Tae Min's vision swam as reality crumbled around him. The world dissolved into a torrent of black flames, suffocating heat, and disorienting chaos. He staggered, his hands instinctively clutching his obsidian blade, the only anchor in this hellish void.
When the distortion subsided, he found himself in a twisted, nightmarish landscape. The ground beneath him was charred and cracked, glowing faintly with molten veins of lava. The air was heavy with ash, and the sky above was a roiling sea of crimson clouds, punctuated by lightning that seemed alive, writhing like serpents.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled behind him, the same sound from before—but this time, it was accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against stone.
Tae Min turned slowly. His heart sank.
A massive, demonic beast emerged from the shadows. Its grotesque body was a patchwork of twisted flesh, blackened scales, and bone-like protrusions. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him with an intensity that promised only death.
[System Notification]
First Trial: Hellhound Sentinel
Rank: A+
Objective: Survive for 10 minutes.
Rewards: Hidden Skill.
Failure Penalty: Death.
Tae Min's breath hitched. A+ rank?! This wasn't just survival—it was a death sentence.
"Ten minutes," he whispered, gripping his blade tighter. "Just ten minutes…"
The Hellhound lunged without warning, its massive claws swiping through the air with bone-crushing force. Tae Min barely dodged, rolling to the side as the ground where he'd stood exploded in a shower of molten rock.
The heat was unbearable, but Tae Min couldn't afford to falter. He steadied himself, the obsidian blade in his hand glowing faintly in response to his growing resolve.
"Think, Tae Min. You're not the strongest, but you're smart. Use the terrain," he muttered under his breath.
Tae Min scanned his surroundings. The fractured ground offered little in terms of cover, but jagged rocks and unstable ledges dotted the landscape. A trap… I need to set a trap.
The Hellhound roared, charging again. This time, Tae Min didn't dodge outright. He sprinted toward a narrow crevice between two large boulders. The beast followed, its enormous body smashing through the obstacles like paper. Tae Min darted through the crevice, his smaller frame allowing him to slip through easily, while the Hellhound snarled, its bulk slowing it down as it tried to force its way through.
With a flick of his wrist, Tae Min activated a skill.
[Skill: Obsidian Shadow]
Creates a shadow duplicate for 5 seconds to distract the enemy.
A shadowy version of Tae Min appeared, darting out from behind the boulders. The Hellhound lunged at it, jaws snapping, only for its teeth to sink into nothingness. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Tae Min climbed onto a ledge above the crevice, scanning for the creature's weak points.
The beast's back was unprotected, its scales thinner along the spine. There.
Before Tae Min could strike, another notification appeared.
[System Notification]
Emergency Aid Protocol Activated. Summoning Ally…
A portal of light tore open beside him, and a figure stepped through. It was a woman clad in sleek black armor, her presence exuding power and confidence. Her golden eyes glimmered as she assessed the situation.
"What the—who are you?" Tae Min asked, shocked.
The woman smirked. "Your reinforcement. Try not to die before I finish this thing."
She leaped down, twin daggers flashing in her hands as she engaged the Hellhound. Her movements were precise and brutal, her blades finding gaps in the beast's armor with surgical precision. Tae Min stared in disbelief before shaking himself out of it.
"Focus, Tae Min," he muttered, joining the fray. Together, they worked to weaken the beast, Tae Min distracting it while the mysterious woman dealt devastating blows.
As the timer neared its end, the Hellhound let out an earth-shattering roar, its body glowing ominously. Tae Min's eyes widened in realization. It's going to self-destruct!
"Fall back!" he shouted, grabbing the woman's arm and pulling her away. The two dove behind a boulder as the Hellhound erupted in a massive explosion of flames and energy, leaving a crater where it had stood.
The system's voice echoed once more.
[Trial Complete.]
Reward Unlocked: Hidden Skill – Abyssal Dominion.
Description: Grants the ability to momentarily summon and command lesser creatures of the Abyss.
Tae Min's chest heaved as he collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the crimson sky. The woman beside him rose to her feet, brushing ash off her armor.
"You've got potential, healer," she said, her tone teasing but sincere. "Name's Aria. Looks like we'll be working together."
"Working together?" Tae Min asked, confused.
Aria held up her wrist, revealing a glowing mark identical to the one that had appeared on Tae Min's hand moments earlier.
"The system's paired us," she explained. "Welcome to Hell."
Tae Min stared at the mark glowing faintly on Aria's wrist, identical to the one that now pulsed on his own hand. The words "Welcome to Hell" echoed in his ears, but it wasn't the flames or the twisted landscape that unnerved him—it was her.
"Who… are you?" Tae Min asked, gripping his obsidian blade. "Why did the system pair us together? It's never done this before."
Aria smirked, her golden eyes gleaming as she folded her arms. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that. Alright, listen up, rookie. The system paired us because this isn't your average dungeon—and this isn't your average quest. You've been using the Ascension Protocol, haven't you?"
Tae Min blinked, taken aback. "How do you know about that?"
"Because," Aria said, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a complex, glowing sigil etched into her skin. "I'm a user too. But my protocol's different from yours. You're using Ascension, which means your growth has no upper limit. Infinite potential, as long as you survive. Pretty rare, by the way."
Tae Min stared at her, his mind racing. "Wait… there are different protocols? You're telling me the system isn't the same for everyone?"
"Of course not," Aria replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "The system adapts to the individual—tailoring itself to your abilities, your mindset, even your potential. For you, it's all about breaking limits. For me…"
She held out her hand, and in an instant, twin daggers materialized, each blade crackling with a faint, golden light. "I'm using the Dominion Protocol. It's all about controlling my surroundings—dominating weaker enemies, bending terrain, and using the environment to my advantage. It's powerful, but unlike yours, it has limits."
"Limits?" Tae Min asked.
Aria nodded. "I can only control things within a certain radius, and my skills rely heavily on external factors. If I'm in the wrong environment or up against someone immune to my abilities, I'm screwed. Your protocol, though? The only thing holding you back is your own ability to survive."
Tae Min frowned, the pieces slowly clicking into place. "So the system didn't pair us because we're similar… it paired us because we're different."
"Exactly," Aria said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're raw potential, and I'm precision. Together, we have a better shot at surviving this place."
Tae Min sat down on a nearby rock, his blade resting against his leg as he tried to process everything. "So how many protocols are there? Are there other users like us out there?"
Aria shrugged, leaning casually against a jagged pillar of stone. "Hard to say. I've heard rumors of at least five different protocols, but the system doesn't exactly hand out a guidebook. Most people aren't even aware the system is different for others. Hell, some people don't even get protocols at all—they're stuck with basic abilities, barely scraping by."
Tae Min's brow furrowed. "Then why was I assigned the Ascension Protocol? Why me?"
Aria's expression darkened slightly, and she tilted her head as if considering him. "Good question. The system doesn't just pick people at random. There's always a reason—some trait or potential it sees in you. You must've caught its attention somehow. Maybe it's that dungeon you survived. Or maybe it's something else entirely."
Tae Min glanced at his hand, where the glowing mark of his protocol still pulsed faintly. He remembered the countless daily quests, the endless grind of entering dimensions to kill monsters, always feeling like there was no end in sight. Now, it all felt deliberate—like the system had been preparing him for something bigger.
"And you?" he asked, meeting Aria's gaze. "Why did the system choose you?"
She hesitated for a moment, her smirk faltering before returning. "That's a story for another time, rookie. Let's just say I've been in this game longer than you, and I've seen what happens to people who don't play it right."
Before Tae Min could press further, the system's voice echoed again, cutting through the tension.
[System Notification]
Second Trial: Dominion Clash
Objective: Defeat the Rift Guardian.
Time Limit: 60 minutes.
Rewards: Unlock Dimensional Anchor.
Failure Penalty: System Protocol Reset.
Tae Min's blood ran cold. "Protocol reset? What does that mean?"
Aria's face darkened. "It means if you fail, your protocol gets wiped. No more Ascension, no more system. You'd be nothing but a regular human again."
"Is that even possible?" Tae Min asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Possible?" Aria laughed bitterly. "Of course. And trust me, it's worse than death."
A deafening roar echoed across the hellish landscape, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. Tae Min and Aria turned toward the source, and in the distance, a colossal figure emerged from the molten horizon.
The Rift Guardian stood at least 20 feet tall, its body a grotesque amalgamation of metal and flesh. Black flames licked its armor, and its four glowing eyes locked onto them with deadly intent. In one hand, it wielded a massive axe that dripped with molten lava.
"Looks like we've got company," Aria said, spinning her daggers as a grin spread across her face.
Tae Min rose to his feet, his obsidian blade pulsing faintly in his hand. "Guess we'll see how well these protocols work together."
Aria glanced at him, her grin sharpening. "Don't get cocky, rookie. Just try to keep up."
As the Rift Guardian charged toward them, the two stood side by side, the mark of their protocols glowing in unison.
"Welcome to Hell," Aria muttered, her voice low and steady. "Let's survive it."
And with that, they launched into battle.