The air inside the dungeon was thick with the smell of sulfur and decay. Ji Hyun wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Low-tier hunters like him were never meant to take on dungeons like this. Yet here he was, alone, fighting to survive against an enemy far stronger than he had prepared for.
The monsters in this dungeon were fierce—massive serpent-like creatures with glowing yellow eyes, their scales hard as steel. He had managed to kill a few smaller ones earlier, but now the true challenge was before him. A giant serpent, its body coiling in a pattern that seemed almost sentient, slithered toward him with terrifying speed.
"I need to hold my ground. Just survive for a little longer..."
His sword felt heavier with each passing second. Ji Hyun's strength had always been his greatest weakness. Even though he trained every day, he was no match for stronger hunters or these terrifying monsters. His time-reversal system hadn't unlocked its full potential yet.
The serpent lunged at him, mouth wide open, sharp fangs gleaming.
"Dammit!" Ji Hyun barely managed to dodge to the side. But as he did, the serpent's tail whipped around with incredible force, sending him crashing into the stone wall. His vision blurred, and pain shot through his body.
This is it…
His body screamed for mercy, but there was no time to retreat. He could see the serpent's fangs, closing in on him with brutal precision. Everything around him began to fade as his mind raced.
He had always been weak, never strong enough to protect himself. This was how it would end for him—a low-tier hunter who could never rise above his station.
But then, something strange happened.
A sharp, electric pain shot through his chest, and time seemed to stop. The serpent's jaws were mere inches from his face, but the world itself began to unravel around him. Everything slowed down, like the entire world had been paused.
Then came the feeling of falling.
Ji Hyun's heart thudded against his chest. He was falling through time, through space, through something beyond reality itself. For a moment, he felt the vastness of the universe, as if the gods themselves were watching.
Time Reversal Initiated
Ji Hyun gasped for air as he was flung back into his body, a wave of pain surging through his chest as if he had been reborn. He opened his eyes. The serpent's jaws were just moments from closing in on him, but he was no longer there.
He had been thrown back in time—to a moment before his death. His body was still battered, his sword clutched tightly in his hands. But now, he felt… different.
The serpent lunged at him again, but this time, Ji Hyun was ready. He dodged with unnatural speed, his body reacting instinctively, as though it was a step ahead of the monster's movements.
Time had reset.
With a single, fluid motion, Ji Hyun thrust his sword into the serpent's underbelly, the blade sinking deep into its flesh. The creature let out a loud screech, flailing and writhing before collapsing at his feet.
He stood, staring at the lifeless serpent. His heart pounded, but his mind was already racing. What had just happened? How had he done that?
A cold shiver ran down his spine. This was no ordinary ability.
Ji Hyun's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned, his sword at the ready, expecting another monster or hunter.
But instead, it was a man—dressed in the dark robes of the Hunter Association. His eyes were sharp, calculating, and his presence commanded authority.
"You're still alive, I see," the man said, his voice dripping with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Kim Tae-Hyun.
The name struck a chord deep within Ji Hyun. Tae-Hyun was the leader of the Hunter Association of Seoul (HAK), one of the most powerful figures in the entire world of hunters. His reputation preceded him—someone who was not only intellectually brilliant but also feared in combat.
Ji Hyun felt a surge of anxiety. Why was he here? And what had just happened to him? The time reversal—it couldn't just be some coincidence.
The man's gaze softened ever so slightly. "I've been watching you for a while now, Ji Hyun. You're not just any ordinary hunter. I see potential."
Ji Hyun's breath caught. He had no idea what was happening to him, but this was the moment everything changed.
"You've been given a gift," Kim Tae-Hyun continued, his voice low. "But with great power comes even greater consequences. Be careful where you tread from here, Ji Hyun. The gods are watching, and they don't take kindly to mortals meddling with time."
Ji Hyun's heart skipped a beat. Gods? Time?
"Who… are you really?" Ji Hyun asked, voice shaking.
Kim Tae-Hyun smirked. "I'm someone who knows exactly what you're going through. And soon, you'll understand just how dangerous this world really is."
With that, the man turned and walked away, leaving Ji Hyun standing in the dungeon, still reeling from the power he had just unlocked—and the chilling realization that his life was about to spiral into a war against forces far greater than himself.
To Be Continue....