As Taejin made his way to the Guild's staging area, the energy in the building was palpable. Hunters and staff moved quickly, preparing equipment and coordinating teams. Taejin's attire and twin swords drew the attention of several onlookers, many of whom stepped aside to let him pass.
"Hey, Taejin," a voice called out. It was Minseo, a fellow A-rank hunter specializing in magic. She jogged up to him, her staff strapped across her back. "They're saying this gate might be tied to an unknown A-rank boss-level entity. You ready for that?"
Taejin gave her a confident smirk. "I was born ready. Besides, we've got a good team, right?"
Minseo grinned. "Good point. Hae-In's joining too. Looks like today's gonna be another fun one."
As they stepped into the staging area, the team was already assembling. Hae-In stood near Go Gun-Hee, her sharp gaze scanning the group. When her eyes met Taejin's, she nodded in acknowledgment.
"You're here. Good," Go Gun-Hee said, his deep voice commanding attention. "This isn't just a standard dungeon. Whatever's inside that gate, we can't afford any mistakes. Stay sharp, and work as a team."
Taejin tightened his grip on his swords and exchanged a determined glance with Hae-In. The gate shimmered ominously on the large monitor nearby, a swirling vortex of black and violet energy.
"Let's do this," Taejin said, his voice steady but filled with resolve.
The team pressed forward, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous halls. The once faint runes on the walls and pillars now pulsed with an almost rhythmic intensity, casting an eerie violet glow that danced across their faces. The oppressive mana weighed heavier with every step, making even seasoned hunters like Taejin and Hae-In uneasy.
"It's like this place is alive," Minseo muttered, her grip on her staff tightening.
Taejin's eyes scanned their surroundings, his Critical Eye revealing subtle shifts in the mana flow ahead. He raised a hand, signaling the team to stop.
"There's something up ahead," he said, his voice calm but firm. "It's big."
Hae-In nodded, stepping beside him. "Can you tell what it is?"
Taejin closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the flow of energy. His vision sharpened, tracing the distortions to a massive chamber just ahead. "Looks like some kind of creature... or a trap. Either way, it's not friendly."
"Fantastic," one of the B-rank hunters muttered sarcastically, earning a sharp glare from Hae-In.
"Stay sharp and stick to your roles," she ordered. "If this is the boss, we need to be prepared."
The team stepped into the next chamber, their breath catching as they took in the sight. The room was enormous, its ceiling disappearing into the void above. At the center stood a massive, hulking figure—a humanoid construct of black stone and shadow, its glowing violet eyes locked onto the intruders.
The construct's body was covered in intricate runes, each pulsing with power. A massive greatsword rested in its hands, the blade seemingly made of the same swirling shadows that made up its form.
"That's definitely the boss," Minseo said, her voice trembling slightly.
The creature let out a deep, resonating growl, its voice vibrating through the chamber like a drumbeat. As it raised its sword, the runes on its body flared to life, and the oppressive mana in the air surged.
"Positions!" Hae-In shouted, drawing her sword.
The boss moved with surprising speed for its size, swinging its massive sword in a wide arc. The team scattered, narrowly avoiding the devastating strike. The ground where the blade struck cracked and shattered, sending debris flying.
Taejin activated Accelerate, his form blurring as he dashed toward the creature. With a quick draw of Muramasa, he executed an Iaido Slash, aiming for the creature's leg. The blade bit into the stone, leaving a glowing red gash, but the creature barely reacted.
"It's tough," Taejin called out, leaping back to avoid a retaliatory swing.
Minseo chanted quickly, summoning a barrage of light spears that rained down on the boss. The attack left scorch marks on its surface but failed to slow it down.
Hae-In charged in, her sword glowing with radiant energy. She struck the creature's arm with a powerful overhead slash, the impact forcing it to stagger slightly.
"Focus on one area!" she shouted. "We need to break it down piece by piece!"
Taejin analyzed the creature with his Critical Eye, searching for weaknesses. The runes on its body seemed to be the source of its power, but they were also its weak points. He honed in on a cluster of glowing symbols near its right shoulder.
"Cover me!" he yelled, dashing forward.
Minseo responded immediately, casting a shield around him to block a swipe from the boss's sword. Taejin used the opening to close the distance, his movements a blur of speed and precision.
With a burst of Sword Ki, he unleashed Crimson Fang, a diagonal slash imbued with concentrated energy. The attack struck the runes, shattering several of them and causing the boss to roar in pain.
"It's working!" Minseo shouted.
The creature staggered, its movements growing more erratic as the broken runes dimmed.
Hae-In seized the opportunity, leaping onto the boss's arm and driving her sword into another cluster of runes. The creature thrashed wildly, but her grip was unyielding.
"Keep it up!" she called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Taejin nodded, drawing Murasame to dual-wield for the first time in the battle. With both swords in hand, he activated Accelerate again, weaving through the boss's attacks with surgical precision.
As he approached the creature's core, he executed Crimson Cross, slashing in an X-pattern that sent a shockwave of energy through its chest. The attack disrupted more runes, causing the creature to stumble and drop its sword.
With the boss weakened, Hae-In prepared for a finishing move. She leapt from its shoulder, her sword glowing with a brilliant light.
"Taejin!" she called out.
"On it!" he replied, planting himself firmly and sheathing both swords. His stance shifted into an Iaido form, his energy focusing entirely on a single, decisive strike.
As the boss lunged for one final attack, Taejin drew Muramasa in a flash of crimson light, executing Heaven's Rend—a high-speed, upward slash that cleaved through the creature's core.
Hae-In's attack followed immediately, a radiant strike that shattered the remaining runes. The boss let out a final, echoing roar before collapsing into a pile of crumbling stone and dissipating shadows.
The team stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath as the dust settled. The oppressive mana had vanished, leaving the chamber eerily quiet.
"Well done, everyone," Hae-In said, her tone calm but proud.
Taejin sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "That was tougher than expected," he admitted, glancing at the remains of the boss.
"Let's collect the loot and get out of here," Minseo suggested, her voice lightening as the tension faded.
As the team began to gather the spoils, Taejin couldn't shake the feeling that this dungeon had been more than it seemed. The runes, the oppressive energy—it all pointed to something bigger.
"Something's coming," he muttered under his breath, his hand unconsciously resting on Muramasa's hilt.
As the team collected the loot, Taejin remained near the crumbled remains of the boss. His eyes scanned the remnants, his Critical Eye still active. Among the rubble, a faint glow caught his attention—a shard of violet crystal embedded in the debris.
"What's this…?" he murmured, crouching to examine it.
The crystal pulsed weakly, radiating an unsettling aura. It felt alive, its mana swirling unnaturally within. Taejin reached out to pick it up but stopped as a sharp voice called out.
"Taejin, don't touch that!" Minseo's tone was laced with alarm.
He turned to see her pale face as she approached. "Why not?"
"That's not normal mana," she said, clutching her staff. "I've read about these… fragments of corrupted dungeons. They're unstable and can react violently to external stimuli."
Hae-In joined them, her brow furrowed. "Corrupted dungeons? I thought they were just a myth."
"They're rare," Minseo admitted. "But when they appear, they bring chaos. This shard might explain why this dungeon felt so oppressive. It's like the dungeon was trying to protect it."
Taejin straightened, his gaze narrowing on the shard. "If it's dangerous, we can't just leave it here. What if someone else stumbles upon it?"
Hae-In nodded in agreement. "We'll report this to the Association and let them decide how to handle it. For now, Minseo, can you seal it or contain it somehow?"
Minseo hesitated, then nodded. "I'll try. But everyone step back—I don't know how stable this thing is."
Minseo began chanting, her staff glowing as she conjured a protective barrier around the shard. However, as her mana enveloped it, the shard flared to life, emitting a piercing screech. The chamber trembled, and a wave of dark energy erupted, sending everyone stumbling backward.
"What the hell?!" one of the hunters shouted, struggling to stay on their feet.
The shard hovered in the air, its glow intensifying. The oppressive mana returned tenfold, and a rift began to form above it—a swirling vortex of shadow and violet light.
"It's creating a gate!" Minseo yelled, panic creeping into her voice.
"Fall back!" Hae-In ordered, but Taejin stood his ground, his hand gripping Murasame's hilt.
"Wait," he said, his voice steady. "Something's coming through."
From the rift emerged a figure cloaked in shadows, its form humanoid but distorted. Its eyes glowed the same eerie violet as the shard, and it radiated an aura even more oppressive than the boss they had just defeated.
The creature let out a guttural snarl, its gaze locking onto Taejin. Without hesitation, it lunged, moving with terrifying speed. Taejin barely had time to draw Murasame and parry the attack, the force sending him skidding back.
"Damn, it's strong!" Taejin grunted, bracing himself.
Hae-In and Minseo rushed to his side. "We're not leaving you to fight this alone," Hae-In said, her sword at the ready.
"Be careful," Minseo warned. "This thing's mana is unstable—it's like it's half-formed!"
The creature attacked again, its movements erratic but powerful. Taejin activated Accelerate, dodging a swipe and countering with an Iaido Slash. The crimson energy from his blade cut deep into the creature, but instead of bleeding, it released a burst of violet smoke.
"It's regenerating!" Minseo shouted as the creature's wounds began to close.
"This thing isn't going down easily," Taejin muttered, gripping his sword tighter. He activated Sword Ki, the crimson aura flaring around him. His eyes glowed faintly as he focused his Critical Eye on the creature.
"There," he said, spotting a core-like structure in the creature's chest. "The core is its weak spot. We take that out, and it's done."
"Then let's finish this quickly," Hae-In said, her sword blazing with radiant energy.
Taejin nodded, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's go."
Hae-In charged head-on, drawing the creature's attention with a flurry of strikes. Her radiant blade clashed with its shadowy claws, creating bursts of light and dark energy. Meanwhile, Taejin circled, using Accelerate to move faster than the creature could react.
As Hae-In landed a powerful overhead slash, Taejin struck the core with a precise Crimson Fang. The attack cracked the core, causing the creature to screech in agony.
"It's weakening!" Minseo yelled, summoning a barrage of light spears that rained down on the creature, further destabilizing it.
With the creature on its last legs, Taejin sheathed Murasame and shifted into an Iaido stance. Hae-In backed away, giving him space.
"Taejin," she called out, her voice filled with confidence. "It's all you."
Taejin's energy focused entirely on his blade. Time seemed to slow as he drew Muramasa in a blinding flash of crimson light, executing Heaven's Rend. The slash cleaved through the core, shattering it completely.
The creature let out one final, deafening roar before disintegrating into a cloud of violet smoke. The rift above it collapsed, and the shard fell to the ground, its glow now faint and harmless.
The team stood in silence, catching their breath. Taejin sheathed his sword, his expression calm but serious.
"That was… unexpected," Minseo said, breaking the silence.
Hae-In nodded. "We'll need to report this to the Association immediately. Whatever that thing was, it's tied to the shard—and we need answers."
Taejin picked up the now-dormant shard, his grip firm. "Whatever this is, it's just the beginning. Something bigger is coming."