Karna got up and looked at the serpent. Was this the boss, no if it was the dougen would already be gones, so what other monsters are here.
Karna started to walk, his hands touching wall as he moved, he saw many crystalsz Gate Crystal, these thing are gathered and then sold at a price, they were very valuable as Karna then looked at few more snakes they typed to attack him but he just cut them in half, there body turning into dust and dropping more crystals, Karna picked them up, as these can be sold at a price, any Hunter's Guild Wil take this
Karna carefully collected the Gate Crystals, their soft glow illuminating his path in the dimly lit cave. He knew these were valuable—resources that could be traded or used to enhance equipment. As he pocketed the last crystal, he couldn't help but wonder what other dangers awaited him deeper in this dungeon.
The fact that the serpent wasn't the boss meant that something far more formidable lay ahead. The further he went, the more ominous the atmosphere became. The air was thick with tension, and every step Karna took seemed to echo unnaturally, as if the dungeon itself was alive and watching him.
As he ventured deeper, the cave began to change. The walls became smoother, almost polished, as if carved by something intelligent. Strange symbols and carvings began to appear, etched into the stone with a precision that suggested an ancient and advanced civilization. The symbols glowed faintly, pulsing with a rhythm that felt almost like a heartbeat.
Karna felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, not just by some creature but by the dungeon itself. The serpents had been too easy to defeat, and that only made him more uneasy. Whatever was waiting for him at the heart of this place, it was powerful—possibly more powerful than anything he had faced before.
He continued forward, his senses on high alert. The passage widened into another cavern, this one much larger than the first. The ceiling was so high it disappeared into darkness, and the floor was covered in a shallow pool of water, its surface rippling slightly as if something was moving beneath it.
Karna paused, tightening his grip on his spear. He scanned the cavern, looking for any signs of movement. For a moment, there was nothing—just the faint sound of water dripping from the stalactites above. Then, without warning, the water began to churn violently, and something massive started to rise from the depths.
A monstrous creature emerged, towering over Karna. It was a Hydra, its multiple heads hissing and snapping in every direction. Each head had eyes that glowed with a sinister light, and its scales were thick and black, like obsidian. The Hydra's presence radiated power, and Karna could feel the heat coming off its body, like standing too close to a raging fire.
This was the true boss of the dungeon.
Karna didn't hesitate. He knew that facing a Hydra required strategy—cutting off its heads would only cause more to grow in their place. He needed to find the creature's weakness, and quickly. He could already feel the energy in the room intensifying, as if the dungeon itself was amplifying the Hydra's power.
The Hydra lunged at him with terrifying speed, its heads attacking in unison. Karna dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws. He countered with a swift strike to one of the heads, but as expected, as soon as it was severed, two more grew back in its place, each one more aggressive than the last.
This wasn't going to be easy.
Karna took a step back, reassessing his approach. He needed to target the body, not the heads. But getting close enough to strike at the creature's heart would be dangerous, with so many heads attacking from every direction.
Drawing upon his divine energy, Karna focused on his spear, infusing it with power. The weapon began to glow with a bright, golden light, the same light that had defeated the serpent earlier. He would have to use all his strength and cunning to defeat this beast.
As the Hydra prepared to strike again, Karna dashed forward, moving with incredible speed. He ducked under the snapping heads, using the water on the floor to slide beneath the creature's body. With a powerful thrust, he drove his spear upward, aiming for the creature's heart.
The Hydra let out a deafening roar as the spear pierced its chest, the golden light spreading through its body. The creature thrashed violently, its heads snapping wildly in pain. Karna held on, driving the spear deeper, until finally, the Hydra collapsed, its body disintegrating into ash.
The cavern fell silent, the only sound being Karna's heavy breathing. He had done it. The Hydra was defeated, and with it, the dungeon's core.
As the Hydra's remains faded away, a large crystal, much larger and more radiant than the ones before, materialized where the beast had fallen. This was a Dungeon Core, a rare and valuable item that was the heart of the gate. Karna picked it up, feeling its warmth and power. It pulsed with energy, confirming the dungeon had been cleared.
With the core in hand, Karna turned and began to make his way back towards the entrance. The dungeon's oppressive atmosphere began to lift, and the symbols on the walls dimmed, their purpose fulfilled. The journey had been dangerous, but he had emerged victorious.
As he approached the exit, Karna couldn't help but wonder—if this was just one dungeon, what other horrors might be lurking in the others? The world was more complicated and dangerous than he had initially thought, and he would need to be prepared for whatever came next.
As Karna sat under the tree, he reflected on the intense experience he had just gone through. The memory of the Hydra's ferocity and the chilling atmosphere of the dungeon still lingered in his mind. He leaned back against the rough bark, letting the cool breeze help calm his thoughts.
"That was definitely something," he muttered to himself, replaying the events in his head. "If I had to give it a level, it would probably be a Gold-rank gate. It wasn't easy, even for me."
He frowned slightly, considering the challenge he had just faced. Being a Platinum-rank hunter, Karna had expected the dungeon to be less of a struggle, but the reality had been different. The Hydra was a powerful foe, and even with his abilities, it had taken everything he had to bring the beast down.
"I guess just because I'm a Platinum hunter doesn't mean I can easily clear gates without proper training," he admitted to himself. The thought was humbling, a reminder that his rank alone wouldn't guarantee success in every battle. He needed to continue honing his skills and preparing for the unexpected dangers that came with each gate.
But one question lingered in his mind, refusing to be dismissed. "How did I even feel the gate in the first place?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowing in confusion. It was a sensation unlike anything he had experienced before, as if the gate had called out to him, drawing him to its location.
He had sensed the gate's presence before it even appeared, something that shouldn't have been possible. Typically, gates were detected by specialized equipment or by hunters with heightened senses, but Karna had felt it almost instinctively. It was as if his very being was attuned to the gate's existence.
"Could it be because of my past life?" he thought, considering the possibility. As the son of the Sun God, Surya, in his previous life, Karna had possessed powers beyond those of ordinary humans. Perhaps some remnant of that divine lineage had carried over, granting him abilities that even he didn't fully understand.
But if that were the case, why now? Why had he only started sensing gates after all these years? Was it something that had been dormant within him, only to awaken now? Or was it a new power, one that had developed as a result of his reincarnation in this world?
Karna let out a deep sigh, knowing that there were no easy answers. The mysteries of the gates, his own abilities, and the strange feeling that had led him to the dungeon were all intertwined in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.
"I'll have to figure this out," he resolved, determination setting in. "If I can sense gates, it could be a valuable ability, but I need to understand it fully. I can't afford to be caught off guard, especially not in this world."
As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape, Karna stood up, brushing the dirt from his clothes. He had much to think about, but for now, he needed to return home. The experience in the dungeon had been a wake-up call, and he knew he needed to prepare himself for whatever came next.
With a final glance at the horizon, Karna started his journey back, his mind filled with questions and the resolve to find the answers.
Karna watched as the gate slowly sealed shut behind him, the ominous energy that had once radiated from it now dissipating into the air. He felt a slight chill run down his spine, but brushed it off, focusing instead on the glowing crystals he held in his hands. The faint light from the crystals reflected in his eyes as he considered their value.
With a sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, hoping against all odds that it had survived the ordeal unscathed. "Please, don't be broken," he muttered under his breath, glancing skyward as if seeking divine intervention. "This will be the fifth one this year."
Karna winced at the thought of having to explain another broken phone to his mother. She had already lectured him numerous times about being more careful, and he wasn't eager to face her wrath again. He pressed the power button, holding his breath as the screen flickered to life.
"Thank you, Lord Krishna," he murmured with relief, seeing the familiar home screen light up. "At least I won't have to deal with Mom this time."
With the phone in working order, Karna quickly navigated to a map application, searching for the nearest material trade store. The crystals he had gathered could be exchanged for a decent sum, and he needed to offload them before they became a burden.
As he walked, he kept a close eye on the map, following the directions to a nearby trade store. The streets were quiet at this time of day, with only a few people milling about, giving him some peace to reflect on the strange events of the day.
While his thoughts lingered on the mystery of how he had sensed the gate, he knew he couldn't dwell on it for too long. There were practical matters to attend to, like making sure he got a fair price for the crystals and figuring out how to explain his whereabouts to his family.
After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at a small shop tucked away in a side alley. The sign above the door read "Nihal's Material Trade," and the worn wooden door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. Inside, the shop was filled with various artifacts and materials, all neatly organized in glass cases and on shelves.
A man behind the counter looked up as Karna entered, his eyes scanning the crystals in Karna's hands with interest. "Welcome," the man said, his voice friendly yet businesslike. "What can I do for you today?"
Karna walked up to the counter and placed the crystals down, letting the man inspect them. "I'd like to sell these," he said, watching as the man examined the crystals with a practiced eye.
The man nodded thoughtfully, weighing each crystal in his hand before looking up at Karna. "These are good quality," he said. "I can give you a fair price for them. But tell me, where did you get them? They're not the kind of thing you just find lying around."
Karna hesitated for a moment, debating whether to tell the truth or make up a story. Finally, he decided on a partial truth. "I found them in a gate that just appeared nearby," he said. "I took care of the monsters inside, so I figured I might as well make something out of it."
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "A gate, huh? You must be quite the hunter to handle that on your own." He nodded approvingly. "I'll give you a good deal. Just a moment."
As the man prepared the payment, Karna took a moment to glance around the shop. There were items from all sorts of gates and dungeons, each with its own story. It made him realize just how vast and varied the world of hunters was—each gate, each dungeon, bringing its own set of challenges and rewards.
When the man handed him the payment, Karna thanked him and pocketed the money. It wasn't a fortune, but it was enough for now.
The man then looked at Karna. So where is your tram.
Karna crushed internally, he didn't know what to say, so he just decided to do what people say lie out of his ass
Karna felt his stomach twist as the man's question hung in the air. Where was his team? It was a reasonable inquiry—no hunter, especially one as young as Karna appeared to be, would typically tackle a gate alone. But telling the truth wasn't an option; it would raise too many questions, ones he wasn't prepared to answer.
Karna forced a smile, trying to project confidence despite the unease gnawing at him. "My team's, uh, they're on a break," he said, doing his best to sound casual. "We split up after clearing the gate, and I volunteered to handle the loot. You know how it is—someone's gotta do the boring work."
The man behind the counter gave him a skeptical look, but didn't press the issue. "I see," he said, nodding slowly. "Well, you handled yourself pretty well in there, by the looks of it. Just make sure you stay safe. These gates can be unpredictable."
Karna nodded, grateful the man seemed to accept his answer, at least for now. "Yeah, thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
He quickly pocketed the money and made his way to the door, eager to leave before more questions could be asked. As he stepped outside, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. That was too close.
Walking down the street, Karna couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he needed to be more careful. He had been lucky this time, but he couldn't always rely on quick thinking to get him out of tough spots. He needed to learn how to navigate this world better, especially if he was going to keep his true nature hidden.
As he walked, his mind raced with thoughts about his next steps. He would need to hone his skills, find a way to train, and, most importantly, learn more about the gates and why he could sense them. Whatever this new world had in store for him, he knew he had to be prepared.
But for now, he would head home, rest, and figure things out one day at a time. The path ahead was uncertain, but Karna was determined to walk it, no matter where it led.
To be continued
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