The bustling streets of Seoul stretched before me, a stark contrast to the barren and brutal landscapes of the Demon World. Neon signs flickered as crowds moved with purpose, their energy palpable even to someone like me.
I adjusted my coat, blending seamlessly into the flow of humanity. Thanks to the Authority of Replication, creating a false identity had been trivial. My fabricated backstory painted me as a "returnee" from the United States, an independent Hero without guild affiliations. It was perfect—a low-profile role that allowed me to observe and adapt without drawing suspicion.
'This world… is too noisy,' I thought, masking my discomfort with a stoic expression. My senses were heightened, making the clamor of car engines and chatter overwhelming.
Still, I couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity. This was my first time walking among humans since my reincarnation. Their resilience, their ignorance, and their fragile mortality—it was all fascinating.
My musings were interrupted by a scream.
A crowd had gathered near an alleyway, their faces pale with fear. Curiosity piqued, I pushed through to find a low-ranked party of Heroes cornered by a hulking creature—a mangled ogre-like beast with mutated claws.
'Interesting,' I mused. The creature was one of the experimental monsters I'd released into the dungeon weeks ago to test humanity's strength. Clearly, this group was outmatched.
One of the Heroes—a young man wielding a rusted spear—lunged forward, only for the creature to swat him aside like a fly. Blood splattered the wall as he crumpled to the ground.
The other members hesitated, their fear palpable. The ogre snarled, saliva dripping from its fangs as it prepared to charge.
"Fools," I muttered.
Before the beast could strike, I stepped forward. My sword, forged with Core-infused steel, gleamed as I unsheathed it. The creature's red eyes locked onto me, its aggression shifting to wariness.
I dashed forward in a blur. The ogre swung its claws, but I anticipated its movements. My blade met its neck in a clean arc, severing its head. The body collapsed with a heavy thud, disintegrating into a mist of mana.
The surviving Heroes stared at me, awe and disbelief etched on their faces.
"Who… Who are you?" one of them stammered.
"A passing Hero," I replied curtly, sheathing my blade.
"Thank you! You saved us!" The young man with the spear limped toward me, his eyes wide with gratitude.
I ignored their thanks, instead scanning the area. 'This is disappointing,' I thought. These humans were weak. If this was the standard, the creatures I'd released would wreak havoc unchecked.
"Get stronger," I said before walking away. They would serve no purpose to me otherwise.
Meanwhile, Kim Yong-woo stood at the gates of Heaven's Will, his body trembling.
The guild's headquarters was an impressive building in Gangnam, its sleek, modern design reflecting the immense wealth of its members. But to Kim Yong-woo, it felt more oppressive than welcoming.
He clutched the hem of his coat, replaying the events of the dungeon in his mind. The mysterious man—the one who saved him from certain death—was unlike any Hero he had ever encountered.
'I must find him,' Kim thought. His fear of the man had transformed into reverence. He was convinced this stranger was the key to his guild's rise to supremacy.
Kim pushed open the guild's doors, the chatter of his subordinates ceasing as they turned to him. Whispers filled the room, members gossiping about his miraculous survival.
"The Guild Master is back!"
"How did he survive alone?"
Ignoring their stares, Kim marched into his office. He needed to plan. Finding that man—and convincing him to join Heaven's Will—was now his top priority.
I stood on the roof of a high-rise building, overlooking the city. The lights of Seoul stretched out like a sea of stars, masking the shadows beneath.
'So fragile,' I thought. Humans lived their lives blissfully unaware of the chaos lurking in the dungeons. But that ignorance wouldn't last.
My encounter with the Heroes earlier had confirmed it: humanity was woefully unprepared. The creatures I'd unleashed were just the beginning.
Activating Keen Insight, I focused on the Heaven's Will building in the distance. The aura of its members flickered like dim flames, barely worth noticing. But one flame burned brighter.
'Kim Yong-woo,' I mused, recalling his trembling figure in the dungeon. Despite his fear, there was potential in him. His desperation made him a useful pawn.
I smirked. Manipulating humans was like guiding sheep—they would follow whoever wielded the crook.
A sudden vibration in the air snapped me from my thoughts. The mana around me grew chaotic, spiraling toward a point in the distance.
I narrowed my eyes. 'An anomaly?'
Leaping from the rooftop, I moved swiftly toward the disturbance. The streets blurred as I pushed my speed to its limits, arriving at a construction site where the ground pulsed with unstable energy.
Heroes had already gathered, their weapons drawn as a rift tore open before them. From the swirling portal emerged a creature unlike any I'd seen—a malformed amalgamation of limbs and wings, its body pulsating with chaotic energy.
'An Awakened Dungeon,' I realized. Unlike traditional dungeons, these were unpredictable and unbound by the usual rules.
The Heroes hesitated, clearly out of their depth. I stepped forward, my presence drawing their attention.
"Stand back," I ordered.
"Who are you to give orders?" one of them snapped, his bravado masking his fear.
I didn't bother responding. Drawing my sword, I focused on the creature. Its mana signature was erratic, but its core was exposed—a glaring weakness.
The battle was swift. I evaded its clumsy strikes, my blade cutting through its limbs with precision. As it lunged for a final attack, I drove my sword into its core, shattering it.
The creature let out a guttural scream before collapsing into a heap of dissolving mana.
The Heroes stared in stunned silence, their earlier defiance replaced with awe.
"Y-You… How did you…?"
I turned away, uninterested in their questions.
This encounter confirmed my suspicions: something—or someone—was manipulating the dungeons. If Awakened Dungeons were becoming more common, the balance between humans and demons was about to shift.
Back in the shadows of my dungeon, the Dungeon Core pulsed with an urgent hum. A communication crystal flickered to life, displaying the face of a demon noble.
"My lord," the noble said, bowing deeply. "We've detected an increase in anomalies within the Demon World. The Grand Dukes suspect interference from the human side."
I frowned. The Grand Dukes rarely paid attention to Earth unless it directly threatened their power.
"Keep me informed," I replied.
The noble hesitated. "There's one more thing. The upcoming Demon World auction… Krasla, the half-dragon, is confirmed to be among the offerings."
My eyes narrowed. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for.
Standing in the darkness of my dungeon, I considered my next move.
The Awakened Dungeons posed a threat I couldn't ignore, and the upcoming auction promised the chance to secure a powerful ally.
'The pieces are falling into place,' I thought.
With a smirk, I turned to the Dungeon Core. It was time to prepare—for both the human world and the Demon World were hurtling toward chaos, and I intended to control it all.