[Panel 1]
The chapter opens with Kang Joon and his D-rank party trudging through a dense, desolate forest. The trees are gnarled and lifeless, their bark etched with strange, glowing runes. The group is silent, save for the crunch of dead leaves beneath their boots.
Narrator :
"The path to the Edge was not for the faint of heart. The closer they drew, the more the world itself seemed to twist and shift, as though the Abyss was watching."
[Panel 2]
Kang Joon lags behind, struggling to keep up under the weight of his satchel. His armor rattles faintly with each step.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"Why did I take this job? The pay isn't worth the feeling of dread gnawing at me. It's like… something is waiting for us."
[Panel 3]
Minsoo (party leader) halts suddenly, raising a hand to signal the group. Ahead lies the entrance to the dungeon—an ominous black cavern surrounded by faintly glowing crystals. The air around it crackles with dark energy, sending shivers down the spines of even the seasoned adventurers.
Minsoo (serious tone):
"This is it. The Edge Dungeon. Everyone, stay alert. Fluctuating mana means unpredictable threats."
[Panel 4]
The youngest party member, a cocky swordsman named Ray, scoffs as he unsheathes his blade.
Ray (Swordsman) :
"It's just an E-rank dungeon. We've handled worse. Let's get this over with."
[Panel 5]
Kang Joon hesitates at the entrance, staring into the pitch-black abyss of the dungeon. He grips the straps of his satchel tightly, his heart pounding in his chest.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"Why does this feel different? Like… this place is alive."
[Panel 6]
As the group steps into the dungeon, the panel shifts to an overhead view of the cavern's interior. The walls pulse faintly with red light, and an eerie whispering sound fills the air, barely audible yet unmistakable.
Narrator :
"The Edge Dungeons were unlike any other—formed from the Abyss itself, they defied the natural laws of Bluestar."
---
Inside the Dungeon
[Panel 7]
The group moves cautiously through the twisting corridors, their footsteps echoing unnaturally. Kang Joon trails behind, his eyes darting to every shadow.
Healer (whispering):
"These runes on the walls… they're ancient. I've never seen anything like them before."
[Panel 8]
Kang Joon stops abruptly, his gaze fixed on a faint glimmer deep within the shadows. His breathing quickens.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"Was that… a face? No, I'm imagining things. I need to focus."
[Panel 9]
Minsoo's voice cuts through the tension.
Minsoo (gruffly):
"Eyes forward, porter! If you can't handle the pressure, leave now. We don't need dead weight."
[Panel 10]
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembles, and a low growl reverberates through the cavern. The runes on the walls glow brighter, their light flickering erratically.
Minsoo (shouting):
"Something's coming! Mana fluctuations are off the charts!"
---
The Encounter
[Panel 11]
The group forms a defensive circle, weapons drawn, as an Abyssal creature emerges from the darkness. Its form is an abomination—a hulking mass of corrupted flesh and sticky, undulating liquid. Glowing Abyssal tendrils pulsate from its body like living veins.
Ray (panicked):
"What the hell is that thing?! It doesn't feel like a normal slime, does it?"
Close-up panel of the creature's glowing tendrils snapping in the air like whips, oozing a corrosive liquid that sizzles upon contact with the ground.
[Panel 12]
The creature lashes out with its sticky tendrils, hissing through the air with unnatural speed. Ray barely dodges, stumbling back with wide eyes as the tendril grazes his armor, leaving a faint burn.
Minsoo (commanding):
"Focus! Form up and follow the plan—we're taking this thing down!"
Focus shifts to the group, their faces tense as they brace for the creature's next move. The glowing tendrils seem to anticipate their actions, swaying ominously.
[Panel 13]
As the group battles the creature, Kang Joon is frozen in place, his mind racing. He notices something strange—a faint, pulsating light deep within the monster's chest.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"That light… it's like the runes on the walls. Could that be its core?"
---
The Turning Point
[Panel 14]
Gathering his courage, Kang Joon shouts to the others.
Kang Joon (desperately):
"Go for the chest! That's where its core is!"
[Panel 15]
Minsoo hesitates for a moment before barking orders.
Minsoo (Party Leader) :
"You heard the kid! Aim for the core!"
[Panel 16]
The group focuses their attacks on the creature's chest. The healer Amy chants a spell, amplifying the Ray's sword strike.
Minsoo launched a fireball spell supporting the assassin lady form other side.The core shatters, and the creature lets out an ear-splitting roar before collapsing into a heap.
---
The Aftermath
[Panel 17]
The group exhales deeply, their exhaustion palpable. The swordsman wipes his brow, while Amy (healer) shakily lowers her staff.
Erynn,(D rank elf assassin) remains silent, her eyes hidden beneath the layers of cloth strips wrapped around her face resembling a typical assassin from mangas. Her chest rises and falls with labored breaths, the strain of the battle taking its toll. Though she stands tall, there's a subtle tremble in her posture as she steadies herself, a reminder of the battle's weight.
Minsoo glances briefly at Kang Joon, his face unreadable, but his eyes seem to linger for just a moment longer than usual.
Minsoo (panting) :
"Not bad, porter. Maybe you're not completely useless after all."
[Panel 18]
Kang Joon doesn't respond. His gaze remains fixed on the remnants of the Abyssal creature. Amidst the broken mass of its corrupted body, a small shard pulses with an eerie, inner light. His fingers twitch as they reach for it. The others are too focused on catching their breath to notice, but Kang Joon feels a cold tingle at the back of his neck—a warning he can't shake.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"What is this…? It's like its calling to me."
Narrator (text box):
"In that moment, Kang Joon felt something stir within him—a faint echo of the Abyss, whispering secrets that could change his fate."
[Panel 19]
The group begins to shuffle toward the exit, their steps heavy with the weight of the encounter. As they pass through the darkened doorway, Kang Joon lingers, casting one last glance over the cavern. He slips the glowing shard into his satchel, feeling its unnatural warmth against his skin. For a moment, he hesitates, the feeling of unease growing stronger.
Kang Joon (thought bubble):
"What is it about this shard? It doesn't feel like anything I've ever touched before… like it's more than just an object."
[Panel 20]
The group steps out into the harsh, cracked landscape, each footstep echoing in the silence that follows their battle. The air feels heavier, almost suffocating. The sky above is an oppressive gray, and the once-vibrant surroundings of the dungeon entrance now seem tainted. A palpable weight hangs in the air, the remnants of the Abyss clinging to their senses.
Erynn - Elf Assassin (looking away, speaking quietly):
Something feels off. "Aren't slimes one of the most harmless creatures find anywhere in Alferia? Aren't they used in sewage cleaning and waste treatment?"
[Panel 21]
Minsoo halts abruptly, his eyes darkening as Erynn speaks. The rest of the group falls silent, the tension in the air thickening. He turns slowly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Minsoo (low, serious tone):
"Slimes… you think this was just a simple slime? You don't know anything about the Abyss Impulse.
[Panel 22]
The group huddles closer, their faces etched with worry as the party leader speaks. His voice is grim, full of hard-earned knowledge. The atmosphere grows tense, thick with the weight of his words.
Minsoo :
"The Abyssal corruption isn't any magic poisoning. It's a force, like an infection. Non-living things—magic or machines—lose their usefulness. But living things? They become twisted, driven by the Abyss's will. The only thing left inside them… is death."
Kang Joon (curious):
"Is there anyone who survived… the corruption?"
Minsoo (chuckling darkly):
"There are exceptions—people who survive, but they pay a heavy price. They lose their skill, their magic, their inheritance, and sometimes their very essence. Some end up with nothing but the Abyss's influence. And when that happens, you're no longer alive, you will feel utter helplessness."
[Panel 23]
The camera zooms in on Erynn's face, her features obscured by the layers of white cloth that wrap around her. Her eyes flicker with something—recognition, perhaps fear—before she quickly turns her head, the cloth strips rustling faintly. Her grip tightens around her blade, knuckles turning white as she tries to suppress a tremor.
Minsoo :
Enough talking. Rest up. Tomorrow's another dungeon—hopefully, one that doesn't play tricks on us. We've had enough surprises for today.
End of Chapter 3.
"To be continued…"
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