The black sedan idled at the curb, its tinted windows hiding more than just prying eyes. Seun could feel the weight of the man's gaze before he even spoke.
**"Seun, was it?"** The suited man's voice was smooth, practiced. **"The Association would like a word. Preferably before you leave more corpses in your wake, *Shadow Porter*."**
The title sent a thrill down Seun's spine. They *knew*. Or at least, they suspected.
He smirked. **"Should I bring a lawyer?"**
The man didn't laugh. **"Get in."**
The black sedan's door slammed shut behind Seun, but he didn't flinch. The Association's enforcers had pulled him in for questioning, but their grip was weak. They had no proof—only fear.
Director Ko Taesik sat across from him in the dim interrogation room, a thin file on the table between them.
**"Let's not waste time,"** Ko said, his voice smooth. **"You were the only survivor of Team Viper's wipeout. That's… statistically improbable for an F-rank porter."**
Seun leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. **"Luck's a bitch like that."**
Ko's smile didn't reach his eyes. **"Luck doesn't leave behind dungeon cores drained of their energy. Or shadows that move when no one's looking."**
Seun smirked. **"Got footage of that? Or just more baseless accusations?"**
A tense silence.
Ko exhaled, flipping open the file. **"You're right. We have no concrete evidence. But we don't *need* it to make your life difficult."**
Seun's fingers twitched. The UnRuly System pulsed in his mind.
**[Quest Alert: 'Break the Association's Leverage']**
**[Reward: 500 DP | +5% Shadow Extraction Efficiency]**
**"What do you want?"** Seun asked, his voice flat.
Ko slid a contract across the table. **"A B-rank dungeon's opened up in the industrial sector. We're short on manpower. You'll join the raid team—unofficially. Consider it… community service."**
Seun scanned the document. No pay. No benefits. Just a thinly veiled threat.
**"And if I refuse?"**
Ko leaned forward. **"Then every guild in the city gets a notice about an F-rank porter with 'unusual abilities.' Hunters get *nervous* around unknowns. Accidents happen."**
Seun laughed. A cold, humorless sound.
**"Fine. I'll play along."** He stood, crumpling the contract in his fist. **"But if your team gets in my way, I won't stop the dungeon from cleaning up your mess."**
Ko's smirk faltered—just for a second.
---
### **The Dungeon's Edge**
The industrial sector was a graveyard of rust and decay. The dungeon's entrance pulsed like an infected wound, its jagged maw exhaling stale, metallic air.
The raid team—five Hunters, all B-rank—eyed Seun with open disdain.
**"This the porter?"** A broad-shouldered man with a scarred face spat. **"The hell's he gonna do? Carry our bags?"**
Seun ignored him, stepping past the team to study the dungeon's aura.
**[System Alert: 'Dungeon Anomaly Detected']**
**[Warning: Corruption Levels Exceed Standard B-rank Parameters]**
Something was wrong.
The team leader, a woman with a sniper rifle strapped to her back, shoved a comms earpiece into Seun's hand. **"You stick to the rear. Touch *nothing*. Understood?"**
Seun pocketed the earpiece without a word.
**[Optional Quest: 'Let Them Die']**
**[Reward: 300 DP | New Shadows for Extraction]**
He smirked.
This would be fun.
---
### **The First Blood**
The dungeon's corridors twisted unnaturally, the walls breathing like living flesh. The Hunters moved cautiously, their arrogance fading with every step.
Then the shadows *moved*.
A Hunter screamed as something *yanked* him into the darkness. The team scrambled, weapons drawn—but the thing was *fast*.
Seun stood back, watching.
**[Shadow Extraction Available: 'Fallen Hunter – B-rank']**
**[Accept? Y/N]**
He didn't hesitate. **"Yes."**
The darkness *surged*, wrapping around the corpse like a lover's embrace.
The remaining Hunters turned, their faces pale.
**"What the *hell* was that?!"** the sniper snarled.
Seun met her gaze, his eyes glinting in the dim light.
**"Bad luck."**
---
### **The Association's Mistake**
Above ground, in a surveillance van, Ko stared at the flickering monitors.
**"Sir, the dungeon's energy spiked—it's reading A-rank now!"**
Ko's grip tightened on his tablet. The Hunters' vitals were dropping. All except one.
Seun's readout was *laughably* stable.
**"Pull the team out,"** Ko ordered.
The technician hesitated. **"We're losing comms—"**
Ko's fist slammed onto the console. **"Do it!"**
But it was too late.