Day 6 – 5:10 AM – Underground Shelter
The world shook.
Kyung-min's eyes snapped open as the shelter trembled, dust and loose debris raining from the ceiling. The low rumble beneath them felt different from an ordinary earthquake.
Shouts echoed through the shelter as the others woke.
"—What the hell!?" Tae-sik's voice was loud, groggy with sleep.
Ji-hye was already on her feet, dagger in hand. "Something's happening outside!"
Seok-hoon grabbed his sword, his eyes scanning the shelter for movement. "Move!"
The tremors intensified—a deep, unnatural vibration that felt like it was coming from the ground itself.
Kyung-min already knew before anyone said it.
This wasn't an earthquake.
This was something else.
Day 6 – 5:15 AM – The Colossal Gate
The group rushed outside, weapons drawn.
And then they saw it.
A massive black structure loomed in the middle of the ruined city.
Where there had once been an empty intersection, a colossal gate now stood.
Its obsidian-like surface pulsed faintly, veins of deep crimson energy running through it like living veins. The air around it distorted, shifting unnaturally—as if space itself was resisting its existence.
A Dungeon.
A massive one.
A long silence stretched over the group.
Ji-hye swallowed. "That… wasn't there before."
Min-jun adjusted his glasses, his voice tense. "Dungeons don't just appear out of nowhere—"
Tae-sik clenched his fists. "Then explain this."
The Silver-Haired Woman's expression didn't change.
But Kyung-min saw it.
A small, creeping smile.
And she was the only one smiling.
Day 6 – 5:20 AM – The Vote
"It's a Dungeon."
Seok-hoon's voice was steady, but there was underlying tension beneath his words.
No one argued.
They all knew what that meant.
Dungeons were opportunities.
Opportunities for loot, skills, power.
But they were also suicide if entered unprepared.
The silence stretched too long.
Then—
"We should go in."
Everyone turned to the Silver-Haired Woman.
Tae-sik scoffed. "Are you insane?"
She tilted her head. "Probably. But it's still our best option."
Min-jun narrowed his eyes. "How do you figure?"
She gestured toward the sky.
The morning sun hadn't risen yet, but the clouds above the Dungeon were twisting unnaturally, dark and slow, like ink bleeding into water.
"The world is changing again," she murmured. "If we wait too long, we'll be at a disadvantage."
Seok-hoon exhaled. "We take a vote."
One by one, they agreed.
🔹 For entering the Dungeon – Silver-Haired Woman, Min-jun, Seok-hoon, Kyung-min.
🔹 Against – Ji-hye, Tae-sik.
Majority vote.
They were going in.
But not yet.
Not today.
Day 6 – 5:25 AM – The Planning Begins
Despite the urgency of the situation, no one was reckless enough to rush in immediately.
Seok-hoon was the first to speak.
"We need a plan."
Tae-sik scoffed. "Oh? You're suddenly feeling careful now?"
Seok-hoon didn't rise to the bait. "This Dungeon is different. It's better to prepare first than to run in blindly."
Min-jun nodded. "Agreed. We don't know what we'll be facing yet. We rest today, go in properly tomorrow."
Even Ji-hye reluctantly agreed.
The only one who disagreed—
Was her.
The Silver-Haired Woman.
"We don't have time to waste," she said, crossing her arms. "The longer we wait, the greater the risk."
Min-jun frowned. "Risk of what?"
She didn't answer right away.
Instead, she exhaled and looked toward the Dungeon entrance.
Finally, she muttered, "The Dungeon won't stay like this forever."
That caught everyone's attention.
Ji-hye narrowed her eyes. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
But she didn't elaborate.
Because she didn't need to.
The idea had already taken root.
Min-jun adjusted his glasses. "You're saying the Dungeon might… change?"
She remained silent.
Which was answer enough.
Seok-hoon sighed. "Even if that's true, rushing in right now would be stupid. We're exhausted. We barely made it through last night."
He looked toward the group. "We rest. We prepare. We enter tomorrow."
The decision was made.
But even as the group turned to return to the shelter…
The Silver-Haired Woman stood still, watching.
She was waiting.
For what?
For who?
Kyung-min had the feeling he already knew.
But he didn't say a word.
Because tomorrow—
Everything would change.
Day 6 – 6:30 AM – Resource Management & Strategy
Once back at the underground parking lot, the group gathered around the remaining supplies.
Min-jun pulled out their remaining rations, spreading them across the cold pavement.
"Alright," he muttered, adjusting his glasses. "We don't know how long the Dungeon will take. We need to be prepared for at least a full day inside."
Ji-hye glanced over the supplies. "How much do we have left?"
🔹 [Rations Inventory]
✔ Canned food: 6 remaining.
✔ Bottled water: 10 bottles.
✔ Dried jerky: 3 packs.
✔ Medical supplies: 2 bandages, 1 painkiller.
Tae-sik frowned. "That's… not much."
Min-jun nodded. "We'll need to ration carefully. No full meals until after the Dungeon."
Seok-hoon looked over the supplies. "We also need to decide on formation and roles inside the Dungeon."
Ji-hye stretched. "Same as always, right?"
But Seok-hoon shook his head.
"This isn't just scavenging. This is a Dungeon. The risks are higher."
Day 6 – 6:55 AM – Role Assignments
Seok-hoon pointed toward himself first.
"I'll take the front. My strength stat is the highest, so I'll be leading combat against anything that comes at us directly."
Tae-sik grunted. "Fine. I'll back you up. Someone needs to handle the heavy lifting."
Min-jun nodded. "I'll stay mid-range. I can analyze traps and system logs for warnings."
Ji-hye flicked her daggers. "I'll be on recon. Stealth and quick takedowns."
Everyone turned toward the Silver-Haired Woman.
She smiled slightly. "I do whatever I want."
Seok-hoon sighed but didn't argue.
Then—they all looked at Kyung-min.
A long, heavy silence followed.
He felt it.
That subtle, unspoken question.
What do you even contribute?
The moment stretched too long.
Then—
The Silver-Haired Woman tilted her head.
"He's with me," she said simply.
Ji-hye raised a brow. "That's not an answer."
"Sure it is."
Seok-hoon exhaled. "Fine. He stays with you."
Kyung-min's fingers curled slightly.
Because he knew the truth.
None of them expected anything from him.
Day 6 – 10:40 AM – Final Preparations
The discussion continued for over another three or more hours, going over:
✔ How many supplies each person would carry.
✔ Emergency escape routes if the Dungeon proved too dangerous.
✔ Traps and potential safe zones inside.
✔ Resting now to be in full strength by dawn.
When it was all said and done—
The plan was set.
They would enter the Dungeon at first light on Day 7.
But as Kyung-min looked around at the others talking, planning, and preparing…
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
A quiet unease.
Because the Silver-Haired Woman was the only one who looked truly eager.
Like she was waiting for something.
And as they prepared to sleep—
The Dungeon's entrance continued to pulse in the distance.
Waiting.
Watching.
For him.
Day 7 – 5:30 AM – The Entrance Won't Open
The Silver-Haired Woman was the first to move.
She approached the Dungeon gate, her steps quick and confident, her fingers reaching for its dark surface—
Nothing happened.
Her smirk vanished.
Seok-hoon frowned. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she slowly exhaled, her fingers curling slightly.
Ji-hye crossed her arms. "Well?"
Kyung-min, watching her carefully, saw it in her eyes.
A realization.
She had expected this Dungeon to open the moment she touched it.
But it didn't.
It needed something.
And then—her gaze slowly shifted to him.
Her smirk returned, but this time, it was different.
Less confident.
More… understanding.
She stepped back and tilted her head toward the gate.
"Try it," she said simply.
Kyung-min frowned. "What?"
"You touch it."
Ji-hye scoffed. "What difference would that make?"
The Silver-Haired Woman said nothing.
Kyung-min stepped forward.
He raised his hand—
And the moment his fingers brushed against the surface—
The Dungeon roared to life.
A deep, bone-rattling vibration erupted from the gate, the glowing red veins intensifying. The air grew heavier, hotter.
Then—
[System Alert!]
🔹 "The Gate of the Forgotten awakens."
🔹 "First Awakener Identified – Access Granted."
The gate shuddered.
And then—
It opened.
The Silver-Haired Woman didn't look surprised.
She already knew.
Day 7 – 5:35 AM – Entering the Dungeon
The inside of the Dungeon was pitch black.
As they stepped through the threshold, a strange pressure wrapped around them—like stepping through water.
And then—
They were inside.
The air was cold, damp. A deep cavern stretched before them, flickering torchlight barely illuminating the jagged stone walls.
Three paths.
Three separate corridors.
Tae-sik sighed. "Of course it's a damn puzzle."
Min-jun ran his hand along the dungeon's entrance wall. "Traps. Probably more than a few."
Seok-hoon exhaled. "We move together. No splitting up."
The Silver-Haired Woman nodded. "Agreed."
Kyung-min took a slow breath.
This was his Dungeon.
Even if no one else knew it yet.
And deep inside—something was waiting.