The dungeon gatekeeper pulled out a document and handed it to Morgan. On the paper were pre-printed lines: liability waiver.
Morgan frowned, skimmed through the wordy lines, then shrugged and signed.
"Alright, I've signed it." He nodded, his face calm.
The gatekeeper smiled as he watched Morgan sign. His hand tapped lightly on the edge of the desk, eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction.
Clearing monsters in the dungeon usually cost money, but now someone was doing it for free, so he had nothing to worry about. A few goblins taken down, and the compensation alone was already enough to make him pleased.
"Good. I hope you make it back alive," he said, his voice gentle yet sincere.
Morgan didn't spare him another glance. Tilting his body, he stepped past the gate, ignoring the well-meant words.
…
Beyond the gate lay a completely separate space, one that could very well be called another world.
Morgan lifted his gaze, eyes sweeping over the translucent barrier separating the dungeon from the outside. A hazy light reflected across it, making the space seem as if it floated between reality and illusion.
"Looks like this world hides quite a few mysteries." Morgan smirked, his eyes flashing with intrigue.
[Ding! You have entered the first dungeon. Divine-grade reward activated.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the Sealed Stone.
Condition to unseal: Reach Lv.100.]
A small stone appeared in Morgan's pocket at that moment. It resembled a gem, yet it was marred with impurities.
'Hah, this thing is supposed to be a divine treasure? Looks no different from a cheap fake gemstone.' Morgan examined it, giving it a light squeeze.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. The stone sank into the center of his palm. No matter how violently he shook his hand, it would not come out.
'Damn it, what the hell is this thing?' He cursed inwardly, though his expression barely changed.
From the start, the system had never existed to harm him, so the stone being dangerous wasn't something worth worrying about.
Morgan's lips curled into a grin. He raised his hand, studied it, then glanced at the sky.
"Things are getting more and more interesting."
"Boss, should we head to the crystal mining spot or leave the safe zone?" Jack asked, his eyes darting nervously at Morgan.
Morgan stopped, turned, and looked at each of them one by one. His gaze was stern, though his tone remained straightforward:
"I'll definitely go. As for you, will you risk your lives or play it safe? Fighting like this won't bring you anything but training."
He didn't actually want his underlings to throw their lives away.
In this world, once a hunter awakened, their strength rarely changed much.
Even if a Rank F hunter trained relentlessly, the highest they could realistically reach was Rank E.
And the process was grueling, requiring years of ceaseless effort, so almost no one chose that path.
The four of them exchanged quick glances, lips pressed tight, though they understood in their hearts. A strong boss was meant to unite everyone and protect their hard-earned gains, not let them die in vain.
But saying such things aloud would never sit right. If they somehow offended Morgan, they'd suffer huge losses.
"You guys go mine some crystals. If you feel like it, dig a little extra for me." Morgan shrugged, his gaze sweeping over his men.
"Don't worry, boss. That's nothing. We can handle it." They laughed, shoulders relaxing as the weight lifted from their minds.
Morgan only shook his head softly, letting out a quiet sigh.
'Well, I can't expect too much from them. If they follow me, it'll only lead to their deaths.'
Gripping his spear, he stepped straight into the danger zone without a single glance back.
Watching his figure fade into the distance, his men frowned with worry.
"Boss will be fine, right?" one asked, voice low.
Jack folded his arms, his eyes drifting toward the depths of the dungeon.
"Ordinary goblins won't be able to touch him. It's just… if he runs into an elite goblin, that's another story."
Among them, only Jack had once dared to challenge a goblin head-on. His experience far surpassed that of the other three.
He frowned as memories surfaced of his struggle against just one goblin. They were powerful, all muscle, only smaller in size compared to humans. The thought of an elite goblin tightened his chest.
"How strong are they?" another asked nervously, eyes flickering.
Jack clenched his fist, lips pressed thin.
"Not sure. But at the very least, their strength is on par with a Rank E hunter."
The group fell silent, a chill running down their spines. If Morgan were to encounter one of those… today's investment would be as good as lost.
…
After a while, Morgan followed the beaten path, venturing several hundred meters deeper into the dungeon, past the safe zone.
The trees and foliage overlapped, the familiar scenery making his stride unhurried, almost like a stroll through the garden at home.
"Hmph, the scenery isn't all that different… Maybe every life-bearing planet shares the same traits?" He muttered, his eyes scanning swiftly over his surroundings.
It was not arrogance. Forests had long since become second nature to him. After decades of hunting across every kind of terrain, even the densest woods were nothing unusual.
Rustle, rustle.
Morgan narrowed his eyes, his body tightening like a bowstring. Instinct screamed that prey was near.
From the thicket crept out a green-skinned creature wielding a massive wooden club. Short in stature yet thick with corded muscle, every contour of its body radiated raw strength.
Morgan activated the system, and information about the creature flashed before his eyes:
***
Goblin
Rank: F
***
Just a bare-bones description, offering him little. He drew a long breath, never taking his eyes off the target.
"At least I can roughly gauge its strength."
"It's hunting time!" he shouted, his eyes and grin twisting into something no longer human.
His whole body compressed, muscles taut, mind consumed by the hunt. This is an extreme predatory state forged from years of battling in the harshest hunting grounds.
The goblin trembled, its wide eyes filled with primal terror, as though staring straight into a demon from hell, despite its dull wit.
[Thrust]
Morgan lunged. His body moved as flawlessly as a programmed machine, every motion precise to perfection.
The spear's tip punched clean through the goblin's head. Fear had rooted it in place, denying it even the chance to fight back.
What should have been a grueling clash turned into a pathetic display, as the goblin crumbled in terror, unable to withstand even a single strike.
[Exp gained.]
The notification chimed, though this time he did not level up.
"Hm, looks like the experience requirements keep going up." He pulled his spear free, frowning, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
When he first saw the goblin's Rank F, he had expected a tough hunt. He hadn't imagined the creature would break from sheer fear.
"Guess I'll have to go deeper. Hunting here isn't satisfying at all." His gaze shifted toward the darker depths of the forest.
The deeper he went, the scenery shifted drastically. Towering trees, bizarre leaves, and strange flora sprouted from the earth, giving this forest an alien quality unlike any woods from his previous life.
"Too bad those crazy researchers from my past life aren't here. If they saw this, they'd lose their minds with excitement." He muttered, memories of those wild days swirling briefly in his mind.
Suddenly, he halted. His eyes sharpened, his entire being snapping into vigilance.