Jinhyuk sat cross-legged on his bed, holding the Bloodmoon Fang between his fingers.
The crimson gemstone pulsated faintly, as if alive.
He had no idea why he received it or what made it different from regular dungeon drops.
There's only one way to find out.
He focused on the relic—
And suddenly—
[Bloodmoon Fang Detected.]
[Would you like to absorb its power?]
[Warning: Once absorbed, changes are irreversible.]
Jinhyuk's fingers tightened around the stone.
Absorbing a monster's power wasn't normal.
Even high-ranked hunters only gained skills through Awakening or intensive training.
This was something different.
He hesitated.
What if it harms me? What if it's a curse?
But then—
Seongjun's words echoed in his mind.
"You have three months to enter the DHR."
Jinhyuk took a deep breath.
"...Absorb it."
The moment he confirmed—
Pain.
A searing heat burned through his veins, like molten fire flooding his body.
His vision darkened. His heartbeat thundered.
And then—
A new notification flashed.
[You have absorbed the Bloodmoon Fang.]
[New Skill Acquired: "Bloodmoon Predator (C-Rank)"]
Jinhyuk gasped, his entire body shivering.
He opened his system panel, heart pounding.
[Jinhyuk's Status]
Level: 2 (80/200 EXP)
Class: None
Rank: D-Class
[Skills]
Lord of Illusions (Unique - Unranked): Alters perception, potentially making illusions real.
Mind Break (D-Rank): Forces illusions into an enemy's mind, inducing pain and fear.
Bloodmoon Predator (C-Rank) [NEW]: Enhances senses, reflexes, and speed temporarily under the moonlight.
Jinhyuk froze.
A skill that strengthens me at night?
This was huge.
He clenched his fists.
It's not an attack skill, but it's the first physical enhancement I've gotten.
That meant—
For the first time, he could compensate for his weak body.
But why did this relic give him a skill?
There was one last notification.
[Bloodmoon Fang's origins are unknown. However, the creature it belonged to was not a natural dungeon spawn.]
Jinhyuk's eyes widened.
Not a natural spawn?
That meant someone or something put it there.
And that meant…
Something is interfering with the dungeons.
Jinhyuk shuddered.
He wasn't ready for this mystery. Not yet.
For now, he needed to focus.
Because if he was going to infiltrate the DHR
He needed to train.
---
Jinhyuk stumbled out of bed, his body still aching from absorbing the Bloodmoon Fang. His muscles felt tight, his nerves on edge.
Was this part of the adaptation process?
He clenched his fists. His body didn't feel stronger yet. He was still the same weak D-Class hunter.
But that would change.
He had three months.
Three months to gain enough strength to infiltrate the Department of Hunter Regulations (DHR).
If he failed—
Seongjun would kill him.
Jinhyuk shivered at the thought.
"Alright… First things first—training."
Jinhyuk's Training Plan
Step 1: Endurance Training – His body was weak. That needed to change first.
Step 2: Combat Practice – If he couldn't fight properly, he was dead weight in a C-Class dungeon.
Step 3: Skill Mastery – His illusions were strong, but he barely scratched the surface of their potential.
Training Begins
Jinhyuk stood in a quiet training ground inside a hunter facility.
It was a simple place—concrete floors, sparring dummies, and some basic weapons lined up on racks.
There weren't many people here. Most hunters trained in their guild facilities, not in government-run centers like this.
Good. Fewer people means fewer questions.
He took a deep breath—
Then activated [Bloodmoon Predator].
[Skill Activated: Bloodmoon Predator (C-Rank)]
[Under the night sky, all physical abilities are enhanced by 30%.]
Jinhyuk froze.
His heartbeat slowed. His breathing became controlled. His vision sharpened—
Every detail in the dark training room became crystal clear.
"...Whoa."
He took a step forward—
And nearly tripped.
"T-Too fast!"
His body felt lighter, his movements smoother—but he wasn't used to it.
I need to adapt to this speed.
He took a deep breath and started running laps around the facility.
At first, it was awkward.
His feet moved too fast, his balance wobbled.
But after ten minutes—he adjusted.
[Bloodmoon Predator Adaptation Progress: 12%]
Jinhyuk grinned.
This is amazing…!
For the first time in his life—
His body didn't feel like a burden.
Next step—combat training!
Sparring with a Hunter
Jinhyuk approached the nearest training instructor, a bald, muscular man with scarred arms.
Instructor Baek, a retired B-Class hunter.
"Kid, what do you want?" Baek grumbled.
"I want to spar." Jinhyuk straightened his back.
Baek stared at him. Then laughed.
"You? A D-Class hunter? You'll break your bones."
Jinhyuk flinched. Well, he wasn't wrong.
"I'll pay."
Baek raised an eyebrow.
"How much?"
"20,000 won per round."
Baek smirked.
"Alright, kid. But don't cry when you lose."
Jinhyuk took his stance—
And Baek rushed forward.
A punch flew toward Jinhyuk's ribs—
He dodged.
Barely.
His footwork wobbled, but he regained his balance.
Baek clicked his tongue.
"Not bad."
He threw another punch—this time faster.
Jinhyuk's body moved on instinct.
His speed, enhanced by Bloodmoon Predator, allowed him to dodge at the last second.
Baek's eyes widened.
He's improving mid-fight?
But Jinhyuk was still too weak.
Baek's next strike connected—slamming into Jinhyuk's stomach.
"GAH—!"
Jinhyuk crashed to the ground, gasping for air.
Baek crossed his arms.
"You've got potential, kid. But you're still weak."
Jinhyuk groaned.
He knew that already.
But this was only the first day of training.
He'd get stronger.