Washington, D.C. — Federal Bureau of Hunters
A thick, reinforced glass panel separated the unknown man from the agents of the Federal Bureau of Hunters. His sharp eyes flickered with something primal yet restrained. His presence alone was oppressive, a weight that bore down on everyone in the room like an unseen force.
The Deputy Director of the Bureau, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a furrowed brow, adjusted his glasses as he listened to the report from one of his subordinates.
"Let me get this straight…" The Deputy Director exhaled, rubbing his temples. "A Korean Hunter was found in an A-Rank Gate, alone, after ten years of presumed death?"
"Yes, sir," the agent confirmed, flipping through a dossier. "And not only that… he defeated an entire Strike Squad of A-Rank Hunters on his own."
Silence hung in the air. The Bureau's top officials exchanged glances. A single Hunter taking down a fully equipped Strike Squad of elites? That wasn't just impressive—it was terrifying.
One of the analysts muttered under his breath, "Is he even human?"
The Deputy Director turned his gaze toward the man behind the glass. Sung Il-Hwan. That's what he claimed his name was.
Il-Hwan sat there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in standard-issue orange prison garb, but even that couldn't hide the sheer power radiating from his body.
The biggest question the Bureau had wasn't just about his strength—it was about his very existence.
How did a South Korean Hunter—presumed dead for a decade—suddenly reappear in an A-Rank Dungeon on the other side of the planet?
And why was he so much stronger than before?
The Deputy Director exhaled. "If his story is true, he should be nothing more than an A-Rank at best. But based on what we've seen…" He shook his head. "He's beyond that."
Another agent chimed in. "Sir, we suspect he may not even be human. If he was trapped in a Dungeon for ten years, something might have… changed him."
"A Magical Beast with the memories of a human," another suggested, voice low with unease.
The room fell into another tense silence. If Il-Hwan really had become something else, they couldn't afford to take any chances.
"Assign an S-Rank Hunter to supervise him at all times." The Deputy Director's voice left no room for argument. "And to deal with the language barrier, recall one of our Korean-speaking S-Ranks…"
He turned to his secretary. "Get me Hunter Hwang Dongsoo."
The room stirred at the name.
Everyone knew Hwang Dongsoo—he was a wild beast of a man, an untamed force of nature. But more importantly, he had been growing restless lately, itching for something fun.
The question was…
Would Sung Il-Hwan be prey?
Or would Dongsoo bite off more than he could chew?
Inside the Demon Castle — Floor 27
Jinwoo slashed through a group of demon guards, his movements precise, efficient, and deadly. As their corpses hit the ground, he calmly muttered:
"Arise."
The shadows beneath the demons rippled unnaturally before pulling their corpses into the abyss.
His soul count had reached 4,388.
He was making progress. Slowly but surely, he climbed the Demon Castle, each floor filled with ruined cities overrun by monsters.
But even though he was moving fast…
Po was faster.
Demon Castle — Floor 70
A devastating shockwave tore through the landscape as a monstrous Demon General was sent flying. It crashed through three buildings, reducing them to rubble before slamming into the ground.
From the dust and debris, a single figure emerged.
Po.
He stretched, cracking his neck. "Damn, these guys are finally getting tougher."
The Demon General, its body covered in black and crimson armor, slowly pushed itself up. It wielded a massive greatsword, crackling with dark energy.
And yet… its hands were trembling.
It could feel it.
The absurd pressure rolling off this one man. The suffocating dominance.
Po took a deep breath. Here, in this Dungeon, away from prying eyes, he was finally…
Unshackled.
A golden aura flickered around his body, mixing with the shadowy tendrils curling at his feet.
His Abysmal Light Dragons—creatures of both shadow and light, reforged through his Monarch and Ruler powers—hovered nearby, their piercing golden and black eyes locked onto their next meal.
Po's stats were at 148 across the board, but thanks to his overwhelming battle efficiency, he had a stockpile of 35 unallocated points.
He was saving them.
For when he really wanted to go wild.
The Demon General roared and charged at him—its speed breaking the sound barrier.
Po simply smirked.
Then, in a single instant, he was gone.
The next thing the Demon General knew—
Its head was rolling on the ground.
Po stood behind it, his arm still raised. He hadn't even used a weapon.
As the body collapsed, Po turned toward his dragons.
"Feast."
The creatures devoured the corpse, absorbing its energy.
Po grinned. He loved this place.
And he had one goal:
To clear all 100 floors before Jinwoo caught up.
His soul count had reached 7,024.
The race was on.