The day after evolving his Cursed Beast, Jaeho found himself standing on the rooftop of his apartment, looking out at the sprawling skyline of Seoul. The wind tugged at his hair as he gazed out at the city, the same city he had lived in for most of his life, but everything felt different now. With each passing day, the world seemed to be shifting, as if he was on the edge of something monumental. He could feel the weight of it, the pressure of the unknown.
Kyra had left early that morning to meet with some of her contacts, leaving Jaeho to contemplate what had happened. He had evolved his Cursed Beast again, and though it had been exhilarating, he couldn't shake the sense that something had changed within him too. He could feel the beast's power coursing through him, mingling with his own growing strength, but it wasn't just physical. The connection between them was deeper now, more profound. The beast had become an extension of him, and he of it.
"Jaeho," Kyra's voice came from behind him, pulling him from his thoughts. "We need to talk."
He turned, seeing her approaching with a serious expression on her face. Her gaze flickered briefly to the Cursed Beast, now standing just inside the doorway, its eyes glowing faintly with power. It had adjusted quickly to its new form, and Jaeho could see the increased confidence in its stance.
"What's going on?" Jaeho asked, noting the tension in her voice.
Kyra crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. "I've been talking to some people. The dungeons have started to spawn more frequently. It's happening all over the country. And the beasts... they're getting stronger. Faster. More dangerous."
Jaeho's brows furrowed. "More dangerous? How so?"
"The creatures in the dungeons are evolving too," she said, her voice lowering. "The ones we've been hunting, the ones we've tamed—they're not the same anymore. They've adapted, and some of them are... smarter. More strategic. It's like they've gained an edge."
Jaeho frowned. "That doesn't make sense. If the beasts are evolving faster, that means they're adapting to the system, not the other way around."
"Exactly," Kyra said, her gaze hardening. "And I think the system might be changing too. I don't think we're the only ones noticing it. There are whispers—people are starting to talk about the dungeons and what's happening inside them. It's not just about leveling up anymore. There's something bigger happening."
Jaeho's heart skipped a beat. The idea of the system changing, evolving beyond its original parameters, was both thrilling and terrifying. He had been pushing the boundaries himself, experimenting with his creatures and their evolution, but this? This was something different. The system was no longer predictable.
"I need to look into this," Jaeho said, his voice firm.
Kyra nodded. "We'll need more information. I'm meeting with a contact who claims to have found an anomaly in one of the dungeons—a new type of beast, one that shouldn't even exist."
Jaeho's mind immediately began working, piecing together the information. A new type of beast? Something that wasn't supposed to exist? This was the break they needed, the clue that could lead them to understanding what was really happening. The system, the beasts, and even the dungeons—they were all part of a puzzle, and Jaeho was determined to solve it.
"Where's the dungeon?" Jaeho asked, already reaching for his gear.
"I'll send you the coordinates," Kyra replied. "But be careful, Jaeho. This is different. Whatever we're dealing with, it's not like the normal beasts we've faced before."
Jaeho gave her a reassuring smile, though a part of him felt uneasy. "I'll be fine. I'm stronger now. And I'm not going alone."
Kyra raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, she handed him a small tablet, and Jaeho quickly input the coordinates, studying the map that appeared on the screen. It wasn't far from the city, about an hour's drive out toward the outskirts, where the landscape grew more rugged and untamed.
"I'll meet you there," Kyra said before turning and heading for the door.
Jaeho stood there for a moment, looking down at the tablet in his hand. His heart was pounding in his chest, excitement and anxiety swirling within him. This was the next step. It had to be. If there were beasts out there that were evolving in ways that shouldn't be possible, then this was a chance to learn, to understand how far the system had gone. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to harness that power.
The journey to the dungeon site was tense. Jaeho had always been cautious when dealing with unknown beasts, but today felt different. With the Cursed Beast by his side and his growing powers, he felt almost invincible. But the uneasy feeling in his gut remained, gnawing at him.
As the cityscape began to fade into the distance, the land around them became more wild. The buildings gave way to rolling hills and thick forests. The area was known for its dangerous creatures, but none had been recorded like the one Kyra's contact described.
When they arrived, the entrance to the dungeon was a simple, unassuming cave nestled between two rocky cliffs. A group of hunters had already gathered around the entrance, their faces grim, their equipment polished and ready for action. Jaeho could feel the tension in the air as he approached them, his senses on high alert.
"What's the situation?" he asked one of the hunters, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek.
"We've had no luck," the man replied, his voice low. "The beasts inside are unlike anything we've seen before. They're evolving too quickly for us to handle. We've lost a few good people already."
Jaeho's heart tightened. Losing experienced hunters wasn't something to take lightly, and it only confirmed what Kyra had said—this was no ordinary dungeon.
"I'm going in," Jaeho said, stepping forward. "I'll handle it."
The hunter looked at him skeptically. "You sure about that? It's not like the other dungeons."
Jaeho didn't respond. Instead, he simply nodded and turned toward the cave entrance. The Cursed Beast was already at his side, its dark form blending into the shadows, its glowing eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement.
He could feel the power inside the dungeon. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The air felt thick with energy, heavy with the promise of danger. But he was ready. He had to be.
As he stepped inside the cave, the temperature dropped, and the darkness closed in around him. The dungeon had a sense of foreboding, and Jaeho could sense the presence of creatures watching them from the shadows.
"This is it," Jaeho whispered to himself. "Let's see what you've got."
With a deep breath, he signaled to the Cursed Beast to move forward, the beast's form shifting in the dim light as they ventured deeper into the unknown. The deeper they went, the more intense the air became, thick with the scent of something ancient and powerful. Whatever lay ahead was not going to be easy.
But Jaeho was ready for whatever the dungeon had in store. The tides of change were upon them, and he would not back down.