Chapter 12 - Haunted Cavern Assessment

The Association's staff member rubbed his temples anxiously, as the minutes stretched into an eternity. The monitors displaying the status of the Gate showed no changes, and the team of fifteen hunters that had entered the E-Rank Gate twelve hours earlier had yet to return. His fingers trembled as he picked up the receiver to contact the Gate Information Division.

Staff Member: "This is Post 37. We have an emergency. The hunter group that entered the E-Rank Gate at 7:40 a.m. hasn't returned. It's been twelve hours."

The voice on the other end of the line remained calm but firm.

Gate Information Operator: "Acknowledged. Connecting you with the Gate Information Division."

Seconds felt like an eternity before a new voice answered.

Gate Information Officer: "Report your status."

The staff member provided a detailed account of the situation, careful not to omit anything. When he finished, there was a moment of silence, followed by a decisive response.

 Officer: "We are dispatching Team Delta. Expect their arrival."

The staff member nodded, though no one could see it. His heart tightened with anxiety, but deep down, he felt a sense of relief knowing that professionals were taking over.

Exactly ten minutes later, a black car bearing the Association's emblem pulled up in front of the building. The doors opened, and five hunters stepped out. Their strides were purposeful, their expressions cold and focused. The team was led by Gi Min Ji, an A-Rank hunter renowned for her composure and impeccable record within the Association.

The staff member hurried out to meet them, nervously wringing his hands. He knew he was in the presence of experts, yet he couldn't quell his unease.

Staff Member: "Welcome. I'm glad you arrived so quickly."

Gi Min Ji (coldly): "We're not here for pleasantries. Report."

Her voice was firm, and the staff member immediately understood the need for precision. He began recounting everything he knew: the time of the group's entry, their composition, the specific features of the dungeon, and the fact that there had been no contact for twelve hours.

Staff Member: "We observed nothing unusual at the entrance. The scanners showed stability. But perhaps something happened inside."

Gi Min Ji: "Perhaps, or something did. There's a significant difference."

She turned to her subordinates. Two A-Rank hunters and three B-Rank hunters stood silently, their postures conveying readiness. Gi Min Ji gave a curt command.

Gi Min Ji: "We're moving in."

She glanced back at the staff member and added:

Gi Min Ji: "Stay at your post. If you notice anything unusual or receive a signal from the missing team, report it immediately."

The team approached the Gate. Gi Min Ji conducted a swift assessment. The Gate remained open, which meant that the boss inside had not been defeated, or that something was actively preventing the Gate from closing.

Gi Min Ji (addressing the team): "The group consisted of fifteen individuals. Five of them were unaffiliated with any guild. Be prepared for casualties or... infections."

A-Rank Hunter (nodding): "Understood."

One of the B-Rank hunters, a young man with short-cropped hair, asked quietly:

B-Rank Hunter: "What if we encounter infected?"

Gi Min Ji (coldly): "Eliminate them. No exceptions."

Her team nodded without hesitation. They were accustomed to such orders. Gi Min Ji raised her hand, signaling the advance. One by one, the hunters stepped through the Gate, disappearing into its bluish glow.

Inside, the team found themselves in a long corridor, illuminated by an eerie blue light emanating from crystals embedded in the walls. The air was frigid and damp, and the oppressive silence hung heavily over them.

Gi Min Ji: "We'll split up. Two move ahead, three with me. Proceed slowly and scan every area."

The hunters drew their weapons, prepared for whatever they might find. As they moved forward, they came across clear signs of battle: shattered crystals, splatters of blood on the walls, and unmistakable evidence of a fierce fight. Yet, there were no bodies.

A-Rank Hunter: "There was a fight here. But where are the bodies?"

Gi Min Ji, scrutinizing the traces closely, replied:

Gi Min Ji: "They either moved further in, or..."

B-Rank Hunter (interrupting): — "Or the monsters took them."

Gi Min Ji turned to the hunter, her gaze as cold as ice.

Gi Min Ji: "Do not jump to conclusions. Keep searching."

Gi Min Ji (in a hushed tone): "Something is definitely off here…"

Then, they heard it — a deep, labored breathing reverberating through the stone corridors.

Leading the way, Gi Min Ji scanned every crevice of the narrow passage with her sharp eyes. The crystalline walls reflected dim light, creating an unsettling illusion of movement. The team moved in silence, each hunter focused intently on their surroundings.

A-Rank Hunter: "The blood trails go deeper. It looks like the previous group tried to retreat."

Gi Min Ji: "Maintain formation. Examine everything—every crevice, every trace."

They moved cautiously, pausing at every suspicious mark or irregularity. Deep gouges marred the walls, as though something massive and clawed had slashed through them. Crystal shards lay scattered across the ground, shattered from powerful impacts.

Gi Min Ji (whispering): "This place tells a story. We need to piece it together."

Eventually, they reached a vast hall, dimly illuminated by a faint blue luminescence emanating from crystalline formations blanketing the walls and ceiling. The air here was frigid, and an oppressive silence engulfed the space.

B-Rank Hunter (looking around uneasily): "This place was a battlefield. Look at the damage—it tells a whole story."

Gi Min Ji raised her hand, signaling the others to halt. She stepped forward, her eyes methodically scanning the entire hall. She moved deliberately, analyzing every detail.

Her gaze was immediately drawn to the crystals scattered across the floor. There were far too many — more than one would expect even after a boss battle. Their shimmer was unusual, glowing as if from an internal energy.

Gi Min Ji: "These crystals are not typical…"

She made her way to the far side of the hall, where she found the first body. The hunter had been pinned to the wall by an enormous crystal spike. His face was contorted in a final scream of agony, and his blood had frozen into a thin, glistening crust.

Gi Min Ji (out loud): "He was caught off guard. The force of the strike… it was instantaneous. He likely didn't even realize what hit him."

Moving along the wall, she came across a second body, buried beneath a pile of crystals. The hunter's bones were shattered, and his weapon lay just out of reach.

Gi Min Ji: "Another one… crushed. Judging by the damage, it happened when the ceiling collapsed."

She approached the third body, which had been cleanly bisected. The hunter's eyes were wide, frozen in terror, and his shattered sword lay beside him — a futile attempt to parry the blow.

Gi Min Ji (coldly): "This cut… it's too precise for a creature of this rank. This looks like the work of someone from their own group."

Further on, she came across another site. On the ground lay only the hunter's clothing and weapon, both covered with a thin layer of frost. The body was nowhere to be found.

A-Rank Hunter: "No body. Did they… disintegrate?"

Gi Min Ji: "Or frozen to dust. This wasn't the boss's doing."

At last, she found Lee Chan Min. His body was slumped against the wall, lifeless. Both his arms and his right leg had been severed, leaving streaks of blood across the floor. His face bore a mix of agony and determination, as if he had fought until his very last breath.

Gi Min Ji (in a whisper): "He… tried to survive. From the traces, he must have lost his limbs during the battle but managed to make it here. This was his final stand."

She paused momentarily, staring at the fallen hunter before standing upright and turning toward her team.

Gi Min Ji: "Collect everything you can. We need more clues."

One of the hunters approached the center of the hall, where an unusually large pile of crystals lay. They were almost unnaturally beautiful, too perfect in form. Gi Min Ji frowned as she approached them.

B-Rank Hunter: "This is… strange. Why are there so many?"

Gi Min Ji: "It's a trap."

She picked up one of the crystals, scrutinizing it closely. It emitted a soft blue light but felt strangely insubstantial, almost as if it lacked real weight.

Gi Min Ji (quietly): "Too fragile to be genuine."

She tightened her grip, and the crystal crumbled into a fine dust, dissipating into the air. The surrounding hunters froze in shock.

A-Rank Hunter: "Is this… fake?"

Gi Min Ji: "Exactly. These crystals are decoys. Real boss crystals do not disintegrate like this. Whoever left these wanted the hunters to collect them… to set them up as the next targets."

Her voice remained steady, almost detached. She looked up at her team, her expression unwavering.

Gi Min Ji: "We're dealing with something far more complex than an E-Rank Gate. Keep searching."

She clenched her fists, her gaze narrowing in concentration. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to take shape in her mind, though far too many questions still lingered unanswered.