Kai watched him leave for the cave but decided to follow. When the hunter noticed, he gave Kai a stern look.
"I told you to stay back," the hunter said firmly.
Kai met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I don't want to stay back. I want to get stronger to protect my family and friends. I can't just stand there helpless while everyone else fights for me. I want to be able to fight too."
The hunter's expression softened at Kai's words. He studied him for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh.
"Fine," the hunter said quietly, though his tone carried a warning. "But remember, this isn't a walk in the park. Normally, you'd go to the village first, gather items, learn skills, prepare yourself, and only then enter dungeons. Class changes are not for beginners."
"I understand," Kai replied firmly. "But I still want to follow you."
The hunter studied him, his gaze serious. "Then understand this: every step in here is dangerous."
Kai's resolve only deepened. "Yes, sir. But… could you tell me your name?"
The hunter paused, his gaze sharpening as though considering the request. After a moment, he said, "Call me Ren."
"And my name is Kai. Nice to meet you, Ren," Kai said, feeling slightly shy. He was ready to learn, no matter how difficult it would be. Ren, however, only stared in confusion, clearly uninterested in Kai's introduction. He turned and began moving deeper into the cave. Kai followed without hesitation.
The cave was damp and cold, water dripping from the stalactites above. A chilling air bit at Kai's skin. Suddenly, a monster emerged from the shadows, but before Kai could react, Ren moved like lightning. He intercepted the creature and felled it with a single punch, his bare fists striking with incredible force.
This set the tone for their journey. Monsters appeared at every turn, but Ren defeated them all with ease. Meanwhile, Kai carried their supplies and collected any items they found. On the first floor, they discovered an inventory cube, which Kai began using to store items. Feeling useless, Kai looked around for ways to contribute and prove his worth.
As they progressed, Ren's fists became bloodied, some of the blood was his own. Noticing the cuts on Ren's knuckles, Kai suggested they take a break. Sitting down, he carefully cleaned Ren's wounds and applied medicine from his bag to help them heal.
While treating Ren's injuries, Kai remembered the gun he'd stashed in his backpack. He pulled it out and handed it to Ren.
"Here," Kai offered. "Maybe use this instead of... punching everything."
Ren looked at the gun, then back at Kai, raising an eyebrow. After a moment, he nodded, testing the weapon's weight.
"Not bad, Kai. This might come in handy," Ren admitted.
Kai prepared a small meal for the two of them, his thoughts drifting to his siblings. Ren ate in silence but occasionally glanced at Kai, realizing that having him as a companion wasn't so bad. Kai handled the food, medical care, and supplies, leaving Ren free to focus on combat.
Noticing Ren's plate was empty, Kai offered him another serving, which Ren devoured in a single gulp. Afterward, they packed up and continued their exploration. The inventory cube lightened their load, and their luck didn't end there; they also discovered legendary crystals and rare items. Ren, in high spirits, jokingly called Kai his "lucky charm." Kai, however, was already thinking about how the materials could help them. Ren didn't mind as long as Kai made something tasty for him to eat.
After several hours, they reached a heavy door. Ren stopped and turned to Kai.
"Listen, behind this door is the boss room," Ren said gravely. "I need you to wait here. I don't want you getting hurt in there. Just come in after 10 minutes. By then, the boss will be weakened."
Kai nodded, wishing Ren good luck. Ren took some bullets from the inventory cube(bullets Kai had crafted whit resources) and stepped through the door. As it closed behind him with a heavy thud, a light appeared at the back of the chamber. Curious, Kai turned to see the source: a door materializing out of thin air. It was labeled Studies.
Kai's eyes widened. He had heard of these doors before, rare occurrences in dungeons, leading to hidden areas that could house powerful knowledge or items. Deciding to take a look, he stepped through.
Inside, he found himself in a vast library. At its center stood a pedestal with a glowing key. As Kai picked it up, a message appeared:
"The Library of Knowledge is now yours. Use this key on any door to enter or exit the library."
Kai stared at the key, feeling a sense of responsibility. Realizing the potential usefulness of the library, he stashed the key away. Checking the time, he hurried back to the boss room.
Kai entered just in time to see Ren land a massive blow on the creature, bringing it down. Ren stood victorious, though bloodied and breathing heavily. Kai noticed a stream of notifications on his interface:
"Congratulations! You have leveled up: Level 29."
Kai blinked in surprise. He hadn't fought a single monster, yet his level had skyrocketed. He glanced at his skills and noticed a new one: Library's Guardian, a passive ability that boosted team experience by 50%. Ren, too, seemed confused but didn't press the matter.
Ren received the "Reaper" class awakening quest and two powerful weapons: the Scythe of Death and the Twin Killers, a pair of guns. While Ren checked his new abilities, Kai moved to collect materials from the boss. Ren muttered something about "over-leveling" but quickly returned to studying his interface.
As they caught their breath, a radiant orb appeared in Kai's hand. A new message followed:
"Congratulations! You have unlocked a secret quest: 'Temple of the Angelic Tears.'"
Ren stared at the orb, intrigued. "A hidden quest? Those are rare. You should accept it. I'll help you.... I mean it says it's for two people, after all."
Kai nodded. "I accept."
The orb's glow enveloped them, transporting them deeper into the dungeon. This part of the cave was unlike anything they'd seen before ,a vast, illuminated cavern with a massive temple at its center. As they approached, two figures materialized before them: an angel and a dark angel. Before either could react, a system notification rang out:
"Secret Class Change Initiated: SSS+ Rank — 'Death of Darkness and Life of Light.' Part One Quest Accepted."
Before Ren could act, the light angel seized Kai and disappeared. The dark angel immediately attacked Ren, forcing him to fight. Ren gritted his teeth, realizing he'd need to defeat the dark angel before he could rescue Kai.
Kai found himself in a grand hall, seated before a chessboard. Across from him, the light angel gestured for him to play. Kai hesitated but understood this wasn't just a game—it was part of the quest. Reluctantly, he sat down and made his first move.
To his shock, every move he made seemed to affect Ren's battle. When he made a good move, a notification appeared:
"Ren's recovery increased by 10%."
Kai's heart raced. He realized the two events were connected. His focus sharpened, and he played with newfound determination, knowing Ren's survival depended on him.
Meanwhile, Ren was locked in a brutal fight. The dark angel was faster and stronger, but Ren refused to give up. Each of Kai's correct moves sent waves of energy that healed his wounds or slowed the dark angel's attacks. Ren, sensing the connection, fought harder, trusting Kai to hold his end of the challenge.
Finally, with one decisive move, Kai declared checkmate. The light angel smiled, her form dissolving into light. At the same time, Ren landed a finishing blow, defeating the dark angel. Both figures vanished, leaving behind radiant orbs of energy that enveloped Kai and Ren.
A system notification rang out:
"Challenge Completed! Class Change Confirmed."
Ren unlocked the Death Reaper class, while Kai unlocked the Angelic Life class. Both felt their newfound power coursing through them, their status panels glowing with updated abilities.
Ren smirked, exhausted but victorious. "Next time, I want to play chess."
Kai laughed, relieved. "Yeah, if I can handle an angel, I think I can handle you."
As they walked back toward the temple's exit, a voice echoed:
"Congratulations! Quest update: New powers will unlock every five levels. At level 100, a new quest will be available, and an ultimate skill will be revealed."
Before they could respond, another notification appeared:
"Level Up!"
Kai: Level 35 — New Skill: Instant Healing (Heal all ailments and restore 50% HP of a player 3 times daily).
Ren: Level 36 — New Skill: Thorns (Reflect 10% damage every 5 minutes upon taking a hit; usable once per encounter).
As they stepped out of the temple, and both of them made the way to the cave entrance.