Darkness.
That's the first thing I see as I step through the gate.
A suffocating void stretches endlessly before me, swallowing all traces of light. The air is thick, damp, and heavy with the scent of something rotting. My breath comes out in short, uneven gasps, forming weak clouds in the freezing atmosphere. My grip tightens around the rusted dagger in my hands—my only weapon, my only defense.
This is a dungeon. A place where death is only one mistake away.
I've been here before.
No matter how many times I enter, I never get used to it. The overwhelming sense of dread, the uncertainty of what lurks in the shadows—it's enough to make my stomach churn.
Yet, I can't afford to hesitate.
The only reason I'm standing here, heart pounding against my ribs, is because I have no choice.
A hunter. That's what they call us—those who step into these death traps, fighting monsters for wealth, fame, and power. Some rise to the top, earning recognition, leading guilds, and becoming legends. Others, the unlucky ones, never make it out alive.
And then there are people like me.
The nobodies. The weaklings. The bottom-feeders scraping by for the sake of survival.
"Kaito, don't just stand there like an idiot."
A sharp voice cuts through my thoughts. I turn to see Ryoma, our party leader, scowling at me. He's a C-rank hunter—far above me in both strength and skill. His armor gleams under the dim light of the dungeon, his longsword resting comfortably on his shoulder.
"Tch. I don't even know why we brought you along," he mutters under his breath. "You better not slow us down."
I say nothing. I'm used to this. It's the same every time.
I'm not here because they need me. I'm here because they needed one more body to meet the quota for this raid. That's all I am to them—an extra, a burden.
I clench my fists, swallowing the frustration boiling inside me. It doesn't matter what they think of me. What matters is that I survive. What matters is that I make it back home.
That's the only reason I became a hunter in the first place.
Not for power. Not for glory.
For my family.
I left school at seventeen because we were struggling to make ends meet. My father abandoned us long ago, vanishing from Tokyo without a trace. My mother does her best, but she's just one person. My younger brother and sister are still in school, too young to understand the full weight of our situation.
If I don't bring money home, they won't have enough to eat.
So I keep moving forward, even when my hands shake. Even when fear threatens to choke me.
Because I have to.
We press deeper into the dungeon, our footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The passage is narrow, barely wide enough for all of us to walk side by side. A thick mist clings to the ground, curling around our legs as if trying to pull us down.
The deeper we go, the colder it gets.
I don't know why, but something feels… different.
Dungeons always have a strange atmosphere, but this one is worse than usual. It's too quiet. Too still.
The others don't seem to notice. They laugh and joke as if we aren't stepping into the unknown, as if death isn't waiting for us just beyond the darkness.
And then a sound. A low, guttural growl. The laughter stops. A shadow shifts in the fog. Then another. And another.
My pulse quickens as the mist begins to swirl, revealing the shapes lurking within.
Monsters.
They're hunched, with elongated limbs and glowing crimson eyes. Their jagged claws scrape against the stone floor as they move, saliva dripping from their fanged mouths.
Their bodies twitch unnaturally, as if struggling to contain their own bloodlust.
They're waiting. Watching.
The moment we step too close, they'll attack.
"Form up!" Ryoma barks, raising his sword. "Frontliners, get ready! Support, stay back!"
The party snaps into formation. The tanks move forward, shields raised. The mages prepare their spells, mana crackling in the air.
I stay near the back, heart hammering in my chest. I should be used to this. I've faced monsters before. I've survived before. But no matter how many times I fight, the fear never goes away. A single mistake and I'm dead. The monsters don't wait any longer. With a deafening screech, they lunge. Chaos erupts.
Blades clash against claws. Spells explode, sending waves of fire and ice through the battlefield. The scent of blood fills the air as the first monster falls, but more take its place.
I grit my teeth, gripping my dagger. I have to fight. I have to a monster turns toward me. Its gaze locks onto mine, pupils dilating with hunger. It knows. It can sense my weakness. It moves fast. Too fast.
Before I can react, it's already in front of me. Its claws slice through the air, aiming for my throat.
I can't dodge. I can't block. I'm going to die. And then a voice.
A cold, mechanical voice that echoes through my mind.
[System Awakening…]
The world freezes.
A strange sensation spreads through my body, like ice crawling through my veins.
Then, in an instant everything changes.