My right knee was shot. Each step sent a sharp, searing pain up my leg, and my mobility was all but crippled. The only consolation I had was that my grip on my daggers remained firm. I clung to them as though they were my lifeline—because, in a way, they were.
Across from me, Jonghak stood tall, his training spear gleaming ominously under the dungeon's dim, artificial light. I didn't know why he was doing this, but his smug face told me it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
"What is this, oh noble lord?" I sneered, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Jonghak's lips twitched, but he didn't reply. Noble? Lord? Ha. Jonghak was nothing more than a despot, drunk on his own ego. His so-called growth into a better person was something for the distant future, not today. There was no reasoning with him now, not when he was so dead set on whatever twisted logic he'd conjured up.
Survival was my only option.
I let my daggers clatter to the ground, the sound echoing in the narrow corridor. My heart clenched at the sight—I had stubbornly refused to let go of them before, but now, I had no choice.
"You won't strike an unarmed opponent, will you?" I asked bitterly.
Jonghak's eyes narrowed. For a moment, I thought my gamble had paid off. He wouldn't kill me. That was too much, even for him.
But then he spoke, his voice sharp and accusing. "Pick up your weapon, because I might really kill you... Djinn."
My stomach dropped. Djinn?
"Are you serious right now?" I demanded, but Jonghak didn't answer. Instead, he leapt toward me, his spear aimed directly at my head.
"Fuck, he really wants to kill me," I hissed under my breath.
I ducked, activating and deactivating [Always Here] in rapid succession to throw off his aim. The tip of his spear grazed my hair as I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a kick to my shin. My hands scrambled for my daggers, which I had wisely thrown within reach.
Jonghak wasn't playing around. He wasn't just testing me; he wanted something from me. But what?
"Don't look down on the Desolate Moon Guild," he snarled, swinging his spear in a wide arc. "I have my connections, and not just Yeonha."
The swing was too wide for me to block. I gritted my teeth and phased out with [Always Here], narrowly avoiding another blow.
My body screamed in protest as I dodged. My right knee was busted, my left shoulder felt dislocated, and my pinky finger bent at an unnatural angle. Bruises and fractures littered my body, each one a painful reminder of how frail I really was. I had grown arrogant, relying too much on my Gift to avoid direct confrontations.
"HE~EELP!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the cavern. "There's a murderous psycho here!"
I didn't expect anyone to come. Jonghak's grip on the team was too strong. They wouldn't dare disobey him, even if it meant leaving me to die.
"There's no use! Futile!" Jonghak's voice boomed as his spear came at me again.
I ducked, barely dodging another strike. "Hey, why don't you calm down?" I stalled, my mind racing to assess my situation.
"Calm down?" Jonghak barked, his tone dripping with mockery. "I am always calm."
He brandished his spear again, the gleam in his eyes far from calm.
"I'm not a Djinn!" I shouted, raising my daggers in defense. "If you want proof, Nayun can vouch for me!"
"Don't put her name in your mouth!" Jonghak roared, lunging at me with speed that rivaled Suho's.
I turned invisible with [Not Here], using the brief reprieve to escape. My daggers became climbing tools as I scaled the rocky walls, my muscles straining with every movement.
The moment I reached the top, I collapsed onto the rough pathway, gasping for air. Blood dripped from my leg, pooling beneath me. My right knee was a mess, and every step sent agony coursing through me.
I limped forward, each movement a struggle. Something about this situation felt wrong. The Mock Dungeon was monitored by Cube's instructors—every action, every fight, all of it recorded. Jonghak's attack couldn't go unnoticed unless he didn't care about being a Cube cadet anymore.
Did he have no fear?
I stumbled forward, the taste of blood thick in my mouth. My body was battered, my mind racing. Jonghak would catch up soon. He was faster, stronger, and completely unhinged.
But I wasn't about to give up.
Not yet.
The path ahead was narrow, jagged, and dark—typical of the Mock Dungeon's terrain. But the Salamander standing in my way was anything but typical. Its massive body glistened with a sheen of protective scales, and its fiery orange eyes glowed menacingly in the dim light.
Ordinarily, a cadet like me wouldn't struggle against something like this. Salamanders were straightforward prey, their patterns predictable, their attacks slow. I'd fought enough of them to know exactly how to handle one. But now? My body was wrecked, my stamina dwindling, and my right knee was all but useless.
Still, I had no choice. I couldn't afford to hold back.
I stood my ground, daggers gripped tightly in my hands. The Salamander's maw opened and closed rhythmically, the sound of its sharp teeth snapping together echoing ominously in the corridor. It noticed me and lunged, its massive frame charging forward with surprising speed.
As it closed the distance, I activated [Always Here].
My Gift wasn't just a tool for stealth; it was a weapon. By applying its effects to one of the Salamander's limbs, I could disrupt its senses. Its front right leg blended seamlessly with the rocky terrain, becoming invisible to its own eyes.
The creature faltered, misjudging its step. Its massive body tilted forward as its weight shifted awkwardly, causing it to stumble. The Salamander's momentum carried it headfirst into a cluster of stalagmites. The sound of shattering stone and the creature's pained roar filled the air.
I didn't waste the opportunity. Limping closer, I drove one of my daggers into its glowing orange eye. The blade sank deep, and the Salamander let out a final, guttural cry before collapsing in a heap.
I pulled my dagger free, the blade slick with dark blood, and stepped back to catch my breath.
Reaching for my smartwatch, I checked Yeonha's status. The holographic display showed her marker moving steadily through the dungeon. From the looks of it, she was doing fine—probably leading her team with her usual poise.
Satisfied, I pressed on my earpiece to contact Hajin. "Hello? Hajin, I have a report to make…"
Nothing.
The silence on the other end made my chest tighten. The earpiece was supposed to be our secret line of communication—discreet and reliable. But now, it was dead.
Frowning, I switched to my smartwatch, dialing Hajin directly.
Riiing. Triing. Ringing…
Still nothing.
"Hah~" I exhaled, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Shibali…"
This wasn't normal. Hajin never ignored a call, not unless something serious was happening. And knowing our luck, that "something serious" probably involved me.
I shook my head and pressed forward, forcing my battered body to keep moving. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good. My instincts screamed at me that things were only going to get worse from here.
The uneven ground beneath my feet made every step a challenge. Blood dripped steadily from my leg, and my right knee felt like it could give out at any moment.
But I couldn't stop. Not yet.
The only way out was forward.
***
Yun Hyuk hummed a soft, cheerful tune as he lounged in the center seat of the Monitoring Chamber. The room, typically bustling with the activity of instructors overseeing cadet progress, was eerily quiet. Several instructors—those of medium and intermediate ranks—were slumped in their chairs, their eyes closed and breaths labored. Their flushed cheeks and faint moans betrayed the insidious nature of their affliction.
Lust Dream.
It was one of Yun Hyuk's more potent abilities, an evolution of his original bewitchment skill. Ambush tactics were where this ability shone brightest, incapacitating targets without warning. Even seasoned intermediate-ranked individuals struggled to resist its effects, particularly when caught off guard.
Yun Hyuk leaned back in his seat, his expression a mixture of amusement and disappointment. His fingers tapped idly on the armrest as he surveyed the array of screens displaying the cadets' movements within the Mock Dungeon Trial.
"Hmmm…" His brow furrowed slightly as he scanned the feeds. "Where are those two? Kim Suho and Chae Nayun…" His voice was calm, yet it carried a tinge of irritation. "I had hoped to eliminate the prodigies of Rank 1 and Rank 2, but it seems they aren't here today."
Behind him, a woman stepped forward, bowing deeply. She was one of Yun Hyuk's loyal followers, a cadet who had long since succumbed to the Djinn's allure. Her tone was reverent, tinged with fear and devotion.
"Apologies, my Lord," she said. "It seems we were misled. As we initially suspected, there is a student working against us. I have already dispatched personnel to deal with this variable."
Yun Hyuk waved a hand dismissively, a sly smile creeping across his face. "It's fine. We'll proceed as planned. We'll take the girls we need for the sacrifices. Anyone who dares stand in our way… kill them."
The woman straightened, her eyes gleaming with cruel determination. "Yes, my Lord."
"Oh, but," Yun Hyuk added, his tone light and casual, "leave the instructors to their dreams. There's no need to kill them. They'll make excellent hostages later."
The woman nodded fervently. "Understood."
Yun Hyuk's gaze returned to the screens, his eyes narrowing as he watched the chaos unfold within the dungeon. His expression darkened, and a twisted grin spread across his face.
"Oh~ the Devil Lilith of Lust shall descend to this world," he murmured, almost in reverence. His voice grew softer, as though reciting a sacred prayer. "I pray she blesses us with her love on the day of her coming…"
Around him, the shadows began to writhe and churn, their dark tendrils moving with unnatural fluidity. The atmosphere grew heavy, and faint whispers echoed in the chamber, a cacophony of devotion from the abyss.
"Grace Lilith," the shadows intoned, their voices harmonizing in a chilling unison.
Yun Hyuk closed his eyes, savoring the moment. Soon, the pieces would fall into place, and the ritual would begin. The world would witness the birth of something extraordinary, something divine.
And Yun Hyuk would stand at its center, basking in the glory of the Devil's grace.
***
Kim Hajin was a meticulous man. His sharp mind and the unique capabilities of his [Observation and Reading] Gift ensured he rarely found himself outmaneuvered in the game of information. His confidence in his ability to predict and counter threats was not baseless; it was earned through careful planning and the precise allocation of his limited resources.
But even the most meticulous plans could falter when the enemy was prepared.
Sitting alone in the Devil Hunter's clubroom, Hajin adjusted the prototype goggles he had painstakingly crafted. The Djinn Detection Goggles were a marvel of ingenuity, combining the essence of his Gift and an exorbitant amount of SP. Though it cost him dearly, the results were undeniable. The device hummed softly as it scanned the surroundings, its augmented lenses painting the room with a faint, eerie glow.
The first time he activated them, he froze. Through the goggles, a dozen red auras flared just beyond the clubroom door.
"Djinns," Hajin muttered under his breath, his expression tightening. The sheer number confirmed his suspicions—he had been found out.
He glanced at his smartwatch, attempting to contact his allies. Hyon Hyung, Chae Nayun, Kim Suho—none of them responded. A faint electronic buzz echoed in his ears, confirming his fear.
A jammer.
Whoever these Djinns were, they had come prepared.
~Bzzzt… ~Bzzzt…
The door's buzzer sounded repeatedly, a mockery of civility as the hostile presence loomed outside. Hajin's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile.
"They're not even trying to hide it."
He stood, pulling a compact crossbow from his inventory. Its polished frame glinted in the dim light of the room. Beside him, a small stack of prepared countermeasures lay ready: smoke bombs, stun grenades, and other tools of evasion.
The buzzing stopped.
Then came the pounding. Heavy, deliberate thuds against the door echoed through the room. The Djinns were done waiting. The sound of splintering wood and bending metal followed as they began to force their way in.
When the door finally gave way, the Djinns stormed in, their auras flaring with malicious energy.
But Kim Hajin was gone.
***
The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the bustling city below. The cacophony of car horns and hurried footsteps was a stark contrast to the stillness atop a nearby rooftop.
Kim Suho and Chae Nayun stood side by side, their gazes fixed on a nondescript building below. From the outside, it looked like any other storage facility, but both of them knew better.
"That's their base," Suho said, his voice calm but firm.
Nayun's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. Her expression was sharp, but a flicker of worry crossed her face. "I can't contact Hajin. He's not answering."
Suho frowned, drawing the sword Nayun had loaned him. Its blade shimmered faintly in the sunlight, a testament to its quality. "Then we finish things here quickly. If they've targeted him, we can't waste time."
Nayun nodded, her resolve hardening. "I couldn't agree more."
In unison, they stepped to the edge of the rooftop. The wind ruffled their hair and clothes as they surveyed their target one last time. Then, without another word, they vanished from the rooftop, their silhouettes dissolving into blurs of motion.
***
Kim Hajin adjusted the goggles, their red-glowing display highlighting the positions of his pursuers. He smirked to himself.
"They're persistent, I'll give them that," he muttered.
A faint hum of power emanated from his crossbow as he loaded a bolt, his mind already calculating the odds. If he could stall long enough, Suho and Nayun would handle the main threat. All he had to do was survive until then.
The hunt was on.
"Maybe a crossbow isn't the right weapon for this."
He was almost tempted to whip his shotgun out.