso mid-motion, shifting its balance with unnatural speed.


    And then it kicked.


    The moment Tae-woo registered the movement, it was already too late.


    A blindingly fast roundhouse kick slammed into his side, sending him flying once again.


    THUD!


    Tae-woo bounced off the floor, rolling across the stone before finally managing to plant his hands down and skid to a stop. His ribs screamed in protest, his entire body reeling from the impact.


    "Guh!" He coughed, struggling to breathe. The kick hadn''t broken anything, thankfully, but damn, it hurt like hell.


    Had it not been for Fast Healing, Lesser, he would probably be struggling just to breathe right now.


    Shaking the dizziness from his head, Tae-woo forced himself back onto his feet, only to freeze when he saw Lycaon''s fighting stance.


    His brows furrowed.


    "That stance¡­"


    Tae-woo recognized it immediately.


    A wide yet balanced posture, the lead foot shifting lightly on the ball, maintaining perfect control over momentum. The way its clawed hands were positioned, one held loosely forward, the other coiled near its chest, ready to strike or parry in an instant.


    The footwork. The body mechanics. The economy of movement.


    It was Jeet Kune Do. There was no doubt about it.


    "What the hell?" Tae-woo muttered in disbelief. "You''re using martial arts?"


    It didn''t make any sense.


    Every monster he had fought before, no matter how strong, had always relied on brute force, raw instincts, or basic attack patterns. Even the intelligent ones, like the goblin shamans, used spells, not hand-to-hand combat.


    But this?


    This was a deliberate technique. Lycaon wasn''t just some wild beast. It was a trained fighter.


    The werewolf let out a deep, rumbling growl, rolling its shoulders before sinking deeper into its stance, its crimson eyes gleaming with something terrifyingly human.


    Then, with explosive speed, it lunged.


    Tae-woo braced himself, but he was too slow.


    Lycaon twisted mid-air, rotating into a spinning back kick that sent Tae-woo crashing onto his back before he could even react.


    "Gah!" He barely managed to roll to the side, just in time to avoid a follow-up downward axe kick that cratered the floor where he had just been.


    This thing was fast.


    Too fast.


    Even as he scrambled to his feet, Lycaon was already back on him, seamlessly shifting into a flurry of rapid jabs, crosses, and clawed swipes, blending brutality with precision in a way that was far beyond what any normal monster should have been capable of.


    Tae-woo was forced entirely onto the defensive, parrying, dodging, and barely keeping up as each attack threatened to rip him apart.


    Then¡­


    A perfectly-timed feint.


    Lycaon faked a right hook, making Tae-woo raise his guard.


    Only for the werewolf to suddenly twist its entire body and deliver a side kick straight into his gut.


    BANG!


    The impact lifted him off the ground, sending him skidding backward across the stone floor.


    Tae-woo landed on one knee, panting heavily. His arms ached, his legs felt sluggish, and his body was already screaming from the accumulated damage. His Fast Healing, Lesser was working on healing his injuries.


    And yet, despite all of this.


    He grinned.


    The Trial of the Unprepared.


    He should have known.


    All those easy fights leading up to this moment were designed to lower his guard, to make him think he was stronger than he actually was.


    And now, here he was, thrown straight into a real fight.


    A fight that was beyond what he had experienced earlier.


    "Heh¡­" Tae-woo exhaled, wiping the blood from his lip. He brandished his crystallite blades on his wrists as he pushed himself up again. "I guess I really was unprepared," he muttered to himself.


    His gaze locked onto Lycaon, who was still bouncing lightly on its feet, maintaining that signature martial artist''s rhythm.


    "But I''m not going down that easy."


    The werewolf growled in response, baring its fangs as it prepared to attack once more.


    Tae-woo cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders before dropping into a ready stance.


    "Alright, furball."


    He grinned.


    "Let''s see what you got."


    <hr>


    Kang Joo-hyun stepped out of the shower, warm steam curling around her as she reached for a towel. The soft fabric slid over her smooth, porcelain skin, clinging for a moment before she wrapped it snugly around her curves. Another towel was twisted up in her silvery hair, trapping the lingering moisture as she padded barefoot across the cool marble floor of her luxury apartment.


    She let out a slow breath, savoring the quiet.


    Nights like these were rare. Moments where she could let her guard down, where she didn''t have to perform, whether in the dungeons or on stage.


    Joo-hyun lived alone. She always had, ever since she lost her family.


    Her father, a D-Rank Hunter, had died in a dungeon five years ago. His team had been wiped out in an unexpected monster ambush, and his body had never been recovered.


    She had been only sixteen at the time.


    Her mother never recovered. The grief swallowed her whole, and within a year, she had been committed to a mental asylum, unable to function. The woman who had once been strong, who had once comforted Joo-hyun through every scraped knee and sleepless night, had withered into a shell of herself.


    And then, one day, she was gone.


    An illness, they said. But Joo-hyun knew better.


    Her mother had died of a broken heart.


    She had been left utterly alone, just a girl with no family, no purpose, no future.


    But then, she had Awakened.


    It was sudden, unexpected. One day, she was just another ordinary girl struggling to keep her life together, and the next, she had become a Hunter. An Assassin, no less.


    At first, she had no intention of stepping into a dungeon. She wanted nothing to do with the life that had stolen her father away, with the world that had turned her mother into a ghost before she even died.


    But then Gong Hye-rin found her.


    The Guildmaster of Iron Fang Guild, one of the Six Great Guilds, had taken an interest in her, personally seeking her out. She had offered Joo-hyun a future, a purpose.


    And so, Joo-hyun became a Hunter.


    And not just a Hunter.


    A Hunter Idol.


    The life had been grueling at first. The training was endless, the schedule exhausting. She had to balance combat drills with vocal training and dungeon delving with dance practice. It was a life that demanded perfection.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    And yet, she thrived.


    She had found a new family in the other members of LUNARIS. She had found a stage where she belonged.


    Joo-hyun sighed, running a hand through her damp silver locks as she walked toward the floor-length mirror in her living room. The towel around her body shifted slightly, teasing the gentle curve of her hips, the soft dip of her waist.


    She studied her reflection.


    Her body was practically sculpted, a blend of elegance and athleticism, the result of relentless training and discipline. She had toned abs, a smooth hourglass silhouette, and a natural sensuality that had captivated countless fans.


    Her smooth, unblemished skin, her graceful curves, the way her damp hair cascaded down past her shoulders in a silken wave¡­ She knew how to use these things to her advantage.


    In the end, even beauty is a weapon.


    Joo-hyun understood this better than most.


    Being a Hunter meant survival. Being an idol meant performance. But being a Hunter Idol meant mastering both. Every step, every glance, every breath had to be flawless. Whether on a battlefield or a stage, she had to captivate her audience. And she did.


    And yet, despite all her achievements, she knew that her role extended beyond just performing and fighting in dungeons.


    Her beauty, her charisma, her allure, these were tools, just like her daggers.


    That was why she and her fellow members of LUNARIS had been given a special task.


    Seduce Jin Tae-woo.


    Joo-hyun sighed, running a hand through her damp hair as she leaned against the counter.


    The name had meant nothing to her at first. Another up-and-coming Hunter, one of the many rising through the ranks. But then the headlines started rolling in. "The Man Who Survived the Abyss," "From F-Rank to B-Rank Overnight," and "Mystery Surrounds the Survivor of the Abyssal Gate Incident." His sudden rise in power captured the public''s attention, and more importantly, it captured Gong Hye-rin''s interest.


    Joo-hyun still wasn''t sure what her Guildmaster saw in him. B-Rank Hunters were already common enough in Great Guilds like Iron Fang Guild. But Tae-woo was an anomaly, an unknown variable. And Hye-rin was never one to let an opportunity slip by.


    If Tae-woo''s growth could be cultivated¡­ if his potential could be harnessed¡­


    Then, Iron Fang Guild''s prestige would only rise further.


    And for that, Hye-rin was willing to use every resource available, including LUNARIS.


    Joo-hyun wasn''t particularly thrilled about the idea, nor did she have any personal interest in Tae-woo. But if this was what Hye-rin wanted, then she would see it through.


    After all, she owed everything to that woman.


    Another sigh escaped her lips as she peeled the towel off her body, letting it drop onto the floor. She stood there, completely bare, her skin glowing under the dim apartment lights. The silhouette of the city skyline stretched out behind her, neon reflections flickering against the glass windows.


    With slow, measured steps, she sauntered toward her walk-in closet, fingers trailing absently down her arm.


    But then¡­


    She paused.


    A strange feeling crept over her, prickling at the edge of her consciousness.


    It was subtle. Almost imperceptible.


    Yet, as a Hunter, an Assassin, no less, her instincts had been honed far beyond that of an ordinary person.


    She was being watched.


    Joo-hyun''s body remained relaxed, her expression unchanged, but her mind sharpened like a drawn blade. She kept walking slowly as if she hadn''t noticed anything. Then, as she passed the mirror again, she casually flicked her gaze over her shoulder.


    Nothing.


    The apartment was empty.


    But the feeling lingered.


    For a brief moment, she considered drawing her weapons. But after a few more seconds of stillness, the sensation faded, vanishing as quickly as it had come.


    Was it just her imagination?


    Joo-hyun exhaled through her nose, brushing off the unease.


    Maybe she was just tired.


    She grabbed a fresh set of clothes from her closet, slipping into a tank top and form-fitting shorts, the fabric clinging to her slim yet athletic frame. As she ran a brush through her damp silver hair, she cast one last glance toward the window.


    Nothing.


    Shrugging, she pushed the thought aside.


    "Probably just my imagination."


    <hr>


    Tae-woo was struggling, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he tried to match Lycaon''s speed and precision. He had opted to use his crystallite claws instead of his blades, recognizing that in this brutal, close-quarters combat, slashes and quick movements were far more effective than trying to wield longer weapons. But even with the advantage of his newly developed abilities, he was barely holding on.


    Every exchange left him more winded, his stamina depleting at a concerning rate. While his Fast Healing, Lesser kept him from succumbing to the injuries he sustained, it did nothing to alleviate his exhaustion. He could feel it now, the creeping fatigue slowing his movements, making his reactions just a fraction of a second too late. But against an opponent like Lycaon, even the smallest delay was an invitation to be torn apart.


    The werewolf, on the other hand, showed no signs of tiring. Each movement was as fast and precise as the first. Its relentless attacks pushed Tae-woo back, forcing him into a purely defensive stance. Deep gashes marred the walls and floor where their battle had raged, testaments to the sheer power behind Lycaon''s strikes. His combat style was an uncanny blend of savage brutality and calculated martial skill. Every move flowed seamlessly into the next, a perfect harmony of instinct and technique.


    So far, Tae-woo had managed to evade or deflect the worst of Lycaon''s attacks, but he was painfully aware that he had yet to land a solid hit of his own. Every time he struck, the werewolf countered, weaving through his offense with an ease that made it seem almost effortless.


    Then, the opening came, but not in his favor.


    A sudden, powerful kick slammed into his gut, knocking the wind out of his lungs.


    "Guh!" Tae-woo wheezed, his vision momentarily blurring as the impact sent him staggering.


    Before he could recover, Lycaon was already upon him. A clawed hand shot forward, gripping his throat and lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Tae-woo gasped, his legs kicking uselessly in the air. His hands clawed at the beast''s grip, but its fingers were like steel, unyielding and merciless.


    Through his hazy vision, he saw Lycaon''s other hand rise, claws poised to rip through his chest. At this distance, there was no chance to dodge, no room to maneuver. He needed to act now.


    His mind raced, scrambling for a solution. He couldn''t free himself by force. He couldn''t cut through Lycaon''s thick hide fast enough.


    Then, a memory flashed in his mind. Jae-sik. His monstrous transformation, the way Abyssal Corruption had twisted his body, sprouting extra appendages that had turned him into something inhuman.


    Appendages¡­


    A desperate idea formed in his mind.


    Just as Lycaon swung its claws toward his chest, Tae-woo willed it to happen. A sharp, jagged crystal blade erupted from his knee, slicing through the fabric of his trousers as he drove it forward, straight into Lycaon''s torso.


    The blade pierced through, sinking deep into the werewolf''s flesh.


    Lycaon snarled in pain, but the momentum of its attack was already in motion. The claws slashed toward him, but in the brief second of hesitation from the injury, Tae-woo managed to conjure a thick layer of crystals around his arms, shielding himself from what could have been a fatal blow.


    Instead of tearing him apart, the impact sent him flying across the room. He hit the ground hard, rolling across the stone floor before coming to a stop. Pain radiated through his limbs, but he was alive.


    And Lycaon¡­


    Lycaon staggered backward, its breath coming in ragged, labored gasps. Blood dripped from the wound in its chest, pooling onto the floor beneath it. The werewolf let out a strangled, wounded howl before it finally collapsed, its silver fur stained with crimson.


    Tae-woo remained on the ground, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His muscles ached, and his lungs burned, but he had won.


    Alice, who had been silent throughout the battle, finally spoke.


    [Congratulations, Master. You have defeated Lycaon and completed the Trial of the Unprepared.]


    Tae-woo pushed himself up, wincing slightly as his healing factor worked to repair the bruises and minor cuts he had accumulated. His exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but there was still one last thing he had to do.


    Dragging himself over to Lycaon''s motionless body, he reached down and carved out a piece of its flesh with his crystallite blade. He didn''t hesitate this time.


    Still panting, he brought the chunk of flesh to his mouth and began to Devour.


    <hr>


    What happened next was a blur.


    As soon as he swallowed the first bite, something changed.


    The glowing purple of the Abyssal dungeon suddenly shifted to blue, the eerie dim lighting becoming noticeably brighter. The oppressive atmosphere that had pressed down on him since he arrived lessened as if the very dungeon itself recognized his victory.


    Alice spoke again.


    [You have conquered the first area of the Abyss. The door before you will lead you to the next area, Master.]


    Tae-woo exhaled, finally understanding. So, there were multiple areas within the Abyss, and he had only completed the first.


    And, just as he had hoped, his Devour ability rewarded him greatly.


    [The first ability you inherited from Lycaon is Beast King.] Alice explained. [In addition to heightened senses, this ability also enhances your strength against beast-type monsters. Because some aspects of Beast King overlap with Keen Sense, Keen Sense has now been absorbed into it.]


    Tae-woo rubbed his chin. That wasn''t too surprising. Keen Sense had already boosted his perception, but if Beast King was a direct upgrade, then he wasn''t losing much. If anything, this was an improvement.


    [The second ability you inherited is Flowing Fang.] Alice continued. [It allows you to perform the martial art that Lycaon displayed earlier, which is an advanced combat style specializing in adaptive, fluid movement.]


    Tae-woo raised an eyebrow. "So, I can pull off those badass martial arts moves now?"


    [Precisely.]


    A smile stretched across his lips.


    That was going to be fun.


    And then, there was his newly unlocked ability as an Abyss Walker.


    [You have unlocked an ability called Voidstrider. It allows you to create a miniature portal between the real world and the Abyss, letting you travel freely between the two.]


    Tae-woo''s eyes widened in realization.


    "Wait¡­ so I can leave now?" He blinked, then grinned. "Sweet!" Then, his expression sobered. "Wait, does that mean I can appear anywhere I want?"


    [Yes, as long as you have previously visited the location.]


    "Ah, so not a full teleportation. I actually have to go to places first before I can portal there later," Tae-woo mused, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, that''s still pretty damn convenient."


    His gaze drifted toward the massive door ahead, the one leading deeper into the Abyss.


    "So¡­ can I come back later?" he asked.


    [Yes. You are encouraged to rest before continuing to the next area.]


    He let out a breath of relief.


    "Alright, then." He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. "Let''s get the hell out of here."


    Following Alice''s instructions, Tae-woo raised one of his crystallite blades and swiped through the air.


    A rift formed, a portal leading back to the real world.


    The sight alone filled him with relief. He had survived the Abyss again. And now, he had the ability to return whenever he wanted.


    Stepping forward, he left the Abyss behind, at least for now.


    <hr>


    Joo-hyun couldn''t sleep.


    No matter how many times she tossed and turned, no matter how much she adjusted her pillows or tried to lull herself into exhaustion, sleep simply refused to come.


    Her body was sore from the day''s training, her mind weary from the weight of her responsibilities, but still, the restlessness clung to her like a second skin. It was frustrating. Even when she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and drift into oblivion, something inside her remained unsettled.


    With a sigh, she gave up.


    Maybe a walk would help.


    Slipping on a loose hoodie over her casual shorts and tank top, she grabbed her phone and wallet before stepping out of her apartment. The night air was cool against her skin, a welcome contrast to the stuffiness of her bedroom. She made her way to the nearest convenience store, hoping that a little fresh air and a drink would ease her into sleep.


    Inside the brightly lit store, she grabbed a can of beer from the fridge, along with a few instant meals to stock up for later. It wasn''t that she drank often, far from it. But if a bit of alcohol could take the edge off and help her relax, she didn''t mind indulging herself once in a while.


    After paying, she stepped back into the night, cracking open the can with a small hiss. The bitter taste coated her tongue as she sipped, sighing softly.


    And then, she felt it.


    That same presence.


    That same uneasy sensation prickled at the back of her neck, just like before.


    She groaned internally.


    Again?


    How persistent could one person be?


    Joo-hyun forced herself to keep walking, acting as if she hadn''t noticed. But she was already on high alert, every muscle in her body tensing. If she turned around too soon, if she let her stalker know that she had noticed them, they might become even more reckless.


    She needed to lose them.


    Slipping into a side street, she muttered under her breath, "Invisibility."


    In an instant, her body vanished from sight.


    She pressed herself against the nearest wall, waiting.


    Seconds passed. Then, a minute.


    Still, the presence lingered. Whoever was following her was determined.


    Her brows furrowed in irritation. Perhaps she really should consider hiring a personal security detail, even if it was just for situations like this. As much as she prided herself on being able to handle herself, there was only so much she could do alone.


    But then, just as suddenly as it came, the presence disappeared.


    She remained still for a moment longer, making sure the coast was clear before canceling her invisibility and stepping back into the main street.


    With a sigh, she continued walking home.


    Maybe she had finally managed to shake them off.


    Maybe¡­


    A pair of hands grabbed her from behind.


    Joo-hyun froze.


    A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her startled gasp, while another locked tightly around her arm, pulling her backward into the shadows of a nearby alleyway.


    Her heart slammed against her ribs.


    How?


    She had lost them, hadn''t she?


    But¡­ why?


    "Hehehe¡­" A low, breathy chuckle reached her ears, sickeningly close. "Finally, we''re together, Selene-ah."


    Joo-hyun struggled immediately, thrashing against the grip that held her, but it was too strong. The arm around her was like iron, unyielding despite her efforts. A Hunter. He had to be a Hunter.


    "Mmhmm! MMHMM!!" Her muffled screams were useless.


    She could feel his breath against her skin as he tightened his hold, his fingers digging into her arm.


    "Oho¡­ you''re even cuter up close," he murmured, his voice thick with obsession. His free hand traveled lower, and Joo-hyun''s entire body shuddered in revulsion.


    Fear crawled up her spine like ice.


    This was bad.


    She had to fight. Had to do something. Anything.


    But she was an Assassin, not a brute. Her strength was in speed, agility, and precision. When caught off-guard and physically restrained like this, she was at a severe disadvantage, even against a lower-ranked Hunter.


    She couldn''t break free.


    Joo-hyun thrashed harder, her breaths coming in short, frantic gasps.


    The man laughed.


    "Shhh, shhh¡­ no need to fight," he whispered. "I''ll be gentle."


    Tears burned at the corners of her eyes.


    No. No, no, no.


    Someone¡­ anyone¡­ please¡­


    Help me.


    THWACK.


    Suddenly, the arms restraining her slackened.


    The disgusting breath at her ear disappeared.


    Then¡­


    THUD.


    Her captor collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thump.


    Joo-hyun gasped as she stumbled forward, but before she could hit the pavement, someone caught her. She sucked in deep, ragged breaths.


    For a moment, her mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened.


    Then, she heard a voice.


    "Hey, are you alright?"


    She looked up.


    The glow of a nearby streetlamp illuminated the figure standing over her. He was tall, his posture relaxed but alert, broad shoulders squared as he looked down at her. His expression was neutral, unfazed, even, but there was something sharp in his eyes, something assessing.


    She knew this man.


    She had seen his face before, in the pictures that Gong Hye-rin had shown her. The man whom Hye-rin tasked her and her sisters to seduce so that he could be recruited into their guild.


    Jin Tae-woo.


    Her savior.


    The adrenaline, the fear, and the relief all crashed down on her at once. Her vision swam, the world tilting as her body gave out.


    The last thing she saw was his face before everything went dark.

 1.13

    By the time Tae-woo stepped back into the real world, the sun had long set, and the steady glow of streetlights illuminated the streets. The cool night air greeted him as he took a moment to reorient himself, stretching his limbs after spending what felt like hours battling inside the Abyss.


    As soon as he reached into his pocket, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and frowned at the screen as there were several missed call notifications from his younger sister, Ha-rin.


    Great.


    When he returned the call, she picked up immediately.


    "Where have you been, Oppa?!" Ha-rin''s exasperated voice rang in his ears. "I was so worried about you!"


    Tae-woo sighed. "Sorry, sorry. I was just¡­ uh, hanging out with friends."


    There was a beat of silence.


    "Really? Hanging out with friends in a place where I couldn''t even call you?"


    "Uh¡­" Tae-woo scratched the back of his head, struggling to devise a believable excuse.


    Ha-rin sighed heavily on the other end. "Look, as long as you''re not doing something dangerous, you''re good to go. But remember, you''re still under probation after that Abyssal Corruption incident. You can''t go into the dungeons for at least a week, and I don''t think the Hunter Association will let it slide if you''re doing something funny."


    Tae-woo felt a twinge of guilt. It wasn''t like he could explain where he had been to her. No one would believe him if he told them he had just been fighting a werewolf martial artist inside the Abyss.


    "Yeah, yeah, I got it. I''ll pick up your calls next time, okay? I promise."


    "You better."


    There was a slight pause before Ha-rin continued, her voice softer.


    "By the way¡­ I have already made some food for you. Just reheat it when you get home."


    Tae-woo blinked, feeling a slight smile tug at his lips.


    "Food, huh?" He glanced at his phone, which, miraculously, was still intact despite the absolute beating he had taken from Lycaon earlier. The thought of eating something normal after stuffing himself with raw dungeon meat was actually kind of appealing. "Got it. Thanks, Ha-rin."


    "Don''t skip meals," she reminded him, and the call ended.


    Shoving his phone back into his pocket, Tae-woo exhaled.


    "Man¡­ she''s been clingy ever since the Abyssal Gate incident," Tae-woo wondered aloud.


    It wasn''t surprising for Tae-woo, though. He had almost died, after all.


    Shaking off the thoughts, he turned his attention back to the road. His apartment wasn''t too far, and he could get there faster if he took his usual shortcut through the back alley.


    He turned into the alleyway without a second thought, strolling.


    And that was when he saw it.


    A man. A woman. A struggle.


    Tae-woo''s steps halted immediately.


    The woman was thrashing, desperately trying to break free, but the larger, more muscular man had his arm wrapped tightly around her, pinning her against him. His other hand was clamped over her mouth, muffling her cries, reducing them to nothing more than weak, panicked noises.


    She was fighting, but it was clear she was at a disadvantage.


    And then he saw the man''s other hand moving.


    Grabbing. Touching. Groping.


    His fingers trailed over the curve of her thigh, then moved higher, roaming freely as she squirmed in disgust, her muffled screams becoming more frantic.


    Tae-woo didn''t even think twice as he moved.


    With a single use of Dash, he closed the distance instantly, barely making a sound as he positioned himself behind the man. The bastard was too busy whispering in the woman''s ear, his grip too tight to even notice what was coming.


    And then¡­


    BAM.


    A single blow to the back of the head, and the man collapsed like a sack of bricks.


    The woman fell too, her balance thrown off as she tumbled forward, but Tae-woo acted quickly, catching her just before she could hit the pavement.


    She was shaking, her breaths coming in short, uneven gasps. The terror in her wide, dazed eyes was still fresh like she hadn''t yet processed what had happened.


    Tae-woo offered her a small, reassuring smile.


    "Are you alright?"


    She stared at him.


    Then, her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp.


    "Whoa, missy!" Tae-woo instinctively tightened his hold, keeping her from collapsing entirely.


    He stared at the now-unconscious woman in his arms, then at the knocked-out bastard still lying face-down on the pavement.


    His eye twitched.


    "Now what?" he muttered, scratching his head.


    <hr>


    Joo-hyun groaned as she slowly regained consciousness, her body feeling sluggish as her senses gradually came back to her. Her eyelids felt heavy, her mind hazy, like she had just woken up from an unpleasant dream.


    A dream¡­


    No, it wasn''t a dream.


    Flashes of what had happened flickered through her head like broken fragments of a movie reel. She remembered struggling, her arms pinned in an iron grip, her muffled cries swallowed by the darkened alley. She remembered the disgusting breath of the man against her ear, his unwanted touch making her skin crawl.


    And then, a presence.


    A voice.


    A smile.


    Joo-hyun exhaled sharply, the memories snapping together all at once. Her eyes snapped open.


    She wasn''t in the alley anymore.


    She wasn''t even on the ground.


    Blinking, she pushed herself up with effort, realizing that she had been lying on a bench, her head resting against a bundled-up jacket, which wasn''t hers, judging by its size.


    "Eh?"


    She sat up fully, taking in her surroundings. The cool night air brushed against her skin, the nearby streetlights casting a soft glow over the empty sidewalk.


    And then she saw him.


    Jin Tae-woo.


    "Ah, you''re awake now."


    Tae-woo smiled, his tone casual, as if they had just bumped into each other by coincidence.


    Joo-hyun froze.


    A sudden heat crept up her neck, spreading to her cheeks, her heartbeat quickening for unknown reasons.


    What the hell was wrong with her?


    She immediately leaned back against the bench, trying to steady herself and avoid doing anything stupid like passing out again.


    And then she noticed something else.


    Tae-woo was sitting on someone.


    Joo-hyun''s eyes narrowed.


    The man beneath him was her stalker, the very one who had grabbed her, who had held her down, who had robbed her of control in that dark alley.


    Only now, he was the one restrained.


    His arms were bound tightly with what looked like his jacket, judging by the aggressive knotwork. It didn''t look like he was getting out of it anytime soon.


    Also, his socks had been stuffed into his mouth, serving as a makeshift gag to keep him from spewing nonsense.


    Joo-hyun blinked.


    Then she slowly turned her gaze to Tae-woo.


    "I''m pretty good at tying people up," Tae-woo said matter-of-factly as if this was some typical and completely expected situation. "As for the socks, well¡­ I got nothing else to use to stuff his mouth."


    Then, without hesitation, he smacked the man right on the back of the head.


    Joo-hyun almost flinched at the sound.


    "He''s a Hunter too, by the way," Tae-woo continued casually. "If I had to guess, probably around D-Rank? Maybe he has something that lets him boost his strength."


    That would explain a lot.


    Joo-hyun gritted her teeth, feeling a fresh wave of irritation.


    Under normal circumstances, she could have thrown this guy off easily and sent him flying across the street without breaking a sweat. She was an A-Rank Hunter, damn it. He shouldn''t have stood a chance.


    But he had.


    And now she realized why.


    The bastard had been planning this. He must have been stalking her for weeks, studying her patterns and her weaknesses, waiting for a moment of vulnerability.


    And once he found it, he had made his move.


    She had let her guard down.


    Joo-hyun rubbed her face with both hands, feeling the creeping frustration settle deep in her gut.


    This was humiliating.


    Hye-rin was going to kill her.


    Her Guildmaster always emphasized the importance of awareness, never letting her guard slip, and being prepared for anything.


    And yet, here she was.


    Caught off-guard.


    Overpowered.


    Rescued.


    By Jin Tae-woo.


    Joo-hyun clenched her fists.


    "Actually, I was thinking of taking this guy to the police," Tae-woo said, nudging the tied-up stalker with zero sympathy. "But since you were still unconscious, I figured I''d wait for you to wake up."


    And then, for good measure, he smacked the guy again.


    Joo-hyun fidgeted.


    This was¡­ complicated.


    Tae-woo, the very man she and the other members of LUNARIS had been tasked with seducing, had just saved her.


    She wasn''t sure how to proceed from here.


    Meanwhile, Tae-woo looked at Joo-hyun, his eyes briefly scanning her face. She was undeniably beautiful, but his expression showed no hint of recognition. If he knew who she was, he certainly wasn''t showing it.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "By the way, my name''s Jin Tae-woo. I''m a Hunter," he introduced himself, his tone casual as he scratched the back of his head. His gaze drifted briefly to the bench where she had been lying a moment ago before he gestured toward the bundled-up jacket beneath her. "Sorry that I didn''t have anything better for a pillow, so I just used my jacket."


    Joo-hyun glanced at the makeshift pillow, realizing belatedly that it must have been what had kept her comfortable while she was unconscious. Somehow, the thought sent a strange warmth through her chest.


    "I-it''s fine," she stammered and immediately regretted it.


    She mentally cursed herself. What was wrong with her?! She was Selene, damn it! The confident, charismatic leader of LUNARIS! Not some flustered, shy little girl tripping over her own words!


    Quickly regaining her composure, she cleared her throat and straightened her posture. "So, um¡­ Tae-woo-ssi, thank you for saving me. I''m indebted to you."


    Tae-woo let out a small, awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Haha, it''s fine. Don''t worry about it." Then, as if the situation wasn''t already strange enough, he effortlessly hoisted the unconscious stalker onto his shoulder like a sack of rice, quickly adjusting the weight. "Well, gotta drag this creep to the police station now. Maybe you should come too¡­" He suddenly paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Wait. What''s your name?"


    Joo-hyun''s breath hitched.


    He didn''t know who she was.


    Of course, he didn''t.


    Most people only knew Joo-hyun by her stage name, not her real name.


    Still, the realization sent a strange twist through her stomach.


    "I-it''s¡­ Joo-hyun. My name is Kang Joo-hyun," she introduced herself, hating how hesitant she sounded.


    Tae-woo gave a slight nod. "Alright, come on then," he said as if her name wasn''t ringing any bells for him. He adjusted his grip on the stalker slung over his shoulder, then started walking.


    But after a few steps, he paused.


    "Huh," he muttered, almost to himself. "I think I''ve heard that name before."


    Joo-hyun felt her heart skip.


    She braced herself, expecting him to put two and two together finally.


    But then, after a brief moment of thought, he just shrugged. "Eh, probably nothing. Let''s go."


    Joo-hyun blinked.


    He really didn''t recognize her.


    She wasn''t sure if she should feel relieved or offended.


    "R-right," she muttered, quickly falling into step behind him as they made their way toward the police station.


    Her mind, however, was still stuck on the fact that the man who had just saved her had no idea that she was Selene of LUNARIS.


    <hr>


    It turned out that the stalker was indeed a D-Rank Hunter, though his abilities explained how he could detect and restrain Joo-hyun despite their massive gap in rank. His primary skill allowed him to command insects, which he had likely used to spy on her for some time. That also explained how he had detected her despite her Invisibility, as he must have had insect scouts tracking her movements, sensing even the slight shifts in air or body heat.


    But that wasn''t all.


    The real reason he had managed to overpower her, even for a short time physically, was because of his second ability, one that allowed him to adopt the characteristics of insects for brief periods temporarily. He used an ant''s proportionate strength, drastically increasing his grip and physical power. However, such a skill required absolute focus, meaning that the moment Tae-woo had knocked him out, he was unable to activate it again, leaving him utterly helpless under the makeshift restraints.


    Once their statements were taken, the police assured them the stalker would be dealt with accordingly, and Joo-hyun was cleared to go home.


    But before she could leave, Tae-woo had turned to her with a casual, almost offhand remark.


    "I''ll walk you to your home."


    Joo-hyun froze, not expecting the offer.


    For a moment, she wanted to refuse. She was an A-Rank Hunter, not some defenseless girl who needed an escort. And yet¡­ after what had happened tonight, she could not decline.


    So now, here they were.


    As they sat outside the police station, Tae-woo casually handed her a cup of hot coffee, which he had gotten from a nearby vending machine.


    "Here you go," he said. "Careful, it''s still hot."


    Joo-hyun hesitated before carefully accepting the cup.


    "T-thank you," she mumbled, feeling strangely self-conscious as she took a careful sip. She couldn''t even bring herself to look directly at Tae-woo.


    Before tonight, she had thought of him as just another guy with average looks and an unremarkable presence. Nothing about him had especially stood out to her.


    But now?


    Now, she was hyper-aware of him. His presence, his voice, how he had effortlessly handled her stalker and made her feel safe in a way she hadn''t realized she needed.


    It was annoying how her heart skipped a beat whenever she thought about it.


    "Please be more careful whenever you''re out at night," Tae-woo spoke, his tone light but firm as he sipped his coffee. "Stick to crowded places and avoid isolated areas like back alleys."


    Joo-hyun nodded timidly, still sipping her coffee.


    "Then again, I should listen to my own advice too," Tae-woo muttered with a slight chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, I also took the back alley to take a shortcut home. Guess I''m not setting a great example, huh?"


    Joo-hyun glanced at him from the corner of her eye, watching as he grinned slightly to himself.


    He looked like an easygoing person.


    At the same time, there was something gentle about him, something that made it feel natural to talk to him. Even now, despite everything that had happened, he wasn''t making things awkward or uncomfortable for Joo-hyun. He wasn''t pressuring her into talking about what had happened, nor was he treating her like a fragile victim.


    She found herself appreciating that.


    As she glanced at him, she noticed his jacket. The fabric looked worn, particularly around the shoulders and arms. Some parts seemed slightly torn as if it had been through rough use.


    Had he worn this in a dungeon before?


    "Joo-hyun-ssi," Tae-woo spoke again, pulling her from her thoughts. "Are you ready to head home now? Like I said before, I''ll walk you there."


    Joo-hyun blinked, realizing that she had finished her coffee without even noticing.


    Swallowing her hesitation, she gave a slight nod before standing up from the bench.


    Tae-woo stepped beside her and began their quiet walk through the city.


    Joo-hyun tried not to make a big deal from it, but she couldn''t help but feel hyper-aware of his presence next to her. The occasional glance and the sound of his footsteps matching hers made her feel more flustered than she had expected.


    She had faced monsters in dungeons, performed in front of thousands of screaming fans, dealt with high-profile sponsors and media pressure, yet¡­


    For some reason, she felt more nervous now than ever.


    Thankfully, Tae-woo didn''t seem to notice. He wasn''t saying much, respecting her silence as they walked, and for that, she was grateful.


    Eventually, they arrived at her apartment complex, a grand luxury building that stood out even in the wealthy districts of the city.


    Joo-hyun turned to face him, suddenly feeling uncertain about what to say.


    "So, um¡­ I guess that''s it," Joo-hyun said, her voice awkwardly soft. She fidgeted slightly, holding her hands together as she looked up at Tae-woo. "Again, t-thank you for helping me out, Tae-woo-ssi. I¡­"


    She wanted to ask for his number.


    The words were right there, on the tip of her tongue.


    But for some stupid reason, she couldn''t bring herself to say them.


    Her throat felt tight, and she hated it.


    Tae-woo, of course, was blissfully unaware of her inner turmoil.


    He just smiled, giving her a casual nod. "Again, don''t mention it. I''m glad to help," he said. "Have a good night, Joo-hyun-ssi."


    And with that, he turned and walked away.


    Joo-hyun stood there, watching him leave, feeling a strange mix of relief and frustration at herself.


    Finally, she took a small breath and headed inside, taking the elevator to her apartment.


    The moment she stepped inside, she kicked off her shoes, tossed her jacket aside, and collapsed onto her fluffy bed, burying her face into her pillow.


    She just lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling.


    And then¡­


    "Waaaaah! W-what the hell was I doing?!"


    She rolled around in frustration, wrapping herself in her thick blanket like a burrito, her entire body burning from embarrassment.


    She hated how awkward she had been.


    She was Selene, damn it! The leader of LUNARIS! She was supposed to be calm, confident, and sexy! Not some flustered mess who couldn''t even ask for a guy''s number!


    Why did she suddenly turn into this?!


    "Jin Tae-woo¡­" she mumbled under the blanket, her voice muffled as she curled up even tighter.


    Even as sleep eventually claimed her, she couldn''t get her mind off the man who had saved her.


    <hr>


    [You know she is an A-Rank Hunter, do you not?]


    Tae-woo listened to Alice''s voice, which only he could hear, as he returned to his apartment. It was still strange, having a disembodied voice constantly speaking to him, but he had gotten used to it faster than expected.


    Apparently, the ability he had inherited from Lycaon, Beast King, not only enhanced his senses but also granted him an instinctual awareness of the strength of other Hunters. Thanks to it, he could sense that Joo-hyun was a Hunter. And not just any Hunter, but an A-Rank one, too.


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Of course. What of it?" he responded casually. To onlookers, it might have looked like he was talking to himself, but thankfully, the few people passing by paid him no mind.


    [That man''s ability would have worn off eventually. She could have escaped and fought back without your intervention.]


    Tae-woo clicked his tongue, shaking his head.


    "That''s not the point," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Even if I knew that, I still saw a man trying to molest a woman. There was no way I could stand by and do nothing."


    The thought of what might have happened if he hadn''t stepped in made his blood boil. He didn''t know the man''s motivations, nor did he care to. Whether the stalker had some twisted obsession or simply saw women as easy prey, it didn''t matter.


    To Tae-woo, there was nothing worse than someone who used their Hunter abilities to abuse others.


    "Even if she''s strong, she was caught off-guard," Tae-woo muttered. "And even if she could''ve handled it, she shouldn''t have had to."


    [I see. So, there are other factors involved.]


    Alice''s voice had an inquisitive tone, different from before. It made Tae-woo pause for a moment.


    Before, Alice had sounded mostly neutral, almost robotic. But now¡­ she was changing.


    It was subtle, but there was more personality in her voice than when they first started talking.


    Tae-woo had only known Alice for less than a day but was already adapting, responding more like a person rather than an emotionless guide.


    There were still too many questions surrounding Alice.


    What was she, really? What connection did she have to the man who had given him his blood in the Abyss?


    For now, though, he let those thoughts go. He had more pressing concerns. He was looking forward to eating regular food after eating some raw meat.


    By the time he reached his apartment, when Tae-woo opened the door, he was met with a very familiar sight.


    His little sister stood in the entryway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in irritation.


    "You''re late!" Ha-rin scolded, tapping her foot against the floor with the precision of someone who had been practicing the art of sibling disapproval for years.


    Tae-woo winced slightly. He had been expecting this, but still, her intensity never failed to put him on edge.


    "Sorry, sorry. Something came up," Tae-woo said, raising his hands in mock surrender.


    Instead of demanding an explanation, Ha-rin tilted her head and squinted as if trying to determine whether or not she should keep interrogating him.


    A tense silence stretched between them.


    Then, with the swiftness of a seasoned older brother, Tae-woo reached out and ruffled her hair, a move so precisely calculated that it immediately derailed any lingering irritation on her part.


    "Yah! Stop that!" Ha-rin batted his hand away, puffing up in indignation, but the damage had already been done.


    Tae-woo chuckled, stepping past her before she could retaliate. There was no greater weapon against a fuming little sister than a well-timed head pat.


    Ha-rin huffed, arms still crossed, but her stance softened slightly. "Just get inside already. I''ll reheat your food."


    "Thanks, Ha-rin," Tae-woo said, kicking off his shoes and making a beeline for his room.


    He needed a shower. And, more importantly, actual food.


    After spending so long in the Abyss, surviving off raw, borderline inedible monster flesh, the mere thought of a warm, home-cooked meal made his stomach twist in anticipation.


    No more chewing through sinewy goblin meat or gagging on acidic, rubbery gecko flesh.


    Tonight, he would feast on real food.


    But as he started getting ready to shower, Tae-woo''s eyes landed on something on his wall.


    A poster.


    More specifically, his limited-edition poster of Selene from LUNARIS, clad in a bikini, posing on a sunny beach.


    He stopped, a towel draped over his shoulder, gaze lingering on the image.


    Usually, he would glance at it briefly, maybe nod in appreciation before moving on. The poster was a collector''s item, a rare piece of Hunter Idol merchandise, and one of his few indulgences.


    But something about it felt different this time.


    Tae-woo''s brows furrowed slightly as he stared at Selene''s face.


    It looked... familiar.


    His mind drifted back to earlier that night, of the woman he had saved from the molester. The way she had looked at him, her silver hair, her features, the way she had stammered through her words.


    A realization settled in as he noted the similarities between that woman and Selene in the poster.


    He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.


    "Did I just meet Selene in the flesh?"


    <hr>


    Since its inception, Scarlet Moon Guild has become a center of research and learning, dedicated to uncovering the secrets behind the dungeon portals and the Abyss.


    Unlike other guilds, which focused primarily on dungeon raids and power accumulation, Scarlet Moon prided itself on its academic approach, its members consisting not only of scholarly Hunters but also non-Hunter researchers and scientists. Their mission was simple: discovering the truth behind the portals that led to the monster-infested dungeons and, ultimately, to the Abyss itself.


    Despite the dark reputation of its Guildmaster, Hwang Kyung-tae, a Necromancer capable of using the dead as his minions, Scarlet Moon was widely regarded as a bastion of knowledge in Korea. Before his Awakening, Kyung-tae had been a medical doctor and a surgeon, a background that shaped the guild''s meticulous and scientific approach. Under his leadership, Scarlet Moon had pioneered research into Abyssal Corruption, collaborating with foreign Hunter organizations to publish journals and academic papers detailing its devastating effects on Hunters.


    Whenever an Abyssal Corruption incident occurred, it was standard procedure for Scarlet Moon Guild to step in. Whether alive or dead, Hunters who succumbed to the corruption were taken to their research facilities for further study. Their efforts uncovered much of the information about the corruption''s symptoms, progression, and physiological effects.


    And so, it only made sense that Kong Jae-sik, the C-Rank Hunter who had succumbed to Abyssal Corruption during the recent D-Rank dungeon raid, was brought to their facility. After massacring five of his teammates, he was ultimately put down by the remaining survivors. His mangled corpse had since been retrieved and transported for examination.


    <hr>


    Inside the sterile, brightly lit autopsy lab, the scent of disinfectant and decay mingled in the air.


    A green-haired researcher, her lab coat pristine despite the grim nature of her work, stood beside a metal examination table, flipping through a report as Hwang Kyung-tae himself studied the corpse before them.


    The body, though decomposing, still bore the grotesque mutations that had accompanied Jae-sik''s corruption. New, unnatural appendages jutted out at odd angles while his purple-hued skin had begun to wither and decay, revealing the twisted physiology that had emerged before his death. Half of his face was missing, his torso split open, exposing the mangled remains of his internal organs.


    Yet neither Kyung-tae nor the researcher showed any signs of discomfort. This was just another subject for them to analyze.


    The researcher read aloud from the autopsy report.


    "Subject is twenty-seven years old and male. Unlike most recorded cases, his corruption resulted in extensive physiological changes, which included new, non-human organs and appendages. Given the extent of these mutations, even if he had survived the initial transformation, he would not have lived long, as his body would have eventually failed due to the instability of these new biological structures."


    Kyung-tae, donned in sterile gloves, carefully prodded and manipulated the corpse, his sharp gaze scanning every detail.


    "I see¡­" he murmured. He traced a gloved finger along the tattered remains of Jae-sik''s flesh, pausing at the most severe wounds. "What was the official cause of death?"


    The researcher adjusted her glasses before flipping to the next page of her report.


    "Severe internal trauma and multiple grievous wounds, along with what appears to be a sudden cardiac arrest. The injuries suggest that Kong Jae-sik''s death was the result of combined efforts from the surviving Hunters."


    Kyung-tae hummed in thought, his attention fixated on the missing sections of the body. He leaned in slightly, his expression unreadable.


    "These wounds¡­" His voice trailed off as he examined the mangled torso and the exposed musculature. "They don''t appear to have been inflicted by conventional weapons."


    He moved to the cadaver''s face, or what was left of it.


    "This wasn''t done with a sword," he observed. "The edges of the wounds are too rough, too uneven¡­ as if he was torn apart rather than cut." He straightened up and turned toward the researcher. "Almost like an animal attack."


    The green-haired researcher blinked before glancing back down at her notes.


    "Shall I cross-check the weapon types used by the survivors?" she asked.


    Kyung-tae tilted his head slightly, then nodded.


    "Speaking of which," he said, folding his arms. "Who were the survivors again?"


    The researcher flipped through the files before reading out the names.


    "Go Min-kyung, Choi Ji-hoon, Yoo Sena¡­ and Jin Tae-woo."


    There was a flicker of recognition in Kyung-tae''s eyes.


    Jin Tae-woo was the name he was familiar with. After all, this was the man who had survived the Abyssal Gate incident and the subject of an intense discussion between the guildmasters of the Six Great Guilds.


    Kyung-tae''s lips curled slightly as he stroked his chin, his interest piqued.


    "Interesting¡­" he mused, his voice almost amused.


    He glanced back at Jae-sik''s corpse, then at the missing flesh, the crude, vicious injuries that were clearly different from the others.


    "Very interesting indeed."

 1.14

    Seven days had passed since the Abyssal Corruption incident, marking the end of Tae-woo''s probationary period. With the restriction lifted, he was now free to participate in dungeon raids again, which meant he could finally start earning money to support himself and Ha-rin.


    He carefully considered his options as he browsed through the list of available missions and contracts. With his B-Rank status, he was now eligible for C-Rank dungeons, which were considerably more dangerous than those he had tackled before. The higher difficulty also meant better rewards, but he needed to assemble a team before attempting one.


    Just as he was about to finalize his decision, his phone rang.


    It was an unfamiliar number.


    Tae-woo raised an eyebrow before answering. "Hello?"


    There was a brief silence on the other end before a hesitant female voice spoke up.


    "H-hello? Is this Jin Tae-woo-ssi?"


    Tae-woo frowned slightly. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn''t quite place it.


    "Yes. Who is this?"


    Another pause. Then, the caller answered.


    "I-it''s Go Min-kyung. Do you remember me?"


    It took him a second, but then it clicked.


    "Go Min-kyung?" He repeated before realization dawned on him. The Amazon Hunter. One of the few survivors of the Abyssal Corruption incident. She had fought alongside him that day, and even though she was severely beaten by the transformed Jae-sik, she made it out alive alongside Tae-woo and the other two. "Ah, Min-kyung-ssi," Tae-woo said, his tone relaxing. "How can I help you?"


    There was another pause before Min-kyung finally spoke again.


    "Well, are you busy tomorrow? Would you like to team up with me for a dungeon raid if you aren''t?" she asked. "I managed to secure permission to raid a C-Rank dungeon gate, and I thought you might be interested."


    Tae-woo leaned back in his chair, considering it.


    C-Rank dungeons were a step above what he was used to. Before his Class evolved, he wouldn''t have considered stepping into one. But now that he was no longer a Trainee and had survived the Abyss and completed the Trial of the Unprepared, he thought he was up for it.


    Still, C-Rank dungeons were no joke. Even B-Rank Hunters had to be cautious when entering them. If he was going to accept, he needed to ensure the team was solid.


    But before he could answer, something else occurred to him.


    "¡­Wait, how did you get my number?" Tae-woo asked.


    Min-kyung made a strangled noise as if caught off-guard.


    "A-about that, well¡­"


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes.


    "It was Ji-hoon, wasn''t it?"


    Min-kyung hesitated for only a second before sighing in defeat.


    "Yes, it was Ji-hoon," she admitted, clearly embarrassed.


    Tae-woo sighed. That guy was always up to something.


    "So, would you like to join me tomorrow, Tae-woo-ssi?" Min-kyung asked again, her voice carrying a hopeful edge.


    He thought it over for a few more seconds before nodding to himself.


    "I guess that should be fine," he said. "As long as we have a full team. C-Rank dungeons are still dangerous, even for B-Rank Hunters like us."


    "R-right! I already gathered enough Hunters for the raid," Min-kyung assured him. "I''ll send you the location. I''ll see you there, Tae-woo-ssi."


    Once the call ended, Tae-woo sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.


    "C-Rank dungeons, huh?"


    He glanced down at his palm, flexing his fingers. Ever since his return from the Abyss, he had grown stronger. He could feel his body moving as his senses had sharpened, and his instincts reacted faster. Devour had changed him.


    Min-kyung and the others had witnessed it firsthand. They had seen him tear into Jae-sik''s twisted and corrupted body, eating the very flesh of the man who had turned into a monster. And yet, none of the other survivors had spoken about it.


    Perhaps they didn''t want to think about it. Maybe they simply wanted to forget.


    Regardless, with new Hunters joining the raid, Tae-woo decided he wouldn''t use Devour this time. He wasn''t na?ve. They wouldn''t take it well if the others saw him doing it. He didn''t need that kind of attention.


    For now, he would rely on the strength he had already gained.


    Stretching his arms, Tae-woo exhaled before standing up.


    Tomorrow, his return to dungeon raids would begin.


    And hopefully, this time, things wouldn''t go horribly wrong.


    <hr>


    The next day, Tae-woo arrived at the location of the C-Rank dungeon gate, where several Hunters had already gathered. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation, with people making final checks on their enchanted gear and weapons. Some adjusted their armor straps, others performed last-minute stretches, while a few exchanged light banters to ease the tension before the raid.


    Unlike the others, Tae-woo''s attire was far from elaborate. A black jacket, denim pants, and a single pauldron over his right shoulder. No full set of armor, no extravagant enchanted equipment. Armor, in his case, was more of a hindrance than a help. His fighting style relied on speed and adaptability, as heavy protection would only slow him down.


    He took a moment to scan the gathered Hunters, looking for Min-kyung. It didn''t take long before he spotted her among the crowd.


    And immediately, he noticed something different.


    The last time he saw her, she had worn something revealing; a midriff-baring top, arm guards, and a short skirt that left little to the imagination. But now¡­


    She was wearing bikini armor.


    Her toned abs were on full display, and her cleavage was barely contained by the reinforced leather and metal plates that barely counted as a chest guard. Her thighs were exposed, save for the high-cut leg guards that framed her muscular legs. Her pauldrons, shaped like animal skulls, rested on her shoulders, and a brand-new two-handed axe was strapped to her back.


    Tae-woo blinked, caught off guard by the sight.


    It took him a second longer than it should have to look away.


    Just in time, too, because Min-kyung turned and spotted him.


    "Ah, Tae-woo-ssi!"


    Her face lit up, and she immediately made her way over to him, her breasts bouncing slightly with each step.


    Tae-woo forced himself to keep his eyes on her face as he cleared his throat. "Min-kyung-ssi, it''s been a while," he greeted, maintaining a neutral tone.


    Now closer, Min-kyung''s physical presence was even more striking. Her athletic build, toned arms, and powerful legs made it clear that she was built for battle, yet she still carried a natural feminine charm that made her stand out. She was strong, confident, and undeniably attractive.


    And Tae-woo was doing everything in his power not to stare.


    "So, uh¡­ a C-Rank dungeon raid, huh?" Tae-woo said, grasping at the first neutral topic he could think of, knowing full well that commenting on her outfit was a terrible idea.


    If Min-kyung noticed his discomfort, she didn''t comment on it. Instead, she smiled brightly at him, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. Tae-woo could have sworn her cheeks were a bit red.


    "Yes! I managed to secure permission to raid the dungeon," she said excitedly before gesturing to the rest of the gathered Hunters. "We''ll be teaming up with these guys today. The weakest among them are C-Rank Hunters, so you don''t have to worry about anyone dragging us down."


    Tae-woo nodded, glad to hear that the team was well-assembled. "I see. Thanks for inviting me to this raid, Min-kyung-ssi. Since I''ve been on probation for the past week, I haven''t been able to do much, and honestly, I kind of missed dungeon diving."


    That was a half-truth. Tae-woo had gone into a dungeon, which was the Abyss. But Min-kyung didn''t need to know about that.


    "Me too," Min-kyung said, nodding in agreement. However, unlike before, when she had been bold and outspoken, she seemed a little more reserved this time. There was a small hesitation in the way she spoke, a slight fidget in her movements.


    Tae-woo chose not to dwell on it.


    With all the participants slowly arriving, the group made their final preparations. As with most dungeon raids, a complete team of ten Hunters was required for a C-Rank gate. Every essential role was filled, like DPS, tanks, healers, and support, ensuring everything ran smoothly.


    Still, Tae-woo couldn''t shake off the lingering feeling of unease.


    Dungeon raids were never predictable.


    Precautions had been taken. Everyone had undergone mental and emotional evaluations to prevent another Abyssal Corruption incident, and a Priest was present in the team to further ensure safety. But even with all these measures in place, Tae-woo knew that dungeons had a way of surprising people.


    "I''ll be leading this group today," Min-kyung suddenly declared, snapping Tae-woo from his thoughts.


    Almost instantly, her previous confidence returned as she stood tall before the assembled Hunters, her posture exuding authority. If anyone had doubts about her leadership, none of them voiced it.


    "Remember your roles, and don''t overestimate yourselves," she continued with a firm and commanding voice. "We all know what we signed up for, so let''s ensure this raid goes smoothly."


    Several B-Rank Hunters were in the group, but none of them objected to Min-kyung taking charge. She was strong, capable, and carried herself like someone who knew what she was doing.


    Standing off to the side, Tae-woo couldn''t help but admire her composure.


    This was the same woman who, just moments ago, had been fidgeting while talking to him. Yet now, she was commanding the attention of all the Hunters in the raid.


    She really was something else.


    Min-kyung took a deep breath before raising her voice.


    "Are you guys ready?"


    A loud chorus of voices answered in unison.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "YES!"


    With the team energized and ready for battle, they turned toward the swirling C-Rank dungeon portal, a gateway of shifting blue hues pulsating ominously like a living thing.


    And with that, they stepped inside.


    <hr>


    The raid proceeded smoothly, thanks to all the precautions before entering the dungeon. While the monsters in the C-Rank dungeon were noticeably stronger than those in the lower-ranked dungeons, the team worked in near-perfect coordination, each Hunter fulfilling their respective roles with practiced efficiency. No one overstepped their duties, and no one lagged behind. It was a textbook example of how a well-organized raid should function.


    At the center of it all was Go Min-kyung.


    She was, without a doubt, the MVP of the raid.


    Armed with her two-handed axe, she cut through the hordes of monsters like a force of nature. Every swing of her weapon sent blood and severed limbs flying, and yet, despite the sheer brutality of her attacks, there was an undeniable grace in the way she moved.


    She fought with the ferocity of a warrior and the precision of a master combatant.


    Even the other seasoned Hunters couldn''t help but stare in amazement at her sheer dominance on the battlefield.


    "Support, buff up the main attackers!" Min-kyung shouted over the sounds of battle, never breaking her momentum.


    The support Hunters quickly chanted their spells, casting enhancement magic on the front-line fighters, boosting their strength, defense, and agility. The effect was immediate, as those on the front lines charged forward with renewed vigor, quickly cutting down the remaining monsters.


    Tae-woo couldn''t help but be impressed.


    From an outside perspective, someone might assume Min-kyung was just a brute with a big weapon, a dumb musclehead who relied on raw strength to win fights. But watching her command the battlefield, it became clear that she was a competent leader who understood tactics and knew how to direct a team efficiently.


    Tae-woo recalled something Ji-hoon had told him once.


    Min-kyung was the daughter of a billionaire, Go Haneul, the CEO of Gojin Group, one of Korea''s largest industrial conglomerates or chaebols. Unlike the Six Great Guilds, which monopolized the Hunter and dungeon industries, Gojin Group sought to establish its own major guild to compete against them.


    Looking at Min-kyung now, Tae-woo couldn''t help but wonder if she was acting on her father''s behalf. Had she chosen this path, or was she simply following a role dictated by her family?


    That was something he would have to figure out later.


    For now, he had monsters to kill.


    A troll, a massive humanoid monster with thick, grayish-green skin and large, protruding tusks, charged toward him.


    Instead of using his crystallite weapons, Tae-woo chose a standard sword, gripping the handle firmly before rushing forward to meet the creature head-on.


    The troll roared, swinging its massive arm in an attempt to crush him in one blow, but Tae-woo sidestepped effortlessly, bringing his blade down onto the troll''s knee joint. The sharp steel cut through the thick flesh, severing tendons and crippling the monster''s movement.


    The creature howled, stumbling forward.


    Without hesitation, Tae-woo darted behind it, slashing through the tendons in its other leg, forcing the troll to collapse onto all fours.


    Before it could regenerate, Tae-woo swung his sword in a clean arc, severing its head from its body in one final motion. The troll gurgled before its massive corpse slumped to the ground.


    Trolls were notorious for their regeneration, making them difficult to kill without finishing blows. Tae-woo knew that Devouring one could grant him incredible regenerative abilities, but there was no such opportunity with so many Hunters around him.


    "Good work, everyone!" Min-kyung called out, her voice carrying through the battlefield as the last of the monsters fell.


    The Priest of the team immediately stepped forward, casting healing spells on the wounded, ensuring that no injuries lingered before they moved on.


    With the monsters cleared, it was time to harvest.


    The team began extracting monster cores from the fallen trolls, carefully removing the glowing crystalline orbs embedded in their chests. These cores were valuable, fetching high prices on the market as they were essential for magical enchantments, crafting, and magitech advancements.


    Like others, Tae-woo also extracted, digging into the dead trolls for their cores.


    He was still tempted to sneak a bite of troll flesh, but that was out of the question with all these Hunters around.


    As he worked, Min-kyung approached him, her expression softer than before.


    "Good work, Tae-woo-ssi," she said, offering him a gentle smile.


    Tae-woo turned to look at her and immediately realized just how much blood was covering her.


    She was covered in monster blood, her exposed arms, legs, and even her face streaked with red. Despite that, her smile remained warm and inviting, as if utterly unfazed by the mess.


    "I knew I could count on you," she added.


    Tae-woo did his absolute best to keep his eyes on her face.


    Smiling back at her, he responded, "I''m glad you think highly of me, Min-kyung-ssi." Then, after a short pause, he sighed. "I''m sure you already know that I used to be an F-Rank Hunter, right?"


    Min-kyung tilted her head slightly.


    "Well, I''ve heard about that, but you''re so capable now," she said as she sat beside him. "Is that true, though?"


    Tae-woo nodded, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, it''s true. I was a lowly F-Rank Hunter before, and my original Class was Trainee." He chuckled, shaking his head as he recalled being one of the weakest Hunters around. "I was a complete wimp back then. If a monster sneezed at me, I''d probably keel over."


    Min-kyung watched him curiously, resting her chin on her knee.


    "I''ve heard about your fall into the Abyss," she said, her voice quieter now.


    Tae-woo stilled, his fingers tightening slightly on the hilt of his blade.


    "¡­Was it scary?"


    For a moment, he didn''t know how to answer.


    Before, he would have said yes, absolutely. The Abyssal Gate was terrifying, something that even S-Rank Hunters feared. But after returning there and conquering the Trial of the Unprepared, that fear had changed.


    He still respected the dangers of the Abyss, but it no longer held the same terror over him.


    "¡­Yeah," he finally answered. "There''s a reason why even S-Rank Hunters fear it."


    Min-kyung was silent for a moment before nodding. "I see¡­" she murmured.


    She remained seated beside him, watching him quietly. Then, after a moment, she pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them as she sat there.


    Tae-woo focused on finishing up his monster core extractions, oblivious to the gentle smile on her face as she continued to watch him.


    <hr>


    Eventually, the group reached the boss''s room.


    A massive stone door loomed before them, its surface covered in ancient, worn carvings, a silent testament to whatever creature lay beyond. The air around it felt heavy as if pressing down on them with an unseen weight. The moment had finally arrived as they stood before the final challenge of the dungeon.


    Excitement buzzed through the group. After battling through the hordes of monsters and making it this far, they were eager to see what kind of foe awaited them on the other side.


    Min-kyung stood at the front, resting her massive two-handed axe over her shoulder as she surveyed the team one last time.


    "Is everyone ready?" she asked.


    A chorus of affirmative answers followed, the Hunters gripping their weapons and checking their gear in final preparation.


    "Alright. Standard strategy. Damage dealers, be ready to strike. Tanks, make sure to protect the mages while they prepare their spells. Support, buff everyone accordingly. You all know your roles, so let''s make this quick."


    With one final nod, Min-kyung pressed her hands against the heavy doors and pushed them open.


    A gust of stale air rushed from the chamber beyond, carrying the musty stench of old blood and rotting flesh.


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes.


    Something was wrong.


    The moment the door opened, he sniffed the air, an instinctual habit he had picked up since acquiring Beast King. The scent that hit his nose was off. It was too strong, too fresh. It wasn''t just the usual stagnant dungeon air.


    There was something else in there.


    But before he could warn the others, the group had already stepped inside, focusing entirely on the boss fight ahead.


    The chamber was vast, its ceiling high enough to disappear into darkness, with towering pillars of jagged stone reaching toward the unseen heights. Pools of thick, blackened liquid stained the ground, evidence of past battles.


    A few Hunters, including Min-kyung, walked ahead, their weapons ready.


    They were completely unaware of the true danger waiting for them.


    Tae-woo''s instincts screamed at him.


    Then, he saw it.


    A massive shadow moved. For something that big, it was too fast.


    His eyes widened.


    "DUCK!"


    His shout echoed through the cavern, but not everyone reacted in time.


    Tae-woo launched himself forward, his sword already raised.


    A massive blade, easily the size of a fully grown man, came crashing down.


    "Ngh!"


    Tae-woo braced himself, meeting the giant weapon head-on. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, his muscles straining as he held firm against the force. Dust and loose debris from the ground scattered from the sheer weight of the attack.


    The other Hunters stumbled backward, wide-eyed as they registered what just happened.


    "WHAT THE HELL?!"


    Gasps of shock and disbelief filled the room at Tae-woo''s quick reaction and the colossal blade he had just blocked.


    Then, the blade was withdrawn, and its wielder stepped into view.


    A massive creature emerged from the shadows, standing at least five meters tall. Its body was covered in thick, leathery red skin, its lumpy, grotesque head dominated by a single, glowing yellow eye. A heavy loincloth of animal hides hung around its waist, and in its massive, clawed hands, it gripped an enormous machete, the jagged edge stained with dried blood.


    A cyclops.


    Min-kyung let out a slow breath, gripping her axe tighter as she took a defensive stance.


    "A cyclops¡­" she murmured.


    Then, she glanced at Tae-woo, her lips pressing into a tight line.


    "You saved us all, Tae-woo-ssi."


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply, adjusting his stance as he lowered his sword slightly, his arms buzzing from the impact.


    Instead of responding, he lifted his blade again, his expression calm and focused.


    The other Hunters finally snapped out of their shock, immediately moving into position.


    "Careful! Cyclopes are resistant to magic!" one of the mages called out.


    Min-kyung clicked her tongue.


    "Then this battle''s going to be a pain," she muttered. Then, raising her voice, she barked out orders.


    "Support, focus on boosting our attackers! Tanks, draw its attention and keep it distracted so our damage dealers can get in close! Everyone else, be ready to dodge! This thing hits hard!"


    The Hunters moved as one, each falling into their assigned roles.


    Cyclopes were notoriously tricky enemies. Their sheer size, durability, and strength made them a nightmare to fight, and without magic to weaken them, this battle would take every bit of coordination they had.


    Tae-woo and the other damage dealers rushed forward, but with the creature''s towering height, their attacks could only reach its legs.


    A sword-wielding Hunter gritted his teeth.


    "We need someone with ranged attacks!"


    "W-we have some people with crossbows, b-but it takes time to reload!" came another response.


    Min-kyung let out a frustrated grunt.


    "Then don''t just stand there! Keep moving, and protect the ranged attackers while they reload!"


    The battle descended into chaos.


    The cyclops roared, swinging its massive blade in a sweeping arc, forcing the Hunters to scatter. The ground shook violently each time it stomped, making it difficult to maintain balance.


    "TANKS, BLOCK!"


    A trio of heavily-armored Hunters moved in unison, raising their shields just in time to intercept the cyclops'' downward strike. The impact sent cracks splintering across the ground, but they held firm.


    Tae-woo darted forward, his sword flashing as he slashed at the creature''s Achilles tendon.


    The blade bit into flesh, drawing a deep wound, but the cyclops barely flinched, letting out a guttural snarl before lifting its massive foot.


    And it stomped down.


    Tae-woo barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the shockwave from the impact sent dust and debris flying.


    This wasn''t going to be easy.


    Tae-woo quickly pushed himself up, his body still thrumming with tension as he took in the chaotic battlefield. The cyclops loomed overhead, its single eye flicking between its many attackers. Despite their numbers, most of the team''s attacks had barely scratched it, and the ranged fighters were struggling to deal any meaningful damage.


    His mind raced, searching for a workable strategy. The obvious weak point was the eye, but reaching it was another issue entirely. The cyclops'' sheer height and reach made direct attacks difficult. He could jump high enough to slash at its face, but he''d be left entirely vulnerable during his descent if his attack failed to land a killing blow.


    As if proving his point, one of the sword-wielding Hunters attempted a jumping attack, aiming to strike the monster''s face, only to be batted aside mid-air and sent crashing into a nearby pillar with a heavy thud.


    Tae-woo winced, watching the Hunter groan in pain. That approach wasn''t going to work. He considered using the cyclops'' body as a platform, running up its limbs to reach its head, but the risk of being thrown off or crushed was too high.


    Before deciding on a course of action, Min-kyung suddenly moved to his side.


    "Tae-woo-ssi," she called out, gripping her axe tightly. "I have an idea."


    She pointed at the cyclops'' face, determination burning in her eyes.


    "I want you to boost me so I can jump to reach its eye."


    Tae-woo blinked. "Are you sure?"


    Before she could answer, they both rolled aside, barely avoiding a downward slash from the cyclops'' massive blade. Dust and debris exploded as the ground trembled from the impact.


    Tae-woo quickly pushed himself up, shaking off the shock from the near hit. "You know you''ll freefall once you''re up there, right? Unless you''ve suddenly learned how to fly."


    Min-kyung''s lips curled into a confident smile.


    "Just trust me."


    Her confidence left no room for doubt.


    Tae-woo sighed. "Alright."


    They rushed forward, weaving through the battlefield as they closed on the towering monster. With practiced ease, Tae-woo freed his hands, lowering them into position.


    Min-kyung didn''t hesitate. Using her own momentum, she stepped onto his clasped hands, and with a mighty push, Tae-woo launched her skyward.


    She soared through the air, higher than any normal human should be able to jump, propelled by Tae-woo''s raw strength.


    The cyclops turned its gaze up, its massive pupil dilating in surprise, but it was too late.


    "HAAAAAH!"


    With a fierce battle cry, Min-kyung swung her axe overhead, gravity amplifying the force behind her strike.


    The massive blade cleaved through the cyclops'' skull, slicing through its eye as blood splattered across the chamber. The monster let out one last agonized roar, its single eye crushed before its body went limp.


    But Min-kyung had no time to celebrate as gravity began to take hold.


    She began falling, plummeting rapidly toward the ground, knowing she couldn''t brace herself in time for a proper landing.


    Then, suddenly, strong arms caught her.


    Min-kyung''s eyes widened as she found herself held securely in a bridal carry, Tae-woo''s face just inches from hers.


    "Eh?"


    For a brief moment, everything else faded; the battlefield, the Hunters, even the fallen cyclops. All she could focus on was the warmth of Tae-woo''s arms around her and that he had caught her so effortlessly.


    The next thing she knew, he was smiling down at her.


    "Good work."


    Min-kyung''s face instantly turned red.


    She froze, her brain short-circuiting as her heart thumped wildly in her chest.


    She remained in his arms for a moment longer than necessary before finally forcing herself to speak.


    "U-um, Tae-woo-ssi¡­" she stammered, her fingers curling against his chest. "Y-you can put me down now."


    As if only now realizing what he was doing, Tae-woo immediately set her down, clearing his throat as he did.


    Min-kyung fidgeted, her cheeks burning.


    Meanwhile, the cyclops'' massive body came crashing down behind them, the sheer impact shaking the entire chamber.


    The battle was over.


    They had won.


    Hunters swarmed around the corpse, inspecting the kill, ensuring that the creature was indeed dead. Cheers erupted as they confirmed the victory, excitement buzzing through the team.


    But Min-kyung barely registered any of it.


    Her attention was still on Tae-woo, her heart beating too fast for her liking.


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, before hesitantly looking up at him again.


    "Tae-woo-ssi¡­" she started.


    Tae-woo turned his gaze to her, curious.


    She swallowed before speaking again, her voice shaky but determined.


    "W-would you like to form a guild with me?"

 1.15

    The group emerged from the dungeon portal, their bodies still thrumming with the aftereffects of battle. The fresh night air hit them as they stepped onto solid ground again, the artificial glow of streetlights replacing the eerie illumination of the dungeon''s caverns.


    Outside, a mining crew was already waiting to begin their work. Equipped with heavy machinery and tools, the workers prepared to strip the dungeon bare of its resources.


    Once a dungeon boss was defeated, the portal would remain for approximately twelve hours before collapsing entirely. This window allowed mining teams to extract valuable materials, from mana-rich ores to crystals infused with magical energy. These resources were essential for weapon and armor enchantments, magitech development, and even as a pollution-free energy source used to power multiple cities.


    The Hunters'' job was done, at least for now.


    And yet, as the team disbanded, two figures lingered near the portal''s edge.


    Jin Tae-woo and Go Min-kyung.


    They walked in silence, their usual ease replaced by a palpable awkwardness.


    Min-kyung seemed unable to meet Tae-woo''s gaze, her fingers idly fidgeting at her sides, while Tae-woo himself was still processing the events in the dungeon.


    More specifically, what Min-kyung had said to him after the battle.


    "W-would you like to form a guild with me?"


    The question had caught him completely off-guard, and before he could properly respond, the other Hunters had erupted into cheers, celebrating their victory over the cyclops.


    And Min-kyung¡­


    Well, she had barely looked at him since.


    Even now, as they stood just outside the dungeon, with the mining crew working in the background, she still refused to meet his eyes.


    Tae-woo finally exhaled and broke the silence.


    "So, Min-kyung-ssi¡­" he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "About what you said earlier¡­"


    Min-kyung tensed but didn''t respond immediately.


    "You asked if I wanted to form a guild with you." He hesitated for a moment. "Was that¡­ serious?"


    There was a brief pause before she answered.


    "Forget I said anything, Tae-woo-ssi."


    Her voice was quiet, almost muted.


    Tae-woo blinked. "Huh?"


    "I didn''t mean to say that." Min-kyung shook her head, her jaw tight. "It was just¡­ a stupid slip of the tongue."


    She looked away, her expression unreadable.


    "It wouldn''t work out anyway."


    Tae-woo frowned. He wasn''t entirely sure what she meant by that, but before he could press further, Min-kyung stepped back.


    Their conversation was effectively over.


    With the dungeon raid complete and all Hunters having survived relatively unscathed, the group began to scatter.


    Some stayed behind to chat, exchanging contact information for future raids, while others immediately left for home, eager to rest after the long battle.


    Min-kyung was among those leaving early.


    A black limousine rolled up to the site, drawing the curious whispers of other Hunters.


    "Damn, is that a limo?"


    "I heard she''s a CEO''s daughter."


    "Then why the hell is she working as a Hunter? It''s not like she needs the money."


    "I don''t know about you guys, but that skimpy armored bikini is doing it for me."


    Tae-woo ignored the last comment.


    Instead, he simply watched as Min-kyung slipped into the luxurious vehicle, the door closing behind her without another word.


    A few moments later, the limo pulled away, disappearing into the city streets.


    Tae-woo sighed before turning his attention back to the dungeon portal.


    Unlike some others, he wasn''t leaving just yet.


    Without hesitation, he stepped toward the entrance, reentering the dungeon.


    He had something important to do.


    <hr>


    Sitting in the backseat of the limousine, Min-kyung gazed out the window, her face set in an expression of quiet resignation. The city lights flickered past, but she wasn''t really seeing them.


    She was still in her Hunter gear, her exposed skin cooling under the air conditioning, starkly contrasting the blood and battle she had emerged from the dungeon site.


    But unlike in the dungeon, where she had felt alive, she now felt small and stifled, as if an invisible chain had wrapped itself around her throat.


    The driver''s voice broke through the silence.


    "Your father would like to see you, young mistress."


    Min-kyung stilled.


    She had expected this.


    Suppressing the urge to sigh, she simply nodded and returned her gaze to the window, saying nothing else for the rest of the drive.


    The limousine pulled up to a massive corporate building, the headquarters of Gojin Group, her father''s industrial empire.


    As soon as she stepped out, men in sharp black suits surrounded her, their presence more suffocating than protective. Without a word, they escorted her inside, past the pristine marble floors, past the extravagant chandeliers, past the world built from her father''s wealth and control.


    The elevator ride was silent.


    Then, they reached the top floor, and Min-kyung found herself standing before a grand mahogany door.


    The door to her father''s office.


    She took a deep breath for a brief second, mentally bracing herself before stepping inside.


    Behind a large desk, surrounded by neatly stacked documents and reports, was Go Haneul.


    The CEO of Gojin Group.


    Her father.


    The middle-aged man barely looked up at her arrival, his graying hair neatly combed, his expensive suit pristine. He radiated an aura of quiet authority that could make powerful men lean in to listen.


    Yet, Min-kyung felt no warmth a daughter should feel when seeing her father.


    She carefully approached him, stopping just a few feet from his desk.


    The men in suits who had accompanied her bowed before stepping back and closing the door behind them.


    The moment they were gone, Haneul finally spoke.


    "Min-kyung."


    His voice was low, devoid of affection.


    "Father."


    Their eyes met, neither blinking nor flinching.


    There was a beat of silence as Haneul''s gaze swept over her, taking in her appearance. She was still in her bikini armor, with most of her skin exposed.


    His lips pressed into a thin line.


    "I heard you went into the dungeon again." He set aside the document he was reading, folding his hands over his desk. "Just a week after that horrible accident, you decided to enter such a place again?"


    Min-kyung''s fingers curled into her palm. She lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet his stare.


    Haneul''s voice remained calm, but his words had a distinct edge.


    "You are aware that those places are filled with monsters. That casualties are not unheard of." His eyes hardened. "Sometimes, those who die in the dungeon don''t even leave a corpse behind."


    Min-kyung said nothing.


    Haneul sighed quietly, rubbing his temple as if exasperated by her silence.


    Then, his following words struck like a blade.


    "Do you wish to bring shame to our family by dying like a fool in some filthy dungeon?"


    Min-kyung clenched her fists. She remained quiet for a moment, then finally spoke.


    "No, father."


    Haneul let out a grunt, leaning back in his chair. "Do not forget my kindness, daughter."


    His voice was smooth, but there was no mistaking the weight behind his words.


    "I picked you and your mother up from the gutter. Gave you a life you otherwise wouldn''t have had." His gaze bore into hers. "You carry my blood. Your beauty is an asset. A proper woman should be groomed to be a proper bride."


    A beat.


    Then, he rapped his knuckles against the desk.


    "The better you understand your place, the easier this will be for both of us."


    Min-kyung''s stomach twisted, but she kept her expression blank.


    Haneul continued, his tone crisp and absolute.


    "We will find a suitable match for you. Someone who will strengthen Gojin Group''s alliances. That is what is expected of you."


    He narrowed his eyes.


    "I have no use for damaged goods."


    The words felt like ice slipping down her spine, but Min-kyung didn''t flinch.


    She bit the inside of her cheek before lowering her head slightly.


    "I¡­ understand, father."


    A satisfied nod.


    "That''s the least I expect from you."


    Then, his sharp gaze flickered to her outfit.


    "And cover yourself properly."


    Min-kyung stiffened.


    "My daughter is not some harlot flaunting herself in public."


    She curled her fingers into her palm, forcing herself to nod again.


    "I apologize, father."


    Haneul huffed before leaning back into his chair.


    "For now, I will tolerate your¡­ hobby." He waved a dismissive hand. "As long as you do not get yourself injured. The moment you do, you are forbidden from ever entering a dungeon again."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Min-kyung felt something tighten in her chest, but she bowed her head lower.


    "I understand, father."


    Satisfied, Haneul picked up his document again.


    "You are excused."


    Min-kyung left the office, closing the door behind her.


    She walked for a few steps, each one heavy with restraint.


    Then, without warning, she drove her fist into the wall.


    The impact sent a sharp crack through the hall, splintering the pristine surface, a small crater forming beneath her knuckles.


    The entire floor trembled from the sheer force.


    The men in suits around her startled, eyes widening in alarm.


    "Y-young mistress?!"


    Min-kyung slowly pulled back her hand, shaking off the dust and debris.


    She barely acknowledged their panic, her expression unreadable.


    Instead, she simply tilted her head, glancing at the damage as if she had merely swatted a fly.


    Then, with calm indifference, she turned to one of the nearby men.


    "Have this wall fixed."


    She rolled her shoulders, stretching her fingers as if nothing had happened.


    "I''ll pay for it."


    The man stammered. "U-understood!"


    Without another word, Min-kyung strode away, her heels clicking softly against the polished floors.


    The men in black stood there, staring at the cracked wall in stunned silence, left to process what had just happened.


    <hr>


    Tae-woo stood at the edge of the boss room, watching as the mining crew worked diligently, chiseling away at the dungeon walls and digging deep into the floor. The once-dangerous domain of monsters had become a bustling excavation site, where men and women in protective suits and gear methodically harvested the dungeon''s precious resources.


    Chunks of mana-rich minerals, crystalline deposits, and other valuable materials were extracted with practiced efficiency. These materials would soon be refined, repurposed, and sold, fueling the world''s industries, from weapons and armor enhancement to magitech development and even pollution-free energy production.


    Some Hunters who had fought in the dungeon raid remained behind to assist the miners. Not every Hunter sought only battle, as some found equal satisfaction in ensuring their work''s rewards were properly secured. Dungeon mining wasn''t glamorous, but it was just as crucial to the industry as the Hunters who fought on the frontlines.


    However, Tae-woo wasn''t particularly interested in mining or resource gathering. At least not now.


    He had something else in mind.


    Turning away from the mining operation, he made his way toward the center of the boss room, where the corpse of the cyclops still remained.


    The massive body of the cyclops lay where it had fallen, its skull cleaved open and single eye ruptured by Min-kyung''s axe strike.


    Despite its grisly condition, the corpse was largely untouched. The rest of the body was still intact, its thick red hide and colossal limbs sprawled across the cold stone floor.


    Tae-woo narrowed his eyes.


    Monster parts were highly sought-after in the dungeon industry. The cyclops'' thick hide, resistant to magic, would be used to craft anti-magic armor. Its bones and tendons would likely be reforged into powerful reinforced weapons. And its blood, rich in mana, could be processed into various alchemical ingredients.


    But Tae-woo had no interest in any of that.


    Kneeling down next to the corpse, he glanced around to ensure that none of the workers were paying him attention. Most were still focused on their excavation, too busy hauling minerals and cores to notice him.


    Satisfied, he conjured a small crystallite knife from his palm and carefully sliced it into the monster''s flesh.


    The purple-hued meat glistened under the dungeon''s dim lighting.


    The pungent smell hit him even before bringing it to his mouth, and Tae-woo had to suppress a grimace.


    The flesh was thick, leathery, and barely edible, but Tae-woo had eaten worse.


    Gritting his teeth, he quickly shoved it into his mouth and started chewing.


    Immediately, he regretted it.


    The taste was atrocious.


    It was like chewing on a slab of overcooked rubber left to rot in sewage for a week. The texture was stringy and tough, requiring considerable effort to chew. Tae-woo''s jaw ached as he worked through the meat, and every second he spent chewing felt like pure suffering.


    But eventually, after what felt like an eternity, he swallowed it.


    He exhaled sharply, wiping the back of his hand across his lips.


    "Ugh¡­" Tae-woo groaned, feeling a wave of disgust settle in his stomach. "That was horrible."


    Then, as expected, Alice''s voice chimed in his mind.


    [Congratulations, Master. You have received a new ability by Devouring a cyclops.]


    Tae-woo let out a tired laugh. At least the suffering was worth it.


    He hoped to gain the cyclops'' regeneration, a trait that allowed it to heal from even grievous wounds. If he could gain that ability, he wouldn''t have to rely on his lesser healing anymore.


    "Alright, tell me. What did I get?" Tae-woo muttered, keeping his voice low so as not to draw suspicion from the workers nearby.


    [You have received Etherskin, an ability that grants resistance to magic attacks. You will now take less damage from all forms of magic.]


    Tae-woo blinked.


    "Wait¡­ so I didn''t get the healing factor?"


    [No, Master. However, if you consume more of the cyclops'' flesh, you may obtain it.]


    Hearing that, Tae-woo''s narrowed his eyes. He glanced at the corpse, considering whether he could sneak another bite.


    But with the workers still present, it was too risky. Even if they weren''t paying attention now, someone would definitely notice if he suddenly ripped off another chunk of flesh like some kind of savage.


    With a sigh, Tae-woo let the matter drop.


    "I guess Etherskin''s fine for now," he muttered.


    It wasn''t the ability he was aiming for, but it was still useful. Magic resistance meant he would be less affected by offensive spells, status effects, and even mind-altering magic.


    "So, does this work against all kinds of magic?" Tae-woo asked, still keeping his voice low.


    [Yes. Offensive magic will be less effective, magical debuffs will have diminished effects, and mental suggestion-based spells will no longer work on you.]


    Tae-woo nodded in approval.


    "Neat."


    As he mulled over his new ability, he noticed some workers finally turning their attention to the cyclops'' corpse. It looked like they were preparing to transport it, likely to be processed and dismantled.


    Soon enough, a team of workers began securing the body, using enchanted ropes and restraints to start moving the colossal corpse. It would be cut apart, sorted, and sold like any other monster remains.


    Watching them work, Tae-woo reflected on how normal this had become.


    Dungeons had long since become a part of everyday life, and with it, so had the industry of harvesting resources from the creatures within them. The process had become so routine that there was no hesitation or second thought given to breaking down once-living beings into materials.


    It was just business as usual.


    By the time the mining and harvesting were finished, the dungeon portal began to flicker, which was a sign that its remaining time was running out.


    The moment the last of the workers exited, the portal let out a soft hum before collapsing inward, disappearing into nothingness.


    Cheers erupted from the gathered workers and Hunters, celebrating another successful raid and resource extraction.


    Tae-woo simply stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders as he looked at the now-empty dungeon entrance.


    With his work here done, there was only one thing left.


    It was time to go home.


    <hr>


    When Tae-woo arrived home, the first thing he noticed was the presence of a guest. A pair of unfamiliar shoes sat neatly in the entryway, a clear sign that someone had come to visit.


    He slipped off his shoes and stepped inside, going toward the living room, where he could hear voices in conversation.


    Sure enough, sitting comfortably on the couch, chatting with his sister, was Han Seo-yeon.


    Tae-woo''s childhood friend.


    And one of Korea''s strongest Hunters.


    "Ah, you''re back, Oppa." Ha-rin was the first to notice him, smiling brightly as she looked at him. "Look who decided to visit."


    Seo-yeon, seated beside Ha-rin, glanced in his direction and smiled.


    "Welcome back, Tae-woo," she greeted him warmly.


    Her long, auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her delicate yet refined features. Despite her calm and graceful demeanor, Tae-woo knew that behind that serene expression was an S-Rank Healer, one of the most powerful Hunters in the country and the deputy leader of White Lotus Guild.


    "Seo-yeon," Tae-woo said, stepping further into the room. "It''s been a while."


    "It has," Seo-yeon nodded, still smiling. "I finally got some free time, so I thought I''d drop by."


    That was understandable. Being one of the top Hunters in Korea, Seo-yeon''s schedule was insanely packed. Unlike Tae-woo, who had only recently reached B-Rank, Seo-yeon was at the top of the Hunter hierarchy.


    Even so, she still made time to visit.


    She tilted her head slightly, eyes sweeping over him before her smile turned a little knowing.


    "So, you went into a dungeon today?"


    Tae-woo glanced down at himself, a black jacket, denim pants, and a single-shoulder pauldron still strapped onto him. His clothes had a few scuff marks from battle, though nothing too noticeable.


    "Yeah," he confirmed. "A C-Rank dungeon raid. After we finished, I stuck around to watch the mining crew strip the dungeon bare."


    Seo-yeon hummed in understanding before her gaze softened.


    "It doesn''t look like you''re hurt," she noted, a slight look of approval flashing across her face. "I guess you really have gotten stronger."


    Tae-woo gave a small chuckle and sat on the couch across from her.


    "Well, I''m a B-Rank Hunter now," he said with a wry smile. "Not as impressive as you, but at least I''m no longer a helpless Trainee."


    Just saying that reminded him of his humiliating days as an F-Rank Hunter, when he was so weak that even the smallest monsters could injure him.


    "I''m so glad," Seo-yeon said, her smile still warm, but there was something else in her expression, a subtle trace of sadness that Tae-woo couldn''t quite place.


    But before he could dwell on it, Ha-rin stood up, stretching her arms.


    "Well, I should prepare something for Unnie to drink." She glanced knowingly at the two of them before heading toward the kitchen. "You two go ahead and talk."


    Tae-woo quirked an eyebrow at her but said nothing.


    Now, with Ha-rin gone, there were only two of them left.


    Seo-yeon fidgeted slightly. Something was on her mind, and Tae-woo immediately picked up on it.


    "¡­So," he began, leaning back slightly. "What''s on your mind, Seo-yeon?"


    Seo-yeon hesitated briefly, glancing aside before meeting his eyes directly.


    Then, with a serious expression, she finally spoke.


    "Tae-woo," she said, her voice firm. "Will you consider joining White Lotus Guild?"


    Tae-woo looked at Seo-yeon, taking a moment to fully process what he had just heard. His childhood friend, the S-Rank Healer of White Lotus Guild, had just personally invited him to join one of Korea''s biggest and most prestigious Hunter guilds.


    A few months ago, when he was an F-Rank Hunter, this would have been a far-fetched dream. White Lotus Guild was not a place for weaklings. Someone like him, who had struggled to survive in E-Rank dungeons, wouldn''t have even been considered.


    But now, things were different.


    His unprecedented rise from F-Rank to B-Rank was practically unheard of. And he knew that behind closed doors, the major guilds were watching him closely, eager to pull him into their ranks.


    Still, despite knowing all that, something was nagging at him.


    "By joining White Lotus Guild," Tae-woo finally spoke, his voice steady, "does that mean I''ll be in the same guild as Kang Joon-seok?"


    Seo-yeon''s expression shifted immediately. Her eyes darted downward as if trying to avoid his gaze.


    Tae-woo''s jaw clenched slightly.


    It had been a while since that incident, but he still hadn''t forgotten. He couldn''t forget.


    Kang Joon-seok.


    An A-Rank Hunter with the Bushi Class.


    And the arrogant bastard who had confronted him that day, demanding to know what his relationship with Seo-yeon was.


    The same idiot who had pushed him into the Abyssal Gate.


    That man was why he had fallen into the Abyss in the first place.


    Tae-woo remembered it vividly; the shock, the moment his foot slipped, the horrifying realization as he tumbled through the gate.


    And what happened next?


    The incident had been swept under the rug.


    Joon-seok''s role in almost killing him had been downplayed to the point of being erased entirely. When the media reported on the Abyssal Gate incident, Joon-seok''s name wasn''t even mentioned.


    And in the end, he wasn''t even held accountable.


    "It''s¡­ complicated," Seo-yeon finally spoke, her voice softer now. She hesitated before continuing. "Joon-seok is the son of one of White Lotus'' executives, and¡­"


    Her fingers tightened slightly around the hem of her sleeve.


    "We''d rather not¡­ deal with bad press during an Abyssal Gate crisis," she admitted, her voice almost reluctant.


    Tae-woo''s fingers curled into a tight fist, a flicker of anger bubbling inside him.


    He immediately smothered it.


    It wasn''t Seo-yeon''s fault.


    But it was still unfair.


    "And while it''s not public knowledge¡­" Seo-yeon added, her voice quieter, "Joon-seok was properly disciplined for his misconduct."


    Tae-woo''s eyes flicked up to her, silent.


    "He should have reflected on his mistakes by now," she finished.


    Tae-woo exhaled sharply through his nose.


    Of course.


    Properly disciplined?


    Tae-woo doubted it.


    Maybe they gave him a slap on the wrist. Maybe they scolded him behind closed doors. But at the end of the day, Joon-seok was still in White Lotus, living his life as if nothing had happened.


    And yet, Tae-woo was supposed to just forget about it?


    Seo-yeon was clearly trying to smooth things over and keep the peace. He could see that.


    And deep down, he knew she was genuinely looking out for him.


    But still.


    The bitterness was there.


    Seeing his expression, Seo-yeon let out a small sigh of defeat.


    "I understand if you don''t want to join because of him," she murmured. She hesitated as if debating whether to continue.


    Then, in a much quieter voice, she finally spoke.


    "¡­But we could spend more time together."


    Tae-woo blinked.


    There was a faint redness creeping up her cheeks, a subtle warmth that hadn''t been there before.


    The idea of spending more time with Seo-yeon was¡­ not unappealing.


    She was one of the few people in his life that had always been there. Someone who had never turned her back on him, even when he was a weak and struggling F-Rank.


    But was that enough of a reason to join White Lotus?


    Tae-woo wasn''t sure.


    In the end, he chose the diplomatic answer.


    "¡­I''ll think about it."


    Seo-yeon exhaled softly, looking almost relieved.


    But the issue was far from resolved.


    Before either of them could continue the discussion, Ha-rin returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray of drinks.


    Tae-woo and Seo-yeon instinctively dropped the conversation as Ha-rin set the drinks before them.


    Seo-yeon decided to leave the topic for another time.


    <hr>


    After spending time with Tae-woo and Ha-rin, Seo-yeon finally excused herself and left the apartment. Now, walking down the dimly lit streets, she was left alone with her thoughts, her mind occupied with the frustrating reality of the situation.


    She had expected Tae-woo to be hesitant about joining White Lotus, but seeing how his expression hardened when Joon-seok''s name was mentioned, she knew that convincing him would be an uphill battle.


    And she couldn''t blame him.


    White Lotus had screwed things up big time.


    There was no way Tae-woo would even consider joining them as long as Kang Joon-seok remained unpunished. The only reason he even entertained the thought in the first place was because she personally asked him.


    But punishing Joon-seok? That was impossible.


    Not without the guild losing face in front of the entire Hunter community.


    Expelling him wasn''t an option either. If they kicked Joon-seok out, other guilds would immediately try to recruit him, which could sour relations between them.


    White Lotus Guild wasn''t just a Hunter organization. It was also a political entity. A power player in the Hunter world. And no matter how "moral" a guild claimed to be, none of them could avoid politicking.


    Seo-yeon sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.


    She hated this.


    A small part of her wished Joon-seok would be punished for what he did to Tae-woo. She would be delighted to see him gone from White Lotus entirely.


    But it wasn''t that simple.


    Even Im Seong-ho, the saintly Guildmaster of White Lotus, ultimately chose to sweep the issue under the rug. It was the lesser evil in his eyes.


    Seo-yeon understood why he made that decision.


    But that didn''t mean she liked it.


    She sighed as she walked, the cool night air whispering against her skin.


    And then, her thoughts drifted back to Tae-woo.


    She had been relieved to see that, despite everything, he was still the same Tae-woo she remembered. The same easygoing, kindhearted young man.


    And yet¡­


    She couldn''t shake the memory of that other side of him.


    The feral beast that she had seen in the Abyss.


    The one that had sunk its teeth into her shoulder when she tried to pull him back from the brink.


    Seo-yeon stopped walking.


    She could still remember it clearly, the look in his eyes, the inhuman growl that escaped his lips, the heat of his breath against her skin before his teeth pierced her flesh.


    It was supposed to be a nightmare.


    Something that should have shaken her to her core.


    And yet¡­


    She slowly raised a hand, her fingers tracing the spot on her shoulder, which was long healed, yet somehow, still lingering.


    Her face flushed slightly as an unbidden thought entered her mind.


    "Sheesh¡­ what''s wrong with me?" she muttered, shaking her head as if to chase away the thoughts.


    But no matter how hard she tried to forget, she simply couldn''t.


    The sensation of his teeth sinking into her flesh.


    It made her shudder.


    And not just in fear.


    Seo-yeon let out a deep exhale, her fingers pressing against her temple.


    "I''m such a perverted girl¡­" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.


    With that thought lingering uncomfortably in her mind, she continued walking, the night air doing little to cool the heat creeping up her neck.

 1.16

    "Keep the minions occupied! Don''t let them don''t stand in the way of our main attackers!"


    A sharp command rang across the battlefield, cutting through the roar of combat. The Hunters of Azure Sky Guild moved with practiced coordination, their formation shifting to adapt to the ongoing skirmish. Shield-bearing tanks braced themselves, using their heavy shields to block and push back the blue-skinned trolls. Behind them, mages and support Hunters focused on channeling their spells, keeping a safe distance while reinforcing their allies. Meanwhile, the main attackers had only one target; the boss of this dungeon.


    A towering giant with stone-like skin loomed over the battlefield, standing nearly ten meters tall. Its massive fists could crush a Hunter with a single swing, and every stomp sent tremors across the ground.


    "Take this!"


    A streak of flame and speed shot through the air.


    A young woman in a yellow combat dress with short poofy sleeves, a short skirt, and gray leggings zipped toward the stone giant with incredible speed. Seong Hana, the A-Rank Dragoon of Azure Sky Guild, had entered the fight.


    The flaming wheels attached to her feet, Nachal Taeja, spun with intense heat, propelling her forward. With her flaming spear gripped tightly, she shot straight toward the giant''s face.


    A direct hit.


    Her spear pierced through the thick stone-like skin, and flames erupted from the point of impact, causing cracks to spread across the giant''s hardened flesh. As soon as she landed the strike, she twisted in midair, swiftly dodging the giant''s sluggish counterattack before darting back for another hit.


    She flew around the monster''s head gracefully and precisely, her ponytail bouncing as she maneuvered like a seasoned aerial fighter. She found an opening and thrust her spear again, aiming for its exposed temple. Another burst of flame exploded from the tip of her weapon.


    "I''m not done yet! Eat this!"


    With a quick flick of her foot, one of her flaming wheels detached and spun through the air like a burning discus. It slammed into the giant''s head, exploding on impact. The monster let out a deafening roar as it staggered backward, disoriented from the sudden burst of flames.


    "She''s all yours, Noona!" Hana shouted.


    Down on the ground, a young woman dressed in a black shirt and skirt, with a flowing purple cape fastened with a star-shaped brooch, calmly stepped forward. Her shoulder-length dark purple hair swayed as mana swirled around her fingertips, gathering in intense waves.


    Park Eun-ha, the deputy leader of Azure Sky Guild.


    She lifted a hand.


    Immediately, the ground beneath the stone giant froze in an instant. A thick layer of ice spread rapidly, crawling up the monster''s legs like living vines.


    And then, three massive ice spikes erupted from the ground.


    CRACK!


    All three spikes impaled the giant from a different angle through its torso, shoulder, and lower back. The ice spread even further, and before the monster could react, its entire body was encased in an unbreakable frozen prison.


    It stopped moving.


    "Finish off the rest!"


    The command came from a man wielding a sword and shield, one of the raid leaders.


    With the boss immobilized, the rest of the Hunters focused on wiping out the remaining troll minions. Renewed by their advantage, they pushed forward, swiftly cutting down the last of the creatures.


    It didn''t take long before the battlefield fell silent.


    The boss remained frozen, and every last minion lay dead.


    A moment of silence lingered before cheers erupted.


    "We did it!"


    "Another successful raid!"


    "That was way smoother than I expected!"


    The Hunters of Azure Sky Guild celebrated their hard-earned victory, some exchanging high-fives while others caught their breath. B-Rank dungeons were notorious for being challenging to conquer, even for experienced Hunters. However, as one of Korea''s Six Great Guilds, Azure Sky had a reputation to uphold. And today, they had proven themselves yet again.


    Now standing on solid ground, Hana picked up her detached wheel, which had ceased burning after her last attack.


    "Good job, Eun-ha-noona!" she grinned, flashing a thumbs-up at the ice mage.


    Eun-ha merely nodded, her expression calm and composed, adjusting her cape as she surveyed the aftermath of the battle. Aside from minor injuries, their team suffered no casualties, which could always be considered a victory.


    "You did well in keeping the giant distracted," she acknowledged, watching as Hana dusted off her skirt.


    Hana smirked, giving her flaming wheels an appreciative pat.


    "It''s all thanks to these babies," she said, showing off the flaming wheels. Her voice held a hint of pride.


    The Wind Fire Wheels, or Nachal Taeja, named after Nezha, the mythical figure from Chinese and Korean folklore, had been custom-made for her. And today, they performed beautifully.


    Eun-ha glanced at the now-fully encased boss, the ice spikes still protruding from its frozen body.


    Another successful dungeon subjugation.


    The members of Azure Sky Guild basked in their accomplishment, knowing they had once again solidified their reputation as one of Korea''s elite guilds.


    "Good work as always, Deputy Guildmaster."


    A rugged-looking Hunter, clad in battered armor and wielding a sword and shield, approached the two women. His voice was familiar, as though this wasn''t the first time he had relied on her leadership. Ryu Hyun-Il, an A-Rank Warrior, was the one issuing commands earlier during the raid.


    He removed his helmet, revealing short brown hair, a weathered face, and a small tuft of a goatee resting on his chin. Despite the gruffness of his features, there was a boyish charm in the way he grinned at Eun-ha, his helmet now tucked securely under his arm.


    "You''re as reliable as always," he continued, flashing a grin.


    Eun-ha, ever composed, turned to face him.


    "Do not make it a habit," she replied coolly, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear before lightly touching the star-shaped brooch pinned to her cape. Her voice carried no warmth, just a statement of fact. "I am not meant to be a crutch."


    With that, she turned on her heel, already prepared to take her leave.


    "I will leave the clean-up process to you and the rest." She briefly glanced at Hana and Hyun-Il before stepping away, her purple cape billowing slightly as she walked.


    The two Hunters watched as their Deputy Guildmaster left, her presence calm and commanding until the very end.


    Now cleared of threats, the dungeon would soon be filled by the mining crew, who would begin harvesting and excavating resources, a standard procedure after every successful dungeon raid.


    Hyun-Il sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest while watching Eun-ha''s retreating back.


    "Sometimes, I really can''t understand what she''s thinking," he muttered, shaking his head. "Is this an S-Rank thing?"


    Standing beside him with her spear resting against her shoulder, Hana gave a casual shrug.


    "I think it''s just Noona, honestly," she mused, stretching her arms above her head. "We all know she doesn''t indulge in small talk or anything irrelevant. If she''s not buried under paperwork helping Min-soo Oppa, she''s in the training room pushing herself to the brink. I don''t even know if she eats."


    Hyun-Il laughed, though there was a hint of truth to their words.


    "Well, as long as she''s making raiding easier for us, I don''t have any complaints," he admitted.


    He then glanced at the surrounding dungeon walls, with their jagged surfaces already being examined by the first wave of miners arriving with their equipment.


    "I guess we''re lucky to have two powerhouses in our guild." Hyun-Il gave a slight nod of appreciation before adding, "As long as we''re not stepping into the Abyss, I''ll gladly follow the two of them."


    Hana smirked, tilting her head at him.


    "Whoa, since when did you become so earnest, Hyun-Il?" Hana teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "I thought you were the devil-may-care type who doesn''t give a damn about what people think."


    Before she could react, Hyun-Il flicked his knuckles against the top of her head.


    "Ow!" Hana yelped, clutching her head with an exaggerated pout.


    "Shut it," Hyun-Il grumbled. "A cool vagabond like me is allowed a moment of sentimentality, you know?"


    Hana snorted, rubbing the sore spot on her head.


    "You? A cool vagabond? Pfft! You sound ridiculous!"


    "You''re ridiculous!" Hyun-Il shot back.


    The two bickered like squabbling siblings, their banter echoing through the boss'' room.


    Around them, the mining crew had begun their work, chipping away at the dungeon''s rocky interior and harvesting rare materials. The other Hunters, well accustomed to the chaos of post-raid procedures, barely paid them any attention, used to their antics by now.


    And so, amidst the hum of drills and the clatter of tools, the two continued their playful argument, their voices a stark contrast to the cold efficiency of the workers surrounding them.


    <hr>


    Eun-ha returned to the headquarters of Azure Sky Guild, stepping through the entrance with little fanfare. The moment she entered, she wordlessly removed her purple cape, hanging it on the coat rack before making her way toward her office. Her movements were methodical and precise, as though she were following an unspoken routine she had repeated countless times before.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    No distractions. No delays.


    There was work to be done.


    The dungeon raid had taken several hours, but it had only been a temporary reprieve from the ever-mounting pile of responsibilities that awaited her back at headquarters.


    So many documents to review.


    So much paperwork to sign.


    The job of a Deputy Guildmaster was never easy.


    As soon as she sat at her immaculately arranged desk, Eun-ha began flipping through the waiting documents, her eyes scanning the fine print with practiced efficiency. She inspected every detail, ensuring that nothing was overlooked.


    She barely blinked as she worked, showing no signs of slowing down.


    <hr>


    "Sometimes, I''m worried about you."


    The voice at the entryway made Eun-ha look up.


    A blonde-haired woman stood at the doorframe, arms crossed, a subtle smirk on her lips. Dressed in stylish clothes that exposed her toned midriff, paired with tight, ripped jeans, the woman carried herself with an effortless, almost lazy confidence.


    Despite her exotic features, there was something distinctly Korean about her demeanor, a fusion of Western boldness and Eastern sensibility.


    Yoon Eva.


    An A-Rank Hunter. An executive of Azure Sky Guild. And, perhaps, the only person in the entire guild dared to chastise Eun-ha without hesitation.


    Eva sighed, shaking her head before stepping into the office, her hips swaying slightly as she approached the desk.


    "Maybe you should consider taking a break occasionally, you know?"


    Her voice was smooth, almost teasing, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern beneath her words.


    Eun-ha flipped another page without pausing her work. Her tone was as flat as ever.


    "I am managing just fine, Eva. You do not need to mother me."


    Eva let out another exaggerated sigh, placing her hands on her hips.


    "When was the last time you slept?"


    Eun-ha hesitated, only for a split second, before answering.


    "¡­Yesterday."


    The words barely left her lips when Eva made a small gesture with her fingers.


    And suddenly, glittering light enveloped Eun-ha''s body.


    "Wha-?!"


    Her chair scraped against the floor as Eun-ha suddenly levitated off her seat, her body rising several inches above the ground.


    "P-put me down!"


    Her usual calm, measured tone cracked, replaced by rare alarm as she instinctively flailed her arms, trying to reach for something to steady herself.


    Eva merely smirked as she watched the composed and unflappable Deputy Guildmaster flounder in midair.


    "Seriously, you should take better care of yourself, Eun-ha," Eva said, resting a hand on her hip. "I get that you''re an S-Rank and all, but you''re still human. You''ll break down eventually if you keep pushing yourself like this."


    "I''m fine! Put me down!" Eun-ha shrieked, completely abandoning her usual stoicism as she continued flailing.


    Eva chuckled softly. "You say that, but I can literally sense that your body is crying out for a well-deserved rest." She lifted a brow. "Why do you do this to yourself, huh? Even Min-soo doesn''t intentionally hurt himself like this."


    Eun-ha stilled. For a brief moment, the flicker of frustration in her eyes disappeared, replaced by something more difficult to read.


    And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she spoke, "I¡­ I want to conquer the Abyss."


    Eva''s expression shifted instantly.


    "Is that so?" she mused, lowering her hand. Eun-ha gently floated down, settling back into her chair. "There has to be something more than that, isn''t it?"


    She turned away, walking toward the large window overlooking the city skyline, bathed in the glow of neon lights. Her reflection in the glass was calm, unreadable, but her tone betrayed a quiet knowing.


    "I know what you have in mind, Eun-ha. You can''t fool me."


    At that, Eun-ha looked down, her hands clenched into tight fists.


    She was silent for a long moment.


    And then, a whisper escaped her lips.


    "It hurts."


    Her voice was so soft and raw that even Eva flinched slightly.


    "It hurts to be this weak."


    Eva gave a small, tired smile.


    "We''re all weak, Eun-ha." She exhaled softly. "If we weren''t, we would''ve already conquered the Abyss by now."


    Eun-ha''s fingers dug into the fabric of her skirt, knuckles turning pale.


    Eva''s gaze flickered over her shoulder.


    "You''re planning to go into the Abyss alone, right?"


    Eun-ha looked away, unwilling to answer.


    A weighted silence filled the office.


    Then, Eva turned around, striding toward her.


    Without another word, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around Eun-ha, pulling her into a firm but gentle embrace.


    "You silly girl," Eva murmured, pressing her chin against the top of Eun-ha''s head. "You know there are better ways to die, don''t you?"


    Eun-ha didn''t move. She didn''t even resist.


    Instead, she slowly buried her face against Eva''s ample chest, her fingers lightly grasping the fabric of her blouse.


    Her voice was barely audible, a whisper carried by the weight of her memories.


    "If I don''t do it¡­ then my life has no meaning."


    Eva''s arms tightened slightly.


    "Eun-ha¡­"


    Eun-ha swallowed hard, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.


    "The life that my mother saved in exchange for her own¡­" She let out a shaky breath. "It has no meaning if I can''t bring the fight to the Abyss."


    Memories resurfaced.


    That day.


    The day the Abyssal Gate first appeared in Seoul.


    She could still see it.


    The massive eldritch portal, swirling with violet hues, its mere presence warping reality itself.


    She could still hear it.


    The chaos. The screams. The terror.


    And she could still feel it.


    The moment she should have died¡­


    Only for her mother to take her place instead.


    Her mother had been one of the first casualties of the Abyssal Gate. Unlike other portals, which simply vomited out nightmarish creatures, the Abyssal Gate itself did nothing, and yet, the terror it instilled was unlike anything else.


    Even now, the memory clawed at her insides.


    That day, she should have died instead of her mother.


    Eva''s voice broke through the silence.


    "Eun-ha."


    Her hand stroked Eun-ha''s hair, her touch gentle and warm.


    "You don''t have to always pretend to be strong."


    She leaned her cheek against Eun-ha''s head.


    "Even the hardest steel will break if you apply enough pressure."


    She pulled her a little closer.


    "Please. Take a rest, will you?"


    Eun-ha murmured a quiet reply, her voice almost lost against the warmth of Eva''s embrace.


    "Mmhm."


    She stayed there, letting the moment linger just a little longer.


    She allowed herself to breathe for the first time in a very long time.


    <hr>


    Cha Min-soo sat at his desk, his fingers lightly pressing against his temple as he stared at the glowing screen of his laptop. The bluish light reflected off his glasses, casting a faint glare across his silver-streaked hair. His expression was tight with conflicted thoughts, his sharp eyes scanning the document before him.


    It was already late at night, yet the Guildmaster of Azure Sky was still awake, burdened with the responsibilities that came with his position. The clock on the wall ticked quietly, the only sound filling the otherwise silent room.


    A long sigh left his lips. So much paperwork. So many reports. The words remained the same no matter how often he went through them. The weight of leadership never lightened, only shifted.


    And there was also the news that he just received.


    Then, the door to his office swung open, breaking the silence.


    Min-soo looked up, straightening in his seat.


    Eva stood at the entrance, her blonde hair slightly tousled, her usual smirk absent. And on her back, there was a sleeping Eun-ha.


    Min-soo''s brow lifted in mild surprise, his gaze flicking from Eva to the unconscious woman slumped against her. Even in her sleep, Eun-ha''s expression was tense, her breathing deep yet uneven, as though she were still battling something even in her dreams.


    Min-soo exhaled slowly, already knowing the answer before he even asked.


    "She overworked herself again?" he murmured, pushing himself up from his chair.


    Eva sighed, exasperated, adjusting her grip on Eun-ha''s limp form.


    "Yeah," she confirmed, shifting the sleeping woman slightly. "Boss, could you lend your bed for a bit? This girl has no bed in her office, and her place is too far from here."


    Min-soo glanced at the small bed in the corner of his office, necessary for the rare moments when he allowed himself a few hours of rest. He barely used it. Most of the time, he would just go home after work.


    He gave a slight nod as he glanced at Eun-ha. "Sure. Put her down."


    Eva carefully carried Eun-ha over, gently lowering her onto the bed. She pulled the blanket over her, then brushed a few strands of purple hair from her forehead, her touch light and careful.


    Min-soo stood beside the bed, watching silently.


    "Poor girl¡­" Eva muttered, sitting at the edge of the bed. Her gaze softened as she studied Eun-ha''s sleeping face. The usual sternness melted into something much more vulnerable in her unconscious state. "She feels guilty for surviving, and now, she keeps pushing herself to the brink to punish herself."


    Eva reached out, gently caressing Eun-ha''s cheek, her fingers brushing against skin that had grown colder from exhaustion.


    "At this rate," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "I''m worried about her future."


    Min-soo''s arms remained crossed, his eyes locked on Eun-ha''s face, but his expression darkened.


    "¡­The Abyss has been nothing but a specter haunting us," he said at last, his voice quiet yet heavy. "The monsters remain trapped within, and yet, it has stolen far too many lives just by existing."


    His fingers tightened against his forearm.


    "Not just Hunters." His voice dropped lower. "But innocent civilians. Those who just happened to be in the wrong place when the Abyssal Gate appeared."


    His eyes shut briefly as if dredging up old memories he would rather leave buried. He had entered the Abyss once and emerged a changed man.


    And Eun-ha¡­


    She was walking the same path.


    "As long as the Abyssal Gate still exists, Eun-ha will keep hurting herself," Eva said, pulling Min-soo out of his thoughts.


    She lowered her gaze, fingers lightly touching Eun-ha''s hand, as if hoping that by holding on, she could anchor the younger woman away from her self-destruction.


    "Convincing her that she''s not responsible for her mother''s death is useless," Eva continued. "She wants to enter the Abyss and face whatever is inside."


    Min-soo watched the way Eva''s hand lingered against Eun-ha''s, the quiet frustration in her movements.


    Eva let out a slow, measured sigh, shaking her head.


    "The girl will break herself before the Abyss even gets the chance to," she added, her voice laced with exhaustion that had nothing to do with the late hour.


    Min-soo said nothing, his eyes flickering toward Eun-ha''s resting face, her normally sharp features softened in sleep.


    A moment of quiet. A temporary peace.


    And yet¡­


    The Abyss was still waiting for her.


    "Speaking of the Abyssal Gate, I just received some news from my associates in Russia," Min-soo said, adjusting his glasses as he returned to his desk, his gaze flickering back to his laptop screen as he leaned forward slightly. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he spoke, drawing Eva''s attention back to him.


    Eva''s brows lifted slightly. She knew that was always the case. Ever since the Abyss first manifested, it had never stayed dormant for long after it disappeared. It would always reappear in different parts of the world.


    Min-soo continued, his eyes scanning the information displayed on his screen.


    "Seven hours ago, the Abyssal Gate manifested in Saint Petersburg. Amidst the chaos, three civilians accidentally fell into the Abyss."


    He paused, his expression darkening slightly.


    "All three perished instantly. It happened before the Russian Hunter Association could properly set up a perimeter around the portal."


    Eva leaned against the desk, crossing her arms.


    "Isn''t that typical?" she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of tired cynicism. "What''s the actual news?"


    Adjusting his glasses again, Min-soo exhaled through his nose before answering.


    "The Russian Hunters took this opportunity to send some of their S-Rank Hunters into the Abyss. Despite the danger, they still wished to venture inside, hoping to learn something new about it. And they did find something new."


    Eva''s casual expression shifted into a frown.


    "Something new?" she echoed.


    Min-soo nodded.


    "The Abyss has changed slightly," he said, tapping his fingers against the desk. "Normally, when Hunters enter, they end up in the outermost layer of the Abyss, which is the dark region filled with those strange purple crystals."


    Eva nodded. The eerie violet glow of the Abyss was something that every Hunter knew of, even if they had never stepped foot inside.


    "But this time, when the Russian Hunters entered," Min-soo continued, "they found that the area had become brighter. The crystals had changed color from purple to blue. And¡­"


    He glanced at Eva as if gauging her reaction before finishing his sentence.


    "The monsters were nowhere to be found."


    Eva''s frown deepened. She tapped a finger against her arm, mulling over the implications.


    "Does this mean¡­" she started.


    Min-soo nodded slightly as if confirming her unspoken thought.


    "Yes. It shows signs that this area has already been subjugated."


    Eva straightened, arms unfolding.


    "That''s¡­ not possible," she muttered, but even she knew that was a weak statement. "Right? It''s the Abyss. No one conquers the Abyss."


    Min-soo let out a slow exhale.


    "Apparently, someone has."


    He steepled his fingers, watching Eva carefully as he continued.


    "The Russian Hunters didn''t experience the usual hallucinations or whispers when they were there," he said. "But when they tried to move deeper¡­ something stopped them. Some kind of invisible force. They couldn''t go any further and had to retreat before the portal disappeared."


    Eva ran a hand through her blonde hair, frustration flickering across her face.


    "So, what does this mean?" she asked. "Someone went into the Abyss before them and cleared the starting area?"


    Min-soo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.


    "I''m not sure," he admitted. "But that''s what it feels like."


    He glanced at his screen again.


    "The Russian Hunters didn''t have time to bring much with them when they exited, but they did manage to take a shard of the blue crystal from the outermost layer. For now, their researchers are studying it."


    Eva let out a low hum, tapping her fingers against the desk.


    "What if someone entered the Abyssal Gate before it showed up in Russia?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.


    Min-soo shook his head.


    "If that were the case, we would already know about it," he said. "The appearances of the Abyssal Gate are closely monitored by the International Hunter Association. There''s no way someone could enter the Abyssal Gate unnoticed."


    Eva said nothing, her lips pressing into a thin line.


    A heavy silence settled between them.


    After a moment, Eva finally spoke.


    "Boss, I don''t know if I like this," she admitted. "The fact that someone out there managed to conquer even a small part of the Abyss should be good news, yet¡­"


    She trailed off, unable to fully articulate the unease in her chest.


    Min-soo leaned back further, letting out a quiet sigh.


    "For now, there''s nothing we can do," he said, his voice calm but with underlying tension. "There''s no telling what will happen next."


    He lifted a hand, rubbing his temples.


    "And as long as the Abyssal Gate doesn''t reappear in Korea¡­ we can''t do anything about it."


    Eva exhaled slowly, nodding slightly.


    "So, we wait?" she asked.


    Min-soo nodded.


    "Yes."


    A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though little humor was in it.


    "We wait."