In the vast sky, dark clouds loomed, the heavy atmosphere pressing down as if it could collapse at any moment. Even more striking was the ominous streak of black-purple light tearing through the sky. Within that rift, swirling colors of indescribable beauty twisted and turned, captivating all who looked at it, drawing them in with an irresistible urge to keep staring—to see what lay within.
However, ordinary people were advised against looking at it. That was the official warning from The Association of Espers.
No one wanted to relive the horrifying scene from the day this streak of light first appeared over the continent—when thousands of people looked up at the sky, dropped to their knees as if in madness, and inflicted harm upon themselves without restraint. The streets were painted red with fresh blood, yet the faces of those people bore twisted expressions of blissful ecstasy…
[The unique Dungeon "The Glutton" has opened!]
Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoed across the sky, reaching the ears of everyone on the continent. Even though they had faced this phenomenon for a year now, some people still couldn't suppress the instinctive shiver that ran down their spines—especially because this time, something was different…
The gloomy sky shifted, and a massive, intelligent virtual screen appeared, splitting into seven smaller displays. Each one showed live footage of seven individuals who had entered the Dungeon. Some people quickly noticed that among them were high-ranking members of The Association of Espers members.
"What the hell? Didn't this Dungeon open? Why is it opening again? Could it be…"
A passerby glanced at the one who had just spoken and quickly interjected, "You just got off work, didn't you? This cursed continent is probably doomed for real this time! This Dungeon is bizarre—its missions are nothing like the previous ones, and the monsters inside are completely different. The first group that went in… they all died on the very first night!"
Upon hearing that, the other person's face visibly darkened with despair. The passerby continued, "But don't worry, The Association of Espers has sent some of their strongest members to handle it. Maybe this time, the Dungeon will finally be closed."
Whether those words of reassurance comforted anyone remained uncertain.
In a quieter, less crowded corner, Frank stared up at the sky and swiftly spoke into his earpiece, "The first team that entered didn't even have a chance to send back any useful information about the Dungeon—despite having some of our top players among them. This time, we must be extremely cautious and study every anomaly inside this Dungeon."
A response quickly came through on the other end of the line.
Frank, a senior manager of The Association of Espers, oversaw the organization while scouting for new talent. He had always been the one to observe Dungeons when newcomers ventured in, searching for potential prodigies. However, he had never encountered a Dungeon like this before.
His thoughts drifted back to the ominous message that had appeared in the sky just a week ago…
[The actual moment of reckoning has arrived. Humanity, prepare yourselves.]
Then, the strange rift in the sky suddenly expanded. That day hundreds more had perished simply by gazing into it. And now, today, this bizarre and dangerous Dungeon had appeared—like the prelude to an even greater catastrophe.
It was as if the invading force was taunting them, saying:
"Everything before this was just a little game. The real fun is only beginning."
"No… don't overthink it. Team 4 will take care of everything…" Frank muttered to himself, trying to find solace in his own words.
Team 4 was the team displayed on the massive screen. Composed of five elite Espers, they had never entered a Dungeon they couldn't successfully close.
"Only a god can save this world. They will lose. The gods do not bless them."
At that moment, a slow, enigmatic voice suddenly spoke beside Frank. His eyes widened as a chill ran down his spine—he hadn't heard this person's footsteps!
How was that possible? Even though he was a senior manager, Frank had personally entered Dungeons before. His hearing was far superior to that of an ordinary person!
Forcing himself to remain calm, he smiled and tilted his head to look at the newcomer.
It was a young man—tall, with a perfectly proportioned build. His face was concealed beneath the hood of a large cloak, revealing only a glimpse of his chin and mouth. What caught Frank's attention the most was the cross pendant hanging around his neck. Frank was sure there had never been such an ornament on this continent. More importantly, this continent did not worship gods. Their faith lay in the angels who had once descended to save them in the Dungeons.
Frank could only conclude that the young man before him was insane. With a slight chuckle, he said, "There are some things you just can't go around saying carelessly. I could have you arrested for spreading false information and inciting public unrest."
"If you seek the blessings of the gods, return here. Priest Silvanus is always ready to let the divine radiance shine upon this wretched land."
Frank let out a laugh, more out of irritation than amusement. How had he ended up being pestered by a lunatic of all people?
Just as he was about to respond, he turned back—only to find that the young man had vanished without a trace. Around him, the dense crowd remained fixated on the sky, their faces etched with grim despair.
Frank widened his eyes before shaking his head. He should focus on the live Dungeon broadcast, not wasting time with that strange man.
Yet, the young man's words clung to his mind like a seed, taking root.
[Success! Frank's thoughts have been shaken. Initial recognition of the "Priest" identity was achieved. +1 Acting Point! Congratulations, Master! As expected, you are exceptional!]
Silvanus stared at the bright red "1" displayed before him. He couldn't help but feel that the system was mocking him rather than praising him.
"Ha, I bet he just thinks I'm some crazy lunatic," Silvanus muttered to the system.
Judging by Frank's expression, he was confident he would have arrested him for questioning if the man weren't so preoccupied with the Dungeon broadcast. At the very least, he wouldn't let a deranged person like him roam the streets freely.
Thinking about the live broadcast, Silvanus turned his gaze toward the sky. The more he watched, the darker his expression became.
Time moved faster inside the Dungeon than in the real world—what the outside world saw was essentially a condensed summary of the events unfolding within.
Right now, it was already the second night.
Of the seven players who had entered, only two remained. But both were nothing more than skin and bones, like dried-up husks. They lay motionless on the ground, unable to move, staring blankly ahead. Their eyes—large and hollow—resembled bottomless pits of despair, sending chills down the spines of those who watched.
Then, without warning, the entire room trembled.
The wooden door buckled under immense pressure before shattering completely. A massive, grotesque lump of flesh burst through the walls, forcing it into the room.
It was covered in countless writhing arms. Its entire body was a sickening shade of crimson, oozing blood and thick, viscous oil from its grotesque form. What was most horrifying, however, was the sheer number of eyes and mouths scattered across its body—so densely packed that it could only be described as a nightmare-inducing horror for those with trypophobia.
It had only one head—grotesquely small compared to its bloated body. Yet, that head possessed no eyes, no nose—only a massive, horizontal mouth.
Using its many writhing arms, it crawled toward the two helpless humans, seizing them in its grip and hoisting them into the air.
Their pupils trembled with utter terror, but their bodies refused to move. Even when they opened their mouths, they lacked the strength to scream.
They were going to die.
Right here.
Right now.
A sickening crunch echoed through the air.
The creature tore them apart as if it were simply ripping up pieces of paper.
Blood sprayed across its body, making it shudder with delight. Every single one of its eyes widened in excitement.
Then, with sickening precision, it curled their bodies into spheres before tossing them into its gaping maw.
The countless hands covering its body scrambled to grab the leftover flesh, shoving the scraps into its other, smaller mouths—devouring them piece by piece.