Chapter 3: The First Dungeon
Max sat in the dimly lit common area of the Hunter's Guild, staring at the mission briefing displayed on the cracked tablet screen in front of him. The room bustled with activity—Hunters discussing bounties, some celebrating recent victories, others nursing wounds from battles that had clearly gone south. The scent of sweat, metal, and cheap alcohol filled the air, a constant reminder of the brutal reality of this life.
Now that he had passed the combat test, he was officially an F-rank Hunter. But that was just the beginning. The real challenge was ahead—his first official dungeon.
The dungeon was classified as a Tier 1 Ruin, located in the depths of an abandoned underground metro system that had become infested with mutated creatures. These ruins were among the most common dungeons, remnants of the old world that had been overrun by monsters after the fall of civilization. They were dangerous, but not impossible for new Hunters to handle—at least, not if they were prepared.
Max leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the wooden table as he pulled up his status panel in his mind. The familiar translucent blue screen appeared before him.
[Hunter Status Panel]
Name: Max
Rank: F
Strength: 10
Agility: 16
Endurance: 10
Perception: 10
Vitality: 10
Stat Points Available: 3
He studied his stats carefully. Since his last fight, he had gained a few more stat points. Right now, his biggest asset was speed, and if he wanted to survive his first dungeon, he had to play to his strengths.
Without hesitation, he allocated all three points into Agility.
[Stat points allocated.]
A subtle warmth spread through his limbs, and he could feel the difference immediately. His body felt lighter, his movements sharper, as if his muscles had been fine-tuned for speed. Every time he added points, he could sense the change—not just physically, but instinctively. It was addictive.
Max clenched his fists, exhaling slowly. This was power. And it was only the beginning.
He turned his attention back to the mission briefing. The dungeon was a two-hour trek outside Haven City, located beneath the ruins of what had once been a bustling subway station. According to the report, it was filled with mutated Crawlers—small, insect-like creatures that lurked in the shadows and attacked in swarms. They weren't as physically strong as the Brute he had faced before, but their numbers made them just as deadly.
His team consisted of four other F-rank Hunters, all of whom had slightly more experience than he did. They weren't seasoned veterans, but they had at least survived a few missions. Max had barely met them, but he knew that in the field, trust wasn't built on words—it was built on survival.
Still, it never hurt to be extra prepared.
Max opened his inventory, another function of the system. Unlike traditional Hunters who had to carry all their gear manually, he could store a limited amount of items within a personal storage space.
He reviewed his supplies:
Combat knife (standard issue)
9mm pistol (limited ammo)
Basic ration pack
Two healing syringes (low-grade)
Flashlight with extra batteries
It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
His eyes lingered on the combat knife. The very same weapon he had used to land the final blow on the Brute. He ran a finger along the edge, feeling the faint nicks on the blade. He would need to sharpen it before heading out.
Satisfied with his gear, Max pushed himself up from the table. His muscles responded immediately to the improved agility, his steps feeling lighter than before. It was strange how quickly he was adapting to this new power.
But power alone wasn't enough—he needed skill, strategy, and most importantly, experience.
As he made his way to the weapon maintenance area, he spotted a familiar face—Sam, the Hunter who had led him through his first real fight. The older man was cleaning his rifle, his expression calm yet calculating, the mark of someone who had seen far too much bloodshed.
Max approached, and Sam glanced up, raising an eyebrow.
"So, you're finally taking on your first dungeon," Sam said, setting his rifle down.
Max nodded. "Yeah. Tier 1 Ruin. Crawlers. Should be manageable."
Sam snorted. "Crawlers are easy to kill. Problem is, they don't fight alone. Get swarmed, and you'll be dead before you can reload."
Max had already studied the mission details, but hearing it from a veteran made it feel real.
"What's your plan?" Sam asked, leaning back.
Max thought for a moment. "Stick to the shadows, avoid direct confrontation where possible. Take them out one by one before they can overwhelm us."
Sam smirked. "Not bad. But dungeons don't always go according to plan. If things get bad, don't be a hero. Survive first. Win second."
Max nodded. It was solid advice.
Sam hesitated for a moment before pulling something from his belt—a spare magazine for a 9mm pistol. He tossed it to Max, who caught it instinctively.
"You'll need it more than I will," Sam said.
Max looked at the ammo, then back at Sam. "Thanks."
Sam just nodded, returning to his rifle.
The next morning, Max stood at the city gates, the rising sun casting long shadows over the cracked pavement. His team was gathered, checking their gear one last time before departure.
Elias, a lean, sharp-eyed Hunter armed with a crossbow, their long-range specialist.
Riley, a heavy-set man wielding a short sword and shield, their frontline defense.
Cameron, a quiet woman with dual daggers, their fastest striker.
Jonas, the team's de facto leader, armed with a standard-issue rifle.
Jonas eyed Max critically. "First dungeon?"
Max nodded.
Jonas sighed. "Just don't get yourself killed."
No inspiring speeches. No words of encouragement. Just brutal honesty.
Max smirked. "I'll try not to."
With that, the team set off, heading toward the ruins.
As they walked, Max flexed his fingers, feeling the agility boost coursing through his body. This was it—his first real mission as a Hunter.
He had no illusions about the dangers ahead. Dungeons were unpredictable. Anything could happen.
But that didn't scare him.
Because for the first time in his life, he was ready.