A cold wind whipped across the open plains as Jinwoo, Hyeri, and Donghyuk stood at the entrance of the dungeon Jihoon had directed them to. Located far from the bustling city, the dungeon's entrance was nestled at the foot of a rocky hillside. The shimmering portal that marked its boundary pulsed faintly with a dull green light, almost as if it was trying to hide its presence from the world.
"This doesn't feel like an E-rank dungeon," Donghyuk muttered, rubbing his arms as a chill ran down his spine.
Hyeri nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "E-rank dungeons don't usually give off this kind of energy. There's something off about it."
Jinwoo stared at the portal, his instincts telling him that they were walking into something far more dangerous than Jihoon had let on. But they had no choice. This was their only lead to uncover the Watcher's weaknesses, and Jinwoo needed every advantage he could get.
"We need to be ready for anything," Jinwoo said, stepping forward. "Let's go."
Without hesitation, Jinwoo led the way into the portal, the others following close behind. The world around them shifted, and in an instant, they were inside the dungeon.
The interior of the dungeon was unlike anything they had encountered before. Instead of the typical cavern or forest environments they were used to, they found themselves in a sprawling underground temple, its stone walls lined with intricate, glowing symbols. The air was thick with a sense of ancient power, and the ground beneath their feet felt unstable, as if the dungeon itself was alive and watching their every move.
Hyeri frowned, her eyes darting to the glowing runes. "This architecture... It's not like any dungeon I've seen before. These symbols—they're from an older era."
Jinwoo glanced at the walls, feeling the weight of the dungeon's oppressive energy. "It's definitely not E-rank. Jihoon set us up."
Donghyuk cracked his knuckles, his expression hardening. "So what? We've handled worse. Let's clear this place and get out of here."
As they ventured deeper into the temple, the air grew colder, and the eerie glow of the symbols seemed to pulse in time with their footsteps. The dungeon's layout was a twisting labyrinth of corridors and chambers, each more foreboding than the last.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a low, rumbling sound. The ground beneath them shook, and from the shadows of the corridor ahead, a massive figure emerged. It was a hulking stone golem, its body covered in the same glowing runes that lined the walls. Its eyes burned with a deep red light, and it moved with surprising speed for something so massive.
"Brace yourselves!" Jinwoo shouted, drawing his sword.
Donghyuk grinned, his fists sparking with energy. "Finally, some action!"
Hyeri took a step back, raising her hands as she began to chant. A shimmering barrier of light appeared in front of the group, just as the golem charged forward.
The golem's fist came crashing down, slamming into Hyeri's barrier with a deafening roar. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the room, but the barrier held firm, glowing brightly under the strain.
"Now's our chance!" Jinwoo called out, rushing forward with his sword raised.
With a swift leap, Jinwoo sliced through one of the golem's legs, the glowing runes on his blade cutting through the stone like butter. The golem roared in pain, stumbling backward as its leg crumbled beneath it.
Donghyuk followed up with a powerful punch, his fist crackling with lightning as he slammed it into the golem's chest. The impact sent cracks spider-webbing across the golem's body, and it let out a guttural groan as it staggered.
"Hyeri, hit it with your spell!" Jinwoo shouted, leaping back to avoid the golem's wild swing.
Hyeri's eyes glowed with a fierce light as she finished her chant. A torrent of shimmering energy gathered in her hands before she unleashed it in a concentrated beam. The spell slammed into the golem's chest, hitting the cracks that Donghyuk had made. With a final, agonized roar, the golem shattered into pieces, the glowing runes on its body flickering out as it collapsed into a pile of rubble.
The group stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath. Donghyuk wiped sweat from his brow, grinning. "Not bad for a warm-up, huh?"
Jinwoo, still on edge, looked around the chamber. "That was no ordinary E-rank monster. Something's wrong with this place."
Hyeri approached the shattered remains of the golem, her brow furrowed in thought. "These runes... They're from an ancient language. They're not just decorative—they're part of the dungeon's design. This place is a prison."
Jinwoo's eyes widened. "A prison?"
Hyeri nodded. "These symbols are used to seal something away. We need to be careful. Whatever's at the heart of this dungeon isn't just a regular boss. It's something much worse."
Donghyuk looked around warily. "Great. So what are we dealing with here, exactly?"
"I don't know yet," Hyeri admitted. "But we'll find out soon enough. Let's keep moving."
As they continued deeper into the dungeon, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The corridors became narrower, and the glowing runes grew more intricate, almost alive. It was clear now that this dungeon wasn't designed to be cleared—it was meant to keep something sealed inside.
Eventually, they reached a massive door, towering over them like a guardian to the secrets beyond. The door was covered in the same glowing runes, but these were different—stronger, more complex. Whatever was behind this door was the source of the dungeon's dark energy.
"This is it," Jinwoo said, his voice tense. "The boss is behind that door."
Donghyuk cracked his neck, ready for whatever was waiting. "Let's get this over with."
Hyeri, however, hesitated, staring at the runes. "Wait. These seals... They're designed to contain something powerful. If we break them, we could be unleashing whatever's trapped inside."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "We don't have a choice. If Jihoon wanted us to clear this dungeon, it means there's something here we need."
After a moment, Hyeri nodded, though the concern in her eyes remained. "Alright. But be ready for anything."
Jinwoo stepped forward and placed his hand on the door. As he pushed it open, the runes flared to life, glowing brighter than ever before. The heavy stone door creaked open, revealing a vast chamber bathed in a sinister red light.
At the center of the chamber stood a massive crystal, glowing with a malevolent energy. But that wasn't all. Encircling the crystal were chains of light, each link pulsing with magical energy, and within those chains was a figure—a figure that looked almost human, except for the dark aura that surrounded them.
Jinwoo's heart skipped a beat as he realized what they were looking at.
"That... That's no ordinary boss," Hyeri whispered, her voice filled with dread.
The figure inside the chains slowly raised its head, and its eyes locked onto Jinwoo's. A twisted smile spread across its face, and a voice—cold and menacing—echoed through the chamber.
"I've been waiting for you, Limitbreaker."
Jinwoo's blood ran cold. Whatever this thing was, it knew who he was. And it was waiting for him.
End of Chapter 5