Tae-min sat atop a pile of crumbled rock, surrounded by the twisted remains of horned bat-like creatures. Their grotesque forms littered the ground, their dark, leathery wings torn and their glowing crimson eyes now dull and lifeless. Almost sixty of them lay scattered in various states of dismemberment, their claws still twitching as the last vestiges of their unnatural energy dissipated into the thick, sulfurous air.
The dimension was a realm of jagged obsidian peaks and molten rivers, a suffocating red haze hanging over the horizon like a bleeding sky. Shadows danced unnaturally, as if alive, twisting in response to the energy rippling through the air. The oppressive heat bore down on him, making every breath feel like inhaling fire.
Tae-min's breathing was ragged, his chest heaving as if his lungs were about to collapse. His obsidian blade rested limply in his left hand, its surface pulsating with a faint glow, while his right hand struggled to wipe away the relentless sweat dripping from his face.
[System Notification]
Dimension Rift Cleared.
Enemies Eliminated: 60
Elite Rift Bat Alpha Eliminated: 1
Experience Gained: 14,800
Integration: 35%
Reminder: Class Evolution is locked until Protocol Integration reaches 50%.
"All this…" Tae-min muttered, his voice hoarse and dripping with exhaustion, "And I haven't even reached 50%, huh?"
The system didn't reply. The only sound was the eerie silence of the unstable dimension, broken occasionally by the faint crackling of molten lava far below.
Suddenly, another notification appeared, its tone sharper, more urgent:
[System Notification]
Dimension Unstable. User Exiting Dimension Now.
Before Tae-min could respond, the world around him began to fracture. The jagged obsidian peaks crumbled into nothingness, the molten rivers froze mid-flow, and the crimson sky split like shattered glass. Pieces of the dimension dissolved into streams of light, spiraling upward into a void that seemed to stretch into infinity.
Tae-min's body felt weightless as the ground beneath him vanished. A sensation like being pulled through water engulfed him, his surroundings rapidly fading to black.
Tae-min reappeared in his living room, collapsing onto the couch with a groan. The soft cushions welcomed his battered body as he closed his eyes, relishing the momentary respite. After a while, he forced himself up, shuffling into the bathroom to wash off the grime and blood that clung to his skin.
The cool water cascading over him felt like a blessing, soothing his sore muscles and clearing his foggy mind. When he emerged, a towel draped over his shoulders, he was startled to see Ju-won casually lounging on his couch, scrolling through his phone.
"What the hell? How did you even get in?" Tae-min exclaimed, glaring at his friend.
Ju-won grinned without looking up. "I have my ways, bro. Lol."
"You're unbelievable." Tae-min rolled his eyes, tossing the towel aside.
"Hurry up and get dressed," Ju-won said, ignoring the protest.
"Get dressed? For what?" Tae-min asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Ju-won's grin widened. "Have you forgotten? Mia's back."
"Mia?" Tae-min repeated, his brow furrowing as the name struck a chord.
Ju-won smirked knowingly. "You know, Mia. The girl you were head over heels for back in high school."
"Oh…" Tae-min muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "I thought she moved to America for college."
"She did," Ju-won replied, sitting up. "But she's back now, dummy. Want to hear something crazy?"
"What?"
"She's a B-class hunter now."
Tae-min blinked in disbelief. "B-class hunter? Mia? Back then, she couldn't even kill a mosquito!"
Ju-won laughed, slapping his knee. "I know, right? Life's full of surprises. Now hurry up and get dressed, or we'll be late."
Tae-min turned toward his bedroom but paused, glancing over his shoulder. "By the way, when did you start noticing people's gym routines?"
Ju-won raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"You asked about me gyming," Tae-min replied with a smirk.
"Oh, that!" Ju-won waved a hand dismissively. "You've been looking… bulkier lately. Thought you finally took my advice."
Tae-min chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, something like that."
He disappeared into his room, rummaging through his wardrobe for something presentable. As he pulled on a clean shirt, he muttered to himself, "A B-class hunter, huh? Guess I'm not the only one who's changed."
The streets of Seoul bustled with life as neon signs flickered above the crowded sidewalks. Jun-hee, Min Soo, and Ji-hoon walked together, their footsteps echoing softly in the crisp evening air.
"So, you killed a King, huh?" Min Soo said, adjusting his jacket as he glanced at Jun-hee. "That's pretty impressive, even for an A-class hunter."
Jun-hee rolled her eyes. "Don't make a big deal out of it, Min Soo."
Ji-hoon chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "But seriously, what's the deal with that Tae-min kid? I mean, he survived an Archfiend. That's no small feat."
Jun-hee shrugged, keeping her expression neutral. "The kid's fine. Nothing strange about him."
"Really?" Ji-hoon arched a brow. "Because surviving something like that as a D-class healer is practically unheard of."
Jun-hee's gaze hardened slightly, but she didn't respond, her silence making the air feel heavier.
Min Soo broke the tension with a groan. "Alright, but seriously, where is this party? We've been walking for twenty minutes. Who is this girl, anyway?"
"She's a friend of mine," Jun-hee replied, her tone softening. "Mia. We met during the hunter trainee program. She's an international B-class hunter now."
"B-class, huh?" Min Soo said, nodding thoughtfully. "Impressive. But why is she throwing a party?"
"She just got back from the States and wanted to reconnect," Jun-hee said with a small smile. "It's not every day you see someone go from barely passing the program to a B-class hunter."
Ji-hoon smirked. "Sounds like a real underdog story. Let's just hope the party's worth the walk."
Jun-hee glanced ahead, spotting a brightly lit venue with a sleek exterior. "We're here."
Min Soo looked up, his expression brightening. "Finally. Let's see what this international hunter has to offer."
The trio approached the entrance, their curiosity piqued as music and laughter spilled out into the street.
As Jun-hee, Min Soo, and Ji-hoon approached the brightly lit entrance, they slowed their pace, taking in the sleek design of the venue. The sound of music and laughter grew louder, spilling into the street like an invitation. Just as they reached the door, another pair of figures emerged from the shadows of the bustling sidewalk.
Tae-min and Ju-won.
Jun-hee's eyes widened slightly when she saw him. "Tae-min?" she called out, her voice carrying over the faint hum of the nightlife.
Tae-min turned at the sound, his tired yet familiar smile appearing as he raised a hand to wave. "Hey, hi."
The two groups converged near the entrance, Tae-min and Ju-won stepping up to join them.
"What are you doing here?" Jun-hee asked a flicker of curiosity in her tone.
"To see a long-time class friend," Tae-min replied nonchalantly.
Jun-hee tilted her head slightly as if searching for hidden meaning in his words. Then, she nodded. "Oh, okay. Tae-min, these are Min Soo and Park Ji-hoon." She gestured to the two men beside her. "You guys, this is the famous Tae-min."
Min Soo grinned and extended a hand. "What's up, dude?"
Tae-min shook his hand, offering a polite nod. Ji-hoon, however, simply scanned Tae-min from head to toe, his sharp eyes glinting with an unreadable expression. He didn't say a word, but the intensity of his gaze lingered just long enough to be noticeable.
"Well, Tae-min, we'll see you inside," Jun-hee said after an awkward beat. She led the group through the entrance, the sleek doors opening to swallow them into the lively interior.
Tae-min turned to Ju-won as the door closed behind them.
"Dude, do you know who those people were?" Ju-won asked, his voice dropping slightly as he leaned in.
"Who?" Tae-min replied, raising an eyebrow.
Ju-won gestured dramatically toward the doors. "Those two guys are S-rank hunters. Min Soo and Park Ji-hoon. Literal legends, dude!"
"Wow." Tae-min blinked, his face remaining neutral. "Okay. Can we go in now?"
Ju-won rolled his eyes. "You're unbelievable, man."
Together, they headed toward the entrance, the muffled sound of music growing louder as the night promised to unfold in unexpected ways.
The lifeless bodies of D-class hunters littered the ground of the dimly lit dungeon. Pools of blood seeped into the cracked stone floor, and the air was thick with the stench of death. Among the corpses, one hunter remained alive, trembling, his back pressed against the cold dungeon wall as his breath came in shallow gasps.
"Please, don't kill me. Please," the man, Sang-ho, stammered, tears streaming down his face. He crawled backward, his hands slipping on the blood-slicked ground.
Standing before him was Jin Hak—a towering figure radiating pure malice. His eyes glowed an unnatural red, and his twisted smile revealed a thirst for carnage. Blood stained his hands and face, but he seemed unfazed, even invigorated, by the slaughter.
"Why wouldn't I kill you?" Jin Hak's voice was cold and mocking. "You're weak. All D-class hunters are weaklings. By the time I'm done with your kind, I'll move on to C-class. Then B-class. I'll kill them all."
Sang-ho's voice broke as he sobbed, shaking his head. "Hunters don't kill hunters. This… this isn't right. Please, spare me."
Jin Hak let out a deranged laugh, his voice echoing in the cavernous dungeon. "Spare you? Do you think weaklings like you deserve mercy? I'm purging this world. A world where only the strong will rule. No room for cowards."
"You've killed almost twenty of us in just seconds," Sang-ho whimpered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, I—"
"Enough!" Jin Hak's voice thundered, cutting Sang-ho off. "I can't let you live. You've seen my greatness. You'd spread your pathetic cries for help to the rest of your kind. No, you'll die here, just like the others."
Sang-ho's survival instincts kicked in, and he scrambled to his feet, bolting deeper into the dungeon. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as his boots splashed through puddles of blood and water. He didn't dare look back, but dread clung to him like a shadow.
Then, silence.
He slowed for a moment, breathing heavily. When he glanced over his shoulder, Jin Hak was nowhere to be seen. Relief flickered in his chest, but it was short-lived.
As Sang-ho turned his gaze forward again, his blood ran cold. Jin Hak stood before him, his glowing eyes piercing through the dim light. A wicked smile stretched across his face, his crimson-stained hands flexing.
"How—?" Sang-ho gasped, stumbling backward.
Jin Hak didn't answer. With inhuman speed, he lunged forward, his hand wrapping around Sang-ho's neck. He hoisted him off the ground with ease, his grip tightening as Sang-ho struggled and clawed at his arm.
"You dare fight back?" Jin Hak sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're even more pathetic than I thought."
Sang-ho's vision blurred as he gasped for air, his strength fading rapidly.
Jin Hak's laugh was cruel and unhinged. "Goodbye, peasant."
With a sickening crunch, Jin Hak twisted Sang-ho's neck, the sound echoing in the dungeon like the snap of a dry twig. He tossed the body aside like a rag doll, the lifeless head rolling across the blood-soaked floor.
Standing amidst the carnage, Jin Hak tilted his head back and laughed maniacally, the blood on his face glistening in the dim dungeon light.
"I shall cleanse this world of weaklings," Jin Hak declared, his voice echoing in the empty dungeon. "Only the strong deserve to live. And I… I will reign supreme."