In just one week, the Republic of Korea had undergone tremendous change.
- Hey, is this for real? They’re finding Hidden Pieces every day.
- Just accept it.
- What was once abnormal became normalized thanks to the Dokkaebi.
- Still, does this even make sense? I heard some foreigners still don’t believe it.
- I can’t believe it myself. There are already 39 Hidden Pieces. Ugh. Tomorrow, will it hit forty? Does that mean the odds of seeing an SS-rank dungeon go up?
With the Dokkaebi’s achievements, the number of Hidden Pieces discovered kept climbing, and the count of Achievements soared.
But that wasn’t the only good news.
- Kang Chanseok became an S-rank Hunter. The Official Announcement came out today.
- Wow. So finally, our country has produced an S-rank Hunter too.
- Wasn’t there the Dokkaebi?
- That person is a god. It’s been a while since a human reached this.
- When the Undying Guild, once number one in our country, fled to China with their promising rookie, I thought we were really finished… But this happened.
- Other countries thought the same. They said Korea was done for.
- By the way, what’s that guy up to these days? I can’t even remember his name anymore.
- Who? The Undying rookie? Kim Muhyeok?
- Ah, right. The Swordmaster’s Disciple. Any updates on him?
- If we don’t know, isn’t it obvious?
- They say China’s pushing him as a promising Hunter, but he still hasn’t reached S-rank.
- The Undying Guild used to cooperate with the Blood Demon. After the Blood Demon died and all the S-rank dungeons shifted to Korea, I heard he got kicked to the curb.
- Rumor is he’s training under the Cheonma. Might just be a story.
- He must really have talent to catch Cheonma’s eye.
- That bastard. That’s Muhyeok.
- Muhyeok, you’re pathetic. Can’t you just disappear?
With the emergence of a new S-rank Hunter, many turned their eyes back to the Hunter world.
Though still only A-rank for now.
They were more than likely to reach S-rank soon.
There were already people considered among the top three.
Lee Yoona of Hwarang.
Lee Gi-seong of Changcheon.
Yoo Seolha of the Golden Tower.
- The Golden Tower—Yoo Seolha’s skills are impressive, but their Potions are something else.
- I heard they just signed an official supply contract with other countries.
- Same here. For now, it’s just a few countries, but they’ll gradually expand.
- Maybe that’s why there are rumors about goods being smuggled into China.
- It’s not just a rumor. I’m a Hunter overseas. They supply stuff in China, but you can’t use it. The Golden Tower’s Potion is the real deal. Can’t explain it. If you can buy it, buy it.
- They must be freaking out.
- They thought closing the Potion shop would make us crawl back. But look at that. Korea started making Potions? Even exporting them?
- But can they really supply that much? China used to cover volume with sheer manpower. Korea can’t do that, can it?
- No one really knows about the Dokkaebi’s Potion Shop, so it’s all speculation. Still, things have gone smoothly so far. Let’s hope it stays that way.
- No worries, the Hunter Association President gave their seal of approval. Told us not to worry.
- The Dokkaebi is the future.
As the online community heated up, so too did Korea’s Hunter world.
It was like a second golden age had arrived.
All the numbers shot up vertically.
The number of new Hunters, those rising in rank, the rate of labyrinth and dungeon clears—all of it.
As people flocked in, the economy picked up and vibrancy bloomed.
And today.
- Holy crap. It’s here.
- What is?
- What is?
- What?
- What’s here?
- An SS-rank Red Dungeon.
Korean Hunter Association.
SS-rank Red Dungeon Strategy Team.
The newly established Strategy Team was created to select participating countries and prepare for the SS-rank dungeon conquest.
The person in overall charge was Association President Lee Changgeon.
The practical team was led by S-rank Hunter Kang Chanseok, joined by Korea’s top Hunters.
And today was the day of the Strategy Team’s meeting.
Lee Changgeon greeted the gathered Hunters and listened closely to Kang Chanseok’s report.
“We’ve finished selecting the participating countries. Their representatives will enter Korea tomorrow, and we plan to have detailed discussions with them.”
There was much to decide in a multi-national dungeon conquest.
Supplies, personnel, rewards, and more.
With many countries having different interests, a lack of good mediation often led to difficulties in conquering the dungeon.
But compared to previous joint dungeon raids held by other countries—
This time, negotiations for the SS-rank Red Dungeon proceeded smoothly.
Because Korea’s stake was overwhelming, most had no choice but to follow Korea’s lead.
Anyone who rubbed Korea the wrong way was out, so even the most troublesome personalities couldn’t act out.
“Be confident. Remember, you don’t have just me behind you—there’s the Dokkaebi.”
Everyone laughed at Lee Changgeon’s half-joking remark.
“Understood.”
“Well then, let’s all go get a good meal.”
Just as they were about to wrap up and rise from their seats—
A message appeared before everyone’s eyes.
[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[You have received a reward for the Hidden Piece Discovery Achievement.]
[Your country’s dungeon conquest rewards have increased.]
[Your country’s Trial success rewards have increased.]
[You have accumulated forty Hidden Piece Achievements.]
Korea’s first-ever Achievement.
No, an incredible Achievement created by the Dokkaebi.
‘Forty, huh… I wonder what will change.’
Everyone swallowed nervously, waiting for the next message. Before long, a new message appeared.
[An SS-rank Red Dungeon will definitely be generated.]
As the message vanished, all eyes turned to the Association President.
Sensing their gaze, he nodded.
“Let’s eat later. For now, let’s find the SS-rank dungeon and begin analysis. The more information we gather, the better we can steer the negotiations.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
And soon, contact came.
Kang Chanseok took a call, silently ended it, and spoke.
“President, they’ve identified the location. Would you like to go together?”
“Let’s do it. Everyone, let’s go.”
That they could pinpoint the location so quickly was thanks to Association staff already dispatched in advance.
Most manpower had been assigned to find it as soon as it appeared.
The reason for this urgency was to secure the SS-rank Red Dungeon as early as possible.
Of course, to stop others from entering the dungeon first.
But more importantly, to protect ordinary people from the dungeon’s aftermath.
An SS-rank dungeon was a mass of unknowns.
No one knew how, where, or what kind of disaster it might bring.
That’s why the initial response was crucial.
“Fortunately, the emergence location is near the Association.”
“That so?”
Lee Changgeon and the practical staff exited to the first floor of the Association. Outside, a crowd was staring in one direction.
“Is that the SS-rank dungeon?”
“That thing looks horrific.”
“Something about it just feels wrong.”
Lee Changgeon followed their gaze. The mountain behind the Hunter Association. Atop it, an enormous portal was visible.
A swirling vortex of black and red.
A bizarre aura wafted from it, dragging everyone’s mood down.
It felt just like that time.
The mysterious dungeon that had killed Lee Changgeon’s comrades—the S-rank Hunters who were heroes of the Republic of Korea.
‘…Similar, but strangely different.’
Shaking off his memories, Lee Changgeon addressed the dumbstruck Hunters.
“Everyone, snap out of it and get moving.”
“Yes.”
Kang Chanseok gave instructions to the other Hunters.
“Set up a barrier around the dungeon so no outsiders can approach. Absolutely no civilians, and keep reporters out too.”
“Got it.”
“Understood.”
Lee Changgeon also contacted the government, requesting police assistance to control the area.
There simply weren’t enough Hunters to block everyone by themselves.
Then, together with the Hunters, he moved toward the dungeon.
The closer they got, the stronger the dungeon’s aura grew. Upon arriving at its entrance, information about the dungeon appeared before their eyes.
[Red Dungeon (SS)]
- If you do not clear the dungeon within the time limit, a dungeon break will occur.
- Time limit: 30 days.
- Within the time limit, defeat all the boss monsters inside the dungeon.
- Boss monsters: 0/100
Each morning, after a light breakfast, I would raid a labyrinth, then eat lunch at a popular restaurant near the Association before heading back.
In the afternoon, I opened the Sealed Sacred Relic Boxes handed over by the participating countries.
Thus, I acquired four new relics.
That made ten Sacred Relics—the minimum requirement to reach Saint Dragon Level.
[You have secured 10 Sacred Relics.]
[You now qualify to reach Saint Dragon Level.]
[Advance to the Intermediate Arena and prove your strength.]
Now I met the requirements.
All that remained was to defeat a Lower Apostle, claim the ticket, and move up to the Intermediate Arena.
[The number of Sacred Relics in your possession has increased to 10.]
[There is a change in the Transcendence System.]
[An additional ability is granted.]
- Additional ability upon use: Mana consumption is halved.
If Mana consumption was halved, that meant the power of my magic would double.
Since a spell’s might increases proportionally to Mana used.
“Now, let’s go hunt down a Lower Apostle.”
I got ready to head out and, stepping outside, activated the Eye of Bluecat.
[You are using Eye of Bluecat, Level 2.]
With a Lower Apostle in mind as my target, my vision inverted to black and white.
It was like seeing the world through a monochrome photograph.
Within that special sight, a white line sharply traced out the direction of my target.
“…Hm?”
But it was much closer than I’d thought.
Not far from the Hunter Association.
A place located in the southern part of Gyeonggi.
That was where the Lower Apostle was hiding.
Since I could teleport that far in an instant, I used Mana without hesitation to leap across space.
A bustling area near a university.
The streets teemed with young people.
Students just out of class eating meals or drinking caught my eye.
And among them was the Lower Apostle.
A Lower Apostle in the guise of an ordinary human sat in a cafe, scanning the surroundings with a strange smile.
[You are using the Golden Dragon Eye.]
[Lower Apostle of the Water Dragon God]
- Information cannot be confirmed.
As the Apostle checked the time while sipping coffee, I walked closer.
Looked like he was plotting something.
If I subdued him and used Confession Grass Powder, I could find out for sure.
To prevent any bystanders from getting hurt, I cast wide-range protective magic in every direction.
I also layered an illusion spell so no one could see the Apostle or me.
As Mana rippled out and the spells activated, the Lower Apostle frowned and looked around.
Then our eyes met.
“Successor of the Lord… How did you find me here?”
“That’s not your concern. What scheme are you plotting?”
“Hmph.”
The frowning Lower Apostle checked the time again, then grinned slyly.
“Seems you’re already too late.”
The moment his words ended, the magic circles I had set up shattered, and cracks spread through the air.
[You have failed the Retest imposed by the Sealed Sacred Relic Box.]
[The great Guardian of the Lord within the Sacred Relic descends to reality.]