Chapter 10: Dungeon (2)

Hunters operate in Dungeons according to their Level.

Only Hunters under Level 20 can gain Experience in First-Rank Dungeons.

Second-Rank Dungeons are for Level 40 and below.

Third-Rank for Level 60 and below.……….

This is a Rule upheld in most Dungeons.

So, Hunters only work in Dungeons that match their Level range.

In that case, every Hunter needs a Party.

It’s because the difficulty is too much to clear alone.

Even if you’re skilled enough to solo a Dungeon, there are still things you can’t handle all by yourself.

Catching Monsters isn’t the only job.

Leveling up is one of the two main reasons to enter a Dungeon.

The other is for Items and Byproducts.

“That’s why you absolutely need a Collection Team to handle the byproducts.”

That’s why talented Hunters are almost always affiliated with a Guild.

There are Agencies that professionally support unaffiliated Hunters, but—

‘This time, the Support Team is good, so it’ll be a breeze.’

A great Collection Team is on standby, and Jeong Hyeona even volunteered as the Guide.

Suho stepped off the van in a cheerful mood.

He rummaged through the luggage compartment and took out his Equipment.

“Won Suho, your Equipment is…”

Jeong Hyeona, seeing his appearance, trailed off.

“Haha… Suho hyung, you’ve got a new pot, huh.”

Jung Hyunsu replied, looking a bit exasperated.

A shiny Aluminum Pot on his head.

A Cast Iron Lid strapped to his back.

And Suho was walking over, holding an Claw hammer in his hand.

“Won Suho, those things you’re wearing…”

“They’re my Equipment.”

“I know that, but…”

“You said you wouldn’t ask. Special clause.”

The Contract wasn’t fully signed yet, but they were in a provisional agreement.

Unless you want to back out, you have to follow the terms of the Contract.

Jeong Hyeona immediately closed her mouth.

“Okay, sorry. I was just so surprised.”

She quickly apologized and led the way.

Jung Hyunsu and Suho followed behind her.

The Dungeon Gate came into view.

A shimmering rift split the air.

Around it, a single layer of Light Veil wrapped the outside.

‘One layer of Light Veil, so it really is a First-Rank Dungeon.’

The number of Light Veils around the Gate shows the Dungeon’s difficulty.

The group stopped in front of the Gate.

“The Monsters here are Blazing Thorn Hedgehogs. If you inflict a Critical Injury, their eyes get bloodshot and they go Berserk. They’ll shoot Flame Spikes, so it gets tricky. Once their eyes go red, you have three seconds before Berserk, so you need to deal with them quickly. Also…”

Jeong Hyeona began a concise Brifing.

“I’ll take the lead and do the Exploration. The Combat will be handled by Hyunsu and Won Suho. That fits the purpose for coming to this Dungeon.”

Except in dangerous situations.

She added that as well.

Suho was happy with this arrangement.

The System grants Experience according to your Contribution in Combat.

Exploration is fine, but if she does more than that, all the Contribution will go to Jeong Hyeona.

Especially if she steps in against Monsters above this Dungeon’s difficulty—like Golems.

For example, if a Hunter above Level 20 joins the fight in a First-Rank Dungeon, the lower-level Hunters get almost no Experience.

So Jeong Hyeona shouldn’t participate in Combat.

“Understood.”

“Yeah, got it.”

Jeong Hyeona continued.

“…If you follow the canyon all the way to the end, there’s a Boss at the end. Take down the Boss and it’s over. Any other questions?”

“None.”

“Let’s go, noona.”

“Oh! One last thing—an Irregular might show up, so always stay alert. You too, Hyunsu.”

Irregular.

On rare occasions, a Monster much stronger than the Dungeon’s usual level appears.

Sometimes it’s a Named Monster, or even an extra Boss.

After giving her last warning, Jeong Hyeona dove into the Gate.

Suho followed right after her.

***

They entered the Dungeon.

Suho looked around.

The bottom of a deep canyon.

Thick undergrowth made for poor visibility.

Fortunately, just like the Brifing said, it was a single, narrow path.

He could feel something special beyond what he could see.

“The Magic Power Concentration is insane. And it’s unstable.”

It was several times higher than on Earth.

And the flow was totally irregular.

Because of that, electronics malfunction, and most firearms won’t work.

Only Equipment recognized as ‘Items’ function properly.

“I’ll go ahead.”

Jeong Hyeona whispered, stepping forward.

It was the movement they’d agreed on beforehand.

Suho followed about five meters behind her.

Jung Hyunsu was another meter behind Suho.

That was the formation, since Hyunsu used a bow as his weapon.

Suddenly, Jeong Hyeona stopped.

She pointed at the brush ahead, raising one finger.

‘One Monster ahead?’

That was the prearranged signal—one Monster ahead.

Jeong Hyeona quietly withdrew to the rear.

At the same time, Suho charged forward.

Startled by the movement, a Blazing Thorn Hedgehog burst out from the undergrowth.

Thwack—

An arrow struck its body.

Jung Hyunsu had fired.

At the same time, Suho rushed in.

The enraged Hedgehog shuddered in pain.

Spikes shot out.

Sssssk—

Suho didn’t bother to block.

‘I can dodge it.’

The trajectory of the spikes was crystal clear to his Perception.

He simply moved his neck.

The spike sliced harmlessly through the air as Suho swung his right hand.

The Claw hammer struck the Hedgehog’s head.

Screee—

With a short scream, the Monster collapsed.

That was the end of it.

“…Huh? What the—!”

Jeong Hyeona had been watching the fight.

But something totally unexpected happened.

‘He took it down in one hit?’

A Level 1 Hunter took down a First-Rank Dungeon Monster in a single blow.

Hyunsu’s arrow had wounded it, but it wasn’t a Critical Injury—there were no signs of Berserk.

So Suho was definitely the one who dealt the Critical Injury.

‘…His attack power is definitely impressive.’

Jeong Hyeona raised her evaluation of Suho.

Of course, she still wasn’t ready to sign “that Contract.”

“If there’s no problem, shall we keep going?”

Suho and Jung Hyunsu nodded.

The group continued onward.

After a while, Jeong Hyeona stopped again.

This time, two fingers.

Another fight began.

Jeong Hyeona watched the battle from behind with a strange expression.

“The moment I spotted the Hedgehog and stopped, Won Suho stopped too.”

The instant Jeong Hyeona located the Monster and halted, Suho stopped as well.

It wasn’t her imagination.

Hyunsu took another step and then stopped, which was a clear contrast.

‘No way… Did he sense it?’

Does he have a detection Skill on par with mine?

The thought crossed Jeong Hyeona’s mind.

‘No way.’

But she shook her head.

Jeong Hyeona was a Hunter about to graduate from Second-Rank Dungeons.

There’s no way a Level 1’s Perception could match hers.

Screee—

This fight ended easily as well.

Jung Hyunsu pinned the enemy’s legs with Ice Arrow, and Suho slammed the Claw hammer into its head.

A smile spread across Suho’s face after the battle.

It was thanks to the message that appeared before his eyes.

[Level Up!]

[Agility has increased by 1.]

[Perception has increased by 1.]

[Perception has increased by 1.]

‘Three Stats at once? Didn’t know that.’

When you Level Up, your Stats increase automatically.

A Hunter can’t choose which Stats increase or by how much.

You get a maximum of three points per Level Up.

Getting three this time was lucky.

‘And Perception increased by two? I’m really lucky.’

With a satisfied smile, Suho advanced through the canyon.

***

About seventy percent through the canyon.

The group was taking a break.

Jeong Hyeona sat down, thinking back over the progress so far.

‘It’s going really smoothly.’

Suho’s Claw hammer never missed, and no Hedgehog could withstand more than two hits.

“See, noona? I told you. Suho hyung’s a total monster.”

At her brother’s words, Jeong Hyeona let out a quiet sigh.

“I get it, Won Suho is not normal. I admit it.”

“Then you can sign the Contract, right?”

“…..”

“Wow, no answer, noona. You saw it yourself. He fights like a beast.”

Jeong Hyeona knew it too.

She had eyes—she couldn’t deny it.

Suho really did fight well.

All the way here, not a single Hedgehog managed to go Berserk.

He always struck at the perfect moment, with flawless Claw hammer work.

Even so, Jeong Hyeona hesitated.

‘He fights well, but he doesn’t have Kang Minje’s firepower.’

Kang Minje had been burning Monsters alive since Level 1.

No matter how you looked at it, Suho wasn’t on that level.

‘I doubt he’ll ever grow as much as Kang Minje.’

He didn’t even have any special Skills.

He just swung his Claw hammer accurately.

That’s why Jeong Hyeona was reluctant to sign the Contract.

“If only I could adjust the Contract terms a little…”

Because she’d been a bit rude earlier, the terms had become less favorable.

‘I shouldn’t have acted so hastily… Ugh…’

While Jeong Hyeona was sighing to herself—

Suddenly.

Suho, who had been sitting across from her, stood up.

Then he shouted.

“Combat ready! Now!”

Jeong Hyeona looked at Suho in confusion.

Combat, all of a sudden?

She didn’t sense any Monster… Huh?

“A-An Irregular!”

Jeong Hyeona jumped up in shock.

Jung Hyunsu, who trusted Suho implicitly, was already in combat stance.

Jeong Hyeona drew her sword with a tense face.

“It’s an Irregular! I have to join in!”

Irregulars are dangerous.

Ten percent of Hunters who die do so because of Irregulars.

And that’s with their low occurrence rate.

But then a ridiculous shout rang out.

“Don’t interfere! Let’s go!”

Suho yelled.

That was directed at Jeong Hyeona in front and Hyunsu in the rear.

“Yes, hyung!”

Surprisingly, Hyunsu reacted faster than Jeong Hyeona.

And before she could intervene, combat had already begun.

Suho moved, observing his opponent.

A two-legged Hedgehog covered in spikes.

About three meters tall, and its eyes were already bloodshot.

‘It’s already in Berserk mode.’

Even though it hadn’t been injured, it was already Berserk.

Flames flickered from the spikes on its hands and feet.

“Just keep it busy!”

Suho shouted to Hyunsu, then charged at the Irregular.

A burning fist came flying.

Suho raised his shield.

‘It’s got way more Strength than me.’

His Perception Stat gave a warning.

Dodge a direct hit.

He angled the Cast Iron Lid diagonally.

Bang—

The Irregular’s fist slammed into the Cast Iron Lid and slid off.

Suho swung the Claw hammer.

Aiming for the Irregular’s knee.

Crack!

A direct hit.

The Monster staggered.

‘Didn’t break…’

The Irregular’s bones were tough.

One hit wasn’t enough.

He’d have to keep hitting until it broke.

Just as Suho prepared to attack again, he stopped.

The furious Irregular unleashed a flurry of punches.

Bang bang bang—

A shower of burning fists, like a torrential downpour.

Suho deflected every single one with the Cast Iron Lid.

‘Defense is working, but there’s no opening to attack.’

He just needed one chance—

Sssssk—

Then, a crackling sound came from behind.

Jung Hyunsu’s Ice Arrow struck the Irregular’s side.

Its gaze snapped to Hyunsu.

At the same time, its punches stopped.

Thanks to the freezing effect.

“Now!”

Suho dashed in.

The startled Irregular tried to punch him.

This time, he didn’t block.

He ducked low, almost scraping the ground, dodging the attack.

Whoosh—

The fist grazed over his head.

Suho swung his Claw hammer.

Crunch—

A sharp crack came from the Irregular’s knee.

“Got it! It’s broken!”

Kuwaaaang—

A fierce scream erupted from the Irregular’s mouth.

Red light poured in streams from its eyes.

“Something’s coming!”

A tingling sense—Perception Stat warning of danger.

Suho quickly retreated.

Flames erupted from the Irregular’s body.

All of its spikes, now blazing, shot out in every direction.

Suho raised his shield.

“No problem, for me.”

If he curled up, the Cast Iron Lid could block everything.

But not for Jung Hyunsu.

‘I have to protect him.’

He made his decision.

Suho leapt to the side.

His movement created a gap.

A Flame Spike grazed his leg.

“It’s fine. I can handle it.”

Thanks to his high [Flame Resistance], the injury wasn’t serious.

“Aaagh—!”

Jung Hyunsu’s scream rang out.

A Flame Spike was about to hit him.

“Not enough time!”

Suho couldn’t reach him with the Cast Iron Lid.

The flames would engulf Hyunsu first.

‘No choice!’

He couldn’t afford to lose his precious healer here.

Suho gritted his teeth and hurled the Cast Iron Lid.

With perfect timing, the lid blocked in front of Hyunsu.

Clang clang clang—!

Flame Spikes struck the lid.

At the same time, Flame Spikes flew at Suho.

Now, he had no shield.

A crisis.

His Perception focused to the extreme.

His vision narrowed sharply.

It was like turning on a flashlight in the dark—he could only see what was right in front of him.

In that narrow view,

Flame Spikes were flying toward him in bunches.

Suho swung his Claw hammer.

Pak pak pak—

The Claw hammer knocked away the Flame Spikes.

Spikes burst, scattering flames.

But there were still many left.

Suho swung his Claw hammer like a storm.

Papapapapapak—!

Flame Spikes exploded away.

Not a single one touched Suho.

How much time passed?

The rain of Flame Spikes finally ended.

Whump—

At that moment, Suho kicked off the ground.

He saw the gasping Irregular.

Just as he expected.

‘After using a technique like that, there’s no way it can move right away.’

He rushed in.

Suho braced his knee strongly.

He leapt like a water strider.

He swung his Claw hammer.

Aiming for the Monster’s jaw.

Whether from shock or exhaustion, its reaction was slow.

Crack—!

The Claw hammer struck its jaw.

The Monster staggered, its legs giving way.

Now its head was at a reachable height.

Suho swung his Claw hammer again.

Aiming for the same spot.

Crack—!

Another successful hit.

The Irregular collapsed to its knees.

Its eyes went dull.

Time for the finishing blow.

Suho bent backward.

His chest opened wide like a bow, gathering power in his back.

“Haaap—!”

With a shout, Suho bent forward.

The Claw hammer traced a huge arc as it came down.

Right onto the kneeling Irregular’s head.

Crunch!

A powerful crack.

The Irregular’s skull caved in.

Blood streamed from the wound.

Thud.

At last, the Monster fell to the ground.

[You have defeated the Named Monster: Blazing Thorn Hedgehog Mutant.]

[Experience acquired.]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Strength has increased by 1.]

[Endurance has increased by 1.]

….

With message after message popping up, Suho beamed with a bright smile.