A young man sat alone on a hospital bench, gazing out of the window with a calm but determined expression. Despite the sterile environment and the faint smell of disinfectant in the air, he seemed completely at ease, almost as if he had been waiting for something. His lips curled into a faint smile.
"So this is finally the system I've been waiting for," he muttered, his voice low but steady. "It's even stronger than the one the original Jinwoo had." He let out a quiet chuckle, unable to hide his excitement.
He focused inwardly and thought, Status.
The familiar blue panel appeared before his eyes, hovering in midair:
Status
Name: Jinwoo
Level: 1Job: None
Title: None
HP: 1,320
MP: 165
Strength: 70
Vitality: 65
Agility: 63
Intelligence: 63
Perception: 63
Unallocated Points: 0
Gold: 1,400
Inventory:
Key x3 (A-Rank)
Key x3 (S-Rank)
Key x3 (SS-Rank)
Key x3 (SSS-Rank)
Key x2 (King-Rank)
Jinwoo's eyes scanned the information, lingering on the keys. His grin widened as he reached into the panel with his mind and selected one of the A-Rank keys.
"Alright, let's start small," he said to himself. "System, where can I use this dungeon key?"
Ding! Use location: Train station at Hapjeong.
"Hapjeong… of course. That's where the original Jinwoo began his journey," he murmured, rising from the bench. He grabbed his hospital release papers and made his way to the front desk.
Minutes later, Jinwoo stepped out of the hospital, the cold winter air biting at his face. He adjusted his coat and glanced at the bustling city around him. The world seemed so ordinary, yet he now knew there was so much more beneath the surface. A system. Dungeons. Power.
Arriving at the Hapjeong train station, Jinwoo made his way to an inconspicuous corner where the system had guided him. He retrieved the A-Rank key from his inventory and held it in his hand.
The key pulsed faintly with a golden light, as if it were alive. Without hesitation, he inserted it into the lock that had appeared out of nowhere.
The moment the key turned, reality itself seemed to shift. The busy noise of the train station disappeared, replaced by silence so deep it was almost deafening. Darkness consumed his vision for a brief moment before it gave way to a new scene.
Before him stood a massive castle, its towering spires piercing the sky. The air was heavy with the scent of damp stone and aged wood. An oppressive atmosphere loomed over the area, as if the dungeon itself was testing his resolve.
"So this is what it feels like to enter a high-rank dungeon," Jinwoo said, his voice echoing slightly. He took a deep breath and began walking toward the enormous gate at the castle's entrance.
The massive gate of the castle loomed in the distance, but Jinwoo's path was abruptly interrupted by a blood-curdling roar.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Jinwoo spun around, his senses on high alert. Emerging from the shadows was a monstrous figure—a towering, wolf-like creature with silver fur, rippling muscles, and glowing orange eyes. Its claws were long and sharp enough to carve through steel, and every step it took seemed to make the ground tremble.
[Werewolf Aristide]
The name hovered above the beast in ominous orange letters, signaling danger. Jinwoo tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his mind already calculating.
"An orange name, huh?" he muttered. "You're strong... but not invincible."
Aristide growled, baring its fangs, and then charged without warning. Its speed was astonishing for a creature of its size. Jinwoo barely had time to sidestep the initial swipe, the claws tearing into the stone ground where he had stood moments ago.
CLANG!
Jinwoo countered with a swift slash, aiming for the werewolf's exposed flank. The blade struck true, but the tough hide of the beast deflected most of the force, leaving only a shallow gash. Aristide snarled and spun, swinging its massive claw in a wide arc.
Jinwoo ducked, the claws narrowly missing his head. The air pressure from the swing alone sent him skidding backward. He steadied himself, his heart pounding.
"This thing's no joke," he thought, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's fast, strong, and that hide is like armor. I'll need to be smarter."
Phase 1: Testing the Waters
Jinwoo began circling Aristide, observing its movements. The beast lunged again, its claws aiming for his chest. This time, he sidestepped and retaliated with a quick thrust aimed at its legs, hoping to hamper its mobility. The sword pierced the flesh just above the knee, eliciting a pained howl.
Aristide retaliated instantly, sweeping its claws low. Jinwoo jumped back, but the claws grazed his side, tearing through his coat and drawing blood.
"Tch," he hissed, retreating to create distance. He glanced at the wound—a shallow cut, but a reminder that one wrong move could end him.
Aristide crouched low, its body tense. Jinwoo recognized the telltale signs of a predator preparing to pounce. He readied his sword, shifting his stance to maximize his speed.
Phase 2: Counterattack
The werewolf lunged, its jaws snapping inches from Jinwoo's face. Instead of dodging outright, Jinwoo stepped into the attack, sliding under its massive frame and slashing upward as he passed beneath. The blade cut a deep line along Aristide's stomach, and blood splattered the ground.
The beast howled in fury, spinning to face him. Its claws glowed faintly red, and Jinwoo's eyes narrowed.
"A skill?" he muttered.
Aristide roared, slamming both claws into the ground. The earth cracked and erupted, sending jagged stones flying toward Jinwoo. He leapt to the side, dodging most of the debris, but one sharp fragment grazed his cheek.
"I guess I'm not the only one with tricks," Jinwoo said, smirking despite the situation.
As Aristide charged again, Jinwoo focused his energy into his legs and dashed to meet the beast head-on. Their collision sent shockwaves through the air. Jinwoo ducked under a claw swipe, spun around, and delivered a powerful horizontal slash to the creature's back.
This time, the blade glowed faintly as he poured mana into the strike. The attack cleaved through Aristide's hide, drawing a deep wound. Blood gushed from the injury, staining the ground red.
The werewolf staggered but refused to fall. Its glowing eyes burned with rage as it unleashed a deafening roar.
Phase 3: The Finisher
Jinwoo knew he had to end this quickly. The werewolf's stamina was immense, but its movements were becoming slower, its attacks less precise.
He activated all his strength, his body surging with power. The sword in his hand pulsed with energy as he charged forward, zigzagging to confuse the beast. Aristide swiped wildly, but Jinwoo anticipated the attacks, ducking and weaving with precision.
When he was within range, he leapt high into the air, his sword raised above his head. Aristide roared and swung upward, its claws aiming to intercept him.
"Not this time!" Jinwoo shouted.
In midair, he twisted his body, avoiding the claws by a hair's breadth. Using the momentum, he brought his sword down in a devastating vertical slash. The blade erupted with brilliant light, slicing clean through Aristide's neck.
Jinwoo landed behind the beast, his sword poised at his side. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, Aristide's body collapsed with a heavy thud, its severed head rolling to the ground.
Ding! Level UP x10
Ding! You have obtained the Sword of Aristide (A-Rank).
Jinwoo exhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing as the adrenaline began to fade. He glanced at the system notifications with a satisfied smile.
"Not bad," he said, summoning the new sword from his inventory.
[Sword of Aristide (A-Rank)]
+20 StrengthBonus Effect: 20% Bleed
He tested the weapon with a few swings. The blade felt perfectly balanced, its edge sharper than anything he'd ever wielded.
Whoosh… Whoosh…
"This should make the rest of the dungeon more manageable," he said, wiping the blood from his face.
Turning toward the massive gate, Jinwoo placed his hands on the cold, iron surface. He pushed it open, revealing the dark and ominous interior of the castle.
"Let's see what else this dungeon has in store for me."
With renewed determination, he stepped inside, ready for the next challenge.