That morning, Kang Hyunwoo stood by the roadside, waiting at the designated meeting point to join a small team for a raid on a Low-Class Void. The Void's location this time was in an abandoned factory district on the outskirts of Seoul—an area rarely visited. He gripped the standard rental sword he had received from the Hunter Association tightly. The blade was dull and worn, but it was the only weapon he could afford with his limited funds.
A van pulled up in front of him, and the sliding door opened. Inside, four individuals sat, each with the air of a seasoned Hunter. One of them, a muscular man with a stern expression, gave Hyunwoo a brief nod.
"You're Kang Hyunwoo, right? F-Rank?" the man asked in a deep voice.
"Yeah, that's me," Hyunwoo replied as he stepped into the van.
The man introduced himself as Choi Sangho, the team leader and the only C-Rank Hunter in the group. Beside him sat a young woman named Yoo Haejin, a D-Rank Hunter with a short bow strapped to her back. The other two, Park Junseok and Lee Daeho, were E-Rank Hunters, whose gear didn't seem much different from Hyunwoo's.
"So, is this your first time joining a raid?" Sangho asked, glancing at Hyunwoo, who looked noticeably tense.
Hyunwoo nodded. "Yeah, I usually just help with gathering missions or minor tasks."
Haejin smirked. "Well, just don't die. I'd rather not have to drag your body out of the Void."
Hyunwoo gave a faint smile, though her words only made him more nervous.
---
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the Void's location. The gate loomed before them, a gaping rift of pure darkness suspended in the air. It radiated a sinister aura that sent a shiver down Hyunwoo's spine. He watched as Sangho signaled everyone to prepare.
"Alright, this is just a Low-Class Void, but we can't be careless. Haejin, you'll stay in the back and provide support with your bow. Junseok and Daeho, you'll take the middle. Hyunwoo, you'll cover the rear and protect the ranged attackers in case of an ambush. I'll take point at the front," Sangho instructed.
The team members nodded, following his orders with discipline. One by one, they stepped through the Void Gate.
The moment Hyunwoo crossed over, the atmosphere shifted. The world inside the Void was a twisted reflection of reality—cracked ground emitting wisps of smoke, gnarled, lifeless trees stretching toward a sky shrouded in endless darkness.
Hyunwoo felt his breathing grow heavy. The air inside the Void was always denser, as if pressing down on his body, threatening to crush him under its weight. He tightened his grip on his sword, trying to steady himself.
"Stay focused," Sangho said without looking back. "We'll move carefully. The usual monsters here are Goblins or Wild Wolves, but stay alert."
They advanced in a tight formation, with Sangho leading the way as their primary shield. It didn't take long before they encountered their first wave of monsters.
Three small Goblins emerged from behind the rocks, each wielding crude weapons like sharpened sticks and jagged stones. Sangho reacted immediately, stepping forward and slashing one of the creatures down in a single powerful strike.
"Junseok, Daeho, move in! Haejin, get your bow ready!" Sangho commanded.
Junseok and Daeho rushed forward to engage the remaining Goblins, while Haejin swiftly loosed an arrow, striking one of the creatures in the shoulder. Hyunwoo remained in the rear, scanning the surroundings anxiously.
Within minutes, the fight was over with no significant issues. Sangho collected the Goblins' mana cores before signaling the team to continue deeper into the Void.
---
The next battle proved to be far more challenging.
They encountered a larger group of monsters, including a particularly aggressive Wild Wolf. Sangho and Haejin coordinated their attacks to bring the beast down, while Junseok and Daeho struggled against three Goblins attacking from multiple directions.
Hyunwoo's muscles tensed every time he heard the clash of weapons and the growls of the monsters. He knew that if any of the Goblins managed to break through, his job was to defend Haejin in the backline.
And then, it happened.
One of the Goblins slipped past Junseok's defenses, sprinting toward Haejin with a dull dagger raised. She was mid-draw, unable to react in time.
"Behind you!" Hyunwoo shouted, rushing forward.
He swung his sword at the Goblin's side. The blow wasn't strong enough to kill it, but it was enough to divert its attention away from Haejin. The creature turned toward him, snarling in fury.
Hyunwoo instinctively took a step back, desperately recalling the basic combat drills he had practiced. As the Goblin lunged, he sidestepped and slashed at its leg, causing it to stumble. Without hesitation, he delivered a final strike, ending the creature's life.
Haejin looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Thanks," she muttered.
Hyunwoo simply nodded, though his heart was still pounding. This was the first time he had truly faced a monster head-on.
---
After hours of battling their way through, they finally reached the heart of the Void—the core.
The Void Core was the source that sustained the rift. Destroying it would cause the Void to collapse, sealing it permanently.
Guarding the core was the final wave of monsters, led by a large Goblin that was clearly the leader. Sangho took charge of dealing with it, while the rest of the team focused on eliminating the lesser creatures.
The battle was fierce, but through teamwork, they emerged victorious. Sangho struck the Void Core with a powerful blow, shattering it. Almost immediately, the ground trembled as the Void began to collapse.
"We need to move! Now!" Sangho shouted.
They sprinted back toward the entrance, dodging falling debris and cracks forming beneath their feet. When they finally crossed the gate and returned to the real world, they were gasping for breath—but they had made it out alive.
Sangho clapped Hyunwoo on the shoulder. "You did well in there. Not many F-Rank Hunters can stay calm under pressure like that."
Hyunwoo felt a small sense of pride welling up in his chest. He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey—but for now, it was a step forward.