Chapter Eleven: The First Team
The school's hallways were eerily silent. The gymnasium's sounds of panic were a distant memory, replaced by the unsettling quiet of a building frozen in time. The last rays of twilight slanted through the tall windows, casting long, distorted shadows that danced with every step Minwoo and Hyejin took. Minwoo's newly acquired Broken Broadsword felt heavy and clumsy in his hand, a poor substitute for the divine weapons he was accustomed to, but its weight was a cold, reassuring reality.
"Where are we going?" Hyejin whispered, her voice barely audible. Her new Wooden Staff was clutched in her other hand, a symbol of her purpose.
"We need to find another Gate," Minwoo replied, his eyes scanning the empty lockers and classrooms. His Sense stat, his most powerful asset, was flaring, a constant hum of awareness in his mind. He wasn't just looking for a tear in reality; he was feeling for it, a subtle shift in the world's energy.
They moved toward the east wing of the school, an area Minwoo knew was close to the old boiler room. In his past life, a D-rank Gate had opened there, leading to a flooded basement dungeon. It was a risky move, but with their new equipment and Minwoo's knowledge, it was a calculated risk.
As they reached the end of a long, dark corridor, a faint purple shimmer pulsed from a side door. It was the boiler room. "Found it," Minwoo said, his tone flat. He looked at Hyejin. "This is a D-rank Gate. The monsters will be stronger than the ones in the park."
She swallowed hard, her hand tightening on her staff. "D-rank? But... you said the first Gate was F-rank. Isn't this too big of a jump?"
"It's a necessary jump," Minwoo countered, his gaze intense. "The tutorial is a race. We have to get stronger faster than everyone else."
He didn't give her time to argue. With a final, resolute breath, he stepped through the shimmering Gate, and she followed him.
The world twisted, and they found themselves in a place of perpetual decay. The air was thick with the smell of mildew and rot. The space was a massive, flooded boiler room. The water, a murky, green-tinged sludge, rose to their ankles, and the only light came from a few flickering emergency lights high above, casting long, wavering reflections on the water's surface. The dungeon was a labyrinth of rusty pipes and silent machinery.
And then, the monster. It wasn't an insectoid crawler; it was a humanoid figure, hunched and shambling. It was a Rotten Ghoul. Its skin was a sickly gray, its eyes were hollow, and a grotesque maw of jagged teeth hung open. It shambled toward them, its limbs moving with a sickening, disjointed gait.
[System Alert: New Monster Detected]
[Monster: D-rank Rotten Ghoul]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
"Stay behind me," Minwoo commanded, raising his heavy, Broken Broadsword. "It's slow. Its weakness is fire, but we don't have that. Just watch me, and be ready."
The Ghoul let out a guttural groan and lunged. Minwoo sidestepped, his Agility stat barely enough to avoid the attack, and used the momentum to slam the heavy sword into the Ghoul's torso. The blow landed with a sickening squelch, but the monster barely flinched.
[Damage Dealt: 15]
"It's too tough," Minwoo said, his mind racing. The Ghoul's skin was like thick leather, and his low Strength was a major handicap. The Ghoul retaliated, its sharp, rotting claws swiping at him. He blocked the attack with his sword, but the force of the blow sent a jolt of pain up his arm.
[Health: -20 HP]
[HP: 80/101]
"Heal me!" he yelled, his voice strained.
Hyejin, her eyes wide with terror, focused on his command. She placed her hand on her own chest and willed her new skill to work. A faint, green light emanated from her hand, and the warmth spread from her to Minwoo, a soothing, tingling sensation.
[Health Restored: 5 HP]
[System Message: Skill 'Seed of Life' (Hyejin) has been used.]
It was a small amount, but it was enough. It was proof that they could do this. Minwoo took another hit, his health dropping again, and Hyejin immediately healed him. The fight was a brutal dance of attack and heal, with Minwoo acting as a meat shield while Hyejin kept him on his feet. He saw his opening. The Ghoul, relentless but slow, had its head exposed. He lunged forward, not with his sword, but with a desperate, two-handed swing aimed at the monster's neck. The Broken Broadsword connected with a jarring thud, and the Ghoul's head lolled to the side, its movements becoming sluggish.
With a final, frantic blow, Minwoo brought the sword down on the Ghoul's exposed chest. The creature let out a final, pained groan and collapsed into the murky water, its body dissolving into a puff of black smoke.
[System Message: D-rank Rotten Ghoul defeated.]
[Experience Points Gained: 150]
[System Coins Gained: 25]
[Level Up!]
Minwoo stood panting, his entire body screaming in protest. The adrenaline was fading, leaving a raw, throbbing ache in his arm. He had survived. He had won. And he had a partner who had saved him.
Hyejin rushed to his side, her face pale. "Are you okay? You... you took so much damage." She placed her hands on his arm again, and the faint green light of her skill once again began to mend his wounds.
[Health Restored: 5 HP]
He looked at her, a flicker of genuine relief in his gaze. He had a Level 2 body, a low-grade sword, and a terrified partner. But he had a plan, and they had just completed their first hunt as a team. This was a different kind of war than he had ever fought, but with her by his side, he knew he might have a chance.