When Gen swung his sword, each slash was a death sentence to the Orcs. Two, three of them fell like puppets with their strings cut. He didn't stop moving, his sword dancing with relentless precision — a true meat grinder, overwhelming all in his path.
"What kind of swordsmanship is that... terrifying."
"He really is... a monster..."
The two bald men stammered, their eyes glued to the massacre unfolding before them. The visual shock from the rapid slashes had deceived them. Who would have thought it was just an ordinary skill?
Before long, the last Orc collapsed, signaling the abrupt end of the battle.
"Phew..."
All three members of Lee's group exhaled in relief, a weight lifting off their chests. They were still stunned, unable to believe how fast everything had ended.
"So that's that..."
Gen flicked his sword to shake off the lingering blood. One of the two bald men hesitated, then spoke, his eyes showing a trace of awkwardness.
"The loot here... we don't need it. Feel free to take it."
"Uh... thank you... ha ha..."
Gen glanced at him briefly, then called out to Dolly. Truth be told, items from level 20 monsters were trash in his eyes.
Without another word, he sheathed his sword under his cloak.
"I'll go ahead."
"Yes! Safe travels, Hero!" one of the men called out, his tone sycophantic. It was the highest praise one could offer.
Gen didn't stop, striding off without waiting for them to gather the spoils.
"Will we... see him again?"
"Maybe."
Lee stood in silence, eyes fixed on Gen's fading figure. No one knew what he was thinking, only that he had voiced the question.
"Haha... That Hero's a good guy. Though... a bit eccentric-looking."
"Shut up! Just grab the loot! If those Orcs respawn, I'll leave your corpse behind!"
"How dare you scold me!? Is there any younger brother on this planet who dares disrespect his older brother like that?!"
"Idiot."
Gen's figure vanished up the stairs, and the two bald men resumed their usual bickering.
"Oh no... We didn't even get his name..." Lee murmured, just realizing what they had missed.
...
Behind the first floor was a pitch-black stone staircase that spiraled endlessly downward, seemingly without end.
Gen had no idea how far he had descended. The air grew colder and heavier. Only the echo of his footsteps accompanied him in the dark.
Then, a massive, ancient iron door loomed before him — majestic, even in its decay, like a remnant of a long-lost grand era.
He placed his hand on the door, intending to push.
But there was no need.
The door opened on its own.
Light poured in, so bright he had to squint.
And then... a breathtaking sight unfolded.
A vast, lush forest, vividly green. The sky above was boundless and cloudless. Warm sunlight bathed the treetops, and a gentle breeze stirred the grass along the narrow trail.
Gen stood frozen. For a moment, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Was this really underground?
But he quickly calmed himself.
This world no longer followed conventional logic.
Trying to understand every mystery would only waste his time.
He stepped in, scanning the terrain before picking a direction to explore.
He didn't rush forward. Instead, he intended to comb through every corner of this strange forest in hopes of finding another hidden quest.
Over an hour passed as he thoroughly searched the area. Eventually, Gen stopped in front of a large pond.
At first glance, it was an ordinary body of water. The surface was mirror-still, reflecting the drifting clouds. Wisps of mist floated above, adding a serene, almost holy atmosphere.
But Gen's eyes saw something else.
He focused on a floating line of text above the water, simple yet terrifying to anyone who knew what it meant.
[Hydra – Level 374]
Cold. Terrifying. That name alone could make any adventurer falter.
Hydra — a legendary beast that once spread fear over a thousand years ago. Tamed by the Demon King, it was a harbinger of doom. Its massive, serpentine body and four ravenous dragon heads had torn armies to shreds in seconds.
Everyone believed it extinct, buried with the bloodstained history of ancient times.
And yet here it was, hidden beneath the deceptively tranquil water.
Now, the icy eyes of Hydra opened from the depths, locking onto Gen.
Hydra never allowed intruders near its waters. Whether human, monster, or mythical being — all became its prey.
It surged up in a violent wave, four heads lashing forward in a time-tested tactic of overwhelming dominance. But Gen didn't move. He didn't flinch. His body stood completely still, as if savoring the scenery.
From afar, he looked like a simple-minded farmer enjoying a peaceful lake.
Hydra's predator gaze gleamed with contempt. A human? Just a foolish morsel. This would end swiftly.
And then...
SPLASH!
Water exploded. A monstrous roar echoed. All four heads lunged, snapping at Gen, dragging him underwater. The bite was like a rain of steel needles, aiming to shred him instantly.
Two seconds.
Too short a time for Dolly, standing at a distance, to even blink — if she could. Her expressionless face didn't change.
Then, silence.
No thrashing. No screams. No violent whirlpools.
Everything stood still.
BOOM!!
A thunderous explosion shattered the calm. Water blasted skyward. The lake bubbled like a boiling pot. The entire forest trembled.
Moments later...
A grim figure emerged.
Gen no longer looked human. He stepped onto the shore with his Undead body — a blood-smeared skull for a face, like a nightmare made flesh. But death was not in his form — it was in his hand: the only remaining head of Hydra.
He dragged it along the ground.
The rest of Hydra's body had been pulverized beyond recognition by a single incomprehensible punch.
"No... it can't be..."
Hydra's consciousness trembled, like the last fog melting under sunlight. As its gaze met Gen's blank, abyss-like stare, something within its soul cracked.
Pain didn't scare it. It had endured blades from Heroes, endured hellfire, clashed with monsters of its tier. Every time, it survived, becoming stronger.
But this was different.
This was no ordinary death.
It had been discarded.
This being — not man, not monster — didn't dodge, didn't react, didn't even acknowledge it as an enemy.
It was... garbage to him.
"I am Hydra! The terror of the ancient Empire! The beast of the Demon King!"
But its roar echoed into void. No one answered. Only Gen dragging its head like a butcher with spoiled meat.
It wasn't a death by power.
It was a death by disparity.
He let go. The final head hit the ground.
The shroud of death vanished. He reverted to his human form.
No words.
Just a flash of steel.
SPLURT!
The last head was severed.
He didn't want to risk losing the valuable EXP if Hydra died naturally.
And then...
[Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!]...
Light poured over Gen as notifications flooded in. He laughed aloud. This was his well-earned reward.
Unable to wait, he opened his status.
[Status Window] Gen | Age: 23 | Male Race: Human Title: (None) Class: Intermediate Soldier HP: 1806/1806 +3200 | MP: 908/908 Level: 223
Strength: 1843 Physical Resist: 903 +80 +20 Magic Power: 908 Magic Resist: 450 +60 +60 Agility: 978
Unique Skills: (None) Basic Skills: [Appraisal], [Sword Technique Lv3 (23%)] Status: Normal (Amnesia)
"Hahaha..."
His deep laugh echoed in the still forest, breaking the leftover silence from battle.
This fantasy world was full of danger. But at this level, Gen figured he no longer needed to rely on transformations. He could now explore it freely in his human form.
His gaze fell.
Hydra's corpse lay like a collapsed mountain, blood pooling beneath it. From the gore, a soft light emerged — a black cube, its corners traced with gold patterns. It looked out of place.
A box? Not a weapon. Not gear.
He narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering briefly. Then he picked it up.
[Skill Discovered] [Activate Skill?] [Accept] / [Decline]
A translucent window appeared.
Gen stood still for a moment as if pondering a jewel that had fallen from the heavens.
Then he smirked.
"Hmph... Why not?"
Without hesitation, he chose [Accept]. Curious to see what fortune had brought him.
[Unique Skill Acquired: Regeneration]
Regeneration — a legendary skill possessed only by mythical creatures like Hydra. It allowed full-body regeneration, bones and blood included, at the cost of tremendous MP drain per second.
Before he could comprehend its power, pain stabbed through his skull like a hammer to the brain.
[Regeneration: Passive Activation]
Memories flooded back like a broken dam.
He saw his entire life flash before him: a noble family at its height... parents weeping as they sent him to the Capital... the innocent eyes of a little sister watching his silhouette vanish into the sunset... and at last — blood, broken bones, and death.
Sigh...
His breath escaped, light as air but heavy as a funeral bell.
For a moment, his face softened. Regret. Sorrow. The emotions that made him human. But soon they vanished like bubbles, his expression becoming emotionless again.
Regeneration didn't just restore flesh.
It restored memories.
And with that... he understood.
Hydra — its essence, structure, existence. The true meaning of regeneration. Creatures like it should only exist in legend.
But there was one more thing...
Why didn't he have a magic affinity?
He had assumed he simply couldn't learn it.
Wrong.
The truth was... he had failed during his first summoning.
A humiliating failure he buried deep in his mind.
Insufficient MP.
A cold verdict.
So he gave up magic entirely and focused on Sword Technique — a crude tool anyone could buy from a novice shop.
Summoning? He had never thought of trying again.
Until now.
For the first time in years, he wanted to break that rule.
The air was eerily still.
No one around. No sound. The forest felt sealed by an unseen power. Leaves didn't rustle, wind didn't blow, sunlight turned pale.
Even the Dungeon itself seemed to pause.
As if the world was giving him a moment to focus.
A silent invitation.
A subtle push.
Try it. Right here. Right now.
Gen closed his eyes.
His breathing calmed. Posture straight. His body relaxed like a brittle branch drifting in a void. MP flowed out, forming a faint mist blanketing the ground. No control needed. Everything came naturally.
Then his voice rang out — low, clear, resolute.
"O world of Sword and Magic... open the gate to a distant realm."
The first words touched invisible strings, stirring unseen waves.
"O mystical spirit from the faraway fae..."
"Answer my call."
"By the power of the elements..."
"By the bond of eternal friendship..."
"Descend and grant me strength..."
"To protect this world from destruction."
Each word carried sacred intent. Not a chant — a vow. A forgotten pact reawakened.
MP swirled around him, forming a soft vortex. A gate seemed ready to open between two realms.
He stood still, eyes closed like a silent statue.
Inside, he knew — this was the moment of truth.
To summon a spirit, power alone wasn't enough.
You needed the right words to knock on the door between worlds.
Summoning magic required four key principles:
1. A heartfelt plea to a distant spirit.
2. A connection through elemental affinity.
3. Unshakable belief in the pact — often called friendship.
4. A noble cause: protection.
While summoners could customize their incantation, most chose this classic one for its stability.
Now... he stood at the heart of swirling magic, silently waiting.