The smell of damp earth finally stirred Minho up. He opened his eyes and pushed himself up into a sitting position, his back resting against the cold dungeon wall. He scratched his head as his vision started to clear. "Did I... pass out?" He muttered to himself.
Raising his head to look ahead of him, and his eyes widened. It was the path they had followed while entering the dungeon. His brain quickly snapped. He turned to face the wall, where the crack was. Then his eyes slowly went to his stomach. "The pain... it's gone." The tear in his clothes were evident, but the wound had healed. It wasn't a dream after all. He felt... different. Some oddly strong energy coursing through him.
Just as he was about to stand up, a crimson screen with black mist, surging at it's edges, appeared.
[Name: Lee Minho
• Title: None
• Level: 1
• EXP: 0/100
• Attributes: Strength 10, Stamina 10, Agility 10, Intelligence 10, Perception 10, Destructive Potential: 1.]
[• Skills:
- Passive: [Heart of the Void Lv. 1] - Your emotions are slowly being replaced by a calm, destructive intent. Pain is muted. Fear is erased.
- Active: [Matter Disintegration Lv. 1] - Channel destructive energy to reduce non-living matter to its base components. Cost: Destructive Energy.
- Active: [Annihilate Lv. 1] - Focus destructive energy into a point to erase a target. Highly inefficient. Cost: Destructive Energy & Life Force.]
[Main Objective:
• Objective: Consume 10 sources of mana to fuel your destructive core.
• Reward: Increase in Destructive Potential. Unlocking of new skills. +40 EXP.
• Failure to complete will result in an appropriate penalty]
"What the hell?" Minho gasped. "A game? I... I'm not... But that's my name."
[Pop-up Quest:
• Return to the dungeon's entrance.
• Reward: ???]
Minho finally exhaled, a long breath he didn't realized he had been holding in the first place. "So, this is the power that voice was talking about?" He slowly stood up, dusting off the dirt from his body.
A new screen appeared in front of him.
[Random Gift Box Available (From the King).]
[Open] | [Leave]
Curiosity getting the best of him, he tapped [Open]. A series of screens overrode themselves. "From what king?"
[Gift Box Opened!
• Reward:
- New Skill; Predator's Instinct Lv. 1
- +30 EXP.
- Level 10: All stats +50]
[Accomplishment! Level 10 reached!
• Reward:
- All skills levelled up.
- Destructive potential +10
- Crimson Fang (Dagger)
- New Title: Emissary Of Destruction.]
[Accomplishment! Title Obtained!
• Reward:
- Destructive potential +10
- New Skill: Scale armor Lv. 1
- New Skill: Dragon's Vitality Lv. 1]
[All Rewards Acquired! Upgrades Applied!
• Skills:
- Heart of the void Lv. 5
- Matter disintegration Lv. 5
- Annihilate Lv. 5
- Predator's Instinct Lv. 5
- Scale armor Lv. 5
- Dragon's Vitality Lv. 5]
[Name: Lee Minho
• Title: Emissary Of Destruction
• Level: 10
• EXP: 30/100
• Attributes: Strength 60, Stamina 60, Agility 60, Intelligence 60, Perception 60, Destructive Potential: 20.]
"Huh?" Minho's eyes widened. He hadn't even done anything, yet he had gotten more than he could expect. 'From the king?' he thought, his mind flashing back to the empty throne that he had seen. Who was this 'King?'.
A surge of powerful energy erupted in his veins as the upgrades were applied. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened to an impossible degree, and the world seemed to slow down around him. Feeling the new power coursing in him, intensify, his mind went blank for a moment. The power was indeed doing something to how he perceived the world. It was as if he only knew one thing. Destruction. The almost forgotten anger returned, as he played back the betrayal in his mind. With a small glint of crimson in his eyes, he made for the exit.
Meanwhile...
Dohwan and the team were at the place where the the dungeon's gate was, only that it was no longer there. Another dead end.
"How do we get out now?" One of the hunters asked, grasping the bow in his hand tightly.
"I can't believe this is actually an S-rank dungeon. But didn't we sacrifice that useless E-rank? Why is this dungeon strange? Could there still..." Soojin said, her voice growing lower. "...be an S-rank boss, in here?"
"Nonsense!" Dohwan exclaimed. "Even if there is, it's going to be behind those walls where we threw that bastard. And I remember it sealing shut."
"Maybe it wasn't enough." Soojin muttered, biting at her fingernails. "I told you stab it well."
"Ah, so it was your idea... Soojin sunbae?" A calm voice carried from behind them.
They gasped, eyes widened as they slowly turned to see the Lee Minho they 'killed', standing in front of them. He was not the same Lee Minho, and that was something the couldn't see, thanks to their pride.
"You must have brought a healing potion with you, eh?" Dohwan gritted his teeth. "This time I'll make sure to ki—huh?" He froze, seeing Minho stare at something in the air, not paying attention.
The system screen had come up again.
[Pop-up Quest:
• Return to the dungeon's entrance. (Complete.)
• Eliminate the enemy. 0/6
• Reward: New Skill. +30 EXP/kill. Destructive potential +2/kill.]
"So this was why it was asking me to come here." Minho placed a finger on his chin, seemingly lost.
"How dare you mock us in that way, you E-rank bastard?!" One of the team members charged at Minho, his sword unsheathed and in the air.
[Predator's Instinct activated!]
With an almost effortless grace, Minho dodged the swing coming for his neck, leaving everyone in awe.
"Tch. You dare mess with me?" The guy attacking, swung hard and as fast as he could, but it just wasn't enough to even make a scratch on the so called, E-rank hunter.
"Wh-what... happened back there, L-Lee Minho?" Soojin muttered, more to herself than to anyone.
The other three hunters behind Dohwan charged at Minho. One of the hunters attacked from above, forcing Minho to sidestep. Off-balance, he dodged another coming from behind. Dodging their attacks easily.
He finally jumped back making space between them. "Now, now. That was pretty intense." He spat on the floor, his hair was fallen over his eyes as he reached out to the side, the system inventory opened to the Crimson Fang. He placed his hand in, a burst of flames erupting from the system as dagger made it's way out. The waves forcing the hunters to shield themselves. When it all cleared, Minho stood there lazily, a dagger with jagged edges and crimson flame markings.
The hunters shifted in terror.
"But..." Minho trailed as he caught an arrow coming for his head, from the side, without looking. The archer who was hiding to get a good shot, cursed under his breath. "...I think it's my turn now." Minho raised his head, a crimson glow in his eyes with a devilish grin.