The warm buzz of conversation and clinking glasses filled the room as the party came alive. Standing by the window, Mia grinned at Tae Min, her hazel eyes sparkling with nostalgia. Her blonde hair framed her face as she crossed her arms casually over her black trousers and simple top.
"Wow, Tae Min. How many years has it been? And look at you—how much you've changed," she said with a teasing smile. "Don't tell me you're hitting the gym now."
Tae Min chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look at you. Done with college, and now you're a hunter? Talk about unexpected."
"I'll leave you two to catch up," Ju Won said with a wink before disappearing into the crowd.
Tae Min turned back to Mia. "I didn't even know gates appeared overseas. I always thought they were just a Korean thing."
Mia leaned against the windowsill, her expression thoughtful. "From what I've seen, gates appear in every country, though the intensity and frequency seem to vary. It's a global issue, Tae Min. It always has been."
Tae Min raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised. "That's… shocking. Makes everything feel even bigger, doesn't it?"
Mia nodded, then grinned slyly. "Enough about that. Tell me, what have you been up to? Don't tell me you're still a D-class healer."
Tae Min gave her a sheepish smile. "I'm still a D-class healer."
They both laughed, the easy familiarity of old friends easing the awkwardness of years apart.
"For someone with a build like yours, you could pass for a high-ranked hunter," Mia said, tilting her head in curiosity.
Across the room, Jun Hee stood near the refreshments with Min Soo and Ji-Hoon, her sharp eyes darting toward Tae Min and Mia.
"What's with those two?" Jun Hee muttered, her voice low enough to stay between the three of them.
Min Soo shrugged, his relaxed demeanor unchanged. "I mean, the kid seems cool to me. There's nothing wrong with him."
Jun Hee's expression twisted into a faint scowl. "I didn't say there was something wrong with him."
Ji-Hoon smirked, glancing sideways at her. "You've been watching him a lot tonight. Do you… have a crush on the kid?"
"What?!" Jun Hee's reaction was immediate, her voice rising just slightly. "Of course not! Why would I—he's just a D-class healer, for crying out loud. Really?"
Min Soo stifled a chuckle, raising his glass. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Jun Hee."
Ji-Hoon grinned, his teasing unrelenting. "Right. No interest at all. Believable."
Jun Hee groaned, turning away, but the faint flush in her cheeks betrayed her irritation—or perhaps something more.
The atmosphere at the party grew even livelier, with music and laughter filling the space as more guests arrived. Mia leaned closer to Tae Min, her smile softening as she asked, "And how is Ji-A?"
Tae Min's expression darkened slightly, and he let out a weary sigh. "She's still ill. Nothing the doctors can do."
Mia placed a comforting hand on his arm. "She'll be alright, Tae Min. I remember it was because of her that you became a healer in the first place. Everything will work out eventually."
"I hope so," Tae Min replied, his voice heavy with lingering worry.
Meanwhile, Jun Hee stood with Min Soo and Ji-Hoon near the bar, scanning the room impatiently. "Where the hell is Jin Hak? He was supposed to be here ages ago," she muttered.
Min Soo smirked, sipping his drink. "I don't even get that guy sometimes. Always making an entrance."
The entrance doors finally swung open, and Jin Hak strode in, dressed in a sharp black suit that fit him perfectly. His chiseled features and confident aura immediately turned heads, drawing the attention of nearly every woman in the room.
He waved casually at Jun Hee as he approached the group.
"You're always late," Jun Hee said, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, not proper at all," Min Soo added, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
Jin Hak raised his hands in apology, flashing a charismatic grin. "My bad, my bad. Little bump on the road, but I'm here now. So, where's the party girl?"
Mia's face lit up when she spotted Jin Hak. "Hey, Jin Hak is here!" she exclaimed, grabbing Tae Min by the wrist and dragging him across the room.
Tae Min glanced over his shoulder at Jun Hee as they passed, and their eyes briefly met, both exchanging a wary look before continuing.
When they reached Jin Hak, Mia gestured enthusiastically. "Hey, Tae Min, meet my friends—Jun Hee, Min Soo, and Ji-Hoon."
Tae min nodded at the group. "Oh, I saw them when I came in. But hi again."
"And," Mia added with a proud smile, "this is my boyfriend, Jin Hak."
"Boyfriend?" Tae Min repeated, blinking in surprise.
"Yeah," Mia said, her voice light. "He's an A-class hunter, and they say he's on track to become S-class very soon."
"Wow," Tae Min said simply, unsure how to respond.
Jin Hak turned to him, his smile polite but sharp. "And who's the kid?"
"This is Jin Tae Min," Mia introduced. "An old classmate of mine."
"The D-class healer who survived an Archfiend Dungeon while the rest of his team was wiped out," Ji-Hoon interjected, his tone carrying an edge of curiosity.
Jin Hak's eyes flickered with interest as he stepped closer to Tae Min, sizing him up. "Wow. That was you?"
"Yes," Tae Min replied quietly.
"A D-class healer, huh?" Jin Hak said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He extended his hand. "Well, it's an honor to meet you."
Tae Min hesitated briefly before shaking his hand. The grip was firm—too firm, bordering on an unspoken challenge—but Tae Min met Jin Hak's gaze without flinching.
"Likewise," Tae Min said, his tone steady.
The tension in the air was subtle but palpable, and Mia, sensing it, quickly interjected. "Come on, let's grab some drinks and catch up!"
As the group moved toward the bar, Tae Min caught Jun Hee's gaze again, and this time her expression seemed harder to read.
As the lively chatter and laughter filled the air behind him, Tae Min stood at the edge of the group, a quiet shadow in the vibrant crowd. For a moment, he forced a faint smile, but deep down, a gnawing feeling of detachment settled in. He didn't belong here—not among these confident hunters, basking in their camaraderie and power.
"I'm going to head out now," Tae Min said suddenly, rising from his seat. "I've got some things to take care of at home."
Mia turned to him, her expression softening. "Okay, Tae Min. Be careful, alright?"
"Don't trip on your way, D-class," Jin Hak quipped, his smirk cutting like a blade as he chuckled.
Tae Min paused but said nothing, his gaze steady for a brief moment before he turned away. As he walked toward the exit, he caught sight of Ju-Won, lost in the rhythm of the music and dancing with a group of girls. Tae Min raised a hand in a silent goodbye, though Ju-Won was too preoccupied to notice.
The night air greeted him with its cool embrace. The city's glow cast long shadows across the empty streets as he walked, hands tucked into his pockets. His steps were unhurried, his mind adrift.
Under the soft glow of the streetlights, Tae Min's sharp, angular features stood out. His black hair fell slightly over his eyes, and his lean, well-defined frame, clad in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, gave him an air of quiet strength.
The silence of the night was interrupted by the familiar ding of the system notification.
[System Notification]
Daily Quest Assigned:
Survive in HELL!
Tae Min froze mid-step. His breath hitched as the words burned themselves into his mind, each letter radiating a sense of dread and urgency.
"Hell?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Before he could process the notification, the air around him shimmered, crackling with unnatural energy. The streetlights flickered and went out one by one, plunging the road into darkness. A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows behind him, the sound of something inhuman stirring to life.
Tae Min clenched his fists, his obsidian blade materialized pulsing faintly at his side. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The ground beneath him fractured, black flames erupting around his feet as the world began to distort. The system's voice echoed again, more urgent this time.
[WARNING: Dimension shifts imminent. Prepare for survival.]
And then, the world fell away. Darkness and Flames consumed him.