Hyunwoo slowly opened his eyes. Pain coursed through his entire body, making each breath feel heavy. The ground beneath him was cold, rough, and dark—different from the real world. As he tried to focus, he realized he was surrounded by shimmering black walls with a faint glow in the distance. The air smelled unfamiliar, filled with a pressure that made his body feel heavier.
"This… is a Void Overflow…" he muttered, trying to process what had happened. He remembered walking that morning, preparing to take on a new mission, when suddenly, a mysterious gravitational pull appeared out of nowhere. Before he could react, his body was dragged into the darkness.
This Void was different. He could feel the oppressive weight in every step. Overflow Mana wasn't a common phenomenon—Voids in this state absorbed mana from their surroundings, making the monsters inside much stronger and more aggressive. And the only way out was to destroy the Void Core, the center of energy that stabilized this space.
But escaping wasn't the only problem. In this place, Hyunwoo was just an F-rank Hunter with minimal equipment and nearly depleted stamina after walking nonstop. His breath was ragged as he scanned his surroundings, trying to assess the situation.
"If I don't move, I'll die." Forcing himself forward, Hyunwoo steeled his resolve and began walking toward the faint glow that he assumed was the Void Core.
---
As he made his way through the long, dark corridor, a deep rumble echoed in the distance. The ground trembled, followed by a low growl that sent chills down his spine. He froze in place as a massive figure emerged from the shadows—an ogre, towering with dark green skin and muscles like steel, gripping a giant club in its hands.
"This… is a B-rank monster…" he muttered, his eyes widening. He wanted to turn and run, but the path behind him was already sealed by the Void's dark aura.
Hyunwoo tightened his grip on the small knife in his hand. He knew this was an impossible fight. A B-rank ogre wasn't something a low-ranked Hunter like him could defeat. But he also knew that the only choice was to survive.
The monster roared, swinging its club down with tremendous force. Hyunwoo barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side just in time. The ground beneath him shattered, sending debris flying.
"I need to find an opening," he thought, analyzing the monster's movements. He stepped back, mind racing for a way to overcome this overwhelming threat.
But before he could form a plan, two black wolves with glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. Their breath came in cold, misty puffs, their hunger evident in their menacing snarls.
"B-rank wolves too?!" Hyunwoo's knees nearly buckled. The situation had just turned from bad to worse. Three B-rank monsters now stood between him and the Void Core.
---
The battle was relentless. Hyunwoo dodged and rolled, barely staying ahead of the monsters' relentless attacks. He managed to stab one of the wolves in the neck, but his knife wasn't deep enough to kill it. The beast growled in rage, attacking even more ferociously.
The ogre swung its massive club again, sending shockwaves through the air. The impact launched Hyunwoo into a nearby wall, the force knocking the breath out of him. He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His body was failing, but his mind refused to give up.
"Minjoon… Seyeon…" he whispered, thinking of his younger siblings. "I can't die here. They need me."
With the last of his strength, he pushed himself up and sprinted toward the Void Core, his movements growing more desperate. He weaved through the monsters' attacks, his body screaming in protest. He knew he couldn't fight them. The only way was to reach the core and destroy it.
But as he neared the massive, floating crystal in the center of the room, a deafening roar echoed from above. A colossal wyvern descended from the darkness, its black scales shimmering ominously, its crimson eyes glowing with predatory intent.
"An A-rank monster…" Hyunwoo breathed, his heart pounding. Fear threatened to consume him, but he knew that stopping now meant death.
The wyvern dived at him with terrifying speed, spewing flames that nearly engulfed him. He rolled to the side, barely escaping the scorching inferno. He hit the ground hard, his body growing weaker.
"Just… one more strike…" he thought, forcing himself to stand. He fixed his gaze on the Void Core, its glow intensifying. Summoning the last of his willpower, he dashed toward it, praying his remaining strength was enough to land the final blow.
Hyunwoo clenched his knife tightly, sweat dripping down his face. His body trembled from exhaustion, but he had no other choice. The Void Core, shimmering with an eerie glow, was his only way out. However, his efforts were in vain.
The small knife in his hand barely left a scratch on the core's hardened surface. Again and again, he struck, but only the reflected light answered him.
"No way…" his breath came in ragged gasps, his right hand numb. "How am I supposed to break this…?!"
Meanwhile, the monsters around him repositioned themselves. The wyvern hovered above, its glowing red eyes locked onto Hyunwoo like a predator studying its prey. The massive ogre raised its club, ready to crush anything in its path. The black wolves snarled lowly, drool dripping from their fangs.
Hyunwoo took a step back, searching for an escape route, but the Void's walls trapped him. He was cornered.
"This is bad… really bad…" he thought, his hands shaking as he struggled to lift his knife again.
The ogre swung its club with devastating force, forcing Hyunwoo to roll away at the last second. The ground beneath him exploded into rubble, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. The wolves seized the opportunity, lunging at him from both sides.
Hyunwoo desperately jumped back, but one of the wolves' claws slashed his thigh. A sharp, searing pain shot through his leg, making him stumble to the ground. Blood poured from the wound, soaking his torn clothes.
"Damn it! I can't…!" He tried to push himself up, but his body wouldn't respond.
The next attack came from the wyvern. It swooped down, its enormous talons aiming straight for him. He reflexively rolled to the side, narrowly escaping death once again. But his luck was running out. The wyvern twisted mid-air, whipping its tail straight into him.
Hyunwoo was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground. His entire body screamed in agony. He struggled to stand, but the ogre was already upon him, its massive club raised high.
Hyunwoo could only lift his arms in a feeble attempt to shield himself.
BANG!