Busan Gate 5, 9:55 AM.
Jinhyuk stood outside the dungeon entrance, feeling very out of place.
The D-Class gate pulsed with a faint, eerie glow. Unlike dungeons he was used to, this one radiated danger.
Hunters gathered around the entrance, their armor polished, weapons gleaming. They looked strong. Confident. Like they belonged here.
Jinhyuk adjusted his cheap, second-hand chest plate. He did not belong here.
Why am I doing this again?
Right. Because a former S-Class hunter will murder me if I don't.
He sighed. "Just survive. That's the plan."
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, well. Look what we have here."
Jinhyuk turned and immediately regretted it.
Choi Daehyun.
The C-Class hunter smirked as he strolled over, flanked by two other hunters.
"Didn't expect you to show up," Daehyun said, arms crossed. "Figured you'd run away after seeing the dungeon rank."
Jinhyuk forced a smile. "Tempting. But no."
Daehyun scoffed. "Fine. Just don't slow us down. If you die, I'm not carrying your corpse out."
Jinhyuk gritted his teeth. This guy was insufferable.
A female hunter stepped forward. Park Hyejin, a C-Class. She looked at Jinhyuk with curious eyes, unlike Daehyun's pure condescension.
"You're the illusion user, right?" she asked.
"That's me," Jinhyuk said.
She nodded. "Your ability might actually be useful in a wolf-type dungeon."
Daehyun laughed. "Please. Illusions don't kill monsters. This is a waste of time."
Jinhyuk clenched his fist. "I'll do my job."
Daehyun rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's go."
The party of five stepped into the gate.
Inside the Dungeon: Red Fang Wolf Nest
The moment they entered, the temperature dropped.
The dungeon was a vast rocky cavern, filled with twisting tunnels. The stench of blood and fur lingered in the air.
And the growls started almost immediately.
Jinhyuk's stomach twisted.
He had read about these monsters.
Red Fang Wolves.
Unlike normal wolves, they hunted in packs and used strategy. The real danger wasn't their individual strength—it was their coordination.
Daehyun smirked. "Alright, time to work. Formation A."
The team spread out.
Daehyun took the front, wielding a massive sword.
Hyejin covered the rear, her bow ready.
Two other hunters guarded the sides.
And Jinhyuk?
I'm bait, aren't I?
Daehyun glanced at him. "Illusion boy, just don't get in the way."
Jinhyuk sighed. "Understood, sir."
Then—the wolves attacked.
A Nightmare Battle
The wolves came fast. Too fast.
Their red eyes glowed in the darkness. Their claws scraped against the stone floor.
One leapt at Daehyun.
SLASH!
Daehyun cut it down in one swing.
Another lunged at Hyejin—she fired an arrow through its skull.
The others fought with perfect precision.
Jinhyuk?
Survive. Just survive.
A wolf charged at him.
Jinhyuk dodged clumsily. His illusion activated—
The wolf stopped mid-air, confused.
It had seen another Jinhyuk standing behind it.
His illusion worked!
Jinhyuk quickly stabbed it with his dagger.
Okay, not bad! Just need to keep—
"Hey, idiot! Look out!"
Jinhyuk turned—too late.
A wolf slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
Its teeth snapped inches from his face.
Panic surged through him.
Move. Move!
His illusion flickered—
The wolf hesitated, confused by multiple versions of Jinhyuk.
In that moment—
Hyejin's arrow pierced its head.
The wolf slumped, lifeless.
Jinhyuk gasped, scrambling away.
"You okay?" Hyejin asked, pulling him up.
"Y-Yeah," Jinhyuk panted. "Totally fine. This is fine."
Daehyun snorted. "Pathetic. I knew bringing a D-Class was a joke."
Jinhyuk ignored him.
Instead, he stared at the dead wolves.
His illusions were working, but—they weren't enough.
He needed to do more.
Something is Wrong
The party continued deeper.
The tunnels grew narrower, darker.
Jinhyuk felt it first.
A chill in the air.
A wrongness.
"Wait," he whispered.
Daehyun ignored him. "Keep moving."
"No. Something's off."
Then—the howling started.
Loud. Too loud.
Jinhyuk's blood ran cold.
The ground shook.
From the darkness—red eyes appeared.
Not just a few. Dozens.
Hyejin paled. "That's… not normal."
Daehyun scowled. "It's just more wolves. We kill them."
But Jinhyuk knew better.
This wasn't just a pack.
Something was controlling them.
And then—
It stepped forward.
A massive, twice-the-size-of-a-human wolf.
Its fur was pitch black, its eyes glowing crimson.
[Elite Variant: Bloodmoon Wolf]
Jinhyuk's legs almost gave out.
This is bad. This is very, very bad.
Hyejin whispered, "This isn't a normal D-Class dungeon, is it?"
Jinhyuk swallowed hard. "No. We're screwed."
Daehyun stepped forward. "Ha! Just a bigger dog."
Jinhyuk grabbed his arm. "STOP!"
But it was too late.
Daehyun charged.
The Bloodmoon Wolf vanished.
Then reappeared behind him.
Its claws slashed.
Blood sprayed.
Jinhyuk's eyes widened.
Daehyun screamed.
And just like that—
Everything fell apart.
---
Blood splattered across the rocky cavern floor.
Daehyun collapsed, clutching his chest, gasping for air. Deep, jagged wounds tore through his armor, blood seeping into the dirt.
The Bloodmoon Wolf loomed over him, its crimson eyes glowing.
The party froze.
Jinhyuk's heart pounded.
This was wrong.
D-Class dungeons weren't supposed to have Elite Variants.
This thing wasn't just another monster.
It was a predator. A killer.
If we don't do something, we're dead.
Jinhyuk took a shaky breath. Think, think.
Hyejin snapped out of her shock first. "Pull back! We need to regroup!"
Daehyun groaned. "I… can fight…"
Jinhyuk knelt beside him. "You can't even stand. Shut up."
The other two hunters looked at each other, uncertainty in their eyes.
"We can't run," one muttered. "It's too fast."
Hyejin nodded. "Then we fight."
Jinhyuk's stomach twisted.
I barely survived normal wolves. How the hell am I supposed to fight this thing?
His fingers tightened around his dagger.
No. If I panic, I die. Think, Jinhyuk. Use your brain.
Then—a cold sensation spread through him.
A voice echoed in his mind.
[System Activated.]
Jinhyuk froze.
Wait. What?
A faint, blue screen appeared before him.
[Status Window]
Name: Jin Jinhyuk
Rank: D-Class
Level: 1 (0/50 EXP)
Title: None
Unique Ability: Lord of Illusions
Skills: Minor Illusion (E-Rank)
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Endurance: 5
Perception: 10
Jinhyuk's breath caught.
A system?
This wasn't part of his original ability. Something had changed.
The battle in the void. The Forgotten's words.
"Your power will evolve, but it will not come freely."
This was it. A new path.
And right now, it was the only thing that could keep him alive.
[New Mission Available.]
Mission: SURVIVE.
Objective: Defeat the Bloodmoon Wolf.
Reward: 50 EXP + ???
Jinhyuk's hands trembled.
If I win, I get stronger.
If he failed… he died.
Hyejin's voice snapped him back. "Jinhyuk! MOVE!"
The Bloodmoon Wolf lunged.
Illusions vs. Instincts
Jinhyuk's body moved on its own.
His illusions flickered—
Three copies of himself split apart, running in different directions.
The wolf hesitated.
For a second.
Then, its eyes glowed brighter.
And it ignored the illusions completely.
Jinhyuk barely dodged as claws slashed past his head.
Shit. It can see through them?!
A hunter screamed.
The wolf pounced, tearing into his throat.
Blood sprayed. A body hit the ground.
Jinhyuk's stomach churned.
One down.
Hyejin cursed. "We can't win like this!"
Daehyun groaned, struggling to rise.
Jinhyuk's breath was ragged. His illusions weren't enough. He needed more.
Then—a spark of understanding.
It ignores fake images, but what about… fake pain?
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.
This was a gamble.
But he had no other choice.
A New Trick
The Bloodmoon Wolf rushed toward him.
Jinhyuk stood his ground.
Focus. Believe it's real.
His illusion twisted.
A massive, shadowy spike erupted from the ground, piercing through the wolf's leg.
Or at least—that's what its mind perceived.
The wolf howled in agony, stumbling.
It wasn't injured. Not really.
But to its brain, it felt real.
Jinhyuk's heart pounded.
It worked.
I don't need illusions that fool the eyes. I need illusions that fool the mind.
This was it.
A new way to fight.
Turning the Tide
"NOW!" Jinhyuk shouted.
Hyejin reacted instantly.
An arrow flew—
Straight into the wolf's actual injured leg.
It yelped, staggering back.
The remaining hunter lunged, slashing at its exposed side.
Daehyun, barely standing, gritted his teeth. "I'll finish it!"
He charged.
Jinhyuk forced every ounce of focus into one last illusion.
The wolf's world shattered.
It saw fire. Chains. Its own death.
It hesitated.
And that was all Daehyun needed.
His sword cleaved through its neck.
The wolf collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
[You have defeated an Elite Variant.]
[EXP Gained: 80]
Jinhyuk stumbled, gasping for air.
Then another notification.
[Level Up!]
Level: 2 (30/200 EXP)
New Skill Acquired: "Mind Break (D-Rank)"
Jinhyuk's eyes widened.
I leveled up?
His body felt… different. Stronger. His breathing steadied. The exhaustion was still there, but his mind felt sharper.
His illusions—stronger.
Jinhyuk grinned.
I can get stronger. I can survive this world.
Then—a groan.
Jinhyuk turned.
Daehyun staggered forward, gripping his sword. His expression was twisted with frustration.
"I… didn't need your help," he muttered.
Jinhyuk blinked.
Is this guy serious?
"You almost DIED," Jinhyuk said flatly.
Daehyun scowled, but said nothing.
Hyejin sighed. "We need to leave. Now."
She was right.
One hunter was dead.
Daehyun was badly injured.
And this dungeon wasn't normal.
Jinhyuk looked at the Bloodmoon Wolf's corpse.
Something is wrong with this place.
And he had a feeling—
This was just the beginning.